THE SOCCER REPORT
Messi, Rapinoe headline FIFA Football Awards winners; Houston Dash end home schedule on ESPN2
Sep 24, 2019, 6:54 am
Credit: Adidas
Monday's FIFA Football Awards winners left plenty to talk about, and debate, as Lionel Messi and Megan Rapinoe were named The BEST players in their category. On the local spotlight, the Houston Dynamo picked up a second win under Interim Manager Davy Arnaud while the Houston Dash prepare to close out the season with a nationally televised home match on Wednesday.
Make sure you get to @BBVAStadium early on Wednesday! @BBVA_USA will be giving out these sunglasses to the first 1,… https://t.co/4vWhejlvpp— Houston Dash (@Houston Dash) 1569280500
Here is the recap of the previous week followed by a schedule of upcoming matches:
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019
The 2019 edition of FIFA's annual award ceremony took place Monday night in Milan. The following are the winners of each category:
Men's Player: Lionel Messi
Women's Player: Megan Rapinoe
Men's Coach: Jurgen Klopp
Women's Coach: Jill Ellis
Men's Goalkeeper: Alisson
Women's Goalkeeper: Sari van Veenendaal
Puskás Award: Daniel Zsori
Fan Award: Silvia Grecco
Fair Play Award: Marcelo Bielsa
Men's World11: Alisson; Matthijs de Ligt, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk; Frenkie de Jong, Eden Hazard, Luka Modric; Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi
Women's World11: Sari van Veenendaal; Lucy Bronze, Nilla Fischer, Kelley O'Hara, Wendie Renard; Julie Ertz, Amandine Henry, Rose Lavelle; Marta, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe
Major League Soccer
The race to the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs continues with two weeks left in the regular season. Houston, mathematically still in contention, avoided elimination with a 2-1 comeback win over Orlando City on Saturday night at BBVA Stadium. The Dynamo traveled to Los Angeles on Monday and will play twice this week - Wednesday at LAFC and Sunday at Real Salt Lake.
Sunday's matches will air simultaneously by conference. The matches in the East will air at 4 p.m. CT with the West matches following at 6:30 p.m. CT. FS1 will feature a doubleheader with updates from all matches.
East top seven: 1. x - NYCFC (58), 2. x - Atlanta (54), 3. x - Philadelphia (52), 4. x - D.C. United (48), 5. x - NY Red Bulls (47), 6. x - Toronto (46), 7. New England (41)
West top seven: 1. x - LAFC (65), 2. Seattle (50), 3. Minnesota (49), 4. LA Galaxy (48), 5. Real Salt Lake (47), 6. FC Dallas (45), 7. San Jose (44)
Scoring leader: 29 - Carlos Vela (LAFC)
Assists leader: 19 - Maxi Morales (NYCFC)
National Women's Soccer League
Standings: 1. s - North Carolina Courage (46), 2. x - Chicago Red Stars (41), 3. x - Portland Thorns (39), 4. Utah Royals (31), 5. Reign FC (31), 6. Washington Spirit (26), 7. Houston Dash (25), 8. Sky Blue FC (19), 9. Orlando Pride (14)
Scoring leader: 18 - Sam Kerr (Chicago)
Assists leader: 8 - Yuki Nagasato (Chicago)
UEFA Champions League
Group Stage - Matchday 1 Standings
Group A: PSG (3), Club Brugge (1), Galatasaray (1), Real Madrid (0)
Group B: Bayern Munich (3), Tottenham (1), Olympiacos (1), Red Star Belgrade (0)
Group C: Dinamo Zagreb (3), Man City (3), Shakhtar Donetsk (0), Atalanta (0)
Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow (3), Juventus (1), Atletico Madird (1), Bayer Leverkusen (0)
Group E: Red Bull Salzburg (3), Napoli (3), Liverpool (0), Genk (0)
Group F: Slavia Prague (1), Inter Milan (1), FC Barcelona (1), Dortmund (1)
Group G: RB Leipzig (93), Zenit (1), Lyon (1), Benfica (0)
Group H: Ajax (3), Valencia (3), Chelsea (0), Lille (0)
English Premier League
Matchday 6 Results
- Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth
- Leicester City 2-1 Tottenham
- Burnley 2-0 Norwich City
- Everton 0-2 Sheffield Utd
- Man City 8-0 Watford
- Newcastle 0-0 Brighton
- West Ham 2-0 Man United
- Crystal Palace 1-1 Wolves
- Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa
- Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
Top six: Liverpool (18), Man City (13), Leicester City (11), Arsenal (11), West Ham (11), Bournemouth (10)
Scoring leader: 8 - Sergio Aguero (Man City)
Assists leader: 7 - Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
Spanish La Liga
Matchday 5 Results
- Osasuna 0-0 Real Betis
- Villareal 2-0 Valladolid
- Levante 0-0 Eibar
- Atletico Madrid 0-0 Celta Vigo
- Granada 2-0 FC Barcelona
- Getafe 4-2 Mallorca
- Espanyol 1-3 Real Sociedad
- Valencia 1-1 Leganes
- Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Alaves
- Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid
Top six: Athletic Bilbao (11), Real Madrid (11), Granada (10), Real Sociedad (10), Sevilla (10), Atletico Madrid (10)
Scoring leader: 5 - Gerard Moreno (Villareal) / Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Assists leader: 3 - Ander Capa (Bilbao) / Angel Montoro Sanchez (Granada) / Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
German Bundesliga
Matchday 5 Results
- Schalke 04 2-1 Mainz
- Hertha Berlin 2-1 Paderborn
- Bayern Munich 4-0 Cologne
- Freiburg 1-1 Augsburg
- Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Union Berlin
- Werder Bremen 0-3 RB Leipzig
- Monchengladbach 2-1 Fortuna
- Eintracht 2-2
- Wolfsburg 1-1 Hoffenheim
Top six: RB Leipzig (13), Bayern Munich (11), Dortmund (10), Freiburg (10), Schalke 04 (10), Monchengladbach (10)
Scoring leader: 9 - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Italian Serie A
Matchday 4 Results
- Cagliari 3-1 Genoa
- Udinese 0-1 Bescia
- Juventus 2-1 Verona
- Milan 0-2 Inter
- Sassuolo 3-0 SPAL
- Sampdoria 1-0 Torino
- Lecce 1-4 Napoli
- Bolognia 1-2 Roma
- Atalanta 2-2 Fiorentina
- Lazio 2-0 Parma
Top six: Inter Milan (12), Juventus (10), Napoli (9), Roma (8), Lazio (7), Atalanta (7)
Scoring leader: 5 - Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo)
French Ligue 1
Matchday 6 Results
- Strasbourg 2-1 Nantes
- Marseille 1-1 Montpellier
- Nice 2-1 Dijon
- Bordeaux 2-2 Brest
- Reims 0-0 Monaco
- Metz 1-2 Amiens
- Nimes 1-0 Toulouse
- Rennes 1-1 Lille
- Angers 4-1 St-Etienne
- Lyon 0-1 PSG
Top six: PSG (15), Angers (12), Nice (12), Rennes (11), Marseille (11), Lille (910)
Scoring leader: 5 - Moussa Dembele (Lyon) / Victor Osimhen (Lille)
Netherlands Eredivisie
Matchday 7 - Top Results
- Twente 2-3 Heracles
- Vitesse 4-2 Fortuna Sittard
- FC Emmen 3-3 Feyenoord
- Den Haag 0-1 AZ Alkmaar
- PSV 1-1 Ajax
Top four: Ajax (14), PSV (14), Vitesse (14), AZ Alkmaar (13)
Scoring leader: 7 - Donyell Malen (PSV Eindhoven)
Assists leader: 6 - Dusan Tadic (Ajax)
Portuguese Liga Nos
Matchday 6 - Top Results
- Belenenses 0-2 Rio Ave
- Moreirense 1-2 Benfica
- Porto 2-0 Santa Clara
- Sporting 1-2 Famalicao
Top four: Famalicao(16), Benfica (15), Porto (15), Rio Ave (10)
Scoring leader: 6 - Pizzi (Benfica) / Ze Luis (Porto)
Assists leader: 4 - Bruno Fernandes (Sporting)
Scottish Premiership
Matchday 5 - Top Results
- Motherwell 1-2 Ross County
- Livingston 0-2 Aberdeen
- St. Johnstone 0-4 Rangers
- Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock
Top four: Celtic (18), Rangers (15), Aberdeen (11), Motherwell (10)
Scoring leader: 5 - Jermain Defoe (Rangers) / Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) / Ryan Christie (Celtic)
Assists leader: 4 - James Forrest (Celtic)
Mexican Liga MX
Matchday 10 Results
- Atlas 0-1 Toluca
- Monarcas 1-0 Chivas Guadalajara
- Necaxa 2-4 Leon
- Atletico San Luis 2-3 Santos Laguna
- Monterrey 3-2 Puebla
- Pachuca 4-1 Xolos Tijuana
- Club America 2-2 Queretaro
- Pumas UNAM 1-1 Cruz Azul
- CD Juarez 2-0 Veracruz
Top Eight: 1. Santos Laguna (20), 2. Leon (18), 3. Queretaro (18), 4. Necaxa (17), 5. Club America (17), 6. Monarcas (16), 7. Monterrey (15), 8. Tigres UANL (14)
Scoring leader: 8 - Julio Furch (Santos)
Assists leader: 4 - Four players tied
Liga MX clubs Tigres UANL and Santos will face off in a club friendly in Houston during the October FIFA International window. Tickets on sale at BBVAStadium.com
Argentina Superliga
Matchday 7 Results
- Union 0-0 Rosario Central
- Argentinos Juniors 3-1 Cordoba
- Estudiantes 1-0 Patronato
- Defensa y Justicia 0-1 Huracan
- San Lorenzo 0-2 Boca Juniors
- Atletico Tucuman 0-1 Independiente
- Newell's 2-0 Aldosivi
- Godoy Cruz 0-2 Banfield
- Lanus 3-2 Colon
- Racing Club 2-1 Arsenal
- River Plate 1-2 Velez
- Talleres Cordoba 2-1 Gimnasia
Top four: Boca (17), Talleres (16), Argentinos Juniors (15), Lanus (14)
Scoring leader: 4 - Nicolas Dominguez (Velez)
Assists leader: 2 - Several players tied
Soccer on the radio:
ðŸ‡ðŸ‡³ Alberth Elis Hear from the @HoustonDynamo / @FenafuthOrg forward on Tuesday night when he joins #SoccerMatters… https://t.co/d55baFxti8— Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis (@Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis) 1569292215
Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis airs every Tuesday 7-9 p.m. on KFNC 97.5 FM - ESPN Houston. This week's guests include Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis and former U.S. Women's National Team player and national broadcaster Aly Wagner.
TV listings (All Times CT):
Tuesday, September 24
12:00 p.m. - [Serie A] Hellas Verona vs. Udinese (ESPN+)
1:45 p.m. - [English League Cup] Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest (ESPN+)
1:45 p.m. - [English League Cup] Colchester vs. Spurs (ESPN+)
1:45 p.m. - [English League Cup] Preston vs. Man City (ESPN+)
2:00 p.m. - [La Liga] FC Barcelona vs. Villarreal (beIN Sports)
2:00 p.m. - [Serie A] Brescia vs. Juventus (ESPN+)
Wednesday, September 25
11:30 a.m. - [Eredivisie] PSV vs. Groningen (ESPN+)
12:00 p.m. - [La Liga] Mallorca vs. Atletico Madrid (beIN Sports)
12:00 p.m. - [La Liga] Roma vs. Atalanta (beIN Sports)
1:45 p.m. - [English League Cup] Chelsea vs. Grimsby (ESPN+)
1:45 p.m. - [English League Cup] MK Dons vs. Liverpool (ESPN+)
2:00 p.m. - [English League Cup] Man United vs. Rochdale (ESPN+)
2:00 p.m. - [La Liga] Real Madrid vs. Osasuna (beIN Sports)
2:00 p.m. - [Serie A] Inter Milan vs. Lazio (ESPN+)
7:30 p.m. - [NWSL] Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit (ESPN2)
9:30 p.m. - [MLS] LAFC vs. Houston Dynamo (KUBE 57)
Saturday, September 28
6:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Sheffield United vs. Liverpool (NBC Sports, Universo)
6:30 a.m. - [Scottish Premiership] Hibernian vs. Celtic (B/R Live)
8:00 a.m. - [Serie A] Juventus vs. SPAL (ESPN+)
8:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Paderborn vs. Bayern Munich (FS2, TUDN)
9:00 a.m. - [Premier League] Chelsea vs. Brighton (NBC Sports, Universo)
9:00 a.m. - [La Liga] Getafe vs. Barcelona (beIN Sports)
10:30 a.m. - [Ligue 1] Bordeaux vs. PSG (beIN Sports)
11:00 a.m. - [Serie A] Sampdoria vs. Inter (ESPN+)
11:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Everton vs. Manchester City (NBC)
11:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Dortmund vs. Bremen (FS2)
2:00 p.m. - [La Liga] Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid (beIN Sports)
6:00 p.m. - [Superliga Argentina] Boca Juniors vs. Newell's Old Boys (Fanatiz)
7:00 p.m. - [Liga MX] Monterrey vs. Tigres UANL (FOX Deportes)
9:00 p.m. - [Liga MX] Club America vs. Guadalajara (Univision, TUDN)
Sunday, September 29
8:00 a.m. - [Serie A] Udinese vs. Bologna (ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes)
10:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Leicester vs. Newcastle (NBC Sports, Telemundo)
9:00 a.m. - [La Liga] Getafe vs. Barcelona (beIN Sports)
11:00 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Cologne vs. Hertha Berlin (FS2)
1:45 p.m. - [Serie A] Milan vs. Fiorentina (ESPN+)
2:00 p.m. - [Primeira Liga] Rio Ave vs. Porto (GolTV)
4:00 p.m. - [MLS] NY Red Bulls vs. D.C. United - with Eastern Conf updates (FS1)
6:30 p.m. - [MLS] Minnesota vs. LAFC - with Western Conf updates (FS1)
Monday, September 30
2:00 p.m. - [Premier League] Manchester United vs. Arsenal (NBC Sports, Universo)
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
A month into the 2025 season, the Houston Astros have emerged as one of MLB’s most confounding teams. Their offense ranks near the bottom of nearly every key category, yet they remain competitive thanks to a pitching staff that has quietly become one of the most formidable in baseball.
Despite winning back-to-back games just once this season, Houston’s pitching has kept them afloat. The Astros boast a top-10 team ERA, rank seventh in WHIP, and sit top-eight in opponent batting average—a testament to both their rotation depth and bullpen resilience. It’s a group that has consistently given them a chance to win, even when the bats have failed to show up.
Josh Hader has been the bullpen anchor. After a rocky 2024 campaign, the closer has reinvented himself, leaning more heavily on his slider and becoming less predictable. The result has been electric: a veteran who’s adapting and thriving under pressure.
Reinforcements are also on the horizon. Kaleb Ort and Forrest Whitley are expected to bolster a bullpen that’s been great but occasionally spotty—Taylor Scott’s 5.63 ERA stands out as a weak link. Lance McCullers Jr. missed his last rehab outing due to illness but is expected back soon, possibly pairing with Ryan Gusto in a piggyback setup that could stretch games and preserve bullpen arms.
And the timing couldn’t be better, because the Astros' offense remains stuck in neutral. With an offense ranked 26th in OPS, 27th in slugging, dead last in doubles, and just 24th in runs scored, it's clear the Astros have a major issue producing consistent offense. For all their talent, they are a minus-two in run differential and have looked out of sync at the plate.
One bright spot has been rookie Cam Smith. The right fielder has displayed remarkable poise, plate discipline, and a polished approach rarely seen in rookies. It’s fair to ask why Smith, with only five Double-A games under his belt before this season, is showing more patience than veterans like Jose Altuve. Altuve, among others, has been chasing too many pitches outside the zone and hardly walking—a troubling trend across the lineup.
Before the season began, the Astros made it a point to improve their pitch selection and plate discipline. So far, that stated goal hasn’t materialized. Many of the players who are showing solid discipline—like Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker—were already doing that on other teams before joining Houston. It raises the question: are the Astros’ hitting coaches being held accountable?
The offensive woes are hard to ignore. Catcher Yainer Diaz currently owns the second-worst OPS in baseball, while Walker ranks 15th from the bottom. Even a star like Yordan Alvarez has yet to find his groove. The hope is that Diaz and Walker will follow Alvarez's lead and trend upward with time.
With so many offensive questions and few clear answers, a trade for a left-handed bat—whether in the outfield or second base—would be ideal. But with the front office laser-focused on staying below the tax threshold, don’t count on it.
For now, Houston's path forward depends on whether the bats can catch up to the arms. Until they do, the Astros will remain a team that looks good on paper but still can’t string wins together in reality.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
___________________________
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!