A U.S. national soccer team being knocked out at the group stage of a major tournament is a headline that we don't often associate with the women’s side, but today produced an outcome not many in the soccer world could've predicted. The U.S. U-20 women’s national team saw its journey at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup come to a shocking end before it really even got started.
STANDINGS // CLASSEMENT
During a goal-packed, explosive MLS game between D.C. United and Orlando City on Sunday night, Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta combined to destroy Orlando at the death. United won 3-2 with Acosta’s hat-trick (two supplied by Rooney) surpassing the efforts of an own goal and Dom Dwyer.
In the 96th minute, a failed D.C. corner left their own net without a keeper (United's David Ousted had come forward despite the 2-2 scoreline — D.C. had to win this one) as Orlando’s Will Johnson sought to capitalize on the counter — until Rooney started rampaging.
Just eight days after scoring his first competitive goal for Paris Saint-Germain against Monaco in the Trophée des Champions, 18-year-old American phenom Timothy Weah has scored his first Ligue 1 goal for the club. PSG opened the 2018-19 league season against Caen and goals from Neymar and Adrien Rabiot had the home side cruising at the half.
Bayern Munich ran rampant against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2018 German Super Cup — the curtain raiser for the German season — by posting a 5-0 victory thanks to a 33-minute hat-trick from rumored want-away Robert Lewandowski.
This was a rematch of last season’s improbable DFB-Pokal final, where Eintracht shocked Bayern 3-1 with Niko Kovac in the dugout for die Adler. With Kovac now patrolling Bayern’s touchline as the successor to Jupp Heynckes, this match belonged to FC Hollywood from start to finish.
An annual friendly between the Juventus first team and the under-20 squad (that sounds rough) at the Agnelli family estate (the founders of FIAT motor company and owners of the club) saw Cristiano Ronaldo make his first appearance for the Old Lady. It took the Portuguese eight minutes to open his account after a ball over the top sent him through on goal.
The Juve U-20 keeper decided to stay on his line, and Ronaldo buried his effort inside the left post.
Manchester City opened its title defense Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Unai Emery’s Arsenal at the Emirates. An early strike from Raheem Sterling and an emphatic finish from Bernardo Silva just after the hour mark proved enough for the Citizens, who spoiled Emery’s debut as Arsenal manager while clearly outlining the massive divide that remains between the two clubs.
Liverpool climbed to the top of the Premier League table after thrashing West Ham 4-0 at Anfield Sunday. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Sadio Mane claimed a brace by the 53rd and substitute Daniel Sturridge scored just one minute after coming on to achieve a dream start for Jurgen Klopp.
In his first competitive match in charge of West Ham, Manuel Pellegrini can take solace from the fact that the Reds are going to do this to many opponents this season.
Luke Skywalker’s favorite soccer team is back in the Premier League but Everton’s new star stole the headlines on Saturday. Two Richarlison goals vs Wolves helped propel Everton to a 2-2 draw despite playing most of the match with 10 men after Phil Jagielka was sent off.
An absolutely beautiful Andrés Iniesta goal gave the former Barcelona man his first goal in the J League with Vissel Kobe on Saturday. And the assist came from a familiar face for many fans of European football.
Iniesta began the move in his own half before continuing his run all the way into the box where he was spotted by one Lukas Podolski. The former Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Cologne striker found Iniesta with a great pass, but the turn Iniesta made to escape his defender was absolutely sublime.
Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus, questions have been whirling about as to who will fill his shoes and be the leading man for los Blancos this season. What star will Madrid pluck from another European giant for an absurd sum of money? What precocious youngster will hastily be labeled "The Next Ronaldo?”