Freeze Frame (8/5)

WATCHING INSANELY FUNNY "BUSTED" ON NETFLIX, CA -- After a rocky start with two teams dropping out due to positive COVID-19 cases and another match postponed with inconclusive results, the MLS is Back tournament has been lucky as there have been no more positive cases in four weeks and the MLS avoided the potential bad weather from Hurricane Isaias as their quarterfinals ended before it hit Florida and these semifinals are occurring after Isaias veered off the east coast and landed north of Florida.

The result was picture perfect sunset as the first semifinal kicked off.  Once again, 1F-Portland Timbers were playing with two days less rest than their opponent but were a slight favorite (+140 vs +180) and held a 6-1-3 record against 2A-Philadelphia Union.

Here is how the pool results shaped up as the match progressed.  TR = TarjetaRoja (2nd, 69 pts), T6FB = The Six Foot Box (3rd, 65 pts), D=K = Duetschland = Koenig (6th, 57 pts).  D=K needs PHI to win and then ORL to beat MIN tomorrow to force a tiebreaker with T6FB.

13': POR opens scoring, the first time PHI has trailed in the tourney (thanks to GK Andre Blake making 28 saves in the previous 5 matches).  D=K needs PHI to win which means at least 2 goals towards the tiebreaker for 3rd..

45'+1':  PK to PHI!  Well, more goals is okay for T6FB who would win the tiebreaker with D=K if PHI&ORL wins with 7 or more in the 2 semifinal and final matches.  First PK for PHI in the tourney and the 5th (!) PK POR has given up.

45'+2': PHI skies the PK over the crossbar.  None of the four semifinalists have made a regulation PK and are a combined 0-for-2 (ORL missed theirs).

70': POR capitalizes again on poor marking and go up 2-0.  If PHI is to win, the total goals would have be at least 4 now. D=K hoping for one of those PHI 3 goals in 15 minute spurts.

85':  PHI coming to alive and they finally score off a saved direct free kick.  3 goals and hope for D=K.

86':  Opportunistic, and PHI ties it... oh, offsides.  VAR looking at it.  Wow, I would say tie goes to the runner.  But because it was called offsides, no overwhelming evidence to overturn it.  Had it been called a goal, there would be no overwhelming evidence to overturn it.  Really, the refs have to let the 50/50s go to VAR.  That would have been 4 goals with PHI with a chance to win in PSO.  D=K can't believe it.  T6FB is looking at the easy way out (PHI loses) to secure at least 3rd place.

End:  A few more tries but PHI comes up short, losing 2-1.  D=K is eliminated and T6FB will finish either 2nd (bumping TR to 3rd) or 3rd, depending if his finalist pick of MIN wins tomorrow.  No one got POR keeping the standings the same.  POR has beaten the 3rd place team in Group A and now the 2nd place team.  Will they get a chance to knock of the 1st place team in Group A (ORL) in the Final?