Weekly football post #33.

It was a casual European football weekend, so let's get this party started. 

The boys from Celtic took the weekend off after a 2-0 win against Aberdeen, and look to continue their top form against Aberdeen again on Saturday. With a slim one point lead over Rangers, obviously, every single win is huge. In other SPL news, reports are coming out that neither Celtic or Rangers are likely to make the rumored jump to the EPL in the next couple of years. The EPL's elite are said to want to block the possible move, which is too bad, because it would be awesome. 

Newcastle didn't lost this weekend! I guess they are planning on saving it for the Monday Night Football match against Portsmouth tonight. The word on the street is that back Steven Taylor may not be fit enough to play in the Monday night clash, a match that Newcastle obviously needs to win. Four points shy of safety (#17 Hull City's 34 points), the Mags and their 30 point season really need to make a huge push here at end. Port will be a tough match here tonight, but hopefully Shearer and company can get something good to happen so that Magpie Nation can feel that much closer to staying with the big boys. 

Down in swine flu country, we had an erie site at the Chivas Guadalajara v UNAM game. If you haven't heard about the swine flu, you had better read some news. In Mexico, over 100 people have died from this crazy outbreak, and it is spreading into California as we speak. Because of fear of the flu, Mexico City has seen cancellations in masses, bars and restaurants closing, schools and work places completely shutting down, and even more bizarre is that not a single fan showed up for the Chivas football match. I'm not even kidding. They played the game against UNAM in a completely empty football stadium, with not a cheering fan in site. People in Mexico are so worried about the spread of the virus that they all just stayed home. Read about the story here. In the "behind closed doors match" (sounds like an old school WWF event), Chivas and Pumas came to a 1-1 draw. A goal by the Goats' Javier Hernandez Balcazar was cancelled out by UNAM's Juan Cacho, and the players walked off the pitch in silence looking up into the deserted seats. How bizarre. Chivas play Everton this Wednesday (I hope you're ready for the beat down, Jon) before getting back to FMF play on Sunday against Puebla, that is, if all the players survive this deadly swine virus.

Meanwhile, Chivas USA had plenty of fans to cheer them past Dallas this weekend at the HDC. Our boy Atiba Harris scored the opening goal of the game in the 68th minute and was followed by Alecko Eskandarian added a nice insurance goal in stoppage time to crush Dallas in a 2-0 victory. The two teams finished with just 10 a side as Dallas had Dario Sala booted in the first half, and our goal scorer Atiba Harris earned his second yellow card in the final minute. Scrappy. Chivas was able to hang on, despite the Harris ejection, thanks in part to the return of previously injured super star Justin Braun. Give some bear sized props to the sure-to-be MLS keeper of the year, Zach "The Beast" Thorton earned just another clean sheet in the big Chivas win. ZT now has 4 shutouts in his 7 starts, leading Chivas to glory here in 2009. At 5-1-1 (16 points), the American Goats are +4 on second place Seattle, and hold the overall lead in the MLS if that matters. Next weekend is the big match around my household with Chivas matching up against San Jose, in the SJC. Can my boys keep up the winning against the 1-3-2 Earthquakes? Yes. 

On my way out, here are some quick hits:

1. A double OT clash between Austin and Chicago ended with the Bulls matching the playoff series at two game a piece. Can I say that Paul Pierce finishes as the goat of the game for getting his game tying last second three pointer blocked right in his face? He needs to look off for a better shot. Ray Ray, anyone? Game 5 of this classic series is tomorrow afternoon. 

2. The Angels avoided another Seattle sweep with an 8-0 drubbing of the Mariners. The two stars of the game are Jered Weaver (7 innings of shutout ball with just 3 hits allowed, punching out 5) and my man Howie Kendrick (finally finding his stick on a 3 for 5 afternoon with 4, count 'em 4, RBI). 

3. An overall look at the NHL: Not good for the Rangers to have to play a game 7 against the Caps. Can Carolina upset New Jersey? Can Chicago close out the Flames tonight? Can Anaheim close the deal on their 8-1 upset tonight? Who the heck are the Canucks going to play when we eventually get to round 2? I love the NHL playoffs.