Quick Hits
- MLS: Vazquez to the USMNT, a big week for young players, and more
- NWSL: The league’s international stars are back and changing games
- USL: The on-field factors behind the Sacramento Republic’s run in the U.S. Open Cup
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 big weekend for young players in MLS, the NWSL’s return, and the Sacramento Republic’s success in the U.S. Open Cup.
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MLS
Lowery: Vazquez to the USMNT, a big week for young players, and more
So this weekend was just about the most MLS weekend to ever MLS, wasn’t it?
There was a Friday night game that started on Friday and ended well into Saturday morning Eastern Time. There were two 4-4 draws. The Philadelphia Union snagged their second touchdown of the year, this time without the extra point. Oh, and a team that started with Tommy McNamara and Sebastian Lletget on the wings drew with a team that started Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi out wide.
I mean, it just doesn’t get any better than that. Here’s my notebook complete with some takeaways from this weekend’s MLS action… [Subscribe] [Read]
NWSL
Cascone: The league’s international stars are back and changing games
The NWSL resumed this weekend after a week-long break and most of the league’s international players were back and available for selection. Rachel Daly (England, Houston Dash), Kerolin (North Carolina, Brazil), Debinha (North Carolina, Brazil), Angelina (OL Reign, Brazil), and Sofia Jakobsson (San Diego, Sweden) were still away, with Daly and the Brazilians winning championships for their countries over the weekend.
Many of these international players picked up right where they left off before all of the international soccer they played in July, but a few players really stood out as game changers for their clubs.
Let’s talk about some of those players… [Subscribe] [Read]
USL
Morrissey: The on-field factors behind the Sacramento Republic’s run in the U.S. Open Cup
After their upset win last week, the Sacramento Republic became the first lower-division side to reach the U.S. Open Cup final since the Charleston Battery in 2008. On the way, they allowed just two goals in six matches, and they matched Charleston in beating three MLS teams on their path to the championship game.
What has Sacramento done to best their first-tier competition? Well, each of their wins against MLS teams involved a slightly different approach.
As a baseline, Mark Briggs lines up the Republic in a 5-4-1 shape… [Subscribe] [Read]
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