Scores
(M) SC Freiburg 1 – Borussia Munchengladbach 0
For the first time in months, I actually had the capacity to sit and watch a match from start to finish. Thank you, Bundesliga for scheduling Friday naptime games .
The Griffins didn’t disappoint, once again bringing their best against a top tier team. Gladbach’s attack put the defense on the wrong foot and again Alexander Schwolow was called upon to cover more space than your average cell phone network. The attack had several fine chances, but couldn’t seem to make the final connection between Vincent Grifo and Gian-Luca Waldschmit.
So it fell to Nils Petersen to again play super sub and again he obliged with another blistering header past the goalkeeper to provide the only goal that Freiburg needed (particularly as some silly behavior from Alassane Plea earned him two red cards and limited Gladbach’s resources.
It was an excellent win made even sweeter by being able to watch it myself.
FK Vozdovac 1 – Napredak 0
Two in a row! FK Vozdovac has vaulted up the Boot Room Table to 8th place and it was never particularly close.
With a surplus of opportunities against an uncertain Napredak, the Red Dragons (who are again wearing blue…which I still don’t understand) seemed to only need enough time to make it count. And count it did in the 74th minute when a seeming corner kick clearance lulled Napredak into a sense of comfort, only for a second ball to return to Jovan Nisic whose long cross was volleyed home by former Partisan striker Aleksa Jankovic.
Jankovic’s shot was the kind of rattling blast that came from nowhere and left the opponents flat footed. A little like an unexpected goal from the back line on your foosball table. As an added perk, fans were let in to the stadium to provide a special touch of dynamic ambiance to the affair.
SC Freiburg 6 – USV Jena 0
Okay, to be fair, USV Jena is at the bottom of the Women’s Bundesliga. They’ve only managed two draws all year. They’ve let in 6 goals in three of their last four matches.
To be unfair: WHOOOOO HOOOOOO! 6 Goals! A brace from young Janina Minge!! We’ve got backups to Klara Buhl!!!
Freiburg’s onslaught has certainly boosted their profile, taking a jumbled mid table and making all the more dramatic with 4th through 7th separated by only 5 points. This might be the start of a big spurt, but with one week to go tot he big battle with top of the table Wolfsburg (who likely won’t end up with the same bickering backline as USV Jena), there’s no time to let up.
News & Notes
Rosenborg Win’s Alex’s Affections
One benefit of being a little bit behind in publishing this is that Alex got a chance to see my phone chime with news of another friendly goal for Rosenborg BK. A few taps later he was watching delightedly as the camera panned around Lerkendal Stadion, and he said (honest to god) “I wish you could take me there”.
So congrats Rosenborg, the kid’s on board.
Loons prepare to fly south
While I usually have about as much sympathy for the billion/million-aire club owners as a treetop has for a hungry brontosaurus, I have to admit this is a tricky time to run a team, let alone a league.
You can only make money if you have games, you can only have games if you have players, but putting players together in a space risks illness and worse. But, if you don’t have games, the players don’t get paid. And, with all of this, you have fans who both want you to come back for their entertainment and need you to stay away to avoid taking away resources.
So Major League Soccer here in the states lit on a plan to take all 26 teams down to Orlando Florida for a mini-tournament, that both gives them the chance to make some money while only inconveniencing the Walt Disney Corporation (which…hey..that’s okay too). Exact terms of the contest are due to come out in the coming days, but it’s nice to know plans are in place. (It will be awkward that the NBA will also be at Disney World…but maybe we can get a great set of inter-league pranks going.)
Woman of the Matches
Torn again between all the strong Freiburgian showings I have to tip the cap to Alexander Schwolow again. At a time when his defense has been shaky, he’s showed up ready to defend the goal to the last drop of his strength.
What’s Next
Wednesday, June 10
Thursday, June 11
Friday, June 12
1:00 PM Rad Beograd v. FK Vozdovac
Saturday, June 13
8:30 AM Wolfsburg v. Freiburg (M)
Sunday, June 14
7:00 AM SC Freiburg v. FC Koln
Monday, June 15
Tuesday, June 16
1:30 SC Freiburg v. Hertha Berlin (M)
MacKenzie's Boot Room 