What’s crackin folks,

MLS season is in full effect and the USMNT are Concacaf Champs once again. Let’s party 🥳 

• 6️⃣ Matchday 6 Recap

• 🇺🇸 A Three-Peat

• 👶 Sweet Sixteen

• 💰 Referee Pay Day

• ⚽️ Goal of the Week

• 😂 Meme of the Week

Matchday 6 Recap

NY RedBulls Fly High 🔴 

The RedBulls destroyed Miami 4-0 led by a hat trick from Lewis Morgan and four assists from Dante Vanzier who became the 8th player in league history to record four assists in one match. Both squads were without some of their stars but Miami looked like it didn’t want to be there from the get-go. Just look at Saurez in the freezing rain. Miami is now 1-2 without Messi although they weren’t winning this one even if he was playing.

FYI check out the Player/Manager Podcast with Julian Gressel. It’s an awesome inside look at what it’s like to play with Messi & Co.

The Crew Get Screwed

This game might have single handedly caused the MLS to pay those refs. It was that bad. And we’re not Crew fanboys either, just being objective.

• Two Crew players subbed due to injury in the first 23 minutes (soccer shouldn’t be played on turf but hey, that’s not the refs fault)

• An egregious straight red card for a sub that was on for 8 minutes

• Cucho’s goal disallowed after VAR review (that angle…WTF??)

• The softest penalty given and subsequently missed (ball don’t lie 🤷)

• 16 minutes of added time to make it the longest first half in MLS history

A total shit show. And that was just the first half. Congrats to Charlotte, they finished their chances in the second half but tough to swallow for Crew fans.

LAFC Find Their Groove

LAFC hadn’t scored in three straight games but saved all their goals for this one. They started early and poured it on as Nashville was on their back foot throughout the game. Bouanga finally got on the board with a brace.

Hany Mukhtar has 3 goals in their last 21 matches dating back to the Leagues Cup. The 2022 MVP has been invisible to start the year.

Our Boys Three-Peat (Dos a cero)

It’s the 96th minute of Thursday night’s semifinal against a Jamaica team without their three best players. The US is down 1-0 after giving up a goal in the opening minute. Twitter is up in flames calling for Berhalter to be fired. And then… Gio and Haji combine for not one but two brilliant goals to put the US into the finals.

If you only read the discourse online, you would’ve thought we lost 3-0. And for good reason, we didn’t play great. Exhale though… we escaped with a win.

Fast forward 72 hours and the US have won their third straight Concacaf Nations League with an energizing performance led by a certified BANGER from Tyler Adams (see below) and a Gio Reyna half-volley. The vibes online are good, Berhalter doubters (we’re one of them) are quiet, and we’re off to Copa America on a high note.

A quick note on Reyna, who at 21, is arguably our most talented player. Per Paul Carr, Gio had 32 defensive touches vs Jamaica and 30 vs Mexico. In any of his previous 24 caps, he didn’t have more than 20 defensive touches. As our most creative player, it was smart to drop him deeper to get the ball in the build-up. Gio has two goals and three assists in the three finals he’s played in for the USMNT. A sensational talent.

As for Berhalter, he survives another day. Had that own goal not gone in in the 96’ minute would Gregg have been sacked? Unlikely, but his seat would’ve never been hotter.

Sweet 16 in NY

Julian Hall, the Red Bulls 15-year-old homegrown talent brimming with potential, has been largely sidelined, but not by injury, lack of skill, or readiness. The obstacle? New Jersey’s child labor laws.

Child labor laws in New Jersey prohibit kids under 16 from working after 6pm. RBNY kickoff time was at 2pm Saturday though, meaning Hall was able to suit up and make his season debut. Lucky for him, he turned 16 on Sunday.

Former Whitecaps homegrown Alphonso Davies had to skirt around child laws too. It’s astonishing how talented these kids are at such a young age.

MLS Referees End Lockout with +60% Raise

The Professional Soccer Referees Association(PSRA) agreed to a new CBA on Monday night, putting an end to the lockout. Some referee’s will see as much as a 68% increase in pay. The deal will last through 2030 and has incremental raises each year.

After one of the most embarrassing weekends of refereeing we’ve seen in a long time, the MLS finally decided to strike a deal.

Now that they’re back nobody will ever complain about the refs, right? Right???

Here’s the new salaries based on how many games they’ve officiated.

Goal of the Week

Take a motha effin bow, Tyler Adams.

Meme of the Week

July of 2019 was the last time Mexico beat the US in a meaningful game.

The US has won three straight finals against Mexico and this rivalry is starting to seem lopsided. Sorry El Tri fans, 🎵 Dos a Cero 🎵 

Quick Hits

• Cavan Sullivan snags an assist in his first professional game (Link)

• U-23 American Cade Cowell scores a late goal to draw against U-23 France (Link)

That’s all for today. See ya next week ✌️