It was a must-win match against a neighboring rival, one that had just thwomped the Americans a month earlier. And it kicked off with a half-empty stadium — and that’s being generous. The USMNT vs Canada attendance was shockingly sparse on Friday night in Orlando, Florida.
Gabriel Jesus and Lionel Messi both missed first-half penalty kicks. Only Messi followed it up with a goal.
The Brazilian hit his PK wide moments before Messi had his effort saved by Alisson, allowing the Argentine to poke home the rebound in the 13th minute. Messi notched his 69th career international goal for Argentina to propel his side to a narrow 1-0 win over rival Brazil in a friendly on Friday in Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo entered today’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Lithuania needing five goals to reach a century for Portugal. It was always going to be close as the Juventus striker has historically feasted on the world’s 132nd-ranked side, including the four he hit when the two nations met in Vilnius back in September.
When former USMNT manager Jürgen Klinsmann labelled the newfangled CONCACAF Nations League a “waste of time” back in October (rich enough coming from a coach that inspired his team to defeats against Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala by a combined scoreline of 8-1 during 2018 World Cup qualifying), it was easy to grasp the German’s point: If you limit the amount of big matches you have against quality opponents, you limit your growth.
The USMNT approaches Friday’s CONCACAF Nations League match against Canada needing a victory to have any chance of advancing to the semifinals of the competition, and they'll do so without attacking catalyst Christian Pulisic, who misses out with a hip injury he sustained against Crystal Palace last Saturday.
Much like it was throughout the entirety of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, it’s still a very popular sentiment to express how good Rose Lavelle is at soccer.
rose lavelle is good at passing
— Aaron West (@oeste) November 11, 2019
On a cold Thursday night in Columbus, Ohio, the USWNT beat Sweden 3-2 in the first match for the new U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski.
While the U.S. was sent packing after the group stage following its worst-ever showing at a FIFA U-17 World Cup, Mexico is through to the quarterfinals following a 2-0 victory over Japan in Gama, Brazil, on Wednesday. If you were already a little disappointed with U.S. Soccer following the dismal showing, you’ll be pleased to know that Mexico’s success is even further damnation of our bumbling federation.
Tarania “Plum Plum” Clarke, a member of the Jamaica women’s national team and captain of reigning Jamaica champion Waterhouse FC, was stabbed to death on Thursday in Kingston, Jamaica, authorities confirmed Friday.
Police said Clarke, 20, was killed by another woman after a fight broke out at a bar after a dispute over a cell phone. That woman, who has not been identified, has been arrested.
Clarke had planned on moving to the United States in 2020 to go to college.
Vlatko Andonovski will replace two-time Women’s World Cup-winner Jill Ellis as head coach of the USMNT, according to sources.
First reported by Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl and then New York Times’ Andrew Das, at least two officials close to the situation have said he will be introduced as head coach early next week.