Are you tired of Liverpool and Chelsea squaring off? They do it again today in the Champions League for the fifth straight season.
I am definetly against an all English Champions League final. It just doesn’t have the buzz for me.
I want league against league, country against country.
Liverpool eliminated Chelsea in the semi-finals in both 2004-2005 and 2006-2007 while Chelsea returned the favor last year at the same stage.
Amazingly, they also met in the group stage in 2005-2006.
Whoever advances gets the winner of Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
By the way Chelsea has yet to win against the so called big clubs in England (Man. U, Liverpool, Arsenal) yet these matches were all played under Felipe Scolari not Guus Hiddink.
Liverpool has yet to lose to any of the big clubs and are the favorites at home today.
To further my point this is the 22nd time, yes 22nd time they have met in all competitions.
I can’t lie, despite all this I will be watching.
Bayern Munich was just crushed by Felix Magath and Wolfsburg this past weekend 5-1. What a wild card they are coming into this match against Barcelona today at Barca.
This game intrigues me even more. These are the two highest scoring teams in Champions league play as both have combined for a total of 48 goals in the competition.
Barcelona got by Lyon in the prior round while Bayern crushed Sporting 12-1 on aggregate.
Barcelona has never beaten Bayern Munich in a European match.
Steven Gerrard of Liverpool and Miroslav Klose of Bayern on the top scorers in the Champions league with 7 goals.
This ought to be a beauty with footballers like Barca’s Lionel Messi and Bayern’s Franck Ribery (A Barcelona transfer target). Not to mention Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o.
Set those vcr’s.
Who gets results today?
So I got home from doing the radio show and caught the end of the Puerto Rican Islanders at Cruz Azul.
Now those Islanders bearing the flag of the USL had a two goal aggregate leading going to the Estadio Azul and crumbled under the pressure.
They were a game side to say the least.
Christian Riveros was sent off for Cruz Azul giving the Islanders a man advantage in the first half.
After 120 minutes a bizarre extra time rule that said away goals during that time didn’t count.
It was off to penalty kicks where Azul won 4-2.
Now this rule is bizarre and makes no sense. Sandi Gbandi hit a scorcher that made the score 3-1 and an aggregate of 3-3.
On that goal scored away, Puerto Rico should have advanced on the away goals rule.
So Puerto Rico and Montreal navigate these waters better than MLS teams. MLS teams will consistently win games over USL teams yet the USL deserves major kudos for the run that their clubs made in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Yes, it is something to hold their hat on and no matter how you look at it , they went farther than the MLS and were one game away from the final.
What are they doing and what can be learned from MLS teams in this competition? That is the question.
I am tired of the Mexican domination in this tournament.
Couple of notes: Sandi Gbandi played youth soccer for the CY FAIR DYNAMOS and is the brother of Chris Gbandi currently playing overseas and formerly of FC Dallas.
Sandi Gbandi had two goals and an assist for the Islanders in this series against Cruz Azul. Another local kid makes good. Gbandi went to UAB and
played in the Conference USA.
Javier Orozco of Cruz Azul was dangerous up front and might be a good fit for MLS……….
EMAIL FROM JOSEPH NGWENYA
Many fans are wondering what in the world happened to Joseph Ngwenya. Here is an email I received from the former Dynamo striker.
Hi Glenn,
I am trying to get my international clearance here in Turkey. I’ve had some problems with the club and I’ve sought legal advice so that I can get my financial remuneration and my international clearance as well. I’m not exactly sure how long the whole process will take but as soon as I get cleared maybe I will be in a better position to say what my next step will be.
Regards,
Joe
*Tough situation for Ngwenya and a reminder that all is not rosy in Europe economically with clubs.
*Do the Dynamo break out this weekend at home against the New York Red Bulls? Both teams are looking for their first win of 2009 and the Dynamo could have Burnley striker Ade Akinbiyi on the bench in uniform. Get out as it is Orange U night at Robertson Stadium and the first 7500 fans get a free t-shirt courtesy of Continental.
New York comes in with Juan Pablo Angel (does he miss Dave Van den Berg) the former Aston Villa striker and Dane Richards.
Richards had the best game of his career against the Dynamo last year in the 3-0 stunner. Still I believe he is still seeking out consistency and maturity in MLS.
Yes, I know and the entire league knows he has incredible speed.
Check out HoustonDynamo.com for the FUTBOL FANATIC package that gets you GOLD CUP tickets, plus tickets to five Dynamo games for only $90. Crazy value, absolutely.
FIESTA PRESENTS THE HOUSTON SOCCER UNSUNG HERO AWARD
*Every week beginning Monday on Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis , Fiesta will present the Houston Soccer unsung hero award.
Now this can go to a youth player, adult player, administrator, coach etc. at any level that has selflessly dedicated to the game.
We want to recognize those in our soccer community that have helped the game grow!!!
Email me with your nominees and a brief bio and why they should be considered at gdavis98@swbell.net
Danish Inspirations
Fiesta Mart
Houston Web Design
Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute
SportTalk 790
Zukowski, Bresenhan & Sinex, L.L.P.
The Islanders fought bravely but the tactics from the start had failure written all over them. While I agree that the Away Goal rule in OT is silly, they would have been done before that if Cruz Azul converted the numerous opportunities that PRI kept giving them. Once they went up a Man I was expecting them to change tactics a bit and at least try to maintain posession more and even go forward a bit, instead they continued to hang back and kept giving Cruz Azul chance after chance. Still a feel good story though.
Bayern will be in for a hard night at Barca. Besides missing Van Buyten and Lucio, the latest news out of Germany has them going to be without Lahm and GK Rensing as well. Maybe Lell will surprise against Messi, but that is doubtful at best. So I see Barca doing what they need to do and also Liverpool getting by Chelsea.
Nice to hear from Joe, hope he gets this sorted out and can resume his career. Sounds like he is in limbo just like Hainault is. That is the business side of Soccer a lot of people do not quite understand.
Glen: Futbol is a crazy game. Last nite the Islanders had the golden opportunity to advance to the finals but they decided to play back the whole game. When One of the Cruz Azul guys was red carded, I felt for sure that P.R. should be more agressive. They lost that game because they bacame too tentative, too passive, like the U.H. Cougars (Phi Slamma Jamma) did years ago. They had the advantage and have some capable forwards who can score. They should have pushed forward and taken there chances. As for the Orange this Saturday, I expect them to win big against N.Y. at home. If this new forward is as good as they say he is, Ching will have some good company up front. I expect the score to be 3-1 Orange. I do hope Hannault will suit up and play. He looks like he can really help this team, more than James can at this moment. And btw, Barret needs to sit this one out and come off the bench. Dane Richards will eat his lunch again if he starts.
Chelsea 3
Scousers 1
I am going to the bar to celebrate!
Take that Rafa!
Hey glenn when will the podcast be posted?
thanks!