Breakfast Links - September 29, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
We made it to Friday and summer is coming to an end. Let’s get this Friday started with some Breakfast Links.
Houston
Houston continues to add silverware to the trophy case. Houston flew to Ft. Lauderdale to take on Inter Miami on Wednesday night and dominated the home team while displaying to the world what we have been seeing in Houston this season. Don’t forget to check out our player ratings and listen to our newest podcast episode (both coming out this morning) where we breakdown the latest consecration of the Houston Dynamo.
Let’s not forget that, on top of celebration winning their second Lamar Hunt US Open Cup five 5 years, the Houston Dynamo will host the rivals from up I45 for another edition of the Texas Derby Saturday night. We expect nothing less than a packed house to help celebrate the crowning of the Dynamo, so you don’t want to miss out on the party.
The Dash will make their way up to New Jersey area to take on Batman’s team, Gotham FC. The Dash, who are only three points away from a playoff spot, look to try and make the best out of the last three matches in the regular season. The Dash’s last home match will be Sunday, October 8th.
A few hours after the Dash match, tune over from Paramount+ to Apple TV - MLS Season Pass to catch the boys from Dynamo 2 take on Tacoma Defiance. This will be the second consecutive post season for Dynamo Dos and the first one for head coach Kenny Bundy, who missed it last year while he took over the first team as the interim coach for the last 5 matches of the regular season.
Major League Soccer
Matchday 35 will be played this weekend, and other than the Texas Derby, there will be another match up that some people have a adopted as a new derby, Sporting Kansas City versus St. Louis CITY. So far, both teams have played each other twice with a victory going to each side but let’s wait and see if this proximity of cities on the map truly translates to a fierce match up on the field.
All eyes are on FC Cincinnati. Cincy, who started of their franchise history poorly, will be looking to completely turn the page tomorrow night and win their first piece of silverware as an MLS franchise. The contender for the MVP trophy, Lucho Acosta, and FC Cincinnati will visit last place in the Eastern Conference Toronto FC. There’s a few scenarios that need to happen for the Ohio team to lift the Shield and here they are.
Around the World
I would be remiss if, as a South American, I didn’t mention the greatest club competition in the western hemisphere, so here we go. On Wednesday night, as the Dynamo were showing people what Bennyball was down in Florida, German Cano and Fluminense were hosting their Brazilian counterparts SC International. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with the second leg of this Copa Libertadores semifinal taking place on Wednesday, October 4. The other side of the of the bracket had Boca Juniors, who hosted in the mythical Bombonera, against the classic Copa Libertadores rival Palmeiras. The match ended in a 0-0 draw and promises to end in a very tough battle back in Brazil next Thursday, October 5th. To add on to the pressure that Boca Juniors have to be competing on a continental semifinal, they will be hosting the arch rival riBer Plate for the local tournament. What a week for Bosteros.
FC Barcelona, has been charged for “cheating”. The Catalans have been apparently paid millions of dollars over almost a decade to the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. Barca hasn’t seemed to catch a break in the last few years, but then again, do better Barca!
What other teams you think may have some suspicious activities in their bank accounts? Let’s us know in the comments.
