Breakfast Links - October 6, 2023
(image via Diego Martinez)
Does it feel great outside or what? Enjoy it while it lasts, Houston. Here is your Friday edition of the Breakfast Links.
Houston
The Houston Dynamo are back in the playoffs after what has felt like an eternity. With two games remaining the expectations are to win both games and move up the standings to claim homefield advantage for the postseason. The Dynamo will host the already eliminated Colorado Rapids tomorrow night in Houston’s last home game of the regular season. Make sure to get your tickets and pack Shell Energy Stadium. Let’s go Dynamo!
The Houston Dash are still in the mix, fighting for a playoff spot after back-to-back road wins. Now, the ladies will host Angel City in their last home match of the regular season on Sunday evening. Jane Campbell has been huge the entire season, while Michelle Alozie has found her scoring boots. Everything is on the line on October 8th so make sure to grab some tickets and root for the Dash. 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
Toronto FC midfielder Brandon Servania is out long-term after suffering a torn left ACL, the club announced Thursday. The 24-year-old joined TFC in an offseason trade with FC Dallas, tallying one goal and one assist in 28 games (21 starts). Servania was a homegrown player for FCD, where he played from 2018-22.
For the second time in 2023, LAFC forward Dénis Bouanga has been named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire. Bouanga’s latest recognition follows Matchday 36, when his first-half hat trick powered a resounding 5-1 win over Minnesota United FC that booked the Black & Gold’s Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs ticket in the Western Conference.
Major League Soccer released their list for the 2023 MLS Year-End Awards candidates, along with their favorites. Check the list to see which Houston Dynamo players are in it.
Around the World
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has taken aim at players who joined the Saudi Pro League last summer, questioning the motivations behind their moves to the Gulf state. Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr last January was the catalyst for a number of the game's biggest stars to join the league on huge contracts in recent months, including Neymar, Sadio Mané and N'Golo Kanté.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has said that levels have "dropped" at the club this season. United face Brentford at Old Trafford on Saturday on the back of a run of seven defeats from their last nine games, including the last two at home.
Paris Saint-Germain players Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi and Layvin Kurzawa have been handed one-match suspensions for their role in anti-gay chants, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (IFL) said on Thursday. During last month's Ligue 1 match against Marseille at the Parc des Princes, PSG fans were heard celebrating with anti-gay chants directed at Marseille.
Carlo Ancelotti has criticised media coverage of Vinícius Júnior's testimony at the trial of three men accused of racially abusing him, saying some are "trying to change the subject" by focusing on the player. The Real Madrid forward gave evidence to a court in Valencia on Thursday via videolink after the incident at Valencia's Mestalla stadium on May 21.
The return of Borussia Dortmund attacker Gio Reyna under U.S. men's national team manager Gregg Berhalter highlights the 23-player roster that will prepare for friendlies against Germany in Hartford, Connecticut, on Oct. 14, and Ghana in Nashville, Tennessee, three days later. The camp will mark the first time that Reyna and Berhalter have worked together since a feud between the Reyna and Berhalter families burst into public view in January.
