Game Recaps

The 2016 MLS Playoffs are already two weeks old, and 12 matches are in the books. However, with the international break arriving, the road to the MLS Cup takes a brief hiatus. Luckily for a few teams dealing with injuries, the extra time off to prepare for the 2016 MLS Conference Championships is exactly what’s needed. 

A slug fest in Colorado and a back and forth affair in Texas bookended the action on Sunday. Let’s take a look at the results from both second leg matches, TV schedule information for the conference finals and an updated prediction.

An extremely eventful week for American fullback DeAndre Yedlin ended on a high note with a brilliant assist against Cardiff City on Saturday and a call-up to the USMNT on Sunday.

A meeting between fourth and sixth in the English Premier League was entirely one-sided, Chelsea hammering Everton 5-0 and climbing to the summit of the EPL.

Eden Hazard, just recently named the PFA’s Fans’ Player of the Month for October, was in devastating form for the home side. His opening goal in the 19th minute was a sweet finish inside the far post.

Friday's game between Hertha Berlin and Borussia Monchengladbach was filled with fouls, cards and injuries. Salomon Kalou led his team to victory by scoring three goals, continuing his fine form since leaving Chelsea.

Salomon Kalou bagged a hatrick tonight against Monchengladbach.

Still got it.. pic.twitter.com/xEubBYXofD

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) November 4, 2016

It's a tired cliche, but the game isn't over until the referee blows the final whistle. An unbelievable, historic match at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship proved as much.

As soccer fans, we typically hate to see a game end in a 0-0 tie. But, there is nothing more humiliating than watching one team lose to another by five or more goals. In soccer, it's very important for a team to score the first goal of the game. If that's the case, your team automatically sets the pace for the match, and it also shows your opponents that you are here to compete.

So much of the prematch hype for Barcelona versus Manchester City centered on the 4-0 hiding Barca had administered the Citizens only two weeks previously. If Guardiola’s new side ever aspired to reach the levels of his former protegees, that scoreline demonstrated how much work still remained.

The return match in Manchester started brightly for City. An early penalty appeal from Raheem Sterling saw the attacker booked for simulation, an extremely harsh reading of what looked an almost certain penalty.

Both the American Football and EPL versions of Monday Night Football have been largely awful so far this season. 

But hey, there was hope this week, at least in the EPL! Swansea manager Bob Bradley, the first American to manage in one of Europe's top leagues, was in action! Surely Bradley, as an American, understands the importance of Monday Night Football being good more than anyone else!

The good: the game was wildly entertaining.

The bad: the game was also wildly awful.

For those watching Mexico play New Zealand in a friendly match in early October, it was easy to scoff at the sight of Giovani dos Santos wearing the captain’s armband for El Tri. Leadership has never been a quality directly associated with the Mexican attacker, but his continued evolution as a footballer speaks to his newfound maturity.