Chelsea vs PSG (Live)

 Tie breaker goals: 6

If CHELSEA FC beats PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN in Final…

1st Mauihammy 116   

2nd Mancitymania 112   

3rd Bobby Cee Racer 104   

If PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN beats CHELSEA FC in Final…

1st Mauihammy 130   

2nd-Tied Luis Enrique's Armada 117 Tie: 8.0 Wins 2nd if <=8, 3rd >=9

2nd-Tied BigRedMessi 117 Tie: 9.5 Wins 3rd if <=8, 2nd >=9

22' All Chelsea and finally have a goal to show from it. This keeps top 3 the same. Total goals now 7 but tiebreaker only applies if PSG wins so minimum goals in this scenario is 8 (if PSG ties and wins in PSO).

PSG 436 minutes scoreless streak snapped.

26' Everyday sight, a cooling break.

30' Another sliding shot into left corner for Cole Palmer, Chelsea leads 2-0 (Total tiebreaker goals is 8). If PSG rallies to win, BigRedMessi would win tiebreaker for 2nd place. 

43' Palmer can't score them all and gives a perfect pass for a Joao Pedro goal to go up 3-0 (tiebreaker 9) before halftime. 

1:00 pm Six minutes of stoppage saw PSG look a little more dangerous.

1:05 So they couldn't sell enough tickets that they put the stage in the upper deck stands? The production looks fake and AI generated sometimes.

1:24 Long halftime but no changes for either team... PSG's starters will have to redeem themselves.

55' Ref allowing them to play, who will take advantage?

70' Cooling break, time running out for PSG.

85' Choppy ply results in PSG player pulling hair off Chelsea player for VAR red card.

90' 5 minutes stoppage.

2:14 pm Chelsea coastal to 3-0 win.  final standings stay the same since no one picked Chelsea to win it all. For some reason, Chelsea staying and picking fights and PSG not backing down. PSG manager instigating as well. You won, just walk away. No jersey swapping 😁

Congrats to winners of pool.

1st Mauihammy 116   

2nd Mancitymania 112   

3rd Bobby Cee Racer 104   

Live! Spain v England (8/20)

(refresh for latest)

WAITING FOR TROPICAL STORM, CA - A new country will hold the WWC title and either one will also be able to brag that they have won a Men's and Women's World Cup (Germany the only country to do so).  2C-Spain didn't win their group but learned from their 4-0 dubbing by Japan and found late goals to make their first final (and first-ever knockout wins).  1D-England struggled to score but continued to win to reach their 3rd straight semifinal and first final.

Tom J has won our 3rd HWCI Women's World Cup pool but which entry will it be?  Kds911-2 will win if ESP wins and will bring Brian B's 3rd entry The Naomi Girma Era, Rob C's CarinJennins-IsGOAT, and Tony N's Lavelle Lover into 2nd/3rd/4th place positions.  Kds911-3 will win if ENG wins, pushing Kds911-2 to 2nd place (a Tom J double!), Paul T's 3rd entry Jolly Old England, and Mark H's Tiocfaidh Ár Lá!!! to 2nd/3rd/4th.  Tiebreakers don't play a part for the top 4 money spots but it currently stands at 2 goals.

3:23 am:  Got a couple hours sleep and now watching on my iPad to slowly wake up.  0-0.

24': Ah, "the fan runs on the field" play.  Yellow security guards hopefully tackling hard.  No Laruen James for ENG (3 goals, 1 foot on back of player) to start, coming back after 2-match suspension.

25': So ENG hit the crossbar earlier.  And ENG is wearing a light baby blue jersey which is ironic, since I was wearing my baby blue 2012 ESP away jersey while my kids and I helped my Mom put up tarps on her old house.

29 (28:33)': ESP scores!  1-0.  A turnover leads to a switchback and a great one-time finish by Olga (Carmona)!  Brian/Rob/Tony jumping for joy.  BTW, five picked ESP and 5 ENG to win today.

45'+1: 1 minute added and and ESP hits the right post, which could have been a morale breaker for ENG.

Half:  ESP has a 53/33% possession (63% if adding to 100%) and 6-3 lead on shots.  Each has 2 of them on goal (posts and crossbars don't count).

55': First yellow for ESP which looked worse but was not much of a foul.

62': ESP's wind-up shot is just high.  ENG did bring James in at halftime (1 of 2 subs).

64': Scramble and ESP shot deflects wide.  Calls for handball and ref will check (65:20).  And after a long look at the fingertips, ESP will get a PK (67:25)!

69:03: ESP PK by J. Hermoso... saved!  No rebound, just gobbled up.  Why almost 90 seconds to take a PK?  Gamesmanship as Hermoso placed the ball forward of the spot and ref makes her move it back, but just inches further. 

78': Blood!  Yellow for ESP.  Knee to head coming together.  Interesting long delay, since there was a yellow, player does not have to come off the field (but will change off field anyway).  Thanks, Fox TV for the interesting tidbit!  Back playing in 82'.

87': It's the 87th minute but doesn't feel like it with all the injuries, VAR, and subs.  No panic or urgency yet.  Crowd also very quiet.

90':  13 min of stoppage (29% of the normal 45)!!!  1 more than the 12 given at end of Netherlands-Spain Round of 16.

90'+2: Great ESP possession for a couple minutes leads to a kick save.  No urgency by ENG yet, but 11 more min of stoppage still to go.

90'+7:  Still 7 min to go.  Very odd atmosphere, very quiet crowd.  But Brian/Rob/Tony don't care if it stays this way.

90'+10:  In stoppage, time, ESP leads on shots 4-0 as ENG can't get possession.

104:18: ENG finally makes it into the box and gets a corner but the CK is smothered by the GK. Whistle blows!  ESP wins first WWC and adds hardware to their U17 (2018 & 2022) and U20 titles (2022).  And without some of their best players in protest.  Young team will only get better.  Congrats to Tom J, Brian B, Rob C, and Tony N for winning money!  Paul T and Mark H will wonder where was ENG all second half?  Did they know they were down 1-0?

ARG vs FRA - Live!

PSG Rumble on FOX!

HOME - If I can wake up early, will try to capture thoughts as they happen - Will Messi get his first WC trophy in his swan song or will Mbappé get his 2nd trophy before he turns 24?

12:19 am PST - 3 goals were scored in the 3rd place match and this Final could add to that total which is our total goals tiebreaker.  Remember, penalty shootout (PSO) goals do not count if it is tied after 120 minutes.  Fernando B (Soccerbix) gets to relax after already clinching 1st place by building more than a 14-point (value for picking correct champion) lead over those who picked FRA.

Right now, if ARG wins, KevLo takes 2nd over SoccerWife (she needs 4+ goals in Final to switch this) and Unlucky and Merman take 4th and 5th with AC in Doha out of the money in 6th.  AC in Doha needs 5 goals scored in final to get 5th (knocking Unlucky out) and 6+ goals to finish 4th.

If FRA wins, currently 2 Goals 1 World Cup, Redhat Dave, and Kona Coast Uno will finish 2nd/3rd/4th.  If 3 goals are scored in final, then Redhat Dave and Kona Coast Duo finish tied for 2nd.  If 4+ goals are scored, Kona Coast Uno takes 2nd, Redhat Dave 3rd, and 2 Goals 1 World Cup 4th.  KevLo would take 5th over SoccerWife (but if 4+ goals are scored, it reverses).

For Bonus, if ARG and FRA are scoreless and go to PSO, then if ARG wins PSO, Union FC and Cisco split the Bonus.  If FRA wins PSO after scoreless tie, then MezLove wins Bonus.  But every goal scored in final will change who is in pole position.

5' - Woke up in time to see ARG get a long strike that was saved.  ARG being aggressive which is good to see.

USA v NED - Live!

HOME -- Woke up just after 7 after a long night, put on my 2002 USA Home jersey, the same one where USA won their R16 (vMEX), freshened up, put on a cup of coffee... and...

• 18' - Turned on TV - Boo!  NED 1-0.  Not stressed though like IRN match.
• [Start: No Sargent available.  No Reyna sighting but on bench.  Ferreira (MLS)?  2' - Save! USA needs a goal early.  Wide open.  10' - NED goal 1-0]
• 35' - NED playing great defense allowing USA possession but no passing lanes.  Interestingly, when USA GK has the ball, lots of orange jerseys in the area clogging outlet pass.
• 43' - "Zimmerman (MLS) mishits that ball" - yeah, I'm drunk already from his play.
• 45'+1 - With just +1', NED scores off another wide-open cross from the right in the box.  Duplicate of first goal.  NED 2-0.
• 46:40 - End half.
• 8:02 am - Start half.  I do hope Reyna is healthy as he enters match replacing MLS player (Ferreira).  Still not nervous though probably would be if at a Watch Party (e.g., Tom's Watch Bar)
• 49' - Ream can't get enough right at goal line.  USA still struggling to finish.
• 50' - NED another cross from right, closer to goal and nearly an own goal ("save" by Turner).  Whew.
• 53' - Why can't USA players hit it first time?  McKinnie on cross settles first then skies shot.  Both NED's goals were first-time clinical finishes.
• 8:11 am - Hmmm... my FOX stream on TV seems to be a full minute behind (FIFA+ app).  Going to restart stream.  Still behind.  Oh, well, eyes on TV.
• 60' - First yellow, this to NED.  Another USA free kick (Pulisic) and another to a NED defender.
• 64' - Robinson on the ground injured.  Time ticking away.  Wright (can he redeem himself?) and Aaronson ready to come in.  Players tired but winner of this match will get 5 full days of rest (opponent ARGvAUS will only get 3 full days of rest).  Put it all on the line!
• 69' - Aaronson run right off the ball then commits foul.  Child's play.
• 71' Turner double-save.  Time running out.
• 75' - Misplay by NED, but it's to Wright, who predictably instead of hitting it first time, has a touch too long, and barely gets a slow ball on goal, easily cleared off.
• 76'- Wright??  The pass is just behind him and he mishits but bounces high and into the net.  NED 2, USA 1.  I'll take it.  
• 78' - NED passes are getting sloppy, NED GK comes out to prevent another one-on-one attempt.  This GK only started for NED in the WC?  Crazy.
• 80' - USA corner, first of 2nd half.  Can they do well like their CKs against MEX in Gold Cup?  Higher this time but GK catch.
• 81' - Wide open header, NED 3-1.  Wide open.  All 3 goals NED players had free shot on goal.  All one-touch finishes.
• 86' - Weak bicycle by Zimmerman goes wide left.
• 87' - NED yellow to stop a counter.  Smart.
• 90' - Just six minutes of stoppage.  Where is our +10? :-)
• 90'+2 - Moore (MLS) on... too late? 
• 90'+3 - NED subs (will take a while).  USA players waiting for runners, got to pass faster.
• 90'+4 - Aaronson dribbling unnecessarily.  Is this a skills competition?  As George Lucas would say "faster, more intense".
• 96:08 - Game over!  Good effort but USA could not allow a goal early and couldn't allow a goal before halftime and failed at both.  Just momentum killers, especially for this young team.  It really came down to finishing as NED were clinical on crosses and USA could not convert some open looks.  Reyna had time to adjust this time and did nothing.  Maybe stop letting the fans pick your lineup.   GK Turner had no chance on any of the 3 NED goals.  Both teams missed 2018 and NED will give their hesitant fans back home hope and USA will take this memory into hosting in 2026.
• 9:00 am - Nice to see USA go toe-to-toe with soccer powers ENG and NED.  It used to be absorb and get lucky on a counter.  But whereas IRN missed their shot opportunities, NED finished with precision.  Until NED started getting sloppy before stoppage time, their defense was solid, as USA had too much dribbling and not many one-touch passing.  

Thank you USA!

Live! USA vs NED (7/7)

1F-United States (6-0-0) "The Stars and Stripes" vs
1E-Netherlands (6-0-0) "Orajeleeuwinnen"

Start: USA is going for their 4th WWC title and are heavy favorites (as high as 5 to 1) and hold the CONCACAF Women's Championship '18 as well.  NED is in the Final in just their 2nd year in the WWC and hold the UEFA EURO Women's Championship '17.  Both go for the Double.  USA has scored in the first 12 minutes in all 6 matches while NED has scored 6 goals (including 4 game-winners) in the 75' or later.  Alex Morgan leads the Golden Boot with 6 goals (3 assists) with Megan Rapinoe behind at 5 goals (3 assists).  USA has 24 goals (record is 25 by '91 USA and '03 GER).  USA has won a record 11 straight WWC matches while NED has won 9 straight overall (6 this WWC) and 12 straight tourney matches ('17 EURO, '19 WWC).  While UEFA dominance and getting 7 of 8 QF teams in, NED is the first UEFA team in the final since '07 (GER).  USA 6-1-0 vs NED ('91).

Current total goals tiebreaker is 3 (SWE 2, ENG 1).  If NED pulls off the biggest upset in WWC history, then UncleChimps needs the total goals in this match to be 3 goals or less while Tom J wants 4 or more (for battle for 3rd/4th).  The goals count only in regulation or Extra Time, not the Penalty Shootout.  From the Pubs! wins the pool if USA wins and THE GAMBLER 1 wins the pool if NED wins.  UncleChimps, Futbol Fabone Dix and Pazzo Americano win 2nd/3rd/4th if USA wins and From the Pubs! gets 2nd if NED wins.

1':  Funny that the start the match with PA doing a countdown for the fans.  USA Rapinoe starts so it's the deadly combo of Heath-Morgan-Rapinoe.

10':  Early yellow for NED who's been a little sloppy.

13': NED survives the first 13 minutes, first time USA has not scored this early.  NED also playing with one less day's rest and played 30 extra minutes in the SF.  No shots for either side yet.

17':  Neat CK play by USA but results in no shot.  Temps in the high 80s.  USA has had several drives into the box but the crosses haven't connected.  The NED forward line has not had the explosive spark expected though they have scored six goals.  NED has just scored twice in the first half.

Live! ENG vs SWE (7/6)

1D-ENGLAND "The Lionesses" 5-1-0 vs
2F-SWEDEN "Blågult" 4-2-0 

Start: ENG has scored in the first 20 minutes 5 of 6 matches. ENG is going for 2nd Third Place finish ('15) and SWE is going for their 3rd ('91, '11).  SWE is 14-3-8 vs ENG (1st matchup in WWC).  For the pool tiebreaker, if NED wins the final, then UncleChimps needs the total goals in this match and the Final match to be 6 goals or less while Tom J wants 7 or more (for battle for 3rd/4th).  The goals count only in regulation or Extra Time, not the Penalty Shootout.  Ellen White (ENG) has scored in 5 straight matches.

11':  All SWE thus far and a poor ENG clearance is pounced upon by Aslanni, who came off the field in the last match in a scary potential neck injury.  So she starts and scores!  SWE 1:0.  ENG has allowed a goal in the first 12 minutes two games in a row.

22':  A great curling strike in the box by Jakobsson and now SWE leads 2:0.  But two SWE players are injured so ENG playing up for now.   Tom J is happy as goals are pouring in.

45':  An unusually high 5' of stoppage due to VAR and SWE injuries.  Now an ENG player is down.  SWE 2:1.

33':  Back to back ENG goals but no, the second won't count as VAR shows an unintentional handball calls yet another White goal back (she'd have 8 if not for VAR) and is back stuck on 6 goals.  But Kriby's goal in 31' was a great effort.  ENG 1:2.  Total time 51:00.

75':  Game has slowed down, SWE out of subs.  Retiring Karen Carney enters the match for ENG.  SWE 2:1.

88':  If White is kept off the board, then USA's Alex Morgan would retain the Golden Boot (more assists).  White's 6 goals is impressive considering she didn't take any of ENG's 4 PKs.

89':  Goal mouth block by SWE's Fischer head!  SWE 2:1.  4 min stoppage.

Finish:  94:23.  SWE wins their 3rd Bronze medal (tying USA)!  Total goals for tiebreaker is 3.  So if NED wins tomorrow, Tom J is going to need at least 4 goals scored between USA and NED.  FOX calling ENG a failure which is funny.  SWE didn't have many opportunities but made the most of them with 8 of their 9 shots on goal.