Deja Vu (8/15)

HOME, CA - I know it was past 2:30 am and I have been traveling with little sleep and just got back to the West Coast, but didn't I see this before?  Once again, 2C-Spain scored in the 81' like they did against the Netherlands.  Once again, ESP relaxed and allowed their opponent to tie it very late as 1G-Sweden took 7:01 to strike back in the 88', like NED tied it in the 90'+1.  And once again, ESP scored the game-winner, this time just 90 seconds later in the 89' instead of in Extra Time.  The 2-1 win put ESP in their first Final and SWE is now 1-4 in WWC semifinals.  Of all things, a corner kick led to the game-winning goal and this time it was from ESP, not SWE.

For a team where 12 players sat out of the WWC to protest the coach, ESP's 1.5 team is pretty good.  SWE, who had goal line technology and the crossbar on their side this tournament (GLT for game-winning PSO goal vUSA, GLT for no goal off JPN's PK off the crossbar), could not escape this time as the ball off the crossbar bounced easily inside the goal.

7 had ESP making the final while two lost SWE as their champion, leaving 8 entries alive and just 3 who can win the pool.  Although 3 entries can win, it's actually between two people.  Rob C (CarinJennings-IsGOAT (2nd, 117 pts) wins the pool if 1B-Australia wins their semifinal and Tom J (Kds911-2 (1st, 122) or Kds911-3 (6th, 109)) wins if 1D-England wins their semifinal.  Only Kds911-2 has clinched at least a tie for 4th place so 7 entries are vying for the final 3 spots.  Lavelle Lover is 3rd (113) but can't win the pool while Kds911-3 can win it.  Kds911 is 4th but is eliminated while Tiocfaidh Ár Lá!!! is 12th but finish 4th.

And Messi scored again - he's scored in six straight matches.