Breakfast Links - August 21, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
What a weekend to be a Dynamo fan! Hope you all enjoyed that as much as I did. Here are your links to recap everything soccer this weekend.
Houston
Let’s start with the Dash who didn’t win but had a draw that might feel like a win. After going their last four league games scoreless, they finally scored a goal in the final minutes to steal a point from Washington in a 1-1 draw. The goal came from Maria Sanchez who leads the team with four goals. While the draw is great for the team when it comes to momentum and morale, they do now sit five points outside the playoffs. With six games to go anything could happen. Let’s continue to support and hope for the best!
Dynamo 2 unfortunately had their four-game win streak snapped on the road to San Jose. The Dynamo went up 3-1 in the first half but could not hold on to the lead for long. Talen Maples scored a brace from the center back position while also scoring a third goal, but for the wrong team. Eduardo Blanco found the fourth goal for San Jose within the last ten minutes to sink Dynamo 2. They still sit three points above the playoff line with five games to go.
The Dynamo not only just won what was an extremely important match, they won it in style, winning 5-0 over the Portland Timbers. They had the perfect start with Griffin Dorsey drawing a penalty just two minutes in. As always, Amine Bassi put it away with ease. We then saw Nelson Quinones and Corey Baird score back-to-back just ten minutes later. After being up 3-0, the fullbacks decided they wanted to play striker and Houston got a goal from Franco Escobar before the half and a beautiful strike from Brad Smith in the second half. Sebastian Kowalczyk made his debut as well but did not get many opportunities to make an impact. The result was a massive three points as well as being a huge game for the momentum of the offense. The Dynamo will have to keep it going with how tight the Western Conference is.
MLS/NWSL
The NWSL is back with all twelve teams playing this weekend. There were not a whole lot of crazy games to mention, lots of low scoring ties while the World Cup stars slowly come back into the fold. Orlando had the performance of the weekend putting five past the Chicago Red Stars. Rookie Messiah Bright got herself a brace, bringing her goal tally up to six in just 16 games. Mariana Larroquette got on the score sheet on her debut following a disappointing World Cup with Argentina.
Leagues Cup came to a close with Philadelphia hosting Monterrey in the third-place matchup. Monterrey rolled out the kids and got slapped 3-0. Philly now have a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup next season. In the final, Miami beat Nashville in a wild penalty shootout that went all the way to the goalkeepers. Lionel Messi scored the first goal of the game with an unstoppable strike while being covered by multiple defenders. Former Dynamo player Fafa Picault then equalized off a scrappy set piece play. Leonardo Campana missed a wide-open net right in the dying seconds with a chance to win it for Miami. It did not matter in the end as Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco had his penalty saved for Miami to lift the trophy.
MLS was back with the Hell is Real Derby kicking off Sunday’s games. In case you where worried Columbus will struggle without Lucas Zelaryan, they showed no signs of it smashing Cincinnati 3-0. Zelaryan’s replacement, Diego Rossi, did not even play until the 60th minute and they still dominated the game. Aiden Morris opened the scoring with one of the cleanest long shots you’ll see this season. Cucho Hernandez and Jacen Russell-Rowe scored the other two to cap off an incredible night in Ohio.
Around the World
The Bundesliga began with Bayern destroying Werder Bremen 4-0. Leroy Sane scored a brace and Harry Kane scored his first Bayern goal. It was raining goals in Germany on Saturday with a whopping 24 goals being scored in six games. The biggest matchup came between Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig. Leverkusen looked like a real contender with the additions of Alex Grimaldo, Granit Xhaka, and Jonas Hoffman. All three played a huge role in this massive early season win for Leverkusen.
Serie A began with both Rome teams dropping points on a disappointing weekend. Roma tied 2-2 with Salernitana. Serie A legend Antonio Candreva scored a brace to earn an important point for Salernitana. Lazio lost on the road to Lecce in disappointing fashion. It will take some time to get over the loss of Sergej Milenkovic-Savic. Juventus started off the campaign in style, winning 3-0 over Udinese. Federico Chiesa was back amongst the goals scoring just minutes in. Vlahovic and Rabiot then scored to complete the first have demolition.
Jude Bellingham continues to look like the signing of the season scoring a brace and adding an assist in a 3-1 win against Almeria. That Real Madrid really is becoming unstoppable this season. Barcelona struggled offensively against Cadiz until the 80th minute where Pedri and Robert Lewandowski scored two quick goals to earn an important three points. Cristhian Stuani had himself a game, scoring a brace in a 3-0 win for Girona against Getafe. Two games in, Girona look like a serious team this season.
