Asian Shocker Redux! (11/23)

LA MIRADA, CA - For the third straight major tournament, E3-Germany loses their first group match, this time to #24 E4-Japan, 2-1.  GER lost to France in Euro 2020 and was upset 1-0 by Mexico in 2018 where they eventually missed the 2018 Knockout Stage after getting upset by another Asian team, Korea Republic, in their 3rd match.  GER dominated for the first 2/3rds of the match with possession and shots but JPN got two late goals nine minutes apart (75', 83'), the latter a laser up past the GK near post at close range.  This reminded me of Landon Donovan's "aim for the head" laser shot in the 2010 World Cup vs Slovenia.  

E1-Spain, GER's next opponent, showed their dominance putting up 7 goals against E2-Costa Rica.  If GER were to lose against ESP, they would need CRC to beat JPN to have any chance of advancing.  CRC has no shots at all and had just 17% possession (they did have more offsides than ESP with 7).  

#2 in the world F1-Belgium struggled against F2-Canada (getting outshot 21-9) but saved an early PK in holding on, 1-0.  #12 F4-Croatia and #22 F3-Morocco played to the tourney's 3rd scoreless draw.

It was well worth getting up at 6:30 am (after going to sleep near 3 am after watching the satisfying season finale of Star Wars: Andor) to see JPN turn it on and get rewarded with two goals.  Wore my authentic 2020-21 home JPN jersey afterwards when taking my mom to get her car a smog check.  But JPN's WC jersey looks great as well.

Kona Coast Uno (10th-Tied, 7 pts) was the only one to pick JPN while 14 picked the MAR-CRO tie.  101 picked ESP and 96 picked BEL.  12 entries went 3-1 while Firewire (69th-T, 5) and Young Bloods (69th-T) went 0-4 today.  This left nine in a tie for first with 8 pts while Meli (108th-T) joins Markofthebeast in last with 3 pts.

NOTE: Unlucky (1st-T) and What Would Pep Do (69th-T) were inadvertently swapped in points (corrected 11/23).  Thanks for Keith J for finding this error.  I now have an additional check when Excel decides to outsmart me.  

Asian Shocker! (11/22)

EL SEGUNDO, CA - Well, #3 C1-Argentina scored four goals in the first 35 minutes, but three were called back (including one goal overturned by VAR) and one that they did score (a Messi PK) was possible because VAR overturned the ref and called for a PK.  Once C2-Saudi Arabia, ranked 53rd in the world, weathered this initial onslaught, they struck with 2 goals in six minutes early in the second half and held on to a 2-1 win.  The game-winner was a golazo strike by Salem Al-Dawsari in the 53' over the GK's outstretched hands in what some call the biggest upset in WC history.

But maybe ARG meant for this to happen so they could finish 2nd in the group and get to play G1-Brazil in the final instead of the semifinals?  I guess USA fans should not be disappointed anymore.  ARG had a 36-match unbeaten streak, had won their last 27 WC matches when leading at the half (1-0 today), and had not lost in their last 40 when scoring first.  Not sure what their record is when they were called offsides TEN (10) times.

ARG was not the only top team to struggle against lesser opponents as #10 D3-Denmark drew nil-nil to #30 D4-Tunisia and #13 C3-Mexico was held to a scoreless draw with #26 C4-Poland.  #38 D2-Australia scored first against #4 D1-France but Les Blues scored the next four (outshooting AUS 22-4) to sit comfortably on top of Group D.  While the MEX-POL draw was a positive for ARG, if ARG loses their next match against MEX, ARG are eliminated.  Same for AUS (lose next match vTUN and they are out).  Interestingly, both teams that scored first, lost.

Wore my 100th anniversary FRA jersey but was working so didn't get to watch the late game anywhere.  But that jersey will make an appearance again.

In the pool, no one picked KSA as this was the only one of 48 group matches where all 109 picked one team.  Luis (1st-Tied, 6 pts) was the one to correctly pick the DEN-TUN tie while 106 picked FRA and28 picked MEX-POL tie.  28 got two correct and Meli (103rd-T, 2) and Eggman2 (103rd-T) went 0-4.  Five are tied for first with 6 points while Markofthebeast got his first win with FRA (was 0-7) to sit in last.

I Got Your Back (11/21)

EL SEGUNDO, CA - B3-United States players ran into the back of B4-Wales' Gareth Bale twice, one which led to a late match-tying PK and one that prevented a killer mid-field attempt by Bale at an empty goal (a la Patrik Schick's mid-field strike in the Euros) almost 10 minutes into stoppage time.  USA dominated the first half but only got one goal (their only shot on goal) as WAL pushed in the second half and got their opportunity and Bale hit a great PK strike to tie the match at 1 in the 82'.  

Getting a 1-1 tie feels like a loss considering how strong USA came out.  Walker Zimmerman's silly foul going through Bale, whose back was against the goal, in the box was costly even though WAL was playing better.  This likely means USA will need to score a few goals against B2-IR Iran in their last match, much less winning.  

Had a meeting that went over by 45 minutes so I got to watch the worst of USA, with 10 minutes + 10 minutes stoppage left at the lobby of the Toyota Sports Performance Center (zero soccer fans) wearing the 2021 USA away kit.  Eventually just watched the end in my car.

B1-England quieted doubters in routing IRN 6-2 in an indoor soccer type of score line.   A4-Netherlands needed two late goals to pick up 3 points against A3-Senegal and keep pace with A2-Ecuador.  

What is with all these crazy long stoppage times?  10 minutes put in at end of ENG-IRN match (that went nearly 13 minutes) and 9 for USA-WAL.  There was also more than 10 minutes in the first half of ENG-IRN due to a GK injury.  With FIFA trying to keep the ball "in play" longer, the numbers being put up by the refs are unusually high.  In one aspect, fake or real injuries during play will be cumulatively added so that the losing team will get that extra time but that also means players are on the pitch longer and players are already cramping up (in mild temps, not the summer heat).

In the pool, 23 entries got all 3 matches correct while Markofthebeast missing all 3.  He also is the only one with zero points while 13 have four points.  107 of 109 got ENG, 97 NED, and 19 picked the USA-WAL tie.

Issue #2.1.2 "Reckoning"

 Archive

Sunday, November 20, 2022

QATAR EXPECTATIONS HIGH, SHATTERED IN FIRST MATCH
Our 7th World Cup pool hits record 109 unofficial entries with South American teams favorites to win it all

VANCOUVER, BC/HOME, CA (smt) -- This 22nd FIFA World Cup has brought controversy with human-rights issues, alleged bought votes, the smallest country with a team that has never qualified for the World Cup, moving the tourney to late fall, and fan/reporter troubles leading to the opening match.  But there was hope that Qatar would keep it together and that the team, which stayed together and played entertaining matches in the Asian Cup and Gold Cup, would surprise and make people talk about success and not about all the issues.  Nope. 

Not only did A1-QAT get thoroughly outplayed in the first half against A2-Ecuador in losing 2-0, their "fans", which seemed to wear free or souvenir shirts (not the jerseys), abandoned them as well as the 2-0 halftime scoreline caused swaths of the sold-out stadium to feature empty sections in the second half.  That left the cheering of ECU fans as that is what a reckoning sounds like as QAT became the first host to lose their opening match.  This was a traditional opening match by the host that was bizarrely scheduled as the second match of the day.  Only 3 months ago, it got moved up a day so it can be, you know, the opening match.

Not for Us (11/20)

HOME - A country can buy and pay for the World Cup but they can't buy passion or talent.  The fun team that produced good results during fake qualifying and the Gold Cup hit the main stage and faltered.  Host 1A-Qatar got a reprieve a few minutes in when VAR suddenly intervened (well, a semi-automatic review) to call a technically correct 1B-Ecuardorian offside that no one would have noticed but in the 15', QAT's shaky GK tripped a player resulting in a PK goal in the 16'.  

ECU dominated but if you look at the stats, you'd never know.  Shots:  ECU 6-5.  Possession ECU 53-47%, Fouls 15-15.  ECU only managed to add one more goal (Enner Valencia scored both) to beat QAT 2-0, the first time a host nation has lost in their opening match (South Africa tied in 2010).  

Even more embarrassing was that a good number of Qatar fans among the 67,372 fans didn't come back after halftime.  Soccer is just not part of the culture (yet).  Considering just 11% of teams who lose their first game make the Round of 16, it is very likely QAT will join RSA as the only hosts to not make it out of the Group Stage.  

As for our 7th HWCI World Cup pool, we unofficially have 109 entries (shattering the 2018 record of 79) which may go down depending on payments.  56 got ECU right.  29 did pick ECU to make the Round of 16 and 84% who win their first match make the R16.  13 (including both of mine) have QAT in the R16.  Sigh.

You can now view the standings, results, team distribution, your picks, and who's who in the pool.

Admin Pick # 2

HOME -- When I landed at LAX, we had surpassed our record 2018 total of 79 entries (was at 72 before I left Vancouver).  Now, we are at 97 entries (though 2 do need some heavy fixing in the bracket) and hopefully will top 100 by morning.  

My second and last entry (bye, bye $20) is Arabian Bribes.   There are a few docs on how Qatar secured the World Cup, which I hope to watch in the next couple weeks.  This entry has ARG winning it all, as I tried to pick a dark horse team like Netherlands, England, or the elders of Belgium.  But it feels like a South American year and maybe, after Ronaldo got the Euro trophy, Messi can get his World Cup trophy.

If you need to make any corrections to your picks, just send an email or submit a new pick (choose "Update" so I know) with same nickname.  Thanks to Eric F, Brian B, and Jim M for bringing in new people to the pool.  Also got about a half dozen strictly NCAA folks to get their feet wet in soccer.

Good luck to all!

Admin Pick # 1

VANCOUVER, BC -- Well, here is my first official entry, Kurat Alqadam Fab 13.  "Kurat Alqadam" translating in Arabic to soccer/football and 13 being the 13th HWCI soccer pool.  Had to shorten my "Fabone" to just "Fab".  This is my homer pick with USA making the semis and Japan getting 2nd in Group E over Germany.  As well as Canada and Mexico making the Round of 16.  Yup, a mess.  Well, good luck to all.

Deadline is 8 am PST Sunday!  Just 37 hours left.  Enter now!

USA Women Draw Netherlands But Expected to Advance

While the Men's World Cup gears up for the first fall tournament, the Women's WC recently had their Final Draw a few weeks ago where the four-time champion #1 E1-USWNT drew #8 E3-Netherlands (who USA beat 2-0 in the 2019 final) but then got #34 first-timers E2-Vietnam and then the Group A playoff-winner.  USA, playing all matches in New Zealand, will play its last group match against either #41 Thailand (which the USA won 13-0 four years ago), #58 Cameroon, or #23 Portugal.  

In addition to Group E, Groups C and F also feature two powerhouses (#6 C1-Spain & #11 C4-Japan and #5 F1-France & #9 F3-Brazil).  The hosts #22 A1-New Zealand and #13 B1-Australia drew decent groups and should make it out.  #2 G1-Sweden and #3 H1-Germany have easy groups while #4 D1-England got two teams in the teens (#15 D4-China PR and #18 D3-Denmark) in the closest Group of Death candidate.

So the reason this post came up is that USA is in the midst of a 3-match losing streak, their first since 1993.  Three.  Losses.  Granted, they were against top-tier teams (2-1 @ENG Oct 7, 2-0 @ESP Oct 11, and 2-1 vGER Nov 10) but it is unnerving because you don't want the team to be used to losing.  USA did go 9-0 against teams such as ENG, NED, JPN, ESP, and CAN in 2020 but last year had to settle for bronze in the Olympics after losing to CAN in the semifinals in their only loss of 2021 (but with 5 ties).  

Our 3rd HWCI Women's World Cup pool will be next July.

Issue #1.0.1 "Nobody's Listening!"

 Archive

Wednesday, November 9, 2022 
Issue #1.0.1 "Nobody's Listening!"
[||| Mini-Updates | Enter Now! ]

ITALY BACK-TO-BACK FAILURES, BRAZIL BACK TO #1
Our 7th World Cup pool in the late autumn will test if anyone's listening

EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) --  The World Cup is a premier summer event but not this one.  When FIFA awarded Qatar the World Cup back in 2010, the country's average summer temperatures over 40 deg Celsius (104 deg F) forced FIFA to move the World Cup to winter (well, technically fall) to avoid the heat.  This messed up most of the world's domestic league's schedules (except Major League Soccer, which had their wild MLS Cup season-ender November 5) and add to it the controversies of Qatar hosting, who knew the World Cup will soon be upon us?  Can the World Cup coverage in America break though the noise and be heard with the NFL and college football in full swing (both conflicting with FOX's World Cup broadcasts), seasons underway in the NBA and NHL, and college basketball soon to start?

Qatar will feature eight stadiums all condensed within 34-miles of each other, four set kickoff times (2 am, 5 am, 8 am, and 11 am in the Pacific Standard Time), a short 29-day window, and again no gil Azzurri.

For the second straight World Cup, it will be missing 4-time champ #6-Italy which suffered an embarrassing 1-0 loss to #65-North Macedonia in one of the UEFA semi-finals.  However, #16 B3-USA bounced back from missing the World Cup in 2018 to actually make Pot 2 of the World Cup draw (avoids two top tier teams in the group).  Unfortunately, with #19 B4-Wales winning the playoff to be put in Pot 4, the USA will face #5 B1-England, Wales, and #20 B2-Iran in the only group with all four teams in the top 20.  The other 7 groups each have two teams outside the top 20.  So ENG's Group B is the closest to a Group of Death but there really isn't one this year.  Group D (#4 D1-France and #10 D3-Denmark) and E (#7 E1-Spain and #11 E3-Germany) each have two clear top teams with #8 A4-Netherlands lucky to land in Group A with #18 A3-Senegal, #44 A2-Ecuador, and host #50 A1-Qatar.  H2-Ghana is the worst-ranked team at #61.

USA Qualifies, Draws Jolly 'ole England

The US Men's National Team tried, but only lost 2-0 Costa Rica, where only a 6-goal loss would have pushed to 4th place in the CONCACAF Octagonal, and into a playoff with New Zealand.  The USA (#15 in the world) is back in the World Cup and today, knew most of their fate.  They were drawn into England's (#5) Group B along with one of Asia's top teams, IR Iran (#21), and the European playoff winner (either Wales (#18), Scotland (#39), or Ukraine (#27)).

USA were able to get into Pot 2 (next 8 best teams, Pot 1 was host Qatar (#51) and the top 7 teams) and therefore avoid two major powers (such as Group C with Argentina (#4) & Mexico (#9) and Group E with Spain (#7) & Germany (#12)).  Last time ('14... sigh, the '18 debacle still hurts), they were in Pot 3 and drew Germany & Portugal (but still escaped to the Round of 16).  Canada (#38), despite winning the octagonal, was in Pot 3 and will have to face Belgium (#2) & Croatia (#16).  

So the USA has a good chance to get out of Group B (not the easiest, not the hardest) and will need to prove themselves again.  USA has made the Round of 16 the past two times (sigh, no '18).

More importantly, the 7th HWCI World Cup pool begins in November!  Get your ten bucks ready!

Glory to the Heroes

Less than 10 months ago, prior to Euro 2020, I was commenting about a spat between Ukraine and Russia on UKR's jersey for Euro 2020 (ne 2021). Glory to Ukraine on the jersey was okay but the additional phrase Glory to the Heroes was interpreted as a rallying cry when you put both together so the latter had to be removed.  UKR still was able to keep the complete outline of their country on the jersey despite RUS claiming the Crimea peninsula was no longer part of UKR after annexing it in early 2014.

Well, on Feb 21st, RUS was at it again recognizing two eastern UKR states then three days later attacking UKR from Belarus and western Russia, determined to change the map of UKR again.  Over 400 Ukrainian civilians have been killed with the count unfortunately going up every day.

As it relates to soccer, FIFA did a slow burn penalizing RUS,

A World Cup pool every two years?

While we have wait longer than usual, an extra five months to kick of the autumn/winter 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA is moving forward for a study to have the men's and women's World Cups every 2 years instead of every four.   While the every 2 years has been kicked around for years, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation formally put the proposal on the table.  Considering some confederation qualifying can take up to 18 months to complete plus domestic and international competitions, are players supposed to play 12 months out the year now?  

And what about the Euros (not even considering Copa America or the Gold Cup which are farces every other tournament with no FIFA Confederations Cup berth at stake (oh, well, now every Copa and Gold Cup will be worth playing now if the Confederations Cup also moves every 2 years as well!)?  The women have a less congested club and country schedule so that is a possibility and would bring great promotion for the women's game more often.

But to have an opportunity to do more soccer pools?  That is exciting.  We're in the middle of a rare span of six consecutive years of soccer pools (thanks to Euros being pushed to our off-year in 2021 and the MLS is Back pool taking the 2020 spot).  Our next empty year is 2025... will we get a Women's World Cup then?

Ugh... Ugh... Ugh.. SC

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- All the anticipation... for another City SC/FC team.  Oh, gawd.  I was glad that it couldn't be another City FC team because the USL team is named that, but it totally slipped my mind that it could be City SC.  Why this was such a BIG secret is laughable as that would be my first four guesses (FC St. Louis, St. Louis FC, SC St. Louis, St. Louis SC).  Add City to each and you get 8.  St. Louis City SC is safe and boring.  I do like the honesty of majority owner Carolyn Kindle Betz who had to be convinced "City" was a brand that would take the city international.  I like the crest shape (mimicking the Arch) and symbols of the two rivers and arch in the art, but why are the fonts of the name and "SC" different?  There is yellow and gray in the official color list but not in the logo (it's the opposite dumb reason given why the gawdy red Youtube logo in the LAFC shirts was okay because "red" is an official LAFC color (!)).  

BUT, if I write the fan fiction that it's St. Louis City Soccer Capital, then I can live with it.  While NHL's Seattle team referenced their old 1917 PCHA championship hockey team in the logo, I kinda wish there was some visual reference or nod the the St. Louis Stars (NASL) or St. Louis Steamers (MISL) teams.  

Meanwhile, FC Dallas hosted the first MLS match with fans since the pandemic hit and 2,912 fans showed up (limited capacity was 5,110) which was mostly season ticket holders and invited guests, or what a typical FC Dallas match looked like.  Nashville managed to get their first-ever win on a late goal to beat the hosts.  Same two teams in Dallas on Sunday as they try to catch up with the rest of the league.  I love how you have to sign a waiver to not sue if you catch COVID-19 though.  Too funny.  Yes, we are a sue-happy country.  

The three Canadian teams are now set to play each other six times in Phase 1 in hopes the travel quarantine ban will be lifted after August 21 to allow for inter-country play in Phase 2.  TOR and MTL already played in the MLS is Back tournament so when Phase 1 is over, they will have played 4 times in their 11 regular season matches.

Issue 11.5.1 "Defense Wins Championships" (After Final)

 Archive

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

2020 MLS is BACK CHAMPIONS

POR - Portland Timbers | "Forever Green & Gold" | "Rose City 'Til I Die"   #RCTID  Timbers Army | "Green is the Color"

#13 | F4 | F Winner | 5-0-2 2nd Championship (MLS Cup '15) F2: Beat LA Galaxy 2-1 | F3: Beat Houston 2-1 | F6: Tied LAFC 2-2 R16: Beat 2E-FC Cincinnati 1:1 (4:2) (PSO) | QF: Beat 3A-NYCFC 3-1 SF: Beat 2A-Philadelphia 2-1 | F: Beat Orlando City SC 2-1

PORTLAND COLLECTS SECOND MAJOR TROPHY KNOCKING OFF THE HOSTS
No one got champion, 11th soccer pool is over!

WORK FROM HOME, CA (smt) -- 1A-Orlando City SC had prided itself in not allowing a set piece goal all tournament but 1F-Portland Timbers scored twice off set pieces, one on a free kick and one off a corner kick to win the first (and maybe only) MLS is Back tournament, 2-1, in front of zero fans on Field 17 of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.  Larrys Mabiala bounced in a header off a Diego Valeri free kick in the 27' but considering POR had not kept a clean sheet yet, ORL inevitably scored when Mauricio Pereyra settled a Nani pass and toe-poked it in the 39'. 

The 24th halftime tie of the tourney was broken when Dario Zuparic redirected a shot from Jeremy Ebobisse who had redirected a shot from Eryk Williamson off a corner kick by Valeri in the 66'.  Whew.  Both Mabiala and Zuparic are central defenders and POR's defense absorbed ORL's 64% possession and didn't create too much excitement at the end, keeping ORL at bay.

Final: Portland v Orlando City LIVE! (8/11)

It's finally here.  The MLS is Back Final!  Will Group F winners Portland Timbers get their 2nd trophy or will Group A winners Orlando City SC get their first?  No drama for the pool as the top 3 have secured their spots.

5:49 pm PDT:  Geez, I hate late kickoffs, especially when there is no pomp and circumstance or national anthem. Wasn't this a 5:30 pm start (and originally 5 pm even up to the Semifinals)?

14':  Great job by the groundskeepers in keeping Fields 16 and 17 in great shape every match.  This final is on Field 17, next to the main building.  Either way, the teams will be happy to see their families in person for the first time in more than month.

26': Nice touch with the added MLS is BACK FINAL lettering on the front of the jersey.  Oh, and GOAL!  27' put in by POR's Mabiala off a free kick cross.  POR 1:0 (tiebreak total goals = 8).

31':  Hydration break.  Great audio between POR' Blanco and the referee.  No fake crowd noise!  Though, I do not know why they can't just feed hundreds of live streams with real fans, fans who can do chants and stuff for their home team.  You can add a noise filter so if one person wanted to yell and swear over and over it wouldn't be heard, just come across as crowd noise.  And get live oohs and aahs instead of manufactured ones or chants that are just not in the right place.   You couldn't do it random because the networks have a 10-20 second delay, but let fans sign up for live feeds.

39': #10 Pereyra ties it up with an assist from... Nani (OK, Opta incredibly didn't give an assist on that.. Only Opta).  And for the 11th straight match, each team has scored a goal.  Remember all those 0-0 halftime scores early on?   ORL 1:1 (tiebreak total goals = 9).  POR has given up at least one goal in all 7 tourney matches.

43':  POR's Valeri tries a close free kick kicking it low and trying to go under the wall.  The one I remember that worked was in the famous '07 LA@NY match for Beckham's NY debut and NY's Juan Pablo Angel scored that way in a wild 5-4 Red Bull win in front of 66K fans.

Half:  4 min of stoppage and we're tied at 1.  This is the 24th tie (of 51 matches) at halftime.  Remember, no Extra Time.  Oh, the part-Austin FC owner Matthew McConaughey MLS commercial!  He's got a great voice and loved the love it/hate it Interstellar.

55': POR has let ORL have possession (>64%) while pretty much even on shots.  Kudos for ESPN for complimenting the grounds crew.  Also, jealous of the FC Dallas fans who will get to see their team play tomorrow.  Limited to 5,000 or so fans but since it's DAL, no guarantee of a sellout.  I don't know of any other teams allowing fans and Louisville City (USL Championship - that's the name of the league, not an actual final) has had success with sellouts of almost 5,000 each match with no "outbreaks".

64': A giveaway where ORL needs to foul right outside the box.  Great free kick opportunity for Valeri whose shot is saved by ORL GK Gallese.

65':  Another fast reaction save by Gallese (again) off the CK attempt.

66':  Another POR CK bounces around and POR puts it in!  Goes through the box and Zuparik redirects it in.  POR 2:1 (tiebreak total goals = 10).

72':  Nani may have knocked POR's Villafana but Villafana then moved his head into Nani and fell backward.  Well, Nani still got the yellow (73').

76': Hydration break.  ORL has more shots but only one on goal and still has 63% possession.  Teams are under .500 when having 63% or more possession (2-3-6).

85': 7th card, 4th on ORL.  Really bad high boot by Ruan.  Regardless, both teams will start the regular season in 3rd place in their respective conference.  One more goal will give Super League 10th place over BigRedMessi 2.

88':  Always nervous when the ball is played back to POR's GK Steve Clark.  Remember the CIN match?  One thing I hope they keep is the live audio between VAR and referee.  Simple, non-judgmental.  Just the facts.

90': Another big save by ORL.  5 minutes stoppage.  Blanco and Valeri are out, hopefully no PSO.

90'+2':  ORL has a clear shot all by himself and... skies it high.  Kyle Smith.  American.  College-trained.  USL.  No wonder.  ORL GK Gallese's OMG reaction was classic.  It's no coincidence that the players mentioned thus far are from outside the USA (Blanco, Mabiala, Pereyra, Nani, Valeri, Zuparik, Gallese).  The exceptions are POR GK Steve Clark, but I only mentioned him because of his gaffe against CIN, and Jorge Villafana, who I only mentioned because he acted like he got hit by a sledgehammer and dove.  OK, McConaughey is American and great and probably would've scored on that clear shot.

90'+4':  ORL GK in the box on the CK.

90'+5': POR with CK and they can kill 30 seconds.

95:03:  Match over!  Great to see POR celebrating like it means something!  POR gets their 2nd trophy to go with MLS Cup '15.  ORL falls short with an uninspired last 30 minutes or so.  With 10 goals scored in the final 3 matches, Kona Coast Sliders takes 7th over Kona Coast Fauci's.  BigRedMessi 2 takes 10th over Super League.