Tag: Legia Warsaw

’10 to Track’ Weekend Edition soccer matches – World Cup extra, MLS, NWSL lead the way

As World Cup approaches its climactic end, Noob knows soccer will fade a bit from America’s collective conscience.

Keep visiting here.  Keep learning with Noob.  I’ll keep previewing the ten most important  matches to follow for us – the newish fans of the global game.

And it won’t get weird.  And Noob’s a fibber.

  1. Belgium vs. England – FIFA World Cup

Noob.  Nooby!   Didn’t these teams just lose?

Yes.  And did you just go Harry Ellis on me?  Well-played, pretend writer-in/voice in Noob’s head.  You’re my white knight.

Aaaaanyway, this is the Bronze Match.  If you’ve been reading Tracks, you know the names:  de Bruyne, Kane.

The NCAA used to make the last non-finalists play this kind of crappy game.  They just lost.  This is once every four years.  A lot of the players won’t ever get that sort of chance again.  Let them go home.

Yay, footyball!

RESULT:   Belgium    2-0

B.  New York Red Bulls vs. Sporting Kansas City – Major League Soccer

Kansas City had been leading the Western Conference for forever.  But a couple of road loses (Real Salt Lake: ok, Montreal: really?) and a home draw against tuckered out-Toronto and they’ve slipped to 3rd.  Their defense s letting them down, something that never happened in last season’s strong campaign.

3rd-place Red Bulls are coming off a “road” loss to fellow East contender NYCFC.  They have regional rival New England Revolution up next.  Still, Noob doesn’t see this as a trap game.  They’ve only conceded four goals in their last six matches.

To appease the Management – with his K.C. ties – Tim Melia needs to step his goalkeeping back up.  The back line has been okayish.  He has not.

(NYCFC hosting Columbus is just as big today.)

RESULT:   NYRB   3-2

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Tim Melia tries to defend Zlatan with the trip over me comically-technique.

 

  1. Chicago Red Stars vs. Seattle Reign – National Women’s Soccer League

“Dear Lord in heaven, hear our cries!  Please let us remain #B/climb to 3rd in the standings so we don’t have to get decimated by North Carolina in the first round of the Playoffs.  We submit ourselves to Your will.  What do you require of us, Most Holy?”

Chicago is tied for 3rd.  Seattle is #B.

RESULT:   Chicago   1-0

  1. Legia Warsaw vs. Arka Gydnia – Poland Super Cup

It’s Sooooooper Cup season!

These are nearly always matchups between the previous league season’s champion and the defending FA Cup titlists.  They are typically one-offs.  Sometimes at neutral sites, sometimes not.  They are glorified exhibitions to whet folks’ appetites for the imminent starts of the new league seasons.

Legia Warsaw finished 3rd in the first part of the 2017-18 regular season before making off with 1st place once the Championship Round began.  They also just beat Cork City (Ireland) in the UEFA Champions League, 0-1.  They host today’s match.

Arka Gydnia narrowly missed out on qualifying for that Champions Round, 7th place.  After that, they sank, though not quite far enough to get Relegated to the second division.

RESULT:   Gdynia   2-3

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Noob ever has a club of his own, they’re “The Ligers”.

  1. CFR Cluj vs. CS Universitatea Craiova – Romania Super Cup

Cluj won the truly regular league season and then held on in the Championship Round to take the title.  Craiova are the defending FA Cup holders.  They finished 3rd in the league.   Craiova get to host today.

RESULT:   Cluj   1-0

  1. Albirex Niigata vs. Tampines Rovers – Singapore S.League

Noob is always down for #1 versus #B!  Not that Rovers are a threat to chase down the title.  The Japanese club reserve team is 15-0-0.  But as a reserve team, they’re not eligible for international competition like AFC Champions league.  That means #B is the slot that could qualify.

Rovers lead Home United by just a point in the table.  If they have any shot at a result today, it has to be on defense.  They sport the league’s second-best.

RESULT:   Niigata   2-1

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Fortnite’s popular with the hip kids. 

Noob’s not above throwing it in here.

 

Sunday

  1. France vs. Croatia – FIFA World Cup

The Final!  Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.

France is ranked #7 in the world, Croatia #20.  if the latter win, they will be the second-smallest country to ever do so.

The battle is going to be hottest in the midfield.  For Croatia, Modric is the key to everything.  That he plays for Real Madrid tells you want you need to know about him.  He’s joined there by recent hero Rakitic.

For France, Mbappe is the young (19) and main man.   Tell Noob he doesn’t look like he’s about 35 when his forehead furrows.  Yikes.  Kante is the other man there who will be key to ball control.

Thanks for hanging with Noob during this awesome Cup.  I hope the mini-previews have been helpful even in their brevity.  Fun, and for the newest fans, encouraging in that you’ve been able to pick up just enough to enjoy the game a little bit more and to chat with friends who’ve followed the game longer.

Now go, be free!  Seek out more in-depth pregame analysis.  Noob will, too.

RESULT:   France   4-2      Mbappe becomes only the second teenager ever to score in a World Cup final.  (Noob still thinks he looks 35.)

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  1. LAFC vs. Portland Timbers – Major League Soccer

Expansion, surprising #B LAFC haven’t lost since June 2.  That one was at Dallas, the Western Conference’s #1.  During this torrid stretch, they’ve scored multiple goals every time out.

And if you think that’s impressive, Portland haven’t lost in 13 matches straight, since April 2!  How are they only in 5th?  But not getting a W in their first five of the season.   They’re baaaack.

For LAFC, Diamonde is the leading scorer.  Fellow forward Latif Blessing from Ghana has been smoking hot in July, too.  If both continue as they are, Houston and KC both may find themselves looking up at them in the table.

RESULT:   0-0

Blessing has something of a velociraptor-y look about him to Noob.

 

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  1. Monterrey vs. Necaxa – Supercopa MX

This is the first of two high-end exhibitions for Liga MX today.  They are both being held on the L.A. Galaxy’s home pitch.

The Supercopa pits the two Copa MX winners from last season against one another.  Just as the Liga MX season is divided into two separate halves (Apertura, Clausura), so they also play to Cup tournaments.  In the Clausura of 2017-18, these teams finished in 3rd and 11th, respectively.

RESULT:   Necaxa   0-1

  1. UANL Tigres vs. Santos – Campeon de Campeones

These two won the Apertura and Clausura liguillas (post-season playoffs) last season.  This is considered a friendly and not for the title of overall Mexican league champion.  The winner will play the last MLS champions in their home city (Toronto) in the inaugural Campeones Cup in September.

RESULT:   UANL   4-0

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All four should play at once.

THEN you’d get a real champion.

’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!

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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

’10 to Track’ soccer matches for Sunday, 3/4 – Welcome, LAFC

No time for dawdling, the ten most important soccer matches to follow for the newish American fan await us, Noobites!

  1. Sporting Kansas City vs. New York City FC – MLS

Last year’s Western Conference #5 and a The Management fave hosts the Eastern’s #2.

Noob will refrain from rooting against KC just to spite The Management.  For now.  It’s a gesture of good will with which to start the season.  (7:30 PM Eastern, FS1)

RESULT:   0-2   NYCFC

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B.  Seattle Sounders vs. Los Angeles FC – MLS

Welcome, new MLS club!   Seattle – fie on you, and you know why.  Less-tenured Noobites can search back to learn about the douchebag fan/TA first soccer fan I ever knew.  Actually, I guess that is the story.  (5:00 PM, ESPN Deportes)

RESULT:   0-1   LAFC

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Number B welcomes you to the soccer family, baby LAFC.

  1. Manchester City vs. Chelsea – English Premier

The new league champs host last year’s.  Chelsea wear the sadpants, as it’s looking likely that won’t even make top four and next year’s Champions League.  Noob hopes they can catch fire starting here, pass 4th place, traitorously-named Tottenham  Sir Topham Hatt Hotspur.  (11:00 AM, NBCSN)

RESULT:   Man City   1-0

  1. Toluca vs. Pachuca – Liga MX

Tied for 6th hosts tied for 10th in a table so tight, the ordinal rankings just don’t matter yet.   Pachuca tends to play more wide open than most sides, so if Toluca can score first, this could turn into a rout.

In fact, Noobstradamus sees it just that way, 4-1 for the host Sausagers.  (1:00 PM, Univision)

RESULT:   Toluca   2-1

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Sausage can be conjugated that way?

Not even I saw that coming.

  1. Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid – La Liga

Barcelona have yet to lose on the season.  A win today against #B Atletico – with just one loss of their own – likely salts the title away.  They play the league’s best defense, but Barcelona’s an absolute monster with the ball.  (10:15 AM, beIN Sports)

RESULT:   Barcelona   1-0

  1. Montpelier vs. Lyon – Ligue 1

These two faced off less than a month ago in the Coupe de France.  Montpelier lost 1-2 at home then.  Will history repeat itself?

Lyon is in 4th, five points behind Marseilles for the third and final Champions League berth.  Montpelier are tied for 6th, trying to catch Rennes for the last Europa League slot.

RESULT:   1-1

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History repeating itself

  1. AC Milan vs. Inter Milan – Serie A

Welcome back to the most interesting league race going.  Inter Milan were yesterday pushed out of the top four and a Champions League berth.  Today they’ll pull even on games played, but need a win to jump back up a spot in the table.

AC Milan are tied for 6th, but out of Europa League qualification based on tiebreaking goal differential.  They don’t have the defense to be great this year.  Noob smells a road win for “The Big Grass Snake”.

RESULT:   ppd

  1. Lokamotiv Moscow vs. Spartak Moscow – Russian Premier

#1 hosts #5, but with win a win Spartak would climb all the way up to #B.  Unlikely.  There’s a serious gap in defensive capability between them and the real powers of the league.

This is now the 6th-ranked league in European play.

RESULT:   0-0

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Defense.  You’re doing it wrong.

  1. Legia Warsaw vs. Lech Poznan – Poland Ekstraklasa

The regular season title is up for grabs as #1 hosts #3 in Europe’s 20th-ranked league.  Poznan sports the best goal differential in the league, so should give the league leaders a tough fight.

RESULT:   Warsaw   2-1

  1. Sanarate vs. Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala National League

Antigua was the Apertura (first half season) champs and are on top again now in the Clausura.

Sanrate has seen massive improvement.  They only finished 9th,  but are now tied for #B.  They scored 14 and gave up 22 goals before.  That line is now 14-8.  Still. Noob thinks they’d be pleased with a draw today, even being at home.

RESULT:   0-0

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Wait, can you say that?  That feels wrong.