Lionel Messi has already won a trophy with Inter Miami after a 10-round, penalty kick thriller over Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup Final. This show had a lot of animosity towards this tournament, but it officially won us over. There are ways to improve this going forward, but with the help of the best player of all time, the Leagues Cup was a massive hit. Sporting KC has nine games left to right the ship and get into the playoffs. 27 points on the board mean a lot can change, but the margin for error is thin. The next two matches are at home against San Jose and St. Louis and the remaining schedule is full of contenders. SKC simply MUST start off the final stretch on the right foot. The Spanish Women's National Team won the World Cup over England, in spite of all the problems between the players and the federation. It's a truly wild story, and incredible those women were able to overcome all of it to win. But the federation took a jab before the players had left the field. The Current and SKCII picked up 1-0 wins. Benny's Boys are in fourth place at the moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal is joined by Daniel Sperry from the KC Star to talk about the Kansas City Current. The Current finished first in the Central Division and they are the second seed in the Challenge Cup knockout round. While the Current have performed well in the Challenge Cup, they have a tough road to make the playoffs. Will the new players make a difference? Will they even play? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the reporting is to be trusted, Alan Pulido is set to sign a new deal to return with Sporting KC. The deal would double his current salary $4.4 million. A hefty price to pay for an aging, injury prone player. On this episode of Shades of Blue, we look at the logic of bringing back the Mexican striker. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," is essentially what they're going with. Pulido is a lethal goal scorer in MLS. He's proven to be a bargain at his current salary when he is actually on the field. IF he can stay on the field. And that's a big risk. Segment 1 - Alan Pulido Rumor Segment 2 - Leagues Cup Success (24:00) Segment 3 - MLS Transfer Window (35:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the US Women's National Team crashed out of the World Cup by way of penalty kicks, it's become clear PK's are stupid. How do we fix it? Old school MLS style shootouts? Set pieces? The Americans dominated Sweden in regulation. The first shot on goal from the Swedish side was in the 85th minute. But they let us down with some ugly kicks from the spot and a heartbreaking goal-line technology winner. Where do they go from here? What's next for Vlatko? The KC Current finished their group of the Challenge Cup with the top spot. Kristen "Hammy" Hamilton notched a brace in the 3-0 win over Racing Louisville. Don't mess around with Ruth Langmore. We listen to a story from the BSI Podcast about our new favorite coach, Veljko Paunović, who gave us the soundbite of the year last week. Sporting KC were hammered by Toluca 4-1. They now get a three-week break to prepare for a battle to make the playoffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whoever doubted the Leagues Cup!? Sporting KC advanced out of a very difficult group featuring the two current best teams in MLS and Liga MX. And they did it with a very impressive 1-0 win over Chivas, while missing their start striker. We hear all the accents with postgame audio from Johnny Russell, Remi Walter, Peter Vermes, and our favorite soundbite of the year from Chivas head coach Veljko Paunovic. The USWNT advanced the Knockout Round of the Women's World Cup after being saved by the post in a scoreless draw with Portugal. Friend of the show and Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski is taking a lot of heat for the subpar performance thus far. What needs to change? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huw Williams joins Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal to review the US Women's National team's draw with the Netherlands at the 2023 World Cup. After a 3-0 win versus Vietnam in the first match of the group stage, Vlatko Andonovski's team played to a 1-1 draw. It was a rematch of the 2019 final against a very good team. The US did not have a good first half but they were definitely better in the second half. Was it the lone sub (yes we discuss that), a change in tactics (a bit) or the US getting mad? Especially Horan. Andonovski went with the same lineup. We discuss possible alternatives. The US is coached by Kansas City resident Vlatko Andonovski. Williams and Andonovski worked together in the NWSL and in local soccer. The USWNT faces Viet Nam, Portugal, and the Netherlands in the group stage and Williams talks about what the United States faces with each one. USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 23-Emily Fox, 4-Naomi Girma, 8-Julie Ertz, 19-Crystal Dunn; 17-Andi Sullivan, 10-Lindsey Horan (Capt.), 9-Savannah DeMelo (16-Rose Lavelle, 46); 11-Sophia Smith, 13-Alex Morgan, 20-Trinity Rodman Substitutes not used: 18-Casey Murphy, 21-Aubrey Kingsbury, 2-Ashley Sanchez, 3-Sofia Huerta, 5-Kelley O’Hara; 6-Lynn Williams, 7-Alyssa Thompson, 12-Alana Cook, 14-Emily Sonnett, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 22-Kristie Mewis Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The loss that was a draw against FC Cincinnati on Sunday was yet another painful result after being in a winning position. It's a trend for Sporting KC for years now, but it's hitting harder this season. SKC has dropped more points from winning positions than anyone in Major League Soccer. Where are you pointing the finger after the latest disappointment? Messimania has taken over MLS. Is it too much? Can there be "too much" for the Greatest Player of All Time? The USWNT kicked off the World Cup with a 3-0 win against Vietnam. A much younger US squad than the final four years ago will take on the Netherlands on Wednesday night. Do we care about the Leagues Cup? Is our last chance at finding happiness this season beating St. Louis? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huw Williams joins Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal to review the US Women's National team's win over Vietnam at the 2023 World Cup. The first match of the group stage was a 3-0 win for Vlatko Andonovski's team. Sophia Smith led the US Women's National Team with two goals and an assist but was she the best player in the game? Was it a good result or just good enough? A different lineup than many expected, Julie Ertz played center back, Demelo started were a couple of the surprises. The US is coached by Kansas City resident Vlatko Andonovski. Williams and Andonovski worked together in the NWSL and in local soccer. The USWNT faces Viet Nam, Portugal, and the Netherlands in the group stage and Williams talks about what the United States faces with each one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huw Williams joins Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal to preview the US Women's National team at the 2023 World Cup. The first segment is focused on the group stage games and some of the other teams in the World Cup. The second segment was recorded shortly after the World Cup roster was announced. The US is coached by Kansas City resident Vlatko Andonovski. Williams and Andonovski worked together in the NWSL and in local soccer. The USWNT faces Viet Nam, Portugal, and the Netherlands in the group stage and Williams talks about what the United States faces with each one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone survived the media game last week without too many bruised egos. David breaks it all down and gives us in-depth analysis for each of us. Sporting KC dropped points that night against RSL. That was before losing 2-1 in Austin on Saturday. Peter Vermes was pretty open with his post-game comments, openly calling out the shot stopping and defense. Is this the end of Kendall McIntosh? A roster overhaul may be in order. Who on this roster are you keeping around? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices