The Miami FC owner Riccardo Silva on joining the USL, promotion/relegation and Inter Miami

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https://theathletic.com/1570453/2020/01/29/the-miami-fc-owner-riccardo-silva-on-joining-the-usl-promotion-relegation-and-inter-miami/

The Miami FC owner Riccardo Silva on joining the USL, promotion/relegation and Inter Miami

The first thing most American soccer fans think when they hear the name Riccardo Silva are the words “promotion” and “relegation.”

The Italian businessman made this association firm thanks to the eye-popping $4 billion broadcast deal he offered to Major League Soccer… if the league opened itself to promotion and relegation. While Silva has served as the owner of The Miami FC since their formation in 2015, his advocacy for an open system has arguably become a greater part of his identity in American soccer. That’s in part due to the leagues in which his club has participated in: the NASL wasn’t shy about their ambitions to challenge MLS directly, while NISA initially explored the potential to operate outside of the same closed pyramid as MLS — ultimately securing provisional third-division sanctioning from U.S. Soccer in February 2019.

Over the last two years, Silva’s role as owner has come with challenges beyond the club’s results on the pitch.

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https://www.ottawamatters.com/local-sports/ottawa-getting-pro-soccer-back-this-time-in-canadian-premier-league-2056669

Ottawa getting pro soccer back, this time in Canadian Premier League

Club Atlético de Madrid’s ownership and CPL Commissioner, David Clanachan will be officially unveiling the club at TD Place on February 12.

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/29/u-s-open-cup-2nd-round-draw-revealed-11-mls-teams-join-field-3rd-round

U.S. Open Cup 2nd round draw revealed, with 11 MLS teams to join field in 3rd round

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https://www.massivereport.com/2020/1/29/21113239/columbus-crew-considering-changing-name-colors-black-and-gold-dee-jimmy-haslam-mls-2020

Report: Crew ‘seriously’ considering changing name and colors in rebrand

The Black & Gold may not be the black and gold much longer.

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https://ussoccerplayers.com/2020/01/gridiron-lines-in-mls-stadiums.html

GRIDIRON LINES IN MLS STADIUMS

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https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4043073/diego-reyes-responds-to-chicharito-liga-mx-still-ahead-of-mls

Diego Reyes responds to Chicharito: Liga MX still ahead of MLS

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/29/heres-which-mls-teams-are-winning-offseason-so-far-andrew-wiebe

Here's which MLS teams are winning the offseason (so far) | Andrew Wiebe

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https://www.wcnc.com/video/sports/soccer/charlotte-files-application-for-eastland-mall-site-home-to-mls-hq/275-488dcf7c-4a29-4dc3-aeba-105dbaf1d33d

Charlotte files application for Eastland Mall site, home to MLS HQ

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/columbus-crew-sc/columbus-crew-sc-fans-express-outrage-over-possible-rebrand/

Columbus Crew SC fans express outrage over possible rebrand

The team’s name, colors and logo reportedly are under consideration for a rebrand.

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https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/soccer/inter-miami/fl-sp-inter-miami-trades-goalkeeper-vancouver-whitecaps-draft-pick-20200130-iv7cpkswfrevhf6swnykgru2ju-story.html

Inter Miami CF trades goalkeeper Bryan Meredith to Vancouver Whitecaps FC for 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick

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https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/01/2020-us-open-cup-second-round-pairings-and-host-scenarios

2020 U.S. OPEN CUP SECOND ROUND PAIRINGS AND HOST SCENARIOS

CLUBS FROM USL CHAMPIONSHIP, NISA AND USL LEAGUE ONE TO MAKE TOURNAMENT DEBUT APRIL 7-9; SEVENTY-SEVEN OF 100 ENTRIES NOW AWARE OF THEIR OPENING MATCHUPS TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE; ALL GAMES AVAILABLE ON ESPN+

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https://www.vancourier.com/sports/eric-akis-cuban-sandwich-for-the-win-1.24063178

Eric Akis: Cuban sandwich for the win

Enjoy this Cuban sandwich while watching the Super Bowl. The sandwiches are popular in Miami, host of this year's game.

The Super Bowl is Sunday and the game is being held just north of Miami. If you plan to watch and want to serve a food popular there, make Cuban sandwiches.

Some describe Cuban sandwiches as the quintessential Miami snack — numerous restaurants, corner snack bars and shops sell them there and in other parts of Florida, such as Tampa Bay.

In fact, lore suggests the Cuban sandwich didn’t even come from Cuba. It was first served in the historic Tampa Bay neighbourhood of Ybor City, a place where a century or so ago, Cuban immigrants came to work in Florida’s cigar industry.

Cafés that catered to those workers at lunchtime served them what ended up being called a Cuban sandwich, or simply the Cuban or cubano. English speakers gave them that name because it was Cubans they saw eating them.

The Cuban sandwich spread to Miami, also home to a large Cuban immigrant population. To this day, there is a friendly rivalry as to where the sandwich originated and which city makes the best ones.

With the Super Bowl being played near Miami, my focus is on the style made there. When you check out menus of Miami eateries offering Cuban sandwiches, you’ll see many modern variations.

But the sandwich is traditionally prepared with Cuban bread spread with yellow mustard, slices of ham, pickles, roast pork and Swiss cheese — some of those ingredients introduced by European immigrants.

The sandwich is then grilled and pressed. Toasting the bread and compacting the fillings causes their flavours to deliciously meld together.

The roast pork used in the sandwich is often marinated before cooking — in my recipe, I use citrus juice, garlic, onion and seasonings. The ham, pickles, mustard and cheese can be bought at any B.C. supermarket, but not the Cuban bread.

The latter is yeast-risen, white, soft on the inside, light and crispy on the outside and enriched with some fat, such as lard.

Because the bread is not sold here, I decided to make my sandwiches with buns that had similar qualities. They are not exactly the same, of course, which is why I call my recipe “Cuban-style” sandwiches.

If you make the sandwiches, you’ll have to plan ahead, as the pork has to marinate overnight before you roast and slice it for the sandwiches.

The sandwiches can be cooked in a sandwich press, grill pan or even a skillet (see recipe method for details). The recipes yields six sandwiches and, depending on the size of your press, pan or skillet, you’ll likely have to cook and serve them in batches.

The grill pan I used when testing the recipe was large enough to cook three sandwiches at a time. When the first batch was ready, I served them and quickly got the next batch of three cooking on the grill.

Cuban-style Sandwiches

These hot and hearty sandwiches are deliciously filled with slices of succulent marinated roast pork, tangy pickles, Swiss cheese and smoky ham. I like to serve them with potato chips and a cold beverage, such as beer, a rum-based cocktail or grapefruit-flavoured soda.

Preparation time: 40 minutes, plus overnight marinade

Cooking time: About 90 minutes

Makes: six sandwiches

1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice (see Note)

1/3 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice

2 large garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp coarse sea or kosher salt

1/2 to 1 tsp freshly and coarsely ground black pepper

1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 (2 lb/950 gram) pork leg or shoulder roast

6 (about 6- to 8-inch long, 3-inch wide) large hot dog, submarine sandwich, hoagie or panini buns, split

• soft butter

• yellow mustard

250 grams thinly sliced deli ham, such as honey or country

6 to 8 baby dill pickles, thinly sliced lengthwise, or to taste

225 to 250 grams Swiss cheese, thinly sliced

Combine juices, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper and onion in a sided dish just large enough to hold the pork. Add the pork and turn to coat. Cover and marinate pork in the refrigerator overnight, turning occasionally.

Preheat oven to 425 F. Set the pork in a small roasting pan or ovenproof skillet and pour marinade over it.

Roast pork 20 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 325 F and cook pork 55 to 60 minutes more, or until the centre of the meat registers 155 F on a meat thermometer. Baste the pork occasionally with pan juices as it roasts.

When roast is cooked, set on a plate and let rest 30 minutes. Transfer pork to a cutting board, very thinly slice the meat and set back on the plate the roast rested on. If you’re not making the sandwiches right away, set pork in refrigerator until ready to do so.

To make sandwiches, evenly spread the cut sides of each bun with the mustard. Set bottom buns on a work surface, mustard-side-up. Divide and top each bottom bun with layers of ham, pickles, roast pork and cheese. Set on top buns, mustard-side-down, and press sandwiches together.

Preheat your sandwich press or stovetop grill pan to, or set over, medium heat. When hot, brush the surface of the press or grill with butter. Set on three of the sandwiches, or as many as you can fit on your press or grill.

If using a sandwich press, lower the top of it and firmly press down on the sandwiches. Cook sandwiches until compacted, piping hot in the middle, and browned and crispy on the outside, about 10 minutes.

If using a grill pan to cook the sandwiches, once they are on the grill, set something heavy on them, such as a baking sheet topped with a very heavy skillet and/or some cans of food. Press down on the sandwiches, and then grill five minutes. Turn each sandwich over, top with something heavy again, and cook five minutes on the other side.

Set cooked sandwiches on a cutting board, cut each one in half and serve. Cook and serve the remaining sandwiches as you did the first batch.

Note: Four to five large limes and one to two oranges, depending on size, should yield the juice needed here.

Eric’s options: If you don’t have a sandwich press or grill pan, you could also cook the sandwiches in a large skillet or stove top or electric griddle set to, or over, medium heat. If you do, top the sandwiches with something heavy.

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https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/soccer/soccer-is-back-atletico-madrid-jeff-hunt-behind-ottawa-expansion-team-in-cpl/wcm/a10621da-5fe6-4344-a49f-171cac490b8f

Atletico Madrid, Jeff Hunt behind Ottawa soccer club that will start CPL season in April

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Louisville City FC to host U.S. Open Cup match 4 days before original Lynn Family Stadium opener

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Inter Miami CF launches 'Your Futbol is Here’ campaign during Super Bowl week

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Republic FC’s Stefano Bonomo set to retire

Bonomo was originally selected by the NY Red Bulls in the second round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft before signing with their USL affiliate and guiding them to the 2016 Eastern Conference title, the USL Regular Season Championship and their first-ever USL Cup. The towering attacker followed his title-winning campaign as RB II’s top scorer with 13 strikes the following year and his impressive USL campaign earned Bonomo an MLS contract prior to the 2018 season where he made his senior side debut during a 3-0 home win in March over Minnesota United. He was later loaned to Red Bulls II before Tampa Bay Rowdies signed the goal-getter in July 2018 where he contributed three goals and one assist.

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https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1081987

2020 Open Cup Second Round Matchups Revealed

TRIO OF MATCHUPS BETWEEN CHAMPIONSHIP, LEAGUE ONE CLUBS HIGHLIGHT THREE-DAY SCHEDULE

Phoenix Rising FC, meanwhile, could play host to League Two’s FC Golden State Force at Casino Arizona Field, while the Tampa Bay Rowdies will host either The Villages SC or South Georgia Tormenta FC 2, Hartford Athletic will meet either the Western Mass Pioneers or GPS Portland Phoenix, and North Carolina FC will face either the North Carolina Fusion U23 or the South Carolina United Bantams.

Southeast Region

April 7

Charlotte Independence vs. Stumptown Athletic, 7 p.m. ET, Sportsplex at Matthews

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. The Villages SC or South Georgia Tormenta FC 2, 7 p.m. ET, Al Lang Stadium

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/29/report-inter-miami-make-late-bid-edinson-cavani-complicating-atletico-madrid-move

Report: Inter Miami make late bid for Edinson Cavani, complicating Atletico Madrid move

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https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2020/01/30/hardball-rays-threaten-to-block-redevelopment-of-tropicana-field/

Fans enter Tropicana Field for the Tampa Bay Rays' games against the Boston Red Sox in March 2018.

ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays are now playing hardball with the most lucrative piece of property in the city.

Rays officials have told City Council members that the team will hold up any attempts...

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https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/10852178/cavani-inter-miami-beckham-atletico-hijack/

CAV A GO David Beckham’s Inter Miami launch last-gasp Edinson Cavani bid to try and hijack Atletico transfer

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Thursday's Paper Talk: Football transfer news, rumours and gossip, including the late deals before Deadline Day

David Beckham's MLS franchise side Inter Miami have made a late move for PSG's wantaway forward Edinson Cavani. (AS)

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https://www.fox46charlotte.com/news/city-of-charlotte-files-to-rezone-eastland-mall-for-new-mls-facility

City of Charlotte files to rezone Eastland Mall for new MLS facility