by Jason Longshore
1- Atlanta United will play their first MLS match since July 15 and their first match in any competition since July 29 tonight in Seattle. It starts a 10-game stretch that will conclude and define 2023 for Atlanta United. The 5 Stripes start the day in 7th place in the Eastern Conference with a 6-point cushion to be in the playoffs and 5 points behind 3rd place Philadelphia. The tight Eastern Conference means every single point matters down the stretch.
2- To achieve the team's goals over these last ten games, they have to limit poor goals being conceded. In 27 games in all competitions in 2023, Atlanta has scored 44 goals. In the Eastern Conference, only Columbus has scored more goals in regular season play. However, in those 27 games in all competitions, Atlanta has conceded 46 goals. Again, in the Eastern Conference, only Charlotte has conceded more goals in regular season play. Simply, the attack has been too strong this season for the results to be undone by bad goals conceded. Good teams concede goals from time to time, it happens. However, they can't concede this many goals due to mistakes.
3- Join us on 92.9 The Game tonight starting at 9pm for an Atlanta Soccer Tonight special. Jessica Charman will join me to put a bow on the Women's World Cup and we'll start looking ahead to tonight's match. The 5 Stripes Countdown starts at 10pm with kickoff set in Seattle at 10:39pm. You can also listen on the Audacy and Atlanta United apps.
4- Speaking of the Women's World Cup, Spain was able to get the first goal in the first half and make it stand up in a 1-0 win that gives them their first world championship. Olga Carmona scored the Spain goal on a great overlapping run to notch the game-winning goal in both the semifinal and the final. Spain becomes the first team to currently hold the U17, U20, and senior World Cup titles. Aitana Bonmati was named the best player of the tournament.
5- Miami outlasted Nashville in a penalty shootout last night to win the inaugural Leagues Cup title. Lionel Messi's goal in the first half was canceled out in a goal mouth scramble that deflected in off Drake Callender. It was Callender who became the hero in the shootout. After the teams were deadlocked at 9-9 through ten rounds, it was down to the goalkeepers. Callender slammed his shot home and then made the save on Elliot Panicco to give Miami their first trophy in club history. (photo credit: MLS, Nashville SC)
6- Full credit to Lionel Messi for his actions after the match. He gave the captain's armband back to DeAndre Yedlin, who gave up the armband once Messi arrived. Yedlin looked like he was trying to tell Messi he didn't want the armband back, but Messi put it on his arm. Then after the medals were handed out and it was time to lift the trophy, Messi made Yedlin come over to take the trophy and they both lifted it into the air together. Class.
7- Aston Villa goes from losing by four goals in week 1 to winning by four goals in week 2 after a 4-0 thrashing of Everton this morning. Four different goalscorers for the Villans, including former Chicago Fire forward Jhon Duran. On the other side, Everton has not scored in their first two games and have lost their first two matches for the second consecutive season.
8- Ricardo Zielinski stepped down as manager of Independiente in Argentina after a 1-0 loss to Colón in the first week of the Copa de la Liga. El Rojo is on the brink of relegation and now need a new manager to try to steer them through this crisis.
9- USMNT captain Tyler Adams is headed to Bournemouth after they have triggered his $20M+ release clause from Leeds. He has signed a new five-year deal with the Cherries.
10- On this day in 2000, Josh Henderson's 90th minute goal won the match for the Atlanta Silverbacks on the road in Richmond against the Kickers. Danny Care opened the scoring for Atlanta, Dwayne De Rosario (yes, that DDR) leveled the match right before halftime.
11- On this day in 1979, Jamie Cullum was born. Jazz, pop, singer, songwriter, pianist, all of the above. He broke through with "Twentysomething" in 2003, this was the song that hooked me. It's your Song of the Day:
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