D.C. United transfer rumors, 2019 U.S. Open Cup starts tonight, and more: Freedom Kicks for 5/7/2019

I’m filling in for Leanne today, and what I know about substitutes is that you just put on a video and the class will usually behave fairly well. At my high school, that meant one of four options:

• The Lion King
• Rudy
• Hoosiers
• old episodes of Bill Nye the Science Guy

All things considered, I think the Bill Nye episodes were the best option.

Anyway, here’s some stuff about D.C. United and other soccer teams!

D.C. United’s Donovan Pines sidelined with knee injury | Washington Post
Donovan Pines was moving around the locker room after the game without looking like he had an issue, so hopefully this is something pretty minor. With Marquinhos Pedroso in town and a move back to the 4231 likely in the cards, the competition between Pines and Frederic Brillant for the starting center back job will have to be put on pause for a bit.

All Sporting KC’s Injuries and Timetables for Return | The Blue Testament
You know would could be worse? Having like half your team out, like Sporting KC does. Good time to be playing them...(checks schedule)...hey, alright!

Let’s get to some transfer rumors, since today’s the last day of MLS’s early-season window:

We’ve been thinking this is something United would want to do, but also expecting more of a summer move rather than now. Probably going to run out of time, but look at it this way: there are now months to square away a deal to bring Asad back.

I’ve seen a few “is he really what United needs?” takes, and I’ll point out that he’d probably be taking Ulises Segura’s minutes.

More on a potential move today:

With Joseph Mora recently added to the injured list (I’m hesitant to refer to the league site’s roster, which is sometimes slow to update, but it’s listed there now), this mystery player can be an international...at least for now. Once Mora has to be re-activated, someone else is going to have to go, or be removed from the active roster.

Of course, as we learned with Luciano Acosta and PSG, deadline day deals don’t always get across the line.

Speaking of Acosta:

That’s probably the kind of offer (plus some kind of clause specifying a price tag that United has to accept) it’s going to take to keep Lucho in town.

You might have heard some noise surrounding yet another United attacker, as Griffin Yow scored twice as the US under-17s beat Guatemala 3-0 and sealed the top spot in their group at the Concacaf U-17 Championship (which is also the qualifying process for the u17 World Cup). Let’s see the highlights:

Yow, potential future homegrown signing Bryang Kayo, and the US will take on Guadaloupe in the round of 16 on Thursday. All 4 teams that make the semifinal round qualify for the World Cup.

Michael Edwards trending up at Wolfsburg | Top Drawer Soccer
Former United academy player Michael Edwards is making progress at Wolfsburg.

Five things to know about the 2019 U.S. Open Cup | USsoccer.com
If you can’t make it out to Baltimore, Richmond, or elsewhere tonight for the first round of this year’s U.S. Open Cup, fire up ESPN+ tonight and enjoy. I’m heading up for FC Baltimore Christos vs. West Chester Predators, while the Richmond Kickers will host Virginia United.

Virginia United: Nine to Five (and then some) | USsoccer.com
Here’s more on the Woodbridge-based amateur team looking to pull off a huge upset at City Stadium tonight.

Vincent Kompany: Man City captain enhances his legend with wonder goal | BBC
Pep Guardiola admitted he didn’t really think Vincent Kompany had this shot in him, and was thinking “Don’t shoot, pass!” before the Belgian scored with a ridiculous long-range shot to give Manchester City a 1-0 win over Leicester City. Man City is now 1 point ahead of Liverpool going into the final weekend of the season.

I mean, it’s pretty good, let’s look at it again:

Portland Timbers sign Brian Fernandez as a Designated Player | Stumptown Footy
Not entirely sure the Portland Timbers needed to drop 8 figures on a striker who a) scored 6 goals in 17 games before suddenly catching fire during this Clausura season for Necaxa, and b) was a winger at Necaxa, but is apparently going to be a striker in Oregon.

Fernandez is good, no doubt, but when I look at the Timbers starting a goalkeeper and back four of guys who would all be second-choice at most good-or-better MLS clubs...well, hope he scores a ton! They’re gonna need it.

Official: Crew trade for Timbers’ David Guzman | Massive Report
Mentioned this one last week, and now it’s done. I was a little confused by the Crew’s motivation, but Guzman is only going to cost them an international roster spot through the end of the 2019 season. That’s a low price for a Costa Rica international.

Alright that’s enough. Happy Tuesday!