This fall, when USWNT defender Megan Rapinoe began kneeling during the national anthem to support other athletes in protesting racial inequality in the United States, it touched off a chain of events that revealed US Soccer to be very clueless about its fanbase. That chain of events has added another very silly link:
The result wasn’t what Clint Dempsey and the defending MLS Cup champions wanted, a 2-1 defeat to Houston Dynamo to start their 2017 season, but the USMNT player and his club will be delighted that he was able to play 90 minutes and score a goal after six months out with an irregular heartbeat.
Dempsey was sidelined last August after the issue was diagnosed, making him a spectator for Seattle’s improbable MLS Cup triumph, but he was cleared to return to play this preseason. Dempsey picked up right where he left off for Seattle, scoring their lone goal in a 2-1 defeat to Houston.
Eryk Williamson, a sophomore at the University of Maryland and a potential DC United Homegrown player, smashed a half-volley from almost 25 yards out that crashed in off the inside of the left post to send the United States U-20 team to the final of the 2017 CONCACAF Championship. The victory also clinched the American's spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
After a six-month hiatus due to an irregular heartbeat, Clint Dempsey is expected to make his return for the Seattle Sounders against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
.@SoundersFC clear @clint_dempsey to return to action for season opener against Houston: https://t.co/nwqbNxRzkP pic.twitter.com/kYnet1KzPm
The United States U-20 team defeated a Mexican U-20 side that hadn’t lost a match since 2009 on Monday in the classification stage of the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
The loss for Mexico means that they’ll need a result against El Salvador on March 1 to qualify for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea. If Mexico were to lose or draw that match, the US would clinch their spot before even playing their final classification match against El Salvador on March 3.
Panama were the surprise winners of the 2017 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship after defeating three-time champions Mexico 4-2 in the final. With the scores level at 2-2, Panama proceeded to score two unanswered goals to secure their first ever championship.
Mexico scored the first, but Panama responded with their goalkeeper hurling one down the beach for an attacker to side volley home.
As temperatures drop below freezing and blizzard warnings grip the Midwest, it feels as though winter has been here forever and shows no sign of abating. So it’s with an envious eye that we follow the 2017 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in the Bahamas.
The tournament, contested by 16 nations from February 20-26, will crown the region’s champion and decide which two teams will qualify for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. On Friday, the quarterfinals will be contested and it looks like everyone is having a helluva time.
Well folks, Nike really went all in on their latest jerseys for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s national teams. Now that Jurgen Klinsmann and his hatred for the color red is out the picture, the U.S. will rock their “Red to Toe” uniforms. Cool! Expect for the fact that three teams have already sported these same exact jerseys. See for yourself: