We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Okay, so it's not exactly a Saturday afternoon at Wembley in May, but it's the best we've got right now. It's Landycakes and his mate Goldenballs against the upstart Real Salt Lakers. And it's on live in a few minutes. Join me if you can be bothered.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:44 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
83 Comments:
The teams for tonight's spectacle:
LA: Ricketts, Franklin, Gonzalez, Berhalter, Dunivant, Becks, Birchall, Kirovski, Donovan, Magee, Buddle
RSL: Rimando, Russell, Olave, Borchers, Wingert, Williams, Beckermann, Johnson, Morales, Findley, Movsisyan
The pitch doesn't look too clever, in all honesty. Very patchy indeed. Is it turf at Seattle?
And we're off!
Nice Galaxy move ends with Buddle wasting the chance. Header well wide of the mark.
Becks showing off a new version of the Parrothead, shaved up the sides tonight. Not really my cuppa.
Corner to LA. First chance for Becks to put one on someone's head. Didn't beat the first man. Try again, mate.
Donovan's agitated about something. Can't imagine what's up his nose.
Beckermann's probably the most improved MLS player this season. He's given himself an outside shout at getting on the plane for South Africa. If he's just ditch the dreads, I'd be all in favor. But enough about coifs....
Morales is down temporarily getting treatment. I missed the incident, Arsene-style.
Morales has got up off the turf jabbering at Goldenballs, so apparently there was some kind of altercation.
Morales has gone down clutching his face now. He's really in the wars tonight.
And now he's been subbed for Fatty Mathis.
He's now on the bench crying like a little girl. It's as if Becks pepper sprayed him. Honestly, I can't understand the reaction.
On with the match again. RSL have had very little shout about. It's been one way traffic, albeit with few real chances save the one that Buddle wasted.
Landy bursts through the middle and tries to feed Buddle. Cut out.
Corner to LA - good ball in from Becks and Gonzalez comes round the back and someone contrives to knock it over. Another super chance there.
Free kick about forty yards out wide left. Becks lofts one in....cut out.
Half an hour gone now. Donovan gets to one out wide right but his cross is to no one.
Oh, Landy laid a lovely ball out wide left for Jovan who blew the shot well wide. Will LA rue these missed chances.
GOAL! LA take a deserved 1-0 lead through Mike Magee who tucked in a nice little lobbed pass from Landy at the back post.
Into stoppage time of the first half.
Half time: LA have been all over the mugs from Utah. They'll have to really pick up their game in the second half if they're to salvage anything out of this effort.
1-0 Galaxy
We're onto the half-time show with Third Eye Blind. Well, the American Music Awards are on so they're left with the scrubs aren't they?
Lexi Lalas is trying to take credit for LA's success. Nice try, Red.
Good view of the goal from an aerial shot. It started with Becks running down the middle, spooning it to Landy who then lobbed it to the back post for Magee to tuck in easily. Good team goal.
Second half starting up....
First big chance for RSL. Findley was straight through on goal and he's clattered Ricketts in the process. They're both down in a heap and the stretchers are coming on.
Bruce Arena doesn't look happy. Ricketts may not be able to continue.
Becks gets a nasty tap on the ankles from Beckermann there.
He's up again and lays off a lovely ball for Buddle. Becks has been a class act tonight. On a different plain from the other players on the pitch.
Free kick to LA. Becks lining it up. This would be a capper to a successful season.
Not to be - straight into the wall.
You know, RSL are still in this one. They haven't played well, but one chance and it's 'game on.'
GOAL! And there it is! LA were asking for that. It was a scrambly sort of goal with Findley or perhaps Movsysyan getting the final touch. Ricketts was slow getting off his line and he may not be right.
1-1.
Here's the goalkeeping change then. Ricketts off and Saunders on. Arena may be kicking himself that he didn't yank him off earlier.
Ricketts is looking pretty gutted on the bench now.
A little over twenty minutes to play, and then perhaps extra time and penalties.
Oooh, Movsysyan was in again there. Blew the chance over the top.
Lovely through ball from Becks produces a corner for LA. He's got to deliver with one of these.
Not this time.
Looks like Arena is going to shuffle the pack a bit.
Now it's RSL's turn to try a set piece. Mathis lofts one in....
gathered by Saunders.
Now it's Becks over the ball. Too deep for Landy. Wasted.
Five minutes to play. . .
Landy feeds Buddle for what seems like the hundredth time but he's easily knocked off the ball. Arena needs to invest in a striker for sure.
That's it for Gonzalez. He's crocked himself with a clearance and he'll be coming off.
Into stoppage time....we're going to extra time in a moment or two.
Beckham's on the bench taking a few puffs off his inhaler. He'll need it. Extra time about to start.
Oh, Findley had a chance to win it for RSL, but Saunders did well.
Actually it was defender Delagarza with an excellent block there right on the line.
Sumptuous ball from Becks to Buddle, but he couldn't do enough with it.
Corner to LA....
Klein is called for pushing in the area.
Near thing there. Findley again is the danger man but he skews it wide into the side netting. Nice lay off by Clint Mathis.
It's all RSL now, finishing far stronger. Maybe the younger legs?
This is a great looking stadium and a terrific crowd but they need to start growing some real grass right now.
Half time of extra time has come and gone. The players look completely knackered now. Fifteen minutes of extra time to play.
Another free kick from Beckham produces no result. He's got to get one of these right if they keep giving him the opportunities.
Greg Berhalter's had an excellent match in the back for LA. He's got to be in the squad for SA.
The net's been damaged and the fourth official has been called out to snap it back into place.
You have to fancy LA on penalties. Just keep Buddle away from the ball.
Up and down the pitch now between two sets of exhausted players. Maybe eight or nine minutes left.
Next week sees the expansion draft with the Philadelphia Union coming into the league next season.
Donovan has been tireless tonight. He definitely deserves a medal.
Free kick wide left from Beckham. The ball needs to be pinpoints. Straight at the keeper.
Just a few minutes left now. Jason Kreis trying to gee up his side for one last big effort. Corner now for RSL.
End to end stuff now. They're both going at it. Good to see this kind of open play at this stage. Nice advert for MLS.
Why is Mathis taking all of RSL's free kicks? I don't get it.
Long ball stuff now. Route 1 from both sides.
If I were Arena, I'd start the pens with Becks. He could rally the troops with a successful one or if he blew it, they'd have time to recover. Definitely Donovan with #5 when they need it.
Into stoppage time now...the referee is looking at his watch. RSL's Andy Williams is on the turf already. Totally knackered.
And it's all down to penalties now...
Yes, it's Becks first. That's my call too. He's been there....
Nice and easy into the left corner. Very professional. 1-0 LA.
Mathis for RSL...
Sticks it away. Powerful. 1-1.
Berhalter steps up...
Goes to the keeper's left and scores well. Good pen.
2-1 LA.
The goalscorer Robbie Findley next...
Great penalty. Top left corner. 2-2.
Kirovski now....
Famous last words from Harkesy who says he's "very good on penalties."
Terrible pen and saved by Rimando.
2-2.
Beckmann up and....
Saved by Saunders. Great save!
2-2!
So after those two misses in a row, it's Landycakes going through his routine and....
Unbelievable miss! I don't think I've ever seen him miss one like that. Well over the bar Baggio style.
RSL to take the lead....
Grabavoy sticks it in. 2-3!
Goalscorer Magee....
Easily in there. 3-3.
Andy Williams to win it for Salt Lake. He was knackered a moment ago. And a weak, weak pen. Easily saved.
3-3!
Chris Klein with a brilliant penalty. He was one of my first five for LA. I don't know why they saved him.
To save it now, Wingert....
Slots it home nicely. 4-4!
Oh dear, it's Edson Buddle....
A rotten penalty as I'd expected. Straight at Rimando, slow as a backpass.
4-4.
To win it......
Russell sticks it into the lower left corner. Real Salt Lake are the MLS Champs of 2009! Cue the confetti cannons!
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