What'd I Miss?

Turns out, nothing.  Through judicious use of streaming and dvr, I was able to stay on top of everything despite a 6-day trip to Eugene for some track and field plus hiking and golf.  Dennis helped me out on the Championship division final with his trial subscription to ESPN+ so I saw that live.  Fox Soccer Match Pass gave me access to the Champions League final, though I didn't actually watch it until a day later.  Fortunately, Eugene is all about the track and field so there was no danger of spoiling the result short of an ill-advised trip to the web.  And the Union?  That was easy, no danger of getting those results so I watched upon my return.  Some passing thoughts, not necessarily in chronological order.


Referee Did Not Cost You the Match, Part Infinity

Haris Medunjanin gets the first of his two quick yellows
Photo: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports

Can't say I agreed with Sorin Stoica on at least three of his calls and they certainly had a big impact on the match but in the end, the Union, not Stoica, were the architects of their own downfall.  To set the scene, here's the PK call and the subsequent unraveling.  Real time I didn't think it was a foul but looking at it a few more times, it's really close.  The Union players started to get themselves into a lather when Stoica did not review the play.  Except that's not exactly what happened.  By rule, the Video Assistant Referee has to review every foul in the box. That Stoica did not go to the replay monitor means that the VAR saw nothing to suggest that there was a clear and obvious error. Looking at the replay several times I didn't see enough to clearly say that Trusty didn't make contact with Martinez so the correct application of VAR would be to let the play stand.  Tough call maybe but not outrageous.  And how did it happen in the first place? A Union turnover.  Also, Martinez was not offside as Philly announcers claimed.  You can see a Union player (turns out it was Medunjanin) at the bottom of the TV screen who clearly kept him onside.

So the Union were looking at maybe, maybe, being down 0-1 but the match was still very much salvageable at this point.  Except then Bedoya got a yellow card for entering the arc to adjust his socks as Martinez was preparing to take the kick.  Stoica shows him yellow for delay of game (league is saying it was dissent - whatever).  Unfortunately, Bedoya is already on a yellow for an earlier professional foul.  So Alejandro is gone.  Yeah, other referees might have just warned him instead of showing yellow - it's what I would have done.   On the other hand, Bedoya is clearly trying to ice the kicker.  If' he's already on a yellow, why is Bedoya the one playing games?  He's probably banking on Stoica being reluctant to show a second yellow for a "trivial" offense.  Well, that backfired.  Players from both sides are claiming that Stoica didn't know he already had a yellow.  Not clear how they know that or even how Stoica didn't remember showing Bedoya a yellow a mere eight minutes earlier.  Also, a second video I saw shows Stoica taking out the red within seconds of showing the second yellow so it sure looks like he knew exactly what he was doing (video here). Short leash from Stoica? Probably, but Bedoya was playing with fire and got burned.

It took about three seconds for Medunjanin to totally lose his sh cool after seeing his teammate get sent off.  And about another three seconds for him to get two yellows and the requisite sending off.  Again, overreaction from Stoica?  Maybe, but we don't know what Medunjanin said.  Some are saying he spit at Stoica but to me it looks like he spits at the ground in disgust.  Maybe the first yellow is understandable but walk the hell away after you get the first one.  That the Union have made it clear they will not be appealing Medunjanin's red card shows they realize there's no case to be made here.  They have appealed the Bedoya red.

In sum, the Union made their own bed and they were forced to lie in it.  Funny thing was, they actually played really well.  The PK was converted and they gave up a second goal early in the second half, but were able to cut the deficit in half when Picault megged keeper Brad Guzan in the 52nd minute.  Geez, remember  a month ago when we had no hope of scoring at even strength?  Chances for a draw were alive but on life support until Fabinho was called for handling in the box.  Another correct use of VAR; took a few seconds for Stoica to be notified and a few seconds for him to check it out on the replay monitor.

This was always a tough match on the calendar and was by definition going to be ugly - indoors on artificial turf.  Unfortunately, the repercussions will extend beyond the match as both Bedoya and Medunjanin are looking at suspensions.


Happier Times

Before the devil went down to Georgia, the Union had fashioned a nifty four game unbeaten streak.  They followed up the win in Montreal with an incredible offensive outburst in taking down Real Salt Lake 4-1 with four different goal scorers.  In New Jersey they arguably outplayed the Red Bulls but could only manage a 0-0 draw after Sapong missed a PK.  Back home against Chicago was pretty much a repeat of Real Salt Lake, dominating play and eventually pulling away.  Random memories of the three matches include:

- feeling like Dockal is taking over in the midfield, becoming the playmaker we thought he could be
- in the Chicago match, the half-time whistle was fast approaching with the Union having nothing to show for 45 minutes of dominance; Ilsinho took care of that with a great move and laser shot as time was about to expire
- they are still prone to turnovers that leave them exposed and are very susceptible to counterattacks

Ten points in four games was a shot in the arm.  Still not top six but much closer.  And when playing full strength, right now they look pretty good.


No Return For Aston Villa

Incredibly, Aston Villa sleepwalked through the first half against Fulham in the Champions division playoff final and were lucky to only be down 0-1.  Hard to believe because this was their chance to get back to the Premier League.  The Villans did come to play in the second half and looked lively.  But Dennis, his cynicism finely honed from his years as an Aston Villa fan, scoffed that the only way they would score was if Jack Grealish, the most fouled player on earth, could get a Fulham player to take a second yellow.  Well he did, getting Fulham defender Denis Odoi to make a rash challenge in the 70th minute to earn a second yellow.  Funny thing, it seemed like Villa actually played worse from that point and never found the equalizer and will spend another season in the Championship division.

"Parachute payments" from the league mean that relegated clubs don't feel the full financial pinch from falling out of the top division right away.  But the amounts decline over a three year period and next year, Villa's last with parachute payments, the amount drops from 34m to 15m pounds.  And if you factor in this story about missing tax payments, you can only conclude that the financial situation is not good and prospects for a return to the top tier anytime soon are fading.


Golazo and Concussion

1 v 6 is not a problem for Bale - he scores anyway

I can't say I loved the Champions League Final but it may be because I just plain don't like Real Madrid.  They were certainly the better side in the 3-1 win over Liverpool.  Happy enough for Gareth Bale though, who entered the game as a substitute and provided a game winner of the highest quality.  With the score level at 1-1 Marcelo crossed the ball into the box that Bale bicycle kicked into the net; given the timing, it might be the YouTubeableMoment of the year.

Real Madrid's other two goals came on pretty brutal mistakes by Liverpool keeper Loris Karius.  One was an ill-advised pass that got deflected and the other was a solid but stoppable shot from Bale that went through the keeper's hands.  We found out later that he may have been playing with a concussion.  That would be the second injury that Sergio Ramos inflicted on Liverpool, having sent striker Mo Salah to the sidelines with a shoulder injury in the first half.  Not a big fan of Ramos either but the petition to start a lawsuit against him for injuring Salah is perhaps an overreaction.  Ramos was able to make light of it:

"After the goalkeeper said that I dazed him with a clash with me I am only missing Firmino saying that he got a cold because a drop of my sweat.

The result was good news for Spurs fans as Tottenham will now get a preferred position in next year's Champions League draw.


World Cup Preview

For those who want to get a head start on their World Cup reading, check out this site from Yahoo.  I like that it has team-by-team previews plus assessments of how the individual groups may play out.

Friday I'll be down at Talen Energy to see the Union take on Toronto, the still sleeping giant of the Eastern Conference that currently sits in 10th.  Hope they don't wake up for another week or so.

Next week we'll take a look at the World Cup, not so much to predict the winner but more to suggest  what to watch, in case you're not planning to catch every match.