Well, that's enough of that foolishness, now we can get back to normal

(sportingnews.com)

USMNT crash out of World Cup in Round of 16 to Depay, Netherlands thanks to missed chances

The United States were always facing an uphill battle at the World Cup against the No. 8-ranked Netherlands in the Round of 16, but it felt like they had a chance to see their way through to their second-ever quarterfinal berth.

Instead, they fell short, defeated 3-1 on goals from Memphis Depay, Daley Blind, and Denzel Dumfries.

The finishing in front of goal made the difference, as the Dutch capitalized on their three best chances, while the United States missed a host of good opportunities.

It started early, as Christian Pulisic saw a massive opportunity go begging in just the third minute, saved by Andries Noppert.

From then on, the Netherlands punished the United States for every mistake, as defensive lapses and attacking frailties continued to haunt them. On the whole, the U.S. created waves of chances at various points in the game, but scored just once on a wild bounce off the foot of substitute Haji Wright.

The Netherlands move on to the quarterfinals, where they will face either Argentina or Australia, while the United States remain with just one quarterfinal appearance at a World Cup in their history.

(for the rest of the article click the link)

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/usa-vs-netherlands-world-cup-live-score-result/gvclbdxbrpnjkz7ndmt8t5sm

This Stupid Journalist Was Arrested For His Moral Colonialism

Another reason why I'm no longer a soccer fan, the constant virtue signaling.

Austin FC survives Real Salt Lake’s upset bid, takes first-round MLS playoff match on penalties

 We lost to these bums?

Well, it's probably for the best, now I don't have to hear anymore about RSL or MLS for at least a few months.

Now if the USMNT can just get beat by England, Wales, and Iran I won't have to hear about this World Cup nonsense for another four years either.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Of course Austin FC’s first-ever playoff match has to be settled in the most dramatic way possible,

Verde has a knack for clawing back and finishing matches late, especially at Q2 Stadium, and Sunday’s first-round Western Conference playoff match was no different. Tied 2-2 after regulation and extra time, Austin FC buried its first three penalty kicks and goalkeeper Brad Stuver turned two Real Salt Lake chances back, and Austin FC claimed its first-ever win in the Major League Soccer playoffs.

(link to full article) - https://www.kxan.com/sports-general/austin-fc/austin-fc-hosts-real-salt-lake-in-franchises-first-ever-mls-playoff-appearance/

RSL blanks Minnesota 3-0 in front of 14th-consecutive sellout crowd

 (ksl.com 8-31-22)

Real Salt Lake got its first win at home in over a month and flexed its offensive talents in a 3-0 win over Minnesota United FC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Wednesday.

The result kept RSL in sixth place in the Western Conference, 4 points clear of the playoff line and just 2 points behind third-place Minnesota. The RioT reached sellout status for the 14th consecutive time this season, and RSL got its first shutout and home win since July 17 against Sporting Kansas City. 

https://www.ksl.com/article/50467613/rsl-blanks-minnesota-3-0-in-front-of-14th-consecutive-sellout-crowd

What the hell?! 

14 consecutive sellouts? Are there that many bored people in Salt Lake to go watch a MLS game?

Must be. 

With the heat this summer I think too many have lost their damn minds. May the cooler fall weather get here quick to wake these poor people up. 

And who has the money to pay for tickets? Am I the only one that has had all my spending money gobbled up by $5.00 a gallon gas and grocery bills that have almost doubled this year?

Judast priest.

Bill Burr on women's soccer and basketball - *WARNING* - there are about 30 F-bombs dropped during this video

Ghosts of Xango

The other day, on a warm summer morning just as the sun was coming up, I found myself across the street from the old RSL Xango practice field down in Lehi. 

Something caught my eye, what appeared to be the skeletal remains of some goal posts. Something beckoned me, called me to walk over and take a look.

I wandered over, wondering what I might find. Would I see someone out there kicking a ball around?  A coach yelling instructions perhaps.

No,sadly no. 

All I saw were some sprinklers in full song, and the mangled remains of some soccer goals. Bones bleached from the hot Utah summer sun. Ghosts of what was RSL's practice field before Rio Tinto stadium was built and Sandy stepped in. 

Ghostly ground, yet holy ground. Ground where the boots of RSL players once trot.

We Are One (Ole Ola) [The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Song]

I guess this is a pretty good song/video

Worlds are colliding

The bullfight world and the soccer world have been colliding a lot lately. 

It has been odd.

Take for instance this Rangers FC tifo in a recent semi-final UEFA Europa League match in Glasgow. Modeled after a bullfight cartel it is a throwback from 1972 when Rangers won the "European Cup Winners' Cup" beating Dynamo Moscow in Barcelona. 

Now Rangers will play against Frankfurt on Wednesday May 18th for the Europa League title in of all places Seville Spain... known as the "bullfighting cradle of the world."

Ole!

Which leads us to Real Betis and the recent Copa del Rey.

Real Betis won this year's Copa del Rey by defeating Valencia. It is only the 4th major title for the little club (with a lot of fans) from Seville. 

Winning La Liga only once, (in 1935) they have won the Copa del Rey three times. 1977, 2005, and 2022. 

Their captain, Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez, is a huge fan of the bullfight. And upon winning the Copa promptly celebrated by taking his personalized capote and performed some very nicely done veronicas to the delight of the crowd. (or was it before the game began? I don't know, I didn't see the game live, only the highlights.)

And to make things even more perfect, who happened to be in the stands that night to see it all?..... The great Curro Romero, one of the greatest bullfighters of all time.

And finally, to top it all off, to bring the worlds together and collide them even further, on the 30th of April, in Sevilla, bullfighter Antonio Ferrera invited Joaquin into the bullring to accept a dedication of the bull he was about to fight. 

(Bullfighters will almost always dedicate to someone the bull they are about to fight. Sometimes they will dedicate the bull to the crowd in general which always gets a big ovation.)

It did cause a little bit of controversy since it is customary that once a bullfight begins only toreros and bullring personnel are allowed on the sand. But the crowd didn't seem to care, they loved it.

   

So, an interesting past couple of weeks for sure. It's been fun to watch these worlds collide, it doesn't happen too often. Actually, it may have never happened as much as it has these past couple of weeks. 

Ole! again.