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Welcome to another week of Big D Soccer’s coverage of your favorite players with ties to FC Dallas, the FCD Academy, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Ramiro finally returned to action, Keaton is practicing with the Benfica senior team again, and Super Raton is simply on fire.
Europe
Weston McKennie (AP - Schalke 04/Bundesliga): Weston did not suit up Saturday, due to injury, as Schalke 04 lost 1-2 against visiting Werder Bremen.
Next Match: Out six weeks.
Shaft Brewer Jr. (AP - RB Leipzig U19): Shaft Brewer had a very interesting week:
Maurice Edu, Shaft Brewer among LAFC players in preseason friendly https://t.co/fbTIx3GlTy
— Heart Of LAFC (@heartoflafc) February 3, 2018
It is believed that Shaft Brewer is joining MLS expansion side LAFC. Considering how little playing time Brewer has with the RB Leipzig U19s, this makes a lot of sense.
Keaton Parks (DFW - Benfica/Primeira Liga): Keaton started for Benfica II on Saturday, at Keaton’s former team, Varzim. Considering the bad way Varzim treated Keaton while he was there, it wasn’t very shocking to see Keaton come out on fire:
Varzim v Benfica B 1-3
— FootballTalentScout (@FTalentScout) February 5, 2018
Chris Willock ️
Keaton Parks ⚽️
Gedson Fernandes ⚽️
⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Qt8BNPFD2L
Keaton scored the opening goal, and Benfica B never looked back, on their way to a 3-1 win.
Keaton now has one goal and two assists in his last two matches with Benfica B. The senior team took notice:
Keaton Parks has been training with the #Benfica first team this week ahead of their match at Portimonense, along with 5 other top players from #SLBenficaB. Useful for his continued progress and development, now hopefully he'll make the 18 on Saturday. #VamosBenfica #USMNT pic.twitter.com/iWtxfeoakl
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) February 8, 2018
Next Match: Portimonense vs. Benfica, Saturday, February 10, 2:30 pm
Emerson Hyndman (DFW - AFC Bournemouth): Emerson continues to feature for the AFC Bournemouth youth teams:
Emerson Hyndman with a goal and an assist for Bournemouth U21s in a 6-0 demolition of Bury in the PL Youth Cup. Hyndman continues to excel for the U21s, but Bournemouth are still reluctant to give him a chance in the first team, which is extremely disappointing https://t.co/07DDfeejni
— Future USMNT (@FutureUsmnt) February 6, 2018
Emerson is simply not getting any minutes with the senior team, and as such, rumors have begun to grow of his eminent departure come the next transfer window.
Next Match: your guess is as good as mine
Fabian Castillo (FCD - Trabzonspor/Super Lig): The transfer to Atletico Nacional fell through, so Fabian Castillo isn’t going anywhere. That’s the bad news. The good news, is that Fabian was back practicing with Trabzonspor:
Fabian Castillo pic.twitter.com/sGJPS6slpP
— ahmet (@AhmetAliOrdu) February 8, 2018
Next Match: Genclerbirligi vs. Trabzonspor, Saturday, February 10, 7:00am
Ramiro Funes Mori (DFW - Everton/Premier League): Ramiro, now recovered from his injury, returned to action Wednesday. Ramiro started for the Everton U23s, and played 45 minutes. This was his first action in over 10 months. Look for Ramiro to play a couple of matches with the U23s, just to regain fitness, before returning to the senior team.
Mexico - Apertura Torneo
Rogelio Funes Mori (DFW - Monterrey/Liga MX): Rogelio started Saturday, against visiting Leon. Los Rayados took the lead just 16 minutes in, and Rogelio helped them extend that lead, several minutes later:
#ExRiver | Rogelio Funes Mori ⚽️ fue titular en la victoria de @Rayados ante #León (5-1). LigaMX pic.twitter.com/PPQRmCeFL8
— Universo River (@universoriverok) February 5, 2018
Monterrey would go on to run away with the match, en route to a 5-1 victory.
The win sees Monterrey, return to the top of the Liga MX Clausura Table.
Next Match: Toluca vs. Monterrey, Sunday, February 11, 12:00pm
Alejandro Zendejas (FCD/AP - Atletico Zacatepec/Ascenso MX): Alex did not suit up Wednesday, as Zacatepec defeated Necaxa by a 2-0 score in Copa MX action.
Next Match: Celaya vs. Atletico Zacatepec, Saturday, February 10, 7:00pm
Omar Gonzalez (DFW - Pachuca/Liga MX): Omar did not suit up Saturday, in a 3-2 loss to visiting Morelia
Next Match: Veracruz vs. Pachuca, Sunday, February 11, 6:00pm
Atiba Harris (FCD - Murcielagos FC/Ascenso MX): Atiba suited up Friday, against visiting Atletico San Luis. Atiba came on in the 61st minute, with Murcielagos trailing 1-0, and both teams down a man. Murcielagos would end the match with only 9 men, as Atiba would receive a straight red in the 90th minute. Murcielagos lost 1-0.
The loss drops Murcielagos to 15th place in the Ascenso MX Clausura Table.
Next Match: Correcaminos UAT vs. Murcielagos, Friday, February 9, 8:00pm
Central America & South America
Nicholas Hagen (AP - Municipal/Guatemala), Blas Perez (FCD - Municipal/Guatemala): Blas and Nick both started Saturday at Xelaju. With both teams tied at 1-1 in the second half, Super Raton gave Los Rojos the lead:
Video: Gol de Blas @superraton7 - Asistencia de @jaimealas10. Municipal 2-1 Xelaju. pic.twitter.com/nLEgimGgwR
— Pepsinono (@Pepsinono) February 4, 2018
Los Rojos would soon find themselves down to 10 men, and were unable to maintain their lead, having to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Super Raton is currently red hot, having scored 4 goals in his last 3 matches.
Next Match: Municipal vs. Guastatoya, Sunday, February 11, 11:00am
Moises Hernandez (FCD/AP - Comunicaciones/Guatemala): Moises started Saturday, and played the full match against visiting Deportivo Sanarate. Los Cremas would find themselves down to 10 men, just 36 minutes into the match, but would scrap their way to a 1-1 draw.
The draw keeps Comunicaciones 6th place in the Liga Nacional Clausura Table.
Next Match: Deportivo Petapa vs. Comunicaciones, Friday, February 9, 8:00pm
Anibal Chala (FCD - LDU Quito, Loan/Ecuador): Currently in preseason.
Next Match: Deportivo Cuenca vs. LDU Quito, Sunday, February 18, 11:00am