Results & Recaps
Tlaxcala FC 1 – 1 Alebrijes
Julio César Cruz bagged the first goal of this year’s campaign on a simple but effective attack. However, it wasn’t enough to net Oaxaca’s first win.
Arminia Bielefeld 0 – 0 Freiburg
Freiburg was unable to find a way past Beilefeld’s keeper, but can take some comfort from a strong attack that kept their opponents on the back foot.
Also, this happened…
Sandviken 2 – 0 Rosenborg BK [F]
With their second loss to Sandviken, there’s no denying it anymore: the unbeatable Rosenborg is not the best team in the Topp Serien. Hard as it is to admit, it does focus the campaign not on staying unbeaten, but on reaching the Champions league (So far, so good)
Niort 1 – 0 Grenoble [M]
Mon dieu. It’s getting grim in Grenoble, as manager Maurizio Jacobacci has yet to win a match and our Alpiners are rooted to the bottom of the table.
Minnesota United 0 – 1 Los Angeles Galaxy
Another week, another Loon’s home match I had to miss. This time there wasn’t much to see as despite a strong defense and the usual Bébelo magic, the Loons couldn’t finish their chances.
Emelec 3 – 0 CSD Macara
Despite being a man down for much of the match (why cleat someone on your run Sebastian Rodriguez…why?), Los Bombillos dominated. Jose Cevallos had become an invaluable target man (just ask Dixon Arroyo), and Facundo Barcelo offers another bolt of speed to burn the opposition. Don’t look now, but Emelec’s just two points off the lead in the league and gunning for a season sweep of trophies.
Vozdovac 3 – 2 Novi Pazar
With Nikola Vujnovic leading the way the Red Dragons got another win. None of the goals were beautifully developed, but beauty and Serbia don’t exactly go together, I mean, just watch the wrasslin’ move that took down Milos Pantovic in the second half…eeks.
Mjondalen 1 – 2 Rosenborg [M]
While Carlo Holse hasn’t been the big name on recent Rosenborg score sheets he had a great game here supported by goal scorers Anders Konradsen and Erland Dahl Reitan. It still took some doing for Rosenborg to withstand the final onslaught of attacks, but they managed to make it across the finish line.
San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 1 Minnesota United
A late night match that I wasn’t going to stay up for, the Loons started out with an uncharacteristic gaffe from Bakye Dibassy at the back. Even with the Quakes losing a man a few minutes later, Minnesota struggled to get much of anything connected (playing two games in three days can have that effect on you).
News & Notes
Here come the Griz
It’s Taylor time! The Griz will follow the lead of fifth year seniors Taylor Stoeger in the front and Taylor Hansen in the back as they seek to cement their spot at the top of our MacKenzie Cup standings. The big challenge there will be extending their competition beyond the Big Sky. While Conference games made up 9 of their 11 matches in the spring, they start out with 8 non-conference games including three against power sides like Creighton, Gonzaga, and Boise State. Even their conference schedule is less comfortable with 5 road games (including at co-favorites Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado) as opposed to 4 home matches.
Hopes for Afghanistan
After 20 years, the United States armed forces (including a few dozen of your dad’s high school classmates), have left the nation of Afghanistan. The war started shortly after your mother and I met. It continued long enough for me to teach refugees from it and future soldiers in it. And then, we left with the same people in power as when it began and the same threat to women, girls, and contrary thinkers as we had at the beginning. We hope that the people of Afghanistan are safe and secure and remember that soccer is nothing next to that.
Player of the Week
Despite the lasting Kristoffer Zachariassen sized hole in our Rosenborg hearts, Anders Konradsen’s great form has gone a long way to easing the pain.
Standings Update
The Griz get back into action this week with their lead on the line. Kicking off with the Big East’s Creighton (alma mater of a couple Loons players), is going to put them to the test right away. Meanwhile, Alebrijes slides to the bottom of the table.
| Team | W | D | L | PPG | GFA | GAA |
| University of Montana | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 |
| Rosenborg BK | 22 | 4 | 6 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 1.0 |
| Emelec | 21 | 8 | 10 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| Punjab FC–b | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1.47 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Freiburg | 13 | 5 | 13 | 1.42 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Minnesota United | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1.42 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Legon Cities–b | 11 | 6 | 11 | 1.39 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
| Ross County | 8 | 2 | 11 | 1.32 | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Grenoble Foot | 10 | 8 | 11 | 1.31 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| FK Vozdovac | 7 | 6 | 11 | 1.13 | 1.0 | 1.7 |
| Alebrijes | 4 | 9 | 7 | 1.05 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
b–Team is between seasons
What’s Next
Wednesday, August 18th
Alebrijes v Tepatilan
Thursday, August 19th
Rennes v Rosenborg [M-Europe]
Creighton Bluejays v. Montana Grizzlies
Friday, August 20th
Metalac v Vozdovac
Saturday, August 21st
Freiburg v Dortmund
Grenoble v Quevilly [M]
Minnesota United v. Sporting KC
Nueve de Octubre v. Emelec
Sunday, August 22nd
Ross County v. Rangers
Rosenborg v Odd [M]
Montana Grizzlies v. Portland Pilots
Monday, August 23rd
Tuesday, August 24th
San Jose Earthquakes v. Minnesota United
MacKenzie's Boot Room 