Soccer Recapp Wednesday ⚽️ ☕️
PSG outclass Atletico, Bayern humiliate Aukland 10-Nil, empty seats, at Club World Cup. Philadelphia Union top Major League Soccer. 🌏 ☕️
Club World Cup 🌎 ☕️
Saturday
Al Ahly 0 Inter Miami 0
The much criticized FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) opened in Miami last Saturday, and has been blighted by empty seats and some lop-sided games.
However that was not the case in the opener featuring Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami hosting Egypt’s Al Ahly at Hardrock Stadium.
The home side were outplayed by Egypt’s top team, with Miami needing a heroic, first-half penalty save from goalkeeper Oscar Ustari to keep it level.
But Miami actually nearly stole this one when Messi’s stoppage time effort rattled the cross bar.
The teams will each take a point into their next crucial matches versus group rivals Porto and Palmeiras to decide the knockout spots from Group A.
Sunday
Palmeiras 0 FC Porto 0
Brazil’s Palmeiras qualified for the CWC as the 2021 Copa Libertadores winners, while Porto reached the tournament due to being Europe’s 5th-ranked team over the last four years.
But neither team could muster a goal in this game played in front of over 46,000 at the 82,000 seat MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and the draw leaves the entire group tied at 1 point apiece.
Paris Saint-Germain 4 Atletico Madrid 0
Paris Saint-Germain continue to look dominant since their huge 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League, getting goals from Fabián Ruiz and Vitinha in the first half, to cruise to a 4-nil win over ten-man Atletico Madrid.
Botafogo FR 2 Seattle Sounders FC 1
The Seattle Sounders are one of three Major League Soccer teams competing in the CWC, all of which are without a win thus far in the tournament.
However the Sounders came close to tying this one as Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor made a last second save on Pedro de la Vega to preserve the win for the Brazilian giants.
Bayern Munich 10 Aukland City FC 0
This is the nightmare scenario that FIFA CWC organizers would have worried about prior to the tournament. The mis-match of mis-matches.
Double digits.
10-nil.
Bayern Munich’s squad is valued over 100x more than that of their Kiwi opponents and it showed early and often as Bayern took a 6-0 win into the locker room at half-time.
It doesn’t matter who scored for Bayern. Anyone could have scored for them in this one.
Next.
Monday
Chelsea 2 Los Angeles FC 0
LAFC qualified for the CWC due to the disqualification of a team and the winning of a playoff, and while they played with some good structure, they didn’t really threaten one of the top sides in England.
Chelsea got the opening goal in the 38th minute from Pedro Neto, and Enzo Fernández came on and scored the second goal to leave Chelsea feeling very comfortable about advancing out of Group D.
Boca Juniors 2 Benfica 2
The fans were behind them at Miami’s Hardrock Stadium but Boca Juniors could not turn their two goal lead into three points.
Leading the comeback for Benfica was centre-back Nicolas Otamendi who drew a penalty which Angel Di Maria converted, and then scored the equalizer himself in the 84th minute with a header from a corner.
Flamengo 2 Esperance 0
Brazil’s Flamengo got goals from Luiz Araujo and Giorgian de Arrascaeta to defeat Esperance of Tunisia 2-0 on Monday night before 25,000 plus fans in Philadelphia.
Tuesday
Fluminense 0 Borussia Dortmund 0
Brazil’s Fluminense were the better, livelier side in this match played at New Jersey’s Metlife Stadium, but they could not find the goal they needed versus a plodding Borussia Dortmund side who were not aided by the debut of new signing Jobe Bellingham.
River Plate 3 Urawa Red Diamonds 1
Argentina’s River Plate scored three headed goals to walk away with all three points versus Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, and lead Group E.
Ulsan Hyundai 0 Mamelodi Sundowns FC 1
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns brought their refreshing possession game to Orlando and were the better side in defeating South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai 1-0, to lead Group F.
Monterrey 1 Inter Milan 1
At the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, Mexico’s Monterrey battled Italy’s Inter Milan to a 1-1 stalemate, with Sergio Ramos and Lautaro Martinez trading goals in the first half for their respective teams.
Today
There are four matches today in the CWC, featuring three of the heaviest hitters in European football:
Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca 12:00pm ET
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal 3:00pm ET
Pachuca vs FC Salzberg 6:00pm ET
Al-Ain vs Juventus 9:00pm ET
Major League Americanos 🇺🇸 ☕️
Philadelphia Union 2 Charlotte 1
The Philadelphia Union got a late winner in the 98th minute from Markus Anderson to defeat Charlotte FC 2-1 on Saturday night.
The win means that the Union are unbeaten in a club record 10 matches and sit in first place in the overall standings of Major League Soccer.
The Mill ⚙️ ☕️
Some fresh grinds from our rumour mill:
Athletic Club’s Nico Williams will join Barcelona - eventually.
Xavi Simons will leave RB Leipzig - but it’s not yet clear to where.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens will join Chelsea - but only if the Blues increase their offer of £42million ($57m).
Coffee House Convos 🗣️
This Wednesday’s Coffee House Convo question is:
Would you keep the Club World Cup or scrap it?
Please leave your comments below.
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Sports Cappuccino:
Thanks for reading 🤝