A week ago, you were cuddling on the couch. Immersed in the hugs of your mom, and grandma, and auntie. Then they stopped, stared at their phones in horror, and tried to explain why they felt so sad.
Dear Boys,
I can’t add to what they said, because while the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg affects me and will affect you, it means something else for women. Also, much of what I’ve drafted has been deleted as it sounds like a man telling young men, “here’s a quick guide to feminist ideology and contemporary sexism”.
RBG was an icon. A diva who turned into a rock star. An idealistic ideologue who made time to share appreciate the passions and of her rival jurists.
Our lives are richer because she was in a powerful position to affect our world. As she said
Vitally, Ginsburg frequently argued before the Supreme Court prior to joining its ranks as a justice. She held, as did the renowned Title IX law, that:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Title IX of Education Assistance Law (1972)
Too often, sports becomes an exclusionary place, especially in terms of gender. Too often, we fixate on the men of the sport and isolate women’s games to the fine print, or ancillary commentary.
Title IX challenged that notion. It insisted that young women have access to all the athletic programs that young men accessed by default. While college football and basketball are big business; women’s sports have brought in a more diverse and equitable student body.
Without Title IX, there likely wouldn’t be the bevy of young female soccer players in the US. Without that market (and corporate sponsorship that goes with it) there likely wouldn’t be the women’s game around the world as we know it today. Without that international competition, I wouldn’t be reporting breathlessly on the Rosenborg Kvinner, or the Grizzly Soccer team, or Freiburg, Emelec, and Grenoble.
Without Title IX, without a firm and emphatic belief that no person should be excluded from activities, including sports, on the basis of sex, our world would be poorer, our experience, more shallow.
Title IX is a droplet in the ocean of Ginsburg’s work. But the ripple effects of it crash ashore each and every day. We make mistakes (my ignorant titling of weekly MVPs at the start of this year is but one of my many). But with the challenging, strident, and invaluable contributions of women, especially those like RBG in places where decisions are being made, we grow.
A scenic trip to Latvia was made a little brighter with a convincing win for Rosenborg on the next leg of their European escapade. Despite giving up an early goal, Age Hareide’s group dominated the last 80 minutes of the game with Dino Islamovic’s two goals, Carlo Holse, Anders Konradsen and Captain Cutie Himself: Kristoffer Zachariassen, also chipping in on a windy night in Ventspilis. Next up: they’ll welcome in last year’s 5th place Turkish side: Alanyspor and their hotshot goal scorer Dvaidson.
The griffins launched their league campaign with a rampant attack led by Rolland Sallai. The winger’s goal and assist put Freiburg briefly into 2nd place behind European champs Bayern Munich. Granted, the back line faltered badly in the second half, when the game plan devolved to “just hope Dominique Heintz saves us again,” but a brief dream is better than none at all.
St. Johnstone 0 – 1 Ross County
The Staggies have equaled last seasons road wins and it isn’t even Halloween yet. Ian Vigurs excellent delivery left opposing goalie Elliott Parish dumbfounded. While Ross Laidlaw kept the door shut against St Johnston’s.
Grenoble 2 – 0 AC Ajaccio [M]
Jessy Bennet struck again, but the real change in the Alps may be revelatory play of fullbacks Jerome Mombis, and Jordy Gaspar. The two have been invaluable on both ends of the pitch and have been vital to the sides three game winning streak.
Emelec 1 – 1 LDU de Quito [M]
Roberto Ordóñez remains the only reliable part of Los bombillos at the moment. So it’s really helpful that he got a red card and will miss the next match. [sigh]
Houston 2 – 2 Minnesota United
The Loons ran out to an early lead and must have felt good about the chance to rack up some road points. Better still, gifted/young Dayne St Clair made a few sterling saves to keep the Dynamo scoreless. For the first half. Then young St Clair bobbled a couple shots, ceded two goals and the team squandered a great opportunity.
Rosenborg BK 2 – 1 FK Haugesund [M]
Rosenborg looked rattled for a while, but stormed back in the second half. With Dino Islamovic continuing his fine form and Vegar Essen Hedenstand coming up big off the bench.
Red Star Belgrade 6 – 0 FK Vozdovac
We were unbeaten heading into this game. And then Red Star reminded us all why they own a duopoly on the league. (Le sigh, or rather the uzdah)
Barcelona SC V CS Emelec [W]
DELAYED: DUE TO VOLCANO
Tapiaca 3 – 0 Alebrijes de Oaxaca
So despite the great showing to start the weekend, we end it with two drubbings and a Volcanic cancellation. Yeesh.
News & Notes
Kolkata keyed up for I-League
Mmm…dessert after the matches
I apologize for being a bit behind on this news item. Last month India’s governing football federation decided to play not just a little tournament but the entire season inside a safety bubble. In this case it’s Kolkata, home of Pabrai’s Fresh & Naturelle Ice Cream (official ice cream shop of this blog, because I say so).
First they’ll host a round robin mini-tournament to promote a few second tier sides and then Punjab FC will take the field again in the beginning of November.
Screwy Season Takes Root
There’s a little time left to add players during the summer transfer window and many teams are making it count.
Freiburg has brought in replacements for Robin Koch and Alexander Schwolow in Baptiste Santamaría and Florian Müller.
The Loons added in some help to bolster their injury depleted squad with goalie — and striker Kei Kamara who’s been around and around and around the league.
Meanwhile Rosenborg and Ross County have sought out some cost savings by saying farewell to some surplus players.
Seriously, Volcano Delay
Seriously. I mean it. El Clásico del Astillero, the biggest rivalry in Guayaquil. The second match for Barcelona and Emelec in the Superliga Feminina was delayed. It was delayed because Sangay Volcano was active in the region. The teams will play on Wednesday instead.
Seriously, 2020 is weird.
Player of the Week
Several fine performances (plus the enforced absence of Clausen and Blakstad made for a tight race this week. We’re opting for scorer/distributor Roland Sallai. The combination of great play and vital context is much appreciated.
The Loons certainly know how to score now. Getting to watch half the game (a lengthy viewing session given your bed times), I was thrilled to see Bebelo dominate the midfield. It was great to see Kevin Molino and crew darting in and out of traffic to challenge the goal. It was difficult to watch Michael Boxall carry the entire defense on his back…but other than that, this is fun to see.
Alebrijes 2 – 2 Tlaxcala FC
It was a much needed first point in three matches for Oaxaca, but could have been an even more needed second win. A late equalizer keep last years fall champions far from their best, but not comfortable…yet.
Rosenborg 2 – 0 Roa ( W )
At the risk of tedium: the women were great, Marit Clausen was especially great, and the prospects for glory truly feel real. Still, over the next month, they’ll play only twice. Keeping this momentum will be tricky.
Ross County 0 – 5 Celtic
Celtic continues to suck the competitive joy out of Scotland like Boris Johnson sucks hope in governmental competence from England.
Chambly 1 – 2 Grenoble
Will wonders never cease! Les grenoblois gave up an early goal, played from behind for most of the game (per usual) BUT they also had a great defensive performance and came back to win in the last 20 minutes behind Jerome Mombris’ excellent stop and pin point assist.
FK Vozdovac 4 – 0 FK Metalac
I legitimately can not recall Vozdovac pulling this complete a victory together in the time we’ve watched them. (Editors note: because they haven’t.) The game plan seemed to be, set up with a thick midfield, and let ‘er rip outside the area. It worked for Milos Pnatovic, Edin Adjinovic, and Jovan Nisic. Let’s go ahead and let this Splash Brothers mentality take over the rest of the season
Olmedo 1 – 1 Emelec [M]
When you’re getting draws against opponents this far down the table something is amiss. The first round of games in this bizarre season is almost over and it can’t come too soon for Emelec.
Emelec 3 – 1 Guayaquil City [W]
Las eléctricas are back! The local southern league kicked off with a great win. (I’d say more but there is little else on the web for me to draw from)
Grenoble Foot 38 0 – 1 St Etienne [W]
Grand Geneva 1 – 3 Grenoble Foot 38 [W]
The women of Grenoble have actually been back in action for two weeks (sorry I missed last week y’all) and after a hard fought defeat to regional power St Etienne, they dominated Geneva.
SC Sand 0 – 3 SC Freiburg [W]
The lady griffins came out fast and never looked back in another stellar win for the women. (Noting a pattern here?) No Klara Buhl no problem as Freiburg held on thorughout
Stromsgodset 3 – 3 Rosenborg [M]
With 10 minutes to go things looked dire, having trailed since early in the first half, there seemed little chance of a comeback. It could have been a grossly disappointing defeat to a relegation area side. Then: Per and Dino rose to the occasion with a stellar showing to snatch a stalemate from the jaws of defeat.
Well done Jeong and Kwon!!
Waldof Mannheim 1 – 2 Freiburg (M-C)
In the first cup match of our blog (seriously…most teams were out and others got cancelled) the tiny league 3 side almost pulled a stunner, until right back Jonathan Schmidt struck a winner. (The match also saw the first starting tandem for Korean kids Woo-Yeong Jeong and Chang-Hoon Kwon…the latter even got the first goal)
Sporting KC 1 – 0 Minnesota
Remember what I said about the Loons knowing how to score. I maintain that the team does, but when coach Adrian Heath opts for a whole sale line shift it doesn’t do anybody much good. Still, they kept it close and only a late bobble by Dayne St. Clair left the Loons in second place in the West.
News & Notes
Don’t send men to do a woman’s job
It is awfully nice to have all our female sides back in action this week. As las electricas and les Grenobloises join the Trolljenta and the Glamorous Griffins to take to the field. Even better, every ladies team recorded a win this week…can’t say that for the men folk.
Also, don’t send men to compete with this design.
Mahama’s Make it Rain Moment
I talk a lot about US politics, but I also notice Ghanaian politics (especially given that their presidential election is just four weeks after ours). NDC (Socialist) candidate John Mahama made an intriguing campaign promise to help every player in the Ghanaian League (including our own Legon Cities FC) to make 1500 cedis a month (or $250 bucks). Just for the sake of comparison: that would be 18,000 cedis in a year (or less than the median Ghanaian makes in the year). Still it would be a big boost to solvency in a league that has been hampered for decades, thereby winning the coveted: Soc’adamfo (Soccer friend) vote. (Also, I should note that it’s unclear if this would supplement existing salaries or replace them.)
Player of the Week
Running away with it
Again it was a pretty even mix of players with no one person turning in a superlative performance. (Unless you have access to game film of the ladies playing in Ecuador/Germany/France…in which case, please show me the dominance. I’d love to see it). In the meantime, we can’t title this with praise for the ladies and then hand it off to Jerome Mombis or Dino Islamovic (sorry guys, you’re worthy runners up). So let’s just say it again: Marit Clausen come on down you’re our favorite (again)!
For the first time since probably mid February there were both a bunch of games and a full time job on bmy plate… so rather than go back chronologically through the games that have happened here are some overriding takeaways from each side’s last two weeks.
Scores
Awful Alebrijes
Alebrijes 1 – 3 Dorados
Tepitlan 2 – 0 Alebrijes
270 minutes into the season, Alebrijes has scored once from open play. They have a habit of ceding early and staying behind. Last years trophy feels a long way away and not just because time is a flat circle in Corona-ville.
Ehhhh….Emelec….
Emelec 2 – 1 LDU Portoveijo
Técnico Universarito 2 – 0 Emelec
El Nacional 2 – 1 Emelec (M)
Emelec 2 – 2 Independiente de Valle
As Ecuador works double time to complete their two part season, Emelec seems like they’re biding their time waiting for the second half. In 4 of the 6 games since the return from COVID, they’ve allowed two goals. And only scored that many, twice.
Finding Freiburg
SC Freiburg 1 – 2 Bayern Leverkusen {W}
While the most consistently overachieving men’s team in Germany gears up for a new season without several stars, the women’s side started back without talisman Klara Bühl. Rebecca Knaak’s first half penalty seemed promising, but a late collapse left them frustrated in their opener.
Grinding Out Grenoble
Grenoble 5 – 3 Toulouse (M)
It wasn’t pretty at the back, but it got led bleus in the Win column for the first time in a while. Willy Semedo and Moussa Kailou Djitte exploited Left Back Kelvin Adou for three goals and our double star Yoric Ravet (formerly of Freiburg) got two assists with Brice Mableu recording a critical svae en route to an entertaining win in front of home fans (hey, remember them?!)
Missing in Minnesota
FC Dallas 3 – 1 Minnesota United
Houston 3 – 0 Minnesota United
Minnesota United 4 – 0 Real Salt Lake
All that good feeling and confidence evaporated pretty fast outside the Orlando bubble. But in true Minnesota sports form, just when you think you can write them off, they kick it into gear and make it interesting.
Heartbreaking but interesting. It might as well be the new state motto.
Ruling Rosenborg
Roa 2 – 3 Rosenborg BK
Rosenborg BK 4 – 2 Breidablik (M-E)
Rosenborg BK 1 – 1 Arna Bjornar
Rosenborg 2 – 2 Stabaek
LSK KVinner 0 – 1 Rosenborg {W}
Three more unbeaten matches for the Trolljenta put them in second place with a game in hand. The huge win in Lillestrom was especially valuable in fending off a fellow title contender.
Meanwhile, Åge Hareide and the Trollgutte have also been unbeaten of late, though their run hasn’t had the same effect on the table. Bodø/Glimt continue to run away with the league but RBK is closing ground on the top 3. That also coincides with a strong win in their first Europa League Qualifier dispatching Iceland’s Breidablik.
The Staggies only lost a game. But they lost it to a bottom of the table side. And they slipped to sixth. And they now trail Celtic and Aberdeen who have each played two fewer matches. Things still look better than last year, but not quite title contention…yet…
Wild Variations at Vozdovac
Backa Backa Palanka 2 – 1 FK Vozdovac
Another week another wild start in Serbia. This time the first goal came inside two minutes. All the others were notched before the game turned ten minutes old. Then bupkus. Still, Vozdovac has put a goal in every time they’ve played this season, so they’re halfway there.
News & Notes
More Flights from Freiburg
It must be said, I really liked Robin Koch. He was as integral and fundamental an element of Freiburg’s success as coach Christian Streich or just mirroring fundamental German efficiencies.
*Sniff* Good Luck Robin!
It also seemed obvious that he was bound for greener pastures. Still, it stings to see him leave for Leeds United. Perhaps the Premier League will give a wider audience an appreciation for the Head Cook. But we’ll always get to play the hipster card of knowing him when. (Incoming Midfielder Guus Til hasn’t exactly lit up Spartak Moscow…so…fingers crossed)
Celtic Takes the Low Road and Staggies take the high road…
And County gets fans in the stands ‘afore ye.
Sure, Celtic might have hundreds of trophies, legions of fans, oodles of cash, and 4 members of the national team, but Ross County are leading the way in getting fans back to the field.
Careful testing, tracing and automated grounds should help the highlanders stay separate and stay safe before next weekend’s clash with the 9 consecutive trophy winning Glaswegians. 500 fans may be a pittance, but it’s a 500 fold increase over what players have dealt with in the first two months of the league.
So while Celtic has all that cache, and got a two game suspension for playing quarantine-breaker Boli Bolingboli (sidebar: best name ever), Ross County can have 500 supporters live to 0 for the Hoops.
Player of the Week
Perhaps goal scorers deserve more credit. Perhaps I’m biased. But perhaps Yoric Ravet is the player we not only get to follow, he’s the player we are meant to follow.
Yoric, we are getting to know him well (Radio France)
It struck me that I ought to explain a little bit about why we cheer for the teams we do. Well, in part, it’s because I thought we ought to, and I’m the one of us most capable of complex thought and logic. But also, each team has a special something that captures part of what I love about life, and part of what makes you who you are.
So periodically (like during international breaks, long summer holidays, or say, global pandemics that completely alter everything we understand about our lives and ourselves), I want to introduce you to the teams we are tied to.
Our eighth team to meet is a team that kicks off their new season this weekend: Grenoble Foot 38 a team that shows us how loyalty pays off.
Dear Boys,
Wherefore Grenoble Foot 38?
In the French Alps, there’s a mountain town with a long history of sport. Grenoble has hosted the Winter Olympics, a strong rugby side, and, for over a hundred years a football team.
We aren’t French. Your grandmother wanted to be a French teacher. Your uncles and I still occasionally drop into French when we want to speak without others knowing what we’re saying. But we have as much claim to French culture or heritage as “French Fried Twinkies”.
But Grenoble is special. It’s where I got my first taste of independent living, and my first appreciation of how to do it well.
Who is Grenoble Foot 38?
The Grenoble team we see now is not the Grenoble team of 1892, or 1938, or even 2000 when I knew it.
For as beautiful as football is, for as magical and human as it can be, it is also a business. And though Grenoble is big for its region, it’s not exactly a focal point in French life, so making money on football in Grenoble wasn’t easy. That’s why teams changed, merged, folded, reformed and survived throughout the 20th Century.
Grenoble’s Stade Des Alpes
That is, until a company called “Index Holdings” arrived from Japan to buy the club and build it into a force. In four years, they moved the team up to the top tier of French football, only to crash back down soon after.
Why did they crash? Simple. They didn’t have the money to pay the players or rent the stadium. “Index Holdings” claimed to make a net profit of 204 Million Yen. In reality, they had a net loss of 605 Million yen. 800 Million off. An 800 million yen lie. I know you’re young, so let’s just put it like this. Their mistake would be like me claiming to have a box of Bunny Graham crackers for your snack, only instead of having a box of Bunny Grahams I had 3 pieces of paper that said “box of Bunny Grahams” on them.
Naturally, without that money, Grenoble couldn’t keep playing at the top league, or the next league, instead they plummeted to the fifth level of French football. Despite a sparkly stadium and high expectations, the team was back to basics. It has taken them nine years to be stable and steady in the second division, back where they were when I first met them.
How are we Grenoble Foot 38?
Like I said, Grenoble was where I first had to live independently. Why? Well, at 17 I went on a study abroad trip to France with my high school friends. After a few weeks of touring, we got off a bus in the village of Annecy and met our host families. Except for me. Mine wasn’t there. Mine wasn’t even in Annecy. I was driven to a meet up somewhere in the country side, put into another car and driven off to the distant city of Grenoble. I was 100 kilometres from my classmates, my teachers, and anyone who knew me.
I was also a massive disappointment to my host family. I spoke enough French to get by, but I wasn’t cool, or cosmopolitan, or full of American bravado. I was a nerdy, skinny little kid from rural Montana, and my super-cool host sister Natalie was stuck with me for a week. The saving grace was that Natalie was dating a guy at the local football academy. We would lie around the flat watching MTV in the morning, eat macaroni and a Cornetto for lunch, then go to the academy to meet her boyfriend, Sebastian, and all of his mates (Mehdi and Mohamadou appear in my journal at the time) before going shopping or swimming or just to hang out in the afternoon.
By the third day the guys had decided I was no threat. I was nice enough, trying my best, and definitely neither strong enough nor handsome enough to steal away a girlfriend. I had decided that they were the kinds of friends I would like to have. Reliable, supportive, and fierce.
The School/System my new friends used
Two nights before I left, we went to a house party in a small suburb. We didn’t stay there long before some local French guys began to harangue our assembled gathering. Our crew was, to a person, an immigrant, or the child of an immigrant. West African, North African, Lebanese, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Romanian, and me, a bewildered American. The French guys wanted to fight, and this crew of friends stood shoulder to shoulder on picturesque cobblestone streets, jostling and jawing at each other.
I never threw a punch. I don’t think any one did. But when it was over and we walked back to the house at 2 AM I thought: you are never alone in the world if you have people you can rely on.
That’s what Grenoble Foot means to me. When I was alone, young men who trained to join the team, made sure I had someone to rely on. When they were targeted, they made sure everyone in the group had someone else to rely on, and I hope I was part of that.
Grenoble Foot 38 wasn’t alone when they found out their owners didn’t have two yen to rub together, let alone 200 million. They had their community, their staff, their players, and their fans. I’m there for them, because they were there for me.
A late first half goal put RBK up, and a flurry to start the second half put it away. Marit Clausen and, our fave, Julie Blakstad each had a brace to give RBKKvinner a first win in their new colors.
The win saw RBK jump to a tie atop the ToppSerien. Granted both of the top two teams have big wins against last-placed Lyn, but wins are wins and with four points being the maximum this year, this may be a great year for parity.
Rosenborg BK 3 – 0 Stromsgodset (M)
Another strong showing from Rosenborg’s men’s side, should allay some fear of regression. That it came together only after a second half substitution may leave some lingering tactical questions.
Pål André Helland played the hero with a goal and two assists in just 31 minutes of game time. Coach Trond Henriksen opted to drop Helland for more recent signees Carlo Holse, Dino Islamovic and Torgeir Børven, but in retrospect, maybe play the hot hand…er, foot.
Sporting KC 1 – 2 Minnesota United
Your mom and I got to watch the second half of this game after you boys went to bed.
We missed the bad news: a spotty defense without Ike Opara and Ozzie Alonso, and a shaky offense after both Luis Amarilla and Mason Toye caught an injury each. But we did see a stellar comeback led by Aaron Shoenfeld who drew a red card from KC keeper Tim Melia, then provided the distracting target for an equalizing own goal.
Finally a late winner worked from a cross by Roman Metanire to a redirection by Raheem Edwards and a ripping finish by Kevin Molino elicited a lot of reactions. I shouted “yes!” Your mom muttered “wow!” Broadcaster Taylor Twellman gave us 12 variations on “it wasn’t pretty, but it is a win”. And Minnesota sang Wonderwall for the first time in months.
News & Notes
Welcome Back, Man
There are increasing signs of a slightly more normal fall. COVID cases are falling in most countries and most major leagues are gearing up for a return to action in August. Social media is full of training camps from Dingwall and Grenoble to Belgrade and Guayaquil.
College Plan
One place where transmission of COVID-19 is still deeply problematic is right here in the US. While the professional leagues have kicked off with modified structures, college conferences are still mulling their options. Several big football conferences have narrowed their scope to games against regional rivals only. No word yet on if Grizzly Soccer will follow suit, but they do seem keen on making sure you mask up if you come to cheer.
There’s no plan yet for India to return to the pitch either, which offers some particularly bad news for Punjab FC. Without any matches for amusement, fans could be watching rosters for some daydream thrills. But that watch got a lot more pointless this month.
Hristan Denkovski, who ended up being much more expensive than initially thought (Sportskeeda)
Over a year ago, former Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj signed Macedonian Hristijan Denkovski. Denkovski didn’t show so Bajaj ended the contract without paying him. Then Bajaj sold the club, COVID hit, and Denkovski still hadn’t been paid (even though Bajaj and the new owners knew they had to). Now, almost a year later, international judges levied the consequence for not paying someone who never played for you: NO MORE SIGNING ANYONE FOR A YEAR!! I’ll bet there’s another appeal coming, but surely it would’ve been easier to pay the man $18,000 and move on. Instead the club faces the soccer equivalent of having your library card set on fire because you didn’t pay six month of late fees on Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.
Woman of the Matches
Sure Pål André Helland played a part in every goal against Stromsgødet, and Kevin Molino netted a late winner, but I’m of going to miss the chance to plant myself firmly in the driver seat of the Julie Blaksted Hype Train. Three goals in two games have put the Kvinner in the thick of the early title race
It might be the scheduling, it might be the refreshing pandemic break, whatever it is, it’s working for the Red Dragons
After 6 games without a point, Vozdovac has won 3 in a row. They vaulted two spots up the standings, with the best performance of any Belgrade team since the restart. (Their 3 opponents stood, 16th, 12th, and 15th in the 16 team Super Liga, but they still are in the Super Liga)
The derby with Rad was marked with typical Serbian League struggle. The home team looked imperious, only for some sterling defensive work to save the day. Some bitter exchanges climax in a red card (this time for Rad’s Veljko Trifunovic who made a stupid stomp even more ridiculous with the biggest “come at me bro” body language outside your local frat house). Vozdovac made their advantage count with two goals in the next half hour as Stefan Hajdin slapped in a low bouncer and Dragan Stoisavljevic finished a beautiful team goal made sweeter by coming right in front of a Confederate flag. (Screw you systemic racism, and screw you Rad Beograd.)
Next Saturday, Vozdovac wraps up their season at home. Next season is secure, and Europe is too far off. But another win would be a great vote of confidence going into the summer.
(M) Wolfsburg 2 – Freiburg 2
When you give up 4 goals in 30 minutes, you need a lot of things to salvage a point. Two overturned goals and a pair of sterling finishes gave SC Freiburg exactly that in their do-or-die tilt for Europe on Saturday.
The Wolves could have sealed a victory early on, but Daniel Ginczec’s rotten luck saw two of Wolfsburg four twine ticklers get pulled back, while gargantuan Dutchman Wout Weghorst capitalized first on a volley and then on a penalty that played a part in cancelling out one of the goals.
The reprieve was reason enough for Freiburg to come back with a sterling second half. Lucas Holer’s diving header from Vincent Grifo’s cross pulled one back before the break, and Roland Sallai’s looping chip of a header won the point.
The draw kept Freiburg’s hopes of a spot in next year’s Europa League alive for now. Given the strength of the German league right now, the team need only reach 7th to go gallivanting about on a Eurail pass. Right now Hoffenheim has that spot, 1 point clear with three to play. Both sides have one likely L in the offing (against Bayern Munich and Dortmund). Hoffenheim plays the teams that are lower on the table (Union Berlin & Augsburg) while Freiburg have the teams in worse form (including Schalke with 1 point in their last 5). There’s a kind of trophy to be had in this weird season after all.
Another week, another six goal shellacking by the women of SC Freiburg who, in 8 days, went from -14 goals to -3.
Our favorite wündermadchen, Klara Bühl scored again, but the battle to replace her saw Naomi Megroz score twice (I’d love to give more details, but I can’t seem to track down highlights).
To temper our joy, the Griffins have League leading Wolfsburg next. A team that let in 6 goals over the first six months of the campaign and skunked Freiburg 8-0 IN Freiburg last fall. If they rack up 6 on Wolfsburg, I will do the Gangnam Style dance for 90 minutes.
News & Notes
Best. Move. Ever.
OH YEAH GOOD YORIC!
Yoric Ravet is officially the first player to jump from one of our family teams (Freiburg) to another (Grenoble). Though he hasn’t seen the pitch for Freiburg this year, and only factored on the team sheet three times as a substitute, he has a strong history lighting up both Swiss and second division French football. The move will see him return to his first club, Grenoble, and hopefully give the French side a much needed offensive boost. (His twitter feed is a bit out of date, but the plethora of Grenoble cheering tweets will warm your heart)
Loons drawn into local crew
Last week I mentioned that Minnesota United would join a mini-tournament in Orlando. They now know their fate: facing fellow mountain/Midwest sides Salt Lake City, Colorado, and Kansas City. Given the friendly rivalry with KC and the barely restrained animosity with Colorado, this could get interesting.
Staggies Shuffle the Deck
Ferguson (L) and Kettlewell (R) planning their next stratagem. (The Scotsman)
After two years, a cup title, promotion, and survival in the top league, Ross County have made some changes. Steven Ferguson leaves the technical area to be the club’s chief executive, covering signings as well as academy plans. Stuart Kettlewell takes some control of the first team while veteran midfielder Don Cowie retirés to join the coaching staff and captain Marcus Fraser moves on to new pastures after turning down a County contract.
Legon Cities Eyes the Axe
With a six week restart still required and a lot of the season left to play, Legon Cities and a number of other sides in Ghana seem to prefer cancelling the remaining season and starting afresh in the fall. Whether or not the local federation would approve with the tv money at risk and a battered reputation to clean up, remains to be seen.
Man of the Matches
Give some credit where it is well due, even without scoring a goal, Vazdovac defender Nikola Mikic made all the right moves under the floodlights in Belgrade. He broke up early goal scoring opportunities, added pressure to unnerve big runs and kept his team calm while Rad broke down in dissent with the officials and frustration with each other. Hat tip to you Nikola.
Nikola Mikic rocking scarves and beards with pride
While Corona-Virus continues to run roughshod over the rest of the world and established institutions, there may be some reason to hope. Several countries have flattened the curve. Several more are carefully studying ways to return to something like normalcy. And most importantly, for our purposes and only our purposes, South Korea will start their season next weekend.
This is great news, especially after Mexico and France fully abandoned their seasons. While we don’t have a Korean side to root for, we may just be in the market for one as it would allow us to watch soccer without the bitter aftertaste of tolerating totalitarianism in Belarus and Nicaragua.
News & Notes
Making Ends Meet
We’ve seen record breaking unemployment claims in America and jaw dropping economic contractions around the world. Many people are in dire financial straights, and, so too are soccer teams.
The most notable case of this comes from Ross County, who has established “The Staggies Army” to create stabilized funds for the club when there’s no guarantee that they can even sell season tickets for the next campaign.
Love you too…Klara Buhl
This system neatly mirrors another beloved institution in our home: National Public Radio. But in lieu of a tote bag, this comes with a welcome letter and club shop discounts. (Seriously, anyone reading this who is interested, please contact me to go in on a membership)
Meanwhile, SC Freiburg found another way to make ends meet: sell off your star player. Klara Buhl, the wunderkind who bombed goals in for both Baden and the national team is off to Bayern Munich’s women’s team. Good luck Karla, thanks for the memories.
Women of the Non-Matches
As a teacher, I love National Signing Day, the day in the spring when high school seniors announce where they intend to continue their education (and often times, athletic pursuits). I love seeing my students find their future, and it is in that spirit that we award this week’s honor to the six future Grizzlies who will for sure have some classes next fall (and hopefully some matches under the big blue Montana skies).
The 2019 undefeated regular season Big Sky Champions are returning the entire squad while adding one transfer and six freshmen. Anyone else fired up for what’s to come!? We are! 🐻⚽️#GoGriz#GrizSoccerpic.twitter.com/3jPe9OYrex
— Montana Griz Soccer 🐻⚽️ (@MontanaGrizSOC) May 2, 2020
Shout outs to you Elizabeth Basile, Reese Elliot, Alejandra Melendez, Meredith Udovich, Josie Windauer, and Camellia Xu. Equal shout outs to the parents, teachers, coaches, family and friends who backed you up throughout the journey.
What’s Next
Wednesday, May 6
Thursday, May 7
Friday, May 8
Saturday, May 9
SC Freiburg v. Bayern Munich. (Okay , probably not, but we’re not giving up hope until Angela Merkel shakes a disapproving finger at the guys before sending them back home)
Corona virus 2019, a sickness that gives a bad cough, an achy body, and a high fever, is all around the world.
It doesn’t care who you are, how old you are, where your family is from or whether or not you can handle it.
It is scary because you can have it and not know. You can pass it along and not know. You can be sick, think it’s something else, and accidentally hurt someone else. That not knowing, that uncertainty makes lots of things you take for granted suddenly uncertain and unsafe.
So, soccer pitches and stadiums, where people sneeze on you, cough near you, or spit in your direction, aren’t as safe as we thought. And to be careful, leagues are postponing or canceling games to keep people safe.
Out of commission
I know it’s the right thing to do, but still, I’m disappointed. I was excited to go back to see the Loons. There was a game in two weeks I thought the whole family could go to. Even as the disease got stronger I thought we could risk it: I’m healthy. You boys are not at risk. We could go, have fun, and be none the worse.
But we shouldn’t even if we could. Even if we’d be okay, we need to do what’s best for the others around us.
Maybe we’d go and nothing would happen. Or maybe one of us would catch it. If we caught it we could get a grandma sick, or we could pass it to a friend who got their grandpa sick, or we could pass it to a friend who could pass it to a neighbor who could get sick. There’s no way to know. And our fun shouldn’t be more important than one one else’s safety.
So, hard as it is to give up our fun. We should do it.
The best view, for now
Each of the 11 clubs we follow is taking a break.
Emelec and FK Vazdovac might be back this weekend (or might not). Freiburg, Punjab FC, Oaxaca, and Grenoble might come back at the start of April. Minnesota and Rosenberg are taking a month delay. Legon Cities, Ross County, and Montana…nobody knows.
The only teams still planning to play (as of now) are Vozdovac, Oaxaca, and Legon Cities. All three of them are also still considering options. But in the mean time we can enjoy them from afar and appreciate their play like we appreciate those who choose not to.
This is our world right now, and these are the people we need to take care of: for good and for ill.
Every time the Staggies start to establish some security they slide back to the bottom. Despite a great run of form by Northern Ireland’s Billy McKay, a pair of predictable defeats undid the miraculous win in Aberdeen
Golukam FC 1 – Punjab FC 1
Indian Arrows 1 – Punjab FC 1
Neroca FC 4 – Punjab FC 3
A poor run of late from the men of Minerva means they’ve slipped to third despite Asier Dipanda’s one man efforts to save the day.
(M) Grenoble Foot 0 – Chateroux 1
Grenoble Foot 0 – Nice 0
(M) Caen 2 – Grenoble Foot 0
Thomson Évian 1 – Grenoble Foot 0
(M) Grenoble Foot 1 – Valenciennes 3
Unfortunately, the ladies of the alps continue to suffer near miss after near miss, and may need to rely on goal difference to avoid the drop. Meanwhile, Shockingly, Grenoble struggled to score and to shut down opponents. (Did I shockingly, I meant predictably) Most exposed: left side defenders Loic Nestor and Jerome Mombis who have been about as useful as as a megaphone for a mime.
(M) SC Freiburg 0 – Fortuna Düsseldorf 2
(M) Borussia Dortmund 1 – SC Freiburg 0
SC Freiburg 2 – MSV Duisburg 2
(M) SC Freiburg 3 – Union Berlin 1
Hoffenheim 4 – SC Freiburg 1
Maddeningly inconsistent, Freiburg’s men remain close but not close enough to qualification for Europe. Meanwhile the women’s fortunes have faded with the inability to get WunderMadchen Klara Bühl integrated in the attack, leaving them safe but far from competitive with the imperious Wolfsburg.
Easily the worst run of form of any team we cover, the red dragons are winless in 2020. Worst they’re sliding ever closer to relegation just in time to face local super club Partizan Belgrade
King Faisal 1 – Legon Cities FC 1
Legon Cities 0 – Eleven Wonders 0
Legon Cities 4 – WAFA 1
Berekum Chelsea 2 – Legon Cities 0
The good news: The Royals got their second win of the season! The bad news: they remain just 5 points clear of relegation and face a long season ahead where no number of Hip-Life Half times can make up for a lackluster team.
While their goal difference would place them 4th, Emelec’s results have them in 10th. It’s worth wondering if the division of attention between the league and the Copa has them dealing with a bit of a hangover in domestic competition.
Jaibos 1 – Alebrijes de Oaxaca 1
Alebrijes de Oaxaca 0 – Correcaminos 0
Cafetaleros 4 – Alebrijes de Oaxaca 1
February was full of heartbreak for Oaxaca who came up winless and could only manage 2 points from a pair of games against sides fighting relegation. Maybe they’re helpless without an in form Daniel Jimenez. Maybe they’re coasting on their apertura title waiting for a promotion playoff to turn it on. But it may be hard to get up for the big game when you’ve been sleepwalking for a month.
Portland Timbers 1 – Minnesota United 3
San Jose Earthquakes 2 – Minnesota United 5
Our local Loons are flying high to start their campaign. Winning twice on the road in convincing fashion to top the table. The wings have helped keep the attack aloft as killer crosses from Ethan Findlay and Kevin Molino have set up new striker Luis Amarilla twice and even put reigning defender of the year Ike Opara in a goal scoring mood.
MacKenzie's Boot Room 