October 23, 2025 • 16 mins
The game never stops — and neither do we.
On today’s Morning Espresso, brought to you by Oglethorpe University, we dive into a night of breakthroughs and bold statements across the soccer world. Chicago ends years of playoff pain with a commanding Wild Card win to light up the MLS postseason. Liverpool roars back in Europe with a five-goal performance that could redefine their Champions League campaign. And Emma Hayes continues reshaping the U.S. Women’s National Team as a new generation steps onto the stage ahead of their clash with Portugal.
Plus, updates on Copa Libertadores drama, Chucky Lozano’s uncertain future in San Diego, and Dazn’s ambitious bid to reshape global football broadcasting.
It’s your daily shot of the global game — Morning Espresso on the SDH Network.
On today’s Morning Espresso, brought to you by Oglethorpe University, we dive into a night of breakthroughs and bold statements across the soccer world. Chicago ends years of playoff pain with a commanding Wild Card win to light up the MLS postseason. Liverpool roars back in Europe with a five-goal performance that could redefine their Champions League campaign. And Emma Hayes continues reshaping the U.S. Women’s National Team as a new generation steps onto the stage ahead of their clash with Portugal.
Plus, updates on Copa Libertadores drama, Chucky Lozano’s uncertain future in San Diego, and Dazn’s ambitious bid to reshape global football broadcasting.
It’s your daily shot of the global game — Morning Espresso on the SDH Network.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
The game never stops, and neither do we. Welcome to
another edition of the Morning Espresso on the SDCH Network,
brought to you by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta's premier undergraduate learning
experience and soccer powerhouse. I'm Jason Longshore and it's a
big week across the game. Chicago has ended years of
(00:34):
playoff pain, Liverpool they found their rhythm again in Europe,
and Ema Hayes begins the next chapter for the US
women's national team. Tonight we'll hit MLS champions Legal, Liberta
Doorra semi Finals, a few more big stories shaping the
world's game, all in one shot of Morning Espresso to
(00:54):
start your day. Let's start with the night that brought
one of MLS's not quite OG's, I mean they were
nineteen ninety eight versus nineteen ninety six, but one of
the early powers in the league back into the spotlight.
The Chicago Fires wild card win over Orlando City wasn't
just a playoff win. It was a full circle moment.
(01:15):
Their first playoff game since twenty seventeen, their first playoff
goal since twenty twelve, and their first playoff win since
two thousand and nine. Brian Gutierrez, a homegrown Chicago and
he opened the scoring early in the second half, a
kid who was only six years old the last time
the Fire won a postseason game, Hugo Kuipers took over
(01:36):
with two goals, sealing a three to one win that
felt like the old Chicago Fire, bold, aggressive, confident under
new head coach Greg Burhalter. Orlando also looked very poor.
They didn't defend well and they didn't really create anything,
and their season went into the tank under Oscar Pereja,
and it's very concerning how bad they were down on
(02:00):
the stretch. Chicago will now face the Supporter Shield winners
Philadelphia Union in the Round one, best of three series
starting on Sunday. It's a matchup that could set the
tone for this postseason. Berhalter's new look Fire trying to
maybe out Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Philadelphia in some ways. The Union have got.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Plenty of veterans, they've made deep playoff runs before. It
is their first time being led by Bradley Carnell, so
I'm intrigued by Chicago and Philly. Out west, the Portland
Timbers ended their own streak of frustration. Felipe Morris scored twice,
snapping a twenty three game scoreless run for him to
no win for the Timbers, gives them their first playoff
(02:41):
victory since twenty twenty one. The Timbers now move on
to face San Diego in Round one. RSL did about
everything they could this season. They battled, they made the
Timbers work for it. But this is a team that
talent wise was not at the same level as the
playoff of the other playoff teams in the Western Conference,
(03:01):
and I think it showed as this one went on.
We'd be curious to see what looks well next season
looks like for Pablo Master any NRSL. Now Portland's got
to go to San Diego in game one in round one.
Speaking of San Diego, there's a little bit of drama
behind the scenes for the Western Conference champions. Tom Bogert
at The Athletic had some of the details. Chucky Lozano
(03:24):
he could miss the playoffs due to an internal issue
following a locker room altercation earlier this month. The club's
asking him to prove his commitment before being brought back
into the squad. It's a huge story to watch for
heading into the weekend. He was not part of the
decision day match between these two teams, and you know,
I don't think it was a physical altercation. I think
(03:46):
it was frustration over being substituted and that wasn't received
very well. Very curious to see how San Diego handles
a potential distraction for mikey Veris. San Diego is also
in talks to make US international Luca de la Dorre
his move from Celta Vigo permanent, trying to get that done.
(04:06):
Also trying to get his salary cap number down a
little bit to help with that. Nineteen year old fullback
Luca Bombino, he's going to stay after a breakout season
on loan from LAFC. Some other news from around the
league that Tom Bogert dropped yesterday on US at the
Athletic Josh Wolfe has interviewed for the new England Revolutions
head coaching vacancy. Minnesota United trying to get a long
(04:27):
term deal done with goalkeeper Dane Saint Clair and he's
going to be a free agent at the end of
the season. Nashville SC they've made an offer for Ganaian
defender Maxwell Woolledzi.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We'll see if they can get that one done ahead
of next season.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Hot stove league in Major League Soccer, it is heating
up fast. Next up another storyline for MLS as they
move into the playoffs. Attendance dipped very slightly this season
average twenty nine and eighty eight fans per match, down
five percent from last year all time record average attendance. Look,
(05:03):
there's a few factors at play. A crowded summer calendar
with the Club World Cup, with the Premier League Summer series,
with the Gold Cup, you had fewer matches, moved to
large venues for inner Miami matches, Illonal Messi's appearances. FC
Dallas's renovation reduced capacity in Frisco.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
By forty two percent.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Still, MLS crossed the eleven million mark in total attendance
for the second straight year. It was the second highest
overall attendance. Camillo Durana, the league's executive vice president. He
said it best with the volume of soccer in this
country this year. Maintaining this pace shows the energy and
momentum we have heading into a really important part of
our history. The numbers on the viewing side were up
(05:45):
this year three point seven million gross live match viewers
per week across streaming and linear platforms. A twenty nine
percent increase over twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
That's a big deal. Five percent.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I don't think think there would be much celebration of
a five percent increase, So a five percent decrease should
be received the same way. I am sure that it
won't be from certain people out there who have their
agendas that will be trumpeting those agendas. I think we
get a little too hung up on granular attendance changes
(06:21):
game to game, season to season in soccer in this country.
We don't do that in the same way in our
other sports. I know attendance has been a bellweather for
soccer in the United States for so long. I think
we've got to move past it a little bit and
start to look at things like that big increase on
the viewership, the big increases on the.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Social platforms, those sorts of things.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I think old school metrics are not always the best
determination of overall health. MLS is in a really good spot.
Five percent decrease in attendance year to year is not
very large when you really get into the grand, the
grand scheme of things. Let's move on, let's go to Europe.
Match Day three of the Champions League delivered a reminder
(07:08):
of just how quickly things can change. After thirty minutes
in Frankfurt, Liverpool looked like a team on the ropes.
They were trailing one nil. Mosala was on the bench.
Arnie Slot's decision to switch to a four to four
to two is being questioned. They were looking at losing
their fifth straight match. I mean, it was crazy where
Liverpool has fallen to. But then you got nine in
(07:29):
the most electric minutes of Liverpool's season. Hugo akatk scored
off of a brilliant through ball from Robertson. Virgil van
Dijk Ibraheima Conat scored back to back headers off corners.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
By the break, it was three to one. By full
time it was five to one.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Cody Gakpoh and Dominick Shobosly added to what turned into
a route. Slot turned up the who tore up the
usual script and he got a defining win for this season.
It's the kind that can reset a season, because Liverpool
hasn't looked this good all year. Real Madrid, they stayed
perfect one to zero win over Juventus. Jude Bellingham's first
(08:04):
goal of the year Chelsea's teenage phenom estval He's just
eighteen years old, he scored a penalty to become the
club's youngest ever scorer in the Champions League. Tottenham Hotspur
under Thomas Frank drew scoreless with Monaco huge string of
goalkeepers goalkeeper saves from Guglielmo Vicario, the Italian goalkeeper for Spurs.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
According to OPTA's model.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
After match day three, Arsenal are now twenty one percent
favorites to win the Champions League, followed by PSG at
fifteen percent, Manchester City at.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Twelve, Liverpool at eleven. It's wide open at the top.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Let's bounce over to We're going to say in Europe,
but we're going to bounce maybe just a little bit
down to look towards Saudi Arabia because one of the
most interesting off the field stories this week, Dezone is
reportedly preparing to bid for global broadcasting rights to the
Champions League from twenty twenty seven to twenty thirty one.
It's the first time UEFA has offered a global rights package.
(09:04):
Saudi backed Surge Sports, which now owns ten percent of
de Zone, that's fueling the push. If successful, the Zone
could stream one Marquee Champions League game worldwide each week.
A massive shift in how football is distributed and consumed.
The Zone says they want to become the Spotify sport.
This would be a huge step in that direction. They
did really well with the FIFA Club World Cup last
(09:26):
summer and had some huge inroads in different markets in
the world. Brazil, Italy, France, Belgium did really really well,
didn't do as well in the UK. Numbers in the
US I think were very good. It's intriguing. It's very
intriguing to see where this goes with Dizone trying to
chase this and Champions League could be their ticket to
(09:48):
doing it. Let's go down South South America. They had
their own fireworks overnight at the Mark and A Flamengo
edged rasin Klube in one nill in the first leg
of their Copa Debertadores semi final. Jorge Kadraskal, the Columbian international,
scored the winner in the eighty eighth minute, keeping Flamengo's
quest alive for their first title since twenty twenty two. Earlier,
(10:10):
Rossing thought they had the go ahead goal through our
old friend Santiago Sosa, but it was ruled out for
a foul in his leap. He went up and won
aheader called for a foul. It's a questionable call. Reminded
me a little bit of the goal that he scored
that was called back in Columbus a few years ago.
He then was wrecked by his own teammate Marcos Rojo
(10:32):
very late in the match in stoppage time. He is
going to miss next week's second leg due to that
collision and due to a facial fracture that he suffered
in it. Could possibly have concussion issues as well. I
have not seen anything specifically about it. He looked a
little wobbly afterwards, busted open in the mouth as well.
(10:56):
Hate to see that for Santi, who has been one
of Rossing's best players this season and in this run.
Second leg heads to Buenos Aires next week. It should
be a thrilling match, just like tonight's first legs should
be in Quito in Ecuador, Lduquito face Paul Mettis Lega
Diquito trying to knock out a third Brazilian club in
(11:20):
this year's tournament after eliminating both the Fogo and Sal Paolo.
If you haven't watched a whole lot of Copa Liberta d'ores,
I highly recommend it. The drama is off the charts,
the intensity is off the charts, the atmosphere love it.
Paul Metis has to go to Ecuador and deal with
(11:40):
not just a raucous crowd, not just a very good team,
but also altitude.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Tonight.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
You can watch that on be in Sport and you
can watch it on Finates. If you don't have b
in Sport on your existing providers, you can go to
FNTZ dot co slash soccer down here and subscribe and
also help SDH grow a little bit by your subscription.
So if you are so inclined, we would definitely recommend it.
(12:06):
Let's go to the next bit of news in today's
morning Espress. So the US women's national team back on
the field tonight hosting Portugal. Roster looks a little bit
different from last summer in Paris, where they won the
gold medal. Thirteen of the twenty five players in camp
have made their debuts since the Olympics. Ema Hayes promised
(12:28):
to rebuild when she took over. She's delivering that and
she's rebuilding along the way she had the success last summer,
but she's also broadening the player pool right now Alex
Morgan will be honored before the match Inchester, Pennsylvania tonight,
where she scored her first international goal back in twenty ten.
Perfect farewell moment. As the next generation continues to step forward,
(12:51):
keep an eye on goalkeeper fall and tellus Joyce. She's
now the number one at Manchester United, making her case
to be the dedicated number one for the U After
Alissa Naire's retirement from the national team, Hayes is continuing
to integrate young talent like Claire Hutton Jordan Bug alongside
veterans like Loa Labonta who have earned their way into
(13:12):
the picture.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Here.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Hayes said this week, it's not just about replacing players,
it's about evolving how we play, how we think, and
how we connect. This new era for the US women's
national team really coming together. About a year away from
qualification for the twenty twenty seven Women's World Cup. Let's
wrap things up going around the world. Some quick kits
(13:35):
from all over the planet. Let's go to Spain, El
Classico headlining the weekend as Real Madrid and Barcelona will
match up. Rafina is back in training for Barsa, although
Frankie Dejong's status remains uncertain. Left training yesterday due to illness.
Everybody is freaking out about this one. It's Sunday to
eleven fifteen. Cannot wait for this one. You'll be able
(13:58):
to watch it at the brew house around the corner,
logger in your hand if you are so inclined. In Italy,
Milan announced the new partnership with Coca Cola and with
Power Aid. They're also adding a DJ booth at the
San Zero Football and culture mixing like you would expect
in Italia. Zimbabwe they fired head coach Michael Nice just
(14:19):
two months before Afcon after a very disappointing run in
World Cup qualifying. Thailand they hired Anthony Hudson, you might
remember with the Colorado Rapids with US youth national teams
with New Zealand. He is the new national team manager
of Thailand and in the Champions League in Africa Nigeria's
(14:41):
Remo Stars. That was part of our picks of the
week last week in soccer over there on Monday night.
They are still waiting on some visas for their trip
to South Africa, where they have to try to overturn
a five to one deficit going into the second leg
against the Mamelodi sundowns.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
We'll see if they make it, and we'll see if they.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Have enough players to really challenge the really top notch
Mamlodi sundowns, a really good team that you've got a
chance to see in the Club World Cup over the summer.
Plenty happening everywhere this week. This weekend's absolutely loaded. Already
mentioned it El Classico Sunday morning at eleven fifteen. You've
got MLS Round one playoffs beginning on Friday night with
(15:24):
Miami hosting Nashville. You've got Chicago and Philly. You've got
Portland and San Diego. You've got hell is Reel with
Cincinnati and Columbus. Some really good matchups around the league.
You've got Copa Libertadorris continuing on after the first legs
of the semi finals tonight. You've got domestic play in Brazil.
You've got domestic play in Argentina. You've got big games
(15:47):
in London, Paris, Rome, Munich, all over.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And if you want to watch any of that, you
know where to be.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
The Brewhouse Cafe Atlanta's home for the global game. You
can have it around the cour logger from No Faux
Brewing in hand, big screens, big matches, big energy. No
matter where the game is played, it's always around the corner.
That's your Morning Espresso for today, brought to you by
Oglethorpe University, Atlanta's premier undergraduate learning experience. In Soccer Powerhouse.
(16:16):
You can catch every episode of The Morning Espresso of SDHAM,
of all of our other regular content wherever you get
your podcast on Spreaker, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, on YouTube.
For all the latest, follow us across social media at
Soccer down Here. I'm Jason Longshore. Thank you for starting
your day with us. The game never stops, neither do
(16:38):
we see you tomorrow.
The game never stops, and neither do we. Welcome to
another edition of the Morning Espresso on the SDCH Network,
brought to you by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta's premier undergraduate learning
experience and soccer powerhouse. I'm Jason Longshore and it's a
big week across the game. Chicago has ended years of
(00:34):
playoff pain, Liverpool they found their rhythm again in Europe,
and Ema Hayes begins the next chapter for the US
women's national team. Tonight we'll hit MLS champions Legal, Liberta
Doorra semi Finals, a few more big stories shaping the
world's game, all in one shot of Morning Espresso to
(00:54):
start your day. Let's start with the night that brought
one of MLS's not quite OG's, I mean they were
nineteen ninety eight versus nineteen ninety six, but one of
the early powers in the league back into the spotlight.
The Chicago Fires wild card win over Orlando City wasn't
just a playoff win. It was a full circle moment.
(01:15):
Their first playoff game since twenty seventeen, their first playoff
goal since twenty twelve, and their first playoff win since
two thousand and nine. Brian Gutierrez, a homegrown Chicago and
he opened the scoring early in the second half, a
kid who was only six years old the last time
the Fire won a postseason game, Hugo Kuipers took over
(01:36):
with two goals, sealing a three to one win that
felt like the old Chicago Fire, bold, aggressive, confident under
new head coach Greg Burhalter. Orlando also looked very poor.
They didn't defend well and they didn't really create anything,
and their season went into the tank under Oscar Pereja,
and it's very concerning how bad they were down on
(02:00):
the stretch. Chicago will now face the Supporter Shield winners
Philadelphia Union in the Round one, best of three series
starting on Sunday. It's a matchup that could set the
tone for this postseason. Berhalter's new look Fire trying to
maybe out Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Philadelphia in some ways. The Union have got.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Plenty of veterans, they've made deep playoff runs before. It
is their first time being led by Bradley Carnell, so
I'm intrigued by Chicago and Philly. Out west, the Portland
Timbers ended their own streak of frustration. Felipe Morris scored twice,
snapping a twenty three game scoreless run for him to
no win for the Timbers, gives them their first playoff
(02:41):
victory since twenty twenty one. The Timbers now move on
to face San Diego in Round one. RSL did about
everything they could this season. They battled, they made the
Timbers work for it. But this is a team that
talent wise was not at the same level as the
playoff of the other playoff teams in the Western Conference,
(03:01):
and I think it showed as this one went on.
We'd be curious to see what looks well next season
looks like for Pablo Master any NRSL. Now Portland's got
to go to San Diego in game one in round one.
Speaking of San Diego, there's a little bit of drama
behind the scenes for the Western Conference champions. Tom Bogert
at The Athletic had some of the details. Chucky Lozano
(03:24):
he could miss the playoffs due to an internal issue
following a locker room altercation earlier this month. The club's
asking him to prove his commitment before being brought back
into the squad. It's a huge story to watch for
heading into the weekend. He was not part of the
decision day match between these two teams, and you know,
I don't think it was a physical altercation. I think
(03:46):
it was frustration over being substituted and that wasn't received
very well. Very curious to see how San Diego handles
a potential distraction for mikey Veris. San Diego is also
in talks to make US international Luca de la Dorre
his move from Celta Vigo permanent, trying to get that done.
(04:06):
Also trying to get his salary cap number down a
little bit to help with that. Nineteen year old fullback
Luca Bombino, he's going to stay after a breakout season
on loan from LAFC. Some other news from around the
league that Tom Bogert dropped yesterday on US at the
Athletic Josh Wolfe has interviewed for the new England Revolutions
head coaching vacancy. Minnesota United trying to get a long
(04:27):
term deal done with goalkeeper Dane Saint Clair and he's
going to be a free agent at the end of
the season. Nashville SC they've made an offer for Ganaian
defender Maxwell Woolledzi.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We'll see if they can get that one done ahead
of next season.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Hot stove league in Major League Soccer, it is heating
up fast. Next up another storyline for MLS as they
move into the playoffs. Attendance dipped very slightly this season
average twenty nine and eighty eight fans per match, down
five percent from last year all time record average attendance. Look,
(05:03):
there's a few factors at play. A crowded summer calendar
with the Club World Cup, with the Premier League Summer series,
with the Gold Cup, you had fewer matches, moved to
large venues for inner Miami matches, Illonal Messi's appearances. FC
Dallas's renovation reduced capacity in Frisco.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
By forty two percent.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Still, MLS crossed the eleven million mark in total attendance
for the second straight year. It was the second highest
overall attendance. Camillo Durana, the league's executive vice president. He
said it best with the volume of soccer in this
country this year. Maintaining this pace shows the energy and
momentum we have heading into a really important part of
our history. The numbers on the viewing side were up
(05:45):
this year three point seven million gross live match viewers
per week across streaming and linear platforms. A twenty nine
percent increase over twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
That's a big deal. Five percent.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I don't think think there would be much celebration of
a five percent increase, So a five percent decrease should
be received the same way. I am sure that it
won't be from certain people out there who have their
agendas that will be trumpeting those agendas. I think we
get a little too hung up on granular attendance changes
(06:21):
game to game, season to season in soccer in this country.
We don't do that in the same way in our
other sports. I know attendance has been a bellweather for
soccer in the United States for so long. I think
we've got to move past it a little bit and
start to look at things like that big increase on
the viewership, the big increases on the.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Social platforms, those sorts of things.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I think old school metrics are not always the best
determination of overall health. MLS is in a really good spot.
Five percent decrease in attendance year to year is not
very large when you really get into the grand, the
grand scheme of things. Let's move on, let's go to Europe.
Match Day three of the Champions League delivered a reminder
(07:08):
of just how quickly things can change. After thirty minutes
in Frankfurt, Liverpool looked like a team on the ropes.
They were trailing one nil. Mosala was on the bench.
Arnie Slot's decision to switch to a four to four
to two is being questioned. They were looking at losing
their fifth straight match. I mean, it was crazy where
Liverpool has fallen to. But then you got nine in
(07:29):
the most electric minutes of Liverpool's season. Hugo akatk scored
off of a brilliant through ball from Robertson. Virgil van
Dijk Ibraheima Conat scored back to back headers off corners.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
By the break, it was three to one. By full
time it was five to one.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Cody Gakpoh and Dominick Shobosly added to what turned into
a route. Slot turned up the who tore up the
usual script and he got a defining win for this season.
It's the kind that can reset a season, because Liverpool
hasn't looked this good all year. Real Madrid, they stayed
perfect one to zero win over Juventus. Jude Bellingham's first
(08:04):
goal of the year Chelsea's teenage phenom estval He's just
eighteen years old, he scored a penalty to become the
club's youngest ever scorer in the Champions League. Tottenham Hotspur
under Thomas Frank drew scoreless with Monaco huge string of
goalkeepers goalkeeper saves from Guglielmo Vicario, the Italian goalkeeper for Spurs.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
According to OPTA's model.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
After match day three, Arsenal are now twenty one percent
favorites to win the Champions League, followed by PSG at
fifteen percent, Manchester City at.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Twelve, Liverpool at eleven. It's wide open at the top.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Let's bounce over to We're going to say in Europe,
but we're going to bounce maybe just a little bit
down to look towards Saudi Arabia because one of the
most interesting off the field stories this week, Dezone is
reportedly preparing to bid for global broadcasting rights to the
Champions League from twenty twenty seven to twenty thirty one.
It's the first time UEFA has offered a global rights package.
(09:04):
Saudi backed Surge Sports, which now owns ten percent of
de Zone, that's fueling the push. If successful, the Zone
could stream one Marquee Champions League game worldwide each week.
A massive shift in how football is distributed and consumed.
The Zone says they want to become the Spotify sport.
This would be a huge step in that direction. They
did really well with the FIFA Club World Cup last
(09:26):
summer and had some huge inroads in different markets in
the world. Brazil, Italy, France, Belgium did really really well,
didn't do as well in the UK. Numbers in the
US I think were very good. It's intriguing. It's very
intriguing to see where this goes with Dizone trying to
chase this and Champions League could be their ticket to
(09:48):
doing it. Let's go down South South America. They had
their own fireworks overnight at the Mark and A Flamengo
edged rasin Klube in one nill in the first leg
of their Copa Debertadores semi final. Jorge Kadraskal, the Columbian international,
scored the winner in the eighty eighth minute, keeping Flamengo's
quest alive for their first title since twenty twenty two. Earlier,
(10:10):
Rossing thought they had the go ahead goal through our
old friend Santiago Sosa, but it was ruled out for
a foul in his leap. He went up and won
aheader called for a foul. It's a questionable call. Reminded
me a little bit of the goal that he scored
that was called back in Columbus a few years ago.
He then was wrecked by his own teammate Marcos Rojo
(10:32):
very late in the match in stoppage time. He is
going to miss next week's second leg due to that
collision and due to a facial fracture that he suffered
in it. Could possibly have concussion issues as well. I
have not seen anything specifically about it. He looked a
little wobbly afterwards, busted open in the mouth as well.
(10:56):
Hate to see that for Santi, who has been one
of Rossing's best players this season and in this run.
Second leg heads to Buenos Aires next week. It should
be a thrilling match, just like tonight's first legs should
be in Quito in Ecuador, Lduquito face Paul Mettis Lega
Diquito trying to knock out a third Brazilian club in
(11:20):
this year's tournament after eliminating both the Fogo and Sal Paolo.
If you haven't watched a whole lot of Copa Liberta d'ores,
I highly recommend it. The drama is off the charts,
the intensity is off the charts, the atmosphere love it.
Paul Metis has to go to Ecuador and deal with
(11:40):
not just a raucous crowd, not just a very good team,
but also altitude.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Tonight.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
You can watch that on be in Sport and you
can watch it on Finates. If you don't have b
in Sport on your existing providers, you can go to
FNTZ dot co slash soccer down here and subscribe and
also help SDH grow a little bit by your subscription.
So if you are so inclined, we would definitely recommend it.
(12:06):
Let's go to the next bit of news in today's
morning Espress. So the US women's national team back on
the field tonight hosting Portugal. Roster looks a little bit
different from last summer in Paris, where they won the
gold medal. Thirteen of the twenty five players in camp
have made their debuts since the Olympics. Ema Hayes promised
(12:28):
to rebuild when she took over. She's delivering that and
she's rebuilding along the way she had the success last summer,
but she's also broadening the player pool right now Alex
Morgan will be honored before the match Inchester, Pennsylvania tonight,
where she scored her first international goal back in twenty ten.
Perfect farewell moment. As the next generation continues to step forward,
(12:51):
keep an eye on goalkeeper fall and tellus Joyce. She's
now the number one at Manchester United, making her case
to be the dedicated number one for the U After
Alissa Naire's retirement from the national team, Hayes is continuing
to integrate young talent like Claire Hutton Jordan Bug alongside
veterans like Loa Labonta who have earned their way into
(13:12):
the picture.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Here.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Hayes said this week, it's not just about replacing players,
it's about evolving how we play, how we think, and
how we connect. This new era for the US women's
national team really coming together. About a year away from
qualification for the twenty twenty seven Women's World Cup. Let's
wrap things up going around the world. Some quick kits
(13:35):
from all over the planet. Let's go to Spain, El
Classico headlining the weekend as Real Madrid and Barcelona will
match up. Rafina is back in training for Barsa, although
Frankie Dejong's status remains uncertain. Left training yesterday due to illness.
Everybody is freaking out about this one. It's Sunday to
eleven fifteen. Cannot wait for this one. You'll be able
(13:58):
to watch it at the brew house around the corner,
logger in your hand if you are so inclined. In Italy,
Milan announced the new partnership with Coca Cola and with
Power Aid. They're also adding a DJ booth at the
San Zero Football and culture mixing like you would expect
in Italia. Zimbabwe they fired head coach Michael Nice just
(14:19):
two months before Afcon after a very disappointing run in
World Cup qualifying. Thailand they hired Anthony Hudson, you might
remember with the Colorado Rapids with US youth national teams
with New Zealand. He is the new national team manager
of Thailand and in the Champions League in Africa Nigeria's
(14:41):
Remo Stars. That was part of our picks of the
week last week in soccer over there on Monday night.
They are still waiting on some visas for their trip
to South Africa, where they have to try to overturn
a five to one deficit going into the second leg
against the Mamelodi sundowns.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
We'll see if they make it, and we'll see if they.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Have enough players to really challenge the really top notch
Mamlodi sundowns, a really good team that you've got a
chance to see in the Club World Cup over the summer.
Plenty happening everywhere this week. This weekend's absolutely loaded. Already
mentioned it El Classico Sunday morning at eleven fifteen. You've
got MLS Round one playoffs beginning on Friday night with
(15:24):
Miami hosting Nashville. You've got Chicago and Philly. You've got
Portland and San Diego. You've got hell is Reel with
Cincinnati and Columbus. Some really good matchups around the league.
You've got Copa Libertadorris continuing on after the first legs
of the semi finals tonight. You've got domestic play in Brazil.
You've got domestic play in Argentina. You've got big games
(15:47):
in London, Paris, Rome, Munich, all over.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And if you want to watch any of that, you
know where to be.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
The Brewhouse Cafe Atlanta's home for the global game. You
can have it around the cour logger from No Faux
Brewing in hand, big screens, big matches, big energy. No
matter where the game is played, it's always around the corner.
That's your Morning Espresso for today, brought to you by
Oglethorpe University, Atlanta's premier undergraduate learning experience. In Soccer Powerhouse.
(16:16):
You can catch every episode of The Morning Espresso of SDHAM,
of all of our other regular content wherever you get
your podcast on Spreaker, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, on YouTube.
For all the latest, follow us across social media at
Soccer down Here. I'm Jason Longshore. Thank you for starting
your day with us. The game never stops, neither do
(16:38):
we see you tomorrow.
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