Bobby Cee Racer leads by 6 points heading into knockout stage
EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) -- While teams like 1A-Orlando City SC, 2A-Philadelphia Union, 1C-Toronto FC, 2C-New England Revolution, 1D-Sporting Kansas City, 2D-Minnesota United FC, 3D-Real Salt Lake, 1F-Portland Timbers, and 2F-Los Angeles Football Club were playing their last match for Round of 16 positioning, most of the others were fighting for their lives. Some played to get the result like 3B-Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 3A-New York City FC, 3C-Impact de Montreal, and 2E-FC Cincinnati, others just blew their chance including heavy favorite 4E-Atlanta United FC, 4B-Chicago Fire FC, 3E-New York Red Bulls, and 3F-Houston Dynamo.
NYC beat 4A-Inter Miami CF, who ended as one of two teams without a point, and had to wait three days to find out they made the Round of 16. MTL edged 4C-D.C. United 1-0 which allowed three other teams (MIN, POR, LAFC) to make the R16 but not them. MTL had to wait one more day to find out they secured a R16 spot (when RBNY lost by 2). CIN had just two shots on goal but beat RBNY 2-0 eliminating RBNY and sending themselves into the R16. CIN had started with a 4-0 drubbing by 1E-Columbus but are now in the Knockout Round. CLB, meanwhile put ATL out its misery winning 1-0, ATL's third straight 1-0 defeat to finish dead last (24th) in the tournament. VAN needed a two-goal win and were scoreless against CHI in the 63' when lightning delayed the match 90 minutes. VAN came out of the delay by scoring twice in 8 minutes to advance to the R16, eliminating CHI who started the tourney with a 2-1 win over SEA.
4D-Colorado Rapids, despite a chance to have 3 points and a better goal differential than other 3-point teams, was eliminated when SKC beat RSL cementing them in 4th place regardless. COL played a 2-2 draw to MIN, giving SKC the Group D title but 2nd place MIN actually benefits as they will have two extra days rest. ORL and PHI and TOR and NE played it safe playing to draws. The penultimate group play match saw 3F-Houston Dynamo and 4F-LA Galaxy decide the fate of themselves and NYC. Needing a win, HOU led for 73 minutes but a soft PK allowed LA, who fell way short of a 3-goal win needed, to tie it in stoppage time, eliminating HOU and sending NYC to the R16. POR rallied to tie LAFC in the 81' to give them the Group F title and the, on paper (but ask ATL and RBNY first), easier CIN match instead of defending champ SEA (who LAFC will play and try to avenge last year's playoff loss).
There have been 99 goals scored (2.75 per match) with 9 coming in stoppage time (granted, more stoppage time due to >90 second hydration breaks). Teams have made 8 straight PKs after missing the first two. 5 teams have won after giving up the first goal and three teams have won after trailing at halftime (16 of 36 matches were tied at the half). Teams are not doing well when the have 63% or more possession (2-2-4) or taking 20 or more shots on goal (1-3-1). There have been about 16 VAR extended reviews with 11 decisions being overturned.
In the pool, Bobby Cee Racer (50 pts) has built a large six point lead thanks to getting 13 of 16 Round of 16 teams correct (2 more than the next highest). Super League only got 9 and is in last (35 pts). In a very tough pool to predict, four tied with 11 group stage matches correct out of 30 (36.7%). How bad was that? For WWC19, the high was 30 of 36 (83.3%). Well, in WWC19 there were just 3 ties in 36 matches while here you had 9 ties in 30. Yours truly, Futbol Fabone Eleven (13th, 39) got just 6 of 30 (20.0%). Five matches no one got right and six others had just one or two entries who got the result correct. Ten of 15 have lost their champion already (5 ATL, 3 LA, 1 HOU, 1 COL). Remember it doesn't matter if your team finished 1st, 2nd, or one of the four 3rd place spots, as long as they made it, you got 3 points. Same for the other rounds, so just look at who you have in the Quarters, not what the matchups are. If you thought LAFC and SEA would both be in the Quarters (had either team finished 1st instead of 2nd in their groups), you are guaranteed one but not both!
Usually, I would have the elimination run but with just 15 entries, but maybe I'll let you folks have hope until after the R16 matches as it is a lot of work to get it to work properly this early.
I'll be doing daily gameday updates on our Blog and re-posted on Twitter. These updates will be every few days or so and will be emailed out. Everyone can view their pick and bracket by clicking the "Pick" link in the standings next to their nickname. If you want to know who everyone is, the Who's Who in the Pool is now available.
Ins 'n Outs - Goals (36 Matches): 99 (2.75/match) [Own: 4 (10-SKCvMIN 90'+2, 19-SJvVAN 22', 26-LFCvLA 5', 36-NYvCIN 56'), Subs: 15 (6-DC 84', 17-SEA 77', 16-ORL 81', 19-SJ 72', 19-SJ 90'+8' {2}, 21-DC 72' {2}, 23-COL 84', 26-LFC 80', 30-SJ 83' {3}, 28-ORL 70' {2}, 35-SKC 86', 37-COL 59' {2}, 4-VAN 65', 4-VAN 71' {2}, 39-POR 81'), 90'+: 9 [1-ORL +7 (GW), 10-MIN +2 (GT), 10-MIN +7 (GW) {2}, 6-DC +1 (GT), 19-SJ +8 (GW), 18-MTL +5 PK, 23-SKC +1 (GW), 26-LFC +2, 38-LA +1 PK (GT)]... Scoring First: 21-5-7 (3 Nil-Nil (7-SEAvSJ, 24-RSLvMIN, 32-TORvNE); 1-MIA:ORL 1:2, 10-SKC:MIN 1:2, 19-VAN:SJ 3:4, 23-COL:SKC 2:3, 26-LA:LFC 2:6)... Leading at Half: 12-3-5 (16 ties; 10-SKC:MIN (1:0) 1:2, 19-VAN:SJ (2:1) 3:4, 23-COL:SKC (1:0) 2:3)... Shutout: 21 (3-NYC, 5-MTL, 7-SEA, 7-SJ, 8-ATL, 9-CIN, 11-COL, 20-ATL {2}, 22-NY, 24-RSL, 24-MIN, 30-CHI, 31-VAN, 27-MIA, 32-TOR, 32-NE, 33-ATL {3}, 34-DC, 35-RSL {2}, 36-NY {2}, 4-CHI)... PK: 8/10 [10-rsl (s) 72', 13-la (s) 12', 18-MTL 37', 18-MTL 90'+5' {2}, 23-SKC 73', 25-HOU 86', 26-LFC 13', 26-LA 31', 31-SEA 16', 38-LA 90'+1']... PSO: -... Red Card (GF/GA): 8 (3/6) [10-SKC 74' {R} (0/2), 6-DC 45'+6' {2Y} (2/0), 13-POR 75' {2Y} (0/1), 14-MIA 90'+8' {2Y} (0/0), 23-COL 61' {R} (0/2), 23-COL 73' {R} (1/1) <2>, 25-HOU 88' {R} (0/0), 27-MIA 90' {2Y} (0/0)]... Multiple G's: 8 [Zardes 2 (9-CLB), Akinola 2 (6-TOR), M.Rodriguez 2 (12-HOU), Mueller 2 (16-ORL), Akinola 3 (18-TOR) {2}, Taider 2 (18-MTL), Rossi 4 (26-LFC), Finlay 2 (37-MIN)]... Multiple A's: 9 [Pozuelo 2 (6-TOR), Felipe 2 (6-DC), Blessing 2 (12-LFC), Quintero 2 (12-HOU), Pozuelo 3 (18-TOR) {2}, B.Rodriguez 2 (26-LFC), Ginella 2 (26-LFC), Pulido 2 (35-SKC), Gregus 2 (37-MIN)]... 3+Pts: 4 [Zelarayan GAA (9-CLB), Akinola GGG (18-TOR), Pozuelo AAA (18-TOR), Rossi GGAGG (26-LFC)]... Zero SOG (Shots): 1 [22-NY (7)]... Goal Line Tech (Award): 1 (0) [34-MTL xG= 68']... VAR (-Reversal(Taken Away), +Reversal(Added), =Confirmed, xNo Call): 16 [9-CLB xOff={g} 49', 10-MIN xOff+{g-} 64', 12-HOU Off-{g+} 45'+5', 13-LA xOff+{g-} 81', 16-PHI HB-{pk-} 75', 19-SJ xRC={yc} 56', 20-ATL xOff+{pk-} 45'+5', 20-ATL xRC+ 90'+9', 18-TOR xHB+{pk+} 90'+4', 23-COL xRC={yc} 43', 23-COL xRC+ 58', 23-COL xHB+{pk+} 69', 25-POR xHB+{pk+} 83', 26-LA Off={xg} 54', 26-LFC xOff={g} 90'+1', 32-TOR Box-{pk-} 87', 4-CHI xHB+{g-} 84']... 63%+ Poss (2-2-4): 8 [8-ATLvNY (69) L, 6-TORvDC (66) D, 12-LFCvHOU (72) D, 19-SJvVAN (68) W, 30-SJvCHI (63) W {2}, 36-NYvCIN (68) L, 38-LAvHOU (64) D, 39-LFCvPOR (64) D] ... 20+ Shots (S/SOG/G) (1-3-1): 5 [12-LFC (23/6/3) D, 16-NYC (26/8/1) L, 19-SJ (30/11/4) W, 23-HOU (24/4/1) L, 4-CHI (25/5/0) L]... Postponed (>30m): 3 [8-ATLvNY (Lightning 45m), 6-TORvDC (Testing 24h), 4-CHIvVAN (Lightning 93m) 63']... Cancelled: 3 (2-NSHvCHI, 14-MIAvCHI, 29-ORLvNSH)... Replacements: 6 (4-DALvVAN->CHIvVAN, 15-PHIvNSH->PHIvMIA, 17-SEAvDAL->CHIvSEA, 27-NYCvCHI->MIAvNYC, 28-PHIvMIA->PHIvORL, 30-DALvSJ->CHIvSJ)... Match Order (2,14,29 CCD): 1 | 3-5 | 7 | 8-9 | 10-11 | 6-12-13 | 17-16-15 | 19 | 20-18-22 | 21-23-24 | 25-26 | 30-31 | 27-28A | 32-33-34C | 35-36E-37D | 4B-38-39F...
Knockout Knocks (+In, -Elim, ^1st, *3rd) - +PHIA (15-W), +ORLA (15-PHI W)... +CLBE (22-W)... +PORF (25-W)... +SJ^1B (30-W), +SEAB (31-W)... -MIA4A (27-L), ORL^1A (28-D), PHI2A (28-D)... +TOR^1C (32-D & 34-DC L), +NE2C (32-D & 34-DC L), CLB^1E (33-W), -ATL4E (33-L), -DC4C (34-L), +RSLD (34-MTL W), +MIND (34-MTL W), +LFCF (34-MTL W)... +SKC^1D (35-W & 37-MIN D), -COL4D (35-SKC W), +CIN2E (36-W), -NY3E (36-L GD), +MTL*3C (36-NY L), MIN2D (37-D), RSL*3D (35-L & 37-MIN D)... +VAN*3B (4-W), -CHI4B (4-L), SEA2B (4-CHI L), +NYC*3A (38-HOU D), -HOU3F (38-D), -LA4F (38-D), POR^1F (39-D), LFC2F (39-D)...
Standings (17th-24th)
[ MLS is Back Tournament ] [ Regular Season ] # Gp Tm G W-L-D Pt GD GF-GA DP Pos G W-L-D Pt GD GF-GA -- -- --- - ----- -- -- ----- -- --- - ----- -- -- ----- 1E CLB 3 3-0-0 9 7 7-0 64 | 1E 5 4-0-1 13 8 9-1 1B SJ 3 2-0-1 7 3 6-3 53 | 6W 5 2-1-2 8 0 10-10 1A ORL 3 2-0-1 7 3 6-3 66 | 3E 5 2-1-2 8 2 7-5 1F POR 3 2-0-1 7 2 6-4 78 | 3W 5 3-1-1 10 1 8-7 2A PHI 3 2-0-1 7 2 4-2 58 | 4E 5 2-1-2 8 0 7-7 1D SKC 3 2-1-0 6 2 6-4 68 | 1W 5 4-1-0 12 8 13-5 2E CIN 3 2-1-0 6 -1 3-4 65 | 8E 5 2-3-0 6 -3 6-9 2F LFC 3 1-0-2 5 4 11-7 47 | 4W 5 2-0-3 9 5 15-10 1C TOR 3 1-0-2 5 1 6-5 36 | 2E 5 2-0-3 9 5 7-2 2D MIN 3 1-0-2 5 1 4-3 66 | 2W 5 3-0-2 11 6 12-6 2C NE 3 1-0-2 5 1 2-1 37 | 9E 5 1-1-3 6 0 4-4 2B SEA 3 1-1-1 4 2 4-2 49 | 5W 5 2-1-2 8 3 7-4 3D RSL 3 1-1-1 4 0 2-2 68 | 9W 5 1-1-3 6 0 3-3 3C MTL 3 1-2-0 3 -1 4-5 52 | 5E 5 2-2-1 7 0 8-8 3B VAN 3 1-2-0 3 -2 5-7 37 | 8W 5 2-3-0 6 -3 7-10 3A NYC 3 1-2-0 3 -2 2-4 63 | 12E 5 1-4-0 3 -4 2-6 ----------- 17 4B CHI 3 1-2-0 3 -3 2-5 71 | 11E 5 1-3-1 4 -4 4-8 18 3E NY 3 1-2-0 3 -3 1-4 55 | 6E 5 2-2-1 7 -2 5-7 19 3F HOU 3 0-1-2 2 -1 5-6 52 | 11W 5 0-2-3 3 -5 6-11 20 4C DC 3 0-1-2 2 -1 3-4 54 | 10E 5 1-2-2 5 -1 6-7 21 4D COL 3 0-2-1 1 -3 4-7 56 | 7W 5 2-2-1 7 -1 8-9 22 4F LA 3 0-2-1 1 -5 4-9 55 | 12W 5 0-3-2 2 -6 5-11 23 4A MIA 3 0-3-0 0 -3 2-5 75 | 14E 5 0-5-0 0 -5 3-8 24 4E ATL 3 0-3-0 0 -3 0-3 78 | 7E 5 2-3-0 6 -1 4-5 -- DAL | 10W 2 1-0-1 4 -2 4-2 -- NSH | 13E 2 0-2-0 0 -2 1-3 (Moved to East before Tourney) Note: DP are match-based; subsequent supplemental discipline or removals of cards not included
Bits 'n Bobs - NYC and MIA each committed 21 fouls (42 for the match)... MIA sets record for expansion teams by losing their first 5 matches... ORL carries out tradition of host excelling in their group despite not being that good (exception: South Africa in WC2010)... TORvNE was the 3rd scoreless draw (the NWSL Challenge Cup saw 3 scoreless draws in the Quarterfinals).. there were 43 fouls in ATLvCLB match (23 CLB, 20 ATL)... ATL lost all 3 matches 1-0 and is only team with no goals... ATL was picked to win 39 (at least 12 per match) of 45 times (SEA 25 of 30, TOR 37 of 45, LAFC 33 of 45)... CLB leads Eastern Conf with 13 points... MTL's win meant two completed groups had 3rd place teams with just 3 points (NYC in Group A), thus, all teams with 4 points qualified for Round of 16 (RSL, MIN, and LAFC) leaving just 5 spots up for grabs... CIN just 2 shots on goal but 2 goals (one on own goal)... RBNY's loss by two meant they were eliminated with 3 points with -3 GD and sent 3C-MTL (-1) into R16... With 3 teams in from Group D, COL could have 3 pts and best GD but can't qualify since they will finish 4th... after CIN-RBNY, the past 9 matches saw just 14 goals (1.56 per match) and 9 teams shut out; in the previous 18 matches, 67 goals (3.72 per match) and just 8 teams shut out... MIN's tie means they finish 2nd in Group D but get 2 extra days rest than winner SKC... 3C-MTL claimed 3CDE and 3D-RSL claimed 3ACD; ABF and BEF are up for grabs... CHIvVAN was interrupted in 63' due to lightning, they resumed play 93 minutes later... VAN used a GK from MTL (just for this match) in odd play of great sportsmanship... LA is off to its worst-start ever (1 point in 5 matches)... LAFC has allowed the first goal in all 3 matches and is tied for 2nd most goals allowed (7)... Pool Summary: no one got to pick the 2 matches but 11 got PHI and 9 got ORL in the R16 (5 went 2-0 and 10 went 1-1); no one got TORvNE tie, 2 got CLB, 7 got MTL (Deutschland = Koenig (5th-T, 43) got 2, 6 got none) and 15 got TOR and 5 NE in R16 (5 got both) (overall: 4 got 7 pts, 6 got 3 pts); 8 got SKC, 2 CIN, and 4 MIN-COL tie (2 went 2-1, 3 0-3) while in R16 13 got SKC, 9 MIN, 11 RSL, 10 CLB, 3 CIN, 9 MTL (10 4 of 6, Super League 2 of 6) (overall: BigRedMessy (12th, 40) got 14 pts, Super League 7); no one got to pick CHIvVAN but Bobby Cee Racer got LA-HOU tie and two got LAFC-POR tie (3 1-1, 12 0-2) while 15 got NYC, 3 SJ, 14 SEA, 13 VAN, 9 POR, and 15 LAFC in the R16 (9 got 5 of 6, 6 got 4 of 6) (overall: Carseroni (9th, 42), Deutschland = Koenig, and Bobby Cee Racer got 16 of 20 pts, six got 12); Bobby Cee Racer got 13 of 16 R16 teams while 12 got 11, Super League got just 9... they finally updated the tweaks to the knockout stages -- we knew about the date changes (1Bv3ACD and 1Cv3ABF swapping dates) but the bracket has changed as well: 1Cv3ABF winner will now face 1Fv2E and 1Ev2D will now face 1Bv3ACD in Round of 16; 2A2C will now face 1E2Dv1B3ACD and 1A3CDEv2B2F will now face 1C3ADFv1F2E in Quarters... Tiebreakers are most points, best goal differential, most goals for, and fewest disciplinary points... Disciplinary Points are calculated as accumulation of each: foul (1), yellow card (3), 2nd yellow card/straight red cad/coach dismissal (7), and any supplemental discipline (8) -- however there is no official published tally for the public...
At one point LA had 28 crosses (0 goals) to HOU's 6 (1 goal) - LA does know Zlatan is not on the team, right?...
Scott
HWCI circa 1990
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