MLS Midweek: June 21, 2017

Four league games on at midweek this week, beginning with...

DC United hosting Atlanta United. Alec Kann and Bill Hamid protect the nets. Atlanta began in the seventeenth minute with a Julian Gressel goal, passed from Miguel Almiron and Yamil Asad. DC tied it on a twenty-third minute goal by Luciano Acosta. DC took the lead with a sixtieth minute goal by Patrick Nyarko via, Ian Harkes and Chris Korb. Jeff Larentowicz of Atlanta had a yellow card for his foul in the sixty-second minute. DC's Lamar Neagle had a yellow card in the seventy-third minute for a foul. Atlanta saw a yellow card for a seventy-ninth minute foul by Brandon Vazquez. The game ended at 2-1, with Nyarko the man of the match.

West to Minnesota United welcoming the Portland Timbers. Jeff Attinella and Bobby Shuttleworth draw the starts in goal. Minnesota led off in the seventh minute with Portland's Amobi Okugo committing an own goal. The Timbers tied it on a Diego Valeri penalty kick goal in the thirty-seventh minute. Minnesota took the lead back in the forty-seventh minute with a Christian Ramirez goal, made possible by Kevin Molino. Portland pulled level again when Minnesota's Francisco Calvo committed an own goal in the fiftieth minute. Minnesota took the lead back with an Abu Danladi goal in the sixty-fourth minute. Each team went down to ten men when Danladi of Minnesota and Sebastian Blanco of the Timbers engaged in a bit of a fight around the seventieth minute. Portland's Roy Miller had a yellow card for an eighty-fifth minute foul. The man of the match was Ramirez in Minnesota's 3-2 win.

Further along, the Colorado Rapids bring in the Los Angeles Galaxy. Clement Diop and Tim Howard are the gloved men. Los Angeles opened in the fifth minute with a Jack McBean goal. Mike da Fonte of Colorado had a yellow card for his twenty-fourth minute foul. The Galaxy had yellow cards for Nathan Smith's persistent infringement in the twenty-ninth minute and Joao Pedro's foul in the thirty-fourth minute. The Rapids tied it on a thirty-seventh minute goal by Dillon Serna, assisted by Dominique Badji and Joshua Gatt. Los Angeles retook the lead in the sixty-third minute on a McBean goal, via Pedro. The Galaxy added on with a Romain Alessandrini penalty kick goal in the seventy-first minute. This made it a 3-1 final, with the man of the match being McBean for his brace.

Finally, in Seattle, the Sounders FC host Orlando City SC. Joe Bendik and Stefan Frei protect the nets. Seattle started in the nineteenth minute with a Will Bruin goal. The Sounders saw a yellow card for a Clint Dempsey foul in the seventy-fifth minute. Orlando City's Will Johnson and Jonathan Spector took yellow cards for fouls in the seventy-eighth and seventy-ninth minutes, respectively. Seattle's Roman Torres had a yellow card for his foul in stoppage time, leading to an equalizer by Orlando City's Scott Sutter, with the help of Kaka on the free kick. The final stood at 1-1, with the man of the match being Bruin.

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NWSL 2017: Week 9

After the international break, the NWSL is back in action. All games took place on June 17; my publishing delay is due to technological difficulties on my end. We begin with...

The Chicago Red Stars hosting the Washington Spirit. Stephanie Labbe and Alyssa Naeher are the strong keepers. Chicago had a yellow card for a thirty-first minute foul by Katie Naughton. Washington led off in the forty-second minute with a Francisca Ordega goal, via Cheyna Williams. The Spirit's Meggie Dougherty Howard had a yellow card for her foul in the sixty-second minute. Washington's Shelina Zadorsky took a yellow card for a foul in the eighty-first minute, leading to a penalty kick goal by the Red Stars' Christen Press to tie the game. This made it a 1-1 draw in the end, with the woman of the match being Labbe, who stopped three of four shots on goal against her, including a pair of strong saves. Also impressing were right back Estelle Johnson and the forward Ordega for the Spirit, while Press, Julie Johnston Ertz, and Danielle Colaprico played well for the Red Stars.

East to North Carolina, where the Courage welcome the Boston Breakers. Abby Smith and Katelyn Rowland are in goal. North Carolina began in the third minute with a Kristen Hamilton goal, assisted by Samantha Mewis. The Courage added on with a Hamilton goal in the fifteenth minute, her second of the game passed from McCall Zerboni. North Carolina extended the lead as Ashley Hatch scored in the thirty-eighth minute, thanks to Makenzy Doniak. Boston got on the board with a seventy-third minute goal by Adriana Leon, made possible by Natasha Dowie. Rosie White of the Breakers had a yellow card for a foul in the eightieth minute. The game ended at 3-1, with the woman of the match named as Hamilton, for her brace. Also showing well were Hatch and center back Abby Erceg for the Courage, while White and Leon had the better of the efforts for the Breakers.

Back west, FC Kansas City hosts the Seattle Reign FC. Haley Kopmeyer and Nicole Barnhart protect the nets. Kansas City opened in the twenty-third minute with an Alexa Newfield goal, assisted by Erika Tymrak. Seattle tied it on a Megan Rapinoe goal in the thirty-first minute, courtesy of Nahomi Kawasumi. The Reign saw yellow cards for fouls by Lindsay Elston in the seventy-third minute and Carson Pickett in the seventy-fourth minute. Kansas City's Shea Groom had a yellow card for her seventy-sixth minute foul. Seattle retook the lead on a Kawasumi goal in the eighty-first minute, set up by Christine Nairn after a frenzy in front of the goal. Kansas City retied it on a Maegan Kelly goal in the eighty-fourth minute, helped along by Yael Averbuch. Sydney Leroux of Kansas City had a yellow card for a ninetieth minute foul. The game ended at 2-2, with the woman of the match being Kawasumi with her goal and assist. The Reign also saw good games from Rapinoe and Elston, while Kansas City got good efforts from center backs Averbuch and Becky Sauerbrunn and Lo'Eau Labonta and Newfield.

Down in Texas, the Houston Dash bring in the Orlando Pride. Aubrey Bledsoe and Lydia Williams play in goal. Orlando started in the sixteenth minute with a long-distance goal by Camila, set up by Marta. The Pride added on with a Marta goal in the twenty-second minute. Orlando extended the lead as Marta scored again in the fifty-seventh minute, thanks to Jasmyne Spencer. Houston's Janine Beckie took a yellow card for a sixty-fourth minute foul. The Pride saw a yellow card for Camila's time wasting in the sixty-fifth minute. Orlando padded the lead with an Alanna Kennedy goal, coming off of Marta in the sixty-eighth minute. In the eightieth minute, Janine Van Wyk of the Dash had a yellow card for her foul. Houston got on the board in the eighty-ninth minute with a Poliana goal, guided in by Andressa. The Dash pulled closer at the end of the game with a last-second goal by Nichelle Prince in stoppage time, again passed from Andressa. The final stood at 4-2, with the woman of the match being Marta for her brace and pair of assists. The Pride also saw good games from center back Ali Krieger, right back Kristen Edmonds, and midfielder Camila, while the Dash got their best games out of midfield substitute Andressa, center back Van Wyk, and right back Poliana.

Finally, the Portland Thorns host Sky Blue FC. Kailen Sheridan and Adrianna Franch are between the posts. Sky Blue struck first in the first minute as Raquel Rodriguez's goal at the twenty-five second mark matched the fastest goal to start a game in league history, on a pass from Sam Kerr. Sky Blue added on with a Kerr goal in the seventieth minute, courtesy of Maya Hayes. In the seventy-fourth minute, Kelley O'Hara of Sky Blue took a yellow card for dissent. Sky Blue extended the lead in the eighty-eighth minute with a Kerr goal, coming off of Madison Tiernan. Nikki Stanton of Sky Blue had a yellow card for a foul in the ninetieth minute, as did Portland's Amandine Henry a minute later. The Thorns avoided the shutout with a last-second goal by Christine Sinclair, who followed up her own penalty kick in stoppage time to bury the rebound. This was small consolation, as the final rested at 3-1, and Sky Blue's Kerr was the woman of the match. Helping her were center back Mandy Freeman, and the midfielder Rodriguez, while the staunchest opposition came from Sinclair and Henry.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Stephanie Labbe
CB Mandy Freeman
CB Yael Averbuch
RB Estelle Johnson
LB Kristen Edmonds (out of position)
DM Raquel Rodriguez
AM Camila
AM Marta
FW Nahomi Kawasumi
FW Sam Kerr
FW Kristen Hamilton

MLS 2017: Week 16

All teams are in action this weekend, on Saturday (ten games) and Sunday (one game). We begin in...

Yankee Stadium, as New York City FC hosts the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Sean Johnson play goal. Seattle had yellow cards for fouls by Gustav Svensson in the twenty-eighth minute and Cristian Roldan in the twenty-ninth minute. Rodney Wallace of New York City took a yellow card for his foul in the thirty-fifth minute. The Sounders led off in the fortieth minute on a Roldan goal. In the forty-eighth minute, Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso took a yellow card for his foul. Chad Marshall of the Sounders took a yellow card for dissent in the fifty-second minute, protesting the penalty kick call that led to David Villa's tying goal for New York City. New York City took the lead in the seventy-seventh minute goal by Villa, passed from Jack Harrison. New York City had yellow cards for Ethan White in the eightieth minute and Sean Okoli in stoppage time. New York City won 2-1, with Villa the man of the match for his brace.

Down in Georgia, Atlanta United welcomes the Columbus Crew SC. Zack Steffen and Alec Kann are the keepers. Atlanta opened in the sixteenth minute with a Hector Villalba goal, via Yamil Asad. Carlos Carmona of Atlanta took a yellow card for his foul in the twenty-first minute. Federico Higuain tied it for Columbus in the twenty-sixth minute with his goal assisted by Ola Kamara and Harrison Afful. Afful of the Crew had a yellow card for fifty-third minute foul. Asad of Atlanta took a yellow card for his foul in the fifty-fourth minute. Atlanta took the lead back in the sixty-seventh minute on a Miguel Almiron goal, set up by Leandro Gonzalez Pirez. Atlanta iced it at 3-1 in the eighty-eighth minute on a Josef Martinez goal, courtesy of Kevin Kratz. The man of the match was Almiron for his winner.

Back north, the New England Revolution bring in the Chicago Fire. Matt Lampson and Cody Cropper are the inexperienced goalies. Chicago began in the eighteenth minute with a Nemanja Nikolic goal. Kelyn Rowe of New England had a yellow card for his twenty-first minute foul. The Fire added on with a Luis Solignac goal in the sixty-first minute, coming off of Michael de Leeuw. The Revolution got on the board with an Antonio Mlinar Delamea goal in the seventieth minute. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the man of the match being Nikolic for his goal and assist.

South again to Florida, where Orlando City SC hosts the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Joe Bendik play in the six-yard boxes. Orlando City started in the eighth minute with a Matias Perez Garcia goal, via Kaka and Giles Barnes. Montreal tied it in the sixteenth minute with a Blerim Dzemaili goal, courtesy of Ignacio Piatti. Laurent Ciman of the Impact had a yellow card for his foul in the eighteenth minute. Orlando City retook the lead with a Carlos Rivas goal in the twenty-third minute. In first half stoppage time, Dzemaili of Montreal had a yellow card for dissent. Daniel Lovitz of the Impact took a yellow card for his fifty-second minute foul. Montreal tied it again in the fifty-eighth minute on a Piatti goal, set up by Dzemaili and Matteo Mancosu. The Impact took the lead on a fifty-ninth minute goal by Piatti. Orlando City had yellow cards for Jose Aja in the sixtieth minute and Garcia in the eighty-ninth minute, both for fouls. Jonathan Spector of Orlando City tied it in second half stoppage time with his goal, passed from Garcia. The man of the 3-3 match was Piatti for his brace and assist.

In Canada, Toronto FC welcomes DC United. Bill Hamid and Alexander Bono are between the posts. Toronto's Victor Vazquez took a yellow card for his twenty-seventh minute foul. Toronto had a yellow card for Sebastian Giovinco's dissent in the fortieth minute. Toronto got going in the sixtieth minute with a Jozy Altidore goal, passed from Giovinco. In the sixty-fifth minute, Toronto's Altidore took a yellow card for a foul. DC had yellow cards given to Kofi Opare in the seventy-second minute and Ian Harkes in the eighty-third minute, both for fouls. Toronto added on in the eighty-fifth minute with a Jordan Hamilton goal, coming off of Giovinco. The man of the 2-0 match was Giovinco for his pair of assists.

Out in California, the San Jose Earthquakes bring in Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and David Bingham are the gloved men. San Jose had yellow cards for an Anibal Godoy foul in the seventy-third minute and dissent by Chris Wondolowski in the seventy-fourth minute. Kansas City saw yellow cards for Matt Besler in the seventy-eighth minute and Roger Espinoza in the eighty-sixth minute, both for fouls. The final held at 0-0, with the man of the match being Melia for his three-save clean sheet.

Backtracking to Colorado, where the Rapids host the Portland Timbers. Jake Gleeson and Tim Howard guard the woodwork. Portland struck first in the eighteenth minute with a Sebastian Blanco goal, made possible by Diego Valeri. Colorado tied it in the fifty-first minute with a Dominque Badji goal, courtesy of Kevin Doyle. Valeri took a yellow card for his foul in the sixty-first minute for the Timbers. The Rapids pulled ahead on an eighty-ninth minute Alan Gordon goal, passed from Mohammed Saeid and Caleb Calvert. Colorado's Gordon took a yellow card for delaying the game in the ninetieth minute through his celebration. The Rapids won 2-1, and Badji was the man of the match.

Over in Utah, Real Salt Lake welcomes Minnesota United FC. Bobby Shuttleworth and Nick Rimando are the goalies. Minnesota's Brent Kallman took a yellow card for a foul in the twenty-first minute. Salt Lake had a yellow card for Kyle Beckerman's foul in the seventy-fourth minute. Real dented the scoreboard in the eighty-fourth minute with a Yura Movsisyan goal. Ibson of Minnesota took a yellow card for dissent in the eighty-sixth minute. The game ended at 1-0, with Movsisyan the man of the match.

Northwest to Vancouver, where the Whitecaps FC bring in FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and David Ousted man the nets. Matias Laba of Vancouver took a yellow card for a handball in the forty-ninth minute. Dallas drew first blood in the fifty-second minute with a Maximiliano Urruti. The Whitecaps tied it on a seventy-fourth minute goal by Cristian Techera. Dallas' Atiba Harris took a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The game ended 1-1, with the man of the match being Techera for the equalizer.

Saturday ends with the Los Angeles Galaxy hosting the Houston Dynamo. Tyler Deric and Clement Diop are called on to start in goal. Houston was first to score in the twenty-second minute with a Mauro Manotas goal. Los Angeles tied it in the thirty-fifth minute with an Emmanuel Boateng goal, helped along by Romain Alessandrini. The Dynamo took yellow cards for Alberth Elis in the fifty-eighth minute, Leonardo in the sixty-ninth minute, and Manotas in the seventy-third minute, all for fouls. Houston retook the lead in the seventy-fourth minute on an Elis goal, set up by Boniek Garcia. A.J. DeLaGarza of the Dynamo had a yellow card for dissent in stoppage time. The Galaxy tied it three minutes later with an Alessandrini goal, made possible by Bradford Jamieson and Jose Villarreal. Los Angeles' Nathan Smith had a yellow card for his foul three minutes after that. The man of the 2-2 match was Alessandrini for his equalizer and assist.

Finally, on Sunday, the Philadelphia Union host the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Andre Blake are the keepers. Philadelphia went down to ten men when Derrick Jones took a straight red card for violent conduct. Warren Creavalle of the Union had a yellow card for dissent in the sixty-seventh minute. New York saw yellow cards for fouls by Damien Perrinelle in the seventy-first minute and Aurelien Collin in the eighty-fourth minute. The Red Bulls cracked the scoresheet in the eighty-seventh minute on a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, assisted by Kemar Lawrence and Gonzalo Veron. New York iced it at 2-0 with a Wright-Phillips goal in stoppage time, made possible by Sal Zizzo and Veron. The man of the match was Wright-Phillips for his brace.

I'm currently having some technological issues, resulting in late publication for the MLS and NWSL action this week. I plan to have the NWSL fully covered by tomorrow night, and I apologize for the delay. I hope my issues will be resolved by the midweek games for MLS.