Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer. Hope you enjoy the free time at the beach, pool, RFK Stadium for D.C. United, Gillette Stadium for lacrosse’s final four, or be among the expected 35,000 to 40,000 or so in Jacksonville for the U.S. national team friendly vs. Scotland. Welcome to the Tartan Army. I recommend SPF 100.

I’ll be in Florida, while Post colleague Paul Tenorio handles United.

Before diving into the TV and online options over the next few days, let Chuck Prophet get you into a summertime mood:

What are you going to watch? (Sorry, no TV or online video for U.S. women vs. China on Sunday.)

All times are Eastern

FRIDAY

Spain Copa del Rey, Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona 4 p.m. ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com

USL, Harrisburg vs. Rochester 6 p.m. uslsoccer.com

NASL, Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota 7:30 p.m. nasl.com

Friendly, Costa Rica vs. Guatemala 9 p.m. ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com

SATURDAY

Friendly, Denmark vs. Brazil 9:30 a.m. GolTV

England League One playoff, Huddersfield vs. Sheffield United 10 a.m. Fox Soccer

Friendly, Ireland vs. Bosnia 10 a.m. ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com

Friendly, Spain vs. Serbia noon ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com

Marco Pappa’s goal in the 63rd minute lifted the Chicago Fire to a 2-1 MLS victory over FC Dallas on Wednesday night. If only it were that simple.

The Fire was awarded a penalty kick when Pappa was taken down. On the penalty, Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman stopped Sebastian Grazzini’s attempt. Pappa converted the rebound but was several yards inside the box when Grazzini struck the ball — clear encroachment. The goal should not have counted and Dallas should’ve been awarded an indirect free kick, right?

Our story doesn’t end there, though. When you watch the video below, keep a close eye on the final replay. It shows Matt Hedges of Dallas entering the box early as well. Not as early as Pappa, but early nonetheless. In this case, according to FIFA rules, referee Hilario Grajeda should’ve disallowed the goal and instructed Grazzini to take the kick again.

That said, dual infractions don’t absolve egregious officiating.

On his Facebook page, Hartman wrote: “Man, that guy was so far inside the box, I wasn’t sure which player was going to take the penalty kick.”

(Thanks to Twitter follower ArsenalFire for assistance.)

Thoughts?

Judging by the LivingSocial offers promoting reduced-priced tickets, one might conclude the U.S. national soccer team’s friendly against Brazil on May 30 is going to be a box-office bust. Club seats are available for half-price and lower-level packages can be gotten at considerable discount.

According to the U.S. Soccer Federation, however, more than 53,000 tickets have been sold, putting this match on pace to become the largest turnout for a U.S. men’s or women’s appearance in the Washington area in history and the third biggest for a USA-Brazil men’s game nationally.

*MLS clubs now know their first opponents in the U.S. Open Cup following 16 second-round matches Tuesday. D.C. United will visit the third-division Richmond Kickers, who defeated the amateur Aegean Hawks, 4-0, at Maryland SoccerPlex. United, which has two victories and a defeat to the Kickers in the Open Cup since 2004, will play at 7 p.m. next Tuesday at Richmond City Stadium.

The biggest surprise of the tournament (and another reason this event is cool): Cal FC, an amateur team coached by former U.S. national team star Eric Wynalda. After defeating a fourth-division side in the first round, Cal went on the road to crush the third-tier Wilmington Hammerheads, 4-0, and earn a trip to Portland to face MLS’s Timbers. [Full story here.]

*It’s been feast or famine for United’s Hamdi Salihi this season. My feature story chronicles his recent scoring surge and explores his adaptation to a new league and culture.

D.C. United midfielder Danny Cruz will miss about four weeks after injuring his right hamstring in the first half of a 3-1 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday night at RFK Stadium, club officials said Tuesday.

The setback is softened by the fact that United is approaching a three-week break in the MLS regular season. So Cruz will probably miss just three league matches: Saturday against the New England Revolution, June 16 at the Philadelphia Union and June 24 at the New York Red Bulls.

During the league lull, United (7-4-3) is scheduled to play one or two games in the U.S. Open Cup, a tournament involving teams from all levels of American soccer.

Cruz, a right wing, has started 10 league matches this season, with one goal and two assists.

Much more.....