Some Soccer News for Aug 23, 2016

It's Day 236 of 2016.


Today in hate:

• 1. Robbie Rogers was the subject of homophobic slurs from an as yet unidentified Orange County Blues player. Rogers returning from injury was playing for LA Galaxy II on Saturday night. Nothing was done to stop it during the game. Both USL and MLS are investigating.

• 2. Inaki Williams playing for Athlectic Bilbao was taunted with racial slurs by some fans of Sporting Gijon on Saturday. The referee stopped the game and an announcement was made in the stadium to stop, with Gijon players urging fans to stop as well. Play resumed. Williams is the first ever black player in 118 years for Bilbao. Thanks to Anthony for the heads up on this story.

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Top Goal Scorers in MLS:

• 16 Sebastian Giovinco (11 assists)

• 16 David Villa (1 assist)

• 15 Bradley Wright-Phillips (5 assist)

• 13 Ignacio Piatti (5 assist)

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LAFC held a ceremony today to kick off construction of their stadium. They will begin play in MLS in 2018 and hope to open the stadium some time that year, if not opening day of the season.

Will Ferrell vows @LAFC will go undefeated their first season or "you can tackle me out in the parking lot."

— Alicia Rodriguez (@soccermusings) August 23, 2016

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A panel of players, coaches, commentators etc: Tab Ramos, Shep Messing, Peter Vermes, Clint Irwin, Heath Pearce, Marcelo Balboa, and Jimmy Conrad, were asked a series of questions about the future of MLS. By Noah Davis of ESPNFC.

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If Jermaine Jones can't play this week for Colorado then he is definitely out of the USA game on Fri Sep 2 in St Vincent. Right? He probably won't go to St Vincent anyway. But what about the following Tue in Jacksonville for the game against Trinidad + Tobago?

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Fabian Johnson and Monchengladbach in UEFA Champions League Qualifying - 2nd Leg on Wed Aug 24 at home v Young Boys with a 3-1 lead.

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The talented Mukwelle Akale from the Twin Cities is quickly making his way up the ladder at Villarreal in Spain. Very exciting. by Brian Quarstad of Fifty Five One.

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Looks like Amauri had a huge game for Fort Lauderdale in just his third time on the field, scoring twice, including a wild bicycle shot, as they won 3-1 v Ottawa. Massive for the Strikers.

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Minnesota United's offense has gone into hibernation mode. Scoring just 8 goals in the past 7 games is not good enough for the team that is supposed to be the most explosive in the league. They are far from that right now, and need to change it starting Saturday night at Miami.

• 7 goals scored in first 4 games this season on the road.

• 2 goals scored in last 5 games this season on the road.

• And only 2 points in those most recent 5 games.

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Matt VanOekel of Edmonton named NASL Player of the Week

Clint Dempsey of Seattle Sounders named MLS Player of the Week

Thomas Sanner of Vancouver Whitecaps 2 named USL Player of the Week

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Let's check in with Peggy Blumquist from last season's Fargo TV series, as played by Kirsten Dunst. By Kathryn Shattuck of the New York Times.

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Great photos from a crazy, high tension era of social upheavel in England: "The Radical British Musicians Of The 70's Who Fought Racism With Rock"

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Bobby Wood played in an official game for his new club Hamburg yesterday, getting the start in the DFB Pokal as they won 0-1 at Zwickau.

• Wood and Hamburg open the Bundesliga season this Saturday at home v Alfredo Morales and Ingolstadt.

• Bundesliga kicks off a new season this weekend.

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CONCACAF Champions League group stage Matchday 3 schedule:

• Vancouver and KC face off in a huge game tonight.

• Viewing options: Univision Deportes and Facebook.

• The Facebook feed for the Kansas City game last week in Trinidad was so poor it wasn't even worth trying to watch.

-Tue Aug 23
Alianza v Antigua GFC
Vancouver Whitecaps v Sporting Kansas City - 9pm CT
Pachuca v Police United
-Wed Aug 24
Don Bosco v Arabe Unido
Tigres UANL v Plaza Amador
Real Esteli v Dallas
-Thu Aug 25
W Connection v Honduras Progreso
Dragon v Saprissa



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