Wednesday, April 18, 2018

NWSL 2018 Week 4 Midweek

Two games are on during midweek action in the NWSL. We begin with...

The North Carolina Courage hosting the Seattle Reign FC. Michelle Betos and Sabrina D'Angelo protect the nets. North Carolina's Kristen Hamilton took a yellow card for a foul in the fourteenth minute. The Courage got going in the seventieth minute with a Jessica McDonald goal, set up by Hamilton. The final held at 1-0 for the Courage, but the woman of the match was Betos, who went 4 for 5 in saves with plenty of help from the posts. The Reign's other good players were Megan Oyster, Allie Long, and Beverly Yanez, while the Courage saw great efforts from McDonald, McCall Zerboni, Denise O'Sullivan, and Abby Erceg.

In the other game, the Chicago Red Stars host the Houston Dash. Jane Campbell and Alyssa Naeher are the gloved women. Chicago struck first in the seventh minute as Sarah Gorden sent in a cross that deflected off of Houston's Kristie Mewis and into her net for an own goal. In the ninth minute, the Red Stars' Arin Gilliland received a yellow card for a foul. Chicago added on with a Lauren Kaskie goal in the eleventh minute, created after Campbell saved the initial shot from Sofia Huerta. In the forty-fourth minute, Houston's Kimberly Keever took a yellow card for a foul. The Red Stars extended the lead in the seventy-fourth minute as Huerta scored, with the help of Danielle Colaprico. In the eighty-second minute, Amber Brooks of the Dash took a yellow card for dissent. In stoppage time, Chicago's Sam Johnson received a yellow card for a foul. The final was 3-0 Red Stars, with Huerta as the woman of the match. Also starring for Chicago were Katie Naughton, Gorden, Colaprico, Huerta, and Kaskie, while Janine van Wyk and Haley Hanson had the best of a weak team performance from the Dash.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Pacific Division Playoffs: 1) Vegas Golden Knights v. 4) Los Angeles Kings

The Stanley Cup Playoffs start now, with divisional round series. Each post will contain the entire series.

Game 1: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. In goal: Jonathan Quick for the Kings and Marc-Andre Fleury for the Golden Knights. Vegas led off in the first period with a Shea Theodore goal, with a lone helper from Tomas Nosek. The final held from here at 1-0, with the three stars awarded to Fleury (30 save shutout), Theodore, and Quick (27 for 28 in saves). The Golden Knights hold a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. In goal: Jonathan Quick for the Kings and Marc-Andre Fleury for the Golden Knights. Vegas began in the first period with an Alex Tuch power play goal, powered by Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith. Los Angeles tied it on second period Paul LaDue power play goal, with assists provided by Dion Phaneuf and Michael Amadio. The Golden Knights won 2-1 in double-overtime with an Erik Haula goal, coming off of James Neal and Shea Theodore. The three stars were Haula, Fleury (29 for 30 in saves), and Quick (54 for 56 in saves). The Golden Knights travel with a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Marc-Andre Fleury for the Golden Knights and Jonathan Quick for the Kings. Los Angeles started in the first period with an Alex Iafallo goal, passed from Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Vegas tied it on a Cody Eakin goal in the third period, assisted by Ryan Carpenter and David Perron. The Golden Knights took the lead with a James Neal goal, via Nate Schmidt and Alex Tuch. Vegas added on with a William Karlsson goal, coming off of Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault. The Kings got one back on a Kopitar goal, made possible by Oscar Fantenberg. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars given to Kopitar, Karlsson, and Neal. The Golden Knights have a chance to get the sweep as they hold a 3-0 series lead. 

Game 4: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Marc-Andre Fleury for the Golden Knights and Jonathan Quick for the Kings. Vegas got going in the second period with a Brayden McNabb goal, via Reilly Smith and William Karlsson. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Fleury (31 save shutout), McNabb, and Quick (20 for 21 in saves). The Golden Knights advance to the second round on a 4-0 series sweep.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0. 

Sunday, April 15, 2018

NWSL 2018 Week 3

The games this weekend are evenly split between Saturday and Sunday. First up...

The Utah Royals FC have their first home game, hosting the Chicago Red Stars. Alyssa Naeher and Abby Smith are in the six-yard boxes. Chicago opened in the twenty-seventh minute with a Danielle Colaprico goal, coming after Alyssa Mautz's initial cross was deflected out to the midfielder. The Red Stars made it stand for a 1-0 win, with Colaprico as the woman of the match. Taylor Comeau, Sam Johnson, and Arin Gilliland also played well for Chicago, while Utah's best were Desiree Scott, Gunnhildur Jonsdottir, and Elise Thorsnes.

East to Maryland, as the Washington Spirit welcome the North Carolina Courage. Sabrina D'Angelo and Aubrey Bledsoe are the keepers. Washington started in the third minute with a Mallory Pugh goal. North Carolina tied it on a Crystal Dunn goal in the twentieth minute, set up by Jessica McDonald. The Courage took the lead with a McCall Zerboni goal in the twenty-fourth minute, assisted by Lynn Williams. North Carolina added on with another Zerboni goal in the forty-eighth minute, coming off of Kristen Hamilton. The Spirit got one back with a Francisca Ordega goal, made possible by Havana Solaun in the fifty-eighth minute. The Courage countered with a Williams goal in the sixty-sixth minute, guided in by Dunn. Estelle Johnson of Washington took a yellow card for her foul in the eighty-fourth minute. The final held at 4-2, with Zerboni as the woman of the match. Williams, Dunn, and Denise O'Sullivan did best for the Courage, while the Spirit's top efforts came from Johnson, Andi Sullivan, and Ordega.

On Sunday, Sky Blue FC brings in the Seattle Reign FC. Michelle Betos and Kailen Sheridan start in goal. Seattle led off in the sixth minute on a Megan Rapinoe penalty kick goal after Theresa Nielsen's cross hit Sky Blue's Erica Skroski in the hand in the box. Savannah McCaskill of Sky Blue had a yellow card for a foul in the fiftieth minute. Kiersten Dallstream received a yellow card in the eighty-second minute for a foul for the Reign. The final held at 1-0 for Seattle, with Jess Fishlock as the woman of the match for her work in the midfield. Rapinoe, Nielsen, and Taylor also did well for the Reign, while Sky Blue's best were Mandy Freeman, Rebekah Stott, Janine Beckie, and McCaskill. 

Finally, the Portland Thorns FC host the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Adrianna Franch protect the nets. Orlando began in the twentieth minute with a Chioma Ubogagu goal, assisted by Christine Nairn. Portland tied it on a Lindsey Horan goal in the twenty-eighth minute, set up by Christine Sinclair. The Thorns took the lead with a Sinclair goal in the thirty-ninth minute, coming off of Horan and Meghan Klingenberg. In the eighty-fifth minute, Toni Pressley of the Pride had a yellow card for a foul. The final stood at 2-1, with the woman of the match being Horan. Sinclair, Emily Sonnett, and Midge Purce also did well for the Thorns, while Nairn and Ubogagu earn merits for the Pride.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Michelle Betos
LB Arin Gilliland
CB Estelle Johnson
CB Emily Sonnett
RB Theresa Nielsen
MF Jess Fishlock
MF McCall Zerboni
MF Danielle Colaprico
MF Lindsey Horan
FW Lynn Williams
FW Christine Sinclair

MLS 2018 Week 7

A maximum eleven games play this weekend, the first two on Friday night. We begin with...

The Philadelphia Union hosting Orlando City SC. Joe Bendik and Andre Blake are in goal. Orlando City began in the thirty-eighth minute with a Dominic Dwyer goal, via Sacha Kljestan. Orlando City added on in the forty-fifth minute with a Chris Mueller goal. In the sixty-third minute, Orlando City keeper Bendik took a yellow card for time wasting. Philadelphia had a yellow card for a sixty-seventh minute foul by Matthew Real. Orlando City saw yellow cards for Dwyer's dive in the seventy-fourth minute, Mohamed El-Munir's foul in the seventy-ninth minute, and Yoshimar Yotun's dissent at the same time. Keegan Rosenberry of the Union had a yellow card for dissent in the eighty-first minute. The final held at 2-0, with the man of the match being Dwyer.

The other Friday game has the Vancouver Whitecaps FC welcoming Los Angeles FC. Tyler Miller and Stefan Marinovic are the goalies. Los Angeles got going in the fifty-ninth minute with a Carlos Vela goal, assisted by Marco Urena. Jakob Nerwinski of Vancouver had a yellow card for his sixty-second minute foul. Los Angeles added on in the seventieth minute with a Diego Rossi goal, set up by Urena. Mark-Anthony Kaye of Los Angeles had a yellow card for a seventy-eighth minute foul. The Whitecaps saw a yellow card given to Cristian Techera for his eighty-ninth minute foul. Vela of Los Angeles received a yellow card for not retreating in stoppage time. The final stood at 2-0, with Urena named man of the match.

The first of seven games on Saturday sees the New York Red Bulls bring in the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Luis Robles tend the nets. New York led off in the fifth minute on a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, assisted by Florian Valot. Montreal tied it on a Jeisson Vargas goal in the thirty-third minute. The Red Bulls retook the lead in the fifty-seventh minute with an Alejandro Romero Gamarra goal, set up by Wright-Phillips. New York added on in the seventy-sixth minute on a Michael Murillo goal, via Kemar Lawrence. This stood for a 3-1 win, with the man of the match being Wright-Phillips.

West to Colorado as the Rapids host Toronto FC. Clint Irwin and Tim Howard are the gloved men. Colorado opened with a Jack Price goal in the second minute. The Rapids added on with a Shkelzen Gashi penalty kick goal in the seventy-eighth minute. Colorado had yellow cards for fouls by Dominique Badji in the eighty-third minute and Price in the eighty-sixth minute. The final stood at 2-0 Rapids, with Price named man of the match.

Back east, the Chicago Fire welcome the Los Angeles Galaxy. David Bingham and Richard Sanchez are in front of the nets. Romain Alessandrini of Los Angeles took a yellow card for dissent in the thirty-fifth minute. Brandon Vincent of Chicago had a yellow card for his forty-fifth minute foul. The Galaxy started in first half stoppage time on a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal, set up by Ashley Cole. Alan Gordon of the Fire took a yellow card for a forty-eighth minute foul. Los Angeles saw yellow cards assessed to Perry Kitchen in the seventy-seventh minute and Cole in the eighty-ninth minute, both for fouls. The final remained at 1-0, with the man of the match being Bingham for a four-save clean sheet.

Further east, DC United bring in the Columbus Crew SC. Zack Steffen faces former teammate Steve Clark in goal. DC struck first in the first minute with a Ulises Segura goal, coming off of Paul Arriola and Luciano Acosta. Columbus saw a yellow card for dissent by Federico Higuain in the twenty-third minute. DC went down to ten men in the fifty-first minute as Arriola took a straight red card for a foul. DC's keeper Clark had a yellow card for time wasting in the eighty-fourth minute, while the Crew's Jonathan Mensah had a yellow card in the same minute for a foul. DC held on for a 1-0 win, with Clark's five-save clean sheet making him the man of the match.

Up in New England, the Revolution host FC Dallas. Jimmy Maurer and Matt Turner are the inexperienced goalies. Dallas got going in the seventy-sixth minute on a Jacori Hayes goal, via Roland Lamah. This produced the 1-0 final, with the man of the match being Hayes.

Way out west, the Portland Timbers welcome Minnesota United FC. Matthew Lampson and Jake Gleeson are between the posts. Portland was first to score in the twentieth minute with an Alvas Powell goal, coming off of Larrys Mabiala. The Timbers added on with a Diego Valeri goal in the twenty-third minute, set up by Powell and Cristhian Paredes. Minnesota saw yellow cards for fouls by Rasmus Schuller in the thirty-fourth minute and Marc Burch in the thirty-ninth minute. Darwin Quintero got Minnesota on the board with his goal in the sixty-fourth minute, courtesy of Carter Manley. Portland reclaimed the lead on a Fanendo Adi goal in the seventy-fourth minute, made possible by Paredes and Valeri. Minnesota got one back on a Bill Poni Tuiloma own goal in the eighty-first minute. Ibson of Minnesota had a yellow card for an eighty-sixth minute foul. In stoppage time, Michael Boxall of Minnesota and Diego Chara of the Timbers received yellow cards for fouls. The final stayed at 3-2, with Paredes' two assists making him the man of the match.

Saturday ends in California, with the San Jose Earthquakes bringing in the Houston Dynamo. Chris Seitz and Andrew Tarbell make the starts in goal. San Jose drew first blood in the twenty-sixth minute on a Magnus Eriksson goal, via Jackson Yueill and Danny Hoesen. Francois Affolter of the Earthquakes had a yellow card for dissent in the thirty-first minute. Tomas Martinez of Houston took a yellow card for his thirty-sixth minute foul. The Dynamo got on the board with a Martinez goal in the forty-eighth minute. Houston went ahead on a Mauro Manotas goal in the sixty-third minute, set up by Alberth Elis and Martinez. Elis of the Dynamo had a yellow card for his sixty-fifth minute foul. San Jose saw Chris Wondolowski take a yellow card for a seventy-first minute foul. The Earthquakes pulled even on a Jahmir Hyka goal in the eighty-fifth minute, assisted by Quincy Amarikwa. Houston received yellow cards for fouls by Adolfo Machado in the eighty-seventh minute and Darwin Ceren in stoppage time. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Martinez selected as man of the match.

On Sunday, Sporting Kansas City hosts the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Tim Melia are the talented keepers. Jordan McCrary of Seattle had a yellow card for a twenty-fourth minute foul. Kansas City kicked off the scoring in the thirty-fourth minute with an Ilie Sanchez penalty kick goal. Cristian Roldan of the Sounders took a yellow card for his dissent in the forty-fourth minute. Seattle tied it on a Will Bruin goal in first half stoppage time, assisted by Chad Marshall and Nicolas Lodeiro. Roger Espinoza of Sporting had a yellow card for a fifty-third minute foul. The Sounders gained the lead with a Cristian Roldan goal in the seventy-third minute, via Bruin and Alex Roldan. Kansas City retied it on a seventy-eighth minute Graham Zusi goal, passed from Jimmy Medranda. Osvaldo Alonso of Seattle received a yellow card for a foul in the eighty-fifth minute. Medrana took a yellow card for Sporting in second half stoppage time. The final held at 2-2, with the man of the match being Bruin.

Finally, Atlanta United FC hosts New York City FC. Sean Johnson and Brad Guzan are the veterans in goal. Atlanta dented the scoreboard in the twenty-ninth minute with a Greg Garza goal. New York City's Alexander Ring took a yellow card for his thirty-second minute foul. New York City tied it with a David Villa penalty kick goal in the thirty-eighth minute. Maximiliano Moralez of New York City had a yellow card for persistent infringement in the fifty-fifth minute. Atlanta regained the lead in the fifty-sixth minute with a Chris McCann goal, set up by Miguel Almiron. McCann took a yellow card in the seventieth minute for time wasting for Atlanta. New York City pulled even on a Ring goal in the seventy-third minute, coming off of Villa. New York City saw yellow cards for fouls by Yangel Herrera and Villa in the eightieth and eighty-ninth minutes, respectively. Jeff Larentowicz of Atlanta took a yellow card for his stoppage time foul. The game ended 2-2, with Villa the man of the match. 

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

MLS 2018 Week 7 Midweek

Just one midweek game, the first of the season, on this Wednesday night. New York City FC hosts Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Sean Johnson are the veterans in goal. New York City struck first in the twelfth minute with an Ismael Tajouri goal. New York City added on with a Maximiliano Moralez penalty kick goal in the thirtieth minute. Kyle Beckerman of Salt Lake had a yellow card for dissent in the thirty-second minute. New York City extended the lead as Jo Inge Berget scored in the forty-first minute, thanks to Jesus Medina and Ronald Matarrita. New York City padded the lead on an Ebenezer Ofori goal in the seventieth minute, passed from Moralez and Medina. The final held from here at 4-0, with the man of the match being Moralez.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

MLS 2018 Week 6

Eight games only this weekend, beginning with one on Friday in...

New England, as the Revolution host the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Matt Turner are the gloved men. Montreal went down to ten men in the fourteenth minute with a straight red card to Saphir Taider for violent conduct. New England led off in the twentieth minute with a Teal Bunbury goal, via Wilfried Zahibo. The Revolution added on in first half stoppage time with an Andrew Farrell goal, coming off of Diego Fagundez and Gabriel Somi. New England extended the lead as Fagundez scored his seventy-first minute, thanks to Kelyn Rowe and Juan Agudelo. The Revolution padded the lead on a Zahibo goal in the eightieth minute, courtesy of Rowe. Luis Caicedo of New England had a yellow card for an eighty-fifth minute foul. The Impact saw Jukka Raitala take a yellow card in the eighty-ninth minute for his foul. The final held at 4-0, with the Fagundez named man of the match.

On Saturday, Atlanta United FC welcomes Los Angeles FC in the first of five games. Tyler Miller and Brad Guzan are in goal. Chris McCann of Atlanta had a yellow card for a foul in the first minute. Atlanta began in the seventeenth minute with a Julian Gressel goal, coming off of Miguel Almiron and Michael Parkhurst. Almiron received a yellow card for time wasting in the forty-eighth minute for Atlanta. Atlanta added on in the sixty-seventh minute with a Josef Martinez goal, via Gressel and Kevin Kratz. Atlanta extended the lead as Almiron made a penalty kick goal in the eighty-eighth minute. Los Angeles went down to ten men in stoppage time after two yellow cards to Joao Moutinho, one for a foul and one for a handball, leading to another penalty kick goal by Almiron. Atlanta kept going five minutes later with a Romario Williams goal, set up by Jeff Larentowicz. Williams took a yellow card for delay of game. The final stood at 5-0, with the man of the match being Almiron.

Up in Philadelphia, the Union host the San Jose Earthquakes. Andrew Tarbell and Andre Blake are in the six-yard boxes. David Accam of Philadelphia had a yellow card for a twenty-third minute foul. San Jose opened in the thirty-seventh minute with a Magnus Eriksson goal, coming off of Danny Hoesen and Anibal Godoy. The Earthquakes saw a yellow card in the fifty-sixth minute for a foul by Yefferson Quintana. The Union retied it in the sixty-fourth minute on an Alejandro Bedoya goal, passed from Fabrice-Jean Picault and Borek Dockal. San Jose's Chris Wondolowski took a yellow card for his eighty-second minute foul. Harold Cummings of the Earthquakes took a straight red card for violent conduct in stoppage time. The game remained in a 1-1 draw, with the man of the match honors for Bedoya.

In Texas, FC Dallas beings in the Colorado Rapids. Tim Howard and Jimmy Maurer receive the starts in goal. Dominique Badji of Colorado had a yellow card for his fifty-fourth minute foul. The Rapids got going in the sixty-second minute with a Joe Mason goal, set up by Badji. Matt Hedges of Dallas received a yellow card for a foul in the sixty-sixth minute. Colorado saw yellow cards for Jack Price in the sixty-eighth minute and Johan Blomberg in the seventy-third minute, both for fouls. Dallas tied it in the eighty-ninth minute on a Cristian Colman goal, coming off of Mauro Diaz. The Rapids saw a yellow card for a Dillon Serna foul in stoppage time. The final held at 1-1, with the man of the match being Diaz.

Back north, the Chicago Fire host the Columbus Crew SC. Zack Steffen and Richard Sanchez are in between the posts. Chicago's Johan Kappelhof took a yellow card for a sixth minute foul. The Fire started in the twenty-seventh minute with a Nemanja Nikolic goal. Columbus had a yellow card for an Artur foul in the forty-seventh minute. Chicago saw yellow cards for time wasting by the keeper Sanchez in the ninetieth minute and a foul by Nikolic in stoppage time. The final held at 1-0, with Nikolic as the man of the match.

Saturday ends in Utah, with Real Salt Lake welcoming the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Stefan Marinovic and Nick Rimando are the gloved men. Salt Lake had yellow cards for fouls by Adam Henley in the seventeenth minute and Marcelo Silva in the twenty-eighth minute. Real dented the scoreboard in first half stoppage time with a Luis Silva goal, set up by Brooks Lennon. Salt Lake took yellow cards for fouls by Justen Glad in the fifty-sixth minute and Lennon in the seventy-fifth minute. Kendall Waston of Vancouver took a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-eighth minute. Real added on in the eighty-eighth minute with a Jefferson Savarino goal, passed from Corey Baird and Damir Kreilach. The Whitecaps got on the board in second half stoppage time with a Brek Shea goal, via Kei Kamara. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the man of the match being Savarino.

On Sunday, the Portland Timbers host Orlando City SC. Joe Bendik and Jake Gleeson protect the woodwork. Sebastian Blanco of Portland had a yellow card for a foul in the eighth minute. The Timbers struck first in the twentieth minute with a Diego Valeri penalty kick goal. Orlando City's Mohamed El-Munir took a yellow card for his twenty-eighth minute foul. Portland added on in the fifty-ninth minute with a Bill Poni Tuiloma goal, set up by Valeri. The Timbers' keeper Gleeson had a yellow card for time wasting in the seventy-seventh minute. Orlando City got on the board in the eightieth minute with a Chris Mueller goal, coming off of Yoshimar Yotun. Orlando City tied it on a Sacha Kljestan penalty kick goal in the eighty-second minute. Orlando City pulled ahead with a Dominic Dwyer goal in the eighty-seventh minute, via RJ Allen. Orlando City's Dwyer took a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The final held at 3-2, with Dwyer's winning in the comeback earning him man of the match honors.

Finally, the Los Angeles Galaxy bring in Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and David Bingham guard the nets. Daniel Steres of Los Angeles had a yellow card for a foul in the fifty-fifth minute. Kansas City drew first blood in the fifty-sixth minute with a Daniel Salloi goal. Sporting added on with a Johnny Russell goal in the sixty-first minute, via Roger Espinoza. The Galaxy had a yellow card for a Jonathan dos Santos foul in the seventy-seventh minute. Kansas City's Espinoza had a yellow card for his eighty-second minute foul. The final was 2-0, with the man of the match being Salloi.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2017-18 Day 180

The NHL regular season ends quietly with the Boston Bruins hosting the Florida Panthers in a make-up game. James Reimer and Tuukka Rask start in goal. Florida struck first in the first period with a Henrik Borgstrom goal, passed from Frank Vatrano. Boston tied it on a David Backes goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming off of Kevan Miller and David Krejci. The Panthers took the lead back with a Vatrano goal, his seventh of the year, assisted by Jared McCann and Jamie McGinn. Florida added on in the second period with a Maxim Mamin goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Denis Malgin and Keith Yandle. The Bruins got one back in the third period with a David Pastrnak power play goal, his thirty-fifth of the year, powered by Patrice Bergeron and Ryan Donato. The Panthers capped it at 4-2 with an Evgenii Dadonov goal, his twenty-eighth of the campaign, helped along by McCann. The three stars were Vatrano, McCann, and Mamin.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.