Okay, time for an update across the wide world of soccer. Things are heating up in the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Womens Super League and as well, right here in the good ol’ USA, with the MLS Playoffs.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t include an update on the USWNT in their ongoing battle for equality with the Mens team on a number of issues including pay. Hard to argue with this team based on their results and dominance of the sport.
MLS Conference Finals
The Premier League is rolling along but MLS is starting to take center stage as the Conference Finals are being completed and we are a week away from the MLS Cup….and yes….your “local” team…Minnesota United are right in the thick of things. With two strong wins in the first two games, they have probably their biggest game in franchise history on Monday, against the #2 seed Seattle Sounders. No big deal, they just knocked off the #1 seed Sporting KC in dominant fashion, so what the heck, take down the top seed, no big deal.
A win gives them a MLS Cup final against the Columbus Crew who dispatched the New England Revolution 1-0. NE had made it all the way from the playoff play-in round to the Conference Finals in the East….crazy run, but their playoff run turned back into a pumpkin when the clock struck zero, and the Columbus Crew is moving on the the MLS Cup. In the Western Conference Semi-Finals, YOUR Minnesota United Loons made some magic against Sporting KC.
What a start for Sporting KC, it could have been 3-0, but somehow Minnesota United weather the storm with some incredible Goalkeeper skills…and then, they just shock Sporting KC with 3 of their own. A stunning 3-0 win and some momentum heading into the Western Conference Finals.
UPDATE: So…..if you did not know already, I have an update on then Seattle-Minnesota United game. Minnesota was coming into the game feeling really confident. Two strong wins, maybe they felt they were a team of destiny, playing their best soccer at just the right time. Their opponent was a strong team who were favored to win. Winners of last years MLS Cup and having participated in 3 of the last 4. A team with great experience against the upstarts. And then the game starts, and then in the first half an amazing free kick off the inside of the post and its 1-0 Minnesota United. Nice. And they continue to lead into the second half. Around the 53rd minute, Seattle strikes back to level, but wait, the run by the striker started with a little contact….VAR reviews and it looks like a big bump to knock the defender off his feet before coming clear and scoring….VAR overturns the goal….still 1-0. Okay, maybe we are supposed to win thinks Minnesota. And then at the 64th minute, Seattle hits one square off the left post, still 1-0, so maybe we are destined to win this thing thinks Minnesota. Still 1-0. but then, just two minutes later, lightning strikes again, Minnesota United hits with another free kick goal and a sweet glancing header for a 2-0 lead. Oh my, halfway thru the second half and up 2-0. It could really happen.
But, then guess what. As a coach there is one score you don’t really like, a score that really smart coaches, much smarter than me, coaches like JD!!, who all agree. Is it 1-0, no not really…..at 1-0 the leading team is still anxious and fighting hard to get the second goal. Is it 3-0…..no…at 3-0 the losing team starts to lose faith and lose the will to win. The losing team starts to just play to finish the game, emotion and energy are gone. No, the worst lead in soccer is 2-0…..the lead now held by Minnesota. Now usually it’s a halftime thing, but regardless, it still a dangerous scoreline. What happens, well, the winning team, especially if the underdog, starts to think….”this is it, we got it, we are going to win” and maybe just maybe they just ease off the peddle a little bit, they drop their intensity just a smidge, their energy and intensity lowers just 1-2%…..and sometimes that is all it takes.
In the 74th minute, Seattle takes advantage of a shot that clanks off their own player and then drops right at his feet….shot….goal….2-1. Uh oh. Now the leading team starts to get anxious. But the game is almost over, Just 15 minutes left…tock tock, 10 minutes to go….tick tock….5 minutes to go….tick tock, just 1 minute to go in regulation and then it happens, a corner kick, the ball lands on the back side, a free Seattle player unmarked, a shot, a goal….oh no….2-2. And Uncle Mo is firmly on Seattle’s side, they are flying around the pitch and full of energy. Their experience starts to become the difference, maybe Minnesota starts to wonder, could this really be happening. Extra time of 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute……corner kick, glancing header, back of the net…..oh dang, 3-2 Seattle. Game over. Shocking comeback….devastating loss, experience wins….Seattle 3-2 over Minnesota United and into the MLS Cup finals for the 4th time in the past 5 years. Wow….just Wow. Bummed for the “local boys”. They deserved better I think, but sports is funny that way.
Premier League Updates Match Week 11
We are almost thru Match Week 11 in this years Premier League, just a few teams with only 9 or 10 games played, but things are starting to settle into form this year. After a very strange looking Table in the first 6 weeks with Aston Villa and Everton leading the table, the quality of the Top 6 is starting to assert itself. With the exception of Arsenal who are really struggling in the bottom half, currently sitting at 15th, the remaining “big clubs” are rising to the top. The Manchester teams…United and City….both have a game in hand, having only played 10 games to date. If they can earn 3 points in their 11th, then the table really tightens up some more. The story so far this year….Jose Mourinjo has Tottenham Hotspur really believing in themselves and currently sitting in first. The Tottenham Hotspur…I just had to write that name again, its is my favorite team nickname in all of sport right now. It just rolls off your tongue. The Tottenham Hotspur. What is a Hotspur you might ask, and it would be a really good question.
Dictionary Definition: an impetuous or fiery person.
Regarding the team, Tottenham, the story goes that the club is named for Sir Henry Percy (20 May 1364 – 21 July 1403), nicknamed Hotspur, who was an English Knight who fought in several campaigns against the Scots and against the French during the Hundred Years War. The nickname “Hotspur” was given to him by the Scots as a tribute to his speed in advance and readiness to attack as he dug in his spurs to make his horse go faster as he charged in battles, and spurs are also associated with fighting cockerels. The club used spurs as a symbol in 1900, which then evolved into a fighting cockerel.
That might be more than you ever wanted to know about the Tottenham Hotspur, but they are one of the most historic clubs in England with many FA Cup and UEFA Championships. The thing is, it’s been awhile since their glory days from 1960-1990. In recent years, they have found ways to stumble, even earning the phrase… “very Spursy”….to signify their inability to get back to the top, win titles, or even win big games. It feels different this year. The quality of players, the mentality, the coaching…..I think they are in it, to win it, and then look very dangerous and capable.
Chelsea seem ready to step forward and be a contender as well this year. After a mixed season last year with a ban on signing new players, they reloaded over the summer with some top and young talent…and its paying dividends. They sit in third with an impressive run of games without a loss. They score a lot of goals and their defense and Goalkeeping has improved significantly since last year. Watch out for Chelsea.
The Current Top 6. Win-Draw-Loss
- Tottenham Hotspur 7-3-1 24 Points (had to write it again 🙂 )
- Liverpool 7-3-1 24 Points
- Chelsea 6-4-1 22 Points
- Leicester City 7-0-4 21 Points
- Southampton 6-2-3 20 Points
- Manchester United 6-1-3 19 Points (only played 10)
Lurking in 7th…Manchester City with 18 Points while only playing 10 games. Assuming the Manchester teams both win their 11th game, then you have the Top 6 with points from 21 to 24. That is 6 teams all in range and all strong enough to win the title. Southampton is right there, but will need to prove they belong at the top. Can they keep up with the other Top 6 teams.
The Current Relegation zone. The bottom 4 with 3 in the Relegation Zone include Fulham (7 points), Burnley (6 points), West Brom (6 points) and Sheffield United (1 point). Sheffield United was the darling of the league last year….their first year in the Premier League in awhile and they played well the entire season. This year….not so much. Premier League is hard!
UEFA Champions League
The final 16 team moving in to the knockout stages is now set. The draw will be held soon. Here are your top 16 European Clubs advancing to the next round. By Country:
Germany (4): Bayern Munich, Mönchengladbach, Dortmund, RB leipzig
Spain (4): Athletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona
England (3): Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea
Italy (3): Atalanta, Lazio, Juventus
France: Paris Saint- Germain
Portugal: Porto
UEFA Womens Super League
The UEFA Womens Super league is sitting at 8 games played in their current season and here are the current top 4 teams. Teams are on break a little as the top teams in this league are participating in the Womens Champions League which is in the Round of 32.
- Manchester United 20 points
- Arsenal 19 Points
- Chelsea 17 Points (only played 7)
- Manchester City 15 Points
Team of the Week
The USWNT is our team of the week. I am not sure how all the players feel about it, but I guess everyone feels like there is some progress. The USWNT has sued the Federation of US Soccer for equal pay. That issue is still on the table and not 100% resolved as far as the women’s team is concerned, but one issue did get resolved. Working conditions, staff support, player accommodations, hotel accommodations, player venues, etc. related to Men’s and Women’s teams were granted in favor of the USWNT. And it feels like maybe just maybe , a new sense of collaboration might be in order.
The Women’s team still may pursue more action on equal pay, and maybe the US Federation will close that gap before legal action is needed, but for today, at least the right thing was done on these issues….more to follow on the pay scale.
These women certainly have earned it, the most dominant team in international soccer, The US Womens National Team! Pay them!
Goal of the Week
Let’s give a shout out to the USMNT players as well this week. Recent goals by Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie in Europe are a really positive sign that the core of the National team is full of exciting, dynamic and young, players. And then, during the recent Champions League games this week, this happened during the Juventus-Barcelona game.
Weston McKennie—oh my!