There was no 42-pass team goal, but compared to today’s Manchester derby at the Etihad, the Boca Juniors-River Plate Copa Libertadores final seemed like it was being played on another planet entirely.
The Seattle Sounders 2018 MLS campaign came to a cruel end on Thursday night. Not just because it was via their rivals the Portland Timbers. Not just because it came through penalties after an incredible 4-4 aggregate score across two legs. Not just because they were forced to play most of the two legs without two of their best players, Chad Marshall and Christian Roldan, lost early in leg one to injury.
The MLS Playoffs are a lot of fun. I watched last Sunday’s nine-hour marathon of Conference Semifinal first legs, so you’ll have to trust me on that point. I say trust me because you did not. Don’t even lie to me. How do I know that? The attendance numbers have been dirt nasty so far (including season-low gate numbers at Toyota Stadium, Yankee Stadium and Rio Tinto . . . and yes, we’re talking about the playoffs vs. the regular season).
Minnesota United will move into its new soccer-specific digs in Saint Paul to start the 2019 Major League Soccer season, and Allianz Field is looking spectacular alongside highway I-94. The pitch was just recently laid, and the seats, supporters’ section and mesh oval exterior give us a fantastic idea of the atmosphere that’ll reverberate around the 19,400-capacity stadium.
The MLS Cup Playoffs kicked off last night with matches at Toyota Stadium in Frisco and Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, and the attendance numbers were not good. It was, of course, Halloween night, which ruled out anyone with a kid, anyone attending a monster mash and anyone hellbent on finishing The Haunting of Hill House.
Having watched Minnesota United on the turf field at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for the last two years — often complete with the white football field markings and the giant University of Minnesota “M” at the center — I could only laugh at those with any vested interest in a crucial Premier League encounter between Tottenham and Manchester City today.
While we all wonder what’s going on with Real Madrid not scoring, or Barcelona struggling to win or who will take the lead among Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, South America is heating up to unknown levels as the Copa Libertadores semifinals are approaching.
It’s been over 40 years since 49,572 curious fans entered the now demolished Metropolitan Stadium (now the site of Mall of America) to watch the ingloriously named Minnesota Kicks take on the San Jose Earthquakes in the NASL Conference Championship. That number has since served as the high water mark for a professional soccer team in Minnesota — until Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s LA Galaxy come to town on Oct. 21.
You hear that?
Montpellier defeated Nimes 3-0 on Sunday to go second in Ligue 1 (although PSG is already nine points clear after only eight matches), but the clash between the local rivals was marred by a series of incidents that brought the match to a standstill at Stade de la Mosson.
After Montpellier’s second goal in the 29th minute, the metal gate separating the home side supporters from the pitch collapsed during the celebrations, sending fans flying onto the pitch and resulting in a few light injuries. The match had to be stopped at this point.