Tag: Bulgarian First Professional League

’10 to Track’ Saturday (10/20) soccer matches – USL Playoffs, Liga MX, Premier League lead the way

When I became a man I put away childish things – 1 Corinthians 13:11

Noob spends a lot of the week on nuttiness.  That doesn’t change on weekends.  But today’s ‘ten most important matches to follow, for us – the newish American fans of the global game’ gets at least comparatively serious.

Today’s matches are a cavalcade of wonder and quality.   Feast.  Feast!!

  1. Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Bethlehem Steel – United Soccer League Playoffs

Except for one match from yesterday, all the opening Round of 16 matches are being played today.  The format is knockout – no home and away series.  Noob’s selected this one because intrastate rivalry adds an extra layer of fun.

They are the #3 and #6 seeds, respectively.  Noob as a hard time necessarily saying Pittsburgh are the “best” defense in the league.   They allowed the fewest goals all season, so it’s quite possible.  But they didn’t score much compared to their postseason-qualifying peers.

Noob’s calling for the upset today!   I don’t believe in the small ball-strategy teams like the Riverhounds try to stand on.  Yes, it’s served them well this season.  But Noob thinks more balanced teams reign in crunch time.  In the Eastern Conference, no team was more balanced than Bethlehem.

I believe all the playoff matches are available online via ESPN+ (7:00 PM EST).

RESULT:   Bethlehem   2-2  /  7-8   pk

Image result for zoolander bethlehem steel

 

With Stiller’s help, Bethlehem are ready to let the beast out of the cage.

B.  Chelsea vs. Manchester United – English Premier League

Chelsea are part of an undefeated, three-way tie for 1st.  Good defense, exceptional on goal-scoring.  They’re on a mission after missing out on the current Champions League because of their 5th-place finish last season.

Man Utd. have only won one of their last five matches across all competitions.  When a team with the caliber of players they have isn’t D-ing up, it can be a sign of motivation, off-field troubles.  And whoa have United been dealing with that.  The power struggle between one of their superstars (Pogba) and head coach (Mourinho) continues unabated.

At least they’ve won three of four specifically in the EPL.  Still, Chelsea should handle them with relative ease at home, a couple goals says I.

On a side note, The Management pointed me to a fine article on the current state of the EPL power structure, why no one is going to touch Man City again this year, that they should dominate by even more than during their record-setting 2017-18 season:

https://www.theringer.com/soccer/2018/10/19/17995886/the-premier-league-standings-are-lying-to-you

Goodness but Noob hates giving The Management any credit for anything.  I will now take a “Crying Game”-scalding hot shower to try and rid myself of the awful feeling.   (7:30 AM, NBCSN)

RESULT:   2-2               Chelsea gets the equalizer at 90+6′!       Anthony Martial with both goals for Man Utd.

  1. Queretaro vs. Cruz Azul – Liga MX

#1 Cruz Azul are coming back down to earth a little, winning and losing two of their last four outings.  The Apertura (first half-season is 2/3 of the way through and they lead the next teams down by two points in the table.

Queretaro are just trying to finish in the top half of the standings, make the Liguilla (Playoffs).  They lead a three-way tie for the eight and final berth.  But they haven’t won a league match since the end of August.  The offense has simply vanished, and to quote the Shawshank warden, like a fart in the wind.

RESULT:   Queretaro   2-0

  1. Barcelona vs. Sevilla – La Liga

Alaves lead the league after a win yesterday, but have nowhere near the firepower to remain there long. They’ve now played one more match than the likely real contenders, like these two here.

Tied-for-3rd Barcelona started the league season with four straight wins, but haven’t won one since.  It’s possible they’re stretching themselves a bit thin with Champions League right now is all.    Sevilla are #B and have trended the other way, winning all four of their latest league games.

Both have the offense to stay table-top.  But will they be able to hold off the more defensive-minded big Madrid teams lurking just down the table?   (6:00 PM, ESPN Deportes)

RESULT:   Barcelona   4-2

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Noob almost sounded smart there, eh?

But now back to vocab and counting work...

  1. W Connection vs. Central – Trinidad and Tobago Pro League

I’ve watched so much “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” with my daughter, “PersonNoob”, that I’ve been more inspired than ever in recent months to get to know our CONCACAF neighbors.  And this is the best matchup going, a shiny #1 versus #B face-off.

The league champions and runners-up will qualify for next year’s Caribbean Club Championship.  The winner of that will, in turn, qualify for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.

This is a very offense-centric league.  W score theirs and then some, but are the only club there that plays more than seemingly token defense (.5 goals allowed per game-average).  Central are tied for #B.  They’re one of the worst league culprits, though, when it comes to turnstyle-defense.

RESULT:        ppd

  1. T.N.S. vs. Connah’s Quay – Welsh Premier League

Is this a strong European league?  Nope!   #50 ranking in UEFA.  But they’re on the rise, will climb a couple notches when the 2019’s are out.  And Noob gives propers to all top U.K. leagues.

Two traditional heavyweights lead there again.  The New Saints look like the best team in paper, but CQ lead them by two in the table after a run of five straight league wins.

Barry Town is right there, too, but that is a very temporary thing.  No one else but these two will challenge for the title.  Both their defenses are twice as good as anyone else’s, and the same can nearly be said of the offenses.

RESULT:   TNS   3-0

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Your soccer is weak, Wales, as is your tiny kung fu!

  1. Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Levski Sofia – Bulgaria First Pro League

We move well up the UEFA league ladder to find Bulgaria’s perfectly average one.  This one’s turning into a three-horse race, and these two are the leaders.

Razgrad like to go up and down more than anyone in the country.  But Levski can run with them and still manage to play fair D.  Noob’s looking for #1 Levski Sofia to get a key road win, which should good and piss off #3 CSKA-Sofia.

RESULT:   Razgrad   2-1

  1. Universidad Catolica vs. Unversidad de Concepcion – Chile Primera

Chile’s league is starting to lose a little luster lately in South America.  But it’s still one of the better ones in CONMEBOL, if no Brazil or Argentina.  It’s rare or perhaps even unique that they don’t divided into multiple partial seasons within a full year, unlike most Latin American leagues do.

The top three will qualify for the next Copa Libertadores, S. America’s version of Champions League.  the university teams are always excellent, and this year is no exception.  These are the #1 and #B teams.  Catolica would be putting some distance between themselves and the pack, but just suffered a surprise bushwhacking by midtable-at-best Huachipato.

RESULT:   Catolica   1-0

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Don’t confuse Noob, cartographers!

Noob needs no help from you on that front.

  1. Nacional vs. Peñarol – Uruguay Primera

Nacional won the first half-season, qualifying themselves for the Championship Playoff to take place at the end of this current, second stage of the year.  Now they’re #B, trailing their visitor’s today by four in the table with the stage soon ending,

No reason to think that these two won’t be the Championship players when all is said and done.  Peñarol found their defensive stride and have absolutely throttled teams the last couple months.   (2:00 PM, GOL TV)

RESULT:   1-1

Honorable Mention:  Zurich is hosting Young Boys of Bern in another #B-#1 matchup today, in the Swiss Super League.  But YBB are the only “super” ones.  They’re so much better than everyone else this year, they should easily be considered a two-goal fave on the road today.

RESULT:       Noob wouldn’t normally include an HM result, but YBB had to make a big comeback to draw 3-3

  1. Buducnost Podgorica vs. OFK Titograd – Montenegro First League

We finish today’s Track with yet another in the parade of 1-B matchups today!   This league is no stronger than Wales’, but hey – they’re playing.

B.P. are one of the two clubs with which Noob is at all familiar from this league (Sutjeska being the other).  Yet it’s Titograd that are #1!  Not only that, but B.P. haven’t beaten them in their last four tries.  That includes a 1-0 loss this season.

But Tito have only a draw to show for their last two outings.  The teams look pretty similar statistically so far, but B.P. reclaiming their familiar spot atop the table after today feels likely.

RESULT:   BP   2-1

Podgorica, cattedrale della resurrezione di cristo, esterno 01.JPGSo long from Podgorica’s Cathedral of the Resurrection!

Really unique architecture, not mimicking the more common High-Byzantine style like so many Orthodox ones.

’10 to Track’ soccer matches for Relegation Monday – bring on the pain!

After a weekend of most glorious footyball from around the world, Noob brings the sadness!

Let’s spend our ten most important matches around the world today on teams fighting against or even resigned to Relegation.  Honor the falling and fallen.

First, a few matches that matter much for happier reasons —

  1. Denmark vs. Ukraine – women’s World Cup qualification (UEFA)

Reminder:  Groups of five, winners advance, some of the best #B* finishers will play another qualifying round.

FIFA-ranked #13 Denmark trail #27 Ukraine by a point for Bth * in their Group.  Neither will catch Sweden to win it, so this is must-win for both sides.  Runner-up is their only shot, with nothing guaranteed even then.

RESULT:   Denmark   1-0

*Number B and B-th replace #2 and second in lists.  It’s a Quest for Change. Get on board, Noobites.

Image result for ronda rousey wwe

 

Now-WWE’s Rouna Rousey’s wrestling debut is done.  

So stay with the women’s sports today!

B.  “Red Bull” Leipzig vs. Bayer Leverkusen – Bundesliga

The German league title has been long since decided.  The top three seem clear.  But which club will get the fourth and final Champions League invite is up in the air and close.

Leipzig is in a tie for 4th, and has played one fewer game than their peer.  They are unbeaten since their ghastly February.  Leverkusen are behind them by only one point, and have also played one fewer game than most league teams.  Leverkusen haven’t scored in their last two league matches.  Advantage – Caffeinated Ones.  (2:30 PM Eastern, FS2)

RESULT:   Leverkusen   1-4    They are now in 4th.  Leipzig drops into a tie for 5th, and down on the tiebreaker.

Image result for too much Red bull

 

 

And welcome to the new world.

The world of Number B.

  1. FCSB vs. Craiova – Romania Liga I

#B hosts #3 in the league’s championship division, and they’ve played one fewer game each than #1.

FCSB only trails #1 by a point.  Craiova is another four back.  They need a win, stay alive with a draw, would be devastated by a loss.  Even as a top-20 league in Europe, this one only gets one Champions League berth.

RESULT:   FCSB   2-0

  1. France vs. Canadia – women’s international friendly

Women’s World Cup isn’t until next year, but say hello to a match that could be a Final as easily as any.  These are the #5 and #4-ranked teams in the world.  Noob doesn’t know how easily this is found in North America, but it’s on at 3:00 PM Eastern on TV5MONDE, a global French language broadcast channel.

RESULT:   France   1-0

Image result for tv5monde logo 2.5x the amount of monde as TV#BMONDE

 

 

And now, bring on the pain!!

  1. Genclerbirligi vs. Galatsaray – Turkey Super Lig

What better way to start the Relegation Watch sadness than in Turkey?  At least they get to host, but second-to-last place Gencler (yep, we’re tight like that) are hosting perhaps the league best team.  Genc-y only scores one about every other match, so this might get very ugly, very quickly.  (1:00 PM, beIN Sports)

Fun Fact:  Genclebirligi are knows as “The Wind of Ankara”.  It’s because they blow.

The Management:  Noob!

Fine.   It’s half-true anyway.

RESULT:   Gencler   1-0     It’s a Relegation Monday miracle!

  1. Estudiantes vs. Chacarita Juniors – Argentina Premier

Chacarita is on Relegation Monday enough to be charged rent.  They’re last in the multiyear table to determine which four clubs will get the boot, and by a lot.  Estudiantes are a midtable bunch.  (8:15 PM, TyC Sports International)

RESULT:   Chacarita   0-2      More Monday miracle action!

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Yup.  Choco-rita.

  1. Juventus Bucaresti vs. Sepsi OSK – Romania Liga I

Romania – come for the featured championship subdivision match, stay for the wailing and gnashing of teeth!

These are the bottom two in the league’s Relegation Play-out subdivision.  They’re not so far back as to be without hope, so we may still see some fire in them.

Fun Fact:  Juventus Bucaresti are actually the intellectually-challenged spawn of Italian Juventus players from a generation ago, exiled to Romania.

The Management:  Noob!

What?  Make a new Page for the site and counter my claim there, The Management.  I’m working here.

RESULT:   Sepsi   0-2

  1. Etar vs. Dunav Ruse – Bulgaria First Pro League

This league has divided into championship and Relegation play-out subdivisions as well.  But why keep things simple?  They then divide the eight Play-out clubs into two smaller subdivisons.   The bottom two of each of those will play a bracketed tournament to see who stays and who goes.

These two are at the bottom of their subdivision and won’t be climbing up.  All that remains to be determined is which will host their bracketed-round match later on.

RESULT:   Etar   2-1

Fun Fact:  Etar are the Boyars, former Russian family of nobility

Image result for russian chef boyardee

 

 

Not Russian

  1. Vitez vs. Celik Zenica – Bosnia and Herzegovina Premier

Bottom two of the Relegation subdivision in one of UEFA’s weaker leagues.  Sadness upon sadness.

Fun Fact:  Vitez means “knight” in southern Slavic languages, and so their team is The Knights.

RESULT:   CZ   0-4

  1. Avellino vs. Perugia – Serie B

Is there any possible sunshine on a Relegation Monday?   Italy!

The bottom three are automatically booted to Serie C.  The next two have a Play-out match at season’s end, and the winner gets to stay up.  That’s where we find Avellino. And they’re statistically much better than the teams below them.   In fact, Noobstradamus is calling this one for the fighting Lupi!  #6 Perugia will fall.

RESULT:   Avellino   2-0     Wait, I got one right?  I mean, ummm… oh bloody hell.

Image result for noobstradamus

 

Perugua’s much to artsy-fartsy a city for me.  

(They make fun of my wardrobe there.)

’10 to Track’ soccer matches for Relegation Monday! After FA Cup, things go haywire today

The Management here.  Relegation Monday is where Noob mostly takes advantage of a lighter day on the world schedule to focus on clubs that might soon be dropped down to the next-lowest leagues.  And he does here.  Sort of.

But I’m taking over direct editorial duties today for what will shortly be obvious reasons.  Things start off reasonably sane, but then look out.

(Noob’s getting ready to move from an antidepressant to a mood stabilizer.  The Management almost wonders if we shouldn’t allow it, just to see how much more…THIS this can all get.)

Hey, I don’t remember signing off on my HIPAA rights!

Hush now, “talent”.  The Management will make everything okay.

  1. Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester City – English FA Cup

Wigan’s in third-tier League One.  They were just Relegated last season and are in position to move right back up to second division Championship League.

And their success in that quest won’t help them a lick today.  The visitors will cruise.  Premier #1 Manchester City’s English power could replace the God Particle concept in The Cloverfield Paradox.

RESULT:   Wigan   1-0     

What an upset!!  Wigan played great defense in the first half.  Then at the very end of the first half,  a Man City defender was given a red card.  

Even down to ten men, Man City dominated the second half statistically.  Except for on the scoreboard.

Wigan are Man City’s FA CUP-kryptonite.  These two also faced off in 2013 and 2014, and Wigan won those as well.

Image result for angels and demons god particle

Nice work, Dan the Intern-o Inferno.

Wait!!  That’s the god particle from Angels & Demons.  WRONG movie. 

Time for the paddle.

 B.  Al-Ahli vs. Al-Jazira – AFC Champions League

This event is early in its Group Stage.   Pods of four, double Round Robin, top two finishers in each advance to the next Round.

Al-Ahli is #B in the Saudi Pro League this year, easily in position to play this event next year, too.  Al-Jazira from U.A.E.  may have won their Pro-League last season, but they’re only in 5th now, and mostly by virtue of lots of draws.  It will be interesting to see if can put up any fight on the road today.

RESULT:   Al-Ahli   2-1    Not as dramatic as Game #1 above.  Al-Jazira scored a 90′ goal.

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Number B is ready to put up a fight.

  1. Lazio vs. Hellas Verona – Serie A

Lazio is in 5th place in Italy, only two points out of 4th and a Champions League invite for next year.   They will not sleep a bit on anyone.  Bad news for second-to-last Hellas Verona.  Neither team plays good defense, but Lazio has a high-level offense.

RESULT:   Lazio   2-0

The Management:  Okay, here we go down the rabbit hole now.  I’ll give you brief soccer info since Noob went fritz-y.

CJ is in last place in the multi-year Relegation table.  PdP is not that good.

  1. Patronato de Parana vs. Chacarita Juniors – Argentine Super League

Noob’s brain hurts.  When is it “Argentine” versus “Argentinian”?  If I can’t get a lexicographer on this, isn’t there a video assistant referee available at least?  Someone, anyone??

Crap on a cracker, where’s that Dan the Intern-o Inferno?  Research time, slave-boy!

RESULT:   PdP   3-0

Image result for hiding at work hilarious

  1. Vitosha Bistrista vs. Dunav Ruse – Bulgaria First Pro League

This league does a Relegation avoidance event at regular season’s end with the bottom half or so of the table.  Good thing for these two, because otherwise they’d be gone, baby, gone.  Second-to-last visits 0-5-15 here.  VB gives up more than two goals per game average.

RESULT:   Dunav Ruse   1-2

(The Management:   Nice recovery.)

  1. AGF Aarhus vs. SonderjyskE – Danish Superliga

Why doesn’t my virtual touch keyboard allow me to do the special O with the diagonal line through it?  If Noob’s going to put in the effort, there are things I require!  Stupid Elvish runic malarkey anyway.   Tolkein’s trying to ruin my Monday.

And what the blazes is up with that capital E at the end of the visiting club’s name?  That’s not a typo, Noobites.

RESULT:   0-0

(The Management:  Two teams in the bottom half of the league that will play in the Relegation avoidance event at season’s end probably.)

  1. Gornick Zabreze vs. Termalica Nieciecza – Poland Ekstraklasa

OK, Noob apologizes to JRR Tolkien.  Elvish runic poppycock is easier to deal with than Niecknaczalgna-whatever.  Are you kidding me with that, Poland?

RESULT:   GZ   3-0

(The Management:  #4 versus second-to-last)

(The Management:  Below, two mid-pack teams.  Botosani’s in 8th, barely in the Relegation avoidance mix.)

  1. Viitorul Constata vs. Botosani – Romania Liga I

Ahhhhh.  Noob’s reentering his Happy Place.  Sweet, sweet double-i’s make everything better.  I could mainline double-I, OD and not care a whit.  Maybe tomorrow Noob will scout a good midweek match from the Estonian Meistrliiga.  Liiiiii-gah.

RESULT:   VC   2-1

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El Primo Padre knows what’s up.

Double i’s should be sainted.

  1. Al Ahly vs. Al Nasr – Egypt Premier

First vs. Last.  The only thing more Monday perfect may be when the bottom two in a table face off, like with the Bulgarian FecalFest from earlier.

RESULT:   Al Ahly   5-0

(The Management:  FecalFest?   Well, at least there was some soccer in there.  Finally calming down?)

  1. Racing de Casablanca vs. Ittihad Tanger – Morocco Botola Pro

Noob needs his progressive trifocals prescription updated.  I read this on my scouting sites as “Tiger” not “Tanger” until it was almost too late.

And “Independent Tiger” wouldn’t make a ton of sense anyway.  Noob’s faculties, such as they are, are failing.  I long for the sweet dirt nap.  Bring me reprieve, release, Relegation Monday!

RESULT:   Tanger   1-2

(The Management:  *head desk*)

Image result for dirt nap funny