THE SOCCER REPORT
River-Boca on tap, Houston Dynamo playoff hopes end
Oct 1, 2019, 8:25 am
River Plate product Tomas Martinez has been a staple of Dynamo lineups in 2019. Credit: Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo are officially eliminated from playoff contention, sentencing their absence from the MLS Cup Playoffs in five of the past six seasons. The Dash are off this week but will be heading down to Monterrey, Mexico for a friendly with Liga MX side Tigres on Saturday night.
On the global scale, one of the most heated rivalries in the sport takes place on Tuesday night as Argentina's River Plate and Boca Juniors face off in the Copa Libertadores semifinals. The matchup is a rematch of the Libertadores finals from last year, a series that had to be finished in Spain because it was not deemed safe to conclude in Argentina.
Here is a review of the past week in soccer:
Major League Soccer
Last Wednesday, LAFC demolished the Houston Dynamo by a scoreline of 3-1 to clinch the best record in MLS and home field throughout the playoffs. The Supporters Shield is the two-year club's first major trophy. Four other Western Conference teams clinched a playoff spot, leaving only two to be decided for the final day of the regular season.
In the East, NYCFC clinched the top spot and a bye in the first round. New England defeated NYCFC on Sunday to secure the final playoff spot in the conference.
Every match will be played simultaneously on Sunday in MLS' "Decision Day." Aside from the final two playoff berths, seeding in the playoffs is also to be decided. Spots 2-4 in each conference host in the first round.
With two goals this week, Carlos Vela tied the single-season scoring record (31) set by Atlata's Josef Martinez in 2018. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not far behind in the Golden Boot race with 29 as the Galaxy come to Houston on Sunday.
East top seven: 1. y - NYCFC (61), 2. x - Atlanta (55), 3. x - Philadelphia (55), 4. x - D.C. United (49), 5. x - NY Red Bulls (48), 6. x - Toronto (47), 7. x - New England (45)
West top seven (and playoff hopefuls): 1. s - LAFC (69), 2. x - Minnesota (53), 3. x - Seattle (53), 4. x - LA Galaxy (51), 5. x - Real Salt Lake (50), 6. Portland (46), 7. Dallas (45), 8. San Jose (44), 9. Colorado (42)
Scoring leader: 31 - Carlos Vela (LAFC)
Assists leader: 20 - Maxi Morales (NYCFC)
National Women's Soccer League
The four teams in the NWSL playoffs have been decided with only the semifinal matchups to be decided as the league enters it's final two weeks. The Houston Dash will miss out on the postseason once more, a feat never accomplished in club history.
Standings: 1. s - North Carolina Courage (46), 2. x - Chicago Red Stars (44), 3. x - Portland Thorns (39), 4. x - Reign FC (37), 5. Utah Royals (31), 6. Washington Spirit (30), 7. Houston Dash (26), 8. Sky Blue FC (20), 9. Orlando Pride (15)
Scoring leader: 18 - Sam Kerr (Chicago)
Assists leader: 8 - Yuki Nagasato (Chicago)
English Premier League
Matchday 7 Results
- Sheffield Utd 0-1 Liverpool
- Crystal Palace 2-0 Norwich City
- Aston Villa 2-2 Burnley
- Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
- Wolves 2-0 Watford
- Tottenham 2-1 Southampton
- Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
- Everton 1-3 Manchester City
- Leicester City 5-0 Newcastle
- Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal
Top six: Liverpool (21), Man City (16), Leicester City (14), Arsenal (12), West Ham (12), Tottenham (11)
Scoring leader: 8 - Sergio Aguero (Man City)
Assists leader: 8 - Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
Spanish La Liga
Matchday 6 Results
- Valladolid 1-1 Granada
- Real Betis 3-1 Levante
- FC Barcelona 2-1 Villareal
- RCD Mallorca 0-2 Atletico Madrid
- Leganes 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
- Valencia 3-3 Getafe
- Real Madrid 2-0 Osasuna
- Eibar 3-2 Sevilla
- Celta Vigo 1-1 Espanyol
- Real Sociedad 3-0 Alaves
Matchday 7 Results
- Villareal 5-1 Real Betis
- Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Valencia
- Getafe 0-2 FC Barcelona
- Granada 1-0 Leganes
- Atletico Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid
- Espanyol 0-2 Valladolid
- Eibar 2-0 Celta Vigo
- Alaves 2-0 RCD Mallorca
- Levante 1-1 Osasuna
- Sevilla 3-2 Real Sociedad
Top six: Real Madrid (15), Granada (14), Atletico Madrid (14), FC Barcelona (13), Real Sociedad (13), Sevilla (13)
Scoring leader: 6 - Gerard Moreno (Villareal)
Assists leader: 3 - Five players tied
German Bundesliga
Matchday 6 Results
- Union Berlin 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
- Hoffenheim 0-3 Monchengladbach
- Mainz 0-1 Wolfsburg
- Augsburg 0-3 Bayer Leverkusen
- Paderborn 2-3 Bayern Munich
- RB Leipzig 1-3 Schalke 04
- Dortmund 2-2 Werder Bremen
- Fortuna 1-2 Freiburg
- Cologne 0-4 Hertha Berlin
Top six: Bayern Munich (14), RB Leipzig (13), Freiburg (13), Schalke 04 (13), Monchengladbach (13), Bayer Leverkusen (13)
Scoring leader: 10 - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Italian Serie A
Matchday 5 Results
- Hellas Verona 0-0 Udinese
- Brescia 1-2 Juventus
- Roma 0-2 Atalanta
- SPAL 1-3 Lecce
- Napoli 0-1 Cagliari
- Genoa 0-0 Bologna
- Fiorentina 2-1 Sampdoria
- Parma 1-0 Sassuolo
- Inter Milan 1-0 Lazio
- Torino 2-1 AC Milan
Matchday 6 Results
- Juventus 2-0 SPAL
- Sampdoria 1-3 Inter Milan
- Sassuolo 1-4 Atalanta
- Napoli 2-1 Brescia
- Lazio 4-0 Genoa
- Udinese 1-0 Bolognia
- Lecce 0-1 Roma
- Cagliari 1-1 Hellas Verona
- AC Milan 1-3 Fiorentina
- Parma 3-2 Torino
Top six: Inter Milan (18), Juventus (16), Atalanta (13), Napoli (12), Roma (11), Lazio (10)
Scoring leader: 5 - Four players tied
French Ligue 1
Matchday 7 Results
- Dijon 0-0 Marseille
- Monaco 3-1 Nice
- Brest 2-2 Lyon
- St-Etienne 0-1 Metz
- Amiens 1-3 Bordeaux
- Nantes 1-0 Rennes
- Montpellier 1-0 Nimes
- Toulouse 0-2 Angers
- Lille 2-0 Strasbourg
- PSG 0-2 Stade Reims
Matchday 8 Results
- Lyon 0-1 Nantes
- Bordeaux 0-1 PSG
- Stade Reims 1-2 Dijon
- Metz 2-2 Toulouse
- Monaco 4-1 Brest
- Angers 1-1 Amiens
- Nice 1-1 Lille
- Strasbourg 1-0 Montpellier
- Nimes 0-1 St-Etienne
- Marseille 1-1 Rennes
Top six: PSG (18), Angers (16), Nantes (16), Lille (14), Marseille (13), Nice (13)
Scoring leader: 6 - Three players tied
Netherlands Eredivisie
Matchday 8 - Top Results
- Ajax 2-0 Groningen
- Waalwijk 1-2 Vitesse
- Zwolle 0-2 PSV
- AZ Alkmaar 2-0 Heracles
- Feyenoord 5-1 Twente
Top four: Ajax (20), PSV (20), AZ Alkmaar (19), Vitesse (17)
Scoring leader: 8 - Donyell Malen (PSV Eindhoven)
Assists leader: 8 - Dusan Tadic (Ajax)
Portuguese Primeira Liga
Matchday 7 - Top Results
- Benfica 1-0 Setubal
- Famalicao 3-1 Belenenses
- Vitoria 1-0 Pacos Ferreira
- Rio Ave 0-1 Porto
- Aves 0-1 Sporting CP
Top four: Famalicao(19), Benfica (18), Porto (18), Vitoria (12)
Scoring leader: 6 - Pizzi (Benfica) / Ze Luis (Porto)
Assists leader: 4 - Bruno Fernandes (Sporting)
Scottish Premiership
Matchday 7 - Top Results
- Hibernian 1-1 Celtic
- Rangers 5-0 Aberdeen
- St. Johnstone 0-1 Motherwell
Top four: Celtic (19), Rangers (18), Motherwell (13), Aberdeen (11)
Scoring leader: 6 - Jermain Defoe (Rangers) / Ryan Christie (Celtic)
Assists leader: 4 - James Forrest (Celtic)
Mexican Liga MX
Matchday 11 Results
- Queretaro 1-2 Necaxa
- Tigres 0-1 Puebla
- Leon 1-1 Atlas
- Guadalajara 2-4 Pachuca
- Santos 5-0 Veracruz
- Juarez 1-1 Club America
- Cruz Azul 1-1 Monterrey
- Tijuana 3-2 Monarcas
- Toluca 3-1 Atletico San Luis
Matchday 12 Results
- Puebla 2-1 Leon
- Atlas 2-0 Queretaro
- Pachuca 2-0 Cruz Azul
- Necaxa 0-0 Juarez
- Monterrey 0-2 Tigres
- Club America 4-1 Guadalajara
- Pumas 2-0 Santos
- Atletico San Luis 2-3 Tijuana
- Veracruz 1-1 Toluca
Top Eight: 1. Santos Laguna (23), 2. Necaxa (21), 3. Club America (21), 4. Leon (19), 5. Pachuca (18), 6. Queretaro (18), 7. Tigres (17), 8. Pumas (17)
Scoring leader: 8 - Julio Furch (Santos)
Assists leader: 8 - Miller Bolanos (Tijuana)
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
Liga MX Femenil
Matchday 13 Results
- Necaxa 0-1 Queretaro
- Juarez 1-2 UANL
- Atlas 2-2 Cruz Azul
- UNAM 1-1 Monarcas
- Veracruz 1-1 Guadalajara
- America 2-1 Pachuca
- Santos 0-0 Puebla
- Atletico San Luis 1-2 Leon
- Tijuana 2-1 Toluca
Top Eight: 1. Monterrey (30), 2. Pachuca (26), 3. Tigres (25), 4. Guadalajara (23), 5. Atlas (21), 6. America (21), 7. Tijuana (21), 8. Monarcas (18)
Scoring leader: 13 - Mónica Monsiváis (Monterrey)
Argentina Superliga
Matchday 8 Results
- Aldosivi 1-2 Union
- Patronato 1-1 Lanus
- Arsenal 3-0 Estudiantes
- Gimnasia 0-2 River Plate
- Boca 1-1 Newells
- Banfield 0-1 San Lorenzo
- Huracan 0-0 Atletico Tucuman
- Velez 0-1 Defensa y Justicia
- Rosario Central 1-1 Racing Club
- Independiente 3-2 Talleres Cordoba
- Cordoba 1-0 Godoy Cruz
- Colon 1-0 Argentinos Juniors
Top four: Boca (18), San Lorenzo (16), Talleres Cordoba (16), Arsenal Sarandi (15)
Scoring leader: 4 - Bruno Pitton (San Lorenzo) / Nicolas Dominguez (Velez)
Assists leader: 3 - Mathias Abero Villan (Patronato)
Argentina Female
The first matchday in Argentina's female football featured the first Boca vs. River matchup of the professional era.
Matchday 1 Results
- Villa 1-5 Rosario Central
- Gimnasia 2-0 Huracan
- Platense 1-5 Racing Club
- Estudiantes 3-1 Belgrano
- SAT 1-0 El Porvenir
- Boca Juniors 5-0 River Plate
- Lanus 1-3 San Lorenzo
- Urquiza 2-1 Independiente
Top four: SAT (3), Boca Juniors (3) Racing Club (3), Rosario Central (3)
TV listings (All Times CT):
Tuesday, October 1
12:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Real Madrid vs. Club Brugge (TNT, UniMas, TUDN)
1:45 p.m. - [English Championship] Leeds vs. West Bromwich (ESPN+)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Tottenham vs. Bayern Munich (TNT, Galavision)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Juventus vs. Bayer Leverkusen (UniMas, TUDN)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Galatasaray vs. PSG (B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Lokomotiv Moscow vs. Atletico Madrid (B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Manchester City vs. Dinamo Zagreb (B/R Live)
7:30 p.m. - [Copa Libertadores] River Plate vs. Boca Juniors (beIN SPORTS)
Wednesday, October 2
12:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Slavia Prague vs. Borussia Dortmund (TNT, Galavision)
12:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Genk vs. Napoli (UniMas, TUDN)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] FC Barcelona vs. Inter Milan (TNT, UniMas, TUDN)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Liverpool vs. Salzburg (Galavision, B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] RB Leipzig vs. Lyon (B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Valencia vs. Ajax (B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Lille vs. Chelsea (B/R Live)
7:30 p.m. - [Copa Libertadores] Gremio vs. Flamengo (beIN SPORTS)
Thursday, October 3
12:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] AZ Alkmaar vs. Manchester United (TUDN, B/R Live)
12:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Feyenoord vs. Porto (Galavision, B/R Live)
12:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Wolfsburg vs. Roma (B/R Live)
12:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Besiktas vs. Wolves (UniMas, B/R Live)
12:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Young Boys vs. Rangers (B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Sevilla vs. APOEL (UniMas, B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Sporting CP vs. LASK (Galavision, B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Arsenal vs. Standard Liege (TUDN, B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Rosenborg vs. PSV Eindhoven (B/R Live)
2:00 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Celtic vs. Cluj (B/R Live)
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The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's 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.
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