Breakfast Links - May 1, 2023
(image via Sporting KC II)
Welcome to the month of May. It’s crazy, how fast we got here. Let’s get it started with some fresh breakfast links!
Houston
The Houston Dynamo had a bye week on short notice as their scheduled match against LAFC was moved to June. The break should allow for the team to recharge their batteries ahead of another round of multiple games at home, in a short span. Real Salt Lake is the first opponent on the list to visit Shell Energy Stadium Saturday. Let’s go Dynamo!
The Houston Dash are no longer undefeated after unfortunately adding their first loss to their record as their match on Friday was abandoned due to the bad weather. They’ll be back at home on Wednesday to take on the Chicago Red Stars in the Challenge Cup. The ladies will then be flying out to the Pacific Northwest to take on OL Reign on Saturday night. DTFO!
Houston Dynamo 2 took on Sporting KC II last night and put on a show! The entire squad played a heck of a game, winning the match 4-1. Diego Gonzalez had a well rounded game and received Man of the Match honors. Up next is a visit to Vancouver on Sunday. Vamos Dyna Dos!
Make sure you check out the latest episodes of the Bayou City Soccer Podcast, available everywhere you get your podcasts.
Major League Soccer
For the first time in Major League Soccer’s 28 seasons, three on-field female referees oversaw proceedings. The 0-0 draw between Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Colorado Rapids included Tori Penso as the head referee, Brooke Mayo as an assistant referee and Felisha Mariscal as the fourth official.
Sporting Kansas City's already-difficult start to the 2023 MLS season grew even worse during Matchday 10. Of 29 clubs, they're the last remaining MLS team without a win following Saturday's 2-0 defeat to visiting CF Montréal, who entered the match in similarly worrisome circumstances at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Sporting KC's three points (0W-7L-3D record, 0.3 points per game) leave them at the bottom of the league table as May arrives, with their three goals scored also representing a league-low figure.
In many ways, soccer is a simple game, and one of its most fundamental truths is teams must score to win. For Inter Miami CF head coach Phil Neville, whose side carried a six-game losing streak into Matchday 10 (and were held scoreless in five of those six), simply putting the ball in the back of the net made the difference in Saturday’s 2-1 road win over the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field.
The recurring nightmare haunted Chicago Fire FC again Saturday night at Soldier Field. The New York Red Bulls rallied to level late, 1-1, on a headed goal by Cory Burke one minute from full-time. The late equalizer for the visitors came off a late corner kick, just like Atlanta United's second-half stoppage time winner a week ago and FC Cincinnati's late tying goal during a 3-3 draw in Matchday 4.
Around the World
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accused referee Paul Tierney of saying something "that is not OK" when issuing a yellow card for Klopp's celebration after Diogo Jota's 94th-minute winner in a 4-3 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday. Klopp also said he wants to know "what [Tierney] has against us" after hitting out at the official for the second time in 18 months.
Manchester City claimed top spot in the Premier League for the first time since February as Erling Haaland reached yet another milestone in a 2-1 victory at Fulham on Sunday. Haaland tucked away a penalty in the third minute for his record-equalling 34th Premier League goal in an extraordinary debut season in England.
Erik ten Hag has branded criticism of Bruno Fernandes as "crazy" after the midfielder scored Manchester United's winner against Aston Villa on Sunday. "He's so tough, a couple of weeks ago there were questions about his captaincy, it's crazy," Ten Hag told his postmatch news conference. "He's such a big leader. He gives so much energy to the team. His determination, his passion, his resilience; we need such players if you want to win games and make trophies."
Barcelona have won Liga F for the fourth season in a row after beating Sporting Huelva 3-0 at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Sunday as Alexia Putellas made her long-awaited return to action. Fresh from qualifying for a third successive Champions League final on Thursday, Laia Codina, Jana Fernandez and Asisat Oshoala got the goals as Barca made it 26 wins from 26 games to clinch the title with four games to spare.
