Indy 11 Home Sat 7 pm @ Mike vs Monterey Bay FC
Indiana’s Team will return home on Saturday, April 22, when Monterey Bay F.C. will make its first visit to the Circle City for a 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff on Community Heroes Night at “The Mike.”Single-game tickets for all home games at IUPUI Carroll Stadium along with 17-game Season Ticket Memberships, specially-priced group tickets, and an increased portfolio of hospitality options are available for purchase now via indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 Full Schedule Promotions
US Men tie Mexico 1-1
The USMNT tied Mexico with a mostly MLS roster on 1-1 as the mainly Mexican home crowd of 65K looked on in Phoenix, Arizona. Full highlights. The US game up a stupid goal on a horrible pass back from Zimmerman to Long who lost the ball at midfield allowing ____ to go 1 on 1 with US GK Sean Johnson for a 1-0 lead. The US finally responded late in the 2nd half on a counter that had Dest dribble out leading to a wonderful pass from Seattle’s leading MLS scorer Jordan Morris who set up Jesus Ferreira for the equalizer and the tie.
ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 11/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 24/2), Aaron Long (LAFC; 31/3), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 2/0), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; 22/1), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 17/1), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; 0/0), Joshua Wynder (Louisville City; 0/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 77/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 39/3)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Kellyn Acosta (LAFC; 57/2), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 32/0), James Sands (New York City FC; 7/0), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 16/0)
FORWARDS (5): Paul Arriola (FC Dallas; 50/10), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 2/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 17/7), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 51/11), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; 2/1)
Champions League Final 4 – Real Madrid vs Man City, Inter Milan vs AC Milan
Huge news that Italy will have it’s first Champ League final team – as AC will play Inter for the 2nd half of the draw. Of course the 1st half has Powerhouse favorites holder’s Real Madrid vs Man City. Will Man City’s addition of super scoring forward Erling Haaland give them the edge they need to finally beat their nemesis Real Madrid? That’s the million dollar question – I think that along with the luck I have now rubbed off on them having been at the home leg 3-0 blasting of Bayern last week. The Semi’s return May 9 and 10. (lots of stories below)
Notes
Some awesome play in the NWSL’s Challenge Cup last night see the results below – this in-season Cup offers $1 million dollar bonus and will be played on select Wed nights during the season. Schedule most games on Para+.
Games to Watch this Week
Barcelona vs Atletico Sat 10:15 am on Paramount+ and Juventus vs Napoli on Sunday at 2:45 pm on Para+ lead the huge games to watch list this weekend. Atletico can overtake Real Madrid for 2nd in Spain with the away win at the leaders Barca Sat, while Juve could also move into 2nd in Italy with a win vs the leaders Napoli. Sat 7:30 am is the all American affair as Fulham America with Centerback and Captain Tim Ream along with Jedi Robinson in defense facing Leed’s United States with Aaron McKinney and Aaronson in the midfield. It’s a must win for Leeds who is fighting off Relegation – but tough for me to root against my Fulham especially at home. Sunday we get top 6 action with New Castle hosting Tottenham at 9 am on USA. In the US Atlanta United host Chicago on Fox at 4:30 pm and finally late night a game my daughter will be at Angel City with new US 18 YO sensation Alyssa Thompson and newly acquired Julie Ertz hosting Alex Morgan and the San Diego Wave at 10:30 on Paramount plus in NWSL action.
GAMES ON TV
(American’s names in Parenthesis)
Thur, Apr 20 Europa League
3 pm Para+ Sevilla vs Man United
3 pm Paramount+ Juventus vs Sporting CP
3 pm Paramount+ Gent vs West Ham United
Fri, Apr 21
3 pm USA Arsenal vs Southampton
11 pm FS1 Tijuana vs Leon
Sat, Apr 22
7:30 am USA/Peacock Fulham (Ream, Jedi) vs Leeds United (Mckinney, Aaronson)
10 am USA Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
10 am Peacoclk Crystal Palace vs Everton
11:45 am ESPN+ Man City vs Shelfield United (Cup)
12 noon ESPN+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Frankfurt
7 pm Para + Orlando Pride vs NY Gothem FC NWSL
7:30 pm Apple TV Cincy vs Portland
7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs Monterey
7:30 pm Para+ NY Gothem vs NC Courage NWSL
10 pm Para+ Portland vs Racing Louisville NWSL
10:30 pm Apple TV Seattle Sounders vs Minn United
Sun, Apr 23
9 am USA New Castle vs Tottenham
10:15 am ESPN+ Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
11:30 USA Brighton vs Man United
11:30 pm ESPN+ Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig
1:30 pm ESPN+ Mgladbach (Scurry) vs Union Berlin
2:45 pm Para+ Juventus vs Napoli
4:30 pm FOX Atlanta United vs Chicago Fire
8 pm Para+ Angel City (Ertz, Thompson) vs San Diego Wave (Morgan)
Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw
US
USMNT, Mexico make most of limited chances in friendly draw
5 takeaways from USMNT-Mexico Continental Clasico
Team USA to play Jamaica in Gold Cup group stage at Soldier Field
USMNT striker Daryl Dike to undergo Achilles surgery
US, Mexico soccer federations announce joint bid for 2027 Women’s World Cup
US, Mexico to jointly bid for 2027 Women’s World Cup
U.S. and Mexico combine to bid for 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Champions League
Champions League betting, odds: Manchester City is the clear favorite ahead of the semis
Milan and Inter preparing for fireworks with Champions League derby
Inter set up all-Italian Champions League semi with AC Milan
Inter advances past Benfica, sets up Milan semifinal in CL
Pioli not thinking about Champions League Milan derby after Napoli triumph
Man City, brace yourselves: Real Madrid are up to their old tricks over Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland’s Man City goals and the records broken
‘The Ogre is coming’: What Spain really thinks of Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland is the antidote to Manchester City’s Champions League demons
Man City’s antics sent Thomas Tuchel into a frenzy
‘No difference in class between Bayern and City’, says Tuchel
Bayern Munich vs Manchester City player ratings: Another Upamecano nightmare
Chelsea’s limp Champions League exit completes season from hell
Chelsea vs Real Madrid player ratings: Fernandez and Gallagher lacking guile
EPL
Man City hit their stride for tilt at Man Utd’s treasured treble
Arsenal can rediscover title-chasing swagger, says Arteta
Mikel Arteta faces crucial few days to save Arsenal’s title bid
Too many sackings and bad advice: Chelsea need people who understand the club
Aston Villa continues surge up EPL table
How a partial sale of Manchester United could work
Daniel Levy: ‘Harry Kane can win a trophy with Tottenham – but being a legend is also important’
The summer clear-out at Chelsea is coming – who stays and who goes?
Inside the Premier League meeting that promised America – and delivered
Fulham vs Leeds: How to watch live, stream link, team news
Reffing
WATCH: Ligue 1 referee wears mic during game and it makes for fascinating viewing
Why was Premier League referee Michael Oliver booking Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League this week?
Why is the Premier League’s best referee Michael Oliver officiating in Saudi Arabia?
Goalkeeping
Great Champions League Saves this week Leg 2
Great Savees this Week Champs League
De Gea Was Terrible for Man United
Former Carmel FC GK Coach and Indy 11 GK Jordan Farr continues to Shine in San Antonio !!
Domestic-based United States, Mexico sides battle to draw
12:35 AM ET ESPN
Jesus Ferreira‘s goal in the 81st minute led the United States to a come-from-behind 1-1 tie against Mexico in Glendale, Arizona, on Wednesday.The match was a “friendly,” but pride was at stake as always is the case when the CONCACAF rivals play. The United States extended its unbeaten streak to five (3-0-2) vs. Mexico since El Tri’s last victory in the series in September of 2019.ADVERTISINGFC Dallas striker Ferreira scored on a breakout after a pass to the middle of the box by Jordan Morris.”Jesus is always making good runs in the box and I just tried to put it out there for him,” Morris said.The sequence began with Mexico’s Carlos Rodriguez nearly making it 2-0, only to have his shot hit the bar and rebound to the United States, which went the other way.”There’s no friendlies against Mexico. It’s always a battle,” Ferreira said.The goal was the only shot on target in the game for the United States, while Diego Cocca’s Mexico had three.”It’s important,” U.S. interim coach Anthony Hudson said of the draw. “It allows us to go into the summer with a much better understanding of what we’re going to face and also a better idea of the players.”Uriel Antuna gave Mexico the lead in the 55th minute when U.S. defender Aaron Long couldn’t corral a pass at midfield. Antuna picked it off in full stride and had a clear path to goal, where he slotted his shot past a diving Sean Johnson at the near post.In the 74th minute, Johnson made a diving save to his left on Roberto de La Rosa’s shot off a counter-attack.Since the game was outside of the FIFA international window, club teams from around the world were not obligated to release their players for the match. As such, neither team was at a level that might be expected when they next play June 15 in a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal in Las Vegas.Major League Soccer players took 19 of 22 spots on the U.S. roster, with Sergino Dest the only European-based player. He has not played for Italy‘s AC Milan since Jan. 24. The other two non-MLS players were Alan Sonora, of FC Juarez, in Mexico and Joshua Wynder, who plays for Louisville City in the second-tier USL Championship.Caleb Wiley, an 18-year-old defender, entered in the 90th minute for his international debut. Matt Miazga replaced Long in the 70th minute, his first international appearance since June 2021.There were still nine players on the roster who represented the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup, including Walker Zimmerman, Morris and DeAndre Yedlin.The U.S. has 22 wins, 36 losses and 17 draws against Mexico all time. Interim coach Anthony Hudson, who took over from Gregg Berhalter in January, has led the Americans to two wins, one loss and two draws.A crowd of 55,730 attended the 75th match between the rivals.Mexico started just three World Cup regulars; left back Jesus Gallardo and midfielders Luis Chavez and Alexis Vega. Defender Victor Guzman and forward Roberto de la Rosa started in El Tri
Jesus Ferreira’s late equalizer ensures USMNT maintains hold over Mexico
1:29 AM ET Cesar Hernandez ESPNFC
A second-half equalizer from Jesus Ferreira pushed the United States to a 1-1 friendly draw with regional rivals Mexico on Wednesday night. Featuring alternate rosters for both sides due to the match being played in a non-FIFA window, the USMNT are now undefeated against Mexico in their past five meetings.Under the guidance of new manager Diego Cocca, Mexico opened the scoring at Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium. After a first half that had an impressive defensive performance from the USMNT, Uriel Antuna pounced on a poor pass in the midfield and sprinted up the field before scoring in the 55th minute.In response, U.S. interim manager Anthony Hudson made late tactical changes that shaped his team into a more dangerous attacking unit. By the 81st minute, the USMNT created a threatening counterattack that led to Jordan Morris squaring for Ferreira’s equalizer.
Rapid reaction
1. Ferreira saves U.S. with dramatic second-half equalizer
Just when it looked like Mexico were about to score a golazo from distance that would put them up 2-0, the USMNT capitalized on a counterattack that helped change the entire outcome. With Sergino Dest sprinting forward after helping regain possession, the full-back eventually connected with substitute Alan Sonora, who then dished the ball to winger Jordan Morris.As Morris ran forward, so did Ferreira and the striker eventually was able to connect with Morris’ pass into the 18-yard box, thereby making it 1-1 by the 81st minute.Enough to hold onto the draw by the final whistle, it was a moment of brilliance from a USMNT squad that didn’t truly wake up until the second half. Mexico looked like the better team overall on Wednesday and nearly had a victory with their controlled possession and nine shots, but ultimately fell short after failing to shut down a clever transitional move from the hosts.
2. Mexico stumble and extend winless streak to five
Even with alternates on the field in a new World Cup cycle, the story remains the same: Mexico can’t get a win over the USMNT. Thanks to the result on Wednesday, the U.S. extended their undefeated run over Mexico to five games.Sure, the match was a friendly played on a non-FIFA date — and Mexico looked like the more dominant team for most of the 90 minutes — but the result is still a statement for the USMNT side who have stolen the spotlight away from Mexico again. In the shadow of Mexico for years, the USMNT, who are the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup titleholders, can continue to boast that they have yet to lose to their rivals in five meetings.It could also augur for more heartbreak to come for Mexico this summer. The two countries are scheduled to faceoff in the semifinal of the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League on June 15, and depending on how results go, there’s a good chance they could also meet in the knockout round of the Gold Cup in July.
3. Hudson makes right moves after worrisome start
If we are giving credit to Mexico for looking better overall on Wednesday, then we should also praise USMNT coach Hudson for his second-half changes. No longer happy to just sit back like they did in the first half, the U.S. did a better job of stealing back possession and creating more decisive moments in the latter stages of the game. Second-half substitutions, such as Aidan Morris and Sonora, helped shift the momentum as well.Hudson’s changes allowed more space for Mexico as they launched more shots and runs towards the USMNT defense, but the gamble was a worthy one after their late counterattack solidified a 1-1 result that could have easily gone in El Tri’s favor.gThat said, the first half wasn’t pretty from the USMNT. Regardless of the dramatic end to the game that’ll feel like a morale boost for Hudson and his men, the initial 45 minutes were dismal in the attack. In the first half, they registered no shots and just one touch in Mexico’s 18-yard box.
Best and worst performers
BEST: Jordan Morris (United States)
Ferreira will earn lots of praise for the goal, but Morris was the key figure who helped create it in the final third. Early into the match, he also nearly deflected the ball into Mexico’s net.
BEST: Uriel Antuna (Mexico)
Mexico’s goal scorer and risk-taker on the right wing. A busy night for the attacker that connected most of his passes in the final third.
BEST: Luis Chavez (Mexico)
A standout evening for the midfielder that provided an immense amount of work with his duels and distribution. Were it not for Ferreira’s equalizer, Chavez would have been man of the match.
WORST: Kellyn Acosta (United States)
Lost possession in dangerous areas and was at fault for the poor pass that led to Antuna’s goal. Wasn’t strong with his duels either.
WORST: Jesus Gallardo (Mexico)
With his experience, Gallardo needed to have more of an impact in both the defense and attack as Mexico’s left wing-back.
WORST: Brandon Vazquez (United States)
A forgettable evening for the striker that had no shots. It didn’t help that the U.S was so defensive in the first half, but Vazquez didn’t have much of an influence in his 64 minutes.
Highlights and notable moments
Antuna kept his composure when racing clear to put Mexico 1-0 up.Ferreira deserves praise for being in the right place, at the right time, for the U.S.’s equaliser, but Morris’ outside-of-the-foot pass made the goal.
What the managers and players said
U.S. interim coach Hudson, on the result: “I think the five games unbeaten streak is nice, it’s obviously very nice, but the next time we play Mexico again, all of that goes out the window.”
Mexico coach Cocca, on the draw: “I only see the glass half-full. Today we were superior.”
U.S. forward Ferreira, on his goal: “Anything can happen in the box, so I just followed the play and it went in.”
Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information)
– The United States have extended their unbeaten streak in all competitions vs. Mexico to 5 games, their longest since 2011-15 (6). Mexico’s last win over United States was on Sept. 7, 2019.
– This is the first time that the U.S. failed to register a shot on target in the first half of a game against Mexico in all competitions since March 3, 2013 (2014 World Cup qualifiers).
– Mexico also failed to register a single shot on target in the first half, the first time in a game against the U.S. since April 3, 2014 (a friendly match also played in Glendale, Arizona).
– The United States’ one shot on target, 0.28 Expected Goals (xG) was its lowest in game since Sept. 27, 2022 (0.28 vs Saudi Arabia).
Up next
United States: The next game for the USMNT will be against Mexico, although expect the big-name players for both sides. The two teams will clash in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals on June 19 in Las Vegas. The winner of that one will take on either Canada or Panama on June 18, also in Las Vegas.
Mexico: As above.
USMNT, Mexico draw in friendly; Jesús Ferreira scores in 81st minute
By Paul TenorioApr 20, 202332
The U.S. men’s national team and Mexico drew 1-1 in an international friendly Wednesday night. Here’s what you need to know:
- Jesús Ferreira’s finish in the 81st minute gave the U.S. a 1-1 draw with its biggest rival in a friendly match in Glendale, Arizona. The goal was the lone real bright spot for the U.S. in a game that fell at an awkward point in the schedule — outside of an official FIFA window, which limited both rosters; midweek, which made it a short camp — and yet extended the U.S.’s unbeaten streak against Mexico to five consecutive games.
- Uriel Antuna’s 55th-minute goal put Mexico in front after what had been a listless first half. The Cruz Azul winger took advantage of a poor back pass from Kellyn Acosta, beating Aaron Long to the pass to take off alone on goal from near midfield. His shot to the near post beat a charging Sean Johnson.
- The U.S. failed to register a shot in the first half for the first time since 2018 and the two teams combined for three total touches in the opposition box in the first 45 minutes. The action ramped up late in the second half, however, and both teams were able to find a goal.
Backstory
Because the game was played outside of a FIFA-sanctioned international window, neither the U.S. or Mexico was able to select anything approaching a full-strength squad. Dest, who has struggled for playing time on loan at AC Milan, was the lone European-based player. Still, the U.S. started eight players who were on the World Cup squad in November, including Dest and center back Walker Zimmerman, both of whom started multiple games in Qatar. — Tenorio
Did anyone stand out?
It’s hard to pull much out of this game, especially considering the lineups. Realistically, no one really improved their stock in this game. James Sands was good for the U.S. in his defensive midfield role in the first half, and his ability to drop into the back line in the second half gave the U.S. flexibility to change formations. Dest was underwhelming at times, but then flashed his special qualities on the goal. Overall, though, this friendly felt exactly like we thought it would: a midweek friendly with as much commercial benefit — a huge crowd was on hand — as anything else. — Tenorio
What’s next?
The next game between these two teams will feel much different. The U.S. will meet Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals in Las Vegas on June 15. Those rosters will likely have full-strength squads and a trophy on the line. The last time these two teams met in the Nations League was the 2021 final, a thrilling 3-2 U.S. win. — Tenorio
WHAT WE LEARNED FROM USMNT 1, MEXICO 1 – CONTINENTAL CLASICO
APRIL 20, 2023 BY CHARLES BOEHM
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 20, 2023) US Soccer Players – Even outside FIFA international windows, the border rivalry still bubbles. Sergino Dest and Jordan Morris led a flowing late counterattack capped by a Jesus Ferreira finish to grab a 1-1 draw for the USMNT vs Mexico at State Farm Stadium on Wednesday night in the first edition of the Continental Clasico. It was the border neighbors’ first meeting since the scoreless World Cup qualifier at Estadio Azteca last March. Here’s a few observations from the friendly.
The streak rolls on
The USMNT is now undefeated in its last five games against El Tri (3-0-2). That’s the second-longest such streak in the series, one shy of the record set with six straight unbeaten from 2011-15. That could well offer a psychological advantage when the two sides meet again in Las Vegas in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals.
“I think the five games unbeaten streak is nice. It’s obviously very nice,” interim coach Anthony Hudson said. “But the next time we play Mexico, again, all of that goes out the window.”
Ferreira’s roles
The equalizer was Ferreira’s eighth senior international goal, and the reward for a night of hard work mixed with frustration across two different positions in Hudson’s 4-2-3-1 formation. The FC Dallas homegrown started as a withdrawn playmaker in the hole behind target man Brandon Vazquez. He then moved up to the #9 spot himself amid a series of second-half substitutions, including the insertion of Alan Sonora as the #10.
“As a 10 you can kind of roam around, get behind their 6s and try to find the ball. Obviously with a target 9 like Brandon, you can get any second balls,” said Ferreira postgame. “It was something exciting for me to try and I’m thankful that coach had me in mind for that role.
Coaches for both club and country have explored how best to utilize Ferreira’s soccer IQ and versatility. Wednesday was something of a microcosm in that regard, with Hudson referring to Ferreira as “an intelligent player, he’s a different profile of striker/attacking midfielder.”
Experimenting, then adapting
With his starting lineup, Hudson sought to make subtle tweaks to what the USMNT had worked on in his first two camps. He admitted to being surprised by Diego Cocca arranging Mexico in a 3-5-2 formation, however.
Hudson tried but couldn’t get his team shifted into a different shape before Uriel Antuna’s breakaway goal. The matchups did improve when the Yanks moved to a three-man back line by bringing on Matt Miazga and dropping James Sands back to center back.
“We wanted to change it maybe two minutes before the (Mexico) goal was scored,” explained Hudson. “But we felt first-half and then up until that change, it was tough to get pressure on the ball. The distances were very big from our forward and midfield players…. And as a result of us getting pressure on the ball, it allowed us to keep the ball.”
Matching El Tri’s wing backs allowed for better control of the wide areas, especially when they sought to change the point of attack quickly with long switches. Hudson noted the value of Sands’s composure and ability to pick a pass from both center back and holding midfield zones.
“We knew the game was going to be chaotic and intense. But I feel the change at the end, I thought the players really responded well,” said the coach. “Overall we’re very proud of the players.”
Resilience, again
It’s been said and written countless times that a hallmark of a successful team is an ability to avoid defeat even when a match is not playing out as desired. Such was the case again for the USMNT. The lineup and tactics were somewhat experimental and extended passing sequences in the final third were frustratingly elusive in the first-half. Dogged persistence was the path to digging out a positive result.
“The team’s mentality is strong, and me personally, I didn’t have my best game, my first touch wasn’t there, but it’s how strong my mentality was and how easy it was for me to just flip the page,” said Ferreira. “In these type of games, you can’t keep your head on what you did wrong, you just flip it and keep working. … I know my teammates are going to need me out on the field and it’s just keeping that strong mentality and looking for the next play again.”
Working on the player pool
With just two training sessions before the game, USMNT gatherings don’t get much briefer than this one. The technical staff still valued the chance to get any sort of touch points with a domestic group, particularly ahead of a busy summer that kicks off with June’s Nations League rematch.
“Tonight we’ve added a few more players to the player pool, had the opportunity to see some players that came in in January, that now are playing against one of the top teams in Concacaf,” said Hudson. “It allows us to go into the summer with a much better understanding of what we’re going to face and also a better idea of the players. So it was a good test on that front.”
Charles Boehm is a Washington, DC-based writer and the editor of The Soccer Wire. Contact him at:cboehm@thesoccerwire.com. Follow him on Twitter @cboehm.
Jesus Ferreira’s late equalizer ensures USMNT maintains hold over Mexico
Apr 20, 2023
- Cesar Hernandez
A second-half equalizer from Jesus Ferreira pushed the United States to a 1-1 friendly draw with regional rivals Mexico on Wednesday night.
Featuring alternate rosters for both sides due to the match being played in a non-FIFA window, the USMNT are now undefeated against Mexico in their past five meetings.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
ADVERTISING
Under the guidance of new manager Diego Cocca, Mexico opened the scoring at Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium. After a first half that had an impressive defensive performance from the USMNT, Uriel Antuna pounced on a poor pass in the midfield and sprinted up the field before scoring in the 55th minute.
In response, U.S. interim manager Anthony Hudson made late tactical changes that shaped his team into a more dangerous attacking unit. By the 81st minute, the USMNT created a threatening counterattack that led to Jordan Morris squaring for Ferreira’s equalizer.
Rapid reaction
1. Ferreira saves U.S. with dramatic second-half equalizer
Just when it looked like Mexico were about to score a golazo from distance that would put them up 2-0, the USMNT capitalized on a counterattack that helped change the entire outcome. With Sergino Dest sprinting forward after helping regain possession, the full-back eventually connected with substitute Alan Sonora, who then dished the ball to winger Jordan Morris.
As Morris ran forward, so did Ferreira and the striker eventually was able to connect with Morris’ pass into the 18-yard box, thereby making it 1-1 by the 81st minute.
Enough to hold onto the draw by the final whistle, it was a moment of brilliance from a USMNT squad that didn’t truly wake up until the second half. Mexico looked like the better team overall on Wednesday and nearly had a victory with their controlled possession and nine shots, but ultimately fell short after failing to shut down a clever transitional move from the hosts.
2. Mexico stumble and extend winless streak to five
Even with alternates on the field in a new World Cup cycle, the story remains the same: Mexico can’t get a win over the USMNT. Thanks to the result on Wednesday, the U.S. extended their undefeated run over Mexico to five games.
Sure, the match was a friendly played on a non-FIFA date — and Mexico looked like the more dominant team for most of the 90 minutes — but the result is still a statement for the USMNT side who have stolen the spotlight away from Mexico again. In the shadow of Mexico for years, the USMNT, who are the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup titleholders, can continue to boast that they have yet to lose to their rivals in five meetings.
It could also augur for more heartbreak to come for Mexico this summer. The two countries are scheduled to faceoff in the semifinal of the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League on June 15, and depending on how results go, there’s a good chance they could also meet in the knockout round of the Gold Cup in July.
3. Hudson makes right moves after worrisome start
If we are giving credit to Mexico for looking better overall on Wednesday, then we should also praise USMNT coach Hudson for his second-half changes. No longer happy to just sit back like they did in the first half, the U.S. did a better job of stealing back possession and creating more decisive moments in the latter stages of the game. Second-half substitutions, such as Aidan Morris and Sonora, helped shift the momentum as well.
Hudson’s changes allowed more space for Mexico as they launched more shots and runs towards the USMNT defense, but the gamble was a worthy one after their late counterattack solidified a 1-1 result that could have easily gone in El Tri’s favor.
That said, the first half wasn’t pretty from the USMNT. Regardless of the dramatic end to the game that’ll feel like a morale boost for Hudson and his men, the initial 45 minutes were dismal in the attack. In the first half, they registered no shots and just one touch in Mexico’s 18-yard box.
Best and worst performers
BEST: Jordan Morris (United States)
Ferreira will earn lots of praise for the goal, but Morris was the key figure who helped create it in the final third. Early into the match, he also nearly deflected the ball into Mexico’s net.
BEST: Uriel Antuna (Mexico)
Mexico’s goal scorer and risk-taker on the right wing. A busy night for the attacker that connected most of his passes in the final third.
BEST: Luis Chavez (Mexico)
A standout evening for the midfielder that provided an immense amount of work with his duels and distribution. Were it not for Ferreira’s equalizer, Chavez would have been man of the match.
WORST: Kellyn Acosta (United States)
Lost possession in dangerous areas and was at fault for the poor pass that led to Antuna’s goal. Wasn’t strong with his duels either.
WORST: Jesus Gallardo (Mexico)
With his experience, Gallardo needed to have more of an impact in both the defense and attack as Mexico’s left wing-back.
WORST: Brandon Vazquez (United States)
A forgettable evening for the striker that had no shots. It didn’t help that the U.S was so defensive in the first half, but Vazquez didn’t have much of an influence in his 64 minutes.
Highlights and notable moments
Antuna kept his composure when racing clear to put Mexico 1-0 up.
Uriel Antuna makes the USMNT pay 😬
Watch live on TBS or @hbomax 📺 pic.twitter.com/xd5OXDLGI8— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 20, 2023
Ferreira deserves praise for being in the right place, at the right time, for the U.S.’s equaliser, but Morris’ outside-of-the-foot pass made the goal.
The run from Serg, the ball from JMo, the finish from Jesús. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/vdrEmXzyrk— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) April 20, 2023
What the managers and players said
U.S. interim coach Hudson, on the result: “I think the five games unbeaten streak is nice, it’s obviously very nice, but the next time we play Mexico again, all of that goes out the window.”
Mexico coach Cocca, on the draw: “I only see the glass half-full. Today we were superior.”
U.S. forward Ferreira, on his goal: “Anything can happen in the box, so I just followed the play and it went in.”
Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information)
– The United States have extended their unbeaten streak in all competitions vs. Mexico to 5 games, their longest since 2011-15 (6). Mexico’s last win over United States was on Sept. 7, 2019.
– This is the first time that the U.S. failed to register a shot on target in the first half of a game against Mexico in all competitions since March 3, 2013 (2014 World Cup qualifiers).
– Mexico also failed to register a single shot on target in the first half, the first time in a game against the U.S. since April 3, 2014 (a friendly match also played in Glendale, Arizona).
– The United States’ one shot on target, 0.28 Expected Goals (xG) was its lowest in game since Sept. 27, 2022 (0.28 vs Saudi Arabia).
Up next
United States: The next game for the USMNT will be against Mexico, although expect the big-name players for both sides. The two teams will clash in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals on June 19 in Las Vegas. The winner of that one will take on either Canada or Panama on June 18, also in Las Vegas.
Mexico: As above.
Leeds boss Javi Gracia unsure whether Tyler Adams will play again this season
By Phil HayApr 21, 202326
Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia says he is unsure whether USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams will play for his side again this season.
Adams was forced to undergo surgery on a hamstring injury in March after suffering the problem before the international break.
The 24-year-old damaged a muscle during a training session ahead of Leeds’ 4-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on March 18 and was forced to pull out of international duty with the USMNT, remaining in England where he went under the knife.
ADVERTISEMENT
Gracia, 52, said: “If I tell you something (an injury update), I lie to you. I don’t know.
“He’s working hard, the medical staff are working very well as well but we need time to know if he will be ready or not.”
Adams joined Leeds from RB Leipzig last summer, and has been a prominent part of their line-up this term, starting 24 times in the top flight.https://www.instagram.com/p/CrRP2EkJUA-/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com&rp=%2F4435889%2F2023%2F04%2F21%2Ftyler-adams-leeds-injury-latest%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3059.5%7D
Gracia admits Adams’ unavailability has been an issue due to the lack of options in his position, but has confidence other players can step up in his absence.
“He’s a player that plays in a position where we don’t have many other options,” Gracia added.
“Now in the first team squad we have Adam Forshaw who now is ready and was injured long term. But he’s an absence in an important position.
“We have young players who play there as well, very good players, but this is an absence important for the team. All of you know that now we don’t have the solution for that.
“We have to work with the players we have and believe as I do that they are very good players and the best ones to play this final (stage) of the season.”
Leeds are in action this Saturday when they play Fulham at home in the Premier League.
Premier League and FA Cup team news: Latest injury updates for Marcus Rashford, Luis Diaz and more
By Omar GarrickApr 21, 20235
The Premier League is back once again this weekend as we draw ever closer to the latter stages of the season.There are plenty of important matches taking place, with Arsenal having the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League when they face Southampton on Friday evening. Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, face a tricky away trip to Newcastle United this Sunday. On top of all the Premier League action, there are also two FA Cup semi-finals across this weekend, with Manchester City playing Sheffield United on Saturday and Manchester United facing Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. The Athletic wraps up the latest injury updates from each club going into the weekend’s fixtures. This article will be updated with the latest developments.
- Premier League fixtures and remaining schedule
- Premier League table as it stands
- FPL gameweek 32: Everything you need to know about the Free Hit chip
Arsenal
Arsenal will be vying to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League when host Southampton on Friday. Mikel Arteta’s side will continue to be without Takehiro Tomiyasu after the defender was ruled out for the remainder of the 2022-23 season with a knee injury sustained against Sporting CP on March 16.
ADVERTISEMENT
William Saliba has also been absent since Arsenal’s match against Sporting, with fears that he could miss the rest of the season.
Arteta will be hoping left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko is fit after missing the draw against West Ham United due to a groin injury. However, there are no guarantees that he will start.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa play Brentford away on Saturday.
Striker Ollie Watkins is likely to feature against his former club and will be hoping to continue his recent goalscoring form. He has netted 11 times in his last 12 matches.
Boubacar Kamara (ankle), Philippe Coutinho (hamstring) and Matty Cash (calf) could return in time to join him in Villa’s matchday squad, having recovered from their injuries. Kamara played 45 minutes against Chelsea but was taken off and has missed Villa’s last three matches.
Jed Steer (achilles) and Leon Bailey (hamstring) will likely miss out again.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth play West Ham at home this Sunday.
Full-back Ryan Fredericks will not feature against his former club, having missed Bournemouth’s last four Premier League matches with a calf injury, while Junior Stanislas has been sidelined since November.
Elsewhere, Gary O’Neil also revealed that Hamed Traore won’t be involved against West Ham, having not played since the game against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Vitality Stadium earlier this month.
O’Neil also brought positive news around left-back Matias Vina, who was substituted after scoring a goal in their 3-2 victory over Tottenham. They are hopeful he will be part of the matchday squad this weekend.
Brentford
Brentford host in-form Aston Villa at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.
Pontus Jansson (hamstring) and Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) will both miss out this weekend. The former has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign while Thomas Frank admitted it was unlikely the latter would feature again this season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Frank also confirmed that Kristoffer Ajer is “close to full training” following a hamstring injury but will not be available for Saturday’s fixture.
Frank Onyeka and Vitaly Janelt played an hour for Brentford B in their 2-2 draw with Huddersfield Town B on Tuesday afternoon and could be available.
Brighton
Brighton face Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Striker Evan Ferguson is set to miss out after suffering an ankle injury in the 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend. Defender Joel Veltman is also out due to a hamstring injury.
Ferguson was injured in Brighton’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea (Photo: Getty Images)
Brighton continue to be without Jeremy Sarmiento, who suffered a fractured metatarsal during March’s international break. Adam Lallana was spotted in training this week but is likely to be unavailable (hamstring), while Jakub Moder (knee) also remains absent.
Jason Steele is available but manager Roberto De Zerbi admitted he was unsure if the goalkeeper was 100 per cent fit.
On other team news, the Brighton head coach said: “The situation with injuries isn’t clear yet. We will see tomorrow morning. We have another two days.”
Chelsea
Chelsea are not playing this weekend following Manchester United’s participation in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace will be looking to make it four wins from four under Roy Hodgson when they host Everton this Saturday.
Wilfried Zaha suffered a groin injury against Leicester City and has been ruled out of this weekend’s action. Goalkeeper Vicente Guaita (knee) is also out.
Nathaniel Clyne missed the 2-0 victory over Southampton following a knee injury, and is set to return to training next week.
Everton
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is in line to return for Everton’s trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday, manager Sean Dyche has confirmed.
The England international played 70 minutes during a behind-closed-doors friendly against non-League Chester on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Amadou Onana has trained ahead of the Palace game after missing last Saturday’s 3-1 loss against Fulham through injury. The Belgium international will be assessed ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park.
ADVERTISEMENT
Seamus Coleman (thigh), though, will not be fit this weekend and neither will fellow full-back Ruben Vinagre (Achilles), who will be out for an extended period of time and may require surgery.
Fulham
Fulham welcome Leeds United to Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Marco Silva’s side continue to be without Aleksandar Mitrovic after the forward was handed an eight-game ban for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh against Manchester United in the FA Cup.
The west London club will also be without Layvin Kurzawa (knee), while winger Daniel James is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Silva confirmed Neeskens Kebano is in contention to return to the squad after over five months out with a ruptured Achilles.
Leeds United
Javi Gracia’s Leeds face a difficult away trip to Fulham in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.
Tyler Adams (thigh) and Stuart Dallas (thigh) both remain sidelined through injury, while striker Patrick Bamford sustained a calf issue in the defeat to Liverpool and is a doubt for the game.
Midfielder Adam Forshaw is available and looking to start his first match since December, having featured for 14 minutes against Liverpool.
Leicester City
Relegation-threatened Leicester take on Wolverhampton Wanderers this Saturday at the King Power Stadium.
Dean Smith will be without winger Harvey Barnes, who has been missing since the 1-0 home defeat by Bournemouth due to a hamstring injury.
Centre-back Jannik Vestergaard is expected to be out until the end of the season after injuring his calf in an Under-21s match on Monday. Full-back Ryan Bertrand, however, completed over an hour after a long-term knee-related absence.
Right-back Ricardo Pereira remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while club captain Jonny Evans has yet to recover from a viral infection.
ADVERTISEMENT
Midfielder Youri Tielemans is expected to be involved after playing in the defeat to Manchester City last weekend.
Liverpool
Liverpool will be hoping to bolster their chances for a European spot when they play Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.
Roberto Firmino has been ruled out of Saturday’s game with a muscle problem which Jurgen Klopp confirmed was not “too serious”.
Luis Diaz made his return for the win over Leeds after overcoming a knee injury as Klopp starts to recover more of his players.
Diaz came off the bench and featured in Liverpool’s victory over Leeds United (Photo: Getty images)
Calvin Ramsay (knee), Stefan Bajcetic (adductor) and Naby Keita (muscle) are Liverpool’s only remaining absentees.
Manchester City
Manchester City face Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals this Saturday at Wembley Stadium.
Defender Nathan Ake came off injured during City’s win over Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola confirmed he will miss out, but was unable to detail the severity of the injury. Aymeric Laporte looks like the most likely deputy.
Phil Foden was an unused substitute against Bayern Munich on Wednesday – his first inclusion in the match day squad since having surgery to remove his appendix in March.
“He was on the bench after two days and three weeks without training,” Guardiola said. “Each day that passes he will be better.”
Guardiola may be tempted to rotate, with one eye on Wednesday’s crunch match against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester United
Manchester United play Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals this Sunday at Wembley Stadium.
Left-back Luke Shaw featured in the second half of United’s second leg Europa League quarter-final defeat to Sevilla and is likely to feature at the weekend.
Marcus Rashford could also start, having played 45 minutes in Spain after recovering from a groin injury.
Anthony Martial was substituted for Wout Weghorst and looks like he could be a doubt for the match.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lisandro Martinez (foot) and Raphael Varane (ankle) are out of the match, while Alejandro Garnacho (ankle) and Donny van de Beek (knee) remain sidelined.
Harry Maguire is suspended.
Newcastle United
Newcastle United will be hoping to keep their Champions League hopes alive when they play Tottenham Hotspur at home on Sunday.
Winger Allan Saint-Maximin is not expected back at the club until early next week, with Eddie Howe confirming his recovery from a hamstring injury is “taking a little longer than initially thought”.
Saint-Maximin will be unavailable for Newcastle this weekend (Photo: Getty Images)
Miguel Almiron made an early return from a thigh problem as a substitute during Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Aston Villa. After missing a month, Howe said the Paraguay international could start against Spurs.
Full-backs Emil Krafth and Harrison Ashby remain sidelined but could return towards the latter stages of the season.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest play Liverpool away this Saturday.
Steve Cooper admitted Dean Henderson may not feature again this season after suffering a small setback. The goalkeeper has been sidelined since January with a thigh injury.
He’s not back in training. He’s not really any closer,” Cooper said. “He’s still in the medical room, unfortunately, so we’ll see where that takes us in the next week or so. I hope he will play again this season, but I don’t know, to be honest. It’s a bit inconclusive on that, so we’ll see.”
Ryan Yates and Serge Aurier have missed their side’s last four matches through injury.
Willy Boly (hamstring) remains a long-term absentee while Chris Wood (thigh) and Giulian Biancone (knee) have been ruled out for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign.
Southampton
Southampton face Arsenal away in Friday’s evening kick-off.
Che Adams and Mohammed Salisu both sustained injuries during March’s international break and after missing the defeat by Crystal Palace, they look likely to miss out again.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ineligible to feature against his parent club, but Theo Walcott could start against one of his former sides.
Armel Bella-Kotchap (shoulder) looks set to miss out, but full-back Tino Livramento is nearing a first-team return having been in first-team training. He has not played since April last year following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham face a difficult trip to Newcastle United on Sunday.
Interim head coach Cristian Stellini has named an unchanged side in Spurs’ last two matches but could switch things up, having seen his side lose 3-2 at home to Bournemouth last weekend.
Lucas Moura (suspended), Rodrigo Bentancur (knee), Emerson Royal (knee), Yves Bissouma (ankle), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), and Ben Davies (hamstring) all remain absent.
Clement Lenglet, who was forced off after 35 minutes against Bournemouth last time out, will be assessed.
West Ham United
West Ham play Bournemouth away this Sunday.
The east London side will be feeling confident having reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals on Thursday and drawn 2-2 against league leaders Arsenal last Sunday.
“I think everybody is OK,” Moyes said of his squad following their triumph in Europe. “We’re recovering the players from last night, but hopefully we’re all fine.”
Striker Gianluca Scamacca is still recovering from a knee injury, which has kept him out of West Ham’s last six matches in all competitions.
Defender Angelo Ogbonna remains a doubt.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves play Leicester away this Saturday.
Forward Daniel Podence is available, with a date yet to be set for a hearing into an allegation he spat at Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson.
Ruben Neves will also travel to Leicester having served his two-game suspension for accumulating 10 yellow cards but Julen Lopetegui refused to be drawn on whether his captain will be recalled following back-to-back home wins in his absence against Chelsea and Brentford.
“Ruben is a very good player for us all season and a very complete player who is important for the dressing room and the pitch.”
Lopetegui reported no new injury concerns with Diego Costa expected to be available despite suffering a blow to his knee after scoring his first Wolves goal in the 2-0 win against Brentford.
U.S. and Mexico submit joint bid for 2027 Women’s World Cup. Here’s what happens next
By Meg LinehanApr 20, 20236
The first major deadline for hosting the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is almost upon us. Any nation interested in bidding for the next women’s tournament must formally express that interest to FIFA by Friday or wait for 2031. With U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Federation announcing their intent for a joint bid on Wednesday, the potential candidates got some major competition.
ADVERTISEMENT
From intention to bid to World Cup host selection, here’s everything you need to know about the process and timeline, plus just how much prize money will be on the line by 2027.
Who decides the host of the 2027 Women’s World Cup?
The FIFA Council selects up to three bids for the FIFA Congress to choose a host using an open vote. FIFA said this year it has “the most robust and comprehensive bidding process in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.” It includes establishing a Bid Evaluation Task Force, an independent audit company that will monitor FIFA’s compliance with procedures and Bid Compliance and Ethics Officer from each official bidding group.
Ballots for the World Cup hosting vote will be made public.
If you feel like reading a lengthy PDF from FIFA on the process, the full document is available online here.
What’s the FIFA World Cup bid timeline?
First, countries that want to bid have to let FIFA know about their interest by Friday, April 21. A commitment has to be firmed by submitting the “Bidding Agreement” by May 19. FIFA will hold a bid workshop and observer program during this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Potential (joint) host nations have until Dec. 8 to work on the lengthy process of assembling the bid and getting all the right buy-in and government sign-offs.
Once the bids are in at the end of the year, FIFA begins its evaluation process. First with site inspections starting in February 2024. By May, they’ll publish their own evaluation of the competing bids (a lengthy PDF with a lot of risk evaluation and assessment included). At some point in this process — currently only designated as “Q2 2024” — FIFA will designate the top three bids.
And while all the dates are subject to change, FIFA stated the plan is to announce the winning bid on May 17, 2024.
Why is the bidding process so abbreviated for the Women’s World Cup compared to the men’s?
The U.S./Mexico/Canada joint bid for the 2026 men’s World Cup was decided at the 68th FIFA Congress on June 13, 2018. That’s a full two World Cup cycles to prepare for hosting a major tournament. On the women’s side of the game, when a team is crowned World Cup champions this summer in Australia, no one will know where the next tournament will be.
ADVERTISEMENT
The bidding process for the 2023 edition was extended after FIFA President Gianni Infantino called for expanding the women’s tournament from 24 to 32 teams. FIFA then updated their hosting requirements and re-opened the bidding process, with Australia/New Zealand’s joint bid winning on the first ballot of voting on June 25, 2020.
There isn’t a good answer to this one beyond FIFA is still behind in prioritizing the women’s game and putting it on equal footing with the men’s. At some point, the international governing body is on the hook for lengthening the bidding process and ensuring that host nations have more than three years to prepare for the most important competition in the sport.
Consider this report from The Guardian in 2019, during the bidding process for the 2023 World Cup: “Despite Australia and New Zealand’s superior score from FIFA’s technical evaluation of the bids, 4.1 to Colombia’s 2.8, the Guardian understands two members of the UEFA delegation rubbished the technical reports in a meeting attended by its FIFA council members and argued that because the Women’s World Cup was a ‘development tournament’ its representatives should back Colombia.”
With a lot more money flowing through the women’s game in terms of both investment and profit, it’s on FIFA to take advantage by moving up the bidding for the 2031 World Cup and starting a new, smarter timeline for the women’s tournament.
Who’s expressed interest in bidding for the tournament?
U.S./Mexico
The United States and Mexico announced their bid on April 19 just before the kickoff of an international friendly between the U.S. men’s national team and Mexico’s men’s team.
Along with Canada, both countries will host the 2026 men’s World Cup — combining for seven women’s and men’s tournaments across the two boarding nations.
“We haven’t hosted a World Cup for 24 years,” USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone said on HBO Max’s pregame show. “To bring it back and to have ‘26 followed by ‘27, I think speaks great to our region and trying to grow our region. I know we have CONCACAF behind us.”
Belgium/Netherlands/Germany
This bid was nearly three years in the making. The trio of countries was the first to formally submit bid interest a day after FIFA opened the application process on March 23.
Brazil
The country home to legends like Marta and Formiga has never hosted a Women’s World Cup. In fact, no South American country has hosted the women’s tournament in its 32-year history.
ADVERTISEMENT
The country’s sports ministry confirmed interest on March 7. The mayors of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo both expressed interest in hosting the final if their country won the bid.
South Africa
The nation was one of the first to publicly state they were intending to bid for the 2027 tournament back in September, and in January, SAFA announced that the government would support their potential interest.
Other countries who have expressed interest
- Italy
- Chile
- And possibly, Nordic countries that bid for the 2025 Women’s European Championship, according to a report from BBC
What’s in a bid book?
So let’s say you’re a potential host nation (maybe part of a joint bid, maybe not). The major project for 2023 is completing a bid book, which has to contain a massive amount of information for FIFA to assess.
Bid books are split into five sections:
- Event vision and key metrics: This is where bidding countries get to talk big about what they think hosting a World Cup would do for their country and the legacy of the game, plus offer one major detail: when they’d like to host the tournament.
- Infrastructure: This is actually the big one. When FIFA performs its technical evaluation of bids, the infrastructure makes up 70% of that score. Infrastructure goes beyond potential stadiums and includes team facilities (now FIFA has team base camps in place for WWCs), places to host fan festivals, and a site for an international broadcast center.
- Services: Countries need to prove they have the hotels, the transportation and all the other logistics needed to host a World Cup, as well as prove they can do it safely and securely. They also have to detail plans for medical services and anti-doping controls, plus show they’ve got the infrastructure for handling the demands on internet and other communication services.
- Commercial: Time for the money. FIFA wants estimates on just how much money hosting the tournament in this particular location would make.
- Sustainability and human rights: FIFA’s looking for “explicit public commitments to sustainability, human rights, sustainable procurement and climate action” in this section. It’s also looking for more information on the country’s human rights strategy and any potential risks as well as their strategy to mitigate the climate impacts of a major tournament.
Bid books are usually very lengthy reading. Australia/New Zealand’s bid book for 2023 was 188 pages long. Generally, though, the more advanced work done, the stronger the bid.
Oh, and there’s also a load of assurances from the government that bids have to provide to FIFA, including (but certainly not limited to) a declaration from “the head of the highest national executive government authority.”
How does the evaluation process work?
FIFA breaks down its evaluation of bids into three parts. There’s more of a qualitative assessment of the vision of the bid (what FIFA calls the “description”), and then far more formal risk and technical evaluations. Everything with a risk assessment is put on a scale of low, medium and high. Obviously, a bid is hoping for all low risk. There’s no breakout of the actual site inspections in their final evaluation, rather the visit informs the final score.
FIFA also does its technical evaluation of the bid’s infrastructure (again, 70% of the final score) and commercial forecasts (30%).
Here’s how they map it out in their bidding process document:
Chart courtesy of FIFA
How likely is it that the U.S. and Mexico host?
It’s definitely too early to know their chances in any meaningful sense, but it will be fascinating to see if both countries also hosting the 2026 men’s World Cup is considered an asset or too much of a good thing. The U.S. hasn’t hosted since the short-notice takeover of the 2003 tournament from China, but Canada stepped in as a CONCACAF host in 2015.
Maybe the bigger question right now is: Will the FIFA council opt to put a Women’s World Cup in South America or Africa for the first time? If Brazil and/or South Africa put together solid bids, FIFA could continue to look outside CONCACAF or UEFA nations for 2027. Both have won the voting process before on the men’s side, with lingering questions about the legacy of hosting these tournaments. But the women’s edition does present its own challenges and opportunities. Hosting a World Cup does not guarantee greater investment or massive social acceptance of women’s sports, but it’s worth considering what impact a World Cup in a CONMEBOL or CAF country might have compared to the U.S.
What prize money will be at stake for 2027?
Prize money is already set to rise for 2023, up to $110 million from the $30 million for the 2019 tournament. During the announcement of the increase, Infantino challenged broadcasters to up their investment into the women’s game, saying, “But these same broadcasters then criticize us for not guaranteeing equal prize money. How can we do it when they offer so little?”
ADVERTISEMENT
The intent, according to Infantino, is to equalize prize money between the men’s and women’s tournaments by the 2027 edition. For the 2022 men’s World Cup, the overall prize pool was at $440 million.
Inter’s tense season can end in glory with all-Milan Champions League semi-final
By James HorncastleApr 20, 202323
“Squadra nervosa, squadra vittoriosa.” When Esteban Cambiasso was a treble-winning Inter Milan midfielder, people used to say that an irritable team, agitated and often upset with itself, tended to be a winning team. What better preparation, then, for Benfica’s visit to San Siro than a rondo ruckus at Appiano Gentile with Romelu Lukaku stepping into separate Andre Onana and Marcelo Brozovic after the Inter goalkeeper made a rather overzealous challenge on the team’s playmaker-in-chief.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We wanted to give you some work,” Onana joked with Amazon Prime’s reporters before kick-off on Wednesday, eager to downplay the incident. “We’ve got a great relationship.”
How much this team gets on has been a theme of a bad-tempered season in which Inter make up and break up every few days. Nicolo Barella, the difference maker in both legs of this quarter-final against Benfica, runs his mouth as much as he runs on the pitch. “No, no. You don’t do that,” Romelu Lukaku shouted 38 minutes into a frustrating 0-0 against relegation-fodder Sampdoria in February. He did not appreciate Barella throwing his arms up in disdain at another of his mistakes. “That’s enough. Shut up,” Lukaku was overheard saying on DAZN’s mics. “They’re great friends,” Inter coach Simone Inzaghi explained. And that they are. “The pair of them were back sitting next to each other in the dressing room at half-time.”
Nevertheless, it has been a season of high tension at Inter. “I want us to always play like this,” Lautaro Martinez said after last night’s semi-final-clinching 3-3 draw. “We have to be brothers on the pitch.” They are Internazionale, after all; brothers of the world. But that is easier said than done.
Samir Handanovic, the captain, has lost his place to Onana and though he has been a good team-mate to the Cameroonian and can’t have too many complaints at 38, the competitive animal inside is unlikely to lay dormant.
Stefan de Vrij, the cornerstone of Inter’s last title-winning defence, has not been able to hide his torment at warming the bench. “I’ve not been happy with my situation recently, given I play less,” he complained. “But that’s the choice the coach has made.”
Milan Skriniar, another lynchpin of Inter’s back three, has barely played since he agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, a decision he got out in front of and explained to the ultras to avoid the vitriol Lukaku copped when he left for Chelsea.
Lautaro Martinez and Milan Skriniar: Inter’s win against Milan and a tale of two captains
The number of deals expiring in the summer (eight), as well as the loans of Lukaku and Francesco Acerbi, is an indicator of ownership uncertainty at Inter and has been cited as a reason for the restlessness on the pitch. “It isn’t the time to talk about that,” Inter’s president Steven Zhang said last night. “We’re not talking to anyone.” That’s because every football owner’s bank du jour, Raine, is doing that for him.
Saturday’s defeat to Monza, which resulted in the first time Inter have lost three Serie A games in a row without scoring at San Siro, jeopardises next year’s participation in the Champions League, particularly if, as seems increasingly likely, Juventus succeed in getting their 15-point penalty overturned.
Inter’s former owner Massimo Moratti said: “I wouldn’t have been able to resist sacking Inzaghi.” Current vice-president, and one of the nicest guys in football, Javier Zanetti was also unsparing. “The mister is a top professional and he’s the first person to know our record in the league is insufficient. You can’t lose 11 games.” Falling to fifth in the table piled the pressure on Inzaghi and the team last night.
“This is how you throw away €60m” was Gazzetta dello Sport’s front page on Sunday. Inzaghi is used to it, though. “I don’t find it strange here at Inter,” he said. “If you go back and read the papers before the Bayern Munich game in September and the Porto game last month, it was the same thing.” He reiterated after the Benfica game: “It’s not a problem, I know where the criticism comes from,” a statement so ambiguous Inzaghi must know it leaves people with the impression he means from within the club.
Inter are heading for a first Champions League semi-final in 13 years (Photo: Getty Images)
Before the Onana-Brozovic altercation, which Inter could have sold on pay-per-view to raise some cash, the build-up to the second leg against Benfica had been dominated by speculation about whether or not the club should offer the players a bonus to incentivise them to finish in the top four. “That would be a negative thing to do. The players shouldn’t be mercenaries,” Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said. “We shouldn’t have to incentivise them to do something that’s in their grasp. It would be depressing. I got rid of the top-four bonus when I arrived. I can’t let myself think they have to be motivated by money.”
Aside from the drift that ultimately comes from the club’s prolonged sale process, Inter relinquished their title to rivals AC Milan on the last day of last season and the second star is long gone this year, too, with Napoli 24 points in the distance. For a group of players that has won everything domestically — and may yet retain the Coppa Italia — breaking new ground in the Champions League has attained greater and greater significance. This is an experienced team. One that lost a Europa League final in 2020, pushed the eventual Champions League runners-up, Liverpool, to the limit in 2022 and came through a group of death with Bayern Munich and Barcelona this season.
Added purpose has come ever since the draw placed them on the same side of the bracket as Milan. The pair of them have knocked out this season’s revelations (Napoli and Benfica), setting up a semi-final that neither can lose. To do so would feel like a relegation rather than simple elimination.
https://theathletic.com/report/podcast-clip/?clip_id=7420
Still, the Tribuna d’Onore was full of smiles at full-time as Inter held Benfica at arm’s length and then pushed them out of the competition. Three beautiful goals from Barella, Martinez and substitute Joaquin Correa were so polished that Benfica’s valiant comeback to 3-3 on the night did little to dampen the mood in the stands as Inzaghi joined Helenio Herrera, Giovanni Invernizzi and Jose Mourinho 13 years ago in guiding Inter to this stage. “I’m happy for the boys,” Inzaghi said. “Let’s not forget where we came from. We started out in a really tough group.”
The respite is brief. Inzaghi and his players will get only a few days’ relief because derby fever has already taken hold in Milan. It will be a great advert for Serie A, for this city of 10 Champions League titles, a city that has arguably done more for this competition than any other in Europe, even Madrid. But the players, won’t someone think of the players? All of a sudden, this city is going to feel claustrophobic and overpopulated at the same time. There will be no escape for them.
“I hoped for another draw,” Inter’s legendary former captain Giuseppe Bergomi said when the prospect of a Madonnina in the semi-final first materialised. Now a commentator for Sky Italia, he doubts he’d be able to pick up the mic for the upcoming games. Alessandro Costacurta, the former Milan centre-half, recalled his own experience of the fortnight in which the two cousins played each other in the last four in 2003. In a sporting sense, he said they were “the worst 15 days of my life for the tension”.
A new generation is about to experience it. Are you ready?
Bayern Munich’s Champions League failure will accelerate recruitment drive up front
By Raphael HonigsteinApr 20, 202383
A few hours before the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City, news broke that Bayern Munich had made their first key signing for next season under Thomas Tuchel — groundsman Peter Sauer will move from Wolfsburg at the beginning of May. The 50-year-old won’t immediately solve all of the team’s issues, but as a multiple winner of the Bundesliga’s Pitch of the Year award, he is expected to provide a much better playing surface in the Allianz Arena.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wednesday night brought the need to address the issue into sharp focus. There were plenty of slips on the greasy surface, including one fateful tumble from Dayot Upamecano that effectively killed all hopes of a comeback when the Frenchman allowed Erling Haaland to score the opener. “We played well but had problems with the 12th and 13th man,” Thomas Muller said after the final whistle, referring to the pitch and referee Clement Turpin, a focal point of Bavarian anger.
Amid his disappointment, the Bayern forward was focused enough to recognise the real reason his side hadn’t converted one-and-a-half decent performances into a better result. “We simply don’t score enough goals,” Muller said. “We put a ridiculous amount of effort into creating chances, we made some really great moves again today but the efficiency and the punch in front of goal are missing.”
For the fifth game in row, no Bayern forward scored. Midfielder Joshua Kimmich was the only player to find the net, scoring from the penalty spot.
There was once again much talk about a lack of confidence and rhythm from the players in the forward line, but those things only become relevant when you don’t have a goalscorer who delivers irrespective of what happens behind him.
For eight seasons, Bayern had Robert Lewandowski scoring goals in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. The marriage had broken down last summer, necessitating a divorce. Bayern have now realised their attempt to fill the void with a collective of hybrid forwards has failed. “We have eight world-class players for four positions,” said sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, reminding reporters that the previous coaching staff had signed off on the setup, but he also conceded that there was a need to “reconsider” the decision to go without a proper centre-forward. “We will sit down together and see who’s available, then we’ll see what we can do.”
Bayern’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting couldn’t find a way through against Manchester City (Photo: Getty Images)
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, back from injury, did well in the build-up, but the 34-year-old’s movement was limited and his finishing was poor. The contrast with his opposite number couldn’t have been starker. Bayern’s odds of avenging the 3-0 first-leg defeat without an elite centre forward weren’t quite as low as fourteen million six hundred five to one but it was painful for them to find that Iron Man was battling for the other side on the night. In a different reality, Haaland would have signed for Bayern after being shown around the club a year ago. The German champions had earmarked the Norwegian as Lewandowski’s natural successor but couldn’t match City’s offer.
ADVERTISEMENT
Oliver Kahn admitted the experiment with a more fluid system, supposedly spearheaded by summer recruit Sadio Mane, was not just a tactical wish of Julian Nagelsmann but also a necessity of the club’s financial limitations. “We tried everything to replace Lewandowski, including with the No 9 we saw today,” Bayern’s executive chairman said. “But how many strikers are like Lewandowski in Europe? Those who are at that level are incredibly expensive.” Asked if Bayern were prepared to break the bank this summer, Kahn was evasive. “We are always working on improving the squad. We will see what’s possible.”
There’s been speculation they will buy their first €100million (£88m, $110m) player to try to guarantee more goals, but even that might not be enough to lure Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, their preferred option, across the Alps. Competition for the Nigerian will be fierce. France international Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt is another option under consideration and the 24-year-old should be more affordable. He, too, however, will have plenty of other suitors, including some who don’t have to generate their income quite as organically as Bayern do.
After a golden decade in which the club has repeatedly made up for a relative lack of resources, the pressure is really on Kahn and Salihamidzic to deliver the next top-class finisher who can bring all of Bayern’s nice play to fruition. As Muller alluded to after the 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim on Saturday, that much-vaunted inconsistency is just another word for not having a reliable goalscorer up top.
Manchester City showed in 14 seconds in Munich they are more dangerous than ever
By Sam LeeApr 20, 202348
It took Manchester City 14 seconds to kill off Bayern Munich and 14 seconds to highlight why they are such a dangerous proposition in the Champions League this season.
One of the stories of this tie was how much joy Bayern had while attacking at speed, especially so in Munich, but the most decisive factor was City’s ability to shrug it off and score anyway. Not a usual trait for them in this competition, it must be said, and maybe one that makes the difference when they play Real Madrid next.
ADVERTISEMENT
Their meeting with the Spanish giants last season was decided by the finest of margins — Jack Grealish shooting across the face of goal and Rodrygo scoring goals out of nothing moments later to result in a stunning comeback.
This time, City were on the right side of those fine margins.
“It’s the details and last season in the semi-final we lived the opposite half,” Pep Guardiola said after the match. “And this time, we were incredibly solid.”
Last week, Ruben Dias blocked a shot from Jamal Masiala and less than a minute later, Rodri crashed in City’s opener.
In Germany, it happened even quicker than that. Kingsley Coman had drilled the ball across goal, Ederson got a hand to it, ensuring it rolled across the face of goal – this was as close as Bayern had come all night.
John Stones, two yards from his own goal line, looked up and hoofed the ball downfield. Not much artistry in that, but City’s newest and perhaps most lethal threat was loading up.
Erling Haaland won the header on the halfway line and Kevin De Bruyne picked up the ball and carried it forward. A Dayot Upamecano slip later and Haaland had scored for a seventh consecutive game. De Bruyne had set up Haaland for the third time in four games, a total of nine this season.
Haaland had missed a penalty, one of those ‘details’ that could easily have caused City’s house of cards to crumble, especially as Bayern applied the pressure. But as details go, it was nothing more than a minor one in the end.
The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony rang around the Allianz Arena at full-time, perhaps a reflection that the Germans felt they had suffered a noble defeat. They certainly gave their all until the end and on another day might have had better luck.
ADVERTISEMENT
That is so often the story for City. Real Madrid last season, Tottenham in 2019. To a lesser extent, Liverpool in 2018.
Maybe it is a different tune now.
“In the Champions League, we learned from our mistakes of the past,” Bernardo Silva said afterwards, summing up the one glaring difference between this City and previous versions. “Before, we used to think that we need to be 90 minutes dominating the game, controlling in their final third.
“When you play against Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, you need to accept that sometimes you have to defend and be consistent. You have to work hard not to give them easy chances and that’s what we’ve been trying to work on in the present because in the past we’ve had a lot of frustrating nights because of that.”
Guardiola struck a similar tone. In fact, his point about the details flowed directly into what he believes has become City’s best trait.
“We defended really well in the box,” he continued, “this is the area we have improved the most this season.”
When Joao Cancelo left in January, the world wondered how City would get by with just one senior full-back in Kyle Walker. Fast forward a couple of months and they are not even playing Walker — they line up with four centre-backs, the majestic Stones stepping into midfield and the more rugged trio of Dias, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji scrapping, battling and winning the duels (Stones does his fair share of that, too).
If City’s defenders are shining, as they did over both legs, then something has probably not gone well further up the pitch. Bayern caused City problems over both legs with Thomas Tuchel’s schemes and the players’ ability to put them into practice. They played out from the back and often stopped City from doing so, with Guardiola reflecting that “the 4-1 result does not show what was the two games”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Even once Haaland had struck what was the decisive blow, City had the chance to kill off the game. Bayern were shocked and City had more time and space to play in, yet they gave the ball up too easily and allowed the hosts to push right until the end, leading to the second spuriously awarded penalty of the night, which Joshua Kimmich scored. Another minor detail, although if Madrid were to exert the same kind of pressure and take their chances, you could say City had been warned in Munich.
Guardiola wanted to make things much more comfortable than that and could be heard shouting to his players to “play short passes!” in the closing stages. But if they heard it they did not manage it.
“The only regret I have was in the game at halfway we didn’t have many sequences of passes, you have to make more, more and more passes,” he said. “We lost the ball, simple balls to attack quick, we didn’t do that well today.”
Maybe after a period of playing too slowly for Haaland, they are now playing a little too quickly for their own good, but there is time to fine-tune their approach.
“I don’t feel better than Bayern Munich at all,” Guardiola said. “Like last season I didn’t feel worse than Real Madrid.”
They will surely need to bring their A game for the rematch with the reigning European champions. The Spanish side carry enough threat on the pitch before considering the Champions League voodoo they seem to be able to draw upon at will, not forgetting the mental scars City must still carry from their heartbreaking elimination last time.
But then again, Chelsea caused Carlo Ancelotti’s side enough problems, including two clear-cut chances on the break in the first 15 minutes at the Bernabeu last week. Chances that, surely this time, this City side would gobble up.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The question here is trying,” Guardiola said at the end of his press conference, rather poetically. “It’s not winning, it’s trying. And the more you try, maybe in the end you are lucky.”
Is this the year things are different?
Harry Maguire, David de Gea’s mistakes doom Manchester United to Europa League exit as Sevilla shine
Apr 20, 2023
Rob DawsonCorrespondent
SEVILLE, Spain — Manchester United endured a disastrous night in Spain as they were dumped out of the Europa League by Sevilla. United were thumped 3-0 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium as they lost their quarterfinal tie 5-2 on aggregate.
Youssef En-Nesyri scored twice after taking advantage of calamitous mistakes from Harry Maguire and then David de Gea either side of Loic Bade‘s header. Erik ten Hag’s side, who dominated most of last week’s first leg at Old Trafford, could only manage three shots on target as they were out-played and out-fought by a team who are struggling at the wrong end of the LaLiga table.
ADVERTISING
Meanwhile, Sevilla, who knocked United out of the Champions League in 2018 and the Europa League in 2020, are into the semifinals as they chase a seventh Europa League title.
Rapid reaction
1. United only have themselves to blame for a shock European exit
This is a big week for United and it’s started in the worst way possible. Their hopes of a cup treble are over after they were dumped out of the Europa League by Sevilla and now Ten Hag must pick up his players for their FA Cup semifinal against Brighton at Wembley on Sunday and a crucial Premier League clash at Tottenham four days later.
There has been lots to like about Ten Hag’s first season in charge — particularly winning a first trophy since 2017 — but United’s performance at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium will raise fears that injuries and a hectic schedule are beginning to take their toll and the campaign is in danger of drifting towards a disappointing end.
This defeat will sting even more given that United, who missed the suspended Bruno Fernandes and injured duo Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, were in control of the tie for more than an hour of the first leg at Old Trafford before conceding two soft own goals in the final six minutes. It gave Sevilla a lifeline to finish the job in front of their own fans and, despite sitting 13th in LaLiga, they made Ten Hag’s team look like the one struggling in mid-table. Sevilla deserved to win but United only have themselves to blame.
2. Maguire makes a strong case to move on
The more pessimistic United fans were predicting the end of their season when Martinez and Varane were ruled out with injuries and Maguire will have done nothing to ease their nerves. His early mistake was comical, first asking for the ball from De Gea and then trying to flick a first-time pass out wide with apparently very little understanding of what was around him. Maguire was left scrabbling when the ball hit Erik Lamela and he could do nothing as En-Nesyri rifled his shot into the bottom corner.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)
After a season in the shadows, Maguire — still the most expensive defender in the world — looks devoid of any confidence and it will be a relief to many United supporters that their club captain is suspended for the game against Brighton at Wembley.
He looks to have reached a stage in his career at Old Trafford where it feels very unlikely that there’s a way back. His manager prefers other players in his position and the fans have lost all trust. There will be interest from other clubs in the summer and it might be time for Maguire to move on. A change of scenery at a club where the spotlight isn’t as bright may well do him some good.
3. Sevilla love the Europa League
Sevilla saw their opportunity and took it, and the Kings of the Europa League are back doing what they do best.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Man United’s takeover explained: What to know about the bidders, fan backlash and what’s next2dRob Dawson
- Salah is king of Premier League lefties! Liverpool star breaks record for most left-footed goals3dChris Wright
- Messi, Gundogan, Thuram among top free agents to sign this summer8dTor-Kristian Karlsen
Jose Luis Mendilibar looked like a coach with other things on his mind when he turned up at Old Trafford last week, making changes to a team which still isn’t safe from the drop in Spain. But after two late goals earned a 2-2 draw in Manchester and a 2-0 win over Valencia on Sunday to ease their relegation fears, Sevilla looked far more like a team that want to win the Europa League for a seventh time since 2006. They played with energy and a ferocious aggression and United couldn’t cope.
It started well before kick-off with Sevilla fans welcoming the team coach with flares and smoke bombs and by the time the match started, the stadium was a pulsing mass of bouncing white shirts and red flags. Marcel Sabitzer was heaved into the advertising boards during a frantic opening which turned up the temperature even further and when Maguire was hounded into his early mistake, Sevilla looked well set to knock United out of Europe for the third time since 2018.
It’s been a dismal domestic season for Sevilla, who are used to challenging for the Champions League places, but winning the Europa League again will make it an instant success.
Best and worst performers
Best: Ivan Rakitic, MF, Sevilla
Calm and composed in midfield and got the assist for Sevilla’s second goal from a corner.
Best: Youssef En-Nesyri, ST, Sevilla
Only on the bench at Old Trafford, he was back in the team here and took his early chance well and then got a second late on.
Best: Loic Bade, DF, Sevilla
Scored the crucial goal and kept United very quiet at the other end.
Worst: Harry Maguire, DF, Man United
Only in the team because of injuries to Martinez and Varane, he gifted Sevilla an early goal with a horrible mistake.
Worst: Jadon Sancho, FW, Man United
Struggled to have any influence in the first half and was replaced at half-time with Marcus Rashford.
Worst: David De Gea, GK, Man United
Had a role in the opening goal and made a shocking error for Sevilla’s third goal.
Highlights and notable moments
A woeful start from Manchester United resulted in an an early goal for Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri who capitalized on De Gea and Maguire’s mistake.
Within two minutes of the second half, Sevilla doubled their lead with a looping header by Bade.
After the match: What the managers and players said
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag to BT Sport: “We have to do better, that’s the demand. We were not composed, not calm. We didn’t beat the press, when you do there are so many spaces behind, and it was obvious at the start how to do it.
“We can’t run away from it. On Sunday we have another opportunity and have to step up and show more character and personality. “It’s not about them [the players they were missing], it’s about the players on the pitch. They have to perform, I believe in them and trust them but they have to show it and they were not good enough.”
Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information research)
- Youssef En-Nesyri has scored 13 goals in all competitions since January. Among players from Europe’s top 5 leagues, only Erling Haaland, Karim Benzema, Marcus Rashford and Victor Osimhen have scored more goals in that span.
- Man United have allowed 10 goals on corner kicks this season, tied with Tottenham and Chelsea for the 2nd-most in all competitions among Premier League teams this season (Bournemouth has allowed 14 goals from corners).
- David de Gea: 15th error leading to a goal over the last 5 seasons, tied with Jordan Pickford for the most by any goalkeeper in Europe’s top 5 leagues in that span (all competitions).
Up next
Manchester United: The Red Devils turn their attention to the FA Cup semifinal against an in-form Brighton side on Sunday, April 23 (stream live on ESPN+ at 11:30 a.m. ET) before facing Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League as they fight to secure a top four spot ahead of the final stretch of the season.
Sevilla: Los Nervionenses will return to action in LaLiga, hosting Villarreal on Sunday, April 23 (stream live on ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET).
Boys in Blue Look to Return to Winning Ways Back at Carroll Stadium
#INDvMB Preview
Indy Eleven vs. Monterey Bay F.C.
Saturday, April 22, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. ET
IUPUI Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.
Follow Live:
Local TV: MyINDY-TV 23 (Indy DMA), WLMO 2 (Ft. Wayne) & WHME 46 (South Bend)
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
Spanish Radio: Exitos Radio 94.3 FM & exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Live Opta stats: #INDvMB MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
Click Here to Purchase #INDvMB Tickets!
Visit the Matchday Guide for All Things #INDvMB at The Mike!
2023 USL Championship Records:
Indy Eleven: 1W-2L-2D (-3 GD), 5 pts.; T-7th in Eastern Conference
Monterey Bay F.C.: 2W-2L-2D (+2 GD), 8 pts.; 5th in Western Conference
Community Health Network Sports Medicine Indy Eleven Injury Report:
OUT: None
QUESTIONABLE: None
Discipline Report:
IND: none
MB: none
While it’s early in the season, Saturday’s return home to IUPUI Carroll Stadium to face Monterey Bay F.C. has a ”potential turning point” feel for an Indy Eleven squad looking to reverse its recent offensive fortunes.
One goal was enough for Indy to get positive results to start the season at Tampa Bay (1-1 D) and Detroit City FC (1-0 W). However, a scoreless draw followed against Las Vegas, and two additional shutouts later against Oakland and Orange County and the Boys in Blue find themselves weighted down by a 298-minute scoreless streak heading into the weekend.
Indy is accomplishing the “ball dominance” portion of the game that Head Coach Mark Lowry desires, as its whopping 66% possession leads the USL Championship by a fairly ridiculous six percent. And while its output of 10.4 shots/game and 3.4 shots on goal/game are below the league’s averages (11.1 shots/gm and 3.7 shots on goal/game), they are not off to an extent where the attack can be considered anemic. Even its resultant 43.6% shot on target accuracy ranks 14th, almost smack dab in the middle of the league.
Is the problem as simple as … just needing to finish better? A league-low 5% goal conversation rate on shots points in that direction, but it’s more complex than that. The Eleven’s five big chances created are fourth fewest in the league, while an 18% crosses/corners accuracy rate is third to the bottom. For all the possession that Indy has gobbled up, in the end it hasn’t resulted in quality chances in complementary numbers, which is leading to frustration in front of goal.
As Lowry stresses, it’s #ElevenTogether – this is not one player’s or position group’s issue to fix, but a team one – and one can hope a return to Carroll Stadium, where the Eleven had won seven of eight games across all competitions before its loss to Oakland two weeks ago, can be a part of the cure for the offensive ails.
On the flip side, outside of that 0-3 loss to Oakland, the Eleven have registered two shutouts and two games with just one concession. So, on one hand Indy’s possession edge maybe hasn’t shown up on the attacking side of the ball like many would expect … but on the other hand, leaving the opposition less than one-third of the game with the ball has certainly paid off defensively.
Monterey Bay enters the match the opposite of Indy in many ways – while the Eleven’s five games have seen a combined seven goals, Monterey Bay’s six matches have seen 22 balls hit the back of the net. MBFC’s 12 goals are tied for the most in the league, and it’s been finishing with efficiency, their incredible 36% conversion rate (12 goals on a second-to-league-last 42 shots) ranking a full 14 percentage points ahead of second-place Charleston in the category. That’s not a rate that can hold up across a season – but try convincing current USL Championship Golden Boot leader Hugh Dixon (6 goals on 7 shots) of that.
What gives Indy more than enough hope for offensive success on Saturday is MBFC’s 10 goals allowed, tied for the second most concessions in the USLC in the early going. After Cameroonian netminder Gerold Ngnepi let in seven goals across their first four contests, the switch was made to rookie 25-year-old Mexican goalkeeper Carlos Herrera, who has conceded thrice across a 4-2 home win over New Mexico United and last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Phoenix Rising FC.
One more added wrinkle to the contest? The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup’s Third Round, which will take place midweek. While both Indy and Monterey Bay will want to be mindful of saving legs for the squads they’ll look to field against MLS competition next week, that task will be tougher for MBFC as it has to travel cross-country and will have one less day of rest before squaring off Tuesday against the San Jose Earthquakes (yes, it must be said, in the “Frank Yallop Bowl”). Meanwhile, Lowry and Indy get one extra day of rest and a heckuva lot less miles traveled for next Wednesday’s meeting at Columbus Crew SC – which means he might be able to get more mileage out of his squad on Saturday evening.
IND Last Time Out:
Orange County SC 1 : 0 Indy Eleven
Saturday, April 15 | Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, Ca.
Recap & Highlights | Stats
Milan Iloski’s penalty kick conversation on the half hour stood tall for the home side last weekend in Southern California. While Indy Eleven dominated possession (63%-37%), crosses (42-9), and corner kicks (11-2), the Boys in Blue failed to push one across for the third straight contest while falling to a second straight defeat.
MB Last Time Out:
Phoenix Rising FC 1 : 1 Monterey Bay F.C.
Saturday, April 15 | Phoenix Rising Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz.
Stats & Highlights
Monterey Bay F.C. stayed undefeated on the road with its second away draw in two outings, this time splitting the spoils in Phoenix. Rising FC had the better of the chances across the opening hour, but it was MBFC going on top first in the 63rd minute via Alex Dixon penalty kick conversion. The lead was short lived though, as Kevon Lambert’s header squared things at 1-1 just four minutes later. Both sides had golden chances to push ahead in stoppage time, but Rocco Rios Novo’s tip save of Christian Volesky’s header in the 91st minute frustrated the visitors, while Carlos Harvey’s last gasp effort for Rising FC in the 96th minute missed inches wide, forcing the sharing of the points.
Series vs. Monterey Bay F.C.:
USL Championship regular season: 0W-1L-0D (0 GF/5 GA)
Away record: 0W-1L-0D (0 GF/5 GA)
Saturday marks the second match against Monterey Bay F.C. in as many seasons of play for the new California club that enjoyed its expansion campaign in the USL Championship last year.
In their first meeting out west last September 17 it was all MBFC, which used Chase Boone’s first-half brace (31’, 43’) to race out to a lead that mushroomed to an eventual 5-0 win at Cardinale Stadium courtesy of second half goals from James Murphy (49’), Sam Gleadle (50’), and Christian Volesky (66’).
#INDvMB Familiar Faces
As far as we can find, there are no players on either squad that have suited up for either side … which is no surprise given MBFC’s brief history.
That said, any fan of American soccer will be familiar with Monterey Bay Head Coach Frank Yallop, the Canadian soccer legend who was a fixture in MLS coaching circles for nearly 15 seasons (San Jose Earthquakes, LA Galaxy & Chicago Fire) before helming four different USL Championship Western Conference squads (Arizona United/Phoenix Rising FC, Fresno FC, Las Vegas Lights FC & Monterey Bay) since 2016. His assistants will also be familiar to Bay Area soccer fans, as both Ramiro Corrales and Joe Cannon played for Yallop during his two stints with the Earthquakes.
Eleven Player to Watch: MF Jack Blake
When the goals start arriving – and they will arrive – one likely source to either set them up or finish them off will be the man patrolling the right side of midfield. Blake currently leads the squad with 10 shots (including blocks) and 5 shots on goal, proving the Englishman’s willingness to give it a go and pick up some slack in the attack.
Meanwhile, Blake is depended on to play provider as well, and his ranks towards the top of the team in total passes, long passes, and passing percentage shows proof that his strength as a distributor is as advertised when he came to the club from San Diego Loyal SC.
=================RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ======================
AFTER YOUR PRACTICE or GAMES AT
BADGER or River Road
Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church & Badger Field on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ
Save 20% on your order
(mention the ole ballcoach)
Check out the BarBQ Ribs, pulled Pork and Chicken, Brisket and more. Sweet, Tangy or Spicy sauce. Mention you heard about it from the Ole Ballcoach — and Ryan will give you 20% off your next meal. https://www.rackzbbqindy.com/ Call ahead at 317-688-7290 M-Th 11-8 pm, 11-9 Fri/Sat, 12-8 pm on Sunday. Pick some up after practice – Its good eatin! You won’t be disappointed and tell ’em the Ole Ballcoach Sent You!
=====================RackZ BAR BBQ ======Save 20% ======================
Proud Member of Indy’s Brick Yard Battalion – http://www.brickyardbattalion.com – CLICK HERE FOR BYBTIX
American Outlaws http://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite
The Ole BallCoach 
