Results & Recaps
Dorados 2 – 1 Alebrijes
A rough year only got tougher for Oaxaca. Memories of a dominant 2019 campaign are long gone. And they must be grateful relegation is cancelled for four more years.
Montana Grizzlies 5 – 0 Texas Southern Wildcats
The Griz got back to winning ways against an admittedly weaker opponent. Taylor Hansen (2 assists, 1 goal) seems determined to dominate the game like the bicep flexing badass she is.
Freiburg 1 – 1 Koln [M]
Freiburg was fortunate to snatch another point despite their most lackluster showing of the season. Sometimes you’re good, sometimes you’re lucky. Both are valuable.
Celtic 3 – 0 Ross County
For 65 minutes it looked like County might continue to shock the Hoops. then the dam burst, and it was your typical Scottish smack down.
Grenoble 2 – 1 Nimes [M]
Les Grenobloises are down to a smattering of last year’s core. Fortunately sometimes a smattering still does the trick (like with brown sugar on oatmeal or applause and my ego). Credit to Maumadou Diallo for being the offense this week and Loic Nestor for continuing to be a boss at the back.
Bayern Munich 4 – 0 Freiburg [F]
We’re only three weeks into the season, but the Frauen auf Freiburg have gotten no points and no offense since Hasret Kayicki’s first week goal.
Seattle Sounders 1 – 0 Minnesota United
I had hoped we could watch a Lions win while cleaning the house. Instead you (rightly) demanded to play outside and the Loons looked to annoyed to capitalize on their chances. Adrien Honou continues to miss golden chances, and when professional troublemaker Ozzie Alonso is the voice of calm…you’re struggling to get it together.
Radnicki Nis 1 – 0 Vozdovac
The Red Dragons lost their three game winning streak on Sunday. But as 3 of their 4 wins this year have come from the bottom four teams of the table, there’s still reason to be cautious in praising coach Pedrag Rogan’s team or dismissing this as a one off.
Rosenborg 3 – 2 Tromso [M]
The Black and white looked to be on cruise control early on with Noah Holm and Emil Ceide running riot. But Tromso equalized through a pair of hopeful long balls and defensive confuzzlement. However the second line offense provided by substitutes Stefano Vecchia and Carlo Holse continued to threaten until they connected on the headed match winner late in injury time. It wasn’t quite as triumphant as it felt early on
LDU Quito v. Emelec
Postponed…see note below
Yzeure Allier 0 – 1 Grenoble [F]
Make it two from two for les grenobloises. Again it was one goal that made the difference, but this week the honors go to Andrea Commper Banguillot. The win on the road has put the alpiners on top of their division two group, ahead of a big visit from historic side Olympique Marseille in a few weeks.
Montana Grizzlies 1 – 0 Boise State Mustangs
And that’s why you don’t schedule cupcakes. Coach Chris Citkowski was validated in his choice to put the Griz up against some of the best programs west of the Mississippi this season by notching a signature victory, better still it was young talents leading the way. Camilla Xu has stepped up in goal to be a tough nut to crack in front of goal (all this as a redshirt freshman). While true freshmen (ie kids I could have taught in quarantine last year), Bella O’Brien and Delaney Lou Schorr connected to notch the goal against one of the top teams in the Mountain West. [Hat tip to the controlling defense of upperclassmen Caitlin Rogers and Allie Larsen and to Tommy Marino for the photo we used to head this post.]
Alebrijes 2 – 1 Mineros
The Oaxacans got their first win of the season! [Insert trumpet noises here]. It took a bit of doing, including a fortunate flick of the head by Josue Gomez, and a last minute winner for Jaidivert Hurtardo. But a win is a win and leaping up several spots in the standings is always welcome.
News & Notes
Alex 0 – 3 Playground Kid
I’m sorry to put you on blast big A but your little playmate, Lily, absolutely worked you. She ran on to every ball in space (and yes she did scoop it up and run with it like a football while you tried to explain how to play…but toddler rules are toddler rules man). It’s rough after you owned a six year old this summer, but hey like we say: girls are good.
No pay, no play
Emelec isn’t unbeatable, but they do have odds in their favor coming in to the end of the Ecuadorian league. But even they can’t win when referees aren’t able to call the game. Since the Ecuadorian federation hasn’t paid the referees in the local league for two weeks, the “arbitros” went on a mini-strike, affecting the premier game of the weekend.
Obviously, we would like to see Emelec continue to dominate the game. But we’d rather people get paid what they are owed. Go ahead Ecuadorian refs, get what you deserve.
Player of the Week
Keeping the tiny trophy of our imaginations in the Alps, let’s pay some respect to Loic Nestor who has had to step up in a major way to keep Grenoble something close to afloat, and helped deliver a vital victory this last weekend (not to mention the ones he helped with during the last campaign).
Standings Update
One great week was all Grenoble needed to leap up four spots (it helped that a few other teams slipped up on the same week, but the middle table remains a tough battle.
| Team | W | D | L | PPG | GFA | GAA |
| Rosenborg BK | 26 | 4 | 10 | 2.05 | 2.5 | 1.2 |
| University of Montana | 12 | 0 | 6 | 2.00 | 1.8 | 0.8 |
| Emelec | 22 | 9 | 10 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| Punjab FC–b | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1.471 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Grenoble Foot | 14 | 8 | 2 | 1.471 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Minnesota United | 8 | 7 | 7 | 1.41 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Legon Cities–b | 11 | 6 | 11 | 1.39 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
| Freiburg | 15 | 6 | 16 | 1.38 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| FK Vozdovac | 9 | 6 | 12 | 1.22 | 1.0 | 1.5 |
| Ross County | 10 | 4 | 14 | 1.21 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| Alebrijes | 4 | 10 | 8 | 1.00 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
b–Team is between seasons
What’s Next
Wednesday, September 15th
Spotting KC v Minnesota United
Thursday, September 16th
California State Long Beach v. Montana Grizzlies
Friday, September 17th
Saturday, September 18th
Toulouse v Grenoble [M]
Mainz v Freiburg [M]
Ross County v Hearts
Vozdovac v FK Radnicki 1923
Minnesota v LA Galaxy
Sunday, September 19th
Sarpsborg 08 v. Rosenborg [M]
Emelec v. Universidad Catolica
Monday, September 20th
Tuesday, September 21st
Grenoble v. Nancy [M]
MacKenzie's Boot Room 