From the pitch to the pen, the top three stories circulating on social media this weekend either involved soccer or the slammer… or both, and we’ve collected them all here for today’s Trending News Monday.
News from the Pitch: Dramatic USA-Portugal Match
The USMNT had a chance to solidify USA’s spot in the second stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup yesterday with a win against Portugal. After an unlikely win over Ghana last week, USA gave its team a chance of advancing to the round of 16, and with only seconds left in stoppage time, it looked as though they were going to win the match. After Portugal took the lead in the fifth minute with a goal from Nani, USA’s defense shut down Ronaldo and his teammates, keeping the score 1-0 at the end of the first half. Team USA then came back with a Jones goal in the 64th minute and took the lead when Dempsey scored late in the game (81’). After a substitution in stoppage time, the USA was moments away from taking the match (and the three points)—which would end Portugal’s hopes of advancing in this World Cup. However, in the 95th minute Varela zipped a ball past Tim Howard. Seconds later, the match ended in a draw, with each team walking away with one point and some sort of chance of advancing to the next stage.
Team USA can advance in four different scenarios: with a win against Germany, a draw against Germany, (if they lose) a draw in the Ghana-Portugal match or a goal differential tiebreaker over the Ghana-Portugal winner.
Team USA will face Germany Thursday at 11:00 AM CST.
News from the Pen: Mug Shot Circulates on Social Media
Jeremy Meeks—a convicted felon who was arraigned on Friday for firearm possession, gang membership and probation violation—was made an overnight celebrity this weekend when authorities posted his mug shot. His photo quickly made the rounds on the Internet. With his striking blue eyes, sultry smile and chiseled cheekbones, Meeks could easily be mistaken (at least in his mug shot, with his mouth closed to hide his grill) for a male model; however, he’s in serious trouble with the law, and his bail is set at $1,000,000, so it’s unlikely he’ll be posing for any paid gigs anytime soon.
For more on Meeks, click here.
News from the Pitch and Pen: Soccer Star Spends Weekend in the Slammer
After being held without bail over the weekend at a suburban Seattle, Washington jail, USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo (Hope Amelia Stevens) plead not guilty to two counts of domestic abuse earlier today in court.
The soccer star was arrested Saturday night after Kirkland police officers received a call that a women as assaulting guests at a party and would not leave. After cops arrived on scene and spoke with witnesses, they determined 32-year-old Solo assaulted her sister and 17-year-old nephew, and arrested her for domestic abuse.
Solo’s attorney claims that Solo is actually the victim and “look[s] forward to the opportunity to present the true facts in court and to having this matter behind Hope very soon.”
The judge released Solo on her own recognizance with the conditions that Solo does not contact her sister and nephew and that she does not drink. The pretrial hearing was set for August 11.
Earlier this month, Solo tied the USWNT record with her 71st shutout in her 152nd cap. Her professional soccer team, the Seattle Reign, maintained their undefeated season, despite Solo’s absence on Sunday, and released a comment on Facebook Saturday morning saying they were aware of the situation and are gathering information.
For more details on Solo’s arrest, click here.
Cover Photo Source: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://testspace.thesanjosegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cassandra-Bremer-Our-Space-Photo.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Cassandra is a Content Manager and Developer at SJG. She earned her BA from Fontbonne University in 2011. Outside the office, she enjoys an active, healthy and well-rounded lifestyle including reading, writing, running, golfing, watching films, listening to music, taking photographs, and consuming media and social media.[/author_info] [/author]