CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Third qualifying round (leg 1)
Non-Champions Section:
19:00 -- Dynamo Kyiv - Feyenoord 2-1 (0-0)
[0-1] 49' Ruben Schaken
[1-1] 56' Lex Immers (o.-g.)
[2-1] 69' Ideye Brown
20:45 -- Motherwell (Scotland) - Panathinaikos 0-2 (0-1)
Tuesday 31 July 2012
Wednesday 25 July 2012
And the Crooks Move On...
Remember that Champions League game from last season, when Lyon went to Zagreb, and beat Dinamo Zagreb 7-1, on the last matchday, to eliminate Ajax from the competition?
That despicable Croatian team saw the gods smile upon them today.
Ludogorets, the Bulgarian champions, were up 1-0 and 2-1 at the Maksimir stadium, but saw their efforts matched twice. But they still would have gone through, if it wasn't for that third Croatian goal, in minute 90' + 8'.
90' + 8'! What referee gives so many extra minutes? This is very disappointing!
Too bad for Ludogorets. I'm sure most connoisseurs were rooting for them.
Okay, I didn't see the game, so I can't speculate on whether or not it was deserved for Dinamo Zagreb, but how can anybody appreciate such a win from a team that lets (at least in my opinion) opponents beat them 7-1 at home, surely for financial reasons?
That despicable Croatian team saw the gods smile upon them today.
Ludogorets, the Bulgarian champions, were up 1-0 and 2-1 at the Maksimir stadium, but saw their efforts matched twice. But they still would have gone through, if it wasn't for that third Croatian goal, in minute 90' + 8'.
90' + 8'! What referee gives so many extra minutes? This is very disappointing!
Too bad for Ludogorets. I'm sure most connoisseurs were rooting for them.
Okay, I didn't see the game, so I can't speculate on whether or not it was deserved for Dinamo Zagreb, but how can anybody appreciate such a win from a team that lets (at least in my opinion) opponents beat them 7-1 at home, surely for financial reasons?
2012.07.25 - The Results
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Second qualifying round (leg 2)
19:15 -- Helsingborg (Sweden) - The New Saints (Wales) 3-0 (2-0), 3-0 on aggregate
20:00 -- Vardar Skopje (Macedonia) - BATE Borisov (Belarus) 0-0, 2-3 on aggregate
20:45 -- Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) - Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria) 3-2, 4-3 on aggregate
[0-1] 12' Emil Gargorov
[1-1] 33' Ante Rukavina
[1-2] 36' Marcelinho
[2-2] 60' Ante Rukavina
[3-2] 90' + 8' Domagoj Vida
20:45 -- Linfield FC (Northern Ireland) - AEL Limassol (Cyprus) 0-0, 0-3 on aggregate
20:45 -- Slask Wroclaw (Poland) - Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro) 0-1 (0-1), 2-1 on aggregate
19:15 -- Helsingborg (Sweden) - The New Saints (Wales) 3-0 (2-0), 3-0 on aggregate
20:00 -- Vardar Skopje (Macedonia) - BATE Borisov (Belarus) 0-0, 2-3 on aggregate
20:45 -- Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) - Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria) 3-2, 4-3 on aggregate
[0-1] 12' Emil Gargorov
[1-1] 33' Ante Rukavina
[1-2] 36' Marcelinho
[2-2] 60' Ante Rukavina
[3-2] 90' + 8' Domagoj Vida
20:45 -- Linfield FC (Northern Ireland) - AEL Limassol (Cyprus) 0-0, 0-3 on aggregate
20:45 -- Slask Wroclaw (Poland) - Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro) 0-1 (0-1), 2-1 on aggregate
Tuesday 24 July 2012
2012.07.24 - The Results
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Second qualifying round (leg 2)
15:00 -- Shakhter Karagandy (Kazakhstan) - Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic) 1-0 (1-0), 1-1 on aggregate, 1-1 (1-0) after extra time, 1-2 total aggregate score
17:30 -- Ventspils (Latvia) - Molde FK (Norway) 1-1 (1-1), 1-4 on aggregate
18:00 -- Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) - Dudelange (Luxembourg) 4-3 (2-1), 4-4 on aggregate, Dudelange advances on away-goals rule
18:30 -- Ironi Kiryat Shmona (Israel) - MK Zilina (Slovakia) 2-0 (0-0), 2-1 on aggregate
19:00 -- Ekranas Kaunas (Lithuania) - Shamrock Rovers (Ireland) 2-1 (1-0), 2-1 on aggregate
19:00 -- Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) - Ulisses Yerevan (Armenia) 1-0 (0-0), 2-0 on aggregate
19:00 -- Zestafoni (Georgia) - Neftci Baku (Azerbaijan) 2-2 (2-1), 2-5 on aggregate
20:00 -- FC Basel - Flora Tallinn (Estonia) 3-0 (2-0), 5-0 on aggregate
20:30 -- Debrecen (Hungary) - Skenderbeu Korce (Albania) 3-0 (1-0), 3-1 on aggregate
20:45 -- Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) - Valletta FC (Malta) 3-1 (1-0), 7-2 on aggregate
21:00 -- Zeljeznicar Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina) - Maribor Branik (Slovenia) 1-2 (0-1), 2-6 on aggregate
21:15 -- KR Reykjavik (Iceland) - HJK Helsinki (Finland) 1-2 (0-0), 1-9 on aggregate
15:00 -- Shakhter Karagandy (Kazakhstan) - Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic) 1-0 (1-0), 1-1 on aggregate, 1-1 (1-0) after extra time, 1-2 total aggregate score
17:30 -- Ventspils (Latvia) - Molde FK (Norway) 1-1 (1-1), 1-4 on aggregate
18:00 -- Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) - Dudelange (Luxembourg) 4-3 (2-1), 4-4 on aggregate, Dudelange advances on away-goals rule
18:30 -- Ironi Kiryat Shmona (Israel) - MK Zilina (Slovakia) 2-0 (0-0), 2-1 on aggregate
19:00 -- Ekranas Kaunas (Lithuania) - Shamrock Rovers (Ireland) 2-1 (1-0), 2-1 on aggregate
19:00 -- Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) - Ulisses Yerevan (Armenia) 1-0 (0-0), 2-0 on aggregate
19:00 -- Zestafoni (Georgia) - Neftci Baku (Azerbaijan) 2-2 (2-1), 2-5 on aggregate
20:00 -- FC Basel - Flora Tallinn (Estonia) 3-0 (2-0), 5-0 on aggregate
20:30 -- Debrecen (Hungary) - Skenderbeu Korce (Albania) 3-0 (1-0), 3-1 on aggregate
20:45 -- Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) - Valletta FC (Malta) 3-1 (1-0), 7-2 on aggregate
21:00 -- Zeljeznicar Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina) - Maribor Branik (Slovenia) 1-2 (0-1), 2-6 on aggregate
21:15 -- KR Reykjavik (Iceland) - HJK Helsinki (Finland) 1-2 (0-0), 1-9 on aggregate
Dudelange Through to Third Round
Wow, Dudelange did end up eliminating the Austrian team.
3-4, in Salzburg, it ended, with a total aggregate score of 4-4. But F91 Dudelange advances, thanks to the away-goals rule.
They did concede 4 goals, so their defense was suffering, but it's still an impressive achievement for football in Luxembourg.
Good for them!
Let's see what they do against Maribor in the next phase.
3-4, in Salzburg, it ended, with a total aggregate score of 4-4. But F91 Dudelange advances, thanks to the away-goals rule.
They did concede 4 goals, so their defense was suffering, but it's still an impressive achievement for football in Luxembourg.
Good for them!
Let's see what they do against Maribor in the next phase.
Wednesday 18 July 2012
2012.07.18 - The Results
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Second qualifying round (leg 1)
18:00 -- BATE Borisov (Belarus) - Vardar Skopje (Macedonia) 3-2 (1-0)
19:00 -- AEL Limassol (Cyprus) - Linfield FC (Northern Ireland) 3-0 (2-0)
20:00 -- Maribor Branik (Slovenia) - Zeljeznicar Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina) 4-1 (0-1)
20:15 -- Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria) - Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) 1-1
[1-0] 67' Marcelinho
[1-1] 90' + 3' Ante Rukavina
20:45 -- Molde FK (Norway) - Ventspils (Latvia) 3-0 (0-0)
20:45 -- Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro) - Slask Wroclaw (Poland) 0-2 (0-1)
18:00 -- BATE Borisov (Belarus) - Vardar Skopje (Macedonia) 3-2 (1-0)
19:00 -- AEL Limassol (Cyprus) - Linfield FC (Northern Ireland) 3-0 (2-0)
20:00 -- Maribor Branik (Slovenia) - Zeljeznicar Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina) 4-1 (0-1)
20:15 -- Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria) - Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) 1-1
[1-0] 67' Marcelinho
[1-1] 90' + 3' Ante Rukavina
20:45 -- Molde FK (Norway) - Ventspils (Latvia) 3-0 (0-0)
20:45 -- Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro) - Slask Wroclaw (Poland) 0-2 (0-1)
Tuesday 17 July 2012
2012.07.17 - The Results
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Second qualifying round (leg 1)
17:00 -- Ulisses Yerevan (Armenia) - Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) 0-1 (0-0)
17:45 -- Flora Tallinn (Estonia) - FC Basel 0-2 (0-0)
18:00 -- HJK Helsinki (Finland) - KR Reykjavik (Iceland) 7-0 (2-0)
18:00 -- Neftci Baku (Azerbaijan) - Zestafoni (Georgia) 3-0 (2-0)
18:30 -- Dudelange (Luxembourg) - Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) 1-0 (0-0)
19:00 -- Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic) - Shakhter Karagandy (Kazakhstan) 1-0 (1-0)
19:30 -- MK Zilina (Slovakia) - Ironi Kiryat Shmona (Israel) 1-0 (0-0)
20:15 -- The New Saints (Wales) - Helsingborg (Sweden) 0-0
20:30 -- Skenderbeu Korce (Albania) - Debrecen (Hungary) 1-0 (0-0)
20:45 -- Valletta FC (Malta) - Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) 1-4 (0-3)
21:00 -- Shamrock Rovers (Ireland) - Ekranas Kaunas (Lithuania) 0-0
17:00 -- Ulisses Yerevan (Armenia) - Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) 0-1 (0-0)
17:45 -- Flora Tallinn (Estonia) - FC Basel 0-2 (0-0)
18:00 -- HJK Helsinki (Finland) - KR Reykjavik (Iceland) 7-0 (2-0)
18:00 -- Neftci Baku (Azerbaijan) - Zestafoni (Georgia) 3-0 (2-0)
18:30 -- Dudelange (Luxembourg) - Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) 1-0 (0-0)
19:00 -- Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic) - Shakhter Karagandy (Kazakhstan) 1-0 (1-0)
19:30 -- MK Zilina (Slovakia) - Ironi Kiryat Shmona (Israel) 1-0 (0-0)
20:15 -- The New Saints (Wales) - Helsingborg (Sweden) 0-0
20:30 -- Skenderbeu Korce (Albania) - Debrecen (Hungary) 1-0 (0-0)
20:45 -- Valletta FC (Malta) - Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) 1-4 (0-3)
21:00 -- Shamrock Rovers (Ireland) - Ekranas Kaunas (Lithuania) 0-0
Look at Dudelange!
3 matches in the Champions League, 3 wins, and goal difference 12-0.
Pretty nice for a team from Luxembourg, especially considering that Red Bull Salzburg was a hot team in the Europa League just three seasons ago! (6 wins out of 6 in 2009-2010.)
Yeah, they started all the way at the bottom, from the first qualifying round, but still...
If Dudelange goes out, by losing the return leg against Salzburg 0-1 or 0-2, let's say, they could end up with a better goal difference than even the eventual competition winner. 12-1 or 12-2, or so, is a nice goal difference.
But maybe they'll even eliminate Red Bull Salzburg.
(In 2009-2010, inter ended with only 17-9 total goal difference, over all the matches.)
Pretty nice for a team from Luxembourg, especially considering that Red Bull Salzburg was a hot team in the Europa League just three seasons ago! (6 wins out of 6 in 2009-2010.)
Yeah, they started all the way at the bottom, from the first qualifying round, but still...
If Dudelange goes out, by losing the return leg against Salzburg 0-1 or 0-2, let's say, they could end up with a better goal difference than even the eventual competition winner. 12-1 or 12-2, or so, is a nice goal difference.
But maybe they'll even eliminate Red Bull Salzburg.
(In 2009-2010, inter ended with only 17-9 total goal difference, over all the matches.)
Tuesday 10 July 2012
2012.07.10 - The Results
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: First qualifying round (leg 2)
19:00 -- B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands) - Linfield FC (Northern Ireland) 0-0, 0-0 on aggregate, 0-0 after extra time, 3-4 on penalties, 3-4 total aggregate score (including penalties scored)
19:30 -- Lusitans (Andorra) - Valletta FC (Malta) 0-1 (0-1), 0-9 on aggregate
20:30 -- Tre Penne (San Marino) - Dudelange (Luxembourg) 0-4 (0-4), 0-11 on aggregate
19:00 -- B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands) - Linfield FC (Northern Ireland) 0-0, 0-0 on aggregate, 0-0 after extra time, 3-4 on penalties, 3-4 total aggregate score (including penalties scored)
19:30 -- Lusitans (Andorra) - Valletta FC (Malta) 0-1 (0-1), 0-9 on aggregate
20:30 -- Tre Penne (San Marino) - Dudelange (Luxembourg) 0-4 (0-4), 0-11 on aggregate
Wednesday 4 July 2012
2012.07.04 - The Results
USA: Major League Soccer
01:00 -- Montreal Impact - Sporting Kansas City 1-3 (0-0)
03:00 -- Dallas - Toronto FC 1-1 (1-1)
03:30 -- Colorado Rapids - Vancouver Whitecaps 0-1
44' Darren Mattocks
04:00 -- Real Salt Lake - Seattle Sounders 0-0
04:30 -- Los Angeles Galaxy - Philadelphia Union 1-2 (0-1)
Current standings:
Eastern Conference:
1 DC United 18 10 3 5 34-22 +12 33p
2 Sporting KC 17 10 2 5 23-17 +6 32p
3 New York 17 9 4 4 32-25 +7 31p
4 Chicago Fire 17 8 4 5 21-19 +2 28p
5 Houston 17 6 6 5 22-24 -2 24p
6 Columbus 15 6 4 5 16-15 +1 22p
Western Conference:
1 San Jose 18 11 3 4 36-24 +12 36p
2 Real Salt Lake 19 10 3 6 28-21 +7 33p
3 Vancouver 17 8 5 4 19-19 0 29p
4 Seattle 18 7 6 5 21-18 +3 27p
5 Colorado 17 7 1 9 24-22 +2 22p
6 LA Galaxy 18 6 2 10 26-29 -3 20p
01:00 -- Montreal Impact - Sporting Kansas City 1-3 (0-0)
03:00 -- Dallas - Toronto FC 1-1 (1-1)
03:30 -- Colorado Rapids - Vancouver Whitecaps 0-1
44' Darren Mattocks
04:00 -- Real Salt Lake - Seattle Sounders 0-0
04:30 -- Los Angeles Galaxy - Philadelphia Union 1-2 (0-1)
Current standings:
Eastern Conference:
1 DC United 18 10 3 5 34-22 +12 33p
2 Sporting KC 17 10 2 5 23-17 +6 32p
3 New York 17 9 4 4 32-25 +7 31p
4 Chicago Fire 17 8 4 5 21-19 +2 28p
5 Houston 17 6 6 5 22-24 -2 24p
6 Columbus 15 6 4 5 16-15 +1 22p
Western Conference:
1 San Jose 18 11 3 4 36-24 +12 36p
2 Real Salt Lake 19 10 3 6 28-21 +7 33p
3 Vancouver 17 8 5 4 19-19 0 29p
4 Seattle 18 7 6 5 21-18 +3 27p
5 Colorado 17 7 1 9 24-22 +2 22p
6 LA Galaxy 18 6 2 10 26-29 -3 20p
Only Play-Off Matches Worth It?
I just don't see the point in what the Americans are doing with their MLS.
The teams who work very hard for almost one full season, winning their conferences, get nothing more but one less match in the play-off competition than the teams that finish fourth and fifth. And they also get absolutely nothing more when compared to the teams that finish second and third.
So, then, really, what's the incentive to play the best football, for most of the year, in MLS?
(Yeah, that's right, nothing! It was a rhetorical question. All the MLS teams need to do is make it to the play-offs, and then take it from there seriously and try to win the real thing.)
Consequently, I see very little reason to continue covering the regular MLS season.
So, yeah, there will be more MLS to talk about, with interest, but at the end of October.
Oh, and yeah, Happy Birthday, U.S. of A! Happy 4th of July!
The teams who work very hard for almost one full season, winning their conferences, get nothing more but one less match in the play-off competition than the teams that finish fourth and fifth. And they also get absolutely nothing more when compared to the teams that finish second and third.
So, then, really, what's the incentive to play the best football, for most of the year, in MLS?
(Yeah, that's right, nothing! It was a rhetorical question. All the MLS teams need to do is make it to the play-offs, and then take it from there seriously and try to win the real thing.)
Consequently, I see very little reason to continue covering the regular MLS season.
So, yeah, there will be more MLS to talk about, with interest, but at the end of October.
Oh, and yeah, Happy Birthday, U.S. of A! Happy 4th of July!
Tuesday 3 July 2012
2012.07.03 - The Results
USA: Major League Soccer
02:30 -- Houston Dynamo - Chicago Fire 0-0
04:30 -- Portland Timbers - San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 (1-0)
Current standings:
Eastern Conference:
1 DC United 18 10 3 5 34-22 +12 33p
2 New York 17 9 4 4 32-25 +7 31p
3 Sporting KC 16 9 2 5 20-16 +4 29p
4 Chicago Fire 17 8 4 5 21-19 +2 28p
5 Houston 17 6 6 5 22-24 -2 24p
6 Columbus 15 6 4 5 16-15 +1 22p
Western Conference:
1 San Jose 18 11 3 4 36-24 +12 36p
2 Real Salt Lake 18 10 2 6 28-21 +7 32p
3 Seattle 17 7 5 5 21-18 +3 26p
4 Vancouver 16 7 5 4 18-19 -1 26p
5 Colorado 16 7 1 8 24-21 +3 22p
6 LA Galaxy 17 6 2 9 25-27 -2 20p
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: First qualifying round (leg 1)
18:30 -- Dudelange (Luxembourg) - Tre Penne (San Marino) 7-0 (2-0)
19:30 -- Valletta FC (Malta) - Lusitans (Andorra) 8-0 (6-0)
20:45 -- Linfield FC (Northern Ireland) - B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands) 0-0
02:30 -- Houston Dynamo - Chicago Fire 0-0
04:30 -- Portland Timbers - San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 (1-0)
Current standings:
Eastern Conference:
1 DC United 18 10 3 5 34-22 +12 33p
2 New York 17 9 4 4 32-25 +7 31p
3 Sporting KC 16 9 2 5 20-16 +4 29p
4 Chicago Fire 17 8 4 5 21-19 +2 28p
5 Houston 17 6 6 5 22-24 -2 24p
6 Columbus 15 6 4 5 16-15 +1 22p
Western Conference:
1 San Jose 18 11 3 4 36-24 +12 36p
2 Real Salt Lake 18 10 2 6 28-21 +7 32p
3 Seattle 17 7 5 5 21-18 +3 26p
4 Vancouver 16 7 5 4 18-19 -1 26p
5 Colorado 16 7 1 8 24-21 +3 22p
6 LA Galaxy 17 6 2 9 25-27 -2 20p
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: First qualifying round (leg 1)
18:30 -- Dudelange (Luxembourg) - Tre Penne (San Marino) 7-0 (2-0)
19:30 -- Valletta FC (Malta) - Lusitans (Andorra) 8-0 (6-0)
20:45 -- Linfield FC (Northern Ireland) - B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands) 0-0
Sunday 1 July 2012
WTF Was That?!?
Spain - Italy -- The Euro 2012 Final...
But nobody expected what happened in this final, in Kyiv.
Del Bosque's team made the Italians look like complete amateurs.
And the Squadra Azzura played like shit, too, to help make the humiliation too easy for the Spanish to inflict.
Moreover, everything came perfectly into place for Spain. From the lucky sequence of events leading to Silva' goal, the first of the four, to the missed so-so chances for the Italians (at least one of which might have gone in on another, more lucky, night).
Some analysts would say "Oh, the Spanish neutralized Pirlo quite well", or "The Italians could not find each other as in previous matches, due to the Spanish passing machine".
All I can say is: Shame on the Italian team for being such a disgrace in this match!
Prandelli should have the decency to step down after such a pathetic performance!
Spain makes it three consecutive wins in the biggest tournaments: Euro, World Cup, Euro again.
How will they fare in Brazil, in 2014?
(If there ever was one European national team with a huge chance to win the World Cup on South American ground, it is Spain, now.)
Highlights:
But nobody expected what happened in this final, in Kyiv.
Del Bosque's team made the Italians look like complete amateurs.
And the Squadra Azzura played like shit, too, to help make the humiliation too easy for the Spanish to inflict.
Moreover, everything came perfectly into place for Spain. From the lucky sequence of events leading to Silva' goal, the first of the four, to the missed so-so chances for the Italians (at least one of which might have gone in on another, more lucky, night).
Some analysts would say "Oh, the Spanish neutralized Pirlo quite well", or "The Italians could not find each other as in previous matches, due to the Spanish passing machine".
All I can say is: Shame on the Italian team for being such a disgrace in this match!
Prandelli should have the decency to step down after such a pathetic performance!
Spain makes it three consecutive wins in the biggest tournaments: Euro, World Cup, Euro again.
How will they fare in Brazil, in 2014?
(If there ever was one European national team with a huge chance to win the World Cup on South American ground, it is Spain, now.)
Highlights:
2012.07.01 - The Result
EURO 2012: Final
20:45 -- Spain - Italy 4-0
14' David Silva
41' Jordi Alba
84' Fernando Torres
88' Juan Mata
20:45 -- Spain - Italy 4-0
14' David Silva
41' Jordi Alba
84' Fernando Torres
88' Juan Mata
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