Toronto FC clinched its spot in the MLS Cup playoffs when Sebastian Giovinco did this ridiculous thing to the East-leading New York Red Bulls.
But just a few days later the Columbus Crew came to town and Federico Higuaín (brother of Napoli and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain) did this other ridiculous thing to Giovinco’s side.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s USMNT squad has lost its last two games, including one very important defeat against Mexico in which the lost the chance to play in the Russia 2017 Confederations Cup.
Things I can do in seven seconds: pour a cup of coffee, spread cream cheese on a bagel, type a sentence, tie my shoe, walk from one end of my apartment to the other and forget what I was thinking about seven seconds ago. Things Mike Grella can do in seven seconds: score a goal against the Philadelphia Union.
If you've made your way over to ESPN.com in the past week, you've likely encountered their rankings for all 122 franchises in the "four major pro sports leagues". In the ensuing quarrels concerning how the Cleveland Browns could possibly be ranked above anyone, many readers have questioned ESPN's continued noninvolvement of MLS franchises. Why, after 20 years of sustained growth, haven't they included MLS club rankings?
It was quite the day for the city of Toronto yesterday. First, the Blue Jays clinched a spot in the ALCS after a wild game vs the Texas Rangers and then a Sebastian Giovinco goal for Toronto FC sent the club to their first ever playoff apperance. As the rapper Drake would say, "what a time to be alive!" Giovinco's goal for Toronto reminded us, and probably anyone who watched it, of a little Argentine that plays his futbol over the pond at Barcelona. Yes we're obviously talking about Lionel Messi, and yes Giovinco's goal mimics the likes of La Pulga.
Great teams raise their games when the stakes are highest. So do great fanbases. So do great fighters. So do members of great fanbases who are also great fighters, or at least willing fighters.
This is what happened Saturday in the Rose Bowl during the USA vs. Mexico match. The game itself was one of the most exciting clashes in recent memory. It was made even more exciting for the select few fans who got to be near/participate in this brawl.
July 11th, 2006: Street cleaners are still working on tidying up Berlin’s fan mile after more than half a million Germans had gathered to salute Die Mannschaft on their improbable run to third place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The US-Mexico rivalry has seen some pretty memorable moments, but Paul Aguilar's Goal vs the US to clinch El Tri a spot in the confederations cup may be the most memorable to date. Prior to this match the US fan base was calling for Jurgen Klinsmann's head should the stars and stripes not earn a victory, and that is exactly what has happened since the loss. Frustration has now surrounded Klinsmann's program after a poor performance in the Gold Cup and the lack luster result this past Saturday.
You know what happened by now, even if you didn't see the game. Paul Aguilar scored in the 119th minute to lift Mexico over the United States for the right to go to the Confederations Cup, the warm-up to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Considering the circumstances leading up to the game, the hype, the stakes, the atmosphere, this coule very well be the most important goal scored in USA vs. Mexico history.
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena will host the CONCACAF Gold Cup playoff between Mexico and the United States to determine which team will travel to Russia for the Confederations Cup in 2017. USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann will look to erase the memory of his team’s failure over the summer at the Gold Cup while remaining undefeated against Mexico.