Crazy Endings (7/23)

AT WORK FOR ONE 15-MINUTE MEETING, CA -- An electrifying, pun intended, match as lightning paused the Chicago Fire FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC match for more than 90 minutes in the 63' while scoreless.  When play resumed, VAN came out strong and scored twice in the next 8 minutes to not only prevent a potential crazy tiebreaker between NYC and CHI going to disciplinary points but the 2-0 win was enough to get into the Knockout Round, eliminating CHI and putting NYC's hopes on hold.  Both teams did a complete 180 with CHI starting with a convincing victory over the defending champ Seattle Sounders FC and VAN blowing a 3-1 lead to lose to the San Jose Earthquakes.

CHI pulled within one on a scramble but VAR reversed the goal and called the handball which was harsh.  But apparently, in trying to make it more black and white, any handball leading to a goal is called back.  The one reversal helped send CHI home in dramatic fashion.

But not as dramatic (and not talking about the ref injury and substitution in the 20') as the Houston Dynamo-LA Galaxy match where HOU took the early lead and watched LA blow opportunity after opportunity.  As time wore on, it was obvious LA was not going to score much less get the 3-goal win they needed.  But eventually, luck runs out, and HOU was called for a soft foul in the box (similar to how LAFC got a PK in their El Trafico match, so I guess this was payback?) in the 90' and Cristian Pavon converted sending HOU home with the 1-1 draw.  HOU needed a win and New York City FC needed HOU to draw or lose and that stoppage time penalty sent NYC into the Round of 16 as the 16th and final team.

LA does know that Zlatan does not play for them anymore, right?  At one point LA had 28 crosses to HOU's 6 (ended 34-12).  So LA is unlucky, untimely, and just poor.  HOU's goal where LA GK just stood there on the free kick was embarrassing.  LA blew a late 3-on-1 breakaway which would have given LA a boost in the regular season standings but the perfect Pavon open cross went to no one because LA stopped running.  It's a roller coaster watching this team.

In the first match, LA missed a PK that would've opened scoring and dictated the match.  LA had two goals called offsides by a foot or so in losing to POR 2-1.  In their second match, the soft PK call enabled LAFC to tie it at 1.  LA thought it took a 3-2 lead but Pavon was just offsides.  LAFC soon scored and then added 3 more.  LA had four goals but two were PKs and one was an own goal.  Sigh.  But I still love LA.

Speaking of  Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Football Club continued to score without Carlos Vela.  Two more goals gave them a tourney-high 11, including Bradley Wright-Phillips scoring in his third straight match (taking out camera on wicked strike) with LAFC, but the Portland Timbers pulled the equalizer in the 81' to win Group F with a 2-2 draw.   Unlike Group D, where the loser (runner-up) got two extra days rest, in Group F it was worth playing to win the group to get 2nd-year FC Cincinnati rather than the defending champ Seattle Sounders FC.  So with the draw, LAFC finishes 2nd and will try to get revenge from their playoff loss last year to SEA in the Round of 16.

So to recap:  VAN scores the two needed 2nd half goals after a 90-minute weather delay to edge out CHI for 3rd, LA scores a PK in stoppage to eliminate HOU, and POR scores in the 81' to get the draw that wins Group F.  Whew.

In the pool, Bobby Cee Racer extends his lead to six points with an even 50 so far.  Three are tied for 2nd (44) and four are tie for 5th (43).  Bobby Cee Racer was the only one to pick the LA-HOU tie and Carseroni (9th, 42) and Deutschland = Koenig (5th-T) were the only two to pick the LAFC-POR tie.  No one got to pick the rescheduled CHIvVAN match.

Six teams were awarded points today and all 15 got NYC, 3 got SJ, 14 got SEA, 13 got VAN, 9 got POR, and all 15 got LAFC into the Round of 16.  9 entries got 5 of the 6 while the other six got 4 of out of 6.  Overall, Bobby Cee Racer, Carseroni, and Duetschland = Koeing got 16 (out of a possible 20) points today and six got just 12.

As for the Round of 16, Bobby Cee Racer got 13 of the 16 while twelve got 11.  Super League (15th, 35) got just nine.  Everyone had RBNY and ATL but both failed to qualify.  14 had CHI who failed to qualify.  There were six teams picked to win the tournament and four are eliminated (ATL (5), LA (3), HOU (1), and COL (1)).

Early Lightning Strike (7/11)

107°F BUT DRY, CA -- A rain and lightning delay postponed kickoff 45 minutes which seemed to energize both pool favorite Atlanta United FC and the New York Red Bulls with NY getting on the board in the 4' and several great chances for both teams in the first half.  The second half seemed to tire both teams but ATL had a few good chances with the last a leaping 90'+8' save by David Jensen to help NY preserve the 1-0 win.   This was the first time in 5 matches a team scored in the first half and it was the first time in 28 matches that ATL failed to score (regular season plus playoffs).  

The second match was delayed 30 minutes meaning an 11 pm EDT start (11:25 pm kickoff) and it didn't end until 1:22 am which wasn't soon enough for FC Cincinnati.  Columbus Crew SC scored twice in both halves in a 4-0 rout of CIN.  A lot of firsts for the tourney:  first team with a multi-goal lead, first team to score more than twice, first player to score more than once (Gyasi Zardes), and first official VAR review (on Zardes' second goal if he was offsides).  It was not a good night for new CIN coach Jaap Stam (hired on May 21 during the shutdown) and CIN's next opponent is ATL.

So FOX is piping in fake noise?  Yuck.  But you can listen to the natural noise on the FOX Sports app (not to be confused with the FOX Sports Go app -- ok, it's confusing).  I mean USA head coach Gregg Berhalter couldn't have made ALL that noise when his son Sebastian debuted for CLB in the 77'.

No one believed in RBNY but 12 did get CLB right.  The same 3 are on top (Kona Coast Fauci's, Kona Coast Sliders, and Super League) with 3 pts while Deutschland = Koenig is last with zero points.

Issue 2.1.1 "Are We Stable Now?"

Archive

Friday, July 10, 2020

     AFTER ALL THE HOOPLA, MLS REVERTS TO TRADIATIONAL 24 TEAM TOURNEY
In 1st MLS pool, 5 entries from 12 people try their hand in our first Major League Soccer Pool

SAFER-AT-HOME DRIVE-IN: "PINOCCHIO", CA (smt) -- A lot of rust as the first four matches featured scoreless first halves including two 1-0 matches and one nil-nil match.  Orlando City FC, de facto host of the tourney, rallied to beat fellow Floridian Inter Miami CF 2-1 thanks to Nani's goal and assist.  The Philadelphia Union outlasted New York City FC 1-0 while the New England Revolution upset Impact de Montreal 1-0.  Big underdog San Jose Earthquakes held defending MLS champ Seattle Sounders FC to a scoreless draw.

The NYCvPHI was the first 9 am EDT match and it still felt like 99 deg F.  Just miserable with high humidity 24 hours a day.  Within minutes of the opening whistle, players and the ref were drenched with sweat.  The matches at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex take place on 3 natural surface fields as there could be as many as 3 matches a day (first time is July 12). 

Part of this experiment is a completely uneven broadcast with fake ads on the far sideline and behind the goals and a horrendous Adidas logo at midfield (that thankfully shrunk from the first match).  Not having fake crowd noise is a plus IMHO and it reminds me of the early matches of doubleheaders of less attended events like U-23 Gold Cup or something.  You can hear the players which is cool and the cheering became loud after Nani's stoppage time game-winner.  Seems more and more people are in the crowd.  Hearing instructions from coaches and players being yelled into the field is some neat behind-the-scenes action.  The opening match 8:46 tribute was powerful in its ambient noise of machinery chugging away in the background.

Back to Familiar Groups (7/9)

MY WIFE'S OFFICE -- While Group A still had 6 teams, Philadelphia Union picked up a crucial three points in a 1-0 win over New York City Football Club.  NYC pressured hard at the end but couldn't come up with the equalizer as PHI's Andre Blake made 7 saves.  Despite a 9 am EDT start, temps still felt like 99 deg F.  Yesterday, with an 8 pm ED start, within minutes, players were drenched in sweat.  Bet they wish they were in Utah with the NWSL.

Now that Group A has 4 teams (as expected, Nashville Soccer Club withdrew as they had 9 confirmed COVID-19 positive tests which resulted in a reshuffling, with Chicago Fire Football Club moving to Group B, giving it 4 teams once again).  So there are 24 teams in six groups, just like last year's Women's World Cup.  And like the WWC, the top 2 in each group and four best 3rd place teams will make the Round of 16.  We'll see if the bubble holds and no more teams withdraw.  CHI will now face SEA (7/14), SJ (7/19), and VAN (7/23) while PHI will now face MIA (7/14) and ORL (7/20) and NYC will now face ORL (7/14) and MIA (7/20).  SEAvVAN moved from 7/20 to 7/19.

While waiting for the evening match, I emailed all the participants and most can keep their Round of 16 bracket intact as it does not matter if you have a team in the right position or not, just that they made the Round of 16.  Thus, it doesn't matter if you placed CHI as 1st A, 2nd A, 3rd A, 4th A, 1st B, 2nd B, or 3rd B, you still get 3 points.  Only four of 13 entries HAD to change as they either had 7 Group A and Group B teams (max is 6) or had NSH in the Round of 16 (just one entry).  But everyone still has a chance to tweak their bracket (in case they care about match-ups and want to tweak who advances to the quarterfinals, etc) until the fourth match, 6 pm PDT Friday.

Also, 9 group matches will not count (games involving DAL, CHI, and NSH) and there is no need to pick the new games (unless you want to brag!).  So there will be 30 points possible in the group stage.

The evening match saw Gustavo Bou's blast into the upper net give the New England Revolution a 1-0 win over Impact de Montreal to start off Group C play.  A third straight scoreless first half and a third straight match with the horrible Adidas logo.  

Only 2 got PHI correct and only 3 got MTL.  No one is a perfect 3-0 with Kona Coast Fauci's, Kona Coast Sliders, and Super League on top with 2 points.  Three are 0-3.

Issue 8.2.3 "The Heat is On" (After QF)

Archive

Saturday, June 29, 2019

HEATWAVE ACROSS EUROPE AS USA MAKES 8TH SEMIFINAL
Tom J and UncleChimps are first and among 8 still alive in pool

HOME, CA (smt) [DAY 21] -- Temperatures reached 90 F across France for the quarterfinals but only the Saturday matches saw the utilization of water breaks in the 30' and 75' as those matches were played earlier in the day.  The "real final" saw host 1A-France and 1F-USA battle in sold-out Paris with temps in the high 80s despite being played at night.  No water breaks were needed and USA once again scored in the first 13 minutes netting a direct free kick that went though lots of players without being touched into the back of the net in the 5'.  USA's Megan Rapinoe added another, the first woman to score 2 or more goals in back-to-back matches as USA held off FRA, 2-1 for their 10th straight WWC win.  After the first goal, USA relented and let FRA have possession but they couldn't do anything with it and of their 20 shots, just five were on goal.  Meanwhile, 1D-England scored for the fourth time in the first 15 minutes and beat 2A-Norway 3-0 to meet the USA in the semifinal. 

Shocker in Rennes (6/29)

It was a little shocking to see 1C-Italy and 1E-Netherlands so blatantly arguing in the faces of the referee.  It was pretty disrespectful and I wonder if it was a male ref, if they would do that.  There were 29 fouls (16 by NED) and four cards (all ITA).  NED got a couple of headers in the second half to be beat ITA 2-0 to advance to their first semifinal.  This match also featured the first cooling breaks in the 30' and 75' as the heatwave continues across France.

1B-Germany, with more days rest than 2F-Sweden, struggled all day and already made two subs as the second half started.  GER scored early on a great volley but soon and for the first time in 22 WWC matches  (coincidentally also against SWE in '03 Final), GER allowed a goal in the first half.  The 1-1 tie was broken early in the second half off a great save but the rebound was easily put in giving the Swedes the lead.  After not allowing a goal in 394 minutes, GER now has allowed two in one match.  SWE held on to win 2-1, snapping a streak of 29 straight matches where the team that scored first had won (not including NOR-AUS that went to PSO).  The # 2 team is now out and SWE makes their first semifinal since 2011 and wins their first major tournament match against GER since 1995.

Issue 3.1.2 "Baker's Dozen" (After 1st Matches)

Archive

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

     USA QUIETS DOUBTERS, NOW THE NEW VILLAIN?
Three tied with 11 points as 11 of 12 matches produce a winner

HOME, CA (smt) -- If there was a doubt how ready the F1-USA team would be, they squashed it in record fashion, demolishing F2-Thailand, 13-0, thanks to Alex Morgan's record-tying five goals and three assists.  USA scored 10 goals in the second half on a pair of four-goal stretches in six and eight minutes that ruffled casual fans of the game but don't understand goal differential is the first tiebreaker and F4-Sweden, who beat F3-Chile 2-0, has yet to play THA.  Soccer fans, however, are upset that the USA continued to excitedly celebrate as the match wore on, with the most egregious being Megan Rapinoe's slide and kick celebration after the USA's NINTH goal.   Megan, you had me until that slide.  The U.S. may have turned neutral observers into detractors but if they keep the winning going, holding up the trophy will be its just rewards. 

Favorites struggled with the aforementioned SWE not scoring until the 83' (#39 CHI), E4-Netherlands needing stoppage time to find their goal (#19 E3-NZL), B1-Germany and E1-Canada each scoring just once in their win (#16 B2-CHN and #46 E2-CMR), C1-Australia getting upset in stoppage time (#15 C2-Italy), B3-Spain coming from behind to late to win (#49 B4-RSA) and D4-Japan being held to a scoreless draw (#37 D3-ARG). 

When it Rains... (6/11)

After the first two games today, the past four matches saw three 0-0 halftime scores and one that was 0-0 until the 45'.  Well, the third match produced a few goals... more later...  It rained in Rennes that actually stopped the match and it rained goals in Reims that divided the fandom.

First, E3-New Zealand looked like it was going to hold E4-Netherlands to a 0-0 draw but a stoppage time goal in the 90'+2 gave the Dutch a 2-0 win and the full three points and into a first place tie with E1-Canada.

After a sunny start, in the 72', it had been raining hard for about twenty minutes but

Rio not only place with bad weather

There may have been severe thunderstorms in Rio (prelude to match outcome?) but while watching the BRAvGER match on my Moto X, suddenly everyone's phone started to beep and buzz.  With GER up an incredible touchdown (7-0 for those futbol not football fans), there was a tornado warning where we were working in Liverpool, New York.  This is just the 2nd time I remember such a warning, as the first was when I was driving in San Antonio and heard it over the radio (initial thought:  awesome!  where is it?; secondary thought:  maybe I should get to my hotel quickly) about ten years ago.  Pretty cool (don't think any tornadoes actually touched down) since we were in a safe location but to think if it were a close match, I was going to watch the game at a local bar which wouldn't be as safe.  Thanks, Germany, for piling it on and keeping me safe!

UPDATE: At least four people died in the two converging storms over the Syracuse area.  Prayers to the families who lost loved ones.