That's right---there IS meaningful soccer left to play in the NY metro area...and I'm not talking about the upcoming collegiate seasons, or the FDNY/NYPD game at Giants Stadium.
As late as 7pm Sunday night, halftime in the LA/Boston WPS season finale, it appeared that Sky Blue's tumultuous season was coming to a close (for those who haven't heard, defender and US Captain Christie Rampone has taken over as coach---the team's third this season---after Kelly Lindsey abruptly resigned prior to practice almost 2 weeks ago. Lindsey's resignation came on the heels of the suspension of one of her assistants, a move the team has said was necessary and justified, but wouldn't describe the offense(s).). In the end, though, LA popped home 2, including a meaningless (but still controversial) penalty, for a 2-1 win, and Sky Blue will be the only pro team in the metro area that has something left to play for. They may also be the only team to have a goal to be like the Red Bulls---last year's version, which made a run to the MLS Cup final after backing into the playoffs. It'll take 2 road wins (against Washington and St. Louis) to get to the WPS Final in/against LA...the same number of road wins the Red Bulls needed (against Houston and RSL) last year to make the final, also held in LA.
As for the Red Bulls, well the season that seems like it can never get worse...keeps getting worse. The Red Bulls crashed out of the CONCACAF Champions League in embarassing fashion last week, as captain Juan Pablo Angel was sidelined with a grade-II concussion. Despite scoring two crucial away goals in a 2-2 tie at Trinidadian club team W Connection, the Red Bulls were beaten on their home turf (literally, the FieldTurf surface at Giants Stadium, a type of surface the Caribbean teams are rather unfamiliar with---most can't afford the expense of the installation of the surface, and why would they want to (most of these teams have gorgeous fields)) in front of a smaller crowd (roughly 2,000...in an 80,000-seat stadium) than W Connection drew in their 10,000-seat home. A goal for the Red Bulls for this week: draw more than that 2,000 for Saturday night's home game against Chivas USA.
As late as 7pm Sunday night, halftime in the LA/Boston WPS season finale, it appeared that Sky Blue's tumultuous season was coming to a close (for those who haven't heard, defender and US Captain Christie Rampone has taken over as coach---the team's third this season---after Kelly Lindsey abruptly resigned prior to practice almost 2 weeks ago. Lindsey's resignation came on the heels of the suspension of one of her assistants, a move the team has said was necessary and justified, but wouldn't describe the offense(s).). In the end, though, LA popped home 2, including a meaningless (but still controversial) penalty, for a 2-1 win, and Sky Blue will be the only pro team in the metro area that has something left to play for. They may also be the only team to have a goal to be like the Red Bulls---last year's version, which made a run to the MLS Cup final after backing into the playoffs. It'll take 2 road wins (against Washington and St. Louis) to get to the WPS Final in/against LA...the same number of road wins the Red Bulls needed (against Houston and RSL) last year to make the final, also held in LA.
As for the Red Bulls, well the season that seems like it can never get worse...keeps getting worse. The Red Bulls crashed out of the CONCACAF Champions League in embarassing fashion last week, as captain Juan Pablo Angel was sidelined with a grade-II concussion. Despite scoring two crucial away goals in a 2-2 tie at Trinidadian club team W Connection, the Red Bulls were beaten on their home turf (literally, the FieldTurf surface at Giants Stadium, a type of surface the Caribbean teams are rather unfamiliar with---most can't afford the expense of the installation of the surface, and why would they want to (most of these teams have gorgeous fields)) in front of a smaller crowd (roughly 2,000...in an 80,000-seat stadium) than W Connection drew in their 10,000-seat home. A goal for the Red Bulls for this week: draw more than that 2,000 for Saturday night's home game against Chivas USA.
(photo courtesy WorldStadiums.com)
Wednesday afternoon, 100,000+ will pack the Estadio Azteca for the USA/Mexico World Cup qualifier---a game that has all the meaning in the world to both teams. The US wants to cement their place as the team to beat in CONCACAF---and get rid of the monkies on their back (revenge for the 5-0 Gold Cup final loss at Giants Stadium, and pick up their first ever win in 12 matches at the Azteca)...while 3 points would be vital to Mexico's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup. As the standings are now, the US sits in 2nd, 4 points ahead of 4th-placed Mexico. A 4th-placed finish would send Mexico to a playoff against the 5th-placed finisher from the South American federation. The US roster for the game:
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Tim Howard (Everton FC, England)
DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan, Italy), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England)
MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC, England), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus, Sweden), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca, Mexico)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Hull City, England), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux, France), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
This is certainly a A-team (unlike the B/C-team that faced Mexico in the Gold Cup final), and is a team that has the talent and confident to pick up that first Azteca win. Even still, a tie on the road would be a massive success, as this is a game the US has had to have planned for 0 points in the road to South Africa. Best line-up for success? It'd have to be a 4-4-2 that utilizes speed up top paired with a target forward, and plays the players that have played best together thus far...which means two players in particular, Jozy Altidore and Steve Cherundolo, will find themselves on the bench to start. Brian Ching is the best target man in the country, especially when it comes to having a player playing off of him---a skill Altidore should refine in the Premiership this year. As for Cherundolo, the play of Jonathon Spector in the Confederations Cup this summer makes it nearly impossible to sit him in this one. The best line-up for success:
Howard; Spector-DeMerit-Onyewu-Bocanegra; Dempsey-Bradley-Clark-Donovan; Ching-Davies
The English Premier League season had it's curtain-raising event Sunday, as Chelsea beat Manchester United on penalties to win the Community Shield. If the officiating in this one is any indication of the season to come, this is sure to be an interesting run. Chelsea has the official to thank for their second goal, as a blatant elbow by Michael Ballack (Sir Alex claimed it was worthy of a red card, though a yellow would have been a more justified) left Patrice Evra laying injured on the ground as Chelsea stormed up the field to score. The kicker: the referee had twice stopped play prior to that to allow injured players---including Ballack himself on one occasion---to be tended to. Inconsistency is the biggest downfall for referees, and football fans worldwide can only hope it gets better from here.
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