As usual, this post covers the entire series in the first round of this year's NHL playoffs.
Game 1: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. Los Angeles opened with a Jake Muzzin goal in the first period, courtesy of Milan Lucic and Tanner Pearson. San Jose tied it on a Joe Pavelski power play goal, powered by Brent Burns and Logan Couture. The Sharks took the lead with a Burns goal in the second period, with a lone assist from Joel Ward. The Kings tied it on a Jeff Carter power play goal, assisted by Lucic and Anze Kopitar. Los Angeles gained the lead with a Trevor Lewis shorthanded goal, going in unassisted. San Jose tied it again with a Tomas Hertl goal, made possible by Ward and Joonas Donskoi. The Sharks took the lead on Pavelski's second of the game in the third period, helped along by Justin Braun. This stood for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Pavelski, Burns, and Ward, while Lucic gets an honorable mention. The Sharks own a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. San Jose started in the first period with a Joe Pavelski goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Brent Burns and Joe Thornton. The Sharks added on in the second period with a Logan Couture power play goal, powered by Pavelski and Patrick Marleau. Los Angeles got on the board with a Vincent Lecavalier power play goal in the third period, helped along by Jake Muzzin and Tanner Pearson. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Pavelski, Couture, and Jones (26 for 27 in saves). The Sharks head home with a 2-0 series lead.
Game 3: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Martin Jones for San Jose. San Jose led off in the first period with a Joe Thornton goal, assisted by Tomas Hertl. Los Angeles tied it on an Anze Kopitar power play goal, powered by Milan Lucic and Jake Muzzin. The Kings won 2-1 in overtime with a Tanner Pearson goal, helped along by Dustin Brown and Vincent Lecavalier. The three stars were Pearson, Quick (29 for 30 in saves), and Kopitar. The series is now 2-1, still favoring the Sharks.
Game 4: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Martin Jones for San Jose. San Jose got going in the second period with a Brent Burns goal, his second of the postseason, coming on the power play from Joel Ward and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The Sharks added on with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, powered by Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. San Jose extended the lead in the third period as Marleau scored a power play goal, with the help of Logan Couture and Burns. Los Angeles got on the board with a Trevor Lewis goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Luke Schenn and Kris Versteeg. The Kings pulled closer on Schenn's goal, fueled by Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik. San Jose held on for a 3-2 win, with the three stars given to Marleau, Burns, and Schenn. The Sharks leave home with a 3-1 series lead, and they could topple the Kings in the next game.
Game 5: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. San Jose began in the first period with a Joonas Donskoi goal, with a lone assist by Logan Couture. The Sharks added on with a Chris Tierney goal, made possible by Brent Burns. San Jose extended the lead in the second period as Matt Nieto scored, thanks to Joel Ward and Couture. Los Angeles got on the board with an Anze Kopitar goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Dwight King and Drew Doughty. The Kings got closer with a Jeff Carter goal, his second of the playoffs, courtesy of Jake Muzzin and Tyler Toffoli. Los Angeles tied it on a Kris Versteeg goal, assisted by Kyle Clifford and Muzzin. The Sharks took the lead back in the third period on a Donskoi goal, his second of the game, guided in by Burns and Couture, the latter getting a sock trick. San Jose padded the lead with a Joe Pavelski goal, his fifth of the postseason, helped along by Burns, who got a sock trick, and Paul Martin. The Sharks iced it at 6-3 with a Melker Karlsson empty net goal, set up by Patrick Marleau. The three stars went to Donskoi, Couture, and Burns, while Muzzin gets an honorable mention. The Sharks take the series 4-1, and they await the Ducks or the Predators.
Friday, April 22, 2016
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Atlantic Division Playoffs: 2) Tampa Bay Lightning VS. 3) Detroit Red Wings
As usual, this post covers the entire series in the first round of this year's NHL playoffs.
Game 1: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Jimmy Howard for Detroit and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay led off in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov goal, assisted by Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn. Detroit tied it in the second period with a Mike Green goal, via Danny DeKeyser and Tomas Tatar. The Red Wings took the lead with a Justin Abdelkader goal, coming off of Kyle Quincey. The Lightning retied it on a Kucherov goal, helped along by Braydon Coburn and Nikita Nesterov. Tampa Bay gained the lead in the third period on a Killorn goal, made possible by Johnson and Kucherov. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Kucherov, Killorn, and Johnson. The Lightning lead the series 1-0.
Game 2: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Jimmy Howard for Detroit and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay started in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Victor Hedman and Tyler Johnson. Detroit tied it on a second period goal by Dylan Larkin, via Jonathan Ericsson and Niklas Kronwall. The Lightning took the lead back with a Brian Boyle goal, guided in by Jonathan Drouin and Braydon Coburn. The Red Wings tied it in the third period with a Brad Richards goal, made possible by Mike Green and Tomas Tatar on the power play. Tampa Bay regained the lead with a Johnson goal, courtesy of Alex Killorn. The Lightning added on with a Johnson goal, helped along by Kucherov and Jason Garrison for his second of the game. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-2 with a Killorn empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Matthew Carle and Johnson. The three stars were awarded to Johnson, Kucherov, and Killorn. The Lightning leave home with a 2-0 series lead in their suitcases.
Game 3: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan. In goal: Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay and Petr Mrazek for Detroit. Detroit got going in the second period with an Andreas Athanasiou goal, assisted by Tomas Tatar and Joakim Andersson. The Red Wings added on with a Henrik Zetterberg goal, going in unassisted. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Mrazek (16 save shutout), Athanasiou, and Zetterberg. The series still favors the Lightning 2-1.
Game 4: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan. In goal: Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay and Petr Mrazek for Detroit. Tampa Bay began in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Tyler Johnson and Jonathan Drouin. The Lightning added on in the second period with a Kucherov power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Drouin and Jason Garrison. Detroit got on the board with a Darren Helm goal, via Luke Glendening and Brendan Smith. The Red Wings tied it with a Gustav Nyquist goal, with a lone helper by Riley Sheahan. Tampa Bay took the lead in the third period with an Ondrej Palat power play goal, coming off of Drouin, who got a sock trick, and Kucherov. The three stars belonged to Kucherov, Drouin, and Palat in the 3-2 game. The Lightning lead the series 3-1, and they'll have a chance to advance at home.
Game 5: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Petr Mrazek for Detroit and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay dented the scoreboard in the third period with an Alex Killorn goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Ryan Callahan. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Killorn, Bishop (34 save shutout), and Mrazek (23 for 24 in saves). The Lightning take the series 4-1, and they await either the Panthers or the Islanders.
Game 1: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Jimmy Howard for Detroit and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay led off in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov goal, assisted by Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn. Detroit tied it in the second period with a Mike Green goal, via Danny DeKeyser and Tomas Tatar. The Red Wings took the lead with a Justin Abdelkader goal, coming off of Kyle Quincey. The Lightning retied it on a Kucherov goal, helped along by Braydon Coburn and Nikita Nesterov. Tampa Bay gained the lead in the third period on a Killorn goal, made possible by Johnson and Kucherov. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Kucherov, Killorn, and Johnson. The Lightning lead the series 1-0.
Game 2: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Jimmy Howard for Detroit and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay started in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Victor Hedman and Tyler Johnson. Detroit tied it on a second period goal by Dylan Larkin, via Jonathan Ericsson and Niklas Kronwall. The Lightning took the lead back with a Brian Boyle goal, guided in by Jonathan Drouin and Braydon Coburn. The Red Wings tied it in the third period with a Brad Richards goal, made possible by Mike Green and Tomas Tatar on the power play. Tampa Bay regained the lead with a Johnson goal, courtesy of Alex Killorn. The Lightning added on with a Johnson goal, helped along by Kucherov and Jason Garrison for his second of the game. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-2 with a Killorn empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Matthew Carle and Johnson. The three stars were awarded to Johnson, Kucherov, and Killorn. The Lightning leave home with a 2-0 series lead in their suitcases.
Game 3: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan. In goal: Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay and Petr Mrazek for Detroit. Detroit got going in the second period with an Andreas Athanasiou goal, assisted by Tomas Tatar and Joakim Andersson. The Red Wings added on with a Henrik Zetterberg goal, going in unassisted. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Mrazek (16 save shutout), Athanasiou, and Zetterberg. The series still favors the Lightning 2-1.
Game 4: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan. In goal: Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay and Petr Mrazek for Detroit. Tampa Bay began in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Tyler Johnson and Jonathan Drouin. The Lightning added on in the second period with a Kucherov power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Drouin and Jason Garrison. Detroit got on the board with a Darren Helm goal, via Luke Glendening and Brendan Smith. The Red Wings tied it with a Gustav Nyquist goal, with a lone helper by Riley Sheahan. Tampa Bay took the lead in the third period with an Ondrej Palat power play goal, coming off of Drouin, who got a sock trick, and Kucherov. The three stars belonged to Kucherov, Drouin, and Palat in the 3-2 game. The Lightning lead the series 3-1, and they'll have a chance to advance at home.
Game 5: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Petr Mrazek for Detroit and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay dented the scoreboard in the third period with an Alex Killorn goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Ryan Callahan. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Killorn, Bishop (34 save shutout), and Mrazek (23 for 24 in saves). The Lightning take the series 4-1, and they await either the Panthers or the Islanders.
Premier League Make-up Games, April 19-21, 2016
Five games fill the midweek session as teams get caught up from missing games due to other competitions. We begin with a Tuesday game...
Newcastle United hosting Manchester City. Joe Hart and Karl Darlow man the nets. Manchester City opened in the thirteenth minute with a Sergio Aguero goal, via Aleksandar Kolarov. Newcastle United tied it on a Vurnon Anita goal in the thirty-first minute, guided in by Moussa Sissoko. At the forty-three minute mark, Anita took a yellow card for a foul for Newcastle United. Newcastle United had a yellow card given to Ayoze Perez in the fifty-sixth minute for his foul. In the sixty-seventh minute, Vincent Kompany of Manchester City took a yellow card for his foul, and teammate Eliaquim Mangala had a yellow card of his own for an eighty-ninth minute foul. In stoppage time, Sissoko of Newcastle United had a yellow card for his foul. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
On Wednesday, the first of three games is West Ham United welcoming Watford. Heurelho Gomes and Adrian are the keepers. West Ham United started in the eleventh minute with an Andy Carroll goal, set up by Dimitri Payet. In the twenty-second minute, Watford's Sebastian Prodl took a yellow card for his foul. West Ham United added on with a Mark Noble penalty kick goal in the forty-fifth minute. West Ham United extended the lead in the fifty-third minute as Noble made another penalty kick. In the sixty-fourth minute, Watford got on the board with a Prodl goal, coming off of Steven Berghuis. Watford had yellow cards given to Mario Suarez in the seventy-first minute and Nordin Amrabat in the seventy-sixth minute, both for fouls. In stoppage time, Watford went down to ten men when Amrabat took a second yellow card for a foul. West Ham United won 3-1.
Next up, Liverpool hosts cross-town rivals Everton. Joel Robles and Simon Mignolet tend the nets. In the eighth minute, James Milner of Liverpool took a yellow card for a foul. In the forty-second minute, Aaron Lennon of Everton received a yellow card for his foul. Liverpool struck first in the forty-third minute on a Divock Origi goal, made possible by Milner. Liverpool added on in first half stoppage time with a Mamadou Sakho goal, set up by Milner. In the fiftieth minute, Ramiro Funes Mori took a straight red card for his foul, putting Everton at ten men. Liverpool extended the lead with a Daniel Sturridge goal, assisted by Lucas Leiva in the sixty-first minute. Liverpool padded the lead on a Philippe Coutinho goal in the seventy-sixth minute, passed from Joe Allen. The final stood from here at 4-0.
Ending the day, Manchester United brings in Crystal Palace. Julian Speroni and David de Gea make the starts in goal. In the fourth minute, Manchester United led off with a gift from Damien Delaney of Crystal Palace, who had an own goal. Crystal Palace saw yellow cards given to Martin Kelly in the sixth minute and Pape Souare in the forty-third minute, both for fouls. Manchester United added on in the fifty-fifth minute with a Matteo Darmian goal. In the sixty-second minute, Darmian took a yellow card for his foul. The final stayed at 2-0 for Manchester United.
Finally, Arsenal hosts West Bromwich Albion on Thursday. Ben Foster and Petr Cech are the keepers. Arsenal began in the sixth minute with an Alexis Sanchez goal, made possible by Aaron Ramsey. In the thirty-eighth minute, Arsenal added on with another Sanchez goal. West Bromwich Albion saw a yellow card go to Gareth McAuley in the forty-first minute for his foul. The game ended at 2-0 for Arsenal.
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Newcastle United hosting Manchester City. Joe Hart and Karl Darlow man the nets. Manchester City opened in the thirteenth minute with a Sergio Aguero goal, via Aleksandar Kolarov. Newcastle United tied it on a Vurnon Anita goal in the thirty-first minute, guided in by Moussa Sissoko. At the forty-three minute mark, Anita took a yellow card for a foul for Newcastle United. Newcastle United had a yellow card given to Ayoze Perez in the fifty-sixth minute for his foul. In the sixty-seventh minute, Vincent Kompany of Manchester City took a yellow card for his foul, and teammate Eliaquim Mangala had a yellow card of his own for an eighty-ninth minute foul. In stoppage time, Sissoko of Newcastle United had a yellow card for his foul. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
On Wednesday, the first of three games is West Ham United welcoming Watford. Heurelho Gomes and Adrian are the keepers. West Ham United started in the eleventh minute with an Andy Carroll goal, set up by Dimitri Payet. In the twenty-second minute, Watford's Sebastian Prodl took a yellow card for his foul. West Ham United added on with a Mark Noble penalty kick goal in the forty-fifth minute. West Ham United extended the lead in the fifty-third minute as Noble made another penalty kick. In the sixty-fourth minute, Watford got on the board with a Prodl goal, coming off of Steven Berghuis. Watford had yellow cards given to Mario Suarez in the seventy-first minute and Nordin Amrabat in the seventy-sixth minute, both for fouls. In stoppage time, Watford went down to ten men when Amrabat took a second yellow card for a foul. West Ham United won 3-1.
Next up, Liverpool hosts cross-town rivals Everton. Joel Robles and Simon Mignolet tend the nets. In the eighth minute, James Milner of Liverpool took a yellow card for a foul. In the forty-second minute, Aaron Lennon of Everton received a yellow card for his foul. Liverpool struck first in the forty-third minute on a Divock Origi goal, made possible by Milner. Liverpool added on in first half stoppage time with a Mamadou Sakho goal, set up by Milner. In the fiftieth minute, Ramiro Funes Mori took a straight red card for his foul, putting Everton at ten men. Liverpool extended the lead with a Daniel Sturridge goal, assisted by Lucas Leiva in the sixty-first minute. Liverpool padded the lead on a Philippe Coutinho goal in the seventy-sixth minute, passed from Joe Allen. The final stood from here at 4-0.
Ending the day, Manchester United brings in Crystal Palace. Julian Speroni and David de Gea make the starts in goal. In the fourth minute, Manchester United led off with a gift from Damien Delaney of Crystal Palace, who had an own goal. Crystal Palace saw yellow cards given to Martin Kelly in the sixth minute and Pape Souare in the forty-third minute, both for fouls. Manchester United added on in the fifty-fifth minute with a Matteo Darmian goal. In the sixty-second minute, Darmian took a yellow card for his foul. The final stayed at 2-0 for Manchester United.
Finally, Arsenal hosts West Bromwich Albion on Thursday. Ben Foster and Petr Cech are the keepers. Arsenal began in the sixth minute with an Alexis Sanchez goal, made possible by Aaron Ramsey. In the thirty-eighth minute, Arsenal added on with another Sanchez goal. West Bromwich Albion saw a yellow card go to Gareth McAuley in the forty-first minute for his foul. The game ended at 2-0 for Arsenal.
Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
2015/16 Gagarin Cup Final: 1) CSKA Moscow VS. 2) Metallurg Magnitogorsk
It's all down to this for the KHL, and this post will contain all of the action.
Game 1: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Ilya Sorokin for Moscow. Magnitogorsk opened in the first period with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, assisted by Jan Kovar. Moscow tied it in the second period with a Sergei Andronov goal, passed from Antti Pihlstrom. CSKA took the lead with an Alexander Radulov goal, via Simon Hjalmarsson and Stephane Da Costa on the power play. Moscow added on with a power play goal by Igor Ozhiganov, powered by Roman Lyubimov and Radulov. CSKA extended the lead in the third period as Nikita Zaitsev scored, thanks to Da Costa and Andrei Sergeyev. Moscow padded the lead with a Denis Denisov goal, with a lone assist by Zaitsev. The three stars of the 5-1 game were Radulov, Zaitsev, and Da Costa. CSKA owns a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Ilya Sorokin for Moscow. Moscow led off in the first period with a power play goal by Nikita Zaitsev, powered by Denis Denisov and Alexander Radulov. Magnitogorsk tied it in the second period with a Danis Zaripov goal, with a lone assist by Sergei Mozyakin. Metallurg took the lead with an Alexei Bereglazov goal in the third period, going in unassisted. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars given to Bereglazov, Koshechkin (25 for 26 in saves), and Zaripov. The series is tied at 1 as the action moves east.
Game 3: Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk, Russia. In goal: Ilya Sorokin for Moscow and Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk. Magnitogorsk got going in the second period with a Danis Zaripov goal, passed from Chris Lee and Sergei Mozyakin. Moscow tied it with a third period Stephane Da Costa goal, via Kirill Petrov. CSKA took the lead with a power play goal by Nikita Zaitsev, powered by Ivan Telegin and Alexander Radulov. Metallurg tied it again with a Jan Kovar goal with seventeen seconds left in regulation, assisted by Zaripov and Alexander Semin. Moscow won 3-2 in overtime with a Da Costa power play goal, his second of the game, an unassisted goal. The win gives CSKA a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4: Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk, Russia. In goal: Ilya Sorokin for Moscow and Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk. Magnitogorsk dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Tomas Filippi goal, coming off of Wojtek Wolski and Viktor Antipin. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Koshechkin (30 save shutout), Filippi, and Sorokin (32 for 33 in saves). The series heads back to Moscow tied at 2.
Game 5: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Ilya Sorokin for Moscow. Moscow drew first blood in the third period with a Roman Lyubimov goal, assisted by Alexander Kutuzov and Bogdan Kiselevich. Magnitogorsk tied it on a Sergei Mozyakin goal, made possible by Alexei Bereglazov and Jan Kovar. Metallurg won 2-1 in overtime with another Mozyakin goal, via Kovar. The three stars went to Mozyakin, Koshechkin (30 for 31 in saves), and Kovar. Metallurg has the inside lane with a 3-2 series lead heading back home.
Game 6: Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk, Russia. In goal: Ilya Sorokin for Moscow and Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk. Moscow started in the first period with a Mikhail Yunkov goal, assisted by Alexander Kutuzov and Bogdan Kiselevich. CSKA added on with an Ivan Telegin goal, via Alexander Radulov in the second period. Magnitogorsk got on the board in the third period with a Chris Lee goal, guided in by Wojtek Wolski and Sergei Mozyakin. Metallurg tied it with a Jan Kovar goal, made possible by Mozyakin and Alexander Semin. Moscow won 3-2 win overtime with a Yunkov goal, his second of the game, fueled by Simon Hjalmarsson and Maxim Mamin. The three stars were Yunkov, Mozyakin, and Telegin. The series heads back to Moscow tied at 3, setting up one final fight for the title.
Game 7: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Ilya Sorokin for Moscow. Magnitogorsk began in the first period with an Evgeny Timkin goal, assisted by Chris Lee. Moscow tied it in the second period with a Maxim Mamin goal, passed from Bogdan Kiselevich and Geoff Platt. Metallurg took the lead on a Lee goal, via Danis Zaripov and Jan Kovar. Magnitogorsk iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Timkin, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Lee, Timkin, and Koshechkin (36 for 37 in saves). Metallurg raised the Gagarin Cup with a 4-3 series win.
I can't say I'll be back for the next KHL season, but what I can say is that I have thoroughly enjoyed learning the league in the last three and a half years, beginning during the NHL lockout of 2012-13 and going through this season. However, with the rebranding of the blog to a more professional look and feel under the Outsider Sports name, I truly believe my future rests in American professional sports coverage, and I may have to let the KHL go to accommodate that. If this is it, I thank the fans and people of Russia for checking in and reading my content from time to time. I appreciate the support, and I hope you don't take this as me giving up on you. It's what I need to do for myself. As always, you can find me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.
Game 1: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Ilya Sorokin for Moscow. Magnitogorsk opened in the first period with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, assisted by Jan Kovar. Moscow tied it in the second period with a Sergei Andronov goal, passed from Antti Pihlstrom. CSKA took the lead with an Alexander Radulov goal, via Simon Hjalmarsson and Stephane Da Costa on the power play. Moscow added on with a power play goal by Igor Ozhiganov, powered by Roman Lyubimov and Radulov. CSKA extended the lead in the third period as Nikita Zaitsev scored, thanks to Da Costa and Andrei Sergeyev. Moscow padded the lead with a Denis Denisov goal, with a lone assist by Zaitsev. The three stars of the 5-1 game were Radulov, Zaitsev, and Da Costa. CSKA owns a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Ilya Sorokin for Moscow. Moscow led off in the first period with a power play goal by Nikita Zaitsev, powered by Denis Denisov and Alexander Radulov. Magnitogorsk tied it in the second period with a Danis Zaripov goal, with a lone assist by Sergei Mozyakin. Metallurg took the lead with an Alexei Bereglazov goal in the third period, going in unassisted. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars given to Bereglazov, Koshechkin (25 for 26 in saves), and Zaripov. The series is tied at 1 as the action moves east.
Game 3: Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk, Russia. In goal: Ilya Sorokin for Moscow and Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk. Magnitogorsk got going in the second period with a Danis Zaripov goal, passed from Chris Lee and Sergei Mozyakin. Moscow tied it with a third period Stephane Da Costa goal, via Kirill Petrov. CSKA took the lead with a power play goal by Nikita Zaitsev, powered by Ivan Telegin and Alexander Radulov. Metallurg tied it again with a Jan Kovar goal with seventeen seconds left in regulation, assisted by Zaripov and Alexander Semin. Moscow won 3-2 in overtime with a Da Costa power play goal, his second of the game, an unassisted goal. The win gives CSKA a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4: Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk, Russia. In goal: Ilya Sorokin for Moscow and Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk. Magnitogorsk dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Tomas Filippi goal, coming off of Wojtek Wolski and Viktor Antipin. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Koshechkin (30 save shutout), Filippi, and Sorokin (32 for 33 in saves). The series heads back to Moscow tied at 2.
Game 5: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Ilya Sorokin for Moscow. Moscow drew first blood in the third period with a Roman Lyubimov goal, assisted by Alexander Kutuzov and Bogdan Kiselevich. Magnitogorsk tied it on a Sergei Mozyakin goal, made possible by Alexei Bereglazov and Jan Kovar. Metallurg won 2-1 in overtime with another Mozyakin goal, via Kovar. The three stars went to Mozyakin, Koshechkin (30 for 31 in saves), and Kovar. Metallurg has the inside lane with a 3-2 series lead heading back home.
Game 6: Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk, Russia. In goal: Ilya Sorokin for Moscow and Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk. Moscow started in the first period with a Mikhail Yunkov goal, assisted by Alexander Kutuzov and Bogdan Kiselevich. CSKA added on with an Ivan Telegin goal, via Alexander Radulov in the second period. Magnitogorsk got on the board in the third period with a Chris Lee goal, guided in by Wojtek Wolski and Sergei Mozyakin. Metallurg tied it with a Jan Kovar goal, made possible by Mozyakin and Alexander Semin. Moscow won 3-2 win overtime with a Yunkov goal, his second of the game, fueled by Simon Hjalmarsson and Maxim Mamin. The three stars were Yunkov, Mozyakin, and Telegin. The series heads back to Moscow tied at 3, setting up one final fight for the title.
Game 7: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Ilya Sorokin for Moscow. Magnitogorsk began in the first period with an Evgeny Timkin goal, assisted by Chris Lee. Moscow tied it in the second period with a Maxim Mamin goal, passed from Bogdan Kiselevich and Geoff Platt. Metallurg took the lead on a Lee goal, via Danis Zaripov and Jan Kovar. Magnitogorsk iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Timkin, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Lee, Timkin, and Koshechkin (36 for 37 in saves). Metallurg raised the Gagarin Cup with a 4-3 series win.
I can't say I'll be back for the next KHL season, but what I can say is that I have thoroughly enjoyed learning the league in the last three and a half years, beginning during the NHL lockout of 2012-13 and going through this season. However, with the rebranding of the blog to a more professional look and feel under the Outsider Sports name, I truly believe my future rests in American professional sports coverage, and I may have to let the KHL go to accommodate that. If this is it, I thank the fans and people of Russia for checking in and reading my content from time to time. I appreciate the support, and I hope you don't take this as me giving up on you. It's what I need to do for myself. As always, you can find me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.
Monday, April 18, 2016
2015/16 Premier League Week 34
Full slate of games on this weekend, beginning with a Saturday six-pack. The first is from...
Norwich, as they host Sunderland. Vito Mannone and John Ruddy are the goalies. Wahbi Khazri of Sunderland took a yellow card for a thirty-second minute foul. In the fortieth minute, Andre Wisdom of Norwich City received a yellow card for his foul. Sunderland began with a Fabio Borini penalty kick goal in the forty-first minute. Sunderland added on in the fifty-third minute with a Jermain Defoe goal, passed from Borini. In the fifty-eighth minute, Lee Cattermole of Sunderland picked up a yellow card for a foul. Norwich City's Martin Olsson had a yellow card for dissent in the fifty-ninth minute. In stoppage time, Sunderland iced it at 3-0 with a Duncan Watmore goal, fueled by Sebastian Larsson.
North to Everton welcoming Southampton. Fraser Forster and Joel Robles man the nets. Darron Gibson of Everton took a yellow card for a foul in the forty-second minute. Everton got going in the sixty-eighth minute with Ramiro Funes Mori goal. Southampton tied it on a seventy-sixth minute Sadio Mane goal, set up by Dusan Tadic. Jay Rodriguez of Southampton had a yellow card for a foul in the eighty-fourth minute. This left the game in a 1-1 draw.
Along to Manchester United bringing in Aston Villa. Brad Guzan and David de Gea are the gloved men. Manchester United led off in the thirty-second minute with a Marcus Rashford goal, coming off of Antonio Valencia. Aston Villa saw a yellow card given to Kieran Richardson in the sixty-fifth minute for a foul. The game ended with Manchester United winning 1-0.
Next up, Newcastle United hosts Swansea City. Lukasz Fabianski and Karl Darlow are in goal. In the ninth minute, Leroy Fer of Swansea City had a yellow card. Chancel Mbemba of Newcastle United drew a yellow card in the twenty-second minute for a foul. At the forty minute mark, Jamaal Lascelles opened the scoring for Newcastle United, with his goal set up by Andros Townsend. In the seventy-third minute, Vurnon Anita took a yellow card for a foul. Newcastle United added on in the eighty-second minute with a Moussa Sissoko goal. Newcastle United extended the lead as Townsend scored in the eighty-ninth minute, thanks to Aleksandar Mitrovic. This stood for a 3-0 Newcastle United win.
To the south, West Bromwich Albion welcomes Watford. Heurelho Gomes and Ben Foster are between the posts. Watford started in the twenty-seventh minute on a Ben Watson goal, via Adlene Guedioura. At the thirty-two minute mark, Miguel Britos of Watford received a yellow card for his foul. Watford had yellow cards given to Gomes in the sixty-seventh minute and Troy Deeney in the eighty-sixth minute, both for fouls. Watford held on for a 1-0 win.
Saturday ends in London, with Chelsea bringing in Manchester City. Joe Hart and Thibaut Courtois guard the nets. In the twenty-ninth minute, Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City took a yellow card for a foul. Manchester City struck first in the thirty-third minute with a Sergio Aguero goal. Nicolas Otamendi of Manchester City had a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. In the forty-seventh minute, Samir Nasri of Manchester City was booked on a yellow card for his foul. In the fifty-fourth minute, Manchester City added on with another Aguero goal, set up by Nasri. Chelsea saw yellow cards for Cesar Azpilicueta's sixty-second minute handball and John Obi Mikel's foul in the seventy-second minute before losing their goalie and going a man down in the seventy-eighth minute when Courtois was shown a straight red card for a foul. Asmir Begovic relieved Courtois, and immediately conceded a penalty kick goal to complete a hat trick for Manchester City's Aguero in the eightieth minute. This stood for a 3-0 win for Manchester City.
On Sunday, the first game is Bournemouth hosting Liverpool. Danny Ward is mismatched with Artur Boruc in goal. Liverpool was first to score in the forty-first minute on a Roberto Firmino goal. Liverpool added on in first half stoppage time with a Daniel Sturridge goal, courtesy of Jordon Ibe. Bournemouth avoided the shutout in second half stoppage time with a Joshua King goal, set up by Andrew Surman. This only made it a 2-1 win for Liverpool instead.
Moving along to Leicester City welcoming West Ham United. Adrian and Kasper Schmeichel guard the woodwork. Leicester City drew first blood in the eighteenth minute with a Jamie Vardy goal, assisted by N'Golo Kante. In the twenty-eighth minute, Leicester City's Vardy received a yellow card for a foul. West Ham United saw yellow cards for Winston Reid in the thirtieth minute, Mark Noble in the fortieth minute, and Dimitri Payet in the forty-second minute, all for fouls. In the fifty-sixth minute, Vardy took a second yellow card, earning an ejection that saw Leicester City go down to ten men. In the seventy-seventh minute, Leicester City's Wes Morgan took a yellow card for a foul. West Ham United tied it with an Andy Carroll penalty kick goal in the eighty-fourth minute. West Ham United took the lead with an Aaron Cresswell goal in the eighty-sixth minute. Leicester City leveled it again with a stoppage time penalty kick goal by Leonardo Ulloa. This left the score at 2-2, the final.
Sunday's last game takes us in London, where Arsenal brings in Crystal Palace. Wayne Hennessey and Petr Cech are the gloved men. Arsenal dented the scoreboard in first half stoppage time with an Alexis Sanchez goal, via Danny Welbeck. Crystal Palace saw yellow cards given to Joe Ledley in the fifty-seventh minute and Scott Dann in the seventy-third minute, both for fouls. Crystal Palace tied it on an eighty-first minute Yannick Bolasie goal, assisted by Emmanuel Adebayor. This stood for a 1-1 draw.
On Monday, the week ends with Stoke City hosting Tottenham Hotspur. Hugo Lloris and Shay Given man the nets. Tottenham Hotspur cracked the scoresheet in the ninth minute with a Harry Kane goal, via Mousa Dembele. In the sixty-first minute, Giannella Imbula of Stoke City had a yellow card for his foul. Tottenham Hotspur added on in the sixty-seventh minute with a Dele Alli goal, passed from Christian Eriksen. In the seventy-first minute, Tottenham Hotspur extended the lead as Kane scored again, thanks to Erik Lamela. In the seventy-ninth minute, Stoke City's Charlie Adam took a yellow card for a foul. Tottenham Hotspur padded the lead in the eighty-second minute with an Alli goal, assisted by Eriksen. This stood for a 4-0 win for the visitors.
Norwich, as they host Sunderland. Vito Mannone and John Ruddy are the goalies. Wahbi Khazri of Sunderland took a yellow card for a thirty-second minute foul. In the fortieth minute, Andre Wisdom of Norwich City received a yellow card for his foul. Sunderland began with a Fabio Borini penalty kick goal in the forty-first minute. Sunderland added on in the fifty-third minute with a Jermain Defoe goal, passed from Borini. In the fifty-eighth minute, Lee Cattermole of Sunderland picked up a yellow card for a foul. Norwich City's Martin Olsson had a yellow card for dissent in the fifty-ninth minute. In stoppage time, Sunderland iced it at 3-0 with a Duncan Watmore goal, fueled by Sebastian Larsson.
North to Everton welcoming Southampton. Fraser Forster and Joel Robles man the nets. Darron Gibson of Everton took a yellow card for a foul in the forty-second minute. Everton got going in the sixty-eighth minute with Ramiro Funes Mori goal. Southampton tied it on a seventy-sixth minute Sadio Mane goal, set up by Dusan Tadic. Jay Rodriguez of Southampton had a yellow card for a foul in the eighty-fourth minute. This left the game in a 1-1 draw.
Along to Manchester United bringing in Aston Villa. Brad Guzan and David de Gea are the gloved men. Manchester United led off in the thirty-second minute with a Marcus Rashford goal, coming off of Antonio Valencia. Aston Villa saw a yellow card given to Kieran Richardson in the sixty-fifth minute for a foul. The game ended with Manchester United winning 1-0.
Next up, Newcastle United hosts Swansea City. Lukasz Fabianski and Karl Darlow are in goal. In the ninth minute, Leroy Fer of Swansea City had a yellow card. Chancel Mbemba of Newcastle United drew a yellow card in the twenty-second minute for a foul. At the forty minute mark, Jamaal Lascelles opened the scoring for Newcastle United, with his goal set up by Andros Townsend. In the seventy-third minute, Vurnon Anita took a yellow card for a foul. Newcastle United added on in the eighty-second minute with a Moussa Sissoko goal. Newcastle United extended the lead as Townsend scored in the eighty-ninth minute, thanks to Aleksandar Mitrovic. This stood for a 3-0 Newcastle United win.
To the south, West Bromwich Albion welcomes Watford. Heurelho Gomes and Ben Foster are between the posts. Watford started in the twenty-seventh minute on a Ben Watson goal, via Adlene Guedioura. At the thirty-two minute mark, Miguel Britos of Watford received a yellow card for his foul. Watford had yellow cards given to Gomes in the sixty-seventh minute and Troy Deeney in the eighty-sixth minute, both for fouls. Watford held on for a 1-0 win.
Saturday ends in London, with Chelsea bringing in Manchester City. Joe Hart and Thibaut Courtois guard the nets. In the twenty-ninth minute, Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City took a yellow card for a foul. Manchester City struck first in the thirty-third minute with a Sergio Aguero goal. Nicolas Otamendi of Manchester City had a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. In the forty-seventh minute, Samir Nasri of Manchester City was booked on a yellow card for his foul. In the fifty-fourth minute, Manchester City added on with another Aguero goal, set up by Nasri. Chelsea saw yellow cards for Cesar Azpilicueta's sixty-second minute handball and John Obi Mikel's foul in the seventy-second minute before losing their goalie and going a man down in the seventy-eighth minute when Courtois was shown a straight red card for a foul. Asmir Begovic relieved Courtois, and immediately conceded a penalty kick goal to complete a hat trick for Manchester City's Aguero in the eightieth minute. This stood for a 3-0 win for Manchester City.
On Sunday, the first game is Bournemouth hosting Liverpool. Danny Ward is mismatched with Artur Boruc in goal. Liverpool was first to score in the forty-first minute on a Roberto Firmino goal. Liverpool added on in first half stoppage time with a Daniel Sturridge goal, courtesy of Jordon Ibe. Bournemouth avoided the shutout in second half stoppage time with a Joshua King goal, set up by Andrew Surman. This only made it a 2-1 win for Liverpool instead.
Moving along to Leicester City welcoming West Ham United. Adrian and Kasper Schmeichel guard the woodwork. Leicester City drew first blood in the eighteenth minute with a Jamie Vardy goal, assisted by N'Golo Kante. In the twenty-eighth minute, Leicester City's Vardy received a yellow card for a foul. West Ham United saw yellow cards for Winston Reid in the thirtieth minute, Mark Noble in the fortieth minute, and Dimitri Payet in the forty-second minute, all for fouls. In the fifty-sixth minute, Vardy took a second yellow card, earning an ejection that saw Leicester City go down to ten men. In the seventy-seventh minute, Leicester City's Wes Morgan took a yellow card for a foul. West Ham United tied it with an Andy Carroll penalty kick goal in the eighty-fourth minute. West Ham United took the lead with an Aaron Cresswell goal in the eighty-sixth minute. Leicester City leveled it again with a stoppage time penalty kick goal by Leonardo Ulloa. This left the score at 2-2, the final.
Sunday's last game takes us in London, where Arsenal brings in Crystal Palace. Wayne Hennessey and Petr Cech are the gloved men. Arsenal dented the scoreboard in first half stoppage time with an Alexis Sanchez goal, via Danny Welbeck. Crystal Palace saw yellow cards given to Joe Ledley in the fifty-seventh minute and Scott Dann in the seventy-third minute, both for fouls. Crystal Palace tied it on an eighty-first minute Yannick Bolasie goal, assisted by Emmanuel Adebayor. This stood for a 1-1 draw.
On Monday, the week ends with Stoke City hosting Tottenham Hotspur. Hugo Lloris and Shay Given man the nets. Tottenham Hotspur cracked the scoresheet in the ninth minute with a Harry Kane goal, via Mousa Dembele. In the sixty-first minute, Giannella Imbula of Stoke City had a yellow card for his foul. Tottenham Hotspur added on in the sixty-seventh minute with a Dele Alli goal, passed from Christian Eriksen. In the seventy-first minute, Tottenham Hotspur extended the lead as Kane scored again, thanks to Erik Lamela. In the seventy-ninth minute, Stoke City's Charlie Adam took a yellow card for a foul. Tottenham Hotspur padded the lead in the eighty-second minute with an Alli goal, assisted by Eriksen. This stood for a 4-0 win for the visitors.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
NWSL Week 1
Hello, and welcome to the fourth season of the NWSL. The league is up to ten teams, and all of them are in action over this weekend. On Saturday, there are three games, beginning with...
The Washington Spirit hosting the Boston Breakers. Libby Stout and Stephanie Labbe will play in goal as the season begins. The game can be found at this link. Washington opened the scoring early with a third minute goal by Joanna Lohman on a bicycle kick, assisted by Crystal Dunn. In the twenty-third minute, there was an interesting occurrence on a Boston corner kick, where a foul was called as Labbe caught the ball over the line, but no goal came from the play. The Spirit almost found another when McCall Zerboni was lazy on the ball, and Dunn stole it, but her pass to Katie Stengel was deflected. Kristie Mewis nearly had an equalizer for the Breakers in the fortieth minute, but the shot went high. The first half ended with the Spirit up 1-0, and they've controlled most of the play. The Breakers defense has occasionally looked shaky, and Stout struggled early on before settling in. Caprice Dydasco has looked really good for the Spirit on the back line. The second half opened with more end-to-end action, but with another slight tilt in Washington's favor due to sloppy passing from Boston in their own half of the field. In the sixty-eighth minute, Dunn laid off to Ali Krieger, and Krieger's cross to Christine Nairn was denied by Whitney Engen to keep the Breakers alive. In the eighty-sixth minute, the Spirit's Megan Oyster received a yellow card for a hard foul on Kyah Simon. The game ended at 1-0, with Lohman being the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match, with honorable mentions for Dydasco, Engen, and Zerboni.
In the Midwest, FC Kansas City welcomes the Western New York Flash. The goalies are Sabrina D'Angelo and Nicole Barnhart. You can watch the game here. Kansas City came out in a strange formation, going with three in the back for this game. The game started out with a bit of balance between the teams, and a bit of physicality as well. Shea Groom had the best early chances in the thirteenth minute for the Blues. Jessica McDonald couldn't quite connect on a Lynn Williams cross in the sixteenth minute, sending the ball wide on Western New York's best early chance. McDonald missed another one wide in the eighteenth minute as the Flash press early. Groom went wide again in the twenty-ninth minute. At the half hour mark, the scoreless game has seen a fair share of shots for each side, but the goalies have been up to task. The Flash are a bit more reckless than the Blues so far, making it seem like Kansas City will get a breakthrough soon. Williams sent a shot high in the thirty-seventh minute, squandering the work of a good pass from Adriana Leon. Barnhart made a save on McDonald shot on a pass from Elizabeth Eddy. Barnhart made two more huge saves in the forty-second minute among a flurry of action by Western New York as they make a big push late in the half. Additionally, Erika Tymrak has been impressive in drawing fouls for Kansas City. The game goes into halftime scoreless. Defensive backs Becky Sauerbrunn and Yael Averbuch also handled most everything that came their way in the first half. Barnhart was called into action for a save early in the second half. The Flash had trouble clearing their lines in the sixty-third minute, and Jen Buczkowski nearly picked the lower left corner, but D'Angelo stretched out for the save. In the seventieth minute, Barnhart saved a free kick from Abby Dahlkemper, continuing an impressive game that has seen the Flash pull away in shots. Samantha Mewis converted a penalty kick in the seventy-second minute, finally breaking Kansas City's resistance as she sent Barnhart the other way to give Western New York the lead. Sauerbrunn's handball created the spot kick. In the seventy-fourth minute, Heather O'Reilly received a yellow card for her foul. In the seventy-eighth minute, Fran Silva made a weaving run through the defense, but D'Angelo made another strong save to deny the equalizing attempt. Barnhart pulled off another save of a curling Williams shot in the eighty-eighth minute. In stoppage time, Groom nearly got one past D'Angelo, but she knocked it out. Sub Tiffany McCarty was hauled down in the box by Eddy. O'Reilly stepped up for the Blues, but missed the penalty kick off the post, and the Flash escaped with a thrilling 1-0 win. The Outsider Sports Woman of the Match honors go to D'Angelo for her solid work in goal, while McDonald and Williams also impressed on the Flash side. For the Blues, Barnhart couldn't do anything about the penalty kick, and Groom also looked good in the attack for the hosts.
The last game on Saturday has the Houston Dash hosting the Chicago Red Stars. Alyssa Naeher and Lydia Williams protect the nets. The game can be found by following this link. In the second minute, a Janine Beckie cross led to a distance shot from Rachel Daly that went over the bar as Houston's rookies combine for early skill. Chicago's Julie Johnston made a big block on a Beckie cross to prevent a shot by the Dash's Kealia Ohai. The Red Stars struck first in the thirteenth minute as a back pass got through multiple Houston defenders, and Christen Press pounced on it for the easy goal, coming somewhat against the run of play as Houston has been dominant up to that point. In the twenty-second minute, it was Chicago's turn for a defensive breakdown, as Sam Johnson's poor slide set up Daly for a long-range one-touch strike to tie the game for the Dash. In the twenty-seventh minute, Naeher's defense had to bail her out when she got knocked down, and Johnson stood tall against a sharp Carli Lloyd shot. The Red Stars continued under an onslaught of shots for a few minutes. In the thirty-third minute, Chicago's Danielle Colaprico nearly had one from outside the box, but the keeper Williams punched it over to keep things level. The latter parts of the half were pretty calm, and they entered the locker rooms tied at 1. Houston has seen good work from their forwards Ohai, Beckie, and Daly, while also a solid half from Allysha Chapman, the left back, and Amber Brooks in the defensive midfield. Chicago's best play has been from Johnston at center back. Naeher, and Press up front providing pressure and a dangerous shot. The Dash have had the better of play so far. Houston took the lead in fifty-first minute with a Lloyd goal set up by Daly with a strong cross to create the header by Lloyd. Houston added on with a Beckie goal in the fifty-third minute, passed from Ohai, who did well to get onto a ball into space behind Johnston, who didn't attack the ball with as much pressure as Ohai did. In the sixty-first minute, Alyssa Mautz of the Red Stars received a yellow card for persistent infringement. In the seventy-fifth minute, Johnson took a yellow card for her foul. As the game winds down, the Dash are protecting their lead, and the Red Stars have failed to really make waves in the second half. In the eighty-second minute, Houston nearly got another when Stephanie Ochs deflected a ball off the Chicago defense, but it went wide for a corner kick. The Red Stars had to stave off more in the eighty-fifth minute, blocking three shots in rapid succession. A minute later, Ochs was denied by Naeher from close range. The game ended 3-1 for the Dash, with Daly the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match. Impressing in the second half was Ellie Brush with her subtly solid defense.
On Sunday, the first of two games sees the Seattle Reign FC bring in Sky Blue FC. Caroline Casey and Hope Solo protect the nets. The game can be found here on YouTube. Seattle got a bit of break going in the fourth minute, but Kim Little's low shot was easily gobbled by Casey. The Reign nearly got one when Casey's clearance hit Manon Melis, but the spin kept it out of the net and kept the game scoreless. Seattle is controlling the game a bit more at the start. Sky Blue proved lethal on a counter in the fifteenth minute with a goal by Natasha Kai, set up by Kelley O'Hara with a brilliant cross. Seattle kept the pressure up with Melis running at goal but firing a bad-angle shot straight at Casey. A counter in the twenty-sixth minute, again led by O'Hara led to a wide shot by Kelly Conheeney. In the thirty-sixth minute, Merritt Mathias got called for a foul in the box on O'Hara, but Hope Solo turned aside the penalty kick by Sarah Killion, and the rebound went out for a goal kick to preserve things. Solo did receive a yellow card prior to the spot kick for dissent. The end of the half lacked much drama, and Sky Blue will take a 1-0 lead into the half. Impressing so far in the game, O'Hara, Kai, and Casey have provided a strong core for the visitors. Also, the Reign have gotten good performances from Jess Fishlock, Melis, and Beverly Yanez as they have had the quantity, if not quality, of shots. In the fifty-second minute, Fishlock found Mathias near the post, and she headed it in past Casey to tie the game after applying a lot of pressure to start the second half. They nearly had another as Mathias led a break the other way, but Sky Blue cleared the attack. The Reign have kept up a lot of pressure since getting the equalizer, but the back line has held strong for Sky Blue. Raquel Rodriguez led an attack in the sixty-seventh minute, seeing O'Hara shoot right at Solo, but her bad distribution allowed Conheeney to score on a pass from Taylor Lytle, regaining the lead for Sky Blue. The Reign are continuing to press as they try to find another equalizer in the last fifteen minutes. In the eightieth minute, Seattle sub Rachel Corsie took a yellow card for her foul on O'Hara. Sky Blue has remained in a defensive shell to protect their lead, and sloppy passing from the Reign has neutered most of their forays on offense. The final stood at 2-1 for Sky Blue FC, with O'Hara the Outsider Sports Woman of the match. Other impressive players not mentioned at halftime include Conheeney and Lytle, while Seattle's Mathias did do well to get her goal and sub Kiersten Dallstream played well in limited minutes.
Finally, the Portland Thorns FC host the brand new Orlando Pride. The goalies are Ashlyn Harris and Michelle Betos. The game is available at this link. Portland has had the bulk of the early possession, and a corner kick from Tobin Heath led to a high shot by Allie Long on the rebound. Orlando got a shot from Maddy Evans in the sixth minute, but it was blocked by the Thorns back line. An eighth minute free kick from Steph Catley beat Betos, but hit the crossbar on a rope, narrowly denying the Pride an early lead. Kristen Edmonds gave Orlando a free kick on the far edge of the box after being fouled by Tobin Heath, and the free kick produced a goal from Catley directly from the kick as Betos couldn't get a mitt on it. Orlando leads 1-0 in the twelfth minute after that goal. Heath had a solid effort, beating two players before Laura Alleway knocked it out for a corner that Heath couldn't make anything of. Portland equalized on a Heath cross after Nadia Nadim missed on the first attempt, and Dagny Brynjarsdottir finished right in the middle of the box, past Harris, to tie the game at 1. Around the half hour mark, the physicality came into play quite a bit, making things a tad chippy. In the thirty-third minute, Lindsey Horan was the only thing stopping an Evans cross from finding Alex Morgan. Nadim nearly had one in the thirty-ninth minute, but only because she was offside. In the forty-second minute, Morgan played Jasmyne Spencer in, but Betos made a point-blank save to preserve the score. A late half cross from Heath led to Dagny and Harris colliding in the air, and Dagny received a yellow card for the play. Harris remained down for awhile. The first half ended tied at 1. Looking good so far for the Pride are Catley, Alleway, Morgan, and Evans, while the Thorns have seen good efforts from Dagny, Heath, Long, and Nadim. The game has often been wide open to this point. Portland's offside problems finally proved costly, as Meghan Klingenberg teed up a Nadim cross, and Long was caught offside as she headed the ball past Harris for a near-goal negated by the call. Betos nearly gave one up when she was slow to clear the ball, and Spencer slid in just a second late looking for a go-ahead goal. In the sixty-second minute, Kaylyn Kyle just chipped a ball over the crossbar off of a corner kick. Things have gone end-to-end somewhat in the second half. Alleway nearly had one for the Pride in the seventy-eighth minute, but it went right to Betos and the score is still tied late in the game. In the seventy-ninth minute, Alleway took a yellow card for a foul on Dagny as the latter tried to make a break toward the Pride net. In the eighty-first minute, it was Orlando's Morgan making a run into space to take a shot on Betos, but she too was denied, earning a corner kick. The frantic play finally burst as Heath found her national team teammate Horan in the middle of the box around US #3 keeper Harris, giving the Thorns a late 2-1 lead. Lianne Sanderson had a good cross in the eighty-seventh minute, but Dani Weatherholt and Kyle both missed, and Betos let it roll out harmlessly as Orlando is desperate to tie the game. In the eighty-ninth minute, Klingenberg took a yellow card for time wasting. Dagny nearly had another in the same minute, but she shot high on the pass from Heath. In the ninetieth minute, Heath was fouled by Orlando's Kyle, and that received a yellow card for the midfielder. Heath hammered another shot in stoppage time, going just wide of the Pride net. The game ended 2-1 for the Thorns, and Heath is the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match. Earning some additional mentions include Spencer of Orlando and Horan of Portland for their strong second halves.
WEEK 1 BEST XI
GK Sabrina D'Angelo
RB Kelley O'Hara
CB Laura Alleway
CB Whitney Engen
LB Caprice Dydasco
DM Amber Brooks
RW Joanna Lohman
LW Tobin Heath
RF Rachel Daly
CF Natasha Kai
LF Janine Beckie
The Washington Spirit hosting the Boston Breakers. Libby Stout and Stephanie Labbe will play in goal as the season begins. The game can be found at this link. Washington opened the scoring early with a third minute goal by Joanna Lohman on a bicycle kick, assisted by Crystal Dunn. In the twenty-third minute, there was an interesting occurrence on a Boston corner kick, where a foul was called as Labbe caught the ball over the line, but no goal came from the play. The Spirit almost found another when McCall Zerboni was lazy on the ball, and Dunn stole it, but her pass to Katie Stengel was deflected. Kristie Mewis nearly had an equalizer for the Breakers in the fortieth minute, but the shot went high. The first half ended with the Spirit up 1-0, and they've controlled most of the play. The Breakers defense has occasionally looked shaky, and Stout struggled early on before settling in. Caprice Dydasco has looked really good for the Spirit on the back line. The second half opened with more end-to-end action, but with another slight tilt in Washington's favor due to sloppy passing from Boston in their own half of the field. In the sixty-eighth minute, Dunn laid off to Ali Krieger, and Krieger's cross to Christine Nairn was denied by Whitney Engen to keep the Breakers alive. In the eighty-sixth minute, the Spirit's Megan Oyster received a yellow card for a hard foul on Kyah Simon. The game ended at 1-0, with Lohman being the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match, with honorable mentions for Dydasco, Engen, and Zerboni.
In the Midwest, FC Kansas City welcomes the Western New York Flash. The goalies are Sabrina D'Angelo and Nicole Barnhart. You can watch the game here. Kansas City came out in a strange formation, going with three in the back for this game. The game started out with a bit of balance between the teams, and a bit of physicality as well. Shea Groom had the best early chances in the thirteenth minute for the Blues. Jessica McDonald couldn't quite connect on a Lynn Williams cross in the sixteenth minute, sending the ball wide on Western New York's best early chance. McDonald missed another one wide in the eighteenth minute as the Flash press early. Groom went wide again in the twenty-ninth minute. At the half hour mark, the scoreless game has seen a fair share of shots for each side, but the goalies have been up to task. The Flash are a bit more reckless than the Blues so far, making it seem like Kansas City will get a breakthrough soon. Williams sent a shot high in the thirty-seventh minute, squandering the work of a good pass from Adriana Leon. Barnhart made a save on McDonald shot on a pass from Elizabeth Eddy. Barnhart made two more huge saves in the forty-second minute among a flurry of action by Western New York as they make a big push late in the half. Additionally, Erika Tymrak has been impressive in drawing fouls for Kansas City. The game goes into halftime scoreless. Defensive backs Becky Sauerbrunn and Yael Averbuch also handled most everything that came their way in the first half. Barnhart was called into action for a save early in the second half. The Flash had trouble clearing their lines in the sixty-third minute, and Jen Buczkowski nearly picked the lower left corner, but D'Angelo stretched out for the save. In the seventieth minute, Barnhart saved a free kick from Abby Dahlkemper, continuing an impressive game that has seen the Flash pull away in shots. Samantha Mewis converted a penalty kick in the seventy-second minute, finally breaking Kansas City's resistance as she sent Barnhart the other way to give Western New York the lead. Sauerbrunn's handball created the spot kick. In the seventy-fourth minute, Heather O'Reilly received a yellow card for her foul. In the seventy-eighth minute, Fran Silva made a weaving run through the defense, but D'Angelo made another strong save to deny the equalizing attempt. Barnhart pulled off another save of a curling Williams shot in the eighty-eighth minute. In stoppage time, Groom nearly got one past D'Angelo, but she knocked it out. Sub Tiffany McCarty was hauled down in the box by Eddy. O'Reilly stepped up for the Blues, but missed the penalty kick off the post, and the Flash escaped with a thrilling 1-0 win. The Outsider Sports Woman of the Match honors go to D'Angelo for her solid work in goal, while McDonald and Williams also impressed on the Flash side. For the Blues, Barnhart couldn't do anything about the penalty kick, and Groom also looked good in the attack for the hosts.
The last game on Saturday has the Houston Dash hosting the Chicago Red Stars. Alyssa Naeher and Lydia Williams protect the nets. The game can be found by following this link. In the second minute, a Janine Beckie cross led to a distance shot from Rachel Daly that went over the bar as Houston's rookies combine for early skill. Chicago's Julie Johnston made a big block on a Beckie cross to prevent a shot by the Dash's Kealia Ohai. The Red Stars struck first in the thirteenth minute as a back pass got through multiple Houston defenders, and Christen Press pounced on it for the easy goal, coming somewhat against the run of play as Houston has been dominant up to that point. In the twenty-second minute, it was Chicago's turn for a defensive breakdown, as Sam Johnson's poor slide set up Daly for a long-range one-touch strike to tie the game for the Dash. In the twenty-seventh minute, Naeher's defense had to bail her out when she got knocked down, and Johnson stood tall against a sharp Carli Lloyd shot. The Red Stars continued under an onslaught of shots for a few minutes. In the thirty-third minute, Chicago's Danielle Colaprico nearly had one from outside the box, but the keeper Williams punched it over to keep things level. The latter parts of the half were pretty calm, and they entered the locker rooms tied at 1. Houston has seen good work from their forwards Ohai, Beckie, and Daly, while also a solid half from Allysha Chapman, the left back, and Amber Brooks in the defensive midfield. Chicago's best play has been from Johnston at center back. Naeher, and Press up front providing pressure and a dangerous shot. The Dash have had the better of play so far. Houston took the lead in fifty-first minute with a Lloyd goal set up by Daly with a strong cross to create the header by Lloyd. Houston added on with a Beckie goal in the fifty-third minute, passed from Ohai, who did well to get onto a ball into space behind Johnston, who didn't attack the ball with as much pressure as Ohai did. In the sixty-first minute, Alyssa Mautz of the Red Stars received a yellow card for persistent infringement. In the seventy-fifth minute, Johnson took a yellow card for her foul. As the game winds down, the Dash are protecting their lead, and the Red Stars have failed to really make waves in the second half. In the eighty-second minute, Houston nearly got another when Stephanie Ochs deflected a ball off the Chicago defense, but it went wide for a corner kick. The Red Stars had to stave off more in the eighty-fifth minute, blocking three shots in rapid succession. A minute later, Ochs was denied by Naeher from close range. The game ended 3-1 for the Dash, with Daly the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match. Impressing in the second half was Ellie Brush with her subtly solid defense.
On Sunday, the first of two games sees the Seattle Reign FC bring in Sky Blue FC. Caroline Casey and Hope Solo protect the nets. The game can be found here on YouTube. Seattle got a bit of break going in the fourth minute, but Kim Little's low shot was easily gobbled by Casey. The Reign nearly got one when Casey's clearance hit Manon Melis, but the spin kept it out of the net and kept the game scoreless. Seattle is controlling the game a bit more at the start. Sky Blue proved lethal on a counter in the fifteenth minute with a goal by Natasha Kai, set up by Kelley O'Hara with a brilliant cross. Seattle kept the pressure up with Melis running at goal but firing a bad-angle shot straight at Casey. A counter in the twenty-sixth minute, again led by O'Hara led to a wide shot by Kelly Conheeney. In the thirty-sixth minute, Merritt Mathias got called for a foul in the box on O'Hara, but Hope Solo turned aside the penalty kick by Sarah Killion, and the rebound went out for a goal kick to preserve things. Solo did receive a yellow card prior to the spot kick for dissent. The end of the half lacked much drama, and Sky Blue will take a 1-0 lead into the half. Impressing so far in the game, O'Hara, Kai, and Casey have provided a strong core for the visitors. Also, the Reign have gotten good performances from Jess Fishlock, Melis, and Beverly Yanez as they have had the quantity, if not quality, of shots. In the fifty-second minute, Fishlock found Mathias near the post, and she headed it in past Casey to tie the game after applying a lot of pressure to start the second half. They nearly had another as Mathias led a break the other way, but Sky Blue cleared the attack. The Reign have kept up a lot of pressure since getting the equalizer, but the back line has held strong for Sky Blue. Raquel Rodriguez led an attack in the sixty-seventh minute, seeing O'Hara shoot right at Solo, but her bad distribution allowed Conheeney to score on a pass from Taylor Lytle, regaining the lead for Sky Blue. The Reign are continuing to press as they try to find another equalizer in the last fifteen minutes. In the eightieth minute, Seattle sub Rachel Corsie took a yellow card for her foul on O'Hara. Sky Blue has remained in a defensive shell to protect their lead, and sloppy passing from the Reign has neutered most of their forays on offense. The final stood at 2-1 for Sky Blue FC, with O'Hara the Outsider Sports Woman of the match. Other impressive players not mentioned at halftime include Conheeney and Lytle, while Seattle's Mathias did do well to get her goal and sub Kiersten Dallstream played well in limited minutes.
Finally, the Portland Thorns FC host the brand new Orlando Pride. The goalies are Ashlyn Harris and Michelle Betos. The game is available at this link. Portland has had the bulk of the early possession, and a corner kick from Tobin Heath led to a high shot by Allie Long on the rebound. Orlando got a shot from Maddy Evans in the sixth minute, but it was blocked by the Thorns back line. An eighth minute free kick from Steph Catley beat Betos, but hit the crossbar on a rope, narrowly denying the Pride an early lead. Kristen Edmonds gave Orlando a free kick on the far edge of the box after being fouled by Tobin Heath, and the free kick produced a goal from Catley directly from the kick as Betos couldn't get a mitt on it. Orlando leads 1-0 in the twelfth minute after that goal. Heath had a solid effort, beating two players before Laura Alleway knocked it out for a corner that Heath couldn't make anything of. Portland equalized on a Heath cross after Nadia Nadim missed on the first attempt, and Dagny Brynjarsdottir finished right in the middle of the box, past Harris, to tie the game at 1. Around the half hour mark, the physicality came into play quite a bit, making things a tad chippy. In the thirty-third minute, Lindsey Horan was the only thing stopping an Evans cross from finding Alex Morgan. Nadim nearly had one in the thirty-ninth minute, but only because she was offside. In the forty-second minute, Morgan played Jasmyne Spencer in, but Betos made a point-blank save to preserve the score. A late half cross from Heath led to Dagny and Harris colliding in the air, and Dagny received a yellow card for the play. Harris remained down for awhile. The first half ended tied at 1. Looking good so far for the Pride are Catley, Alleway, Morgan, and Evans, while the Thorns have seen good efforts from Dagny, Heath, Long, and Nadim. The game has often been wide open to this point. Portland's offside problems finally proved costly, as Meghan Klingenberg teed up a Nadim cross, and Long was caught offside as she headed the ball past Harris for a near-goal negated by the call. Betos nearly gave one up when she was slow to clear the ball, and Spencer slid in just a second late looking for a go-ahead goal. In the sixty-second minute, Kaylyn Kyle just chipped a ball over the crossbar off of a corner kick. Things have gone end-to-end somewhat in the second half. Alleway nearly had one for the Pride in the seventy-eighth minute, but it went right to Betos and the score is still tied late in the game. In the seventy-ninth minute, Alleway took a yellow card for a foul on Dagny as the latter tried to make a break toward the Pride net. In the eighty-first minute, it was Orlando's Morgan making a run into space to take a shot on Betos, but she too was denied, earning a corner kick. The frantic play finally burst as Heath found her national team teammate Horan in the middle of the box around US #3 keeper Harris, giving the Thorns a late 2-1 lead. Lianne Sanderson had a good cross in the eighty-seventh minute, but Dani Weatherholt and Kyle both missed, and Betos let it roll out harmlessly as Orlando is desperate to tie the game. In the eighty-ninth minute, Klingenberg took a yellow card for time wasting. Dagny nearly had another in the same minute, but she shot high on the pass from Heath. In the ninetieth minute, Heath was fouled by Orlando's Kyle, and that received a yellow card for the midfielder. Heath hammered another shot in stoppage time, going just wide of the Pride net. The game ended 2-1 for the Thorns, and Heath is the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match. Earning some additional mentions include Spencer of Orlando and Horan of Portland for their strong second halves.
WEEK 1 BEST XI
GK Sabrina D'Angelo
RB Kelley O'Hara
CB Laura Alleway
CB Whitney Engen
LB Caprice Dydasco
DM Amber Brooks
RW Joanna Lohman
LW Tobin Heath
RF Rachel Daly
CF Natasha Kai
LF Janine Beckie
Major League Soccer 2016 - Week 7
It's a full schedule this weekend, beginning with Friday's...
Houston Dynamo hosting the Los Angeles Galaxy. Brian Rowe and Joe Willis are in goal. Houston began in the first minute with a David Horst goal, fueled by Alex and Cristian Maidana. Los Angeles tied it with a Giovani Dos Santos goal in the fourth minute. The Galaxy took the lead with a Baggio Husidic goal in the twenty-first minute. Los Angeles added on with a thirty-first minute Dos Santos goal, passed from Steven Gerrard. The Galaxy extended the lead as Gyasi Zardes buried a goal, passed from Sebastian Lletget and Dos Santos. In the fifty-sixth minute, Ashley Cole of Los Angeles took a yellow card for a foul, as did teammate Daniel Steres in the eighty-ninth minute for a foul as well. The final stood at 4-1, with Dos Santos the man of the match with a brace.
The first of Saturday's seven sees the Chicago Fire welcome the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Matt Lampson draw the starts in goal. Chicago opened in the twenty-ninth minute with a Kennedy Igboananike goal, fueled by Gilberto. Montreal tied it on a fifty-sixth minute goal from Didier Drogba, passed from Dominic Oduro. The Impact took the lead with a stoppage time goal by Ignacio Piatti, via Oduro. This made it 2-1, the final, with Oduro named man of the match for his role in setting up both goals.
Over in DC, United brings in Toronto FC. Clint Irwin and Travis Worra are the gloved men. Toronto led off with a first minute goal by Sebastian Giovinco, via Marco Delgado and Jozy Altidore. In the thirty-fifth minute, Altidore took a yellow card for his foul. In the eighty-eighth minute, Irwin of Toronto took a yellow card for time wasting. DC had yellow cards for fouls by Marcelo Savas in the eighty-ninth minute and Steve Birnbaum in stoppage time. The final held at 1-0, with Giovinco being the man of the match.
Back west, the Columbus Crew SC host New York City FC. Josh Saunders and Steve Clark protect the nets. Columbus started with an Ethan Finlay goal, courtesy of Justin Meram in the seventh minute. New York City tied it on a fifteenth minute goal by David Villa, passed from Andoni Iraola. In the twenty-seventh minute, Jason Hernandez of New York City took a yellow card for a foul. In the forty-third minute, Wil Trapp took a yellow card for his foul for the Crew. Columbus retook the lead with a Kei Kamara goal in the forty-ninth minute, assisted by Meram. The Crew added on with an eightieth minute Meram goal, coming off of Finlay and Federico Higuain. New York City had yellow cards for Patrick Mullins' eighty-second minute foul and persistent infringement by Iraola in the eighty-fourth minute. Columbus went down a man in the eighty-sixth minute when Michael Parkhurst took a straight red card for a foul, allowing New York City to get a goal back on a Villa penalty kick goal. This still came up short, with the final being 3-2 for the Crew, and Meram was the man of the match for a goal and two assists.
Further west, the Colorado Rapids welcome the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Zac MacMath draw the starts in goal. Colorado struck first in the twenty-first minute with a Jermaine Jones goal, coming off of Mekeil Williams. In the thirty-sixth minute, New York saw a yellow card for Mike Grella's foul. The Red Bulls tied on a sixtieth minute goal by Ronald Zubar, passed from Sacha Kljestan. In the sixty-fourth minute, New York's Chris Duvall had a yellow card for a foul, as did Zubar in the seventy-ninth minute for his own foul. The Rapids took the lead in the eighty-second minute on a Dominique Badji goal, passed from Jones and Luis Solignac. In the eighty-fourth minute, Kemar Lawrence had a yellow card for the Red Bulls for a foul. Colorado's Conor Doyle took a yellow card for time wasting in stoppage time. The Rapids won 2-1, with the man of the match being Jones for the goal and assist.
Along to Utah, where Real Salt Lake brings in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Nick Rimando are the reliable keepers. Salt Lake got going in the fifty-fifth minute with a Juan Manuel Martinez goal, passed from Joao Plata. In the seventy-first minute, Real's Kyle Beckerman took a yellow card for a foul. Vancouver had yellow cards for fouls by Kendall Waston in the seventy-ninth minute and Octavio Rivero in stoppage time, both for fouls. The final stayed at 1-0, with Martinez named the man of the match.
Up in Seattle, the Sounders FC host the Philadelphia Union. Andre Blake and Stefan Frei are in the six-yard boxes. Philadelphia had yellow cards for fouls by Roland Alberg in the thirty-second minute and Fabinho in the thirty-fourth minute. Seattle was first to score in the forty-first minute on a Chad Marshall goal, assisted by Andreas Ivanschitz. In the fifty-third minute, Alberg of the Union took a second yellow card for a foul, with his ejection putting the visitors down to ten men. The Sounders' Dylan Remick had a yellow card for a fifty-fifth minute handball. Seattle added on in the seventy-first minute with a Jordan Morris goal, helped along by Ivanschitz. Philadelphia got on the board in the seventy-third minute with a Sebastien Le Toux goal, coming off of C.J. Sapong and Fabinho. In the eighty-seventh minute, the Union's Leo Fernandes received a yellow card for a foul. The Sounders saw yellow cards given to Nelson Valdez in the eighty-eighth minute for a foul and to Osvaldo Alonso for time wasting in stoppage time. The Sounders claimed a 2-1 win, with Ivanschitz earning the man of the match honors.
In Oregon, the Portland Timbers welcome the San Jose Earthquakes. Adam Larsen Kwarasey and David Bingham guard the woodwork. Portland dented the scoreboard in the fifty-second minute with a Jack McInerney goal. San Jose had a yellow card in the fifty-fifth minute for a foul by Anibal Godoy. The Timbers added on in the sixty-fifth minute with a Fanendo Adi goal. In the ninetieth minute, Portland had yellow cards given to Diego Valeri for an argument and Nat Borchers for a foul. The Earthquakes got on the board with a Chris Wondolowski goal in the first minute of stoppage time, coming on a penalty kick. About five minutes later, Bingham of San Jose and Valeri of the Timbers each took yellow cards for arguing. Valeri's was his second, so Portland went down to ten men. Portland iced it at 3-1 with an Adi goal nine minutes deep into stoppage time, set up by Lucas Melano. The man of the match was Adi for his brace, which included the winner.
On Sunday, the first of two games has Orlando City SC bringing in the New England Revolution. Bobby Shuttleworth faces a lesser foe in Joe Bendik in goal. Orlando City cracked the scoresheet with a second minute penalty kick goal by Kaka. New England saw a yellow card for Gershon Koffie in the twelfth minute for his foul. The Revolution tied it with a Teal Bunbury goal in the thirty-seventh minute, set up by Koffie and Chris Tierney. Orlando City's Antonio Nocerino took a yellow card for a fifty-sixth minute foul. Orlando City gained the lead in stoppage time with a Kevin Molino goal. Four minutes after that, New England tied it with a Lee Nguyen penalty kick goal. The final was 2-2, and Molino was the man of the match for what turned out to be a critical goal.
Finally, FC Dallas hosts Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Chris Seitz are the keepers. Kansas City drew first blood in the twenty-second minute on a Lawrence Olum goal, passed from Benny Feilhaber. Dallas tied it on a thirty-fifth minute on a Michael Barrios goal, fueled by Maximiliano Urruti and Kellyn Acosta. Dallas took the lead on a sixty-eighth minute Mauro Rosales goal. Dallas had a yellow card given to Atiba Harris for a ninetieth minute foul. The final stayed at 2-1 for Dallas, with Rosales named man of the match for his winner.
Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.
Houston Dynamo hosting the Los Angeles Galaxy. Brian Rowe and Joe Willis are in goal. Houston began in the first minute with a David Horst goal, fueled by Alex and Cristian Maidana. Los Angeles tied it with a Giovani Dos Santos goal in the fourth minute. The Galaxy took the lead with a Baggio Husidic goal in the twenty-first minute. Los Angeles added on with a thirty-first minute Dos Santos goal, passed from Steven Gerrard. The Galaxy extended the lead as Gyasi Zardes buried a goal, passed from Sebastian Lletget and Dos Santos. In the fifty-sixth minute, Ashley Cole of Los Angeles took a yellow card for a foul, as did teammate Daniel Steres in the eighty-ninth minute for a foul as well. The final stood at 4-1, with Dos Santos the man of the match with a brace.
The first of Saturday's seven sees the Chicago Fire welcome the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Matt Lampson draw the starts in goal. Chicago opened in the twenty-ninth minute with a Kennedy Igboananike goal, fueled by Gilberto. Montreal tied it on a fifty-sixth minute goal from Didier Drogba, passed from Dominic Oduro. The Impact took the lead with a stoppage time goal by Ignacio Piatti, via Oduro. This made it 2-1, the final, with Oduro named man of the match for his role in setting up both goals.
Over in DC, United brings in Toronto FC. Clint Irwin and Travis Worra are the gloved men. Toronto led off with a first minute goal by Sebastian Giovinco, via Marco Delgado and Jozy Altidore. In the thirty-fifth minute, Altidore took a yellow card for his foul. In the eighty-eighth minute, Irwin of Toronto took a yellow card for time wasting. DC had yellow cards for fouls by Marcelo Savas in the eighty-ninth minute and Steve Birnbaum in stoppage time. The final held at 1-0, with Giovinco being the man of the match.
Back west, the Columbus Crew SC host New York City FC. Josh Saunders and Steve Clark protect the nets. Columbus started with an Ethan Finlay goal, courtesy of Justin Meram in the seventh minute. New York City tied it on a fifteenth minute goal by David Villa, passed from Andoni Iraola. In the twenty-seventh minute, Jason Hernandez of New York City took a yellow card for a foul. In the forty-third minute, Wil Trapp took a yellow card for his foul for the Crew. Columbus retook the lead with a Kei Kamara goal in the forty-ninth minute, assisted by Meram. The Crew added on with an eightieth minute Meram goal, coming off of Finlay and Federico Higuain. New York City had yellow cards for Patrick Mullins' eighty-second minute foul and persistent infringement by Iraola in the eighty-fourth minute. Columbus went down a man in the eighty-sixth minute when Michael Parkhurst took a straight red card for a foul, allowing New York City to get a goal back on a Villa penalty kick goal. This still came up short, with the final being 3-2 for the Crew, and Meram was the man of the match for a goal and two assists.
Further west, the Colorado Rapids welcome the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Zac MacMath draw the starts in goal. Colorado struck first in the twenty-first minute with a Jermaine Jones goal, coming off of Mekeil Williams. In the thirty-sixth minute, New York saw a yellow card for Mike Grella's foul. The Red Bulls tied on a sixtieth minute goal by Ronald Zubar, passed from Sacha Kljestan. In the sixty-fourth minute, New York's Chris Duvall had a yellow card for a foul, as did Zubar in the seventy-ninth minute for his own foul. The Rapids took the lead in the eighty-second minute on a Dominique Badji goal, passed from Jones and Luis Solignac. In the eighty-fourth minute, Kemar Lawrence had a yellow card for the Red Bulls for a foul. Colorado's Conor Doyle took a yellow card for time wasting in stoppage time. The Rapids won 2-1, with the man of the match being Jones for the goal and assist.
Along to Utah, where Real Salt Lake brings in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Nick Rimando are the reliable keepers. Salt Lake got going in the fifty-fifth minute with a Juan Manuel Martinez goal, passed from Joao Plata. In the seventy-first minute, Real's Kyle Beckerman took a yellow card for a foul. Vancouver had yellow cards for fouls by Kendall Waston in the seventy-ninth minute and Octavio Rivero in stoppage time, both for fouls. The final stayed at 1-0, with Martinez named the man of the match.
Up in Seattle, the Sounders FC host the Philadelphia Union. Andre Blake and Stefan Frei are in the six-yard boxes. Philadelphia had yellow cards for fouls by Roland Alberg in the thirty-second minute and Fabinho in the thirty-fourth minute. Seattle was first to score in the forty-first minute on a Chad Marshall goal, assisted by Andreas Ivanschitz. In the fifty-third minute, Alberg of the Union took a second yellow card for a foul, with his ejection putting the visitors down to ten men. The Sounders' Dylan Remick had a yellow card for a fifty-fifth minute handball. Seattle added on in the seventy-first minute with a Jordan Morris goal, helped along by Ivanschitz. Philadelphia got on the board in the seventy-third minute with a Sebastien Le Toux goal, coming off of C.J. Sapong and Fabinho. In the eighty-seventh minute, the Union's Leo Fernandes received a yellow card for a foul. The Sounders saw yellow cards given to Nelson Valdez in the eighty-eighth minute for a foul and to Osvaldo Alonso for time wasting in stoppage time. The Sounders claimed a 2-1 win, with Ivanschitz earning the man of the match honors.
In Oregon, the Portland Timbers welcome the San Jose Earthquakes. Adam Larsen Kwarasey and David Bingham guard the woodwork. Portland dented the scoreboard in the fifty-second minute with a Jack McInerney goal. San Jose had a yellow card in the fifty-fifth minute for a foul by Anibal Godoy. The Timbers added on in the sixty-fifth minute with a Fanendo Adi goal. In the ninetieth minute, Portland had yellow cards given to Diego Valeri for an argument and Nat Borchers for a foul. The Earthquakes got on the board with a Chris Wondolowski goal in the first minute of stoppage time, coming on a penalty kick. About five minutes later, Bingham of San Jose and Valeri of the Timbers each took yellow cards for arguing. Valeri's was his second, so Portland went down to ten men. Portland iced it at 3-1 with an Adi goal nine minutes deep into stoppage time, set up by Lucas Melano. The man of the match was Adi for his brace, which included the winner.
On Sunday, the first of two games has Orlando City SC bringing in the New England Revolution. Bobby Shuttleworth faces a lesser foe in Joe Bendik in goal. Orlando City cracked the scoresheet with a second minute penalty kick goal by Kaka. New England saw a yellow card for Gershon Koffie in the twelfth minute for his foul. The Revolution tied it with a Teal Bunbury goal in the thirty-seventh minute, set up by Koffie and Chris Tierney. Orlando City's Antonio Nocerino took a yellow card for a fifty-sixth minute foul. Orlando City gained the lead in stoppage time with a Kevin Molino goal. Four minutes after that, New England tied it with a Lee Nguyen penalty kick goal. The final was 2-2, and Molino was the man of the match for what turned out to be a critical goal.
Finally, FC Dallas hosts Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Chris Seitz are the keepers. Kansas City drew first blood in the twenty-second minute on a Lawrence Olum goal, passed from Benny Feilhaber. Dallas tied it on a thirty-fifth minute on a Michael Barrios goal, fueled by Maximiliano Urruti and Kellyn Acosta. Dallas took the lead on a sixty-eighth minute Mauro Rosales goal. Dallas had a yellow card given to Atiba Harris for a ninetieth minute foul. The final stayed at 2-1 for Dallas, with Rosales named man of the match for his winner.
Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.
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