Breakfast Links - November 6, 2023
(image via Aldo Canale)
There was no Dynamo games this weekend, unfortunately. Hopefully everyone got their Houston sports fix with that wild Texans game! Here are your links to kickoff this new week and get you excited for tonight!
Houston
No games this weekend, just more preparation for tonight’s game against Real Salt Lake. This is an incredible opportunity to get tons of rest and host the next round against Kansas City. We hope everyone will be tuned in and ready to support the team tonight!
MLS/NWSL
The playoffs continued with FC Cincinnati playing away to the Red Bulls in a heated game that ended in a Cincinnati victory after penalties. The Red Bulls continued their streak of disappointment in the playoffs with yet another first round exit. Cincinnati did not look great and will miss Matt Miazga in the next round after his yellow card for taunting in the penalty shootout. Saturday also brought the Western Conference clash between Seattle and FC Dallas. Despite missing Alan Velasco, Dallas had a great offensive night, putting three goals past Seattle to win 3-1. They will play game three in Seattle on Friday.
Sunday’s slate began with Sporting KC hosting St. Louis City in game two. Kansas City managed to put out another dominant display, winning 2-1 and moving on to the next round to play either RSL or the Dynamo. Daniel Salloi had another standout game as he is looking like one of the hottest forwards in MLS right now. LAFC also moved on with a 1-0 road victory against Vancouver. Like Salloi, Denis Bouanga cannot stop scoring as well. LAFC will find out who their opponent will be on Friday as they await the winner of Dallas and Seattle.
The NWSL final teams have been decided with both OL Reign and Gotham winning 1-0 on the road in their semi-final matchups. The first game was in Portland where the Thorns fell short in extra time to a Katie Stengel winner. In his first season in charge, Juan Carlos Amoros did very well to take Gotham all the way to the final. The second game was in San Diego where the Wave could not get it done in a game where they were heavily favored. Alex Morgan struggled to produce yet again, and they conceded right when the second half began to Veronica Latsko. A disappointing end to the season for a team expected to go all the way.
Around the World
There is nothing more inevitable than Bayern München scoring multiple goals and demolishing Dortmund every year. This time they traveled to Dortmund and stomped them 4-0. Harry Kane scored his second hat trick in a row, bringing his goal tally to fifteen. Despite the impressive scorelines, Bayer Leverkusen still sit top of the table after winning yet again from an Alex Grimaldo brace. Victor Boniface also had two assists in this game as both Grimaldo and Boniface are cementing themselves as the best signings in Europe this summer.
There were som massive matchups this weekend in Belgium where Union St. Gilloise hosted Club Brugge to a 2-1 victory. St Gilloise needed this win as they are chasing the first seed in the Championship playoff. Mohamed Amoura keeps on scoring as he got another brace to bring his tally up to nine on the season in just twelve games. Anderlecht also got a massive three points away to Cercle Brugge 3-0. Cercle have been in great form, but Anderlecht came there and dominated from start to finish. Michel Balikwisha got a brace in a big game for Royal Antwerp to defeat Genk 3-2 in a wild game.
More drama at the top of the La Liga table where now Real Madrid have dropped points at home to Rayo Vallecano. Jude Bellingham could not work his magic again as they went scoreless and sit two points behind Girona at the top. Girona just continue to win games in dominant fashion. This time it was a 4-2 victory on the road to Osasuna. Artem Dovbyk had a great night scoring and providing two assists.
