:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69792280/usa_today_16646117.0.jpg)
Hey there, it’s nice to have the weather be only 80 as opposed to 90 plus, bring on autumn!
Recaps of D.C. United’s 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union by us (with more from us here), WaPo, and MLS. Brotherly Game Doops it for the enemy.
Recaps of the Washington Spirit’s scoreless draw with the North Carolina Courage by us and WaPo.
Northern Virginia FC Announced as Newest Club to Join USL W League (USL): OK, so for the unfamiliar, Nova plays their games at Evergreen Sportsplex (where D.C. United’s U-23 and the Spirit have appeared over the years), and house a USL League Two team where D.C. Academy/Loudoun alums Lorenzo Gordon and Brandon Williamson played this year, and Evergreen was where the Eastern Conference Quarter and Semifinals were held, so there’s a foothold of sorts for Nova FC per se.
With that said, having a USL-W team less than four miles/essentially over the Dulles Greenway from where D.C.’s W-League franchise will have at least a training presence, and mentioning Tom Torres as the Nova coach (and who had issues of his own in the months leading up to the news surrounding Richie Burke’s departure from the Spirit), it makes the USL’s decision curious at a minimum.
Manchester United reach deal to sign Cristiano Ronaldo (Busby Babe): So he went from Juventus, to maybe Manchester City to definitely Manchester United. I don’t know what, if anything, it means to me as a Liverpool fan, but there are a lot of miles on those tires, and it’ll be interesting to see if he still has them in the rough and tumble Premier League.
Dash acquire defender Abby Dahlkemper in trade with Courage (Houston Chronicle): Not sure how or why the Dash were lucky to get a USWNT player for pennies on the dollar, but this is the world we’re in.
Meanwhile in more pleasant updates, congrats to Ian Harkes on his milestone with Dundee United:
Our latest member of the 100 club @ian_harkes presented with his shirt ahead of kick-off which is moments away #DUFCLive pic.twitter.com/ICueF66Ik5
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) August 28, 2021
and to Collin Martin (and his beard!) for this announcement:
Collin Martin joins Common Goal!
— Common Goal (@CommonGoalOrg) August 27, 2021
From now on the @SanDiegoLoyal midfielder will pledge 1% of his annual salary towards Play Proud — a project creating inclusive environments within football for LGBTQ+ communities.
Welcome to the team, @martcw12! #CommonGoal pic.twitter.com/yeAIeO7lcU
I’m not sure what to make of D.C. United apparently partnering with a Tanzanian club but...OK!
Excited about @SimbaSCTanzania's new partnership with American professional club, @dcunited. We hope to work together on youth development projects! #tukopamoja pic.twitter.com/Fo0YH5J3yI
— Mohammed Dewji MO (@moodewji) August 27, 2021
Anyway, I think this is it, so go do the Monday.