We’re back with another edition of the Weekend Recap. Every Monday, we make it easier for you to keep up with the most interesting and important things in American soccer.
Today, we’re taking you through some of the past weekend’s key storylines, including a new must-watch team in MLS and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ improvement in the USL. We’re also looking back at the first half of the NWSL regular season.
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MLS
Lowery: With a pair of Italian stars leading the way, there’s a new must-watch team in MLS
I’m not sure I’ve seen a more entertaining half of soccer in MLS this year than Toronto FC’s first half against Charlotte FC on Saturday. BMO Field was rocking. Bob Bradley started both of his new star Italian wingers, Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. Mark-Anthony Kaye even made his home debut for Toronto in central midfield in a 4-0 win.
With Insigne and Bernardeschi on the field for the first half, Bradley’s team scored four goals and played some of the best soccer that any team has played all season. Jonathan Osorio opened the scoring for the home team with a hilarious, unplanned deflection… [Subscribe]
NWSL
Cascone: One thought on each team at the midpoint of the regular season
There was no NWSL action over the weekend, so we’re using this short break to take stock of each team before the back half of the year. Without any further ado, here’s one thought on every team at the midpoint of this season.
Teams are listed in reverse order of the current standings.
12. North Carolina Courage
The best part of the Courage this season has to be that they won the 2022 Challenge Cup before doing a swan dive to the bottom of the regular season standings. Just kidding…kind of. But really, the Courage have been in last place since Week 3… [Subscribe]
USL
Morrissey: The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are back
During a rough three-match stretch in the dog days of June, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds lost three straight games and shipped nine goals in the process. They switched their formation each week, couldn’t settle on a shape or a starting lineup, and seemed to have lost the strategic magic that has defined the Bob Lilley era at Highmark Stadium.
Since then, Pittsburgh has four wins in five matches with a +8 goal difference in the process. They’ve settled on Jahmali Waite in goal, stuck with a 3-4-3 shape that maximizes the talent on the roster, and settled on Albert Dikwa as the No. 9… [Subscribe]
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