Week 23: Dominance

Week 23: Dominance

Scores

Legon Cities 2 – 1 Uncle T United [Cup]

It took a little bit, but the Royals took the win at home over Uncle T. Richmond Antwi had to shoulder the load with both strong runs and a booming shot from outside the box in order to overcome the lower tier side. But a win’s a win and progress is progress. And HEY! Asamoah Gyan was on the pitch for 30 whole minutes!

Deportiva Cuenca 6 – 0 Emelec [F]

This would be one of those times I’m ok NOT seeing highlights. Oof…

Arna-Bjornar 0 – 2 Rosenborg [F]

Rosenborg’s ladies’ side remains defensively perfect this season and unbeaten in their entire league history. Again Lisa Marie Utland and Julie Blakstad drove the attack but credit also goes to Kristine Nøstmo on her third straight shutout.

SC Freiburg 5 – 0 Meppen [F]

Meppen needed a win to have a chance at avoiding relegation. Freiburg did not oblige. the onslaught started quickly with Janina Minge. Rebecca Knaak, Sandra Starke, and Marie Muller, quickly followed and Meppen’s hopes were truly dashed

Legon Cities 1 – 0 Inter Allies

The Royals have finally found their form, winning their third straight this time courtesy of Cephas Doku’s looping header, didn’t hurt that Inter Allies is sitting at the bottom of the table, but they all get you three points. We saw the return of Fatua Duda in replacing Sylvester Sackey after an ugly injury early on in the match. Duda’s return was…adventurous…but effective none the less.

News & Notes

Minnesota Grows the Game

There will be a new team in our community next spring, as Minnesota welcomes a pre-professional women’s league. The team will be led by a women’s ownership group, and aim to create an inclusive and equitable organization. It will not officially be linked to Minnesota United, but as we want to include the top talents in the local areas around each side, we’ll be happy to include them in next year’s boot room. (Even more so if they look to the west and see just how awesome University of Montana players are….dare we dream of a Mimi Eiden Homecoming?!?)

International Affairs Update

While most of our teams are out of action, we can bring a few updates from a few players who saw the field in international matches this week.

Asian World Cup Qualifiers
We don’t get a lot of traffic from China anyway…

Kiran Limbu Chempjong pitched a shutout against Taiwan (unless you’re a foolish autocratic Winnie the Pooh look a like, in which case he did it to “Chinese Taipei”). But he ceded 3 goals to Jordan. So…a mixed bag as befits Nepal’s standing in Asia.

Chang Hoon Kwon had a stellar showing in South Koreas win over Turkmenistan. A goal an assist and a heap of great passes made him man of the match.

North American World Cup Qualifiers

Dayne St. Clair kept a clean sheet in another drubbing for the Canucks (It did help that opponents Aruba didn’t get a shot off).

South American CopaAmerica

In the last tune up qualifiers before the Copa America neither Pedro Ortiz nor Dixon Arroyo saw the field.

European Euro Championships

Most Euro teams are in their final tune ups for the big tournament, but Kristoffer Zacharriassen did make his debut for Norway’s national team in a match with no impact on anything. Hopefully he can influence events a littl emore soon. Meanwhile Jakku Raitalta turned in a good showing in a discouraging loss for Finland (dropping to lowly Estonia isn’t going to boost much confidence, I’m afraid). Jan Gregus and Phillip Leinhart battled to a draw in Austria and Slovakia’s warm up. Meanwhile Christian Gunter was a substitute for Germany in both of their games, while Ermedin Demirovic was wrapped up without a shot on goal in Bosnia’s match with Denmark,

Player of the Week

We are unabashed Rosenborg fans here, and as Lisa-Marie Utland continues the thrilling showings of excellent and dominant performances by Troll Jenta attackers. She’s been in superb form to start the season, and she is our player of the week (shown here hoisting long time Boot Room Fav Julie Blakstad up for a hug)

Blakstad and Utland…Bravissimo (from @RosenborgKvinner on Instagram)

Standings Update

Freiburg’s women’s side took their season bow this week, putting another team in the clubhouse for the time being. More substantially, Rosenborg continues their quest to repeat as champions closing the gap on the Griz at the top of the standings and Legon Cities leaps up again to fourth place

TeamWDLPPGGFAGAA
University of Montana–b9022.52.10.6
Rosenborg BK7212.32.61.1
Emelec14571.81.51.2
Legon Cities–b10571.61.30.8
Grenoble Foot-b10781.481.21.1
Punjab FC–b7461.471.20.9
Freiburg–b124131.381.71.6
Ross County–b8291.371.31.5
Alebrijes-b4761.121.42.1
FK Vozdovac–b5691.050.91.6
Minnesota United2141.000.91.6
Table Updated 6/8/21
b–Team is between seasons

What’s Next

Wednesday, June 9th

Thursday, June 10th

Friday, June 11th

Saturday, June 12th

Emelec v. Barcelona SC [F]

Sunday, June 13th

Karela United v. Legon Cities FC

Stromsogodset v. Rosenborg BK [M]

Monday, June 14th

Tuesday, June 15th

Weeks 35 AND 36: Teaching and Writing are Uncomfortable Bedfellows

Weeks 35 AND 36: Teaching and Writing are Uncomfortable Bedfellows

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 (W)

Rosenborg BK 4 – 2 Breidablik (M-E)

Rosenborg BK 1 – 1 Arna Bjornar (W)

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.

Ross County’s Return to Earth

Livingston 1 – 0 Ross County

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)

What’s Next

Tuesday, September 8th

Wednesday, September 9th

7:00 Minnesota United – FC Dallas

Thursday, September 10th

Friday, September 11th

5:30 Alebrijes v. Tlaxcala FC

Saturday, September 12th

8:00 Rosenborg v. Roa ( W )

9:00 Ross County v. Celtic

12:00 Chambly v. Grenoble

1:00 FK Vozdovac v. FK Metalac

6:30 Olmedo v. Emelec

Sunday, September 13th

7:00 SC Sand v. SC Freiburg [W]

11:00 Stromsgodset v. Rosenborg

11:30 Waldof Mannheim v. Freiburg (M-C)

7:30 Sporting KC v. Minnesota

Monday, September 14th

Tuesday, September 15th