The Soccer Thread

[Guest]

Great header from Riise...into his own net. Unreal end and Chelsea just got a HUGE break. 1-1 now.

[Exile on Waveland]

Great header from Riise...into his own net. Unreal end and Chelsea just got a HUGE break. 1-1 now.

 

I didn't see it; studying for finals and following online. That's unbelievable. Game-tying own-goal in stoppage time. Liverpool is going to have a difficult time advancing now.

[Guest]

Great header from Riise...into his own net. Unreal end and Chelsea just got a HUGE break. 1-1 now.

 

I didn't see it; studying for finals and following online. That's unbelievable. Game-tying own-goal in stoppage time. Liverpool is going to have a difficult time advancing now.

 

It was a low cross from the left-side and there were two players from each team in the middle. Riise looked to be right in the middle of the field and I'm not sure what he was trying to do with the header, though my best guess was that he was trying to head it over the top, which was stupid because he dove to get it and the ball was maybe two feet off the ground and he hit it from maybe five yards out. The ball went right into the top of the net and I'm not sure why he didn't just try to kick the ball instead. Not a smart play.

[MPC]

Great header from Riise...into his own net. Unreal end and Chelsea just got a HUGE break. 1-1 now.

That's unbelievable. Game-tying own-goal in stoppage time. Liverpool is going to have a difficult time advancing now.

 

the thing you are forgetting is that chelsea is not very good. i can easily see liverpool getting an away goal early and head into extra time.

[wolf stansson]

Great header from Riise...into his own net. Unreal end and Chelsea just got a HUGE break. 1-1 now.

That's unbelievable. Game-tying own-goal in stoppage time. Liverpool is going to have a difficult time advancing now.

 

the thing you are forgetting is that chelsea is not very good. i can easily see liverpool getting an away goal early and head into extra time.

I know exactly where you're coming from, but come on. They are very, very, very talented. Unorganized, arrogant and run by a joke of a manager, yes, but if those players come together on the pitch regardless of all that, they can beat anyone.

[shnsajax]

Great header from Riise...into his own net. Unreal end and Chelsea just got a HUGE break. 1-1 now.

That's unbelievable. Game-tying own-goal in stoppage time. Liverpool is going to have a difficult time advancing now.

 

the thing you are forgetting is that chelsea is not very good. i can easily see liverpool getting an away goal early and head into extra time.

I know exactly where you're coming from, but come on. They are very, very, very talented. Unorganized, arrogant and run by a joke of a manager, yes, but if those players come together on the pitch regardless of all that, they can beat anyone.

 

Liverpool have Steven Gerrard, nothing is impossible.

[MPC]

Great header from Riise...into his own net. Unreal end and Chelsea just got a HUGE break. 1-1 now.

That's unbelievable. Game-tying own-goal in stoppage time. Liverpool is going to have a difficult time advancing now.

 

the thing you are forgetting is that chelsea is not very good. i can easily see liverpool getting an away goal early and head into extra time.

I know exactly where you're coming from, but come on. They are very, very, very talented. Unorganized, arrogant and run by a joke of a manager, yes, but if those players come together on the pitch regardless of all that, they can beat anyone.

you're definitely right. i was posting more out of frustration and anger about today's match. i still get flash of agger in my mind.

[reggiemiller rules]

Pretty disappointing result thanks to Riise, but it is definitely not over yet. It will be very tough for Liverpool but they are capable of beating them at Stamford Bridge. On a positive note, I thought that Skrtel was unbelievable tonight, and has been great since he come over.

[wolf stansson]

Pretty disappointing result thanks to Riise, but it is definitely not over yet. It will be very tough for Liverpool but they are capable of beating them at Stamford Bridge. On a positive note, I thought that Skrtel was unbelievable tonight, and has been great since he come over.

Capable of beating them at the Bridge? They haven't scored at SB for 4 years let alone won.

 

Granted no Torres then, but things are looking grim for Liverpool.

[reggiemiller rules]

Listen I wouldnt put my money on Liverpool right now, but it is not impossible that they could go in the Stamford and get a 1-1 draw. Once it gets to extra time or shootout anything can happen. Like i said it will be very tough, and the odds are in Chelsea's favor, but it is not over by any means.

[Guest]

I highly, highly doubt Liverpool goes to Stamford Bridge and wins next week. I could see a tie (whether that be 0-0 or 1-1) with Liverpool advancing, but there's no way they win in 90 minutes. I realize that Liverpool has a history of playing well in the Champions League, but Chelsea is ridiculously good at home. It should be a good game and Chelsea is the easy favorite to advance.

[Guest]

As for today's game, I've got 2-1 Man U with, hopefully, Marquez getting torched for a goal or committing a miscue which leads to a goal.

[Guest]

Wow. Man U got a penalty for a handball in the second minute but Ronaldo sent it wide. Barcelona got a HUGE break there. GKer went the wrong way as well so all he had to do was put it on frame.

[Guest]

Entertaining first half. Outside of the Ronaldo PK and maybe one other chance, Man U didn't do anything in the first half. Barcelona controlled the play and completely took Rooney, Tevez and, to a lesser extent, Ronaldo completely out of the game. Though they dominated the midfield, Barca didn't really have any good chances to score and haven't tested Van der Sar at all. Man U obviously should have a goal because of the PK but Barca probably should have had a goal considering how well they've been playing.

 

Also, Marquez is going to miss the second leg because of a second yellow but Barca won't miss much because Puyol will be back.

[wolf stansson]

I could see a tie (whether that be 0-0 or 1-1) with Liverpool advancing

0-0 would be a Chelsea win by away goals.

[Guest]

I could see a tie (whether that be 0-0 or 1-1) with Liverpool advancing

0-0 would be a Chelsea win by away goals.

 

:oops: Well, I'm [expletive].

[Guest]

Game ends 0-0. Barca had a couple of good chances very late in the game but for most of the game didn't get off many good shots. In the first 80 minutes or so, I can't think of a chance that had a serious chance of going in (outside of Ronaldo's penalty kick) or really tested either goalkeeper.

 

I'm also really confused by Ferguson's use of Rooney in the game as he had Rooney playing outside mid rather than his normal forward position and I'd wager that was the main thing behind Rooney not doing a single thing in the game today.

 

I'd say Barca is in the best position having not given up an away goal but Man U is fine as well, needing a win to go on. And while beating Barcelona is no guarantee, if you can't get a win at home in the Champions League semis, you probably don't deserve to advance anyway.

[wolf stansson]

Better result for Barca than I expected.

 

Also, Fire draft pick/Olympic qual goalie, Dom Cervi (he is the really tall one) is on trial with Celtic. I personally thought Seitz was better, but this is what happens when you turn down MLS and broaden your horizons. We have an embarassment of riches at keeper.

Under-23 national team goalkeeper and 2008 Chicago Fire draft pick Dominic Cervi is on trial with Scottish powerhouse Celtic. Ron Waxman, Cervi's New York-based agent, confirmed on Wednesday that Cervi has been with Celtic for more than a week as part of an extended trial.

 

The No. 12 overall pick in January's MLS Draft, Cervi turned down the Fire's offer of a minimum salary contract, valued at about $32,000 a year, but could wind up a big winner if he can secure a contract from Celtic, which is in the market for goalkeepers, especially with the strong likelihood that starter Artur Boruc will leave this summer.

 

Celtic is the same club that made a strong push for Chivas USA and U.S. national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan only to have Guzan turn them down in favor of Aston Villa. Guzan then had his work permit application denied.

 

A 21-year-old native of Oklahoma, Cervi played for the U.S. Under-23 national team in Olympic Qualifying last month. He started in two matches for the U.S. team, including the 1-0 loss to Honduras in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship match.

[Jon]

We already had one GK leave because he was getting paid roughly $60,000. Why would a top draft pick want to play with an organization after hearing that?

[circlechange]

Game ends 0-0. Barca had a couple of good chances very late in the game but for most of the game didn't get off many good shots. In the first 80 minutes or so, I can't think of a chance that had a serious chance of going in (outside of Ronaldo's penalty kick) or really tested either goalkeeper.

 

I'm also really confused by Ferguson's use of Rooney in the game as he had Rooney playing outside mid rather than his normal forward position and I'd wager that was the main thing behind Rooney not doing a single thing in the game today.

 

I'd say Barca is in the best position having not given up an away goal but Man U is fine as well, needing a win to go on. And while beating Barcelona is no guarantee, if you can't get a win at home in the Champions League semis, you probably don't deserve to advance anyway.

Barca dominated possession (~65-35) but hardly worked Van der Sar all game. Henry came on with a couple decent long range efforts late. United played poorly in their own right, poor touches and passes and obviously couldn't keep much possession. The return leg at OT should be better, and I agree that if you can't win at home in the semis, then maybe you shouldn't advance. Although if United don't win, that's going to be the case anyway.

 

It'll be interesting to see who SAF starts on Saturday at Chelsea. Scholes played 90 minutes today and Hargreaves hasn't started in back-to-back games since December. So it's probably Anderson-Carrick in CM. Early start to that one, too, gonna have to get up at 6:30 to watch it. Can't imagine the pain if any west coasters try it.

[USSoccer]

I'm still fricking stunned Cristiano missed that. I have no idea why he tried to get cute with it. It's a CL Semi on the road, not a midweek FA fixture against Bolton. Blast the fricking ball into the net, man.

[USSoccer]

Chelsea 2-1 over Man U at the Shed. Man U were terrible, Rooney got hurt, and now the last 2 weeks of the Prem are going to be pretty interesting.

[shnsajax]

Chelsea 2-1 over Man U at the Shed. Man U were terrible, Rooney got hurt, and now the last 2 weeks of the Prem are going to be pretty interesting.

 

Very interesting since the Prem. is usually decided by now. Stupid Arsenal and all of the draws they have had this season. I can't decide who I hate more ManU or Chelsea. I think ManU is more deserving simply because of C. Ronaldo's season which has been one of the greatest in recent memories. Will be even more interesting should they meet in the Champions League Final.

[MPC]

yeah for fox soccer not showing the most important game of the year!

[MPC]

this chelsea team really pisses me off. everytime i want to write them off as being finished, they suck me back in with a huge result. man utd. still needs to drop a point over their next two for chelsea to have a chance because of goal differential.

 

chelsea away to newcastle and home to bolton.

 

man utd. home to west ham and away to wigan.

 

hopefully west ham can steal another one away from man utd. just like they did at the end of last season to stay in the prem.