April is going out swinging. Last night delivered penalties in Madrid, a stoppage-time header in Los Angeles, a full NWSL slate with standings implications, a Copa Libertadores thriller in Lima, and a school story out of the Atlanta United training ground that is worth every minute of your morning. Wednesday had big plans for your attention span, and Thursday will continue that.

There is also some SDH news in today's edition that I am genuinely excited to share. The summer ahead is unlike anything Atlanta has experienced, and the pieces are falling into place. Forty-two days and counting.

The game never stops and neither do we. Welcome to the SDH Network, Around the Corner from Everywhere.

Morning Espresso is brought to you by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta's premier undergraduate learning experience and soccer powerhouse.

The second Champions League semifinal is set up perfectly after Arsenal and Atlético Madrid played to a 1-1 draw at the Metropolitano on Wednesday. Viktor Gyökeres opened the scoring from the spot in the 44th minute after David Hancko clattered into him from behind. Then Julián Álvarez leveled for Atlético in the second half, also from the penalty spot, after a VAR review determined that Marcos Llorente's shot struck Ben White's shin and then his arm.

Two penalties given, one controversially reversed, and Mikel Arteta still fuming when the final whistle blew. Late in the match, referee Danny Makkelie awarded Arsenal a second penalty after Hancko caught Eberechi Eze with a clumsy challenge. VAR intervened, Diego Simeone bounced on the touchline demanding a review, and Makkelie reversed his own call. Arteta didn't hold back: "The clear contact, you make the decision. You cannot overturn that decision when you have to look at it 13 times. At this level, it's completely unacceptable."

Álvarez was the standout player on the night before limping off in the 77th minute. He has now scored 10 Champions League goals this season, becoming the first Atlético player to reach double figures in the competition. Simeone said he is "optimistic" about his availability for the second leg and expects both Álvarez and winger Giuliano Simeone, who also left the pitch early, to be fit for Tuesday. Alexander Sørloth, who missed the match with muscle discomfort, is also expected to be available.

As a sideshow, Arsenal lodged a complaint with UEFA over the condition of the Metropolitano pitch, with people spotted measuring blades of grass ahead of kickoff. Simeone then went after White for walking over Atlético's decorative club crest near the tunnel at full time. Grievance piled on grievance. The second leg is at the Emirates on May 5, and it is going to be a scene.

LAFC takes a 2-1 lead to Mexico after a breathless Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal first leg against Toluca on Wednesday at BMO Stadium. Timothy Tillman broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, chesting down a Son Heung-min touch and finishing past a diving Luis García. Nkosi Tafari then headed home a Son free kick in stoppage time to restore the lead after Jesús Ángulo's bending equalizer from the top of the box had leveled it at 1-1 in the 73rd minute.

The match had plenty of what-ifs. Jacob Shaffelburg thought he had made it 2-0 just two minutes after Tillman's opener, but a six-minute VAR review chalked it off for offside. That decision sucked the energy out of BMO just as LAFC had the game in hand, and Toluca made them pay shortly after. LAFC also did it the hard way: Denis Bouanga, who has five goals in the tournament, missed the match due to yellow card accumulation, as did defender Eddie Segura.

Hugo Lloris was the reason this game was still level at halftime. The veteran French keeper made a stunning double save late in the first half, first denying Nicolás Castro's header from close range, then getting back up to block Jesús Gallardo's rebound attempt at the near post. Lloris has been quietly excellent all season for LAFC, and French reports now suggest he would not turn down a recall as a backup option for Didier Deschamps at the World Cup this summer.

Toluca bossed possession at 64 percent on the night but couldn't turn it into a result, and LAFC's stoppage-time header means dos Santos's side controls the tie heading into next week's second leg at the Estadio Nemesio Diez. The away goal Toluca carry still gives them a path, and this one is far from settled.

Universitario de Deportes put on a show at the Estadio Monumental in Lima on Wednesday night, beating Nacional de Uruguay 4-2 in the Copa Libertadores group stage to earn their first win of the tournament. Caín Fara, Alex Valera, Lisandro Alzugaray, and José Carabalí were the scorers as the Merengues rallied from a deficit to take control and never look back. The result moves Universitario to third in Group B, and with all four teams now level on four points through three matches, every remaining game in the group will matter.

It is exactly the kind of night that makes the Copa Libertadores worth your time. A packed Monumental, a team that needed a result delivering one in style, and a group that is now completely wide open. Watch the Copa Libertadores with our friends at Fanatiz throughout the tournament.

Wednesday night delivered a full slate of NWSL action, and the results reshuffled the standings at both ends of the table. The Portland Thorns moved to the top by snapping San Diego Wave's five-game winning streak with a 2-0 win at Providence Park. Marie Müller scored her first career NWSL goal in the 10th minute, and Sophia Wilson doubled the lead in the 64th. San Diego had won the first meeting between these two teams last month 3-1, making Portland's statement all the more significant.

The Washington Spirit kept their remarkable defensive run going with a 1-0 win over Racing Louisville at Audi Field. Trinity Rodman scored her 30th career goal in the 15th minute with a cross-body volley from the middle of the penalty box. The Spirit have now shut out four consecutive opponents, winning three and drawing the other. The bigger story may have been off the scoresheet: Andi Sullivan came on in the 63rd minute, returning to the pitch after tearing her ACL at the end of the 2024 season and taking maternity leave in 2025.

Gotham FC made it five goals in two matches since the international break with a 2-0 road win over the Chicago Stars. Jordynn Dudley scored in the first minute after Jaedyn Shaw's cross ran through Chicago's back line, the second-fastest goal in club history. Rose Lavelle added the second in the 10th minute, finding herself wide open for a volley past Alyssa Naeher.

The most dramatic result of the night came at Gillette Stadium, where expansion Boston Legacy led the North Carolina Courage 2-0 before a second-half rally forced a 2-2 draw. Alba Caño scored in the fifth minute and Massachusetts native Sammy Smith added a second eight minutes later, briefly putting the expansion side in position for a historic first win. Dani Weatherholt pulled one back for North Carolina in the 53rd minute, and Ashley Sánchez equalized in the 76th to deny Boston the victory. The Legacy earned the first point in club history but remain at the bottom of the standings.

SDH Network has announced a partnership with NoFo Brew Co, a North Georgia brewery with locations in Cumming, Gainesville, and Cleveland. The collaboration is centered on bringing soccer fans together across the state, with NoFo becoming the presenting sponsor of SDH's Before the Whistle and After the Whistle coverage of Atlanta United matches. The timing could not be better, with the World Cup arriving in Atlanta this summer and the sport's profile in Georgia at an all-time high.

The partnership also puts a proper name on something that has been in the works: SDH's popular lager is now officially Soccer Down Here Lager. It will be available in cans and on tap at soccer-friendly establishments across Georgia starting June 1. NoFo's taprooms are already great places to watch a match, and they are about to get a lot busier.

The first big activation happens June 6 and 7. Atlanta Soccer Tonight on 92.9 The Game broadcasts live from NoFo Gainesville on June 6 from noon to 2:15 p.m., then the crew stays on site to watch the USA-Germany match with fans. The tour continues June 7 in Cumming. If you are looking for a place in North Georgia to experience the World Cup with people who love this sport as much as you do, NoFo is the answer.

Johnny Cardoso Makes Champions League History: The 24-year-old USMNT midfielder started and played 88 minutes for Atlético Madrid in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, becoming the fourth American player to see UEFA Champions League semifinal action.

MLS Sweeps U.S. Open Cup Round of 16: For the second consecutive year, all eight quarterfinalist spots went to MLS clubs. Three USL sides pushed MLS teams into overtime before falling, but none could advance. Orlando City's comeback win over New England was the highlight, with Justin Ellis and Zakaria Taifi scoring the tying and winning goals late.

NWSL Commits to Spring-to-Fall Schedule Through 2030: The league's Board of Governors voted to keep the current calendar structure in place for at least four more years, even as the regular season grows to 30 games in 2026 and MLS prepares its own move to a summer-to-spring schedule in 2027-28.

MLS Innovation Lab Announces Third Cohort: MLS unveiled the 2026 class of its Innovation Lab, focused entirely on AI solutions across player performance, fan engagement, and media production. The five companies selected will test their technology in real MLS environments, including the All-Star Game and youth competitions this summer.

MLS and KKR Launch Next Pro Joint Venture: MLS and private equity firm KKR have formed a joint venture called Hometown Soccer Holdings to centralize business operations for MLS Next Pro affiliated clubs and move them into mid-sized markets with new 6,000 to 8,000-seat multipurpose stadiums. HSH will handle venue operations, ticketing, sponsorship, and finance while MLS clubs retain control of soccer operations. The venture is modeled in part on Nashville SC's Next Pro team in Huntsville, Alabama, which averages nearly 5,000 fans per game, and draws a parallel to how Diamond Baseball Holdings rolled up Minor League Baseball clubs into a unified platform.

SDH AM is live this morning at 9:05 with Jon Nelson at the helm, and the first hour is appointment listening for Atlanta United fans. The U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal draw happens during the show, and Five Stripes supporters will find out where the team heads next. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is unavailable in the third week of May as it shifts into World Cup preparation mode, so Atlanta United will be on the road for this one. We will be following along in real time.

Hour 2 brings the Power Hour back with two great guests: Nino Torres of Fubo TV and Niko Torres of Pulso Sports, covering MLS, South America, and the broader soccer world from two distinct vantage points. Then at noon on YouTube and Twitch, Jon Nelson hosts the Red Clay Soccer Report to get you caught up on the GHSA state playoffs. Madison Crews, Sofia Cupertino, and I will be at Atlanta United training this morning, and a Training Ground Dispatch and Training Ground Notebook will be on the way later today.

Back-to-back GHSA state champions River Ridge traveled to Peachtree City on Wednesday night and survived a Round of 16 thriller against perennial powerhouse McIntosh, winning 2-1 in extra time. The match was level at 1-1 through 97 minutes before Patrick Ndulue's goal with just over three minutes remaining settled it in the most dramatic fashion possible: a shot that deflected off a defender and looped over the goalkeeper's head. Two great programs, one unforgettable moment, and the ThreePeat is still very much alive for River Ridge.

If you have not read yesterday’s feature on soccerdownhere.net, set aside some time for it. "Soccer Mom. School Builder." tells the story of Stewart Lathan, Atlanta United's Player Welfare and Education Officer, who arrived at the academy training ground in 2020 as a parent and spent the next six years building a school from scratch. Forty boys are now enrolled across grades nine through twelve, with a full teaching staff on site and a partnership with Atlanta International School that takes the players to the Buckhead campus every Monday. Cooper Sanchez is walking at graduation in a few weeks. The academy has a 100% graduation rate. Read it at soccerdownhere.net.

FIFA Considers Mandatory Under-21 Rule: FIFA is consulting stakeholders on a proposal that would require clubs to have at least one homegrown under-21 player on the pitch at all times. The measure is aimed at strengthening youth development and shifting it from best practice to competitive requirement. The FIFA Council is expected to review the proposal within the next year.

Hakimi Out for PSG's Second Leg: Achraf Hakimi will miss Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League semifinal second leg against Bayern Munich after suffering a right thigh injury during Tuesday's 5-4 first-leg win. The Morocco right back is expected to be out for several weeks. The second leg is next Wednesday in Munich.

Mudryk Handed Four-Year Ban: Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has reportedly received a four-year ban from the FA after testing positive for a banned substance in 2024. Mudryk, who has not played in nearly 18 months, denies knowingly breaking any rules and has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Scott Parker Leaves Burnley: Scott Parker and Burnley have parted ways by mutual consent following the club's relegation from the Premier League. Parker led Burnley to a second-place Championship finish last season but oversaw a league-high 68 goals conceded in the top flight this year. Mike Jackson will take charge for the club's remaining four matches.

Leah Williamson Signs New Arsenal Deal: England captain Leah Williamson has extended her contract with Arsenal, where she has spent her entire career since joining as an eight-year-old. The 29-year-old centre-back marked the occasion by scoring in a 7-0 win over Leicester in the WSL.

Wrexham on the Brink: Wrexham need a result against Middlesbrough on Saturday to secure a Championship playoff spot and keep alive the possibility of a fourth consecutive promotion. Goal difference alone separates them from seventh-placed Hull heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

De Arrascaeta Fractures Clavicle: Flamengo midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta fractured his right clavicle during a Copa Libertadores match and faces six to twelve weeks of recovery. Uruguay's World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia is June 15, putting his tournament participation in serious doubt. The injury adds to Marcelo Bielsa's growing list of fitness concerns heading into the summer.

Iran Delegation Turned Away in Canada: Iran's football federation delegation, including federation president Mehdi Taj, turned back at Toronto's airport this week ahead of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver. Canada's government cited Taj's past affiliation with the IRGC, which Canada designated a terrorist organization in 2024. FIFA expressed regret over the incident and said President Gianni Infantino would meet with the delegation.

Mexico City Plans 18 Fan Festivals for World Cup: Mexico City will host 18 free public fan festivals across the capital during the World Cup, featuring giant screens, concerts, food fairs, and cultural events. Seven sites will broadcast all tournament matches. The main FIFA Fan Fest will be held at the Zocalo.

Andrada Banned 13 Matches After Brawl: Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada received a 13-match ban from the RFEF after punching Huesca captain Jorge Pulido in the face following a red card in a second-division derby last week. Andrada, who is on loan from Monterrey, has since apologized for his actions.

The last day of April feels like the sport clearing its throat before the main event. The Champions League is down to four. The Concacaf semifinal stage is set. The NWSL standings are shifting week to week. And in Atlanta, the pieces for an extraordinary summer are clicking into place one by one.

The World Cup is coming, NoFo Brew Co is on board, and Soccer Down Here Lager will be on tap at exactly the kinds of places where great soccer moments happen. We built this network to tell the stories of the beautiful game from the Southeast, and this summer the world is coming to us. Forty-two days and counting.

Before any of that, though, there is this morning. SDH AM is live at 9:05 with Jon Nelson, and the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal draw is happening in real time during Hour 1. Atlanta United finds out who and where they play next, on the road while Mercedes-Benz Stadium gets ready for the biggest stage in the sport. Tune in and find out with us. The game never stops.

Song of the Day: Cheers (Drink to That) by Rihanna
New partnership, new lager, summer around the corner. Felt like the right day to let Rihanna close it out. Cheers.

Jason