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February 24, 2006
A Footy Evening
Thanks to my boys and girls at MFF, 'lissa and I (and a few soccer-loving friends) enjoyed an complete evening's worth of world-class quality soccer yesterday. Indeed, a triple-header treat.
We first caught up with the last US Men's international friendly versus Guatemala. We were 2-0-1 against Canada, Norway, and Japan going in, and only expected to win. Once again the quality play showed that a team composed of MLS players can compete on a world-class level; classic American grit and spit mixed with the simple yet deadly play that distinguishes the best soccer form. 4-0 against a opponent that was clearly outmatched.
Next, we watched the second half of the first leg of the European Champion's League semifinal between Real Madrid and Arsenal. Spike Lee's team, outspent in talent and star quality, staggered the Old World by beating the Galaticos at home, the first English team to ever accomplish that feat. Thierry Henry, in a game full of superstars, was the only one backed up the hype by putting the ball into the net.
We then got to the finale match of the night, the second consecutive year that my boys in Barcelona have drawn the infamous English darlings of Russian oil billionaires everywhere, Chelsea. Last year's home-and-away series was absolutely the best soccer I’ve ever seen. This year Chelsea manager Jose “The Special One” Mourinho's mouth has been running in a non-stop fashion all the way to kickoff. Barca have been on top of their league from the beginning game of the season, as have Chelsea. This was a match between the best two teams in the world. Barcelona, going down 0-1 off of an excusable own goal, created a come-from-behind victory at Chelsea off the golden-headed dome of Samuel Eto'o. Many gorgeous moments in the match, but the two that remain today are of incoherent rage at Chelsea's Del Horno for a flying, chest-first tackle of the Lionel "Little Mouse" Messi (I was ready to storm the pitch and punch him myself, hours afterward and thousands of miles away), and fist-pumping joy at the beautiful play which produced the game-winner for the Catalans. Ronaldinho "Horsey" Gaucho, the best player in the world but silent most of the night, swept in a curving cross that Eto'o rammed down into the net with such power that I'm pretty sure Chuck Norris cried.
The best part is, next week we get to feast again. Barcelona plays Chelsea at home, Arsenal play Real at home, and the US MNT play Poland.
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Posted by Noel at 05:36 PM
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Comments
i too was well fed with football bood this week - the same games. Yet they were lacking two important elements: my Noel and his St. Arnolds.
Posted by: Luther at February 24, 2006 11:30 PM
p.s. Did you really find Del Horno that blatantly at fault, or is this just poetic exaggeration?
Posted by: Luther at February 25, 2006 10:22 AM
I was very much angry, as Del Horno had gotten away with a terrible kick to Messi's knee just a couple minutes before that. Then I saw him come in and just wipe Messi out. My anger subsided when I saw the replay, and how Messi went up into the air inexplicably and then definitely gave a show rolling on the ground. However, Del Horno also went into the air for no good reason, was nowhere near the ball, and so deserved whatever happened to him.
I missed Jason's house and his beer.
Posted by: Noel at February 25, 2006 02:20 PM