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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.
Lee Nguyen finally got his wish, Blas scored his 10th goal of the season, and Anibal Chala returned to action for LDU Quito.
Europe
Weston McKennie (AP - Schalke 04/Bundesliga): Weston suited up Saturday, against visiting Borussia M’Gladbach. Weston came on in the 64th minute, with Schalke holding on to a 1-1 score, and the team being down to 10 men. Schalke 04 would hold on to earn a 1-1 draw, despite being down to 10 men since the 12th minute.
With the draw, Schalke 04 remains 2nd place in the Bundesliga Table.
Next Match: Augsburg vs. Schalke, Saturday, May 5, 8:30am
Keaton Parks (DFW - Benfica/Primeira Liga): Keaton suited up for the senior team, but did not play in a 3-2 loss against visiting Tondela.
The loss keeps Benfica second place in the Primeira Liga Table. Benfica are now tied with 3rd place Sporting CP on points, and travel to their bitter rivals next week, with 2nd place on the line.
Next Match: Sporting CP vs. Benfica, Saturday, May 5, 2:30pm
Ramiro Funes Mori (DFW - Everton/Premier League): Ramiro suited up Saturday, at Huddersfield Town. Ramiro came on in the 75th minute, with Everton attempting to hold on to a 1-0 lead. Everton would score two minutes after Ramiro entered the match, and would go on to win 2-0.
The win sees Everton remain 8th place in the Premier League Table. With only 2 matches left, there is no way for Everton to surpass 7th place Burnley for the final EPL spot in next years Europa League.
Next Match: Everton FC vs. Southampton, Saturday, May 5, 11:30am
Mexico - Clausura Torneo
Omar Gonzales (DFW - Pachuca/Liga MX): Omar started Saturday, in a 0-0 draw against visiting Atlas. The draw sees Pachuca to 9th place in the Liga MX Clausura Table. This was the final match of the Clausura season, and sees Pachuca fail to qualify for the Clausura playoffs.
Next Match: Season concluded
Central America & South America
Nicholas Hagen (AP - Municipal/Guatemala), Blas Perez (FCD - Municipal/Guatemala): Blas started Sunday, and scored his 10th goal of the season:
¡EL RATÓN! Blas Pérez, anotó el tercer gol en el triunfo de su club, @Rojos_Municipal 4-1 ante Marquense en Guatemala @superraton7 @randyjbm #JMDeportes pic.twitter.com/c6t6eZFFxB
— JM Deportes (@JMDeporte) April 29, 2018
Blas also added an assist:
Asistencia y Gol de Blas Perez @superraton7 siendo titular y jugando todo el partido al igual que Felipe Baloy con el triunfo de su equipo esta tarde en Guatemala.
— Futbol de Panama (@FutboldePanama) April 30, 2018
Municipal 4 - 1 Marquense pic.twitter.com/AFmTf6Im9n
Blas finished with a goal and an assist, in a big 4-1 victory against visiting Marquense.
The win keeps Municipal in 7th place, just 1 point out of the playoffs. With only next weeks match remaining on the schedule, Municipal must get a victory at 1st place Deportivo Sanarate, and have Comunicaciones lose/draw, to get into the playoffs.
Here’s an excellent video on the career of Blas Perez, mostly in his own words (in spanish):
I added a video to a @YouTube playlist https://t.co/SCA3kkDbgx BLAS PÉREZ - SPORTS WINDOWS / Programa 29 de abril - Parte 1
— Sports Windows (@sports_windows) May 3, 2018
I added a video to a @YouTube playlist https://t.co/Bz2zUJ8oAF BLAS PÉREZ - SPORTS WINDOWS / Programa 29 de abril - Parte 2
— Sports Windows (@sports_windows) May 3, 2018
I added a video to a @YouTube playlist https://t.co/t8B3TDaDK6 BLAS PÉREZ - SPORTS WINDOWS / Programa 29 de abril - Parte 3
— Sports Windows (@sports_windows) May 3, 2018
The win, finally halts Los Rojos winless streak at 7, and sees them to 7th place on the Liga Nacional Table
Next Match: Deportivo Sanarate vs. Municipal, Sunday, May 6, Noon
Moises Hernandez (FCD/AP - Comunicaciones/Guatemala): Moises started Saturday, in a 3-1 loss at Xelaju.
The loss sees Los Cremas move back down to 6th place in the Liga Nacional Table. With only 1 match left in the Clausura season, Los Cremas must win next week, to ensure themselves a spot in the Clausura playoffs. Any other result, and Los Cremas will need a lot of help to get into the playoffs.
Next Match: Comunicaciones vs. Guastatoya, Sunday, May 6, Noon
Anibal Chala (FCD - LDU Quito, Loan/Ecuador): Anibal suited up for LDU Quito, in a huge home match against 1st place Barcelona. Chala came on in the 87th minute, with Quito attempting to hold on to a 1 goal lead. LDU Quito would go on to earn a huge 2-1 win.
This was Chalas fist minutes of the season for LDU Quito. There is no explanation as to why Chala has not featured for Quito most of this season. It is very likely that Anibal is suffering lingering effects from last seasons injury, which is rumored to be chronic (but has never been verified).
The win sees LDU Quito to 2nd place in the Primera A Table. LDU Quito will now travel to Barcelona tonight for an instant rematch, with 1st place on the line.
Next Match: Barcelona vs. LDU Quito, Friday, May 4, 7:45pm
Major League Soccer
Chris Seitz (FCD - Houston Dynamo): Chris suited up, but did not play in a 2-1 loss at Minnesota United FC.
The loss sees Houston drop to 8th place in the Western Conference.
Lee Nguyen (DFW - Los Angeles FC): Lee finally got his wish:
Surprise! #LAFC made a Transfer Deadline Day deal for Lee Nguyen https://t.co/btBXGmCeMa
— Angels On Parade (@Angels_Parade) May 2, 2018
Lee will be joining former FC Dallas defender Walker Zimmerman, and could be on hand this weekend, as LAFC hosts FC Dallas. Los Angeles FC is currently 2nd place in the Western Conference.
Next Match: Los Angeles FC vs. FC Dallas, Saturday, May 5th, 2:55pm
Brek Shea (DFW - Vancouver Whitecaps): Brek got the start on the left wing, Friday against visiting Real Salt Lake. Brek played the full match, as the Whitecaps got a 2-0 victory, despite being down to 10 men after the 76th minute.
The win moves Vancouver up to 3rd place in the Western Conference.
Richard Sanchez (AP/FCD - Chicago Fire): Richard got the start Saturday, on the road against defending MLS champions Toronto FC. Richard finished the match with 2 saves, and 2 goals allowed, as Chicago escaped Toronto with a 2-2 draw.
The draw sees the Fire remain 7th place in the Eastern Conference.
USL
Conor Presley (DFW - San Antonio FC): No game scheduled
Walker Hume (FCD - Orange County SC): Walker suited up, but did not play in Saturdays 1-0 win over visiting Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
Aaron Guillen (AP/FCD - North Carolina FC): Aaron suited up, but did not play in Saturdays 3-0 win over visiting Penn FC.
Adonijah Reid ( Loan - Ottawa Fury) - Adonijah started Saturday at Center Forward, against visiting FC Cincinnati. Reid played the full match, in a 3-0 loss to FCC.
Adonijah started Wednesday night, at home against visiting New York Red Bulls II. Adonijah go his start as the left forward, in the 4-3-3. Ottawa managed a 0-0 draw, despite being down to 10 men after the 66th minute.