Matches to Watch: FA Cup, Olympic qualifying heads intriguing weekend
This week serves up some tasty games in England as the FA Cup resumes, and a berth is Rio 2016 is on the line for the United States women's national team as they face a must-win game in Houston with Olympic glory in their sights. Here are the games to watch this weekend:
United States women's national team v Trinidad and Tobago (live, Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN)
The USA have steamrolled through the group stages, winning all three games by a combined score of 16-0. The gulf in CONCACAF between the USA, Canada and, well, everyone else is wide, but the Americans still must fend off a determined T&T side in a single-elimination semifinal that decides one of the region's two berths in Rio. The Americans beat T&T 6-0 last time out, but nerves seem to hit the USA against Mexico; that was a nervy 1-0 win. Can the USA seal the deal? Most probably, but tune in and find out.
FA Cup: Arsenal v Hull (live, Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET, FS1)
Arsenal and Hull meet for the third time in as many years in this tournament, and it hasn't been happy hunting for the Tigers, as the Gunners denied them a famous victory in the final and then bounced them out the following season. Will history repeat? Hull aren't shabby. They are top in the second division and odds on to come back up under Steve Bruce. Experienced and canny, Hull will give the Gunners a game. The big question here is whether or not Arsene Wenger gambles and rests players ahead of a brutal game midweek against Barcelona.
Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen v Dortmund (live, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET, FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Soccer 2GO)
A gripping battle between the second and third-placed sides in the Bundesliga as Dortmund look to keep pressure on leaders Bayern -- at Bayer's expense. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez has been the story of the season in the league, sparking Leverkusen up the table. But Dortmund, steered by Marco Reus, has likely already secured a slot in the Champions League next season, which may dilute their focus: keep an eye on the score of their midweek tilt against Porto, as they can make a credible run in the Europa League.
FA Cup: Chelsea v Manchester City (live, Sunday, 11 a.m. ET, FS2, FOX Sports Go)
You could hear the groans at the Etihad and the Bridge when this draw was made. Both teams are in tight European contests and both are desperately trying to clamber up the league table -- a valid question might be which team wants to get out of the FA Cup sooner. Chelsea of course can use any silver the get this season; City, on the other hand, need to focus on a stalled title campaign and their European Cup ambitions. Could both teams field their kids? Maybe.
This summer's competition will be Copa América 45th installment since its inception in 1916.
2016 Copa America Centenario Draw (Sunday, 8 PM ET, FS2, FOX Sports Go)
Ok, this isn't a game, but you should tune in anyway, as the summer's biggest tournament officially gets underway from New York. The draw for the Copa America will lay out who the USA, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina will face in the 100th edition of one of the world's greatest tournaments, live on FOX's family of networks.
CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship Women's Final (live, Sunday, 9 p.m. ET, NBCSN)
Should the USA knock off T&T on Friday, they will face the winner of the Canada-Costa Rica game in what could be a compelling exhibition â but has no bearing on their ticket to Rio. If it is, as we expect, a Canada-USA matchup, look for Christine Sinclair to try and pad her remarkable scoring total at the Americans' expense: she recently lapped Mia Hamm to move up to second on the all-time scoring list with 159 goals.
