Sounders Start Second Half LIke the Ended First Half

With a disappointing loss, this time to the expansion Union 1-3, a team that had won just 2 games prior. Sigi, are the alarm bells sounding yet?

Sounders Quote of the Week

Sounders Keeper Keller with a gem of observational brilliance:

"We're still leaking goals and it's frustrating and we're all frustrated. I mean, it's the same guys, except for Sebastien and Stephen King, who did it last year, so from that standpoint you say, 'Yes we have the talent.' But it's been the consistency of our inconsistency that's really hurt us."

Ciaio, Italy!

Thank you, Soccer Gods. Thank you.

Wonderful Deep Sea Discovery

NOAA researchers have discovered a large deep-sea boulder field off Washington's coast that is home to a rich variety of fishes, sponges and sea plants. The article fails to mention location, and maybe there's circumspection because of vulnerability to harvest? Hopefully, we'll get this protected before it can be fished?

Please, Please Send the Italians Home

Bully for New Zealand for drawing (and coming oh so close to beating) the cup holders of Italy. The Italian game is so centrally-driven by cheating through diving and over-acting that would shame a young Will Shatner, that it can hardly be called football at all. When the whole world is watching, the refs and FIFA need to do the right thing and send Azzurri-Ball to the trashbin of history. Don't forget to save room for CRon...

Rant aside, the All Whites deserve all credit. They nicked a goal early and played lights out, death or glory football to record a historic upset (yes, a draw can be an upset). Ryan Nelsen was one of the defensive standouts for me. I've always enjoyed his character and attitude when watching Blackburn in the EPL, and he was every bit as important to New Zealand as he is to his home club.

Could New Zealand go through? Could the Italians fail to advance? Only just and caring football gods would create such an outcome.

Is the Gulf Oil Spill the nation's worst environmental disaster as the President and many pundits have declared? Justin Gillis, writing in the NYT, points out that this highly subjective (and, ultimately, political) declaration really depends on how one defines a disaster. Unfortunately, there are many candidates for the US to choose from for the winner in this division, and in reading the  article I wonder if the Gulf Spill will rank in the top five. However, it's early days yet.

“My take,” said William W. Savage Jr., a professor of history at the University of Oklahoma, “is that we’re not going to be able to tell until it’s over.”

USA Jobbed and Robbed by Incompetent Ref

Really. This guy stunk up the place, as articulated by Peter King. This is my major beef with referees. They often seem to be as unaccountable as the local TV weatherman. And yet, unlike the weatherman, their blunders have huge implications for players, for teams, and for nations.

Although the USA had plenty of reasons to kick themselves for a subpar first half and surrendering 2 goals to Slovenia, they had fought back to win the game 3-2 with a Maurice Edu strike off a Landon Donovan free kick. But the Mauritian referee blew the whistle and disallowed the goal and the world is still wondering what the call was! This World Cup has lost some of the luster of a magnificent first week due to an inexplicable decision and a system that enables such injustice.

Sins Against The Game, Part II

Cristiano Ronaldo. Dive.
He had at least five obvious dives in the game. He is a disgrace and a blight upon the game.

Sins Against The Game

Could FIFA outlaw the short corner kick? If you win a corner kick, you have to put the ball in the area or you surrender possession and a goal kick is awarded.

Goalkeeper Disasters, Part III

This World Cup may go down as the Tournament of Goalkeeping disasters. Add to the list of diabolical keeper errors (Robert Green for England, the Slovenian keeper), the Paraguayan keeper completely missed a  cross and allowed De Rossi the easy tap-in to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw.

I can't recall seeing this number of really diabolical keeping errors in such a short span of time..

Goliath Beats Crud Out of David

On paper this match should be a bit of a cakewalk. On grass, the game starts just that way as Podolski and Klose start with very nicely taken goals in the 8th and 27th minutes, respectively.

Nice to see the referee issue a yellow card to Germany's Oezil for the first real awful dive of the Cup.

(One note on the German squad, Schweinsteiger has to be the best name in football. Whenever the announcer says his name, I can't help but repeat it myself.)

The German forwards are making brilliant runs into final third.This game looks as if it has more than 2 goals to give to the German team.

And it does, with the Germans smashing four past Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer who doesn't embarrass himself, like some previous keepers, but instead whose team is just thoroughly outmatched.

Germany is the first of the tournament's giants, and they look ready to roll deep into the tournament.

Ghana Wins Its Opener

Serbia-Ghana. Ghana starts the game well. I had figured the absence of Michael Essien  would hamper the Black Stars, but the midfield looks sharp, organized and tough. The Ghanaian defensive line looks up to the task as they're handling everything that comes their way and distribute the ball weel from the backfield. Still, the first half saw little in the way of real chances. to

In the 53rd minute, Tagoe puts a beautiful ball in, right on his teammate's head and he pushes the ball wide Should've been 1-0.

Three minutes later, Serbia has their own should'a could'a moment, as Zigic gets a pass placed right onto his feet, but the Serbian Peter Crouch misplaces the easy shot in the opposite direction from glory.

Kingson saves a powerful shot on-keeper from Klasic a few minutes after Lukovic is sent off for a 2nd yellow. Then Kuzmanovic suffers a moment of madness and needlessy commjts a handling violation in the box. Asamoah Gyan coolly places the game in the back of the net and that's a 1-0 winner for the Black Stars.

This was a very good game to watch. And I have to say, the referees so far have been nearly flawless. Having had to watch the pitiful MLS refs so much, the past few days have been enjoyable from the standpoint of soccer that isn't ruined by incompetent reffing.

Where's the Diving?

Mind you, I'm not complaining, but seven games in and I've seen very little diving or attempts to cheat the referee (and, I might add, the fans). Is this a new trend, or simply a result of the fact that Portugal and CRon haven't played yet?

Whatever, hopefully it continues. The game is so much better without the acting.

Slovenia Keeps Streak of Dodgy Keeping Alive

Algeria/Slovenia. Yawn.

Algeria lucky to get a goal and the 3 points in a game that looked most likely to produce clean sheets for both keepers. The Sloveniian keeper, however, had another thought in mind as he missed badly - really badly on a routine strike. Algeria goes top of Group C, as the goalkeeping position is the most influential position so far in the group.

South Korea puts Greece down

South Korea again looks like a tough, scrappy team again. They show themselves to be speedy, organized and resilient. Greece, OTOH, one-dimensional and slow, and losers in a 2-0 match.

Opening Game Bright Start to Tournament

Shabalala hits a great left-footed shot early in the 2nd half to give South Africa the lead. The finish was the result of a really nice counter-attack from the Bafana Bafana.
After the goal, Mexico looks shaky. The ref ignores an abvious foul in the box when Modise breaks through and Rodriguez prevents a decent shot by hauling the striker down.

Wiith the game almost in hand...and South Africa offers a hinky bit of team defensive play, offering Mexico three options to score. Rafa Marquez does not miss the chance to tie and game over.

Wow. South Africa outplayed Mexico in the 2nd half and should'a had this thing won. A good start to the tournament.

So That's What They're Called

Now, if we could ban them from soccer, I'd be happy. These bleating noisemakers are a painful soundtrack to Sounders'' games. When someone near my seats starts blowing on their little horn, violence is tempting...

Sounders Return to Form!

Last night's comprehensive 3-0 win over Revolution of New England was as fun a footy match as I've attended since last season. The Sounders simply looked like the team they can be. They were passionate, smart, and they were attacking the goal with intensity and aplomb.

Where the Rave Green lost an insipid 1-0 match against San Jose, despite 18 unconvincing shots, the Sounders blasted 19 shots at hapless Rev keeper Bobby Shuttleworth, most of which looked dangerous, if not on frame. They could've won this thing with 6 goals or more. As it was, all three goals were quality, the first and second, absolutely brilliant.

Just to see a shot like Leo Gonzales' left-footed blast curve around a keeper and into the upper far corner (as well as the tidy build-up to create the opportunity) live and in the moment, is worth every penny of my cheap seats!

While I was hard on Gonzalez in my last post, I felt he had an outstanding game against New England's Nyassi, just the pacey sort of player I said he couldn't cover. Leo frustrated and outsmarted Sainey all night long, and on the one occasion the little speedster got past him, Gonzalez made a professional foul to mute the danger to a free kick.

Freddie Ljungberg may still be a pompous windbag, but his all-out play against the Revs had me applauding the Swede in the second half. He was the engine room on the good ship Sounders and he needs to turn out performances like this consistently for the rest of the season.