I know it has been a couple weeks of goodbyes since making it known I’m leaving The Seattle Times, but I wanted to offer one last thank-you. If you missed my post on the reasons behind my departure, here it is again. There are countless people to thank, and like an Oscars speech, I’m sure…

One of the difficult things about leaving the Sounders FC beat for The Seattle Times is there were a few stories out there I still wanted to tell. One of them is a little outside the box, involving broadcaster Ross Fletcher, who has now been the Voice of the Sounders longer than anyone else. Kevin Calabro…

Local legend Alan Hinton, who coached the old NASL Sounders and did broadcast work for many season for the MLS team, has been providing his thoughts on the MLS season throughout the year. There hasn’t been much league action to comment on, but he did offer some thoughts on the World Cup during his European vacation.

Here is his latest offering:

Here is the latest poll from our sports desk…

On the heels of the Hope Solo statement, Reign FC has also issued a statement regarding the goalkeeper’s recent arrest on domestic-violence assault charges.

The team said it will await the legal outcome of the case before making a final judgment, and until then, Solo will practice and be available for Saturday’s home game against Sky Blue FC.

Here is the statement, as released on the team’s Facebook page:

As we’ve covered throughout the week, Reign FC goalkeeper Hope Solo has been charged with domestic violence stemming from an incident early Saturday morning. Here was our latest story on the issue, as Solo pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance.

Here is the statement from Solo, as posted on her Facebook page:

The World Cup round of 16 is set, and the U.S. men’s national team will face Belgium in a knockout game at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Funny how these two teams were set to play a closed-door scrimmage before the tournament, but it was ultimately canceled due to traffic concerns.

Anyway, here is the round of 16 schedule.

SOUNDERS FC — OUT: D Djimi Traore (R adductor strain); M Andy Rose (L knee surgery); D Dylan Remick (L adductor strain); F Kevin Parsemain (ACL surgery); D Damion Lowe (L hip).

D.C. UNITED — OUT: F/M Chris Pontius (L hamstring); F Fabian Espindola (R knee); D Jeff Parke (L foot).

Suspension — Obafemi Martins (Seattle, red card); Davy Arnaud (D.C. United, yellow cards).

When does a loss feel like a win? Well, when it’s good enough to get you through to the World Cup knockout rounds. That was the case for the U.S. national team Thursday, which suffered a 1-0 loss to Germany but advanced to the round of 16 thanks to Portugal’s 2-1 win against Ghana.

Here is a sample of the some tweets I’ve seen in reaction.

Update: This game is over, a 1-0 win for Germany, but the Americans are still celebrating as a 2-1 win by Portugal over Ghana means the U.S. is through to the knockout rounds! Germany wins Group G and the Americans are second, likely facing Belgium in the Round of 16 Tuesday.

Join me for a live chat during the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup game Thursday against Germany. This is the final day in Group G action, and the USMNT needs a win or tie to clinch advancement (otherwise they need help in the Ghana-Portugal game). Here are all the scenarios.

Kickoff between the U.S. and Germany will be about 9 a.m. I’ll plan on starting the chat around 8:30.