Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Chivas USA/Santos


Green and white versus red and white! Let's go to it. The stadium isn't full by far, but the crowd is lively.
Chivas USA: Dan Kennedy, Jim Curtin, Carey Tallye, Shavar Thomas, Jonathan Bornstein, Francisco Mendoza, Sacha Kljestan, Paulo Nagamura, Kraig Chiles, Roberto Nurse, Atiba Harris
Santos: Oswaldo Sanchez, Jorge Estrada, Rafael Figueroa, Osmar Mares, Fernando Ortiz, Edgar Castillo, Johnnie Garcia, Fernando Arce, Francisco Torres, Vicente Vuoso, Christian Benitez
Kickoff!
1 - Bornstein is battling for the ball up high.
2 - NO GOAL! Kennedy was beaten all kinds of badly, but the offside saved Chivas USA. The Santos fans aren't happy.
3 - CK for Santos, but the ball into the box misses everyone. The crowd starts a "Me! Hi! Co!" chant.
5 - It turns out Kennedy wasn't in goal for the last Chivas USA game because he had a slight injury, not that Lance Parker had suddenly surpassed him.
7 - Arce in the box, but Curtin shields him from reaching the cross well, and the ball is out for a goal kick.
8 - Benitez gets pulled down and the crowd yells for a penalty, but all Santos gets is a corner.
Kennedy catches it.
9 - Santos seems like the home team. They've come out with more aggression and their fans are loud whenever they do something noteworthy.
10 - oooh, Chivas USA quick counter - Jonny with the shot - high.
11 - Nurse takes a nice pass from CHiles in midfield and attacks Santos - getting the ball into the box before it's cleared out for a corner. Chiles takes it - misses everyone in the box.
12 - Benitez on the counter - he's beaten the entire Chivas USA backline and faces Kennedy alone. Kennedy commits and goes to ground, but Benitez keeps control of the ball and rounds him and shoots and - HITS THE CROSSBAR! Wide open net. Amazing.
16 - In case you're wondering where he is, Rafael Wicky just had surgery on his ankle. It was reconstructed, and he's likely out for the rest of the season.
18 - As Jesse Marsch and Claudio Suarez are on the bench, the captain's armband goes to Kljestan. I'd have given it to Nags, actually. He's the midfield engine in a lot of ways.
21 - The pace of this game is fast - Preki was probably wise to rest some players.
22 - Neither team is in a dominant rhythm, but Santos does have a FK. It's far out though and they basically put the ball square then lose it.
23 - Nags is down, but Sacha attacks into the Santos box. Nags stays down while a shot by Harris gets squelched, then finally gets up as the Santos attack comes back his way.
24 - Chivas USA have a corner now. Chiles takes it, Harris gets a head on it, but sends the ball wide.
27 - SAVE! Kennedy comes up big as Curtin gets beat by Vincente Vuoso and exposes the Chivas goal to a 1v1 against the keeper.
29 - Mendoza with a great run into the box, but his low cross gets cleared.
31 - Nags smacks into Arce so hard on a tackle that we can hear the impact in the pressbox. He gets ball, and a yellow card. We laugh here in the box, because the replay doesn't show us whether it was studs up or not - the camera lingered too long on Sacha and missed the tackle completely.
34 - Castillo on the run, but is give-and-go gets cut off.
35 - FK for Chivas USA - the ball gets cleared for a throw in. Sanchez catches the service from that.
36 - Hustle from Bornstein earns Chivas USA a FK on the left sideline. Kljestan takes it, serves into the box - it gets cleared.
37 - Torres pops Nags into the air with a tackle - gets yellow for that. Earlier, Vuoso had what looked like a friendly clothesline of Kljestan.
39 - After a nice through ball from Vuoso, Estrada strikes a cross deep into the box, Castillo brings it down, but under pressure, puts the ball out without ever really shooting.
40 - Castillo tries to atone on this counter, racing forward and sending in a low shot that Kennedy dives full-length and just palms wide.
41 - The resultant FK gives Chivas USA problems, but they finally clear.
42 - A racing Nurse helps for a corner for Chivas USA - Kljestan takes it but no one gets on it and the ball turns over to Santos.
43 - Vuoso releases a great ball for Estrada who races forward with Arce making a run up the middle, but Estrada puts the ball inbetween a cross and a shot to the far post and gets the benefit of neither as the ball goes out untouches.
45 - Dangerous FK for Santos. Kennedy gets low for it, but can't hang on and gives up the corner.
45+ The ball nearly bends in for an Olympic goal, but Kennedy touches it out and gives up another corner. Chivas USA clear the ball, with Kljestan leading the attack until he realizes no one else on his team is making the run with him.
Halftime
Really fast match. It will be interesting to see if Preki was saving the savvier players, like Razov, for the second half. Santos had better chances, but Chivas USA hung in well, and Kennedy came up big a couple of times. That Saprissa goalkeeper isn't going to walk in and just take the job if Kennedy keeps this up.
47 - No PK! It looked like a handball on Santos, but the ref waved it off.
49 - Jesse Marsch and Razov are in the game for Nurse and Harris.
53 - Castillo is a versatile, quick terror on the left side. He helps Santos earn a corner here
54 - The short corner leads to a shot by Castillo, but Sacha deflects it out for another CK. That's cleared.
56 - Castillo again on the attack - takes a shot at the top of the box - wide.
59 - Razov helps Chivas USA earn a FK outside the edge of the box. Tough angle for 'Te. He centers the ball instead for a shot by Kljestan, but it's deflected.
61 - Pace of the game is still very fast - Santos pushing the issue, but Chivas USA looking lively on the counter chances.
62 - Castillo again creates a chance, but Benitez doesn't give back on the give-and-go.
63 - Sueno comes into the game! Jorge Flores replaces Chiles.
65 - Watching Santos, I realize MLS no longer has any team using green as a primary uniform color. Green's my favorite color.
67 - It's hard to describe the action - every ball is a battle - there's a lot happening, but everyone is going so full-tilt that it's a deadlock. Slight advantages are gained and lost, without a clear chance anywhere.
69 - Castillo seems to get free to a through pass - but he's actually offside.
70 - Walter Jimenez is coming on for Garcia, who the announcers are calling Lopez, but he used to play for Chivas USA, so Luis and I know who he is.
71 - Bornstein with a great run into the box, but his cross gets cut off - still, Razov helps get a CK out of it. It misses everyone in the box, though.
72 - Vuoso is furious about the latest offside call.
73 - GOAL! Razov takes a great bending pass from Kljestan into the box, and flicks it trickily to the far post, beating Sanchez. Nice. Razov celebrates in the corner with his teammates. He and Sach do Karate Kid kicks together. 1-0 Chivas USA.
76 - Kennedy slips on a clearance kick, but the ball goes way downfield. Santos bring it back, though and get a corner out of it. It's served in well in front of goal, but it falls well for Chivas USA and they clear.
78 - Santos again bringing a lot of pressure, but like before, it doesn't lead to a good chance - oh wait, they get a corner here.
79 - That's cleared, but then another one is forthcoming.
80 - Arce gets a yellow - the corner is out for a goal kick.
81 - Santos waste a FK as confetti rains down on Kennedy. At least it's not streamers, though that much confetti makes it hard to see.
82 - Basically, if you're playing Chivas USA at home, attack hard at the 80th minute, because their fans will do the confetti shower under any circumstances and it might help to create a goal.
83 - Vuoso gets off a shot - Kennedy dives, just parries it wide.
84 - Burling comes in for Thomas to defend the corner. It's cleared for another corner, same side. Corner leads to a shot, but it's deflected - offside.
87 - 'Te juggles the ball to control it and continue the Chivas USA attack. It leads to a cross by Kljestan, but Santos clear it.
88- Santos is pushing up desperately and more than a little frantically, in an effort to score.
89 - NO GOAL! Burling gets a yellow and gives up a FK. It's in a dangerous area, but not too close. Torres gets on the end of it and pops the ball away from Kennedy, near post, side netting. Nicely done! Gosh, it was so noisy here, I didn't realize the goal was called offside.
90 - Chivas USA look deflated, Santos charged up.
90 + Flores gets a yellow card for going down too easily, trying to draw the foul. Santos fighting for one last good chance, they whip the ball around and earn a deep throw. Now a CK. Chivas USA fight it off, but before they can counter, the whistle blows.
Final whistle!
Santos didn't dominate the game, but they played well, and to leave with nothing is a bit harsh. It's like they say, though. It's not what you deserve, it's what you do, and Chivas USA scored.
Both teams are still alive to advance to the next round, though.


.

25 comments:

Sidenetting said...

fun game to watch. better than the galaxy chivias usa game the other thursday. seems like both teams are really playing fast and hard.

green's my favorite color as well.

Anonymous said...

RAZOV!!!

Sidenetting said...

i don't know if there's anything i enjoy more in professional soccer than seeing Oswaldo Sanchez in a full dive with the past his outstretched fingertips.

Anonymous said...

I was just going to post that this match was a lot like the CUSA/LA Galaxy game. Really fast and a lot of back and forth attacking. Finally somebody scored. Can Chivas USA hangon?

Sidenetting said...

I think this game is a lot faster than gals/chivas but maybe I'm wrong. it would be interesting to hear what the chivas players think about speed of play.

in any case, this is a really fun game to watch imho. chivas will have to hold the fort here. should be a fun last 10 minutes

Sidenetting said...

this coach might end up in jail after what he's planning for the the linesman

Anonymous said...

Dream gets foul in or close to the box. This ref aint calling that the this got is letting a lot go.

Anonymous said...

Chivas USA WINS!! Sanchexz is pissed they are crowding the ref to complain. Chivas fans celebrate in styple jumping up an down.

Sidenetting said...

ac - that goal was disallowed.

now oswaldo is showing signs - after the final whistle - of why he was arrested in chicago this summer. the only thing better than seeing oswaldo give up a goal is seeing him complain like a little kid. great stuff! chivas deserved this win but santos was very unlucky AND had some dubious calls against them.

Anonymous said...

that last goal by santos didn't count, right? thats what the tv reads. what happened?

Anonymous said...

yeah it was called offside (though it didnt look like it to me)

Anonymous said...

i love how AC thought it was a tie.

Anonymous said...

the thought of a real Chivas/erzatz Chivas match is real mouth watering...

I hope that the fake version kicks their butts.....and I suspect that they won't have a fan in the stadium...

A.C. said...

Fine, fine, it's a win. I realized it late, because things are a bit messy here in the press box and there's a lot of noise.

Anonymous said...

I think andrea got it wrong. Chivas win, but on a horrible offsides call - the third of the 20 minutes I watched. Awful call.

Anonymous said...

Imagine if how the crowd will be if the two Chivas teams would actually play each other. It would be a bit stranger but fun and interesting.

A.C. said...

Yeah I didn't see an offside at all, and I was blocking out all the yakking nearby because I was trying to blog. Unfortunately, I then missed the call. I should have noticed the lack of the kickoff and the scoreboard, but I was looking down, typing.

Anonymous said...

Really was an even match just like the Pachua/New England game both MLS managed to win, though CUSA was damn lucky about that offside call. Khano Smith for breaking the MLS pk jinx!

Sidenetting said...

ac - no worries, thanks for live blogging. i'd really be interested to hear what players say about speed of play of this game

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to your post game interviews. Have a good night and thanks for the running blog and the pics from the Development Academy Finals

Anonymous said...

Santos was unlucky not to win this one. Good game though.

Anonymous said...

yes AC, no worries.
your work is appreciated.

Anonymous said...

awful game,awful refs, as a Chivas USA fan, i feel ashamed on how we played tonight, besides the goal by Razov. Questionable offside by Santos. We were very lucky.

L.B. said...

It's easy to miss things sometimes that seem obvious. I covered a game once, a pretty important game, and there was a foul inside the penalty area late in the game. A PK was called, which I got, but there was a red card given as well, which I didn't. I was so busy writing that the one team had won on the PK and describing the significance of the win that I barely even noticed that the other team had 10 men and didn't realize it until well after I'd filed my stories. I'm guessing readers thought "why no mention of the red card?"

A.C. said...

Luckily, this is a blog, not a published article - so I was able to fix it relatively quickly.
Luis and I got a laugh out of it, though. The funny thing was, the running blog had no comments at the half, and I was wondering if anyone was following along. Course, after my gaffe, a bunch chimed in, so I joked to Luis that I was just trying to make sure people were paying attention and get them to comment.
Seriously, though, we're at games, but sometimes, I feel I get a better sense of certain plays at home. The press box shares a television, but we can't hear the announcers or rewind if we want to see certain plays.