Scores
Soccer 1 – Boredom 0
Huzzah!! Soccer is back (for the time being). We’ve got games to watch and goals to cheer (until a spike in cases ends this little effort). Quickly! To the televised sporting events: there isn’t a moment to lose (because it could all end literally at any moment).
RB Leipzig 1- SC Frieburg 1
The first game back for our teams featured the Griffins of SC Freiburg visiting those well-heeled heels of the Bundesliga: RB Leipzig.
Despite the disparity between the teams’ bank accounts and international profiles, Freiburg managed to frustrate Leipzig in front of their home…uh…seat backs. Okay, it was weird hearing echoes of player reactions rather than the roar of the crowd, and there was clearly a lot of rust shaking loose from the players’ runs, positioning, and defending, but still, it was soccer, it was live, and it made a difference to the race for the title (keeping Leipzig behind the top two) and the Europa League (allowing Freiburg to keep in shouting distance).
While the Red Bulls had the better run of play, peppering goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow repeatedly, Freiburg capitalized on the chances they had. A lucky deflection opened the scoring, and Schwolow’s sterling keeping kept them ahead well into the second period. Finally Leipzig got a well earned goal back (from Danish star Yousuf Poulsen…a man I’d love to steal for Minnesota United, but that’s beside the point).
A draw could have been satisfying, but midfielder Robin Koch nearly did Freiburg one better, slashing home a late winner.
Except…not…
Because he received the pass from an offside teammate so it was all bang and no bucks as the match ended 1-1.
News & Notes
Changes are Brewing
Business has begun to pick up around the world, and things are starting to settle into something like a plan.
Ecuador has joined Mexico in cancelling the spring season, preparing to kick off again for the fall campaign.
Scotland joined France and India in cancelling the rest of their season. The league won’t add any more teams so Ross County won’t suffer any short fall from two fewer visits from radical road fans from Rangers or Celtic.
Arguably the biggest changes will come right here at home. The Big Sky Conference announced that women’s soccer will not have a tournament to cap the season: it’s all about the table to get the invite to the big dance. Meanwhile, Major League Soccer is plotting to have something like a mini-tournament in June and July in Orlando, because if there’s one place you want to engage in grueling physical activity it’s the middle of Florida in the middle of the summer. Minnesota United might end up in a mini group playing about 10 games in the hopes of making a conclusive tournament. It’s nothing close to the 25th anniversary hullabaloo the league might have wanted, but it might well keep the tv money flowing and that’s nice to have too.
Following Up on Punjab FC
Last week I threw up the idea that Punjab FC might be on the verge of a major move up to India’s top league.
This week I did the responsible thing and followed up with the excellent blog The Away End where I first found the details about East Bengal’s power play. I asked author Nehal what they made of the warriors odds of joining the top flight. He didn’t quite douse the flame of hope, but it’s a lot more damp now than it was before.
Punjab FC have held talks with the ISL folks, but I doubt it’s going to happen in the upcoming season. There isn’t much buzz around it and their lack of activity in the market is telling. All things said, I really hope they pull it off sooner rather than later. The more the merrier!
Nehal (The Away End, 5/13/2020)
Man of the Matches
With the pressure and skill of RB Leipzig in full flow, we have to tip our cap to the man who stood in their way: Alexander Schlowow. His eight saves more than doubled Freiburg’s total shots. Thank you, Alexander.
(Photo Christian Schroedter POOL)
What’s Next
Wednesday, May 20
Thursday, May 21
Friday, May 22
Saturday, May 23
8:30 AM: SC Freiburg v Werder Bremen
MacKenzie's Boot Room 