Breakfast Links - May 19, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The weekend is around the corner with some great soccer to be played. Here are your Friday breakfast links!
Houston
The Houston Dynamo had another disappointing loss midweek on the road to Minnesota United. Now the focus shifts quickly to the Texas Derby on Saturday night. We know that form goes out the window during rivalry matches, but one thing that is concerning is the lack of goals scored by the Dynamo going into this match. Hopefully having Héctor Herrera and Bassi back can help Ibrahim Aliyu find the back of the net in Frisco. By the way, if you can’t make it out to Dallas, as many fans will be traveling to the game, come hang out with us at Senate Avenue Brewing Company. Let’s go Dynamo!
The Houston Dash got a massive win last week and will hope to start a win streak when they take on Alex Morgan and the San Diego Wave on Saturday. The game is at Shell Energy Stadium, so get your tickets and support the ladies. DTFO!
Houston Dynamo 2 will also be facing an in-state foe in North Texas SC. The boys will play in Dallas on Sunday night and will hope to get more points in what has been a very inconsistent season for them. 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
Major League Soccer is coming to San Diego. The Southern California city has been awarded the league's 30th team, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced Thursday. San Diego will begin competing as an expansion club in 2025 at Snapdragon Stadium – the 35,000-seat venue that's already home to the NWSL's San Diego Wave FC and is a host venue for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup – while their name and crest will be announced in the buildup to their debut season.
Atlanta United are offloading one of the biggest pieces of their roster, announcing Thursday the surprise transfer of high-profile winger Luiz Araújo to Brazilian Serie A powerhouse Flamengo.
Another game, another win for Nashville SC. After their 2-1 victory over Inter Miami CF on Wednesday night at GEODIS Park, the Coyotes are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions, winning five of the last six. Still, despite their scintillating form, Nashville head coach Gary Smith aimed to remain calm and realistic on expectations.
Around the World
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will meet with head coach Carlo Ancelotti in the coming days to discuss plans for next season, with sources telling ESPN his job is not at risk. Wednesday's 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League semifinal this week has been met with great disappointment at the Bernabeu, but the club are wary of making drastic decisions in the heat of the moment.
Mikel Arteta has said Arsenal "will not bottle" the final two Premier League games as Manchester City close in on the title. Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday knowing defeat would mean City are crowned champions for the fifth time in six seasons.
AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho said he was not fixated on becoming a legend at the club after leading his side to a second straight European final with a 1-0 aggregate win over Bayer Leverkusen after their Europa League semifinal, second leg on Thursday. The 60-year-old, who won the second-tier European club competition in 2017 with Manchester United, led Roma to the Europa Conference League title last season.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been suspended from the touchline for two matches and fined £75,000 ($95,000) following his comments to the media after the match against Tottenham Hotspur on April 30, the English Football Association (FA) said on Thursday.
