> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Snacking on Soccer: Friendlies, NLD Get Ugly
- URL: https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/snacking-on-soccer-friendlies-nld/
- Published: 2026-03-29T10:07:42.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-12T00:06:00.000Z
- Description: Sundays are for snacking! Nibble on this quick-hitting digest with the best from Saturday’s soccer around the globe.
- Author: Jason Figueiredo
- Tags: Soccer Bytes

Welcome to the inaugural *Snacking on Soccer* Digest! These bite-sized pieces of soccer tidbits will start coming your way on Sundays, ideally keeping it short but still meaty enough to be worth your while. But, enough with the yapping, let’s get to the snacking!!

🥨 **Ivory Coast** absolutely abused the South Koreans. The four-goal [beatdown](https://youtu.be/54B6gl7oeNc?si=QyYR7u8oAn7gD4AG&ref=pitchsidedocket.com) is even more exaggerated by the Big Chances battle that swung 7-1 in the African side’s favor. Despite seeing less possession, the Ivory Coast disrupted all of **South Korea**’s passing channels and countered with deadly precision. Really impressed with their high work rate and intensity.

🍪 **Japan**’s assertiveness with and without the ball against Scotland proved deadly, firing off 11 shots in the first half, and also looking quite dominant on [defense](https://x.com/foxsoccer/status/2037941158123536447?s=46&ref=pitchsidedocket.com) (14 tackles, 12 interceptions) and on duels (54% duels won, 67% successful dribble). **Junya Ito**’s [winner](https://x.com/kingunited100/status/2037966223816716699?s=46&ref=pitchsidedocket.com) wasn’t amazing, but it was well deserved after buzzing the net for 80+ minutes.

🍿 The **USMNT** again looked rather incompetent against a top-ranked FIFA team, giving up way too many goals to **Belgium** due to defensive collapses at the [top of the box](https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1s6c3r2/usa%5F14%5Fbelgium%5Fdodi%5Flukebakio%5Fgreat%5Fgoal%5F68/?ref=pitchsidedocket.com). Matt Turner probably lost any chance of starting any important game after that [ineptness](https://www.reddit.com/r/ussoccer/comments/1s6azyl/usa%5F11%5Fbelgium%5Fzeno%5Fdebast%5F45%5Fmatt%5Fturner/?ref=pitchsidedocket.com). How Poch gets this group to respond against **Portugal** should be very telling on whether this team can handle adversity. At the game level, their response to being kicked down was to just let more goals in.

🥦 The women’s North London Derby ended with a similar result as the men’s, **Arsenal**’s complete annihilation of **Spurs**. Just when I thought I could get away from some Tottenham Torture over this International Break, **Alessia Russo**’s [hat trick](https://youtube.com/shorts/tz-0rXr6R-c?si=1JRyJDGxf8ocJNWR&ref=pitchsidedocket.com) emphatically reminded me that errant choices were made in my life.

🍗 For a game that ended with no goals, **Mexico** versus **Portugal** had a lot of bite. **Pedro Neto** came on after half and was a tornado on the pitch, crossing the ball, being [Neto aggressive](https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1s6j56a/altercation%5Fbetween%5Fpedro%5Fneto%5Fportugal%5Fand%5Fjes%C3%BAs/?ref=pitchsidedocket.com), and getting off two shots. However, with 27 touches in the opposition box, Portugal’s execution in the final 18 leaves many wondering if finishing will be an issue come June.

🥜 **Aissata Traoré** made sports history on Saturday, becoming **Boston Legacy FC**’s first player to [record a goal](https://bsky.app/profile/bostonlegacyfc.com/post/3mi57bhf5ti2r?ref=pitchsidedocket.com). The goal came with her team down two and only 19 minutes left in regulation, but it brought hope and excitement to their fans nonetheless. With that important milestone in their rear view mirror, the even more important marker of securing a point on the table shouldn’t be too far off.

What matches caught ***your*** eye this weekend? Let me know!