Pitch Notes: A Hat Trick of Storylines
02/21/2024
By: Jeff Yoder
Soccer Storylines: MLS Season Kickoff (Tonight), Champions League Knockouts & USWNT Dominates Gold Cup Opener
A long winter is starting to near its bitter end (anytime please), and that means soccer’s return is inevitable. Alongside the Champions League Knockout Stage — which returned last week — the USWNT is back in action and looking good. The 2024 MLS season is also about to begin tonight in Miami. Messi Mania Part II has arrived. Here’s a three-pack of our seasonal “pitch notes” to keep you updated on all things kicking in a busy week of soccer.
MLS Season Kicks Off Tonight
The 2024 MLS season starts kicking tonight with a single-game opening night featuring — who else? — Lionel Messi. Messi and the revamped Miami roster are 8-2-4 in 14 games since he joined the club last July, but they’ve since added former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez to the reunion tour. The rest of the MLS will begin their 2024 campaigns on Saturday and Sunday.
MLS Season Opener (Tonight)
Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake (8:00 pm ET, AppleTV)
Champions League Knockout Recaps
The Champions League continued on Tuesday with another pair of Leg 1s. Inter showed a bit of dominance against Atletico Madrid (1-0) in a lopsided stat sheet that only produced one goal from Marko Arnautovic (79’). PSV and Dortmund played to a draw (1-1) as both teams appeared to settle for a Leg 1 stalemate. More to come.
Yesterday’s Highlights
Inter def. Atletico Madrid (1-0)
PSV draw Borussia Dortmund (1-1)
Today’s Schedule
Porto vs. Arsenal (3:00 pm ET, CBS)
Napoli vs. Barcelona (3:00 pm ET, CBS)
USWNT Delivers Gold Cup Thrashing
The U.S. Women’s National Team paced the Dominican Republic last night in California (5-0) for a solid opening for their 2024 Gold Cup run. Olivia Moultrie scored twice in her first USWNT start while Lynn Williams, Jenna Nighswonger and Alex Morgan also scored. It was the sixth win under interim coach Twila Kilgore who’s filling in until Emma Hayes takes over this summer.
Watch: USWNT def. Dominican Republic (5-0)
Gold Cup Schedule
USWNT vs. Argentina (Fri. Feb. 23)
USWNT vs. Mexico (Mon. Feb. 26)
Photo: Rich Storry / Getty Images