Game Recaps

The Seattle Sounders captured their second MLS Cup in four years by defeating Toronto FC 3-1 at CenturyLink Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Sounders scored three second half goals to secure the victory in front of the largest sporting event crowd in CenturyLink Field history — 69,274 roared their approval when a deflected Kelvin Leerdam effort gave Seattle the lead in the 57th minute before Víctor Rodríguez’s cool finish doubled the advantage in the 76th. Raúl Ruidíaz cemented the club’s second-ever title with a strike of his own in the 90th.

Holy hell, what a start to proceedings between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday. With Anfield truly rocking, the defending champions and current league leaders entered the pitch to a stirring rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with the Kop end at full voice. 

You'll never walk alone pic.twitter.com/Cc2AXdTdIf

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 10, 2019

Manchester United defeated Brighton 3-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday to move up to seventh in the Premier League table heading into November’s international break. A heavily deflected Andreas Pereira effort and a Davy Pröpper own goal got United off to a 2-0 lead before the 20th minute, and although Lewis Dunk pulled one back for Brighton off a corner, Marcus Rashford’s sixth goal in 12 EPL appearances guaranteed all three points for the home side.

On a cold Thursday night in Columbus, Ohio, the USWNT beat Sweden 3-2 in the first match for the new U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski. 

While the U.S. was sent packing after the group stage following its worst-ever showing at a FIFA U-17 World Cup, Mexico is through to the quarterfinals following a 2-0 victory over Japan in Gama, Brazil, on Wednesday. If you were already a little disappointed with U.S. Soccer following the dismal showing, you’ll be pleased to know that Mexico’s success is even further damnation of our bumbling federation.

Bayern Munich recorded the most dominant 2-0 victory you could ever imagine over Olympiacos on Wednesday in the Champions League. Olympiacos goalkeeper José Sá recorded nine saves before finally being beaten by Robert Lewandowski’s delicate one-touch finish in the 69th minute. In the 89th, just one minute after entering the field as a substitute, Ivan Perišić made it two. 

Trailing Inter Milan 2-0 at home with just 40 minutes remaining and contemplating an almost certain drop to the Europa League, Borussia Dortmund stormed back to a 3-2 victory with the Westfalenstadion roaring on its heroes, including 21-year-old breakthrough star Achraf Hakimi. 

There’s something about Ajax playing against London clubs that makes for can’t-miss television. Whether it’s Tottenham’s remarkable last-gasp win in the Champions League semifinals last season or Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic teeing up Michy Batshuayi late in the group stage a couple weeks ago, Ajax has provided English fans with more than a few memorable moments. 

Swaths of empty seats around the Camp Nou on Tuesday for Slavia Prague's visit in the Champions League reflected the current malaise surrounding Barcelona, one amplified by this past weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Levante in LaLiga. That match both increased the pressure on manager Ernesto Valverde and condemned Luis Suárez to a three-week spell on the sidelines with a new calf injury.

The Carabao Cup inspires hatred from many soccer fans who would rather be watching the Champions League at midweek and Premier League coaches who don’t care enough to play any of their regulars. Your dad would probably call it the “Don’t Carabao Haircuts Cup” because of all the shaggy haired teens taking the field in EPL uniforms. 

But the Carabao Cup has some redeeming qualities — they were all seen Wednesday in the ridiculous match between Arsenal and Liverpool