Like last year, the crowd's energy was high and the place exploded on LeToux's goal, which came off a pass from Noguiera that was exquisite in vision and execution. This page has a good video that includes the pass - the others I've seen all focus on the finish. Even though KC had more possession the Union were definitely the better team in the first half. They came out flat in the second and surrendered the equalizer in the 65th minute. At that point, it looked like it was KC's match to win. Then Curtin inserted Conor Casey and the run of play changed. The Union failed to convert some real chances, including a close in shot from Casey stopped by Tim Melia. I thought they looked the better side in the 30 minutes of extra time too but there were no goals. On to "kicks from the spot." But first, a keeper change. Channeling Louis van Gaal from last year's World Cup, Curtin elected to save his last substitution to replace Andre Blake with John McCarthy based on the latter's recent history of stopping PKs (btw BFS Senior Refereeing Consulting Graham R predicted this move at about the 70 minute mark). But McCarthy stopped just one while Melia stopped two and KC got the trophy.
Jeff H and I were discussing the State of the Union on the drive home. This is a frustratingly inconsistent team but we agreed that it doesn't seem like massive changes are called for at this point. In fact, maybe they need less upheaval and a chance to settle in. Biggest need in our view - a top notch striker; CJ Sapong is okay but not a regular enough scorer.
Did you notice the celebratory flames go off on Maidana's "goal" even though every one in the stadium knew he was offside by the length of the Commodore Barry Bridge? Or how about KC keeper Tim Melia taking his notes on the Union PK habits with him to the goal during the shootout - is this permitted?
Yellow Card to MLS
Like a referee going back to a player at the first stoppage of play to show a yellow, I need to go back to Saturday night's game between the Union and New England and flash a yellow card in the direction of MLS. I had just finished viewing Newcastle-Chelsea and the contrast was staggering as I tried to watch a game 1) on artificial turf 2) with football lines on the field and 3) with the soccer lines in faint yellow. Really? This is not an effing high school league. Stop looking like one.
Mourinho Still Winless at St. James' Park
Unfortunately, after the 2-2 draw with Chelsea, so are Newcastle so far this season. Two high quality goals by Perez and Wijnaldum had the Magpies up 2-0 until very late, late enough to start thinking that they might get all three points. A fine (ok, awesome strike) from Ramires in the 79th minute meant the finish was going to be agonizing. When Willian's free kick slipped past Krul in the 86th minute, I had to face the very real possibility that there would be no points. Fortunately, the match ended without Newcastle surrendering any more goals. For the neutral, it was probably the best match of the weekend. Considering I was fearing a 3-0 (or worse) pasting, the draw really wasn't all that bad, except in comparison to the win that seemed within reach. It was truly a fine effort from the Magpies.
Which brings me to the latest from His Douchiness. After escaping with the draw, Mourinho opined that Newcastle chooses "some matches to sweat blood and in other matches, they don’t. This is an attitude typical of a team that wins nothing.” Absolutely a true statement, except in Mourinho's case he's saying "wah, no fair, this sucky team chose to play hard against me."
Forty-one Goals
All the scoring made for generally good viewing for the neutral this weekend, even if some the matches weren't all that close. Take Tottenham-Man City. Spurs looked to be heading into the locker room down 0-1 at half but Eric Dier made a nice strike to tie things up in the 45th minute. Then Tottenham poured it on in the second half, walking away with a 4-1 win. The ARs didn't have the best of days as in three of the five goals there were suspicions of offside - including one with the attacker more than a yard ahead. Michael B and I both concluded, if you take away all the questionable goals, Tottenham wins 2-0 anyway. Luke P concluded "f Spurs."
Luke was probably in a more charitable mood two hours later after his Gunners had emphatically disposed of upstart Leicester 5-2. The Foxes had started brightly enough but their 1-0 lead was shortlived and Arsenal looked pretty much in control of the match from about 18 minutes on. Man United had little trouble with Sunderland. West Brom did in fact cough up a 2-0 lead at home and got no points in a 2-3 defeat at the hands of Everton. And Alan Pardew was thoroughly outcoached in a 1-0 win at Watford, as his choice of subs yielded nothing except drawing a PK that was the game winner (hint, that was tongue-in-cheek).
Dennis adds color to the Aston Villa 2-3 loss at Liverpool, which featured four goals in 12 minutes, including two from Rudy
By the end of this match, I realized just how much I have let both my expectations prior to a match and the narrative during the game influence my opinion of Villa's performance. For instance, this was a loss in my head before the first whistle and so going down 2-0 was no big deal, just business as usual. Then Justhead scored (with his foot, ironically enough) to bring Villa within 1...for about 45 seconds before Sturridge brought the deficit back to 2. Not 4 minutes later, Justhead absolutely crushed a header into the back of the net:
to bring us back from the dead yet again, but the comeback sputtered just short of the finish line and Villa continued to slide down the table. I got the loss that I expected, was mildly happy with the team's performance, and moved on with life.
Compare that to the 3-2 come-from-ahead loss to Leicester two weeks ago, which left me cursing the players, wishing for an entirely new back line, and borderline scarred for life. I expected something out of the Leicester game (maybe that was where I went wrong....) and it left me thinking that Villa were a pile of garbage. However, at their core, both games were really just Villa conceding 3 goals largely due to sloppy, or just downright embarrassing, defending while managing many spells of quality offense and several excellent finishes. When I remove them from the context of any given match, I am brought back to one of my favorite phrases from American football: "They are who we thought they were!". I said I would take an inexperienced team that is at least exciting - and boy did I get one - so I guess I can't complain it about now.
MLS Stuff
The Red Bulls, despite a rather shocking 2-5 loss to Orlando at home, still control their own fate in the race for the Supporters Shield. They'll need to be more careful next Wednesday against Montreal. Hard to imagine the Union's state of mind as they travel up to Toronto for a match on Saturday. Will be surprised if they take anything away from that match.
Picture from the Continent
BFS Keeper Consultant Chris K was in Spain recently and sent us this from Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon Stadium. He reported his next stop was Barcelona. A tough job but somebody's got to do it.
Liverpool Derby and Other Treats
Sunday looks like a good day to stay in out of the rain. The 8:30 match is the Liverpool derby at Goodison Park followed at 11 by Arsenal-Man United; both are on NBCSN. Chelsea-Southampton at 12:30 on Saturday (NBCSN) and Swansea-Tottenham (11 on Sunday, ExtraTime) have some possibilities as well. Blog favorites Newcastle face Manchester City at the Etihad (hoping for another performance like Saturday's but the Citizens may be loaded for bear after two consecutive losses) and Aston Villa host Stoke City (who are off to a terrible start). The Villans have every reason to think they can take something away from that game.
Speaking of the weather, has anybody noticed that it doesn't seemed to have rained in England yet this season? The cameras can't handle the sunshine and the images get a bit washed out. English football just looks better under cloudy skies.
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