Welcome to the Weekend Commentary Thread
Before we begin Saturday’s matches, let look at yesterday. We can welcome back 2 Bundesliga as it kicked-off after the winter break, Andrew Wooten played 90 minutes for Sandhausen in a losing effort, 3 -1 v Union Berlin.Sandhausen is in big trouble as one of the two teams that could easily find themselves in 3. Liga next season. Hannover , still without an injured Cherundolo, fell 2 – 0 , sitting mid-table their prospects are neutral, with no hope of Europe and good hope of safety from relegation. Also on Friday, Roma did themselves no favors at home as they were thumped by Cagliari 4 – 2 . This may turn out to be a death knell to Roma’s hopes of European Football next year. Helmond Sport, currently sitting in second place in Eerste Division in Holland, pulled off a 1 – 1 away draw, Charles Kazlauskas played the first half for Helmond. Finally, the Finland League Cup hs been going on for the past few weeks. Americans are involved , there are 3 groups, Inter Turku and Daniel Antunez are not doing very well and are bottom of Group A. Kevin Sawchak and MYPA are leading Group B, while Echu Tabe and Johann Smith with KuPS lead Group C ahead of Mike Banner and Andrew Smalley with Jaro who find themselves in 2nd spot, without having played yet, play today.
So that’s what was, now what is. Couple of good games in the EPL. Arsenal host Stoke and the America Bowl, Everton host Aston Villa, hopefully we see all our boys today. Add a good dose of Championship and League One and the UK should cure your ill’s. In Germany its a full deck, Hoffenheim, Schalke, Augsburg, Mainz all play as well as Frankfurt, will be looking for an American there as well. No games Saturday for Americans, but there is action in 3 Liga and in Regionalliga, so Germany is back in full swing, for you German fans
In other leagues, Jozy and AZ Alkmaar face Groningen, as they continue their climb up the Eredivisie in search of a Europe spot. In Spain’s Segunda Racing Santander and Bocanegra are visiting Sporting Gijon. There are several other games going on around the world that we will be following as well. Finally, the game of the day for me, Maurice Edu and Bursaspor host giants Galatasaray in the late game, a real test for Bursaspor and Turkeys first chance to see the new Gala line up, expect Drogba, Sneijder and Melo to apply ton’s of pressure on Maurice Edu and Anton Ferdinand.
There you have it for Saturday, and of course we will be back on Sunday for Dempsey and Tottenham, Timothy Chandler and Nurnberg, Sasha Kljestan and Anderlecht, then Gooch and Malaga, among others.
Get ready to chat, lets have those opinions, and follow “The Thread”
|
In Finland HJK have extended their lead (73)
HJK 2 – 0 MYPA (76)
Scores Update:
Nurnberg 2 – 1 Borussia M’Gladbach (77)
HJK 2 – 0 MYPA (79)
Scores Update:
Nurnberg 2 – 1 Borussia M’Gladbach (87)
HJK 2 – 0 MYPA (89)
Final in Bundesliga
Nurnberg 2 – 1 Borussia M’Gladbach
Timothy Chandler goes full 90 minutes in Nurnberg’s win
Finland League Cup (Group B)
HJK 2 – 0 MYPA – Final
HJK take over lead of Group B from MYPA with today’s win
Our next game Anderlecht v Standard Liege in about 30 mins
The Belgium Classico
Noon ET
Anderlecht vs Standard Liege. Anderlecht looking for win #12 in a row, Standard Liege looking for the double over rivals. Yes there’s much going on in this match, last game in Liege was contentious to say the least.
Announced:
Sasha Kljestan to start for Anderlecht v Standard Liege
moments away from the start in Belgium
Anderlecht (Sasha Kljestan) v Standard Liege
And kick-off
Anderlecht 0 – 0 Standard Liege (2)
Nurnberg’s win today provided the 3 points that have pulled them free of the relegation zone. 8 points clear of Hoffenheim, who are in the relegation playoff spot.
Anderlecht take the lead (2)
Anderlecht 1 – 0 Standard Liege (4)
First 10 minutes gone, a goal and a yellow card
Anderlecht 1 – 0 Standard Liege (10)
Yesterday’s draw with Galatasaray gave Bursaspor(Maurice Edu) the one point it needed to get into 7th spot in the Turkish Super Liga, and just 3 points behind Fenerbahce and a European place
20 minutes gone
Anderlecht 1 – 0 Standard Liege
Kawashima pulls off a nice save from a Sacha Kljestan free kick.
oops! Standard Liege equalize (22)
Anderlecht 1 – 1 Standard Liege (25)
I just found out the Honduras game will be at 4PM EST! Seriously? What in the world were they thinking?
Michy Batshuayi (Standard Liege) equalizes against his old club (Anderlecht thought he was a bit wild and his brother is still at Anderlecht)
Anderlecht need to sort their back four out, all over the place in last 5 minutes
30 minutes gone – 2 goals 1 Yellow
Anderlecht 1 – 1 Standard Liege (30)
Hi Ian
its hot and humid – tactical decision by Honduras.
Ian, the Honduran Gov’t has also given its workers the afternoon off to attend the game (or watch on TV)
I’m gonna tell my boss the government is giving me the afternoon off…
40 minutes gone, 2 goals, 2 yellow cards
Anderlecht 1 – 1 Standard Liege (40)
Ian you can try LMAO
Milan Jovanovic sent off. Straight RED
Anderlecht are now in trouble, down to 10 men
The fight is on for real now
Anderlecht 1 – 1 Standard Liege (43)
That’s the first red card for Anderlecht in the league this season and it could hardly have come at a worse time.
Not for the first time in his career, Jovanovic lets his temper get the better of him. Needlessly barged into Opare.
Half Time in the Belgium Classico
Anderlecht 1 – 1 Standard Liege
2 goals,2 yellows, 1 red – look out for the 2nd half.
We are into the 2nd half in Belgium
Anderlecht 1 – 1 Standard Liege (50)
Anderlecht bring on Odoi and Kanu for youngsters Bruno and Praet. Gillet into midfield, 4-4-1.
Drat! Standard Liege take the lead (51)
Anderlecht 1 – 2 Standard Liege (53)
Bulot with a good cross, and Yoni Buyens beats Denis Odoi to it. Anderlecht in trouble now.
Anderlecht defense dodgy today. 12 game streak on the line!!!
Newcomer Yuji Ono on for Standard Liege replacing Reza (55)
60 minutes gone. 3 Goals 2 Yellows 1 Red, but hardly a classic classico
Anderlecht 1 – 2 Standard Liege
Vainqueur(Standard Liege)off for 2nd yellow, tackle on Gillet but he was going for ball and Gillet made most of that.
teams level in players 10 aside for last 25 minutes
3 goals, 3 yellows 2 reds
Anderlecht 1 – 2 Standard Liege
Bulot off, replaced by Cisse (Standard Liege). (70)
Sasha Kljestan off for Armenteros.(70)
Standard Liege consolidating, Anderlecht sort of going for it.
70th minute. 3 goals, 4 yellows, 2 reds
Anderlecht 1 – 2 Standard Liege
Anderlecht need a goal to keep the streak alive!!!!
Anderlecht’s Kanu just wide after he’s put through by Deschacht. Time running out but game more even with 10 vs 10.
10 minutes to go, for Anderlecht to salvage game and keep streak alive
Batshuayi (Standard Liege) booked and promptly replaced by Imoh Ezekiel (a real speedster)
Anderlecht down to 9 men (Biglia 2nd yellow)
Oh Boy!!!!
3 Goals 6 Yellows, 3 Reds, 9 v 10
Anderlecht 1 – 2 Standard Liege (82)
Biglia off for bringing Ezekiel down but ref got it wrong there.Harsh. Anderlecht nine men
GOAL Anderlecht – freakin what!!!!! (85, Gillet)
unbelievable. 9 man Anderlecht tie things up
Anderlecht 2 – 2 Standard Liege (88)
Guillaume Gillet connects with Odoi’s free-kick into the box. 2-2. Still time for a winner.
In Extra Time
That’s it 9 man Anderlecht fight back for a 2 – 2 Draw
First time that Anderlecht have dropped points since October, but seeing as they were trailing and down to 9 men..not bad guy’s.
Oh, and the stats: 4 Goals, 7 Yellow Cards, 3 Red Cards, game finished 9 v 10 men….Classico!!!!
Can’t wait for Matt’s highlight video
All Righty then, that’s it for me this weekend.
Great Game to finish the weekend, no US goals or assists this weekend but there were some great performances.
Hope you had fun, thanks for all the chat and opinions.
Got some good Int’l games during the week that I am sure you all have interest in (well one anyway)
see you all next weekend
cheers