Tag: Aluminij

’10 to Track’ soccer matches for Saturday (9/15) – the most footyball ever covered on Noob

“The ten most important matches to follow, for us – the newish American fans of the global game”.  Oh ho, Noob’s cheating today.

The list of the previews-proper are still ten   But we’re directly acknowledging three times as many Track-worthy matches today!

Gorge, Noobites.  Feeeast!!

  1. Portland Thorns vs. Seattle Reign – National Women’s Soccer League Playoffs

At last, the postseason!  These are the #B and #3 seeds of the four teams participating.

In their last match of the regular season, Portland beat Seattle to secure their runner-up status.  Their reward is getting to host today’s one-off.  There will be no return trip to Seattle.  The other two times they met in 2018, the matches were in Seattle, which won them both.

Portland is the more offensively-minded group by far, will look to push the pace hard.  The most likely names to see pairing up for scores are Lindsey Horan and Tobin Heath, second and first in league goals and assists, respectively.

For Seattle, their defensive player of the year Rebekah Scott will have her hands full.   She plays outside back, a position from which she can often feed their offensive threat, Megan Rapinoe.  Noob’s not sure she’ll be anything but pinned back on defense today though.   (3:00 PM EST, Lifetime)

RESULT:   Portland   2-1       Horan and Heath each scored.  

B.  FC Dallas vs. Columbus Crew – Major League Soccer

This is just one of three Track-worthy MLS matches on the day.  Noob’s highlighting this one for a couple reasons.

First – Dallas are still #1 in the Western Conference, having wrested the spot away from Kansas City midseason.  Surprising – their play has been incredibly spotty.  They just had a nice home win over rivals Houston last match, yet have lost twice to San Jose since August.  (The ‘Quakes can’t beat almost anyone else.  Ever.)  The offense and defense both come and go.

Second – how much longer will Noob get to type “Columbus Crew” without it being an historical reference?  Their ownership moving them to Austin is hardly a done deal, but it remains a likelihood.

As for their current season, they’re #4 in the East with plenty of table-space above and below.  They just got a big confidence boost taking down #3 NYCFC.  Noob wonders if they might night find today’s a trap game of sorts.    (8:00 PM, ESPN+)

Other MLS matches:   *Philadelphia Union vs. Montreal Impact – The East’s #5 and #6 fight to stay there, the conference’s final playoff spots;  *Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Seattle Sounders – the West’s #6 and #7, separated by one little point in the table.  Seattle have won eight straight.

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Yes, Number B.  You got to feature three matches.

And so three of you.  Well-done.

  1. CF America vs. Monarcas Morelia – Liga MX

It warms the cockles of a Noob-heart to see Morelia struggling.   While I feel far more strongly anti-royalty with American-named clubs than Mexico, there’s still no kings and queens in N.A.  Foolishness!  Go, CFA!

Club America are in a four-way tie for 3rd place at nearly the halfway point here in the Apertura (first half-season).  They’re the strongest of them, too, in goal differential and INHO.  They’d been struggling a touch, but a trip to lowly Lobos BUAP was just what was needed last match (0-2 win).

Morelia hasn’t won in a month.  Their defense makes the sad.   (8:00 PM, Univision)

Other Mexican matches of note:   *Pumas UNAM vs. Tijuana  — in Liga MX Femenil, Pumas are #4 in their Group.  Top two from each will make the playoffs.  They’re in the mix, but the least of the best there.   Tijuana are in 6th;   Zacatecas vs. Atlante – second-division Ascenso MX #1 and #3.

RESULT:   CF America   2-1

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Credit to Dan – the former Intern-o Inferno – for showing us just how lowly BUAP truly is.

  1. Tottenham Sir Topham Hatt Hotspur vs. Liverpool – English Premier League

Last year’s #3 and #4 face off.

Liverpool have won all four of their early matches this season, though the toughest team they’ve faced is probably Leicester (meh).   Hotspur thrashed Man Utd – on the road, no less – then turned right around and threw it away with a loss to Watford.  They’re both likely to be in the title chase for a while, contend for top-four finishes, Champions League berths.

Since it’s a new season, allow Noob to explain to less-tenured Noobites about the strikethrough.   Tottenham Hotspur is named for Harry “Hotspur” Percy.  He was an historic traitor, flipflopping multiple times with his loyalties.  He was a scalawag and ne’er-do-well and Noob will carry no truck with such!

Good thing that didn’t get weird at the end…   (7:30 AM, NBCSN)\

RESULT:   Liverpool   1-2

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Shewsbury – the site of Percy’s death by arrow – is hallowed ground 

  1. 1 de Agosto vs. TP Mazembe – CAF Champions League

This is the first leg of a Quarterfinal tie.

Angola’s representative host first.   Their domestic league is on the rise, looks to jump from 17th to a top-10 spot in the African rankings next year.  TP Mazembe plays out of DR Congo’s top league, #3-best in Africa.  1dG would be doing well to get a draw at home.  To have a chance at advancing, they’ll have to.

Today’s other QF:   Esperance vs. Etoile du Sahel – Tunisia’s two best clubs face off.  They don’t keep them apart in the draws there I guess.  They’re both a lot better than the two featured teams above.

RESULT:   0-0

  1. FC Olexandria vs. Shakhtar Donetsk – Ukraine Premier

Ukraine’s top flight have climbed to #8 among domestic league in Europe.  Noobites should know something about this bunch.  We feature matches from their frequently.

And so, welcome to the Track, FCO!   Almost 100% sure this is the first time they’ve been featured.   They were mid-table all last season.  Seven matches into 2018-19, they’re #B.  But the current and historic #1 comes to town today to test their mettle.    Shakhtar average 2.5 goals a match, roughly.

Other top #1-#B UEFA matchups:  *Slovan Bratislava vs. Dunajska Streda — #1 hosts #B in what should be a shootout in Slovakia’s Super Liga;  Ferencvaros vs. Budapest Honved — #1 hosts #B in the Hungarian NB 1.  Honved will try and slow down the only team in the league averaging over two goals per match.

RESULT:   Donetsk   0-2

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No, FC Olexandria – Noob applauds YOU for being Track-worthy

  1. Stjarnan vs. Breioablik – Iceland FA Cup

Their league might not be even as highly-rated as the honorable mentions in Track match #6, but Noob’s always down for a Cup Final!

A question plaguing Noob is:  how much do these clubs care about the FA Cup?   It can be legitimately asked anywhere, at least by those of us who are truly noob.  Nowhere have I heard or read thy’re considered anything but a moderate to distant second in importance to the league title.

It’s especially relevant here, as Iceland’s Urvalsdeild league gets only one Champions League invite and these two are #B and #3.  Stjarnan, in fact, is just a point behind league-leaders Valur.  Will they play all starters in pursuit of this trophy, or save energy for the home stretch of their league season?

Today’s championship match is at the National Stadium in Reykjavik.  If they’re both playing full strength, Stjarnan have to be considered at last a 3:2 fave to win in regulation.

RESULT:   Stjarnan   0-0  /  4-1   pens

  1. Santa Gema vs. Independiente – Panama Football League

Noob’s been making a concerted effort here during the second year of this site to pay greater attention to all CONCACAF leagues.  And #1-#B matches shine like the sun.   This is one!

If the current pattern holds, this league is going to have one heckuva title race in 2018-19.   They’re just a few matches in, but good golly these teams end their matches in lots of draws!   Noob’s not sure if the league as a whole lacks offensive talent or if the general strategy employed there is defense.  Either way, they don’t see a ton of goals.

Saint Gema are the only undefeated team remaining, but have won just four of seven.  Independiente trail them by three points in the table.

RESULT:   Independiente    0-2       And we have a new #1!

The other #1-#B CONCACAF matchup:  *Fruta Conquerors vs. Guyana Defense Force – Guyana’s GFF Elite League – The Conquerors have an outrageous 48-5 GD.  Still, halfway through the season, they lead GDF by just five in the table.

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Noob just said CONCACAF leagues are getting more attention here.  

Warning unwarranted.

  1. Kawasaki Frontale vs. Consadole Sapporo – Japan J1 League

The defending champs from Kawasaki are #B now, 2/3 of the way through the 2018 season.  Even so, they’re way off Hiroshima’s pace.

Sapporo were below mid-table last year, have improved mightily to be the current #4.  Last season, that would’ve been good enough to get them into the AFC Champions League.  Not this year.  Just the top three now.

Noob’s uncertain if the AFC is distributing more bids to lower-ranked countries’ leagues now, or if J1 League lost a slot due to a drop in confederation ranking.  Regardless, Sapporo need to play far better defense if they want to be in any postseason discussion.

RESULT:   Kawasaki   7-0    not a typo

Before we hit #10, Noob’s including some Honorable Mention matches.  Every one one of them involves two teams in the top quarter (or top three) of their leagues (at least as of five days ago), or there are specific playoff implications:

*USL – conference #2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. #4 Louisville FC, plus #6 Swope Park Rangers vs. #9 Saint Louis FC;  Poland Ekstraklasa — Wisla Krakow vs. Lechia Gdansik was a #1 vs. #B when scouted a few days ago, but two teams which have played an extra match leapfrogged W.K.;  English Football Championship — #6 Bristol City and #3 Sheffield United would be in the second-divisions Promotion playoff tournament were the season over today.

Belgium First Division A — #B Genk vs. #3 Anderlecht;  Norway Eliteserien – #B FK Haugesund vs. #3 Brann;  Belarus Premier – #4 Shakhtyor Soligorsk vs. #3 Dinamo Minsk;  Slovenia Prva Liga — #B Aluminij vs. #3 Gorica;  Uruguay Primera – #B Nacional vs. #3 Montevideo Wanderers; two other Cup tournaments in early action include Portugal’s Taca de Liga and the Swiss FA Cup.

  1. Maldives vs. India – SAFF Championship

The Final!

Asia’s continental football confederation also has several sub-associations.  The South Asian Football Federation holds a Championship every other year.  It’s a standalone event for the current seven member nations, meaning it has no effect on qualifying for any other tournaments.

These are national teams that just aren’t going to see much of any success in most any other field of play.  Three of the seven are in the bottom ten in all Asia.  Two are the very bottom.  Our Finalists are the most-highly ranked in the world, just #150 and #96.  India would be even better, but.  You know.  Cricket.

RESULT:   Maldives   2-1    Upset city!

Image result for Dhaka weirdThey’ve been hosting this tournament Dhaka, Blangadesh.

Come back, Bear Grylls!

’10 to Track’ soccer matches Midweek Edition (5/29-31) – Top American leagues, World Cup calisthenics

The American league seasons are at about there 1/3 marks, things starting to feel more pressured.  National teams are warming up for the World Cup.  It’s going to be an extraordinary soccer summer!

The ten best matches to follow for us – the newish American fans of the global game.  Perfect little previews, more than a little inanity – stroke them like a villain would his cat.  *purr*

(Note:  Enjoy Thursday off.  Play some ping pong or something.)

Tuesday, 5/29

  1. Portland Thorns vs. North Carolina Courage – NWSL

Jessica McDonald.  Crystal Alyssia Dunn.   Even at home, good luck stopping this high-scoring duo, Thorns.  They’ve got four goals apiece, which ties them both for 3rd in the league after ten matches.  NCC haven’t lost because no one can stop both.

Portland sit in in 4th place, and have won two straight matches.  But those wins have come against expansion Utah and lowly Houston.  Today is more than a step up in level.

RESULT:   NC   1-4

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“We are still undefeated and we are going OUT!”

B.  Real Monarchs SLC vs. Sacramento Republic – USL

The Western Conference and league leader hosts #4 Sacramento in your American undercard today.  RMSLC had won four in a row before losing to #B Portland II in their last match.

Sacramento have won two in a row.  The Republic may well be a playoff-caliber team, but Noob thinks they’ve overachieved to this point, have weaknesses on both sides of the ball that will cost them big today.

RESULT:   Monarchs   1-0

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Number B, consoling a young Sacramento fan.

  1. Panama vs. Northern Ireland – friendly

You might recall that it was Panama that claimed the final CONCACAF berth into World Cup ahead of ‘Muricuh.  They are the ranked just the 55th-best men’s national team in the world, and Panama is the smallest country by population to every qualify for WC.

Northern Ireland rank a surprising-to-Noob 27th, so this is a good tuneup match for Panama.

RESULT:   0-0

  1. Peru vs. Scotland – friendly

World #11 hosts #44 in Peru’s warmup for WC.  Fans of South American football will be catching this on In Demand PPVHD (unpaid plug, just informational) at 9:00 PM Eastern.

RESULT:   Peru   2-0

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Easy, cowboy!    Trying to get some sponsorship here.

  1. Argentina vs. Haiti – friendly

Srsly, Argentina?  (7:00 PM, beIN Sports)  And you can watch the carnage on the teevee.  Heaven help us.

Argentina, Noob has not picked a rooting interest for World Cup yet.  But if that happens, it won’t be you!  They’re not even in the top 100 in the world.  Pick on someone your own size.   Noob shakes his fist at you!

RESULT:    Argentina   4-0

Wedesnesday, 5/30

  1. New England Revolution vs. Atlanta United – MLS

New England are in 6th, which will be good for the last playoff berth at season’s end.  But there’s more than half the season to go, and the Rev have been fading in May.

Atlanta have lost two of three and fallen into a first-place tie with Columbus in the East.  The losses have come to a good Red Bulls side and the West’s #1 (KC).  But they were home matches.  Noob’s having a tough time reading this bunch.

If Atlanta are to get back into form, look for a big game from forward Josef Martinez.  He was a finalist for Newcomer of the Year in MLS last season.  The 25 year-old Venezuelan has scored eight goals, leads ATL.  Noob wonders if he’d be in a European league if he were more than 5’7”, about 150 lbs.

RESULT:   1-1      Josef Martinez did get a goal.  But the Rev made a penalty kick at 88′ to earn the draw.

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Actual, current photo of Josef Martinez.

The Management:  I’m going to beat you.

*snortlaugh*

  1. Indy Eleven vs. Charleston Battery – USL

Indy Eleven have lost three straight matches.  Two were in the league, and one was to PDSL (fourth-tier) Mississippi Brilla, a Christian ministry team.

3rd-place Charleston haven’t allowed multiple goals in a single game all season.  They will be looking to kick Indy while they’re down, make a move on Cinci and Louisville in the East Division.

RESULT:   3-3    Both teams scored in the 90′.

  1. Austria vs. Russia – friendly

Russia hit the road for a World Cup tuneup.  They’re only the 66th-ranked team in the world, qualify as the host nation.  They are likely to get a tough lesson today in how things will go in the coming weeks.  Austria didn’t qualify for WC, but they’re the far better side, ranked #27 worldwide.

RESULT:   Austria   1-0

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It’s going to be a weird, wild World Cup.

  1. Japan vs. Ghana – friendly

WC warm-up.  Japan qualified, are ranked 60th in the world.  FIFA puts Ghana at 50th.  The visitors today had qualified for World Cup three straight times before missing this year.

RESULT:   Ghana   0-2

  1. Aluminij vs. Olimpija Ljubljana – Slovenia FA Cup

The Final!  Despite being listed second, this match is in Ljubljana.

O.L. won the Prva Liga, tying with Maribor on points, winning the title on head-to-head goals tiebreaker.  Now they play for the double against a weak Aluminij side.  They finished third-to-last in the league, just avoiding Relegation.

RESULT:   Ljubljana   1-6

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So long from Ljubljana!

Where they know how to do stag parties proper…

’10 to Track’ soccer matches for Tuesday, 4/3 – Champions Leagues galore

Midweek schedules are all about the Cups, and this one is going to be a humdinger.   Champions Leagues on three continents are repped today

0.  Toronto vs. CF America – CONCACAF Champions League (posted day of, edit)

Noob truly lives up to his name.  I knew this match was today, but inadvertently deleted it from some notes.  Mea culpa, Noobites.

Toronto would be doing well to even get a draw at home against CFA.  I;ll be pulling for the Canadiaian club, sure, but going to Mexico tied with a puncher’s chance of winning and moving on to the tournament Final would be cool.  (8:00 PM Eastern, Univision Deportes)

RESULT:   Toronto   3-1

  1.  Juventus vs. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League

Juve haven’t loss a match in any competition since last November.  Still, the Serie A title race has been and remains close.  So it will be interesting to see how much they have in the tank for this first leg-Quarterfinal match.

Real Madrid might be in better shape.   They’re in 3rd in La Liga now, have opened up a huge gap between themselves and any challengers for one of the league’s four Champions league slots for next year (and have no shot at 1st).  It’s easier to imagine they’ve paced themselves in preparation for a title run here.  (2:45 PM, FS1)

RESULT:   Real   0-3     Noob posted in multiple places on the Tweeterbox(@SoccerNoobUSA) that Real would win 0-6.  Half right!

Image result for champions league is back tonight

B.  Sevilla vs. Bayern Munich – UEFA Champions League

Did you watch Bayern throttle Borussia Dortmund 6-0 this weekend?  Dortmund’s near the top of the Bundesliga table.  Bayern will lay waste to Sevilla, who aren’t much about average in La Liga this year.   (2:45 PM, ESPN Deportes)

RESULT:   Bayern   1-2

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German Gothic font, Number B – so edgy

  1. Libertad vs. The Strongest – Copa Libertadores

These two each won their first and only game of the Group Stage so far in South America’s Champions League.  The Paraguayan home side is better on paper.  Will the power of Bolivia’s super-douchey club name carry them through?  Here’s to hoping not.

RESULT:   Libertad   3-0

  1. Universidad de Chile vs. Racing Club – Copa Libertadores

The top two from each group of four will advance to the Knockout Stage.  These two also won their first Group matches.  Argentina’s Racing Club is the most accomplished of these four featured today.  UdC would be doing well to get a draw, even at home.

RESULT:   1-1

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Back in ’67, Racing Club stars had hot dog thighs.

  1. Al-Garrafa vs. Al-Jazira – AFC Champions League

They’ve played four of the six matches of the Group Stage in Asia.  The top two from each four will advance to the Knockout Stage.  These two are tied for #B.  Al-Jazira (UAE) won the first match with Garrafa (Qatar) 3-2.

RESULT:   Al-Jazira   2-3     High drama!   Someone for Garrafa got a second yellow (and so a red, and booted) in the 90′.  Then someone from Al-Jazira got the go-ahead goal that same minute.

  1. Crusaders vs. Coleraine – Northern Ireland Premier

This league is a two-horse race, and these are the steeds, heading down the home stretch.  Only one can advance from here to next year’s Champions League.  Crusaders lead by two points.  Best offense vs. best defense.  A win here at home and they can perhaps begin chilling the champagne.

RESULT:   1-1

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Umm…

  1. Gornick Zabrze vs. Legia Warsaw – Poland FA Cup

This is the first leg of a Semifinal, pitting the 4th and 3rd-place top-league teams.  Zabrze can score in bunches, should head to Warsaw with a lead in the tie.

RESULT:   1-1

  1. Gorica vs. Aluminij – Slovenia FA Cup

This is also the first leg of a Semfinal.  Aluminij could be forgiven for not putting all their eggs in this basket, as they’re only one slot above having to play in the league’s the Relegation Playout.  Gorica are a middling, 6th-place side.

RESULT:   Aluminij   1-2

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Umm, Part Two…

  1. Ruzomberok vs. Zilina – Slovakia FA Cup

Not even sure if this is a one-off or a two-legged tie.  But it is a Semifinal.  These are the 6th and 4th-place teams form the country’s top league.

RESULT:   Ruzomberok   2-1

  1. Debrecen vs. Budapest Honved – Hungary FA Cup

4th and 5th-place teams from Hungary’s top-flight league.  This is the second match of a two-legged Quarterfinal tie.  Leg One went scoreless.

RESULT:   Debrecen   3-1

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Debrecen – come for the footyball, stick around for the Bela Bartok Choir Competition