Scores
Rosenborg BK 0 – 0 FK Haugesund [M]
To be fair, this game might have been a little dull, but it probably didn’t help that the women’s team was kicking off an hour later less than a block away. The guys were probably distracted.
Rosenborg BK 2 – 1 Klepp [F]
A late equalizer from Klepp nearly undid the Rosenborg winning streak and unravelled the home side’s dominance. But, cometh the hour, cometh the Utland, and Lisa-Marie (making a rare substitution appearance) netted the winner just moments later
CS Emelec 3 – 1 Carneras UPS [F]
Kerlly Corozo hit the back of the net twice on both a rebound and a header for an opportunistic brace that also gave Las Electricas a vital come from behind win. More of this please!
Minnesota United 2 – 2 San Jose Earthquakes
This was it, our first live sports outing since the fall of 2019. Your mom did not like the crowds, and I really only felt comfortable once I was seated and savoring the match. But it truly felt great to be surrounded by other people, screaming, shouting and singing when Brent Kallman scored from his impossible angle. (I also left very impressed with the dynamic Niko Hansen, stalwart Michael Boxall, and endlessly inventive Bebelo. We left before the Loons went ahead (and long before they were thwarted with a draw), but it was all worth it.
Legon Cities FC 1 – 1 Bechem United
Again the Royals attack gave their opposing goalie a chance to shine. Jonah Attaquye’s opener set the tone, but not the standard with a flurry of chances again going lacking. A late kerfuffle resulted in captain Michael Empedu being shown a red card for…uh…being animated? We’ll have to wait to see how his absence affects the end of the campaign.
Odd 2 – 2 Rosenborg BK [M]
In a not remotely shocking turn of events, Kristoffer Zachariassen was named man of the match and notched a goal in his return to the midfield. (It seems as though Alexander Tetty pushes the build up into the middle of the field but the Rosenborg strengths are in finishing wide crosses…so something’s gotta give.) A late equalizer keeps the boys’ winless spiral a spinning with top 4 side Kristiansund and an attempt to get into European competitions next on the docket.
Valerenga 1 – 2 Rosenborg BK [F]
This one was sweet. Having gone unbeaten last year but still losing the title on goal difference to Oslo’s Valerenga, this time the Trolljenta topped another great team and boosted themselves into sole possession of first place with their 7th straight win. It wasn’t easy, in fact it took a pair of late goals and a stunning Rugile Rulyte penalty save to save them from their first defeat since becoming part of the RBK family. But those late goals weren’t just redemptive, they were the last step to dominance.
News & Notes
Happy Times for Hasani
I mean c’mon, this is awesome.
New Staggie Squadies
With the Scottish Cup set to kick off this week, Ross County has done a little more work in replacing some of the long standing fixtures of the side. So it’s tioriadh to Gardyne, Vigurs, and Draper; Halo to Ross Callachan, Dominic Samuel, Jake Vokins and Alexander Robertson. Callachan and Samuel have multi-year deals so here’s hoping that they provide what the forerunners did. Meanwhile Vokins and Robertson have headed north on loan deals from Premier League clubs Southhampton and Manchester City….yes…League Champion, global legend coach Pep Guardiola…Man City…it’s probably a bit early to be banking on the young men to dominate all of Scotland, but we’re here for it.
A Non-McConaughey reason to cheer for Austin FC
Look, we get it, Academy Award winner/bongo music enthusiast Matthew McConaughey is a bit of an attraction for the more indifferent soccer fans in the weirdest city in Texas. But, just a week after leaving Minnesota for the last time this season, the green and black of Austin announced the signing of Grenoble attacker and one of our local favorites Moussa Kailou Djitte. It has not been established if McConaughey himself spoke to Djitte, but we hope that Moussa greets him with “d’accord…d’accord…d’accord…” (ahh…weird French translations of meme’d McConaughey lines).
Player of the Week
Much as the softies in us want to give it to Hasani Dotson for proposing, you can’t deny a vital brace from veteran striker Kerlly Corozo to boost Emelec’s chances by beating the second place team in their division.
Standings Update
It is a log jam in the middle of the table with Legon, Freiburg, Ross County, and Minnesota separated by 2 hundreths of a point per game (and in some cases, only by goal difference). The Staggies will kick off again soon while the Royals are about to draw the curtain on this campaign, while we’re officially half way through the year there’s still a lot to play for.
| Team | W | D | L | PPG | GFA | GAA |
| University of Montana–b | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 |
| Rosenborg BK | 11 | 4 | 4 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
| Emelec | 16 | 6 | 8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| Grenoble Foot-b | 10 | 7 | 8 | 1.48 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| Punjab FC–b | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1.47 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Legon Cities | 10 | 6 | 8 | 1.38 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Freiburg–b | 12 | 4 | 13 | 1.38 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Ross County | 8 | 2 | 9 | 1.37 | 1.3 | 1.5 |
| Minnesota United | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1.36 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Alebrijes-b | 4 | 7 | 6 | 1.12 | 1.4 | 2.1 |
| FK Vozdovac–b | 5 | 6 | 9 | 1.05 | 0.9 | 1.6 |
b–Team is between seasons
What’s Next
Wednesday, July 7th
Colorado v. Minnesota United
Thursday, July 8th
Friday, July 9th
Saturday, July 10th
Forfar Athletic v. Ross County [Cup]
Lyn Fotball v. Rosenborg BK [F]
Rosenborg BK v. Kristiansund [M]
CS Emelec v. Tecnico Universtario [F]
Sunday, July 11th
Elmina Sharks v. Legon Cities FC
MacKenzie's Boot Room 