KHL September 5th, 2014

Just another single-game day, as Dynamo Moscow hosts crosstown rivals CSKA Moscow. Stanislav Galimov and Alexander Yeryomenko tend the twines. Dynamo opened with a first period power play goal by Nikolai Zherdev, powered by Konstantin Glazachev. CSKA tied it with an Igor Grigorenko goal, fueled by Alexander Radulov. CSKA took the lead with a Stephane Da Costa goal, coming off of Grigorenko and Radulov. CSKA added on in the second period as Da Costa scored again, going in unassisted. CSKA extended the lead in the third period on a Nikita Zaitsev goal, passed from Grigorenko and Radulov, the latter getting a sock trick. This made it 4-1, a final, with the three stars going to Da Costa, Grigorenko, and Radulov.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL September 4th, 2014

The new season begins in earnest today, as ten games are on the schedule. The first is from...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Admiral Vladivostok. Ari Ahonen and Alexei Murygin play goal. Vladivostok was first to score with an unassisted power play goal by Niclas Bergfors in the first period. Admiral added on as Alexander Gorshkov scored an unassisted goal. Khabarovsk got on the board with a Rastislav Spirko goal, fueled by Dmitry Tarasov on the power play. Sergei Borisov relieved Murygin late in the first period. Amur tied the game in the second period with a Jesse Niinimaki power play goal, powered by Alexander Loginov and Michel Miklik. Khabarovsk took the lead as Miklik scored, with the help of Loginov. Vladivostok tied it again with a Logan Pyett goal, passed from Gorshkov. Amur pulled ahead in the third period on a power play goal by Vyacheslav Litovchenko, guided in by Ruslan Bashkirov and Mikhail Zheleznov. Khabarovsk extended the lead with a Bashkirov goal, made possible by Kirill Safronov and Tommi Taimi on the power play. Admiral got one back with a Jan Kolar power play goal, set up by Enver Lisin. The final stood at 5-4 in favor of Amur, and the three stars were Bashkirov, Miklik, and Loginov, while Gorshkov gets an honorable mention.

To the west, Avangard Omsk welcomes Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Ilya Sorokin and Konstantin Barulin are in the creases. Novokuznetsk dented the scoreboard in the second period on an Alexander Komaristy goal, via Artyom Garifullin. This was it for the scoring in the game. Metallurg won 1-0, and the three stars were Sorokin (37 save shutout), Komaristy, and Barulin (18 for 19 in saves).

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana brings in Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Vitaly Koval and Jan Laco receive the starting nods. Astana opened in the first period with a Nigel Dawes power play goal, powered by Kevin Dallman and Brandon Bochenski. Barys added on with a Dustin Boyd goal, with a lone assist by Dawes. Astana extended the lead as Dawes scored again, thanks to Boyd and Bochenski. Vladimir Sokhatsky came on in relief of Koval at this time. Ufa got on the board in the second period as Antti Pihlstrom scored, with the help of Andrei Zubarev and Alexei Kaigorodov. Salavat Yulaev pulled closer on another Pihlstrom goal, assisted by Kirill Koltsov. Ufa tied it on a Yegor Dubrovsky goal, fueled by Ivan Lekomtsev. Salavat Yulaev took the lead when Pihlstrom completed his hat trick with a power play goal made possible by Kaigorodov. Barys retied it in the third period on a Dallman power play goal, with a lone helper by Dawes. With just a second left in regulation, Dawes completed his hat trick on an unassisted power play goal, giving Astana a 5-4 victory. The three stars were Dawes, Pihlstrom, and Dallman, while Bochenski, Boyd, and Kaigorodov receive the honorable mentions.

Up in Nizhnekamsk, Neftekhimik hosts Traktor Chelyabinsk. Vladislav Fokin and Alexander Sudnitsin are between the pipes. Nizhnekamsk struck first in the first period with a Tim Stapleton goal, assisted by Teemu Eronen and Dan Sexton. Neftekhimik added on with an Andrei Stepanov goal, courtesy of Maxim Berezin and Pyotr Khokhryakov on the power play. Nizhnekamsk extended the lead in the second period with a power play goal by Berezin, powered by Josh Hennessy and Yegor Antropov. Chelyabinsk got one back in the third period on a Stanislav Chistov goal, guided in by Deron Quint and Kyle Wilson on the power play. Neftekhimik iced it at 4-1 with an empty net goal by Sexton, set up by Mikhail Zhukov and Yegor Milovzorov. The three stars were Berezin, Sexton, and Sudnitsin (31 for 32 in saves).

A little west to Cherepovets, as Severstal welcomes Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ivan Kasutin and Jakub Stepanek man the nets. Nizhny Novgorod got going in the third period on a Dmitry Kazionov goal, assisted by Viktor Drugov and Vyacheslav Kulyomin. Torpedo finished it at 2-0 with a power play goal into an empty net by Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev, set up by Vladimir Galuzin and Juuso Hietanen. The three stars were Kasutin (29 save shutout), Kazionov, and Stepanek (32 for 33 in saves).

Along to a new city for me, as Lada Togliatti brings in Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Stepan Goryachevskikh and Jeff Glass guard the cages. Togliatti began in the first period with an unassisted Peter Podhradsky goal. Khanty-Mansiysk tied it with an Igor Magogin power play goal, powered by Alexei Pepelyaev. Yugra took the lead in the second period on a Toni Rajala goal, fueled by Ben Maxwell. Khanty-Mansiysk added on in the third period as Nikita Gusev scored, with the help of Andrei Sergeyev and Pavel Medvedev. Yugra extended the lead on a Sergei Lesnukhin goal, via Sergeyev and Kirill Knyazev. Lada got one back with a Martin Zatovic goal, coming off of Dmitry Vorobyov on the power play. Khanty-Mansiysk went on to win 5-2 after a shorthanded empty net goal by Ivan Yatsenko, going in unassisted. The three stars were Sergeyev, Gusev, and Podhradsky.

Into the mountains, as Ak Bars Kazan hosts Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Anders Nilsson protect the nets. Kazan dented the scoreboard with a second period Vladimir Tkachyov goal, coming off of Kirill Petrov and Oscar Moller on the power play. Yekaterinburg tied it with a power play goal by Alexander Bumagin, powered by Filipp Metlyuk and Anton Krysanov. Ak Bars retook the lead on a power play goal by Ilya Nikulin, passed from Justin Azevedo and Moller. Kazan added on with a Janne Pesonen goal, fueled by Mikhail Varnakov and Alexander Burmistrov. Avtomobilist got one back in the third period on an Alexei Simakov goal, with helpers provided by Sami Lepisto and Anton Lazarev. They failed to tie it, losing 3-2, with the three stars being Pesonen, Moller, and Nilsson (23 for 25 in saves).

North to Finland, where Jokerit Helsinki welcomes Dinamo Minsk. Lars Haugen and Henrik Karlsson are between the pipes. Helsinki started in the first period with a Niklas Hagman goal, fueled by Niko Kapanen and Juhamatti Aaltonen on the power play. Minsk tied it with a power play goal by Jonathan Cheechoo, powered by Matt Ellison and Ryan Vesce. Jokerit took the lead back in the second period on a Ryan Gunderson goal, guided in by Riku Hahl and Semir Ben-Amor. Dinamo retied it with a Charles Linglet goal, with a lone assist by Cheechoo on the power play. Minsk retook the lead as Cheechoo scored another goal, courtesy of Linglet and Ellison on the power play. Helsinki retied it with a Petr Koukal goal, via Linus Omark and Daine Todd. Dinamo took the lead back as Cheechoo finished his hat trick with an unassisted goal. Jokerit pulled even again on a Steve Moses goal, made possible by Koukal and Todd. Minsk won it with a power play goal in overtime for a 5-4 decision, scored by Ellison with assists by Vesce and Cheechoo. The three stars were Cheechoo, Ellison, and Todd, while Vesce, Linglet, and Koukal get the honorable mentions.

Back in Russia again, as SKA St. Petersburg brings in Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Alexander Salak draw the starts. St. Petersburg led off with a first period goal by Jimmie Ericsson, going in unassisted. SKA added on with a Yury Alexandrov power play goal, powered by Ilya Kovalchuk and Artemy Panarin. Yaroslavl got on the board as Kirill Kapustin scored an unassisted goal. Lokomotiv tied it on a Geoff Platt goal, assisted by Janis Sprukts. St. Petersburg retook the lead on a second period Evgeny Dadonov power play goal, guided in by Alexandrov and Vadim Shipachyov. Yaroslavl pulled even again on a Martin Thornberg goal, helped along by Sprukts on the power play. SKA pulled ahead again with a Kovalchuk goal, with a lone assist by Viktor Tikhonov. St. Petersburg iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Kovalchuk. The three stars were Kovalchuk, Alexandrov, and Sprukts.

Finally, in Bratislava, Slovan hosts Medvescak Zagreb. Mark Dekanich and Johan Backlund are the masked men. Bratislava began in the first period with a Ladislav Nagy power play goal, powered by Vaclav Nedorost. Slovan added on as Nagy scored a shorthanded goal, set up by Milan Bartovic. Zagreb got on the board in the second period with a Matt Anderson goal, fueled by Darren Haydar. Bratislava got it back with a Michal Sersen power play goal, guided in by Ziga Jeglic. Medvescak replied with a Martin St. Pierre goal in the third period, assisted by Pascal Pelletier and Mathieu Carle. Slovan shot back with a power play goal by Libor Hudacek, with a helpers from Tomas Netik and Tomas Surovy. Bratislava won 5-2 when Nagy finished his hat trick with an empty net goal, via Michal Vondrka. The three stars were Nagy, Sersen, and Hudacek.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion. 

MLS Wednesday September 3rd, 2014

Three games on tonight, beginning with...

The Philadelphia Union hosting Toronto FC. Joe Bendik and Zac MacMath are set to start in goal. Philadelphia had the first yellow card for a thirty-third minute handball by Maurice Edu. The Union opened the scoring the fifty-fifth minute on a Conor Casey goal, coming off of Sebastien Le Toux and Cristian Maidana. Toronto went down to ten men in the seventy-seventh minute as Ashtone Morgan was given a straight red card for a professional foul, followed by an eighty-fourth minute yellow card to Michael Bradley for a foul. In stoppage time, Doneil Henry of Toronto was booked on a yellow card for a foul. The game ended 1-0, and MacMath was the man of the match for his three-save clean sheet.

Up in New England, the Revolution welcome Sporting Kansas City. Andy Gruenebaum and Bobby Shuttleworth are the goalies with long last names. Kansas City struck first in the ninth minute with a Soony Saad goal, going in unassisted. New England took a yellow card in the twenty-second minute for a foul by Daigo Kobayashi. The Revolution saw Teal Bunbury booked in the twenty-ninth minute for a foul as well, giving him a yellow card. Sporting was the next with a yellow card, given to Mikey Lopez in the thirty-fifth minute for a foul. Kansas City' Seth Sinovic had the next yellow card in the thirty-ninth minute, also for a foul. New England tied it in the forty-fifth minute on a Bunbury goal, set up by Jermaine Jones. The Revolution took the lead in the forty-eighth minute as Lee Nguyen scored, thanks to Kelyn Rowe. Sporting was booked again for a foul by Graham Zusi in the eighty-fourth minute, which brought about a yellow card, but New England's Rowe also had a yellow card for a foul. The Revolution iced it at 3-1 in stoppage time with a Nguyen goal, made possible by Patrick Mullins. Nguyen was the man of the match for his brace.

The last game comes from California, as Chivas USA brings in the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Dan Kennedy man the nets. Seattle struck first with an eleventh minute goal by Obafemi Martins, via Chad Marshall and Brad Evans. The Sounders added on in the sixteenth minute as Martins scored again, thanks to Lamar Neagle and Clint Dempsey. Seattle extended their lead in the thirty-eighth minute on an Andy Rose goal, fueled by Evans. The Sounders padded the lead in the forty-second minute when Rose put another Evans pass in the back of the net. Chivas' first appearance in the box score was not for a positive reason, as Bobby Burling took a yellow card for his forty-ninth minute foul. Chivas did get on the board in the fifty-first minute as Marco Delgado scored, with the help of Eric Avila. Chivas chipped closer in the sixtieth minute as Ryan Finley converted a penalty kick. Chivas took another yellow card for a seventy-second minute foul by Oswaldo Minda. The final stood at 4-2, and Evans was the man of the match for setting up three of the four Sounders goals.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL September 3rd, 2014 (Season Premiere)

There's just one KHL game for today, but it pits the last two league champions against each other in...

Magnitogorsk, where Metallurg hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Yeryomenko and Vasily Koshechkin get the starting nods. Moscow opened with a first period power play goal by Filip Novak, powered by Alexei Tereshchenko. Magnitogorsk quickly tied it on a Sergei Mozyakin goal, fueled by Danis Zaripov and Jan Kovar. Metallurg took the lead with a Zaripov power play goal, coming off of Chris Lee and Mozyakin. Magnitogorsk added on as Mozyakin scored his second of the game, a power play goal made possible by Lee and Kovar. Alexander Lazushin relieved Yeryomenko at this time. Metallurg extended the lead in the second period with a Yaroslav Kosov goal, which was unassisted. Magnitogorsk padded the lead when Mozyakin scored on a penalty shot to complete his hat trick. He got this free opportunity because Martin Karsums held him during a scoring attempt. Metallurg struck again with a Lee goal in the third period, guided in by Zaripov and Kovar, the latter getting a sock trick (three assists). This produced the 6-1 final, with the three stars going to Mozyakin, Zaripov, and Kovar, while Lee is an honorable mention.

Bigger slate tomorrow. Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

MLS Weekend August 29-31, 2014

We begin with a single Friday game, from...

Kansas City, as Sporting hosts the Houston Dynamo. Tally Hall and Jon Kempin are in goal. After a weather delay, Houston got things going in the thirty-fifth minute with a Will Bruin goal. Closing out the half were three yellow cards, given to Kansas City's Dominic Dwyer in the forty-fifth minute for an argument, and then one to each team in the forty-fourth minute as Sporting's Benny Feilhaber and Dynamo's Kofi Sarkodie also had an argument. Houston took another yellow card for a fiftieth minute foul by Ricardo Clark. Kansas City tied the game in the fifty-fourth minute as Dwyer scored, with the help of Feilhaber. The Dyanmo gained the lead in the sixty-second minute on a David Horst goal, assisted by Brad Davis. Houston added on as Clark scored in the sixty-seventh minute, and Davis provided the assist again. The Dynamo took a yellow card in stoppage time for Oscar Garcia's time wasting, but they still won 3-1. Davis' assists on the winning and insurance goals earned him man of the match honors.

On Saturday, the Seattle Sounders FC got things going by welcoming the Colorado Rapids. Joe Nasco and Stefan Frei man the nets. In the fortieth minute, Brad Evans of Seattle took a yellow card for his foul. The Sounders began in the fifty-second minute on a Clint Dempsey goal, set up by Marco Pappa. Seattle took another yellow card for a sixty-second minute foul by Zach Scott. Colorado's Deshorn Brown got a yellow card for his eighty-fourth minute foul. The Sounders held on for a 1-0 win, and the man of the match was Dempsey for his clutch goal.

Up in Canada, Toronto FC brings in the New England Revolution. Bobby Shuttleworth and Joe Bendik are the keepers. New England struck first with a second minute goal by Lee Nguyen. In the fourth minute, Teal Bunbury of the Revolution was given a yellow card for a foul. New England added on in the twenty-first minute with a Kelyn Rowe goal, made possible by Nguyen. Rowe also took the Revolution's next yellow card for his thirty-sixth minute foul. New England was booked again in the forty-seventh minute for a Scott Caldwell foul, earning him a yellow card. The Revolution extended their lead with a Bunbury goal in the fifty-eighth minute, fueled by Charlie Davies and Rowe. Toronto's Gilberto was shown a yellow card in the eighty-second minute for a foul. The final stood at 3-0, and Nguyen was the man of the match for his quick game-winner.

Staying in Canada, the Montreal Impact host the Columbus Crew. Steve Clark and Evan Bush will play goal. The teams exchanged yellow cards in the first half, with Montreal's Ignacio Piatti getting one in the thirty-second minute, followed by Tony Tchani of Columbus being booked in the thirty-fourth minute, both for fouls. The Impact struck first in the fortieth minute as Piatta made up for his card by scoring, thanks to Felipe Martins. Montreal's Hassoun Camara was booked in the sixty-fourth minute for a foul. The Impact saw another yellow card come their way in the sixty-ninth minute, as Bush was given one for time wasting. The Crew saw Wil Trapp booked in the eighty-first minute for a foul. In the eighty-fifth minute, Waylon Francis of Columbus was given a yellow card for a foul. Piatti doubled the Montreal lead in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and the final stood at 2-0. Piatti was the man of the match for his brace.

Back stateside, the Chicago Fire welcome FC Dallas. Raul Fernandez and Sean Johnson protect the woodwork. Chicago took a yellow card for a tenth minute foul by Grant Ward. The Fire took another yellow card as Bakary Soumare was booked for a foul in the fifty-second minute. Chicago finally broke the scoring open in the eighty-third minute with a Robert Earnshaw goal, via Jeff Larentowicz. The Fire's Matt Watson closed out the game with a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time, but the team still won 1-0. The man of the match was Earnshaw, scoring the only goal off the bench.

Into Canada once more, as the Vancouver Whitecaps FC bring in the Portland Timbers for a Cascadia Cup clash. Donovan Ricketts and David Ousted are the keepers. Portland was first to score in the fifty-first minute with an Alvas Powell goal, via Diego Valeri. The Timbers saw a yellow card given to Diego Chara in the sixty-sixth minute for his foul. Portland added on in the seventy-fifth minute with a Maximiliano Urruti goal, set up by Michael Harrington. The Timbers extended their lead with a Rodney Wallace goal in the seventy-ninth minute, via Darlington Nagbe, but Wallace was also hit with a yellow card for excessive celebration. This made it a 3-0 final, with the man of the match being Ricketts for his clean sheet with three saves.

Finally, the San Jose Earthquakes host Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Jon Busch are the veteran goalies. San Jose began in the fourteenth minute on a Sam Cronin goal, set up by Chris Wondolowski. Salt Lake tied it in the thirty-sixth minute as Javier Morales buried a penalty kick. The Earthquakes took a pair of yellow cards in the second half, going to Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi in the sixty-first minute for dissent and Jason Hernandez in the sixty-eighth minute for a foul. The final held steady at 1-1, and the man of the match was Cronin for his goal.

On Sunday, the first game saw DC United welcome the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Bill Hamid are the goalies. DC opened with a fifty-seventh minute Luis Silva goal, assisted by Fabian Espindola and the keeper Hamid. In stoppage time, United extended their lead with an Eddie Johnson goal, set up by Perry Kitchen. This was good for a 2-0 win, with the man of the match being Hamid for his clean sheet with five saves as New York had the majority of the shots.

Finally, stadium-mates Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy wrap up the weekend. Jaime Penedo and Dan Kennedy are the usual keepers. Chivas took the first yellow card in the twenty-second minute for a foul by Andrew Jena-Baptiste. Los Angeles also saw a booking on a yellow card for Baggio Husidic's foul in the thirty-fifth minute. The Galaxy were first to score with a forty-first minute goal by Gyasi Zardes, thanks to Landon Donovan. Los Angeles added on in the sixty-eighth minute as Robbie Keane scored, thanks to Marcelo Sarvas. The Galaxy poured it on in the seventy-first minute with another goal by Zardes, made possible by Donovan and Keane. Things got worse for Chivas as their leading scorer, Erick Torres, was shown a straight red card for his seventy-fifth minute foul. The final stood to favor the Galaxy 3-0, and Zardes was the man of the match for his brace.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Premier League Week 3 2014-2015

Another week of Premier League actions kicks off with...

Burnley hosting Manchester United. David de Gea and Tom Heaton are in goal. In the thirty-eighth minute, Manchester United was given a yellow card to Darren Fletcher. In the sixty-eighth minute, Manchester United was issued another yellow card for a Tyler Blackett foul. In the seventy-sixth minute, Dean Marney of Burnley got a yellow card for his foul. Burnley had another yellow card go to Steven Reid in the ninetieth minute. The goals never came, and the game ended in a scoreless draw.

Over to Manchester City, where they welcome Stoke City. Asmir Begovic and Joe Hart are the keepers. In the twenty-second minute, Phil Bardsley of Stoke City took a yellow card for a foul. Manchester City's Fernandinho matched with a yellow card of his own in the fifty-third minute, also for a foul. Stoke City struck first in the fifty-eighth minute on a Mame Biram Diouf goal, coming from a headed pass by Erik Pieters following a fast break. Yaya Toure of Manchester City picked up a yellow card in the eighty-seventh minute. Stoke City held on for the 1-0 victory.

Next up, Newcastle United brings in Crystal Palace. Julian Speroni and Tim Krul man the nets. Crystal Palace struck very quickly in the first minute on a Dwight Gayle goal from close range. Newcastle United tied it in the thirty-seventh minute on a Daryl Janmaat goal, courtesy of Emmanuel Riviere. Crystal Palace took two yellow cards late in the first half, going to Adrian Mariappa in the forty-first minute and Marouane Chamakh in the forty-fourth minute for fouls. Crystal Palace retook the lead in the forty-eighth minute on a Jason Puncheon goal, passed from Yannick Bolasie. Newcastle United tied it again in the seventy-third minute with a goal by Rolando Aarons, a header after a corner kick. In the eighty-eighth minute Glenn Murray of Crystal Palace took a yellow card for a foul. Later that minute, Michael Williamson put Newcastle United on top with a close range goal after Aarons' shot hit the post. Five minutes into stoppage time, Crystal Palace tied it with a Wilfried Zaha goal, assisted by Scott Dann after a set piece.  Seven minutes into stoppage time, Aarons was given a yellow card for a foul. The game ended 3-3, after a wild finish.

Moving along to where the Queens Park Rangers host Sunderland. Vito Mannone and Robert Green are guarding the woodwork. In the thirty-seventh minute, Sunderland's Lee Cattermole took a yellow card for his foul. In the second minute of first half stoppage time, QPR got on the board with a Charlie Austin goal, via Leroy Fer's header pass after a corner kick. QPR took a yellow card for a Jordon Mutch foul in the fifty-seventh minute. In the second minute of second half stoppage time, Sunderland was given another yellow card for a dive by Emanuele Giaccherini. The Queens Park Rangers held on for a 1-0 victory.

Out to Wales, where Swansea City welcomes West Bromwich Albion. Ben Foster and Lukasz Fabianski are in the six-yard boxes. Swansea City opened in the second minute with a Nathan Dyer goal, via Gylfi Sigurdsson. Swansea City added on as Wayne Routledge scored in the twenty-fourth minute from outside the box. In the twenty-seventh minute, West Brom's Graham Dorrans was given a yellow card for a foul, followed by another West Brom yellow card in the sixty-second minute for a foul by Craig Gardner. Swansea City extended the lead as Dyer scored again in the seventy-first minute, thanks to Sigurdsson's through ball. Swansea City took a yellow card for a Ki Sung-Yueng foul in the seventy-third minute. Swansea City coasted from here to a 3-0 win.

Following that, West Ham United brings in Southampton. Fraser Forster and Adrian are called on to start in goal. West Ham was first to score in the twenty-seventh minute on a Mark Noble goal from long range, set up by Mauro Zarate. Southampton tied it on a Morgan Schneiderlin goal in the forty-fifth minute, coming off of a set piece. West Ham took a pair of yellow cards in the second half, going to Aaron Cresswell in the fifty-sixth minute and Joey O'Brien in the sixty-second minute, each for fouls. Southampton pulled ahead in the sixty-eighth minute on another Schneiderlin goal, passed from James Ward-Prowse's cross after a corner kick. Southhampton took a yellow card in the seventy-ninth minute for a foul by Graziano Pelle, but he made up for his transgression in the eighty-third minute by extending the Southampton lead. This produced the 3-1 final score.

Wrapping up on Saturday, Everton hosts Chelsea. Thibaut Courtois and Tim Howard are the goalies. Chelsea started in the first minute with a Diego Costa goal, coming off of Cesc Fabregas. Chelsea added on in the third minute as Branislav Ivanovic scored, courtesy of Ramires with the through ball. Everton got one back in the forty-fifth minute on a Kevin Mirallas goal, via Seamus Coleman's cross. Chelsea took a pair of yellow cards to lead off the second half, going to Costa in the fifty-sixth minute and Ramires in the sixty-fourth minute for fouls. Chelsea extended their lead as Coleman put the ball in his own net for an own goal in the sixty-seventh minute. Everton clawed back with a Steven Naismith goal in the sixty-ninth minute, set up by Aiden McGeady. Chelsea replied in the seventy-fourth minute as Nemanja Matic scored, and Ramires picked up another assist. Everton got it back in the seventy-sixth minute on a Samuel Eto'o goal, guided in by Leighton Baines with the cross after a set piece. Ramires continued his big day with a goal in the seventy-seventh minute to reestablish the two goal lead for Chelsea, and Matic was there with the assist. In the eighty-first minute, Fabregas was shown a yellow card for a foul. Costa iced the game in the ninetieth minute for Chelsea, making it 6-3 with his second of the game, and John Obi Mikel provided the assist on the final goal.

Starting Sunday, Aston Villa welcomes Hull City. Allan McGregor and Brad Guzan are set to start in goal. Aston Villa began with a fourteenth minute goal by Gabriel Agbonlahor, assisted by Andreas Weimann. Aston Villa added on in the thirty-sixth minute with a Weimann goal, passed from Kieran Richardson. Hull City took a yellow card for a Curtis Davies foul in the forty-second minute. Hull City got on the board in the seventy-fourth minute as Nikica Jelavic headed in a header pass from Stephen Quinn after a set piece. Hull City took three yellow cards in the last ten minutes of regulation, going Jelavic in the eighty-second minute, Ahmed Elmohamady in the eighty-fourth minute, and Quinn in the eighty-seventh minute, all for fouls. Aston Villa's goal Guzan was shown a yellow card in the ninetieth minute for wasting time. It worked, to an extent, as Aston Villa secured a 2-1 victory.

Next up, Tottenham Hotspur brings in Liverpool. Simon Mignolet and Hugo Lloris are the keepers. Liverpool struck first in the eighth minute on a Raheem Sterling goal, passed from Jordan Henderson. Liverpool took a pair of yellow cards in the first half, going to Joe Allen in the twenty-seventh minute and Javier Manquillo in the thirty-seventh minute. Liverpool added onto their lead in the forty-ninth minute as Steven Gerrard buried the penalty kick into the bottom left corner of the net. Liverpool extended the lead with an Alberto Moreno goal in the sixtieth minute after a fast break. Liverpool's players were booked twice more in the second half, as Sterling was given a yellow card for his seventy-fourth minute foul, and Moreno also had a yellow card in the ninetieth minute. The final stood favoring Liverpool at 3-0.

The last game of the week has Leicester City hosting Arsenal. Wojciech Szczesny and Kasper Schmeichel protect the nets. In the twentieth minute, Alexis Sanchez put Arsenal up with a goal. In the twenty-second minute, Leicester City drew level with a goal by Leonardo Ulloa, on a cross by Jeffrey Schlupp. The game was fairly quiet until the eighty-fourth minute, where Leicester City's Marc Albrighton was given a yellow card for his foul, and a minute later, Dean Hammond, also of Leicester City, was booked for a foul. In the first minute of stoppage time, Leicester City was again visited by the referee for a Liam Moore foul, earning him a yellow card. Despite the late aggression, the final held at 1-1.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion. While there is no Premier League action next week, be sure to get your hockey fix through my KHL recaps. 

MLS Wednesday August 27, 2014

One game tonight, as the Los Angeles Galaxy host DC United. Bill Hamid and Jaime Penedo are the goalies. Los Angeles struck first in the second minute on an Alan Gordon goal, going in unassisted. The teams exchanged yellow cards, as Landon Donovan of the Galaxy and Luis Silva of DC got one apiece for fouls in the eighteenth and twenty-first minutes, respectively. In the twenty-fifth minute, Los Angeles added on with an Omar Gonzalez goal, set up by Donovan. The Galaxy extended the lead in first half stoppage time with a Baggio Husidic goal, via A.J. DeLaGarza and Donovan. DC got a goal as Leonardo put the ball in his own net for an own goal in the fifty-eighth minute. Los Angeles shot back by putting the ball in the right net in the seventy-fifth minute when Donovan converted a penalty kick. United took another yellow card for a Fabian Espindola foul in the eighty-first minute. The Galaxy won 4-1, and Donovan was the man of the match.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.