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• U.S. U-20 midfielder Rokas Pukstas scored on a bullet header for Croatia's Hajduk Split in its 3-1 win over AC Milan in the UEFA Youth League semifinals. Hajduk will face Dutch club AZ in Monday's final in Geneva. Pukstas, 18, starts for Hajduk's first team (4 goals in 17 games), which is second in the top-tier HNL and will face Sibenik in the Croatian Cup final on May 24. The Oklahoma native did not play in the early Youth League knockout wins over Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
• Reading: Oklahoma teen's Croatia experience prepped him for U.S. U-20 success -
Soccer America Top of the NewsThe weekend begins when Fulham and Leeds United face off. That's followed by 31 games in MLS, the NWSL and USL Championship. Read the whole story
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Besides Ecuador, Mikey Varas' U-20s will play Fiji and Slovakia (coached by Albert Rusnak, the father of the Sounders star of the same name). Read the whole story
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Soccer America ConfidentialThe key issue for Coach Mikey Varas is whether clubs will release his top players for next month's Argentina-hosted tournament. Read the whole story
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The reigning champion will try to overtake newcomer St. Louis City for the Western Conference lead. Read the whole story
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• Henry Kessler out 4 months (right hamstring injury). Kessler, who needed surgery, started the first seven games of the 2023 season for Eastern Conference leader New England before exiting the April 8 match against CF Montreal with the hamstring injury at the half.
• Raul Ruidíaz out 4-5 weeks (right hamstring injury). The Peruvian international was injured in training on Wednesday. He's made just two starts in 2023 and was limited to 14 starts in 2022 because of muscle injuries.
• Willy Agada out indefinitely (stress fracture). The 23-year-old Nigerian scored eight goals in 12 games after his arrival in 2022 but has just one goal in eight games while playing through the injury for winless Sporting KC in 2023. -
"Behind the Crest' delivers training and game scenes, Becky Sauerbrunn and Alyssa Naeher interviews, and off-field footage. Read the whole story
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"We started the season 0-3. As a club, we were frustrated with the losses and the start to the season. Unfortunately, that was then met with a lack of collaboration and partnership that we would otherwise expect from our head coach with management and ownership. There was a breakdown in the leadership, communication and ultimately trust with the staff, which led us to this difficult decision."
-- KC Current GM Camille Ashton on the sudden firing of head coach Matt Potter, who led the Current to the 2022 NWSL championship game a year after it finished last in the overall standings. She added that the move was not related to any player issues and there was "nothing here for the league to investigate." (KCTV5.com) -
A season of promise was handed a reality check by Sevilla of the hard work that still lies ahead. Read the whole story
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Luis Suarez has scoring a flurry of goals, hoisting two trophies and helping a down-on-its-luck team dare to dream again. Read the whole story
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1. Tata Martino exclusive: Mexico’s World Cup, Messi, Zendejas and a possible MLS return By Felipe Cardenas (The Athletic)
2. Autistic soccer fans watch in comfort in Brazil stadiums (AP)
3. Charleroi fans face travel ban after throwing dead rats (Brussels Times)
