Regardless of where you stand in your level of MLS fandom, there’s no denying that the league provides an abundance of goals. In 2017, 659 have been scored through 225 games — good for an average of 2.93 per match. Horrific defending from the likes of Minnesota United, Real Salt Lake and DC United certainly helps to elevate this number, but we’re not complaining.
26-year-old Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake had himself a night, Kemar Lawrence struck a sweet free kick in the 88th minute and the Reggae Boyz upset Mexico in the Gold Cup semifinals Sunday night, setting up a meeting with the United States in the final on Wednesday.
The opening 45 minutes saw Mexico in control. Jamaica were proactive in their approach, but El Tri carved out a couple of clear opportunities only to be denied by the outstanding Blake. In the 12th minute, the Philadelphia Union keeper denied Mexico with a fantastic double save.
Fans flocked to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California to watch 12-time European champions Real Madrid play three-time winners Manchester United with talents like Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial on display.
But the script was flipped when Ronald McDonald was seen leading the players from both squads onto the pitch, and the McDonald’s clown provided the summer’s best moment by staying alongside the referees and shakings hands with the players.
Substitute Clint Dempsey dribbled through the Costa Rica defense set up Jozy Altidore for the first goal of the night as the USMNT defeated Costa Rica 1-0 to advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
Here's the goal:
The current saucy transfer rumor in the soccer world is French giants Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly come knocking at Barcelona's door inquiring after Neymar, for a reported near quarter-billion dollar fee. Neymar is said to be interested in this offer, as the Parisiens have reportedly offered to double his wages.
This move might happen and it might not. For the moment, though, Neymar is still a Barcelona player, and what a player he is. The Brazilian forward scored one pretty good goal and one PRETTY GOOD goal against Juventus in the International Champions Cup Saturday.
Everyone knows Christian Pulisic is the light and the salvation, but VfL Bochum were reminded of that fact on Saturday during a preseason friendly draw.
Christian Pulisic scores equalizing goal for Dortmund against VfL Bochum. 2-2 preaseason draw. #BVB #USMNT pic.twitter.com/ii0mMUZ8jR
He’s young, doesn’t look like anything special and wears the No. 80, but Phil Foden is England’s next great hope.
At 17, Foden doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page yet, let alone much of a following outside his mum, but he showed 67,000 fans in Houston on Thursday night what he can do.
Mexico defeated Honduras 1-0 to advance to the Gold Cup semifinals behind an early goal from Rodolfo Pizarro, and they’ll now play Jamaica in a rematch of the 2015 final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
The Boyz are alright.
For all the hype surrounding Canadian youngsters Alphonso Davies (16 years old) and Cyle Larin (22), it was the Reggae Boyz who impressed most Thursday evening in Phoenix. Jamaica edged Canada 2-1 in the Gold Cup quarterfinals to set up a date with Mexico or Honduras in the semifinals on Sunday.
Jamaica has a chance to reach its second straight Gold Cup final and in doing so knock off the team that beat them in the 2015 final, Mexico.