Wednesday, May 27, 2015

MLS Wednesday Week 13

Three Wednesday games in what's becoming a common pattern for the middle of the week. We begin in...

Seattle, with the Sounders FC hosting the Colorado Rapids in a game I attended. Clint Irwin and Stefan Frei man the nets. Seattle struck first with a fifteenth minute Marco Pappa goal. In the forty-fourth minute, Colorado took a yellow card for a Jared Watts foul. The Sounders had two yellow cards in the second half, given to Osvaldo Alonso in the fifty-fifth minute and Brad Evans in the sixty-fourth minute, both for fouls. The game ended 1-0 for the Sounders, and Pappa was the man of the match for his beautiful, curling goal.

Down I-5, the Portland Timbers welcome DC United. Bill Hamid and Adam Larsen Kwarasey are the gloved men. Portland began in the fifth minute with a Maximiliano Urruti goal, passed from Gaston Fernandez. In the twenty-ninth minute, DC's Jared Jeffrey took a yellow card. The Timbers had a yellow card for a Norberto Paparatto foul in the fifty-sixth minute, as well as a yellow card for a seventy-sixth minute foul by Diego Chara. In stoppage time, Bobby Boswell of United took a yellow card for his foul. The final stood at 1-0, and the man of the match was Urruti for his early strike.

Finally, the Los Angeles Galaxy bring in Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Jaime Penedo guard the nets. Los Angeles led off with a seventh minute penalty kick goal by Juninho. In the tenth minute, Kyle Beckerman of Salt Lake had a yellow card. The Galaxy saw yellow cards for Alan Gordon in the fortieth minute and a foul by Baggio Husidic in first half stoppage time. In the sixty-third minute, Mika Vayrynen took a yellow card for Los Angeles for his foul. Real went down to ten men as Jamison Olave took a straight red card for his offense in second half stoppage time. Los Angeles won 1-0, and the man of the match was Juninho for the early winner.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Major League Soccer Week 12

Full week again, beginning with two games on Friday. The first is...

The Columbus Crew SC hosting the Chicago Fire. Jon Busch and Steve Clark are the veteran goalies. Columbus led off in the eighth minute with a Kei Kamara goal, passed from Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram. The Crew's Kevan George took a yellow card for his twenty-first minute foul. In the forty-second minute, Chicago's Eric Gehrig had a yellow card for a foul. Columbus added on with a fifty-fifth minute Kamara goal, his second of the game, assisted by George and Federico Higuain. The Fire got on the board with a David Accam goal in the fifty-eighth minute. The Crew's Meram got a yellow card in stoppage time for time wasting. He didn't waste enough, as Chicago tied it with a goal two minutes later by Jason Johnson, assisted by Gehrig. The man of the 2-2 match was Kamara with the brace.

Out in Los Angeles, the Galaxy welcome the Houston Dynamo. Tyler Deric and Jaime Penedo are set to start in goal. Los Angeles saw a yellow card go to Stefan Ishizaki in the twenty-fourth minute for a foul. Houston's Raul Rodriguez took a yellow card for his forty-third minute foul. The Galaxy's Juninho received a yellow card for his fifty-eighth minute foul. The Dynamo had another yellow card in the eighty-second minute for a Giles Barnes foul. In stoppage time, Los Angeles got the goal they needed for a 1-0 win on the score by Alan Gordon, passed from Robbie Keane. Gordon got a yellow card for excessive celebration. Three minutes later, Oscar Sorto of the Galaxy was ejected on a straight red card for fighting. The man of the match was Gordon.

Leading off Saturday, Toronto FC brings in the Portland Timbers. Adam Larsen Kwarasey and Chris Konopka man the nets. Toronto began in the fifth minute with a Sebastian Giovinco goal, via Luke Moore and Michael Bradley. In the ninetieth minute, Ashtone Morgan of Toronto took a yellow card for a foul. Portland's Diego Chara had a yellow card for his foul in stoppage time. The final stood at 1-0 for Toronto, and the man of the match honors went to Konopka for a clean sheet with five saves to preserve the win throughout much of the game.

Down in New England, the Revolution host DC United. Bill Hamid and Bobby Shuttleworth protect the nets. London Woodberry of New England received a yellow card for a twenty-sixth minute foul. In first half stoppage time, the Revolution got going with a Charlie Davies goal. A minute later, Lee Nguyen took a yellow card for a foul. New England saw the men on the pitch dwindle rapidly in the second half, with a straight red card given to Chris Tierney in the fifty-second minute to put them at ten men, and a second yellow card to Nguyen in the fifty-eighth minute to put them at nine men, both cards for fouls. In the seventy-fifth minute, Sean Franklin took a yellow card for a foul for DC. United tied it in the eightieth minute as Jairo Arrieta scored, thanks to Taylor Kemp and Facundo Coria. DC's Perry Kitchen received a yellow card for an eighty-sixth minute foul. The Revolution's Jermaine Jones was booked for dissent in the eighty-eighth minute, earning a yellow card. United had another yellow card for a Davy Arnaud foul in the eighty-ninth minute. The score remained at 1-1, with the man of the match being Arrieta for salvaging a point for DC.

Back in Canada, the Montreal Impact welcome FC Dallas. Dan Kennedy and Evan Bush are in goal. Montreal was first to score in the twenty-fifth minute with an Ignacio Piatti penalty kick. The Impact saw yellow cards for Bakary Soumare in the twenty-sixth minute for a handball, and Marco Donadel in the twenty-ninth minute for unsporting behavior. Montreal added on with a Jack McInerney goal in the fiftieth minute, passed from Piatti. In the fifty-eighth minute, Andres Romero of the Impact had a yellow card for a foul. Dallas' Matt Hedges received a yellow card for his seventy-fifth minute handball. Dallas got on the board as Hedges earned redemption, scoring in the seventy-seventh minute. Montreal took two more yellow cards, for Calum Mallace in the eighty-seventh minute for a foul and McInerney in stoppage time for time wasting. The Impact won 2-1, with the man of the match being Piatti for a goal and assist.

Out west, the Colorado Rapids bring in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Clint Irwin are the gloved men. Vancouver's Kianz Froese took a yellow card for his dive in the twenty-fourth minute. Colorado saw a yellow card for a foul by Sam Cronin in the forty-third minute. The Rapids struck first in the fifty-first minute with a Lucas Pittinari goal, passed from Gabriel Torres and Dillon Powers. The Whitecaps took two more yellow cards, for fouls by Gershon Koffie in the seventy-fifth minute and Kendall Waston in the seventy-ninth minute. Colorado's Kevin Doyle got booked on a yellow card for an eighty-seventh minute foul. The final held at 1-0, and the man of the match was Irwin for a four-save clean sheet for the win.

Northwest to Seattle, as the Sounders FC host Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Stefan Frei are between the posts. Kansas City had two yellow cards in the eighty-first minute, given to Soni Mustivar for dissent and Kevin Ellis for a foul. This was it in the mostly defensive game, with the final standing at 0-0. The man of the match was Frei for a clean sheet of three saves.

The last of Saturday's slate sees Real Salt Lake welcome New York City FC. Josh Saunders and Nick Rimando are in the six-yard boxes. Salt Lake dented the scoreboard with a John Stertzer goal in the twenty-fifth minute, made possible by Devon Sandoval and Kyle Beckerman. Real saw a yellow card for Demar Phillips in the fortieth minute for a foul. Salt Lake added on with an Alvaro Saborio goal, passed from Luke Mulholland and Jamison Olave in the forty-ninth minute. This was all they needed for the 2-0 win, with the man of the match being Stertzer for his goal.

The week ends on Sunday with two games, the first with the New York Red Bulls bringing in the Philadelphia Union. Brian Sylvestre and Luis Robles are the gloved men. Philadelphia dented the scoreboard in the fifty-seventh minute with a Vincent Nogueira goal, via Cristian Maidana. The Union added on with a C.J. Sapong goal, made possible by Fabinho and Maidana. Philadelphia's Sapong had a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-third minute. An argument in the seventy-eighth minute meant yellow cards for Maidana of the Union and Felipe of New York. Philadelphia's Nogueira took a yellow card for his eightieth minute foal. The Red Bulls saw a yellow card go to Karl Oiumette in the eighty-fourth minute for his foul. the final stood at 2-0, with the man of the match being Nogueira for his game-winner.

Finally, the San Jose Earthquakes host Orlando City SC. Tally Hall and David Bingham are the keepers. San Jose's Fatai Alashe took a yellow card for his forty-fourth minute foul. Orlando City went down to ten men as Brek Shea received a straight red card for a foul. Orlando City began with a sixty-fourth minute Kaka penalty kick goal. The Earthquakes tied it on a Chris Wondolowski penalty kick goal in the sixty-eighth minute. In the eighty-fifth minute, Martin Peterson took a yellow card for a foul for Orlando City. The game ended 1-1, with the man of the match being Wondolowski for his equalize and 100th MLS goal.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion. 

Premier League Week 38: The Finale

This is the end of the 2014-2015 Premier League season, with all twenty clubs playing all at one time across England. We begin with...

Arsenal hosting West Bromwich Albion. Boaz Myhill and David Ospina are the goalies. Arsenal opened with a fourth minute Theo Walcott goal, passed from Santiago Cazorla. Arsenal added on with another Walcott goal in the fourteenth minute. In the seventeenth minute, Arsenal extended the lead as Jack Wilshere scored, thanks to Gabriel Paulista after a corner kick. Arsenal padded the lead with a thirty-seventh minute goal by Walcott, assisted by Cazorla's cross. Hector Bellerin took a yellow card for Arsenal on a forty-eighth minute foul. West Brom got on the board in the fifty-seventh minute with a Gareth McAuley header goal, via Chris Brunt at close range. The final favored Arsenal at 4-1.

Staying in London, Chelsea welcomes Sunderland. Vito Mannone and Petr Cech are the backups in goal. Sunderland struck first with a Steven Fletcher header goal in the twenty-sixth minute, assisted by Adam Johnson's cross after a corner kick. In the thirty-second minute, Sunderland's Jack Rodwell had a yellow card for a foul. Chelsea tied it in the thirty-seventh minute with a Diego Costa penalty kick goal. In the forty-second minute, Chelsea saw a yellow card given to Juan Cuadrado for his foul. Chelsea took the lead on a Loic Remy goal in the seventieth minute, courtesy of Eden Hazard. In the eighty-second minute, Nemanja Matic of Chelsea had a yellow card for his foul. Chelsea added on in the eighty-eighth minute on another Remy goal, made possible by Matic's cross. Chelsea cruised to a 3-1 victory and hoisted the trophy as Premier League Champions.

Moving along, Aston Villa brings in Burnley. Tom Heaton faces a lesser foe in Jed Steer in goal. Burnley was first to score with a sixth-minute goal by Danny Ings, a header via Ashley Barnes' headed pass. In the twenty-ninth minute, Fredrik Ulvestad of Burnley took a yellow card for a foul. Aston Villa received a yellow card for a Ron Vlaar foul in the fifty-third minute. Burnley had another yellow card in the sixty-sixth minute for a foul by Scott Arfield. The final stood at 1-0 for Burnley.

Into London again, as Crystal Palace hosts Swansea City. Lukasz Fabianski and Wayne Hennessey protect the nets. Crystal Palace started in the fifty-seventh minute on a Marouane Chamakh goal, coming off of Scott Dann's header pass after a set piece. Crystal Palace had a yellow card for a Glenn Murray foul in the eighty-ninth minute, as well as another yellow card for Brede Hangeland in stoppage time. Crystal Palace held on for a 1-0 win.

Up north, Everton welcomes Tottenham Hotspur. Hugo Lloris and Tim Howard are the gloved men. In the twenty-fourth minute, Tottenham Hotspur dented the scoreboard with a Harry Kane header goal, via Eric Dier's cross. In the eightieth minute, Benjamin Stambouli of Tottenham Hotspur took a yellow card. In the eighty-first minute, Everton's Phil Jagielka received a yellow card for his foul. Tottenham Hotspur had another yellow card for a Ryan Mason foul in the eighty-third minute. Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0, making the Europa League comfortably.

Next up, Hull City brings in Manchester United. Victor Valdes is mismatched with Steve Harper in goal. In the fifty-seventh minute, Manchester United's Daley Blind took a yellow card for his foul. In the seventy-seventh minute, Manchester United went down to ten men as Marouane Fellaini received a straight red card for fighting. Hull City had a yellow card go to Michael Dawson for a foul in the ninetieth minute. Manchester United took a yellow card for a Chris Smalling foul in stoppage time, as did Hull City with Stephen Quinn's foul a minute later. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, which was not enough for Hull City, as they were relegated.

Continuing along, Leicester City hosts the Queens Park Rangers. Alex McCarthy and Kasper Schmeichel are between the posts. In the sixteenth minute, Leicester City began with a Jamie Vardy goal. Leicester City added on with a forty-third minute goal by Marc Albrighton, via Jeffrey Schlupp with a cross after a set piece. Leicester City extended the lead with a fifty-first minute goal by Leonardo Ulloa, coming off of Wes Morgan after a corner kick. Leicester City padded the lead as Esteban Cambiasso scored an unassisted goal. QPR got on the board with a fifty-seventh minute header goal by Charlie Austin, courtesy of Joey Barton's cross after a set piece. Leicester City iced it at 5-1 in the eighty-sixth minute with a Andrej Kramaric goal for the final.

Over in Manchester, City welcomes Southampton. Kelvin Davis and Joe Hart are the keepers. Manchester City saw a yellow card for Martin Demichelis in the second minute for his foul. In the twenty-fifth minute, Shane Long of Southampton took a yellow card for a foul. Manchester City led off with a Frank Lampard goal in the thirty-first minute, assisted by James Milner. Manchester City added on with an eighty-eighth minute header goal by Sergio Aguero, coming off of Eliaquim Mangala on a headed pass after a corner kick. The final stood at 2-0.

At the same time, Newcastle United brought in West Ham United. Adrian and Tim Krul are the experienced goalies. Newcastle United got going with a fifty-fourth minute Moussa Sissoko header goal, via Jonas Gutierrez's cross. In the eightieth minute, Morgan Amalfitano of West Ham United received a yellow card for a foul. Newcastle United added on with an eighty-fifth minute Gutierrez goal, made possible by Jack Colback, but Gutierrez did receive a yellow card for excessive celebration. Newcastle United held on for the 2-0 win, avoiding relegation and sending Hull City down a tier.

Finally, Stoke City hosts Liverpool. Simon Mignolet and Asmir Begovic are the veterans in goal. In the eighth minute, Charlie Adam of Stoke City had a yellow card for a foul. Liverpool's Lucas Leiva took a yellow card for his foul in the fourteenth minute. Stoke City had another yellow card go to Glenn Whelan in the sixteenth minute for a foul. Stoke City struck first with a Mame Biram Diouf goal in the twenty-second minute. Stoke City added on with a Diouf goal in the twenty-sixth minute, via Marko Arnautovic. Stoke City extended the lead with a Jonathan Walters header goal in the thirtieth minute at close range. In the forty-first minute, Stoke City padded the lead with an Adam goal. In the forty-fifth minute, Stoke City got another goal, this one from Steven N'Zonzi, with the help of Arnautovic. In the forty-eighth minute, Martin Skrtel of Liverpool received a yellow card for a foul. Liverpool got on the board with a seventieth minute Steven Gerrard goal, passed from Rickie Lambert off his head. Erik Pieters of Stoke City took a yellow card for his seventy-seventh minute foul. Stoke City made it 6-1, the eventual final, with an eighty-sixth minute Peter Crouch header goal, assisted by Diouf.

That's all for this season. I really enjoyed the Premier League, especially the handful of games I got to watch on TV (or the tele, if you prefer). I expect I'll be back for the next season for another 38 weeks of great football. As always, follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Sporting Kansas City VS. New England Revolution.

Brad Knighton and Tim Melia are the goalies for this midweek clash. New England led off in the eleventh minute with a Juan Agudelo goal, passed from Kelyn Rowe. Kansas City tied it in the twenty-ninth minute as Dominic Dwyer scored, with the help of Krisztian Nemeth and Jalil Anibaba. Sporting took two yellow cards for Benny Feilhaber's foul in the thirtieth minute and Dwyer's persistent infringement in the thirty-seventh minute. Kansas City took the lead on a Nemeth goal in the thirty-ninth minute, via Feilhaber. The Revolution's Andy Dorman received a yellow card for a forty-first minute foul. Sporting added on with a Feilhaber penalty kick goal in the forty-third minute. Kansas City extended the lead on a forty-sixth minute goal by Nemeth, made possible by Jacob Peterson. New England pulled back with a Scott Caldwell goal in the sixty-fourth minute, assisted by Charlie Davies and Jose Goncalves. Sporting had two more yellow cards, for fouls by Amadou Dia in the seventy-first minute and Soni Mustivar in the seventy-sixth minute. The Revolution took a yellow card on a Goncalves offense in the eighty-ninth minute. The final stood at 4-2, with Nemeth as the man of the match with a brace and an assist.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Arsenal VS. Sunderland Make-up Game

Here, we have the last odd game of the Premier League season before Sunday's grand finale. Arsenal hosts Sunderland, with Costel Pantilimon and David Ospina in goal. There was a yellow card in the eighteenth minute for Arsenal's David Ramsey, who committed a foul. The rest of the game was spotless and scoreless, ending in a 0-0 draw. With the draw, Sunderland avoids relegation, meaning Newcastle United and Hull City battle it out for the last spot to stay in the Premier League.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Premier League Week 37

Second to last week of the Premier League season, beginning with...

Southampton hosting Aston Villa. Shay Given and Paulo Gazzaniga are the backups in goal. Southampton's Sadio Mane made history early in the first half, scoring three goals in 2:56 (in the thirteenth, fourteenth, and sixteenth minutes) to put them ahead 3-0 early. The first was at close range, the second was at a difficult angle with the help of Shane Long, and the third was more standard and also assisted by Long. In the twenty-first minute, Ashley Westwood of Aston Villa took a yellow card for a foul. Southampton added on in the twenty-sixth minute with an unassisted goal by Long. Southampton's Long extended their lead again in the thirty-eighth minute with another unassisted goal. In stoppage time, Aston Villa got on the board with a Christian Benteke goal, a header passed from Leandro Bacuna on a cross. In the sixty-ninth minute, Victor Wanyama took a yellow card for his foul for Southampton. In the eighty-first minute, Graziano Pelle scored for Southampton, thanks to Mane's cross. This made it a 6-1 final in favor of Southampton.

Next up, Burnley welcomes Stoke City. Jack Butland and Tom Heaton are in the six-yard boxes. In the twenty-fifth minute, Mame Biram Diouf took a yellow card for his foul for Stoke City. Burnley had a yellow card in the forty-second minute for a George Boyd foul. Stoke City's Steven N'Zonzi was booked in the forty-ninth minute for his foul, taking a yellow card. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Back in London, the Queens Park Rangers bring in Newcastle United. Tim Krul and Robert Green are the keepers. In the twenty-fourth minute, Newcastle United began with an Emmanuel Riviere goal, coming off of the goalie Krul. QPR took a yellow card for a fiftieth minute foul by Joey Barton. In the fifty-fourth minute, Matthew Phillips scored for QPR on a header, set up by Charlie Austin's cross. QPR took the lead with a Leroy Fer goal in the sixty-first minute, assisted by Phillips. In the eighty-fourth minute, Yun Suk-Young received a yellow card for his foul for QPR.

Continuing to Sunderland hosting Leicester City. Kasper Schmeichel and Costel Pantilimon are the gloved men. Sunderland had two yellow cards in the first half, going to Liam Bridcutt in the twenty-ninth minute and Lee Cattermole in the forty-third minute, both for fouls. Robert Huth of Leicester City had a yellow card for a sixty-third minute foul. Sunderland saw two more yellow cards in the second half, assessed for Connor Wickham's sixty-sixth minute foul and Sebastian Larsson's seventy-ninth minute foul. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Again in London, Tottenham Hotspur welcomes Hull City. Steve Harper and Hugo Lloris draw the starts in goal. In the forty-second minute, Ryan Mason of Tottenham Hotspur had a yellow card for a foul. Tottenham Hotspur led off in the fifty-fourth minute on a Nacer Chadli goal, set up by Erik Lamela's through ball. Tottenham Hotspur had yellow cards for Nabil Bentaleb in the fifty-seventh minute and Danny Rose in the fifty-ninth minute, both for fouls. Tottenham Hotspur added on as Rose made up for his misstep in the sixty-first minute, scoring a goal courtesy of Mason's through ball. Hull City took a yellow card for a David Meyler offense in stoppage time. Tottenham Hotspur won 2-0.

Moving along, West Ham United brings in Everton. Tim Howard and Adrian are the goalies. West Ham United's Winston Reid took a yellow card in the twenty-sixth minute for a foul. Everton saw two yellow cards in the first half, assessed to Seamus Coleman in the thirty-third minute and Gareth Barry in the forty-fifth minute, both for fouls. West Ham United got going with a Stewart Downing goal in the sixty-second minute, coming off of Alexandre Song on a through ball. In the sixty-eighth minute, Leon Osman tied it for Everton on a goal, passed from Romelu Lukaku on a cross. Everton saw a yellow card for James McCarthy in the seventy-fourth minute for a foul. Everton won 2-1 with a stoppage time header goal by Lukaku, set up by Aiden McGeady's cross.

Finally, Liverpool hosts Crystal Palace. Simon Mignolet and Wayne Hennessey In the twenty-sixth minute, Adam Lallana started with an unassisted goal for Liverpool. In the forty-second minute, Emre Can of Liverpool took a yellow card, and Jason Puncheon tied it in the next minute with a free kick goal. In the sixtieth minute, Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace scored to take the lead. Crystal Palace had three yellow cards, given to Joel Ward in the seventy-ninth minute, James McArthur in the eighty-third minute, and Jordon Mutch in the eighty-fourth minute, all for fouls. In the eighty-seventh minute, Philippe Coutinho received a yellow card for his foul for Liverpool. Crystal Palace added on late in stoppage time with a Glenn Murray goal after a set piece. Crystal Palace took the game 3-1.

On Sunday, Swansea City welcomes Manchester City. Joe Hart and Lukasz Fabianski are set to start in goal. Manchester City was first to score in the twenty-first minute on a Yaya Toure goal, passed from David Silva. Manchester City added on in the thirty-sixth minute with a James Milner goal, fueled by Sergio Aguero after a fast break. Swansea City got on the board in the forty-fifth minute with a Gylfi Sigurdsson goal, set up by Neil Taylor. Manchester City took yellow cards for a Milner foul in the fiftieth minute and a Pablo Zabaleta foul in the sixty-first minute. Swansea City tied it on a Bafetimbi Gomis goal, assisted by Ashley Richards in the sixty-fourth minute. In the seventy-fourth minute, Toure scored for Manchester City to retake the lead, with the help of Fernandinho. In the seventy-seventh minute, Fernandinho received a yellow card for a foul. In stoppage time, Manchester City sealed the game at 4-2 with a Wilfried Bony goal, coming off of Silva.

The other Sunday game has Manchester United bringing in Arsenal. David Ospina and David de Gea are the gloved men. Manchester United struck first in the thirtieth minute on an Ander Herrera goal, set up by Ashley Young's cross. In the eighty-second minute, Arsenal tied it with an own goal from Tyler Blackett of Manchester United. In stoppage time, Herrera took a yellow card for a foul. The game ended 1-1. 

On Monday, the week ends with West Bromwich Albion hosting Chelsea. Thibaut Courtois and Boaz Myhill are the goalies. West Brom began in the ninth minute on a Saido Berahino goal, passed from Joleon Lescott. In the twenty-eighth minute, Diego Costa of Chelsea received a yellow card for his foul. Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea received a straight red card in the twenty-ninth minute for fighting. Darren Fletcher of West Brom had a yellow card for his role in the same minute. In the thirty-seventh minute, Jonas Olsson of West Brom took a yellow card for a foul. In the forty-seventh minute, West Brom added on as Berahino made a penalty kick. West Brom extended the lead with a Chris Brunt goal in the sixtieth minute, via Craig Gardner after a corner kick. In the sixty-third minute, Gardner took a yellow card for his foul. In the eighty-second minute, Juan Cuadrado took a yellow card for his foul. The final stood favoring West Brom 3-0.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Major League Soccer Week 11

Full weekend of games, beginning in...

Yankee Stadium, as New York City FC hosts the Chicago Fire on Friday night. Sean Johnson and Josh Saunders are the goalies. Chicago led off in the fourteenth minute on a Rozvan Cocis goal, passed from Shaun Maloney. In the twenty-sixth minute, NYCFC went down to ten men as RJ Allen took a red card for his foul. The Fire added on with a Jeff Larentowicz goal on a penalty kick a minute later. In first-half stoppage time, Mehdi Ballouchy scored for NYCFC. David Villa had a yellow card for his dissent two minutes later for NYCFC. In the fifty-first minute, NYCFC's Shay Facey took a yellow card for a foul. Chicago had yellow cards go to Larentowicz for a handball in the fifty-fifth minute, Joevin Jones for a foul in the sixty-first minute, and Maloney for his sixty-third minute foul. In the seventy-first minute, Andrew Jacobson of NYCFC took a yellow card for dissent. NYCFC tied it in second half stoppage time on a Khiry Shelton goal, set up by Villa. The score remained 2-2, and the man of the match was Saunders for seven saves on nine shots to keep NYCFC in the game.

Down in Texas, the other Friday game has FC Dallas welcome the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Dan Kennedy man the nets. New York's Damien Perrinelle took a yellow card for a thirty-fourth minute handball. The Red Bulls saw a yellow card go to Sacha Kljestan in the fifty-sixth minute for a foul. The final remained 0-0, and the man of the match was Kennedy for a three-save clean sheet.

On Saturday, we began with the Montreal Impact bringing in Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Evan Bush are set to start in goal. Montreal had a yellow card for a Marco Donadel foul in the eighth minute. The Impact began in the eighteenth minute on a Laurent Ciman goal, via Donadel. Montreal added on in the twentieth minute with an Andres Romero goal, guided in by Ignacio Piatti. The Impact extended the lead with another Romero goal in the twenty-ninth minute. In the thirty-eighth minute, Jordan Allen of Salt Lake had a yellow card for a foul. In the forty-third minute, Elias Vasquez of Real took a yellow card for a foul. Salt Lake got on the board in the forty-seventh minute with a Devon Sandoval goal, assisted by Luis Gil and Luke Mulholland. In the fifty-eighth minute, Tony Beltran of Real took a yellow card for his foul. Montreal saw a yellow card for a seventy-sixth minute Eric Miller foul. The Impact padded the lead with a Dilly Duka goal in the seventy-eighth minute. The final stood at 4-1 for Montreal, and Romero was the man of the match with a brace.

Across Canada, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC host the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and David Ousted protect the nets. Seattle struck first in the fifth minute with a Chad Barrett goal, passed from Clint Dempsey. Vancouver's Matias Laba received a yellow card for a twenty-eighth minute foul. The Sounders added on as Barrett scored in the thirty-eighth minute, with the help of Marco Pappa. This was all they needed for a 2-0 win, with the man of the match being Barrett with his brace.

Back east, the New England Revolution welcome Toronto FC. Chris Konopka and Bobby Shuttleworth man the nets. New England started in the thirty-second minute with a Juan Agudelo goal, set up by London Woodberry. Toronto tied it on a fifty-third minute goal by Michael Bradley, via Sebastian Giovinco. Toronto's goalie Konopka received a yellow card for time wasting in the eightieth minute. The score remained level at 1-1 for a final, and the man of the match was Konopka, making seven saves on eight shots to earn a road point.

In Kansas City, thunderstorms postponed the Sporting match against the Colorado Rapids for another date and time.

Down in Houston, the Dynamo bring in the Portland Timbers. Adam Larsen Kwarasey and Tyler Deric are the young goalies. Houston dented the scoreboard in the ninth minute on a Will Bruin goal, set up by Brad Davis. Portland took yellow cards for a twelfth minute Jack Jewsbury foul and unsporting behavior in the fourteenth minute from Fanendo Adi. In the forty-second minute, Diego Chara of the Timbers took a yellow card for his foul. Giles Barnes of the Dynamo had a yellow card in first half stoppage time for unsporting behavior. Portland tied it in the forty-eighth minute on an Adi goal, coming off of Diego Valeri. In the seventy-fifth minute, Houston retook the lead on a Barnes goal, made possible by Alexander Lopez. The Dynamo added on with Bruin's second of the game in the eighty-third minute, via Jermaine Taylor. The Timbers received a booking for an Alvas Powell yellow card-worthy foul in the eighty-fourth minute. Houston cruised to a 3-1 victory, with Bruin as the man of the match with a brace.

Wrapping up Saturday, the San Jose Earthquakes host the Columbus Crew. Steve Clark and David Bingham are set to start in goal. Columbus went down a man after Mohammed Saeid took yellow cards in the fourteenth and thirty-third minutes, both for fouls that saw him get ejected. San Jose's Clarence Goodson was booked in the fortieth minute on a yellow card for a foul. In first half stoppage time, Matias Perez Garcia of the Earthquakes received a yellow card for a foul. San Jose opened in the fifty-fifth minute with a Chris Wondolowski goal, via Jordan Stewart. The Earthquakes added on with a Shea Salinas goal in the sixtieth minute, made possible by Garcia. In second half stoppage time, the Crew took a yellow card for a Kevan George foul. The Earthquakes won 2-0, and Bingham was the man of the match with a five-save clean sheet.

On Sunday, the first game has Orlando City SC welcoming the Los Angeles Galaxy. Jaime Penedo and Tally Hall are the veteran keepers. Orlando City opened with a twelfth minute goal by Eric Avila, coming off of Brek Shea and Rafael Ramos. Orlando City added on with a Cyle Larin goal in the thirty-fourth minute, passed from Kaka. In the fifty-sixth minute, Kaka scored on a penalty kick, but also received a yellow card for excessive celebration. In the fifty-ninth minute, Los Angeles' goalie Penedo took a yellow card for dissent. In the sixty-fifth minute, Mika Vayrynen of the Galaxy received a yellow card for a foul. Orlando City extended the lead in the seventy-third minute on a Darwin Ceren goal. This made it 4-0, the final, with Kaka as the man of the match.

Finally, the Philadelphia Union bring in DC United. Bill Hamid and Brian Sylvestre are the goalies. In the thirty-first minute, Sheanon Williams of Philadelphia took a yellow card for his foul. DC saw a yellow card go to Taylor Kemp for a sixty-fifth minute foul. The Union's Ethan White was booked in the seventy-ninth minute for a foul. Philadelphia won 1-0 on a stoppage time goal by Zach Pfeffer, passed from Fabinho. The man of the match was Pfeffer for his late winner.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.