Hey friends,

It’s your favorite brothers back in your inbox for another American soccer recap. Between MLS and the Premier League, I watched 12+ hours of soccer this weekend. Life’s good. Let’s get you updated on what happened.

• 1️⃣ MLS Week 1 Recap

• 🇺🇸 Yanks Abroad Update

• ☀️ San Diego FC’s Big Win

• ⬆️ Week 1 Winners and Losers

• ⚽️ Goal of the Week

• 😂 Meme of the Week

MLS Week 1 Recap

Week one is in the books. 46 goals were scored this weekend, setting a new record for most goals on opening weekend.

The San Jose Earthquakes spanked Real Salt Lake 4-0 at home. And not a single goal came from their big attackers, although Christian Espinoza did have three assists. Earthquake fans were chanting ‘BRUCE ARENA’ as the game neared an end. Still way too early, but my preseason concern with RSL that they’d struggle to score is looking correct.

Inter Miami was sloppy and undisciplined in the back and barely rescued a point against NYCFC at home. Tomas Aviles was shown a red card in the 23rd minute for denying a goal-scoring opportunity and then Miami fell asleep on the proceeding free-kick. Messi had two assists (one, two) to become the fastest player in MLS history to reach 40 goal contributions in just 26 games. But after the game he was enraged, confronting the refs and putting his hands on one of NYCFC’s assistant coach’s neck. Messi and Suarez have both been fined an undisclosed amount for their actions post-game.

It was an embarrassing performance from Orlando City in their home opener against the Union. Marco Pasalic scored 8 minutes into his debut and added another one in garbage time but it wasn’t nearly enough. The Union pressed high all game and pounced on a backline that was without Robin Jansson. Their four shots on goal all went in including a brace from Tai Baribo.

65,520 Five Stripes fans packed Mercedes Benz Stadium to witness the beginning of a new era in Atlanta. League record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath scored a brace with a first-half header and a second-half putback. Miguel Almiron assisted a gorgeous game-winner to Edwin Mosquera. It seems they’re clicking right away… a scary thought for the rest of MLS.

Deja vu in Portland. The Whitecaps came into town and cruised past the Timbers just like they did in the wild-card round a few months ago. Kamal Miller’s iffy red card in the 11th minute gave the home team no chance. Jayden Nelson proceeded to pick them apart with 1 goal and 3 assists. And Pedro Vite score this stunner 👇️ 

Yanks Abroad

Christian Pulisic missed the first penalty of his career in AC Milan’s 2-1 loss to Torino. It was an incredible save from the keeper to end Pulisic’s streak of 12 straight penalties scored. This came days after he had to come out publicly to deny reports that there was a rift between him and head coach Sergio Conceicao. AC Milan now sits 7th in Serie A and is six points behind a fourth-place Champions League spot.

Tim Weah scored his first Champions League goal in Juventus’s loss to PSV and it was a banger. Although Juventus lost, Tim Weah and Weston McKennie were the two highest-ranked players for Juventus in this game.

Josh Sargent cannot stop scoring. He scored a brace this weekend including this beauty from outside the box for his 11th goal in league play this season. He will be our starting striker for March’s Concacaf Nations League.

The 60-man preliminary roster for the Nations League is out. Both Noahkai Banks and Damion Downs are on it 👀 

Stay Classy, San Diego

What a MASSIVE win for San Diego FC in their first-ever game. Against a Galaxy team that hasn’t lost at home since October 21st, 2023, they spoiled the reigning champs banner unveiling with a convincing 2-0 win. They’re the second expansion team since 2019 to win their first game. And their traveling fans were absolutely raucous.

San Diego was meticulous and comfortable in possession. Luca de la Torre distributed the ball phenomenally. At times they looked like they were holding onto the ball to not give up a goal rather than to get one of their own. But they were opportunistic when the Galaxy fumbled around in the back (a common theme this week around MLS) and Anders Dreyer capitalized with the first goal in club history. The score could have easily been 4-0, but what surprised us the most was their defensive line. Jeppe Tverskov and Anibal Godoy sat in front of the backline and controlled the game. And all four defenders scored above a 7.0(Fotmob) on a night when everyone expected Gabriel Pec and the Galaxy attack to do their usual thing.

Even without Puig and Paintsil the Galaxy still have far more talent than San Diego. But on Sunday, it didn’t look like it at all. The league’s 30th team put the cherry on top of the opening weekend of the 30th season. Oh, and the Kevin de Bruyne rumors continue to heat up.

San Diego have their home opener this Saturday night at 7:30 pm PST against St. Louis City SC. Snapdragon Stadium will be rocking and Mason will be there.

Biggest Winners and Losers: Week 1

Biggest Winners:

We already talked about Atlanta United, San Jose, and San Diego FC but there were a few others.  

Bruce Arena: The Quakes looked very well-coached and organized, something they’ve been missing recently. Bruce Arena led with a 3-4-1-2 rather than his typical 4-4-2, and the switch worked really well, giving Chicho Arango and Josef Martinez tons of freedom to attack.

League Record Signings:

• Kevin Denkey: Kevin Denkey led FC Cincinnati to a 1-0 win over the NY Red Bulls, grabbing the game’s only goal. He could have had several goals and looked dangerous all game as the target hold-up player. GM Chris Albright knows exactly what he got with his $16 million record signing.

• Emmanuel Latte Lath: He’s going to score so many goals and has to be a favorite to win the Golden Boot. I guess that’s what you get when you go out and spend $22M 🤷‍♂️ 

Biggest Losers:

Pedro Gallese: The 35-year-old goalkeeper had a rough day, to say the least, with 4 shots on goal, and 4 goals allowed. He ended the game with a 4.3(Per Fotmob) rating, the lowest of any player on the pitch.

Seattle Center backs: Well, this is hard to watch. A terrible giveaway that leads to an awful own goal. An overall poor performance from the Seattle center-back duo of Jackson Ragen and Yeimar Gomez.

LA Galaxy: They looked like they were still hungover from all the partying after winning the Cup. And ugh… Puig is desperately missed.

Goal of the Week

I freaking love these breakdowns by Doyle. And what a goal by Ebobisse in his first game with LAFC.

Meme of the Week

😂 

Quick Hits

• 2025 Club World Cup will have the highest prize money for any sporting event in history (Link)

• Ally Sentor scores a banger for her first USWNT goal (Link)

• Seattle Sounders announce ‘First Match on Us’ initiative to give free tickets to people who’ve never been to a game (Link)

• Photos of the LA Galaxy’s 2024 MLS Cup Championship rings (Link)

• Referee gets in trouble after asking for Messi’s jersey (Link)

See you again next week 🤗 

Max & Mason