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Good morning! We’ve got some good news, some bad news, and MLS playoff preview stuff for tonight’s slate of games. And since I don’t have an interesting introduction, we’ll move right into it:
Jacob Greene chooses D.C. United over University of Maryland scholarship | Washington Post
We’ve been waiting for D.C. United’s first offseason move, and most of the talk has been about a coach, but this isn’t particularly surprising. Jacob Greene has been training with the senior team since the end of Loudoun United’s season, sitting with injured/unavailable players in the stands during home games, and has been on a course for this move for a while.
NYCFC intern details alleged sexual harassment by David Villa: ‘I just … feel small’ | The Athletic
This extensively reported story from Pablo Maurer details not just harassment over the course of an entire season, but inaction and/or jokes from other NYCFC employees. It’s a tough read, but an important one.
The MLS playoffs, which so far have been like putting on some rollerblades, heading out to the highway, and somehow managing to successfully skitch a passing truck for several miles, are back tonight. Let’s tackle the games in order:
Richie Laryea, Pablo Piatti expected to be available for TFC’s first playoff game | Waking the Red
Toronto FC getting starters back from injury is bad news for Nashville SC, who got talked up quite a bit after Friday’s win despite it being over the worst team to get into the playoffs, and despite them creating fairly little going forward.
On the other hand, it’s a game at a neutral venue, since Toronto is playing at “home” in Connecticut. This game gets underway at 6pm.
Curtin: Andre Blake and Jamiro Monteiro available for selection against the Revs | The Brotherly Game
Speaking of big names coming back, the Philadelphia Union are going to have Andre Blake and Jamiro Monteiro available. Blake is returning from injury, while Monteiro flew charter back from international duty, which feels not entirely safe but MLS is going ahead with it anyway. Union-Revs will start at 8pm, because I guess this is just a test for a completionist like me who may well choose watching the game over a real dinner.
Sounders first-team player tests positive for Covid-19 | Sounder at Heart
Very bad news for the Seattle Sounders, who will have to do without at least one unnamed player due to a new positive Covid-19 test. And as this lays out, other players on international duty could possibly have been exposed as well.
LAFC’s Bob Bradley hints El Munir or Segura could play right back vs. Sounders | Angels on Parade
On the other side of this game, LAFC is considering some pretty odd choices. Bob Bradley is talking about two different options there, but one is a center back and the other’s a left back...and there is an actual right back available. However this one’s gonna shake out, it’s the night game. 10:30pm kickoff on the west coast.
For the record, I’m going chalk for tonight’s games. Union and TFC comfortably win, Seattle ends up needing penalties to advance.
U.S. women’s national soccer team reassembles near the end of ‘a crazy year’ | Washington Post
Don’t forget, there’s a USWNT game on Friday! From the Washington Spirit, Aubrey Bledsoe and Ashley Hatch will be hoping to get into the lineup and make their case for further call-ups.
That’s it for me. I got some iced cinnamon pastry things from Giant’s wonderful “we baked too much” discount rack, so I’m off for an unhealthy but very fulfilling breakfast.