D.C. soccer teams lose, Barcelona plays in empty stadium & more: Monday Freedom Kicks

Hi there, did you enjoy the weather? It sure felt like fall.

Recaps of D.C. United’s 2-0 loss to Columbus Crew SC from us, MLS and WaPo. Massive Report covers the playoff-clinched Crew.

USMNT calls up Paul Arriola for pivotal World Cup qualifiers (us): Don’t get hurt, and make sure we qualify Paul!

With contract talks in limbo, Bill Hamid might be on his way out of D.C. United (WaPo): ICYMI, the team Goff lays things out there at the moment for Bill.

Boehm: DC United remind us that a little hate can go a long way (MLS): On Steve Birnbaum and mmaybe he’s growing into captaincy?

Q&A with Estefania Banini (Follow Your Spirit): The Spirit’s Argie import discusses why Argentina’s Women’s National Team is on strike.

Sakho comes off the bench to down Swans with late winner (Wales Online): In partner club news, West Ham got a 90th-minute winner as Swansea City dropped another game late, 1-0. After 7 games, Swans have scored the second fewest goals (3) in the Premier League, and are in the relegation zone at the beginning of October.

Brozovic brace gives Inter 2-1 win (Serpents of Madonnina): In sorta also partner club news, Marcelo Brozovic scored a pair of goals in the first half as Inter Milan hung in to beat Benevento. Inter are tied for 2nd with Juventus (who drew with Atalanta over the weekend), but Juve has the tiebreak, and Inter is up to 7 games unbeaten, with 6 wins.

Barcelona 3-0 Las Palmas (Barca Blaugranes): With violence claiming hundreds injured in Catalonia on Sunday, Barca and Las Palmas played on due to La Liga’s order, in front of 98,000 empty Camp Nou seats.

Remembering the young player who died after colliding with Landon Donovan (The 18): Ahead of the United States’ last World Cup Qualifier of 2018 in Trinidad and Tobago, a look back at a T&T player who met a untimely fate in U-20 competition between these two same countries.

Go forth and enjoy the weather today.