USA

A day after an alleged homophobic slur by one player against another led to San Diego Loyal SC walking off the pitch in protest and forfeiting their USL Championship match against Phoenix Rising FC, the Rising on Thursday announced they placed midfielder Junior Flemmings — the player at the heart of the allegation — on administrative leave.

Rising coach Rick Schantz also took leave, but unrelated matter to a USL investigation, the team announced.

The clubs competing in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League group stage have been announced and boy oh boy do we have some great games to look forward to. Let’s skip the chit-chat and show you the full look of the groups and the takeaways.

The official result of the #UCLdraw!

Most exciting group stage match? pic.twitter.com/d7ynuEjPq3

“We will speak. We will act.”

That was the promise made by San Diego Loyal SC players after teammate Elijah Martin was racially abused in a match against LA Galaxy II last week. The USL club had a plan to join together with Wednesday night’s opponent, Phoenix Rising, to halt the match in the 71st minute to raise banners with the phrase in a show of solidarity against white supremacy.

Barcelona have completed the signing of United States full back Sergiño Dest from Ajax for $24.70 million plus five more in variables, the LaLiga side said on Thursday.

Barca's statement added that Dest, 19, had agreed to sign a five-year contract with a release clause of $470 million. Dest, who broke into Ajax's first team from their academy last season and has played three times for the U.S., will be officially presented on Friday.

The first ever Gold Cup Group Stage Draw has pitted the USMNT against the foes from up north, Canada. Joining the U.S. and Canada in Group B is Martinique and the winner of a play-in round that will be one of the following teams: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Bermuda, Barbados or Haiti.

In case you are unfamiliar with the structure of the 2021 Gold Cup, I refer you here. 

After an exciting weekend of NWSL matches with plenty of goals and quality plays, the games continue on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10:00 p.m. EST with the Portland Thorns welcoming OL Reign to Providence Park. 

The Thorns are coming off their first match — and win — of the Fall Series after defeating the Utah Royals 3-0 on Sunday, Sept. 20. Simone Charley, Lindsey Horan and Sophia Smith all tallied goals. Smith debuted for Portland, scored her first professional goal and truly showed why she was the No. 1 draft pick in 2020. 

Rookie defender Madison Hammond collected a bunch of firsts after her OL Reign faced off against the Utah Royals in their Fall Series debut.

Hammond, a graduate of Wake Forest University, made her first appearance for the Reign during the match and became the first Native American to play in the NWSL. (Hammond is Navajo.)

Richie Laryea and Sophie Schmidt made history by becoming the first Canadians ever to simultaneously win MLS and NWSL Player of the Week honors. Laryea was named MLS Player of the Week after he tallied one goal and two assists for Toronto FC. Houston Dash midfielder Schmidt scored, had an assist and played a crucial role in the Dash’s third goal to defeat Orlando Pride, earning herself Budweiser Woman of the Week.

Both of the Canadians showed off their composure and creative abilities, and they are both, without a doubt, representing their nation one accolade at a time. 

Anthony Fontana, Ilsinho and Brenden Aaronson each scored one goal to lift the host Philadelphia Union past Inter Miami 3-0 on Sunday night.

Kacper Przybyłko recorded assists on the first two goals for the Union, who are 4-1-0 in their past five games. The Union (8-2-4, 28 points) picked up three points in heavy rain without captain and midfielder Alejandro Bedoya (suspension for yellow-card accumulation) and right back Ray Gaddis (hamstring).