Revs/Rapids 9/29
by Hoover Dam
This game was uglier than Carlos Ruiz’s recent haircut.
Twellman spent warmups jogging by himself, so we knew he’d been given the night off in favor of the Open Cup start, despite reports earlier in the day that he’d be making an appearance in this game. Ralston and Larentowicz both had tremendous games, with Jeffy zipping all over the field and Raly making some excellent defensive moves, particularly in the first half. Glad to see Reis get a clean sheet, as it’d been way too long since we’d had one. Noonan looked decent enough, but was clearly looking for Twellman on plays where Cristman just couldn’t keep up with him. Gotta wonder where we’d be in the standings had the Khano Smith of the last few home games been around the entire season.
Rapids clearly had trouble negotiating the field turf, spending more time rolling on the ground than running on it. Tony Sanneh is what, sixty? I don’t think I realized how many of the Rapids are other team’s castoffs–and how few of the Revs are–before the night’s lineup introduction. This game also supported my specious theory that every player in the league born in August of 1976 is kind of a jerk (on the field, at least). Full credit to Condoul, who kept Colorado in the game for much longer than they had any business being; he’s a great keeper and I think he got the shaft this year at the All-Star game. Get him behind a competent defense and you’ve got trophy contenders.
Not the greatest game we’d ever had, but three points is three points and that’s really all you need.
HFIP Instant Commentary – LAG v KCW
by tedski
A bit of an experiment, because that is how we are. Our running expert commentary on tonight’s game…or should I say…ESPN MLS Primetime matchup…
Cribbed From Elsewhere
by Hoover Dam
Ryan : 2007 WWC :: Little : 2003 ALCS
Just painful. Possibly more so than Nuremberg last year.
Losing Hope?
by tedski
This morning, word got out that Hope Solo would not be starting in goal in the semi-final against Brazil tommorrow. Instead, the team will be turning to veteran and World Cup ring holder Brianna Scurry.
Scurry, as has been pointed out by others, has faced and beaten Brazil on twelve previous occasions, and has dealt with Brazil phenom Marta.
That’s all well and good, but what does this do for team chemistry? They have gotten there with Solo in the goal. What sort of signal is this from their coach?
I heard it said by the commentators during the game this morning that the players know that they are a team and the coach decides who is in and who is out. Yeah, except Greg Ryan has been reluctant to sub anyone (even when Abby Wambach has looked hobbled near the end of matches), so him messing with line-ups is very unusual.
Is something else going on here?
Leave Brandi Alone!
by tedski
After Trinne Ronning’s own goal today, Tony DiCicco once again brought up Brandi Chastain’s own goal for Germany in the 1999 World Cup. Come on Tony! She also scored the equalizer in that game and, I know it’s hard to remember because no one talks about it, the winning penalty kick in the final. I think she’s made up for it, doncha?
What, is Chastain now the Mike Burns of the Women’s National Team?
Beckham Sighting in the Old Pueblo
by tedski
I spotted my first “Beckham 23″ jersey here in Tucson. I was driving down Broadway on Saturday, and there it was, on the back of some guy eating at a taqueria near Cherry.
Hooverdam’s objections to the people buying Beckham jerseys in her town is that they already have a team to support there. Here, no Fireballs, no Sonoran Thunder, no Amigos anymore so I guess she wouldn’t be able to complain. I suppose the guy could go to a Sahuaros game. I was tempted to ask him if he could name anyone else on the Galaxy.
Buenos Dias
by tedski
You are witnessing the birth of a new soccer blog. This is an experiment on the part of a couple of us to raise the level of footy dialogue above the level of Big Soccer. Why? Because a great nation deserves another great blog.
Anyway, pardon our dust while we make things look nice around here. It’s the words that matter anyway, right?