Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Day -1 (6/18) Harsh call but save! + Admin Picks!

POACHED, DOWNEY, CA - The last day of the first group stage matches saw #8 G1-Manchester City and #22 G4-Juventus take care of business while in Group H, #143 H4-FC Salzburg (so sad FIFA doesn't allow named sponsors so they couldn't use FC Red Bull Salzburg) found itself topping the group as #67 H2-Al Hilal's GK Bono saved a PK in second-half stoppage time after a long VAR.  VAR deemed a foul just inside the upper corner of the box (so harsh it resulted in two yellows for dissent on HIL) but the save preserved a 1-1 draw with #7 H1-Real Madrid.  

With the first group matches done, just a few surprises (draws), a couple of long weather delays, and passionate fans and empty stadiums.  The quality of play has been good as these are "teams" and not we had two-weeks-to-practice national teams.  

Just 9 hours left to enter the pool and please use this link for the Web Entry.  We have just 9 entries so if you enter now, you have a pretty good chance to win (unlike Auckland City).

For the first time in 16 soccer pools, I have entered the max 3 times.  That just means losing $30.  Here are my picks:

ScottT (1)Sweet Futbol Fabone
ScottT (2)1 Billion Cash Grab


ScottT (3)Inter's Revenge

Poached is a really good breakfast place and it is one of the restaurants served by Resy, which is where I can redeem my $10 and $20 credit card credits every month.  I wore my 2022-23 Al Hilal home jersey and has the badges in a great blue pattern made by Mouj, who I have never heard before making jerseys.


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