I'm only working a half day today, and now that our program has started up, I'm a lot busier. That all means that this'll be a quick and dirty football post.
Newcastle 1 - 1 Blackpool
Coming off their draw with the top of the table squad from Manchester, the hopeful Magpies could only muster a draw with relegation bound Blackpool. As Norm MacDonald would say on his new sports show, "What the H?" By the way, if you aren't watching that, you should start.
'Pool fans booed the officials off the pitch after they felt jipped by a lack of calls. They had three penalty appeals denied, but I hardly think that's why they lost. They missed out on a grip of other chances and should really be looking at their performance, rather than that of the refs. That aside, they had no business even drawing with Newcastle, so they should feel happy. I don't care if they've won 12 of 14, they suck! We should have done better, even on the road.
Peter Løverkrands scored the goal for Newcastle, who now have 4 games to go in the season. We're sitting 10th with 41 points and a +1 goal differential. That puts us 7 up on relegation and one back of #9 Stoke City. It's still a litle close for me to be breathing easy, but I guess I can start assuming that we're pretty much safe. Liverpool will be a tough task this coming weekend.
Celtic 0 - 0 Rangers
In a week where Celtic manager Neil Lenon had nail bombs sent to him in the mail yet again, along with some famous supporters, Celtic could only draw even with the hated Rangers. Really, this rivalry is just way too intense.
Georgios Samaras will go down as the goat for the Green & White in this one, as he bricked a penalty shot late in the game. He wasn't the only one that Allan McGregor was keeping out, though, as the Rangers keeper made stops on Danny Majstorovic, Charlie Mulgrew, Emilio Izaguirre, and Anthony Stokes. That's right, Celtic had mad shots on goal, mad chances, and still drew 0-0. It was pretty disappointing, given the effort.
It was a hard fought affair, and a big miss for Celtic, who trail Rangers in the SPL title race by a single point, despite having a game in hand. Thanks to a ton of previous rainouts, it's a mad dash to the finish line, as the Hoops play five league games before the middle of May. Can they keep their fitness and pull off the title win they've seem destined for this season? I sure hope so. And I hope Neil Lenon can stay alive long enough to see it.
Guada 1 - 1 Cruz Azul
Continuing a weekend of draws, Chivas de Guadalajara missed a big chance, drawing 1-1 with Cruz Azul. Marco Fabian de la Mora's late strike as the first half expired got cancelled out in the second half by Emanuel Villa (81st), and the game played out at an even tally. With the Goats fighting for playoff positioning, you would have liked to see Cubo and company pushing a little harder.
With 25 points, Chivas trails UANL by 7 in group one. Remember, you have to finish top 2 in your group to qualify for the FMF playoffs, or be one of the two next overall teams. Monterrey, who Chivas plays in the final game of the season this weekend, trail Chivas by just two points in Group 1. If Monterrey beats Chivas, we would be passed up, and be at the mercy of América and Cruz Azul's weekend outcomes. If we beat Monterrey, we're good to go. It's touch and go to say the least.
I can't believe that even the return of the famous Bofo Bautista to the lineup couldn't help us. La Liguilla, here we come?
Chivas USA 2 - 1 San Jose
Chivas won!!! Chivas picked up their first win of the season, Robin Fraser's first win of his Chivas coaching career, and now we've got something to build on. Despite going down in the 16th on a Wondolowski goal, Chivas was able to fight back. The San Jose goal was a joke! Horrible defense led to San Jose bouncing the ball around in the box until the were able to slam it home. It was poor coverage on a free kick that got Wondo the ball, and he looped a ball over DK from a bad angle to put us down. My head was hanging.
And then, this Chivas squad actually fought back. I could barely believe my eyes. As the first half ran out, Alejandro Moreno scored a goal in stoppage time. It was a sweet header. Heath Pearce sent a perfect ball on the free kick, into the crowd, and the short Moreno was able to get up to the ball before the defense and nudge it home. I was glad to see Moreno step it up again, but it was even better to see a free kick actually come to the head of one of our players. We have been so bad on set piece plays this season, I pretty much just close my eyes every time we get one. Too tough to watch. This time, though, Pearce made it happen, and Moreno made it count. Bingo.
Mariano Trujillo would be the hero, burying home a rebound in the 85th to win the game. I don't think I've seen a team more excited about a regular season win. I don't think I've been a part of a fan base this excited for a regular season win. It's a big deal.
GK: Dan Kennedy- The studly Gaucho came into the game with a league leading 0.33 GAA, and despite allowing a goal, he was solid. I'm so happy that he's finally our #1. Way to go, buddy.
D: Zarek Valentin, Andrew Boyens, Heath Pearce, Ante Jaziç- Way to go defense! Outside of the early gaf on the free kick that resulted in San Jose's lone goal, they looked great. We are looking good, even without Jimmy Conrad. Robin Fraser has to be proud of these guys. I'm just glad that Pearce has finally stepped up. And is anyone else surprised to see Jaziç running up?
M: Ben Zemanski (Mariano Trujillo 61), Simon Elliot, Nick LaBrocca- I'm not sure about Elliot. I know everyone says that he's cool, but he just looks old out there on the pitch. Anyone want to call him the silver fox? What's up with Nagamura? Where are you, Paulo?
F: Jorge Flores (Michael Umaña 88), Marcos Mondaini (Justin Braun 60), Alejandro Moreno- Despite being slow and short, Moreno keeps showing me how good he is. He's the stud of the attackers on this squad, and I'm pretty stoked he's out there. I know I keep calling for Estupiñán, but Moreno keeps giving me reasons for wanting to keep him in there. El Sueño is great out there, which I'm really enjoying.
We're ranked 7th in the West! We leap frogged both San Jose AND Vancouver in the Conference, and that's the best thing to happen all year. At 1-2-3, we have a -1 goal differential, and we have 6 points. We trail #5 FC Dallas and #6 Portland by a single point. We're 14th out of 18 MLS teams overall. It's amazing what a single win can do to boost your confidence.
This weekend we get New England (2-2-3, -1 GD) and it'll be a huge test. Sure, we can beat bottom of the West San Jose, but can we challenge a .500 squad from the East? I'd like to think so. I'd like to think that this one win against San Jose has helped this team find their identity, and now there is nothing stopping us. And it's all thanks to Trujillo!
A little lineup guessing on the way out:
G: Dan Kennedy- No brainer.
D: Zarek Valentin, Heath Pearce, Ante Jaziç, and Mariano Trujillo- I'm sliding Boyens out in favor of the Trujth. I'm not sure how you don't start him after the San Jose winner.
M: Ben Zemanski, Marcos Mondaini, Nick LaBrocca- That's the midfield we need to see, if Paulo is still out, that is.
F: Jorge Flores, Justin Braun and Alejandro Moreno- Three huge studs, who can easily bring us the win against the Revs.
¡Arriba las Chivas!
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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