Tag: SoccerBlast

Hayes slams Chelsea-Barcelona ref for ‘worst decision in Women’s Champions League history’

“We were robbed,” fumed Hayes in a post-match press conference

Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes tore into referee Iuliana Demetrescu after her side saw a first-leg lead over Barcelona evaporate in Saturday’s UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinal.

Chelsea managed a stunning win in Spain last week, but lost the second leg 2-0 amid multiple controversial calls.

Canada defender Kadeisha Buchanan was given a second yellow card in the 59th minute after a tackle on Patri Guijarro, drawing strenuous disagreement from Chelsea (and many neutral observers).

With the resulting numerical superiority, Barça would go on to claim the winning goal on a penalty kick given over modest contact as Aitana Bonmatí tumbled amid pressure from Jess Carter and Ashley Lawrence.

Speaking at a press conference after the match, Hayes didn’t hold anything back when it came to Demetrescu’s performance.

“I didn’t think it was a foul, let alone a yellow card,” was Hayes’ read on the red card. “I think that is probably the worst decision in UEFA Women’s Champions league history…

“I stood there and looked at the fourth official and said ‘surely that will be checked,’ and she said ‘it can’t on a yellow.’ There’s nothing you can do when it’s such a terrible decision and it’s already hard enough [to face Barcelona].

“Second half, we were getting on top, the players were confident, so when you get such a shocking decision… There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s hard enough to play against Barça with 11. When we have 10, it’s impossible.”

Hayes: ‘We were robbed’

Hayes continued with her criticism of Demetrescu, calling her “famous for easy cards” and expressing surprise that UEFA gave the assignment to the 34-year-old.

UEFA had only given Demetrescu two previous assignments as a center referee during this edition of the UWCL, with the Romanian calling Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 win over Roma in December and a January match that saw BK Häcken and Paris FC battle to a scoreless draw. Per Soccerway, Demetrescu doled out 10 bookings across those two encounters.

The defeat came as a bitter blow for Hayes, who will depart Chelsea at the end of this season to take over as the U.S. women’s national team’s head coach. With this last chance at UWCL glory gone, Hayes’ final match in charge for the Blues will be May 18’s trip to face Manchester United.

“I’m gutted for [the players]. We were robbed,” said Hayes. “We’d just hit the post. We could feel the momentum [changing] but didn’t have the chance to experience that.”

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Indianapolis mayor pursues MLS expansion, leaving Indy Eleven with uncertain future

Mayor Jim Hogsett is courting MLS, and Indy Eleven of the USL may end up as collateral damage

Thursday marked 11 years to the day that USL Championship club Indy Eleven unveiled its badge in a ceremony in downtown Indianapolis.

It may also go down as one of the darkest days in club history.

The Eleven got a double dose of bad news. First, the Keystone Group — a real estate development firm owned by Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir — went public with an accusation that Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration was going to “walk away” from a $1.5 billion mixed-use project known as Eleven Park.

Just hours later, Hogsett announced that he took a trip to New York City to meet with MLS commissioner Don Garber “to discuss the prospects of Indianapolis pursuing a Major League Soccer club.”

Hogsett then declared that he would be “leading an effort to file an [MLS expansion] application,” adding that he had already taken steps towards passing the municipal hurdles involved in bringing another professional team to the city.

In other words, the Eleven and USL were left hanging, all for the mere possibility of an MLS club coming to town.

Hogsett didn’t take any questions on Thursday, but in quotes published by local radio station WIBC, he made clear that the city intends to only build one soccer stadium, and its eyes are entirely on MLS.

“We are not building two soccer stadiums. We are just going to build one,” Hogsett said. “Where that goes is largely dependent on what MLS is going to expect.”

Ground was broken on the 20-acre Eleven Park project in May 2023, with Hogsett among the Indianapolis dignitaries to thrust a ceremonial shovel into soil on the site. The entire development was set to be anchored by a 20,000-seat stadium for the Eleven.

Now, however, the mayor’s administration maintains there was no actual deal in place, despite Hogsett referring to that groundbreaking as “a pivotal moment” for the city in remarks made at the event.

Pro Soccer Wire reached out to the USL for a statement on the matter, but at the time of publication had not received a reply.

While the city of Indianapolis appears to be pushing all of its chips in on the bet of an MLS expansion bid, the league’s interest in the Indiana capital seems far more mild.

ESPN obtained a statement that read, in its entirety, “It was exciting to hear Mayor Hogsett’s vision for a new soccer-specific stadium in Indianapolis.”

“I don’t think sitting here today that we have any plan in the near future to go beyond 30 teams,” Garber told ESPN shortly after confirming a 30th MLS side for San Diego last year. Las Vegas and Phoenix have also been mooted as expansion candidates, though MLS has no stated window for when decisions on that front could be made.

MLS, USL co-existence difficult

The situation in Indianapolis calls to mind what transpired in San Diego last May, when MLS announced plans to launch a 30th team in the city despite the presence of USL Championship side San Diego Loyal.

The Loyal were defiant at first, but by August announced that it would fold over a lack of a stadium solution. San Diego FC has not begun play in MLS, but the USL Championship’s 2024 season still kicked off without the Loyal.

MLS and USL have had a difficult time existing in the same market. The only current USL Championship side playing in a city with an MLS team is Miami FC, while Loudoun United and Orange County SC play well out in the suburbs of markets that house MLS sides.

The closest thing to coexistence is in Charlotte, N.C., home to MLS’s Charlotte FC and the Charlotte Independence of USL League One. Notably, the Independence chose to self-relegate after the 2021 season, just as MLS came to Charlotte.

Indy Eleven’s situation isn’t exactly the same; San Diego was a tenant at aging, undersized Torero Stadium, while work on the Eleven Park project is underway. However, without city support, the end result could well be the same.

The USL Championship version of the Eleven wouldn’t be the only potential casualty. The club has announced plans to move its USL W League side — one that won a championship in 2023 — to the USL Super League, but only upon the completion of Eleven Park.

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Alex Morgan to miss at least one San Diego Wave game due to ankle injury

Alex Morgan’s status is unclear, but Casey Stoney says she will miss at least one game with an ankle injury

Alex Morgan will miss at least one game with an ankle injury sustained in NWSL play.

San Diego Wave manager Casey Stoney said that the U.S. women’s national team striker will miss Saturday’s NWSL match against Bay FC.

Morgan picked up the injury last week during San Diego’s 1-0 loss to the Orlando Pride.

According to Stoney, Morgan will be “week-to-week” going forward, an indicator that the injury may keep Morgan on the sidelines for a bit longer.

It’s a busy month for San Diego, who have five games in the next four weeks. The knock could also jeopardize Morgan’s availability for Emma Hayes’ first USWNT camp, with the team facing two matches against South Korea on June 1 and June 4.

Morgan faces something of a battle to make Hayes’ final 18-player roster for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The USWNT star has been a fixture with the team for over a decade, taking part in four World Cups and three Olympiads in her sterling career.

However, with Catarina Macario healthy again and Sophia Smith recovering her confidence after a post-World Cup dip, there is a very real chance that Morgan could end up watching the Paris games from home.

More to follow…

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PSV show support for Dest after USMNT defender’s knee injury

PSV showed more support for Dest before proceeding to demolish Heerenveen

Sergiño Dest has to be feeling the love at PSV these days.

PSV’s players came out for Thursday’s match with Heerenveen in shirts reading “Sterkte Sergiño” on the front, and with Dest’s number 8 on the back. “Sterkte” is a Dutch expression meaning “strength” or “courage.”

The U.S. men’s national team defender will be out for an extended period after suffering a knee injury in training last week.

While Dest’s absence has created a new worry for the USMNT, PSV has been very supportive. After the injury, manager Peter Bosz made clear that he’d like to see the club make Dest’s loan from Barcelona a permanent transfer. Dest’s loan contract with PSV is said to include a €10 million purchase option.

Meanwhile, PSV followed up its latest message of encouragement for Dest by completely obliterating Heerenveen.

Dest’s USMNT teammate Malik Tillman had two goals and an assist in the game’s first 11 minutes as PSV robbed the match of any mystery. Despite being the away team, the Eredivisie leaders would pour it on, winning 8-0.

The result primed Eindhoven for a big party, as PSV could finish the night by clinching the club’s 25th Eredivisie crown. The victory at the Abe Lenstra Stadium left the Boeren 12 points clear of second-placed Feyenoord, who play Go Ahead Eagles later on Thursday.

Should Feyenoord fail to win that match, PSV will lift the league trophy for the first time since 2017-18.

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Mbappe has no mercy for unfortunate Lorient defender

Mbappé, please! This is just unnecessarily cruel!

Woe be to any defender wandering out towards the corner flag to close down Kylian Mbappé.

Lorient defender Nathaniel Adjei suffered the particularly grim fate of trying to close off the Paris Saint-Germain star in an era where brief video clips of athletes doing remarkable things tend to spread quickly. When you’re a center back, going viral is almost never good news.

Adjei was just doing his job on the hour mark as Lorient trailed PSG 2-0, racing after an early ball over the top that picked out Mbappé.

It had already been a tough day at the office, and now this? We’ve all been there, Nathaniel.

It’s just that if you play for Lorient, your matches are televised. That surprise Friday meeting where you didn’t have time to prepare and then immediately got called on to speak by someone three levels up the org chart doesn’t get posted to social media with a music sting from the “slow, gritty hip-hop beats” part of the sample library.

And so, Adjei’s punishment for just being one of the best soccer players on earth in statistical terms, but not being quite as good as Mbappé was this: the France star first appeared to be trying to box Adjei out, only to realize he had the space to spin and face the 21-year-old defender.

Sensing the danger, Adjei threw his left foot at the ball, hoping to spare his blushes and simply concede a corner. Sadly for him, Mbappé saw that coming, dragging the ball away and meting out a terrible punishment for the attempt.

A flash of rapid touches later, and Mbappé strolled confidently away from Adjei, who was nearly falling over simply trying to keep his feet, let alone his dignity.

Just imagine the wave of Lorient fans muttering “mon dieu!” or “zut alors!” or some other French utterance of shock and dismay as this played out. They don’t want to see one of their promising young defenders done dirty like this!

But beyond shielding their eyes in the hopes of keeping the image from being too prominent in their memories, there’s nothing the fans or anyone else can do. If you look closely at the very pro-Lorient stands, you can see people put their hands over their faces as Mbappé mercilessly dances past Adjei.

Not that it’s even all that important in the grand scheme of things when compared to a move like this, but Mbappé had an assist on the play to go with two goals in a 4-1 win.

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Concacaf Champions Cup 2024 top scorers: Tracking the Golden Boot race

An updated list of the top scorers in the Concacaf Champions Cup for the 2024 tournament.

The race to claim the Concacaf Champions League Golden Boot for 2024 has begun.

The trophy given to the tournament’s top scorer figures to be wide open this year, with 27 teams participating in the region’s premier club competition.

Lionel Messi will surely be among the favorites to claim the award, as will his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez, LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga — who won the award last year — and Philadelphia Union striker Julián Carranza.

Liga MX stars like André-Pierre Gignac (Tigres), Julián Quiñones (Club América), and Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey) are also smart bets, especially given the success Mexican clubs have had over the years.

Here is an updated list of the top scorers in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.

All stats updated as of April 24.

USMNT has no proven replacement for Dest, says Lalas

At least one ex-USMNT defender has doubts about the options behind the injured right back

With Sergiño Dest expected to miss this summer’s Copa América with a knee injury, Alexi Lalas says the U.S. men’s national team is facing a “huge” problem.

“I think he is — when he is healthy — an in-pen starter for this national team,” said Lalas of the PSV defender, who suffered an unspecified, long-term knee injury in training this past Saturday. “[Dest] has been vital in terms of up and down that right-hand side, providing an incredible talent and ability with the ball, incredible speed.”

Speaking on his State of the Union podcast, Lalas went on to declare that no other USMNT right back has been pushing Dest for the starting job, creating a pickle for the team going into a massive summer tournament.

“The big problem for Gregg Berhalter and this team is nobody — like the No. 9 position — has yet stepped up and even challenged, even remotely challenged, [Dest],” said Lalas. “At times in the past when we have seen players play in that position, the [Joe] Scallys and stuff, they have not shown that they’re even close to stepping into his shoes right now.”

Scally is the obvious choice to replace Dest, but his form at Borussia Mönchengladbach has been iffy at best this season. Additionally, Scally plays the position much differently, taking fewer risks and offering less going forward than Dest, who functions as an X-factor for the USMNT.

Lalas noted that Berhalter has “possibilities of doing some different things,” which could mean a shift to a back three, or experimenting with players in new positions. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Tim Weah all have right back or right wingback experience, for example, though all three are seen as locked-in starters elsewhere for the USMNT.

Dest at least got some good news on the club front on Wednesday, with PSV boss Peter Bosz stating that he’d like the club to sign the USMNT defender to a permanent deal from Barcelona.

The 23-year-old joined the Eredivisie giants on loan this season, and his frosty relationship with Barça manager Xavi — who will reportedly stick around for the 2024-25 campaign — has boosted the chances of a full transfer this summer.

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Xavi reportedly makes U-turn, will now stay at Barcelona

Xavi is reportedly pulling a switcheroo, with the Barça legend set to stay for another year

Xavi apparently isn’t leaving Barcelona after all.

Mundo Deportivo was first to report that the Barça manager — who in January said he would depart the club at the end of this season — will in fact stay on through the end of his contract, which runs through the end of the 2024-25 season.

At the time Xavi announced his intention to step down, the club legend said Barcelona needed “a change of dynamic” amid a disappointing season.

However, that announcement was followed by a 13-game unbeaten run for Barcelona, including impressive away wins over Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

That said, Barça lost its last two matches, and they were particularly painful defeats. A second-leg collapse against PSG ended the club’s Champions League hopes, while Barcelona led twice only for Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time winner to give Real Madrid a controversial 3-2 victory in the latest Clásico.

More to follow…

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Late Weah assist sends Juventus to Coppa Italia final at Lazio’s expense

Weah’s 2023-24 hasn’t been ideal, but the USMNT winger helped Juventus advance to a cup final

Juventus is going through to the Coppa Italia final, and they have Tim Weah to thank for the opportunity.

The U.S. men’s national team winger came off the bench to produce a late assist on Arkadiusz Milik’s 83rd minute goal, which was just enough to get Juve past Lazio 3-2 on aggregate.

A 2-0 first-leg win earlier this month had set Juve up well, but Valentín Castellanos’ brace on Tuesday had levelled the tie at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, Massimiliano Allegri’s substitutions proved critical. Weah’s entry in the 70th minute was key, with the USMNT man fizzing a low cross in for Milik, who finished off a tap-in with what was his first touch.

Lazio would push for a late equalizer, but Juve held strong, clinching a place in May 15’s one-off final. That match will be held at the Stadio Olimpico, with either Fiorentina or Atalanta as Juventus’ opponent. I Viola holds a 1-0 edge after the first leg, with the second leg taking place on Wednesday at the Gewiss Stadium.

The assist may be Weah’s biggest moment of what has been a difficult season with Juventus. After toggling between Weah and Andrea Cambiaso for the starting job at right wingback, Allegri has generally preferred to start the Italian in recent months. Despite appearing in 29 of Juve’s 36 matches this season, Weah has just one goal and two assists.

Watch Weah help Juve to the Coppa Italia final

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USWNT 2024 schedule: Results, fixtures, TV channel and streaming

All of the USWNT’s fixtures in 2024, including the Olympics and W Gold Cup

The U.S. women’s national team is looking at a busy 2024.

Two significant tournaments await. The first-ever Concacaf W Gold Cup will come up quickly in February and March, while the 2024 Summer Olympics will be the biggest priority.

New USWNT head coach Emma Hayes will join up in time for a pre-Olympics FIFA window, a short run-up before leading the team to Paris in pursuit of an improved showing after a disappointing 2023 World Cup.

Between those two events, the USWNT will face a revamped SheBelieves Cup in April, while there are multiple friendly windows after the Olympics finish up.

Here is a list of all of the USWNT’s fixtures for 2024.