Thursday night’s MLS playoff action provided us with the perfect examples of an exhilarating 0-0 stalemate (Atlanta vs. Columbus earlier in the day) and an entirely forgettable one. The opening 90 minutes between the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City was highlighted by a relatively subdued BBVA Compass Stadium (the Astros might just be the talk of the town at the moment) booing Graham Zusi’s every touch.
Borussia Dortmund played a very Halloween-themed DFB-Pokal match Tuesday against FC Magdeburg, whose fans have a well-earned reputation for amusing antics. Look at this tifo the hosts brought out to welcome their opponents. Unless you were scared by the "Saw" movies.
There's happy. And then there's 65 years worth of happiness resounding in a stadium after your team beats a rival for the first time in six decades.
Just check out the atmosphere at The John Smith's Stadium after Huddersfield unexpectedly dismantled Manchester United on Saturday:
Lyon beat Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park in the Europa League Thursday. That was the boring part.
THIS WAS THE EXCITING PART.
What motivates a fan to get involved in a fight between players while HOLDING A CHILD?! (via @FoxSoccer) https://t.co/FlmEdNX5OH
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) October 19, 2017
With Coventry City trailing Forest Green 1-0 in English League Two football on Tuesday, one Coventry supporter took issue with his side’s inability to win the ball back and invaded the pitch to help apply pressure near the corner flag. Play appropriately stopped, but with security absolutely nowhere in sight, the fan proceeded to berate his team’s players before showing himself back to his seat.
The lack of security is obviously disturbing, but the hairdryer treatment was somewhat deserved with the team having failed to score in three straight matches now.
Things got wet and wild in the 42nd minute of Barcelona’s Champions League encounter with Olympiacos when Gerard Pique received a second yellow card for attempting to recreate Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal. It was a moment of madness — a certain looking goal suddenly transforming into a sending off for Barca’s best defender.
Some fans in Brazil have set a new bar for smuggling things into soccer games. They brought a pig.
— ☭ Porquinho ☭ (@PorquitoReal) October 16, 2017