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USMNT Player Ratings from a scintillating blowout of Trinidad and Tobago

By Nicholas MendolaSep 6, 2016, 10:10 PM EDT
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The United States men’s national team simply throttled Trinidad and Tobago in Jacksonville on Tuesday, breaking through before halftime en route to a 4-0 win.

The win gives the Yanks the top spot in Group C heading into the Hex, meaning it will open the final round of World Cup qualifying at home against Mexico on Nov. 11.

[ MORE: Match recap | Three things ]

The way they looked on Tuesday, USMNT fans will be saying, “Bring it on”.

USMNT Starting XI

Tim Howard — 8 — With loads of respect to a pure pro in Brad Guzan, I have no idea how this man doesn’t start against Mexico.

Fabian Johnson — 7 — The U.S. is better off when he doesn’t have the defensive responsibilities of a left back, but also doesn’t have many options at left back.

Omar Gonzalez — 5 — Wasn’t tested much once the second half hit, but not amongst the U.S. bright lights.

Steve Birnbaum — 6 — Didn’t have much to do.

Geoff Cameron — 7 — Bright when called upon, and man he gets down the field quick for a big man.

Christian Pulisic — 9 — Exceptional, stunning, electric, dynamic… We’re running out of shining adjectives.

[ MORE: NASL Golden Boot leader eyes USMNT ]

Michael Bradley — 6 — Had his stumbles getting into the flow early, but showed his typical clever passing as the game wore on.

Sacha Kljestan (Off 73′) — 7 — Entirely capable of succeeding in the final third against this sort of competition, but will he get the chance to do it against better sides?

Alejandro Bedoya (On 65) — 6 — Worked his butt off, was difficult to play against, but didn’t quite have his cutting edge.

Bobby Wood (Off 60′) — 6 — It wasn’t a particularly bright night for Wood, who was just inches off for most of the night.

Jozy Altidore — 9 — A slow, clumsy start had us wondering if this wasn’t his night, only to find out how wrong we were. A bull as usual, and two deft finishes. His intelligence doesn’t get enough credit.

Substitutes

Jordan Morris (On 60′) — 6 — Good work rate, nothing splashy from the Sounders man.

Paul Arriola (On 64′) — 7 — Scored his second U.S. goal, missed a possible third, though. Just 21.

Caleb Stanko (On 73′) — 6 — Game was dusted when he earned his first cap.

Carlos Vela scored a celestial goal. We are blessed to have seen it

Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaAug 22, 2019, 12:38 AM EDT
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Carlos Vela is making all other spectacular individual MLS seasons look run of the mill.

I mean, look at the gumption on this guy.

[ VIDEO: Rooney sent off, Kamara scores golazo ]

The Cancun-born playmaker left the San Jose Earthquakes back line on the beach with a soft shoe routine to give LAFC its third goal in a 4-0 win on Thursday

Vela, 30, now has 25 goals and 11 assists in 25 league matches for LAFC this season. He added two goals and an assist in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play.

But this one, yeah, this one takes the cake.

First, there’s Vela’s non-chalant dummy before picking up the pass.

Then, there’s Florian Jungwirth’s body language during and after his being cooked with a nutmeg. That’s an entire mood.

Next, Vela dribbles around the keeper and allows a slide tackler so glide past him before finishing with aplomb, the magic touch his going near post as if to say, “Can I beat this guy a second time, or do I have to use the easier route?”

Diego Rossi also had a goal and an assist, while Mark-Anthony Kaye continued his strong season with an assist to ex-Fiorentina prospect Joshua Perez. It’s a first MLS goal for the California-born Perez, now 21.

WATCH: Rooney sees red for forearm shiver, Kamara scores golazo

Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
By Nicholas MendolaAug 21, 2019, 10:00 PM EDT
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Midweek MLS provided plenty to talk about on Wednesday, with two red cards and a golazo in one match alone.

The two main talking points from the New York Red Bulls’ 2-1 win over DC United weren’t really part of what led the victors to three points.

[ MORE: Europa League preview ]

How? Well, one of the world’s marquee names earned a red card via VAR and a returning star scores an absolute stunner, that’s how.

Here’s Ola Kamara’s debut marker for the Black-and-Red, adding to a record which included 49 goals in 97 matches between Columbus and the LA Galaxy before moving to the Chinese Super League for a wildly disappointing time with Shenzhen FC.

All of that is forgotten.

As for the Rooney incident, the Red Bulls already led 1-0 when DC’s star striker went forearm shiver on Cristian Casseres Jr.

It’s the second red of the season for Rooney, who is set for Derby County in January.

Amro Tarek was later sent off for the Red Bulls, who moved ahead of DC in the standings. Kaku and Daniel Royer had RBNY’s goals.

Newcastle takeover could be back on if in holiday relegation battle

Photo by Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaAug 21, 2019, 9:09 PM EDT
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How much do Newcastle United supporters dislike their owner Mike Ashley right now?

Enough that this report is likely to condemn many to hoping their favorite club in the world is in the Bottom 3 come Christmas.

[ MORE: Europa League preview ]

The Chronicle’s Mark Douglas speculates that Ashley will lower his asking price for the club if it is in a relegation fight come December — something that looks certain after the Steve Bruce-led Magpies got bossed around by promoted Norwich City.

Nothing But Newcastle transcribed Douglas’ chatter from his podcast, in which he says,

“It wouldn’t surprise me if we hear more in December because there are still people sniffing around that football club and if the team are in the bottom three, there’ll be people thinking they can get a bargain out of Mike Ashley again. … He will probably more open to listening to lower offers in January and December which is what happened last December. He was basically saying ‘take it off my hands, you now have to take the risk’'”

This is notable for two reasons. First: the social experiment of wondering how many fans could see themselves rooting for their team to take a major and perilous back step just to see the back of a man they perceive is at the root of their failures (and that perception is widespread in this case).

But second, we can see if this rumor comes true because it’s difficult to imagine Newcastle as comfortably mid table by Christmas.

Fan protests and anger are nothing new, but here’s an effort to show how wobbly Ashley’s reputation is on Tyneside: Fans have taken to selling a black and white striped shirt with player name and number but no sponsor just so they can have a Newcastle jersey that doesn’t put money into Ashley’s pockets. And this is after he broke the club’s transfer record twice in one year.

If we’ve learned anything from the past few seasons, though, it’s that boycotts and anger will spur Ashley into insisting that he’s willing to sell and just conveniently enough it will be before the January transfer window. He “won’t be able to buy any players” with the takeover in play, and talks will hit a wall come late January, when they’ll loan a couple young players from Top Six sides.

Yes he spent significant money on Joelinton, Allen Saint-Maximin, and others this summer, but one decent window doesn’t make a culture. Count us amongst the skeptical, for now.

Messi back in training, could be fit for Betis

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Associated PressAug 21, 2019, 8:35 PM EDT
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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Lionel Messi was back in full training again on Wednesday and may be fit to face Real Betis in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Messi had been training separately from the squad since injuring his right calf in the preseason.

He missed the team’s 1-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao in the league opener on Friday.

Barcelona has not said how long it expects Messi to be sidelined.

[ MORE: Europa League preview ]

Coach Ernesto Valverde is also dealing with injuries to forwards Luiz Suarez and Ousmane Dembele.

Dembele is certain to miss Sunday’s match at the Camp Nou because of a left thigh injury that should keep him out for about five weeks.

Suarez also isn’t likely to play this weekend because of a muscle injury sustained before halftime of Friday’s game in Bilbao.

Two-time defending champion Barcelona hadn’t loss a league opener in 10 seasons.

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