Game Recaps

After preaching the verb “compete” as one of the mantras of his new leadership, Gregg Berhalter began his reign as USMNT manager with a 3-0 victory over Panama on Sunday night. The first starting eleven of Berhalter’s tenure included five players making their international debuts, and three of them — Real Salt Lake’s Corey Baird, Chicago’s Djordje Mihailovic and San Jose’s Nick Lima — played huge roles in the opening two goals.

The third was created and finished by two more players making their international debuts — NYCFC's Jonathan Lewis and LAFC's Christian Ramirez. 

Barcelona maintained its five-point lead at the top of LaLiga with a 2-0 victory over Girona on Sunday. Nelson Semedo opened the scoring in the ninth minute with his first-ever goal for the club, and Messi completed the scoring in the 68th with a delicate finish. The goal was, of course, assisted by Jordi Alba. 

Messi now has 14 goals and nine assists in his last 13 games. He’s also scored in seven straight games in all competitions. 

Watching 19-year-old American Tyler Adams make his debut for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, it was easy to understand why former New York Red Bulls midfield partner Dax McCarty referred to him as “the Terminator.” Leipzig raced out to a 3-0 lead as early as the 16th minute with a combination of fearlessness, speed and physicality — words that perfectly summed up Adams’ display in the midfield over that period.

It’d been a long time since any nation treated the USWNT like Spain did in the opening 45 of today’s contest in Alicante. 2019 will mark La Roja’s second-ever World Cup appearance (the first came in 2015), but the growing European side controlled 58 percent of possession and out-passed the defending world champions 274-195 in the first half. Not bad for a first-ever meeting with the powerhouse that is the USWNT.  

Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool has become one of the most exciting teams to watch in the world. The club has fantastically prolific forwards, indefatigable midfielders, impressive defenders and a fearless goalkeeper, not to mention Bobby Firmino and his no-look goal-scoring prowess. At times, it’s almost impossible not to find joy when the Reds are on TV. 

Say what you will about hosting the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia — we certainly did, here — but Juventus won its first trophy of the Cristiano Ronaldo era on Wednesday. 

It came thanks to the head of none other than Cristiano Ronaldo in a 1-0 victory over AC Milan. 

Barcelona maintained its five-point lead at the top of LaLiga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Eibar at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Luis Suarez opened the scoring for the hosts after a wonderful interchange with Philippe Coutinho, and then Suarez turned provider for Barca’s second, finished by Lionel Messi — his 400th league goal for the club.

Barca’s third was Suarez’s second of the game after a quick Sergi Roberto throw-in found Eibar’s defense asleep. 

On the strength of 11 saves from goalkeeper David de Gea, Manchester United earned a 1-0 victory over Tottenham at Wembley with Marcus Rashford’s 44th minute goal proving the match-winner after a sensational assist from Paul Pogba. The victory continued Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s perfect start, and he’s now the first United manager ever to win his opening six games on the trot.

Before his arrival, United sat 11 points behind the top four. That gap has diminished to just six while the club currently sits level with Arsenal on 41 points.

The FA Cup is always full of surprises. Liverpool visited Wolves for a Third Round clash tonight, and we saw more of the same. Coming off a loss to Manchester City, Liverpool looked to bounce back and continue its hunt for trophies. Wolves needed a big result to get through to the next round. For Liverpool, it was an evening to forget. For Wolves, it was an evening to celebrate.

Barcelona took full advantage of Atletico Madrid and Sevilla’s 1-1 draw earlier today (as well as Real Madrid’s shock defeat to Real Sociedad) to open up a five-point gap at the top of LaLiga. Goals from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez inside the first half — although the lead was cut by Jaime Mata shortly before the interval — proved enough for the Blaugrana.