Looking forward to watching the Barcelona @ PSG match next week (noon PDT Tue. 10/20, I think). I still don't have Paramount+ sluggo, but if that remains the only option, I'll either get it or watch someplace in SF that is showing it. I don't have a dog in this fight, but this is soccer at its very highest level on both sides.
At a much lower level, but of significance to the USMNT's 2030 cycle, Peyton Miller had a great match for the New England Revolution in their 3-2 road victory against Cincinnati, allowing the Revs to clinch a MLS playoff spot (which... ok, that's not worth much).
Miller played mostly right wing instead of the left wing that he usually plays for the Revs, though he switched to the left at times. He had two assists. The first one a good cross after being played into space down the right wing. Good first touch and then nice decision to pick out the trailer on the cross (lead guy may have been offside at first). The second assist was a thing of beauty, cutting inside on a slashing diagonal run from the right (showing decent on-ball skills I haven't really noticed in him) before playing an exquisite through ball for New England's third goal (ruled barely onside by VAR after initially being ruled off). Miller also had a nice header (from the left wing) on a cross that required a great save from the Cincy goalie (not Celentano who maybe had the day off?).
Of course the issue is that Miller probably won't be playing wing for the senior USMNT. We need him at outside back. It didn't look like either of the Cincy goals were his fault, and he had at least one good headed clearance on a cross. Speaking of fault, Cincy's first goal may have been Brooklyn Raines' fault, late to track a charging Cincy back as he ran onto a high bouncing throw-in that got past the forward and the defender locked at the edge of the box.
In other games, I'm curious how Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre looked in Philadelphia Union's come-from-behind 3-1 road win over Chicago over the whole match. I noticed that all of Philly's goals came in the second half with Chicago down to 10 men. From the highlights, C Sullivan did have an excellent assist and also a decent near post header off a free kick that was saved. It looked like the Chicago goal was off a cross by C Sullivan's man who he tracked too late (like Raines above). The Chicago scorer was not Pierre's responsibility.
Sullivan did have the speculative long through ball that led a Chicago defender to take down the Philly forward (Iloski) and get a red card. May have been a little harsh and obviously had a huge impact on the second half. Sullivan also had a nice long reversal to his brother Quinn for a good second half chance, and his assist was on a good give-and-go down the left side rather than right, then a cross. Great play even to initiate the give-and-go with a controlled header off a long switch of play. Pierre seemed solid except for one over-commit late that almost led to a Chicago pulling one back (Philly goalie saved it). Regardless, Philly now has something like 12 wins, 2 draws and no losses in their last 14 MLS matches since Richter took over. Announcer said 8 wins in a row.
Justin Ellis did not play in Orlando's 3-3 draw on the road at Toronto - reports are that Ellis is dealing with an 'ailment', not sure if related to the injury he suffered against Canada in the friendly. Adri Mehmeti and Julian Hall's Red Bull New York lost at DC United 2-1.
At a much lower level, but of significance to the USMNT's 2030 cycle, Peyton Miller had a great match for the New England Revolution in their 3-2 road victory against Cincinnati, allowing the Revs to clinch a MLS playoff spot (which... ok, that's not worth much).
Miller played mostly right wing instead of the left wing that he usually plays for the Revs, though he switched to the left at times. He had two assists. The first one a good cross after being played into space down the right wing. Good first touch and then nice decision to pick out the trailer on the cross (lead guy may have been offside at first). The second assist was a thing of beauty, cutting inside on a slashing diagonal run from the right (showing decent on-ball skills I haven't really noticed in him) before playing an exquisite through ball for New England's third goal (ruled barely onside by VAR after initially being ruled off). Miller also had a nice header (from the left wing) on a cross that required a great save from the Cincy goalie (not Celentano who maybe had the day off?).
Of course the issue is that Miller probably won't be playing wing for the senior USMNT. We need him at outside back. It didn't look like either of the Cincy goals were his fault, and he had at least one good headed clearance on a cross. Speaking of fault, Cincy's first goal may have been Brooklyn Raines' fault, late to track a charging Cincy back as he ran onto a high bouncing throw-in that got past the forward and the defender locked at the edge of the box.
In other games, I'm curious how Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre looked in Philadelphia Union's come-from-behind 3-1 road win over Chicago over the whole match. I noticed that all of Philly's goals came in the second half with Chicago down to 10 men. From the highlights, C Sullivan did have an excellent assist and also a decent near post header off a free kick that was saved. It looked like the Chicago goal was off a cross by C Sullivan's man who he tracked too late (like Raines above). The Chicago scorer was not Pierre's responsibility.
Sullivan did have the speculative long through ball that led a Chicago defender to take down the Philly forward (Iloski) and get a red card. May have been a little harsh and obviously had a huge impact on the second half. Sullivan also had a nice long reversal to his brother Quinn for a good second half chance, and his assist was on a good give-and-go down the left side rather than right, then a cross. Great play even to initiate the give-and-go with a controlled header off a long switch of play. Pierre seemed solid except for one over-commit late that almost led to a Chicago pulling one back (Philly goalie saved it). Regardless, Philly now has something like 12 wins, 2 draws and no losses in their last 14 MLS matches since Richter took over. Announcer said 8 wins in a row.
Justin Ellis did not play in Orlando's 3-3 draw on the road at Toronto - reports are that Ellis is dealing with an 'ailment', not sure if related to the injury he suffered against Canada in the friendly. Adri Mehmeti and Julian Hall's Red Bull New York lost at DC United 2-1.