USA

It’s a situation we’ve all seen countless times: The visiting team, playing the role of underdog, takes an early lead in front of a charged crowd and spends the remainder of the match attempting to disrupt the rhythm of the game to secure the three points; the end justifies the means, no matter how it’s achieved.

But you’ve never seen it play out quite like last night’s MLS meeting between Minnesota United and Real Salt Lake at Allianz Field in Saint Paul. 

Let’s just rename the “hockey assist” — where a player assists the assist — the Pulisic assist after Christian Pulisic helped create another goal on Saturday. The American provided the pass that Ben Chilwell sent across for Timo Werner to slot home for the match winner as Chelsea scored a massive 1-0 win over West Ham. Sadly, the match was marred by an absolutely ludicrous Fabián Balbuena red card in the final 10 minutes.

Foreign owners have never been more despised in England, and not even pulling out of the Super League could prevent Manchester United fans from burning an American flag in protest on Saturday.

Friday night’s Sporting KC-Orlando City match had a little bit of everything for VAR haters, with three goals disallowed, two by the VAR. But VAR giveth and VAR taketh: An incredible Nani goal was initially ruled offside, but the VAR reversed the decision as the Portuguese star gave the visitors a 1-1 draw on Friday in Kansas City, Kansas. 

LONDON — JPMorgan said on Friday it regretted supporting soccer clubs in launching a breakaway European Super League after the plan collapsed earlier this week due to a storm of protest from fans and politicians.

"We clearly misjudged how this deal would be viewed by the wider football community and how it might impact them in the future," a representative for the bank said. "We will learn from this."

One way or another, it seems Daryl Dike is going to be playing in the Premier League next season. While there are plenty of current EPL suitors, another match winner from the 20-year-old American has his new club Barnsley within touching distance of ensuring a place in the promotion playoffs. 

Chelsea all but clinched the FA Women’s Super League crown by holding off Manchester City for a 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Sam Kerr scored and drew a penalty converted by Pernille Harder as the Blues maintained their two-point margin atop the league with two games to play — despite two costly mistakes at the back.

After a year deferred, it’s time to get excited about Tokyo with the Olympic soccer draw completed on Wednesday morning via a live stream on FIFA’s YouTube channel.

After crushing all challengers at the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament with five wins, 25 goals scored and zero conceded, things get serious in Tokyo with the USWNT scheduled to open play against 5th-ranked Sweden on Wednesday, July 21.