THE SOCCER REPORT
Messi’s Argentina legacy on the line versus Brazil; USA face England in Women's World Cup semis
Jul 2, 2019, 7:00 am
Credit: Adidas
There may be no bigger rivalry in international soccer than that of Brazil and Argentina. Now put a spot in the South American championship final on the line and one of the all-time greats as the villain of the story. That's exactly what will go down on Tuesday when Copa America hosts Brazil host Lionel Messi's Argentina. Messi is known for his decorated club career with FC Barcelona but is highly scrutinized, especially by his own people, for his lack of silverware with his home country.
The Copa America final will be one of three international finals to take place on Sunday, by the way, with the champion of the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Concacaf Gold Cup (Men's championship for North America, Central America and the Caribbean) taking place on the same day.
For all the details, here is the latest in the soccer world:
FIFA Women's World Cup
International women's soccer is down to the last four teams of the competition, including the defending champion United States. Team USA takes on England, with Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly on the roster, on Tuesday in the first semifinal. The champion will be decided Sunday against the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between the Netherlands and Sweden.
Your #FIFAWWC semi-finals: Tuesday #ENG vs #USA Wednesday #NED vs #SWE We'll see you in Lyon! #DareToShine https://t.co/rb7XbR03CP— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFA Women's World Cup) 1561833102.0
Gold Cup
What an incredible turnout we had this past Saturday at the #GoldCup Quarterfinals at #NRGStadium! 🤯… https://t.co/SkAkTZNAiQ— Houston 2026 WorldCup (@Houston 2026 WorldCup) 1562012820.0
Tournament favorites Mexico survived Costa Rica in the quarterfinals after a dramatic 5-4 win on penalties in front of a sellout crowd of 70,788 on Saturday at NRG Stadium. They face Haiti on Tuesday night after the Caribbean team came back to defeat Canada, 3-2, in the first game of Saturday night's doubleheader.
Defending champions Team USA had their close call against Curacao but got to the semis with a 1-0 win. They will meet Jamaica in Wednesday's semifinal in a rematch of the 2017 final.
¡Están los cuatro finalistas! Haití, México, Jamaica y Estados Unidos buscarán quedarse con #GoldCup2019 🏆 🇭🇹 🇲🇽 🇯🇲… https://t.co/gfSAMvbhg4— Gold Cup 2019 (@Gold Cup 2019) 1561948063.0
Copa America
The South America men's championship is also down to the last four. Hosts Brazil faces off against arch-rival Argentina and defending champion Chile meets 2018 FIFA World Cup sweetheart Peru.
Restam 4! Esses são os jogos das semifinais, 🇧🇷🇦🇷🇨🇱🇵🇪 buscarão um lugar na final da @CONMEBOL #CopaAmerica https://t.co/IoeqY95DOZ— Copa América (@Copa América) 1562009394.0
Africa Cup of Nations
Africa is also hosting their continental championship in international soccer this summer. The group stage final matchday will be on Tuesday and the knockout stage begins on Friday. Hosts Egypt will be a good bet the rest of the way after going a perfect 3-0-0 in their group matches.
Where will you be watching the conclusion of the #TotalAFCON2019 group stage? ⚽️ Tell us in the replies 👇 https://t.co/aDoAl2P6x0— CAF (@CAF) 1562063400.0
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Major League Soccer
The Houston Dynamo dropped to seventh place in the West after losing three straight road games in the span of a week [4-0 at Portland Timbers, 2-0 at San Jose Earthquakes and 2-1 at New England Revolution]. The Dynamo return home to BBVA Stadium, where they are unbeaten in MLS matches with a 6-0-3 record, to host the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night.
3️⃣ games 🔟 days 5️⃣9️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ miles Time to head home 🏡 #ForeverOrange https://t.co/VHvJi1ncg8— Houston Dynamo (@Houston Dynamo) 1561909500.0
East top seven: 1. Philadelphia (32), 2. D.C. United (31), 3. Montreal (30), 4. Atlanta (29), 5. NY Red Bulls (27), 6. NYCFC (26), 7. Toronto (23)
West top seven: 1. LAFC (37), 2. LA Galaxy (31), 3. Seattle (29), 4. Dallas (26), 5. San Jose (25), 6. Minnesota (24), 7. Houston (24)
Scoring leader: 16 - Carlos Vela (LAFC)
Assists leader: 11 - Maxi Moralez (NYCFC)
National Women's Soccer League
Houston Dash forward Kealia Ohai reached 100 NWSL matches in a 2-1 home loss to the Portland Thorns at BBVA Stadium on Saturday. The Dash travel to North Carolina this week to take on defending champions NC Courage on Friday night.
Standings: 1. Portland Thorns (19), 2. Washington Spirit (18), 3. Reign FC (17), 4. Utah Royals (17), 5. North Carolina Courage (16), 6. Chicago Red Stars (14), 7. Houston Dash (13), 8. Orlando Pride (5), 9. Sky Blue FC (2)
Scoring leader: 9 - Sam Kerr (Chicago)
Assists leader: 4 - Yuki Nagasato (Chicago)
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Upcoming Matches (All Times CT):
Tuesday, July 2
2:00 p.m. - [FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal] USA vs. England (FOX, Telemundo)
7:30 p.m. - [Copa America semifinal] Brazil vs. Argentina (ESPN+, Telemundo)
9:30 p.m. - [Gold Cup semifinal] Mexico vs. Haiti (FS1, Univision)
Wednesday, July 3
2:00 p.m. - [FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal] Netherlands vs. Sweden (FS1, Telemundo)
7:30 p.m. - [Copa America semifinal] Chile vs. Peru (ESPN+, Telemundo)
8:30 p.m. - [Gold Cup semifinal] USA vs. Jamaica (FS1, Univision)
Thursday, July 4
9:30 p.m. - [MLS] LA Galaxy vs. Toronto FC (ESPN+)
Saturday, July 6
10 a.m. - FIFA Women's World Cup 3rd Place (FOX, Telemundo)
2 p.m. - Copa America 3rd Place (ESPN+, Telemundo)
Sunday, July 7
10 a.m. - FIFA Women's World Cup Final (FOX, Telemundo)
3 p.m. - Copa America Final (ESPN+, Telemundo)
8 p.m. - Gold Cup Final (FS1, Univision)
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.