Lewy's first, Evander ascends & everyone's mad about penalties | Matchday 19
From Atlanta's disaster act to Evander's one-man wrecking crew in Cincy, plus the penalty calls nobody can agree on – everything from Matchweek 19 before I disappear for two weeks.
Let's start with a note: I'm preparing to go on a vacation – my first since my employment status changed – so will be no Sunday column next week. There will be a Power Rankings (and Soccerwise!) tomorrow, but then I'll try to unplug for two weeks, returning to The Grind™ with the full Sunday column on August 16th.
Yes, that means you'll have to live without my Leagues Cup coverage. Heartbreaking, I know.
In we go:
NYCFC 1-1 Toronto FC
We finally got to see TFC with Josh Sargent and Djordje Mihailovic starting together. Both have been limited or outright sidelined since spring.
And so the rust, on Friday, was expected and apparent, and the connection between the two was minimal (even if they were both involved on Mihailovic's equalizer). I think there's some reason for optimism – especially because new DP Niklas Dorsch and Jonathan Osorio functioning as a double pivot in a 4231 makes a lot of sense for this group – but it also feels a little bit late in the day. And yeah, now 12 winless for the Reds.
