The Soccer Report
Man City gets first PL loss since January; Houston Dash to play Tigres Femenil in Mexico
Sep 17, 2019, 6:39 am
The Houston Dash are headed to Mexico to face the Liga MX Femenil Champions. Credit: Houston Dash
With the FIFA international break over, leagues around the world resumed their calendar and with it many interesting results. Major League Soccer didn't have a big pause during the international fixtures so the league just resumed business as usual (although Zlatan was one of the many who disapproved).
“It’s a joke.” - Zlatan Ibrahimovic on MLS teams playing during the international break.— Adam Serrano (@Adam Serrano) 1568310340.0
Here are the top stories from around the globe:
English Premier League
Matchday 5 Results
- Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
- Manchester United 1-0 Leicester City
- Sheffield Utd 0-1 Southampton
- Brighton 1-1 Burnley
- Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
- Tottenham 4-0 Crystal Palace
- Norwich City 3-2 Manchester City
- Bournemouth 3-1 Everton
- Watford 2-2 Arsenal
- Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham
Top six: Liverpool (15), Man City (10), Tottenham (8), Man Utd (8), Leicester City (8), Chelsea (8)
Scoring leader: 7 - Sergio Aguero (Man City) / Tammy Abraham (Chelsea)
Assists leader: 5 - Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
Spanish La Liga
Matchday 4 Results
- Mallorca 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
- Real Madrid 3-2 Levante
- Leganes 0-3 Villareal
- Real Sociedad 2-0 Atletico Madrid
- Barcelona 5-2 Valencia
- Eibar 1-2 RCD Espanyol
- Alaves 0-1 Sevilla
- Celta Vigo 0-2 Granada
- Valladolid 1-1 Osasuna
- Real Betis 1-1 Getafe
Top six: Sevilla (10), Atletico Madrid (9), Real Madrid (8), Athletic Bilbao (8), Barcelona (7), Granada (7)
Scoring leader: 5 - Gerard Moreno (Villareal)
Assists leader: 3 - Ander Capa (Bilbao) / Angel Montoro Sanchez (Granada)
German Bundesliga
Matchday 4 Results
- Fortuna 1-1 Wolfsburg
- Cologne 0-1 Monchengladbach
- Dortmund 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen
- Mainz 2-1 Hertha Berlin
- Union Berlin 1-2 Werder Bremen
- Augsburg 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
- RB Leipzig 1-1 Bayern Munich
- Hoffenheim 0-3 Freiburg
- Paderborn 1-5 Schalke 04
Top six: RB Leipzig (10), Dortmund (9), Freiburg (9), Bayern Munich (8), Wolfburg (8), Schalke 04 (7)
Scoring leader: 7 - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Italian Serie A
Matchday 3 Results
- Fiorentina 0-0 Juventus
- Napoli 2-0 Sampdoria
- Inter Milan 1-0 Udinese
- Genoa 1-2 Atalanta
- SPAL 1-0 Lazio
- Brescia 3-4 Bologna
- Parma 1-3 Cagliari
- Roma 4-2 Sassuolo
- Hellas Verona 0-1 AC Milan
- Torino 1-0 Lecce
Top six: Inter Milan (9), Bologna (7), Juventus (7), Napoli (6), Atalanta (6), Torino (6)
Scoring leader: 5 - Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo)
French Ligue 1
Matchday 5 Results
- Lille 2-1 Angers
- Amiens 2-2 Lyon
- PSG 1-0 Strasbourg
- Montpellier 2-1 Nice
- Dijon 0-0 Nimes
- Bordeaux 2-0 Nice
- Brest 0-0 Rennes
- Nantes 1-0 Reims
- St-Etienne 2-2 Toulouse
- Monaco 3-4 Marseille
Top six: PSG (12), Rennes (10), Nantes (10), Marseille (10), Lille (9), Nice (9)
Scoring leader: 5 - Moussa Dembele (Lyon) / Victor Osimhen (Lille)
Portuguese Liga Nos
Matchday 5 - Top Results
- Setubal 1-0 Braga
- Benfica 2-0 Gil Vicente
- Portimonense 2-3 Porto
- Boavista 1-1 Sporting
Top four: Familicao (13), Benfica (12), Porto (12), Boavista (9)
Scoring leader: 6 - Pizzi (Benfica)
Assists leader: 4 - Bruno Fernandes (Sporting)
Netherlands Eredivisie
Matchday 6 - Top Results
- Ajax 4-1 Herenveen
- AZ Alkmaar 5-1 Sparta
- PSV 5-0 Vitesse
- Feyenoord 3-2 Den Haag
Top four: Ajax (13), PSV (13), Twente (12), Vitesse (11)
Scoring leader: 6 - Donyell Malen (PSV Eindhoven)
Assists leader: 5 - Bryan Smeets (Sparta) / Dusan Tadic (Ajax)
Scottish Premiership
Matchday 5 - Top Results
- Hamilton 0-1 Celtic
- Hearts 2-3 Motherwell
- Rangers 3-1 Livingston
Top four: Celtic (15), Rangers (12), Motherwell (10), Aberdeen (8)
Scoring leader: 4 - Liam Donelly (Motherwell) / Ryan Christie (Celtic)
Assists leader: 3 - James Forrest (Celtic)
Major League Soccer
East top seven: 1. NYCFC (57), 2. Philadelphia (52), 3. Atlanta (48), 4. Toronto (45), 5. D.C. United (45), 6. New York Red Bulls (41), 7. New England (40)
West top seven: 1. x - LAFC (64), 2. Seattle (49), 3. Minnesota (48), 4. Real Salt Lake (46), 5. LA Galaxy (45), 6. San Jose (44), 7. Portland (43)
Scoring leader: 28 - Carlos Vela (LAFC)
Assists leader: 18 - Maxi Morales (NYCFC)
Mexican Liga MX
Matchday 9 Results
- Puebla 1-3 Atletico San Luis
- Veracruz 0-0 Cruz Azul
- Xolos 1-1 Tigres UANL
- Monterrey 0-2 Necaxa
- Guadalajara 1-0 Atlas
- Leon 3-1 Juarez
- Club America 1-1 Pumas UNAM
- Toluca 0-2 Morelia
- Santos 0-0 Pachuca
Top Eight: 1. Necaxa (17), 2. Queretaro (17), 3. Santos Lagua (17), 4. Club America (16), 5. Leon (15), 6. Tigres UANL (14), 7. Atleti San Luis (14), 8. Monarcas (13)
Scoring leader: 7 - Julio Furch (Santos)
Assists leader: 4 - Luis Quinones (Tigres) / Osvaldo Martinez (Atlas)
Argentina Superliga
Matchday 6 Results
- Arsenal 4-1 Union
- Cordoba 1-2 Defensa y Justicia
- Godoy Cruz 0-1 Argentinos Juniors
- Colon 2-1 San Lorenzo
- Huracan 0-4 River Plate
- Gimnasia 1-2 Racing Club
- Banfield 0-1 Talleres Cordoba
- Rosario Central 1-1 Newell's
- Independiente 2-2 Lanus
- Boca Juniors 1-0 Estudiantes
- Aldosivi 1-1 Patronato
- Velez 1-0 Atletico Tucuman
Top four: Boca (10), San Lorenzo (10), Arsenal Sarandi (9), Rosario Central (8)
National Women's Soccer League
The Houston Dash pulled themselves six points behind the fourth and final playoff spot with a 2-1 win over Utah Royals on Friday night at BBVA Stadium. The Dash play Tuesday night with an opportunity to continue to close the gap in a tough test against defending champion NC Courage.
The Dash will also become the first NWSL side to play a friendly in Mexico after announcing an October 5 friendly at Liga MX Femenil Champion Tigres UANL.
Standings: 1. North Carolina Courage (40), 2. Chicago Red Stars (38), 3. Portland Thorns (36), 4. Utah Royals (31), 5. Reign FC (31), 6. Washington Spirit (26), 7. Houston Dash (25), 8. Sky Blue FC (16), 9. Orlando Pride (14)
Scoring leader: 16 - Sam Kerr (Chicago)
Assists leader: 7 - Yuki Nagasato (Chicago)
Upcoming Matches (All Times CT):
Tuesday, September 17
11:55 a.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Inter Milan vs. Slavia Prague (TNT, UniMas, TUDN)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Dortmund vs. Barcelona (UniMas, TUDN)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Napoli vs. Liverpool (TNT, Galavision)
7:30 p.m. - [NWSL] NC Courage vs. Houston Dash (ESPNews)
Wednesday, September 18
11:55 a.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Brugge vs. Galatasaray (Galavision)
11:55 a.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Olympiacos vs. Spurs (TNT, UniMas, TUDN)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Atletico Madrid vs. Juventus (Galavision)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] PSG vs. Real Madrid (TNT, UniMas, TUDN)
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The Houston Texans have a chance to win a third straight AFC South title this season with quarterback C.J. Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans.
The challenge?
Nobody has won three straight titles since Peyton Manning was in his prime with the Indianapolis Colts in this division’s early years. The Tennessee Titans most recently came the closest only to come up short in 2022.
“I’m not really sure like what the next step is,” Houston general manager Nick Caserio said. “I mean we have a good football team, so we’ve been one of the best eight teams in the league the last two years. So what’s going to happen beyond that nobody has any idea.”
The Texans have advanced to two straight divisional rounds each of the past two postseasons, losing both with the most recent to Kansas City 23-14 in January. Caserio made a variety of moves to help Stroud, and coach DeMeco Ryans switched offensive coordinators as well.
Houston tight end Dalton Schultz said they just have to do one thing to get past the divisional round.
“It’s never the same as the year before, and there’s always some little wrinkle that is going to hit the league or hit your team,” Schultz said.
Houston went 10-7 in 2024 with the Colts at 8-9 with everyone working furiously to catch up — or else.
Indianapolis switched starting quarterbacks. Jacksonville hired a new coach and general manager before trading up to draft Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Tennessee has No. 1 draft pick overall in Cam Ward starting at quarterback after firing and hiring a new general manager.
“This league is a year-to-year league and what do I feel is best for the Colts in 2025,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said.
Texans’ challenge
Houston has to protect Stroud better. Only Chicago’s Caleb Williams was sacked more than the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. With the pounding, Stroud’s production dipped as he was sacked 52 times with his interceptions more than doubling to 12 from his rookie season.
Stroud still threw for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns. Ryans fired Bobby Slowik and hired Nick Caley as offensive coordinator.
“He comes from a different style than I’m used to, at least in the NFL,” Stroud said of Caley. “So, it’s cool just to learn something new and put another tool in my toolbox.”
Caserio traded five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Washington during the offseason to clear space to sign younger players. The Texans are expected to start a rookie at left tackle in second-round pick Aireontae Ersery with Tytus Howard at right tackle where he started 16 games last season.
Houston also acquired Christian Kirk, signed Justin Watson and drafted a pair of receivers out of Iowa State to provide depth behind Nico Collins after letting Stefon Diggs leave in free agency. Caserio also sent wide receiver John Metchie to Philadelphia for tight end Harrison Bryant on Aug. 17.
Hey Danny Dimes
Indianapolis has missed the playoffs the past four seasons, and a fifth straight could cost Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard their jobs with the late Jim Irsay’s daughters now running the franchise.
Going with Daniel Jones means the franchise who went two decades with Manning and Andrew Luck at quarterback will have yet another starter on opening day. Since 2017, only Anthony Richardson has started back-to-back season openers.
Yet the fourth overall pick in 2023 couldn’t stay healthy or help Jonathan Taylor nearly enough. Taylor ran for 1,431 yards and 11 TDs as Richardson completed just 47.7% of his throws, the lowest rate of any regular starter in the NFL.
Steichen said Richardson, 23, was thrown into the fire. The Colts coach isn’t ready to talk about Jones’ future.
“Let’s see how the season goes,” Steichen said.
Jacksonville’s youth movement
The biggest makeover came in Jacksonville, firing a Super Bowl-winning coach in Doug Pederson and GM Trent Baalke. The Jaguars hired Liam Coen as coach and James Gladstone, 34, as their new GM.
The Jaguars are trying to fix a team that went 3-10 in one-score games in 2024 with the franchise losers of 18 of its past 23.
In his first head coaching job, Coen, 39, has a pair of first-timers in offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. As coordinator in Tampa Bay, Coen became the first NFL coordinator in at least 25 years to help a team average more than 28 points a game.
He has Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, who was limited by injuries to 10 games in 2024. Wide receiver Brian Thomas now can get help from Hunter, even if the rookie will also play some defense.
Tennessee time
Brian Callahan also was a first-time head coach a year ago with the Titans. He brought in a former NFL head coach in Mike McCoy this offseason among a handful of other changes to apply his lessons learned.
Mike Borgonzi was hired as GM when Ran Carthon’s big offseason spending spree didn’t pan out. The Titans have embraced their rebuild even if they added veteran receivers Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson along with left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and right guard Kevin Zeitler.
Predicted order of finish
Houston, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Jacksonville.