Scores

LDU Quito 1 – 2 CS Emelec [M]

A man and a goal down at half time, you’d be excused if you thought Emelec was doomed.

After LDUQ lost one of their players, Los Bombillos stormed back, with Sebastian Rodriguez equalizing on an absolute howler and Jose Cevallos winning it in the 90th minute with a shot that left Universidad completely stunned on the field.

Accra Great Olympics 3 – 0 Legon Cities

Fun Fact: Accra Great Olympics used to train across the street from a middle school I taught at in Legon.

Less fun fact: they totally dominated the professional team from Legon as if they were only middle schoolers

Kilmarnock 3 – 1 Ross County

It takes a special team to go down a man inside of 8 minutes and still dominate a match. It also takes a special team to be up a man for 92 minutes and never look competitive. Ross County is special (you can tell from the score line why they are).

Pau 0 – 2 Grenoble

In the long slog of a spring Grenoble’s lone solace seemed to be midfielder Jessy Benet. The lone creator and goal scorer of February has now become just another cog in a well run machine but after netting a penalty (made possible by his own creativity) and enabling an assist (for defensive standout Loic Nestor) it’s nice to remember what a gem Jessy is.

FK Vozdovac 1 – 1 Novi Pazar

Ivan Milosavljevic’s tremendous control in his eighth minute goal put the Red Dragons ahead and the stingy defense kept them there. Until an absolutely silly hand ball by Marko Gajic gifted a late penalty to the visitors, which they duly buried. Maybe it’s worth saying: in class put your hands up, on the pitch, keep them down.

SC Freiburg 1 – 5 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim [F]

It’s hard to put a shiny face on what was a complete and total domination by Hoffenheim. Instead we’ll just tip the cap to Hasret Kayicki on returning to the score sheet for the first time since her excellent equalizer versus Wolfsburg.

SC Freiburg 1 – 3 Mainz [M]

It just wasn’t a great day for the Griffins, as fans might have been grateful to be barred from entrance. Frenchman Jean Phillipe Mateta’s first half hat trick was plenty, as Keeper Florian Muller and Phillip Leinhart must have seemed about as intimidating a couple Breisgau cream puffs.

CS Emelec 3 – 2 Delfín [M]

In a match that absolutely explained the contrast between Emelec’s first campaign of this fall and their current one, Los bombillos fell behind (again). Then stormed back with a brace from (yup) Facundo Barcelo to win it at the death.

Minnesota United 3 – 0 Colorado Rapids [Playoffs]

The Loons first playoff win since 2012, was a very strong showing. Despite having little to show from an opening 20 minutes when I was trying to get you to sleep, Owen, the team was cohesive and strong throughout. Emanuel Reynoso’s two assists and Kevin Molino’s two goals gave us all some much needed relief in 2020.

Rosenborg BK 2 – 3 Brann [M]

Despite a Norway’s most handsome striker led comeback (kudos Kristoffer Zachariassen) leaving all your offense for the last ten minutes was not an effective game plan for Rosenborg.

Grenoble 1 – 0 Nancy [M]

In their first COVID make up game les Grenobloises met the moment. Particular gratitude goes to Jordy Gaspar and Adrien Monfry for holding down the right side for their second shutout in four days.

News & Notes

The Royals Need a New King

Another underwhelming start to the season sealed the fate of Legon Cities’ Bosnian coach Goran Barjaktarevic

With as much as LCFC is doing to set themselves apart off the pitch you can only tolerate underwhelming results on it for so long. Three wins in the first year of the club just can’t cut it. Though, to be honest, the sparse press release announcing the firing left much to be desired. I’d have loved if a hip life star had dropped the announcement in a half time show.

Player of the Week

Kevin Molino was the first widely known player to join the MNUFC roster. His best matches often lead to our greatest triumphs, his longest absences mirror our worst runs of form. He’s no longer required to be the star, Emmanuel Reynosa has that covered but when Hot Boy is hot, so is the team. And the Loons first playoff win in 8 years is a testament to his dedication.

Also, his teammates roasting and his kids celebrating is further testament to this awesomeness

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What’s Next

Wednesday, November 25th

Thursday, November 26th

Friday, November 27th

12:00 Legon Cities FC v. Medeama

6:00 Mushuc Runa v CS Emelec [M]

Saturday, November 28th

8:00 Grenoble v. Paris FC [M]

8:30 Augsburg v. Freiburg [M]

Sunday, November 29th

9:00 Celtic v Ross County

1:00 FK Vozdovac v. Mladost Lucani

11:00 Bodo/Glimt v. Rosenborg BK [M]

Monday, November 30th

Tuesday, December 1st

1:00 Chateauroux v. Grenoble [M]

3:00 CS Emelec v SC Barcelona [M]