Soccer notebook
Team USA, others try to lock down World Cup spots tonight in busy week of soccer
Oct 9, 2017, 5:34 am
Christian Pulisic and Team USA have a big game with Trinidad and Tobago tonight. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
Cup qualifying
Leagues around the World took a backseat this weekend as World Cup qualifiers resumed, with 17 of the 32 teams now booked for next summer’s competition.
World Cup Qualifying - CONCACAF
The United States defeated Panama 4-0 in what was a big win because of where both teams were in the table. With the win, the USA move into the top three with a chance to clinch direct qualification on Tuesday night. Costa Rica booked its ticket with a last minute corner to tie 1-1 at home against central american rivals Honduras. Mexico, who was already qualified, defeated already-eliminated Trinidad & Tobago 3-1.
As things stand only one direct ticket is available. An win would put the U.S. in while a draw or loss would complicate things, though anything other than a W would be an upset at this point. The fourth place would clinch a play-in game. Panama and Honduras are currently tied at 10 points which makes the last day of qualifying in CONCACAF must-watch.
World Cup Qualifying - CONMEBOL
Things are definitely interesting in South American qualifying as the gap between second and seventh place is only four points. Only four teams qualify directly with a fifth going to a playoff against New Zealand. Brazil and Uruguay are in meaning only three spots are up for grabs between the likes of Chile, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Paraguay.
The biggest story is Argentina, considered one of the top national teams in soccer and fielding one of the world’s best two players in Lionel Messi, can’t seem to win at home. Peru went to Buenos Aires and came out with an important 0-0 draw for their World Cup hopes. Copa America champions Chile got a 3-0 win to put themselves back in the qualification zone and Colombia took a hit by losing 2-1 in Paraguay.
World Cup Qualifying - UEFA
Germany will officially return to defend their World Cup title in 2018, not that it’s any surprise. England, Spain, Poland and Serbia also clinched spots over the weekend but the biggest surprise is Iceland. The 2016 UEFA Euro darlings will make their first World Cup appearance next year after a 3-0 win over Turkey.
As things wrap up Tuesday, more teams will clinch direct spots as group winners with the second-place teams going to playoffs for the rest. The biggest drama is in Group A where the Netherlands, the third-place team at the 2014 World Cup, is all but eliminated because of the goal differential it needs to make up to break a potential tie with Sweden.
World Cup Qualifying - CAF, AFC and OFC
In Africa, Egypt is the big story after clinching their first World Cup appearance since 1990. Nigeria is the only other team clinching in the CAF region over the weekend. Australia defeated Syria in the Asia region playoff, awaiting the fourth-place CONCACAF team to play for a World Cup spot. The OFC region, Oceania, had already been decided in September and didn’t have any games in October. New Zealand awaits the South American fifth-place for a shot at the World Cup.
Major League Soccer
Despite the international break, some teams did take part in MLS action over the weekend. The most important result was a 3-0 New York Red Bulls win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC, clinching the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. All six playoff teams in the East are now decided, with only playoff seeding to be decided.
In the Western Conference, only Vancouver has clinched a spot with five places up. Only Kansas City has the opportunity to clinch this coming week if they win or tie at Houston Dynamo on Wednesday.
Soccer Weekend in Houston
Three friendlies took place between Thursday and Sunday at BBVA Compass Stadium. Houston Dynamo lost 3-5 against Mexico City team Cruz Azul in the ninth annual Dynamo Charities Cup, with this year’s proceeds going toward the Hurricane Harvey relief fund.
Liga MX teams faced off on Saturday afternoon with Monarcas Morelia defeating Tigres UANL 2-0. French goalscorer and Tigres forward André-Pierre Gignac was the main attraction and played every minute of the friendly. The 12,000 plus in attendance were mainly Tigres fans.
On Sunday afternoon, a heavy Salvadoran crowd saw their country defeat the Canadian national team 1-0. The match was a homecoming for Houston area product Arturo Alvarez, who returned and captained his national team after an almost two-year hiatus. MLS standouts Cyle Larin and Tosaint Ricketts featured for Canada.
MVP of the Week - Christian Pulisic
The 19-year-old soccer superstar takes the cake for MVP of the Week after scoring the first goal against Panama and assisting on the second to secure the three points in World Cup qualifying. The 4-0 scoreline will lead some to believe that it was a dominant team effort but the rout doesn’t start without the brilliant plays of the Borussia Dortmund starlet. Now holding an automatic spot to the World Cup, all the U.S. have to do is tie on Tuesday in Trinidad & Tobago.
Off the field, Pulisic decided to sign his game-worn jersey and give it to seven-year-old Alex Ibarra. The young fan was in possession of a Dortmund jersey signed by Pulisic and decided to donate it to a raffle benefiting Puerto Rico relief following Hurricane Maria. When Pulisic heard of the gesture, he decided to reward the kid for his generosity.
Upcoming games (All Times CT):
Tuesday, Oct. 10:
1:45 p.m. - Netherlands vs. Sweden (ESPN Deportes)
6:30 p.m. - Ecuador vs. Argentina (beIN Sports Espanol)
6:30 p.m. - Brazil vs. Chile
6:30 p.m. - Peru vs. Colombia
7:00 p.m. - Trinidad & Tobago vs. USA (beIN Sports)
7:00 p.m. - Panama vs. Costa Rica
7:00 p.m. - Honduras vs. Mexico (Telemundo)
Wednesday, Oct. 11:
7:00 p.m. - Houston Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City (KUBE 57)
Saturday, Oct. 14:
6:30 a.m. - Liverpool vs. Manchester United (NBC Sports)
9:00 a.m. - Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea (NBC Sports)
9:00 a.m. - Manchester City vs. Stoke City (NBC Sports)
9:15 a.m. - Getafe vs. Real Madrid (beIN Sports)
1:45 p.m. - Atletico Madrid vs. FC Barcelona (beIN Sports)
Sunday, Oct. 15:
6:30 p.m. - Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo (KUBE 57)
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Expectations
The Texans are favored to win the AFC South for a third straight season with a team led by young stars quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson. Stroud’s strong first two years helped the Texans turn things around and this year they’ll try to reach the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time in franchise history. Stroud will be directing a new offense led by first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who took over after Bobby Slowik was fired this offseason following Houston’s loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round. General manager Nick Caserio also beefed up the team’s receiving corps, led by Nico Collins, by adding veteran Christian Kirk and drafting Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third. Coach DeMeco Ryans has vowed the offensive line will be better this season after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which was second-most in the league. But it’s difficult to see how his protection will be better after they traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil and didn’t make any big moves to replace him. Defensively, Anderson should take another step forward in his second year playing with veteran Danielle Hunter after the third-overall pick in the 2023 draft had 17 sacks combined in his first two seasons. Cornerback Derek Stingley returns to lead a talented young secondary after earning first team AP All-Pro honors last season when he had five interceptions and defended 18 passes.
New faces
OC Nick Caley, WR Jayden Higgins, WR Christian Kirk, WR Jaylin Noel, LT Cam Robinson, RB Nick Chubb, RT Aireontae Ersery, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Jake Andrews.
Key losses
LT Laremy Tunsil, WR John Metchie III, G Kenyon Green, TE Brevin Jordan, CB Eric Murray, WR Robert Woods, CB Kris Boyd.
Strengths
Stroud and Houston’s stacked receiving group should be the stars of the team this season. The 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year has been great in his first two seasons to bring the Texans back into contention after an awful stretch. His interception rate was up last season but he’s looking for improvement this season in Caley’s offense, which he has described as “exciting.” He’ll have plenty of strong targets to throw to, led by Collins, who had a second straight 1,000-yard season last year despite missing five games with injuries. He’ll be joined by Kirk, who should fill in at the slot with Tank Dell likely to miss all season recovering from an injury he suffered in December. Higgins and Noel come to Houston after combining for 2,377 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns last season at Iowa State.
Weaknesses
It’s hard to see how the offensive line will be improved this season with Tunsil gone to Washington. Though he was penalty-prone, he was the team’s most consistent lineman. They completely revamped the line after his trade and return just one starter from last year’s group. They’ll likely rely on rookie Ersery to protect Stroud’s blind side after taking him in the second round of the draft. He started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota. Veteran Tytus Howard returns at right tackle after starting 16 games there last season. The center is Jake Andrews in his first year in Houston and he returns after missing all of last season with an injury before being released by the Patriots. Left guard Laken Tomlinson and right guard Ed Ingram are also new to the team.
Camp development
Houston’s secondary sustained a big blow in camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a leg injury. The injury isn’t season-ending but he is likely to miss significant time. Gardner-Johnson is in his first year in Houston after he was acquired from the Eagles in March in exchange for left guard Kenyon Green. He was expected to be the team’s starting free safety after the Texans lost Eric Murray in free agency to the Jaguars. The Texans will also be without backup Jimmie Ward indefinitely after he was placed on the commissioner exempt list Tuesday as he faces a felony domestic violence charge after a June arrest.
Fantasy player to watch
Collins should have another big year after finishing with more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons. He’s had 15 touchdowns combined in the last two seasons despite missing seven games with injuries.
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Win Super Bowl: 35-1.