Rivals Cup Redemption; On the Deuce Being Loosed
I think it's no coincidence that this weekend is sunny and warm after a good old-fashioned Portland "blizzard." It's merely [your preferred creator]'s way of showing [his/her/its] pleasure that UrbanHonking AC has finally snapped a torturous 8 game regular season losing streak (9 games in all competitions!).
And what better way to do it than against current Rivals Cup holders Albina Going FC? UrHo lead the entire game, the first of the regular-season Rivals Cup matches, after Josh Berezin once again started off the scoring (he's starting a tradition within a tradition, scoring first against the Unicorns). Albina fought back mercilessly throughout the fixture, though, and in the dying minutes, with the boys in green leading 5-2, unleashed their secret weapon: their keeper.
Not 20 seconds after switching spots with a field player, their 6-foot-14-inch keeper found net TWICE in 90 seconds. Being on the bench at the time, i gave the boys my best Sam Allardyce, berating them mercilessly for not bunkering in to salvage the game. Lady Luck would shine on us, though, as we managed to weather the dying seconds and sail through to a 5-4 victory. Huzzahs rang out across the city, and were it daylight out, you would have seen the break in the dark clouds announcing the dawning of a new day for UrbanHonking AC.
Speaking of new days, it was a pretty decent new day for the Deuce as he made his debut in the last 10 minutes for a 10-man Fulham (Helguson having received a second yellow for what was reportedly a rather soft tackle). having spent 45 seconds assessing the lay of the land, Dempsey picks Robbie Keane's pocket, delivers a "cheeky backheel" to Michael Brown, who passes to McBride. McBride's shot is handled in the box, and Montella converts the penalty. 1-0 Fulham, with the entire play set up by Dempsey!
Unfortunately, Tottenham struck back 4 minutes later off some shoddy keeping and the game ended in a draw. Dempsey really didn't have a chance to shine otherwise (interestingly, McBride's debut for Fulham was also against Tottenham, but he put in the game winner), but I'm salivating at the thought of him actually being match fit. Deadspin has a short bit that says he ran wind sprints after the game, even. Keep it up, Deuce!
And finally, has there ever been a more goofy transfer season for a Yank Abroad than the rumors currently swirling around Gooch? Linked with both Milans, Lyon, Fulham, and now those fucking blue bastards are after him. Gooch, I understand turning down Fulham if you think you've got a chance at a top level outfit (though I come down firmly pro playing-time-in-mid-level-club side vs. riding-the-pine-for-a-champion), but honestly, you're fucking dead to me if you put on that Chelsea kit. Cheers!
You forgot to mention that the last 8 min we were on notice with five fouls, meaning that any foul would have given the dreaded unicorns the change to equalize on a direct kick.
Note to self: check AGFC players and PortlandFutsal refs for affiliation with professional Italian leagues.
Well maybe Gooch can get some playing time with the injuries piling up at Chelsea. Imagine the respect the US would get if we had a man in blue, possibly filling in for John Terry?
well, i do concede he'd probably get plenty of playing time this year with Terry out indefinitely, but you have to wonder what happens when JT gets healthy for good. We've seen too many talented players' careers shrivel up before our eyes on chelsea's bench for my tastes.
I'll also concede that it's possible Gooch shows incredibly well, and earns a regular first team spot alongside Terry. I'd be willing to eat my words if that happened. But with so many rumors about tension between the Special One and the Chelsea Board, and whether or not he's going to stay at all past this season, it makes me wonder whether joining Chelsea now is like boarding the Titanic just before the iceberg is spotted.
Although, from the many news reports^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hrumors I've been reading, it sounds like Gooch is being a saavy negotiator through all this, playing the big teams up for more playing time, and playing the small clubs up for more money. Just hope he doesn't push it too much and get neither.