Pre-view: Columbus @ Salt Lake

This weekend, Columbus travels to Salt Lake to face a red hot Real Salt Lake squad who currently holds the top spot in the West. Holding that spot for quite some time now, RSL is one of three teams who are also in the running for the Supporters Shield. Coming into this match, these two teams are looking to help boost their clubs in every which way.

Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake are coming into this clash with Columbus, top of the Western conference with 42 points. (12-8-6) ; Only getting one point out of their previous two games, Jason Kries is hoping for a turn around with captain Kyle Beckerman coming back from suspension. Wanting to win these three points, RSL look to put a damper on Columbus' two game win streak. Salt Lake recently played Portland Timbers to a 3-3 draw Wednesday night at Jeld-Wen Field. 

Columbus Crew

Since Precourt Sports Ventures took over the Crew, Columbus is now on a two game win streak and are only 8 points out of a playoff spot; And it seems as though a scoreline of 2-0 is popular around Columbus. Their previous games have been that particular scoreline, beating former Eastern Conference leaders New York 2-0, and Canadian rivals Toronto FC 2-0. Getting all three points from these previous games, Columbus look to extend this streak to 3 games, but have to deal without Higuain due to suspension.

With RSL struggling as of late, and Columbus playing good, solid, quality football, I see Columbus escaping with this game by one goal.

Columbus 2-1 Real Salt Lake 

EPL Week 1 standings

Week one of the English Premiere League went very well for some teams. And bad for others.  Heres a look at the table so far

1.) Man United 1-0-0 3pts
2.) Aston Villa 1-0-0 3pts
3.) Chelsea 1-0-0 3pts
4.) West Ham 1-0-0 3pts
5.) Fulham 1-0-0 3pts

6.) Liverpool 1-0-0 3pts
7.) Southampton 1-0-0 3pts
8.) Tottenham 1-0-0 3pts
9.) Everton 0-1-0 1pt
10.) Norwich City 0-1-0 1pt

11.) Man City 0-0-0  0pts
12.) Newcastle 0-0-0  0pts
13.) Crystal Palace 0-0-1 0pts
14.) Stoke City 0-0-1 0pts
15.) Sunderland 0-0-1 0pts

16.) West Brom 0-0-1 0pts
17.) Arsenal 0-0-1 0pts

18.) Cardiff City 0-0-1 0pts
19.) Hull City 0-0-1 0pts
20.) Swansea City 0-0-1 0pts

Review: Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew

Columbus Crew look for a victory tonight over Canadian rivals Toronto FC. The Crew want three points and the Trillium Cup. 

After a 2-0 victory last week over New York Red Bulls, the Crew look to extend their streak and hope for a win tonight which will put them seven points out of a playoff spot. Toronto, coming off a defeat to Seattle Sounders, look to find a win tonight in Columbus and take the Trillium Cup, north of the border. Did they do it?

The beginning of the game saw both sides kind of playing sloppy. Poor back passes, communication was off. Just everything was off for the first 15 minutes. 18' comes along and there's a break. Higuain slots home a poor (attempted) clearance past Joe Bendik to put the home side up 1-0. Nothing much would go on during that time except a yellow card to Toronto's Richard Eckersly in the 38'. Ted Unkle had seen enough and blew for halftime. The Crew go into the locker room up 1-0 after the first 45 minutes. 

After the teams switch sides, the second half is underway. 50' saw Crew rookie from Gahanna, Ohio, Wil Trapp a booking for a tackle during the game. Time goes on (And the Nordecke grows louder) and Higuain takes the ball atop of the arc outside the 18 yard box. With Bendik just a few feet off his line, Higuain pulls a Houdini and finesses/chips bendik to slot the ball home in the upper 90 to put the Crew up 2-0.Now imagine in your head the reaction you would get from the supporters. Got it? Is it basic? Well think again. That goal, sent them into a celebration frenzy. Confetti, streamers, smoke, flags, etc.  The rest of the second half saw Columbus end up with just one more yellow to Danny O'Rourke. Ted Unkle saw enough and blew the whistle which gave Columbus Crew another victory. 

And I would not be a true blogger if I didn't mention that tonight was also Crew goalkeeper Matt Lampson's second shutout of the season. 

Below are the final match stats

Attempts on goal: CLB 19-8 TFC

Shots on(off) Target: CLB 7(8) - 2(2) TFC

Corner Kicks: CLB 5-5 TFC

Fouls: CLB 17-7 TFC

Duels won: 50%-50

Possesion: CLB: 49%-51% TFC 

Goals: CLB 2-0 TFC

CLB: Higuain (2)

Pre-View: Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew

This weekend is rivalry weekend in Columbus. Canadian rivals Toronto FC travel to The Buckeye state to pay a visit to Columbus Crew. These two teams have a history together. Also up for grabs (other than three points) is the Trillium Cup. For the past five years, these two franchises have fought to have bragging rights. 2008-10, the Crew have been victorious to win this cup. It was then in 2011 when TFC defeated Columbus Crew by a score of 4-1 in Crew stadium. The next year cut down TFC's ego and gave the Crew the Trillium Cup back.

With this season, both teams have combined for a record of 1-1-0. Both teams split 6 points each in both meetings in Toronto.

This previous meeting between the rivals saw a major upset. After a hard strike from Dominic Oduro in the first half, Toronto fought back with two beautiful goals late in second half stoppage time, which sealed the victory for TFC. Now , is for all the marbles. (By marbles, I mean three points and a cup.)

Toronto is coming into this match off a 2-1 loss to Seattle. Poor boys just can't catch a break; Always being on the bottom of the table in the East. Well I guarantee Ryan Nelson will certainly "Try" to change that. Toronto currently sits 9th in the east with just 20 points. (4-11-8)

Columbus, coming off a MASSIVE  victory (That's for you Crew fans ;) ) over "former" Eastern conference leaders New York, look to keep things rolling, with a new owner in the house. For Crew supporters, "A New Era Has Just Begun."

Columbus 3-1 Toronto

New York v Columbus Crew Review

How about that? 8th place Columbus Crew take down number one AGAIN by the score of 2-0. The last time Crew faced the leader of the Eastern conference was against Montreal Impact. The score, 2-0. So its good to say that after losing 3 straight games, the smell of victory is making a slow but steady comeback.

The first half of this game; Well nothing much really happend. A few saves here and there, etc. The Crew having more possession and shots on goal, saw the two teams of David and Goliath go into the half at 0-0.

Coming out of the half, Crew played fierce. Dominating the time of possesion again, New York wanted to make a statement to the 19,090 witnesses on hand at Crew stadium Saturday night.  Crew, press on the wing, pass the ball in the center and draw a free kick. Having the ball placed into the 18 box, a foul was drawn and Columbus win a penalty kick in the 61'. Higuain steps up and slots it top shelf past Robles to put the Crew in front, 1-nil.

New York now wanting to answer, play rough and saw a member from each side see yellow.

Time moves on and then this happens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgvH8qJYQ8E


This classy chip from Higuain helped lift Columbus over New York. 

August 10 MLS Predictions

There is a line of games ready for tomorrow. Below are my predictions

Columbus 1-3 New York
Toronto 0-3 Seattle
Vancouver 1-2 San Jose
Philadelphia 1-1 DC United
Chicago 2-3 Impact
Sporting 2-0 New England
Salt Lake 2-2 Houston

Houston v Columbus

ER MA GERD! Words can't explain how much this game went downhill for me. Ugh.

Houston obviously got the upperhand with help in the first half. A spot kick in the 10' was taken by captain Brad Davis, who converted to make the score 1-0 to Houston. Playing mediocre, the Crew fought. The 31' saw Houston increase the lead to 2-0. That scoreline stood until halftime.

Two second half subs by Columbus and one by Houston got us started for the second half. Playing much for aggressive and focused,  both teams were shown yellow for certain individuals. Again, playing mediocre soccer, the Columbus Crew found a way to get on the board. But in a very odd way. Columbus never scored. Jermaine Taylor of the Dynamo put the ball past Hall in his own net. Thinking that they could escape with a 2-2 draw, (that is if they scored again) Cam Weaver shattered the Crews hopes,  tucking in a goal to make it 3-1 Houston and ending the game.

Now what does this mean standings wise? Columbus remain in 8th place with 23 points while Houston knock New England out of the last playoff spot to take 5th place. But New England has a game v Toronto tomorrow.

Next week Columbus head home to take conference leaders New York. What joy this game will bring.

Stay Massive #Crew96 :) 

Sporting v New Yok

Well what a match this was. High scoring game I'd say. The battle of first place comes to a close with New York winning over Sporting KC 3-2, with KC scoring in the dying minutes, to take the lead of the Eastern conference.  Bringing up the rear are Sporting, and Montreal in slots 2 and 3.

Having only an added +5 minutes to the second half, it changed. New Yorks Kimura had to be carried off on an ambulance stretcher during stoppage. With that injury entact, Chris Penso decided to add on another 5 minutes to the original. The whistle blew in the 101' and that guaranteed New York the top spot.

MLS Predictions 3 August 2013

Major League Soccer (USA) has 8 matches in store for us today. Here's my predictions. Comment your predictions

Dc United 1-3 Montreal
Philadelphia 2-2 Chicago
Sporting 0-2 New York
Houston 2-2 Columbus
Colorado 1-3 Real Salt Lake
San Jose 3-0 Chivas USA
Seattle 1-1 FC Dallas
Portland 2-1 Vancouver (CASCADIAAAAAA!!!!!)

Scottish Premiere League

Who loves opening day of Scottish Premiere Leage football? Two games started this years campaign on Friday, 2 August 2013. Newly promoted Partick Thistle v Dundee United. Both teams played to a 0-0 draw. Saturday, 3 August 2013 also saw opening day for 6 teams. Celtic v Ross County, Aberdeen v Kilmarnock, and Inverness CT v St Mirren. I can't really tell how much all teams did but to know that each home team (Celtic, Aberdeen, and Inverness CT) all win, is a plus for supporters I'd say. Below are official results.

Friday, 2 August 2013: Partick Thistle 0-0 Dundee united

Saturday, 3 August 2013: Celtic 2-1 Ross County
                                        Aberdeen 2-1 Kilmarnock
                                        Inverness CT 3-0 St Mirren
                                     

SV Wilhelmshaven v Borussia Dortmund

The German Cup first round kicked off today with 7 matches in play. SV Wilhelmshaven played home to Borussia Dortmund Saturday, 3 August 2013. Not much to talk about for the first half of this match I'd say. Just basic shots, passing; You know how soccer works.

The second half was the where the action began to start. Both teams started off with one sub to begin the second half with. The 64', Wilhelmshavens' Jahdadic gets booked. Just three minutes later, Tietz gets a yellow for Wilhelmshaven. Borussia Dortmund opened the scoring in the 71' with a goal from Grosskreutz. . As time went on, just basic soccer again; Substitutions, bookings, and goals. Dortmund ended up winning 3-0 to advance past the first round of the German Cup. Below is official match facts (Source: ScoreMobile FC/ESPN Scorecenter)

Yellow Cards: SV Wilhelmshaven 3 -0 Borussia Dortmund
Red Cards: SV Wilhelmshaven 0-0 Borussia Dortmund

Goals: Dortmund - Grosskreutz, Ducksch, Lewandowski
          SV Wilhelmshaven - N/a

Shots (on goal): SVW 2(1) - 23(11) BVB
Fouls: SVW 16 - 11 BVB
Corner Kicks: SVW 2 - 6 BVB
Offsides:  SVW 2 - 5 BVB
Possession: SVW 20% - 80% BVB
Saves: SVW 8 - 1 BVB