Breakfast Links - October 25, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Well, would you look at that, we are already halfway to the weekend. Here are your midweek Breakfast Links!
Houston
The Houston Dynamo are gearing up for the weekend as they will host a playoff game, something that has not happened since 2017. Houston has been successful this season against the team from Utah, but the playoffs are a different animal. Ben Olsen would like to see his team focused and hungry to continue to make this a historic year for the club. Tickets are on sale, make sure to grab yours and pack Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday.
Last night, even with the busyness that the week holds, Steve Clark hosted a shopping experience for four cancer patients from Heroes for Children, in partnership with Max’s Kicks for Kids at the Galleria Adidas store. Max’s Kicks for Kids is a non-profit organization that provides new back-to-school shoes for children in need in Southeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. Max’s Kicks for Kids (MK4K) was founded in honor and memory of Steve’s cousin Max Engle. Let’s go Dynamo!
The Houston Dash season might be over, but NWSL is recognizing some of their players. Houston Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell was named a finalist for the Goalkeeper of the Year award. Jane was a brick wall for the Dash, only conceding 18 goals across 22 games. Make sure to vote for her and other awards, as the deadline for voting is Friday, October 27. DTFO!
Make sure you check out the latest episodes of the Bayou City Soccer Podcast, available everywhere you get your podcasts as well as our YouTube Channel!
Major League Soccer
This weekend, round one of the playoffs will kick off but there are two Wild Card games tonight. The New York Red Bulls will host Charlotte FC to see who makes the Eastern Conference bracket and take on Supporters Shield winners FC Cincinnati. While for the Western Conference, Sporting Kansas City will host the San Jose Earthquakes to decide the opponent that will take on St. Louis CITY SC. It should be a fun night, get your popcorn ready!
Around the World
Erik ten Hag branded Manchester United's 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen as a "narrow escape" after André Onana's stoppage time penalty save earned a first Champions League victory -- and the team's first points in Europe -- of the season. United got off the mark in Group A thanks to a second-half header from Harry Maguire and Onana's late heroics on a night during which fans paid their respects to Sir Bobby Charlton, who died aged 86 on Saturday.
AS Roma have been fined €10,000 by Serie A after their ball boys purposely slowed down Sunday's league game against Monza. Jose Mourinho's side secured a dramatic 1-0 win over Monza thanks to Stephan El Shaarawy's winner in the 90th minute. Italy's sporting judge ruled that Roma's ball boys took too much time to get the ball back after the home side had scored the winning goal.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Vinícius Júnior will soon win a Ballon d'Or award. The 23-year-old is on the 2023 shortlist for the award, that hasn't been won by a Brazilian player since Kaka in 2007. Asked if he thinks there is a Brazilian at Madrid that could win the top individual award one day, Ancelotti told TNT Sports after his team's 2-1 Champions League win atBraga : "Yes, Vinícius will win it soon."
Gerard Piqué has told ESPN that former Barcelona defender Rafa Márquez is ready to coach the Catalan club after impressing with the club's B team. Márquez, who won 147 caps for Mexico as a player, took over as manager of Barça's reserve team, who play in the third tier of Spanish football, in 2022.
Senegal forward Sadio Mané is in the process of purchasing fourth-tier French club Bourges Foot 18, a source has told ESPN. Mané, 31, is thought to have been willing to invest in a football club for some time and his relationship with former Bourges Foot 18 president Cheikh Sylla was pivotal in his decision to invest. Sylla will remain as the club's president.
