Fern Mc Costigan: September 2015

Monday, September 28, 2015

A Ghostly PK That Cost the Match for the Watford Boys

A spoiler at Vicarage Road, scandalous indeed, after a well set of tricks by a visiting Eagle player Wilfred Zaha that made a play full of theatrics and a mislead ref after taking the bait, suddenly awarded a controversial PK.

That proved the winner for the visiting Crystal Palace Eagles and Boss Alan Pardew, who welcomed his Boys efforts to net an important win as well three points of gold and a solid spot at seventh place in the overall table.

Still a match well fought in its ninety minutes and its extra time, that at the end was a one sided one for the visitors, for the displeasure of the Hornets faithful that didn’t stopped all afternoon long in supporting their Yellow Army.

The Golden Boys really are playing a wonderful football in this campaign after being promoted from the Championship League and really this squad is poised for a long permanency in Premiership.

Very well for its first year man at their helm in Quique Sanchez Flores who is performing as expected and keeping this squad alive and fighting in this edition of EPL, that so far this squad is delivering positive results.

With back to back wins over Swansea and Newcastle United if the Om’s would won the match it could mark a three match winning streak, but at the end that’s football and with more matches left in this campaign.

The Hornets are preparing themselves for their next weekend match with another high flying and recently promoted Bournemouth in what many will dubbed this as the Promotion Derby.

Being the Yellow Army and the Cherries the class that after a fought off Championship tourney both of them earned their promotion to play in this edition of the English Premier League and many expect a very contested Derby.

By playing as a visiting squad the Om’s really are looking for the upset at Vitality Stadium in what many foresee a much disputed match since its start till its end and no one being the clear favorite.

With every match in the line for the Watford crew and its Manager Sanchez Flores, this squad has to become a bit resilient and play every match with a hunger to win regardless of its rivals in the field.

As the likes of Arsenal, West Ham and Premiership’s first place Manchester United will headline a home stand at Vicarage Road, were anything can happen as well this squad can play on a one to one basis.

For now that call and past match is in the books and for Watford Boss its now or never to deliver results and positive ones if they aspire to assure their stay in Premiership for a long time, this squad can deliver!

Crest Credit and Property of Watford Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2015

An Inspiring Adi Performance Key to Portland’s Valuable Win at Columbus

A tough road outing for the Portland Timbers was seen as an all-around challenge in their weekend match scheduled at a place not too friendly or easy to play in Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Being in play for the Rose City lads their permanency above the red line, that will assure them a spot in the league postseason and the PTFC holding the last one dearly and persistently, despite last week odd result.

For Manager Caleb Porter seeing lately the surge from its conference closest chasers in San Jose, Houston and a streaked Real Salt Lake, today’s match was considered as important as well crucial for him and his Boys.

With an initial eleven that showed up today with an inspired Fanendo Adi who really took the honors with a double score that sealed the deal as well net his Timbers three points of gold in the chase for the promised land.

This time for Timbers Boss by placing in his lineup as an attacking midfielder Rodney Wallace and in its defensive side was Jack Jewsbury getting the nod, that at the end these moves proved the accurate ones for a resounding and meritorious win on the road.

A win that gives the PTFC some breathing room as well keeping their rivals at bay over a position held for quite some time by the Rose City Boys and with four matches left in the campaign, these don’t want to lose it.

Still the game against the Crew didn’t proved to be an easy one for both squads’ and despite Adi being the culprit for opening the hostilities with his first score in the 28^th minute with Darlington Nagbe getting the assist.

All of a sudden the home squad came back and through their gunner in Kei Kamara who evened the score in the 50^th minute with another of the Crews top player Federico Higuaín remarkable play.

Many thought that the game was going to end as a draw after a series of exchanges in the field and danger plays that really put both squads’ goalies into overdrive and made them earned their pay for a wondrous performance’s.

In Adi’s case lady luck smile at him and with both of his team mates in Diego Valeri and Rodney Wallace serving the ball in the opportune moment, voila the second score in a night the Nigerian once again contributed to his squad win.

Four matches left and splitting with two apiece in the road and at home the Timbers is to play at always difficult Rio Tinto revitalized RSL and at Stub Hub Center to a star studded LA Galaxy with their home matches next week against once again SKC and closing the campaign with Colorado.

Inspired is the way to describe not only Adi but his teammates in the initial eleven put in the field by Manager Caleb Porter seeking in the upcoming matches to clinch his pass to his conference grand fete of the postseason.

Photos Credit and Property of © Portland Timbers Football Club and Trevor Ruszkowski- USA Today 2015

Saturday, September 26, 2015

A Brilliant an Inspired Spurs that Routed a City Squad

Shocking but true is what Pellegrini’s Boys encountered for the second consecutive week, losing this time to an inspired and determined Spurs squad to a 4-1 rout.

This time someone came prepared to play and it was the local’s as White Hart Lane couldn’t believe their eyes after seeing how brilliantly its Boys played all afternoon long.

Despite the visitors early goal in the 25^th minute from Kevin De Bruyne with a one two play with Yaya Toure, The Sky Blues went ahead and dominated almost the whole first half despite the Lilywhites counter attack.

In the 45^th it’s when the Spurs Eric Dier put the game at halftime all even and giving Pellegrini’s side a certain wake up call that at the end they couldn’t be awaken after the second half after seeing their efforts going down the tubes.

The second half saw a hungry and determined Spurs side netting the go ahead goals and stopping a Man City offensive attack that did many attempts to penetrate the posts defended by Hugo Lloris and well defended by an overzealous Lilywhites backfield.

And seeing how desperately the Citizens were playing with their lead man in its frontal attack in Sergio Aguero that never stooped in pestering the local’s defense, still the perseverance and astute thinking of the Spurs defensive core.

Made it a living hell for the Citizens offensive drives and attacks all afternoon long a living hell, after all this club is the one that started the campaign with a strong note and last week after being upset by a resilient West Ham.

All of a sudden things are becoming a bit of a nightmare for the Sky Blues seeing a strong start in this campaign all of a sudden for Manager Manuel Pellegrini things are coming from bad to worse and with a Champions match at Borussia Mochengladbach.

The outlook for the Citizens suddenly is looking a bit grim but not for the Spurs who saw a revival in its offensive side from newcomer Toby Alderweireld who scored in the 50^th minute, Harry Kane ending his scoring drought this campaign in the 60^th and Erik Lamela in the 79^{th .}

As many see things a bit different here in North London and with a welcome relief in their club new philosophy and game brought by their new Boss, possibly this club can return to its old glory days in Premiership and very well do it in its upcoming UEFA compromises.

For now the Spurs look a bit renewed and ready for any challenge thrown at them in this edition of Premiership that so far this win puts them four points behind first place Manu with sixteen points by twelve of them and in fifth.

Slowly but surely is what the goals are put in place by Manager Pochettino, who’s seeking the top oif possible for his club and the Barclay’s Premier League shield if things and results continue in the positive for his Spurs.

Crest Credit and Property of Tottenham Spurs Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2015

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

A Cup Filled Night for the Seattle Sounders after Silencing BC Place

How sweet it is, the thrill of victory and returning to your winning ways after a long skid that saw the Emerald City chaps struggling for their survival in the Western Conference.

Nothing better than a shield to adorn your halls as well net bragging rights in what many called a very fierce and contested rivalry dubbed as the Cascadia.

This squad is for real and convincingly defeated a squad that so far was on the brink of a foursome of a campaign and tonight the spoiling Sounders stopped their dream cold as well in front of their faithful at BC Place.

A nice and resounding 3-0 over a squad that many see as the Western Division and Supporters Shield possible winners, saw their luck fail in front of a determined Rave Greens determined to make the best for to net three points of gold.

This assures them a postseason spot and with their winning ways the Sounders can clinch a spot in the upcoming weeks for the grand fete of Major League Soccer postseason.

Still this match saw a couple of bitter rival’s seeking to net the Cascadia Cup a contents internal among the Sounders, Timbers and Whitecaps; as the winner nets a shield as well that campaign bragging rights in this region.

Playing the role of underdogs these Sounders didn’t run just played their hart out and hence the commanding result that uplifts their spirits and morale that will indeed need when they reach the league postseason.

Despite the Whitecaps commanding first place atop the league the Seattleites really played a wonderful and technique filled football that at the end won tem this contest with a convincing gallantry.

For now the Sounders and Boss Sigi Schmidt need to focus on the upcoming matches and plan a way to reach the always elusive MLS final that has been denied in every campaign and now the Sounders are ready.

With three golden goals from newcomer Ivanchitz, Pineda and Oba guided the Sounders to what looked to an easy win to what many has seen as a hardened rival in the Caps looking like possible finalists in MLS.

With the league winding down, the outlook for the Seattle Sounders looks bright if they continue playing their spectacular football and four matches left in this campaign anything goes for the Rave Greens.

For now they will savor this shield and conquest and even the tally as last campaign the Caps were the spoilers in their quest of a treble with a win at the Sounders home.

A Three Way Contest in the East with Orlando, NYCFC and Montreal

Looking good or a bit contested is the question lately at the Eastern Conference when three squads are vying if not fighting for that coveted sixth and last place position to net a spot in the postseason.

With two newcomers and first year NYCFC and Orlando making the remainder of the campaign a living misery to the likes of Le Gars of the Montreal Impact, suddenly we have a tight race.

As this campaign saw how two new squads as well changed its new playoff format where both conference’s will allow six squad’s to dispute the postseason, making the East as a one hot ticket after all these three squads are in a nail bitter.

With Montreal holding a one point lead over Orlando who’s closing in with 35 points and a resilient NYSCFC that suddenly is playing one spectacular football and with a complete initial eleven, this is it!

As the Big Apple boys with an attack composed of Lampard, Pirlo and Villa so far are winning in what seem to be impossible matches early in the campaign for them, still with eh campaign winding down its when their Manager Jason Kreis is stepping up.

For the Orlando City chaps despite key injuries in its top rated player Kaka is holding tis ground and so far is making a push to the East top and within one point of the Promised Land and the Montreal Impact, anything is possible for the Lions.

Montreal after its new change at its helm and new interim Boss Mauro Biello suddenly is making this club sudden injection of optimism and the arrival of Didier Drogba to the City of Mary squad; his arrival has been one opportune one.

The Orlando Boys looking ahead of their schedule seen as not charitable with matches at Red Bulls Arena and a couple key ones with the Montreal Impact and NYCFC seen as crucial as the Lions come ahead victorious will mean a ticket for the postseason.

On the other hand for the Montreal Impact with some matches pending due to their early in the campaign CONCACHAMPIONS compromise will have to fend a DC United, Orlando City, Colorado, New York Rd Bulls, New England and Toronto.

As anything can happen for the residents of the City of Mary as they can get a better position in the postseason spots or lose it to a push up Orlando or NYCFC.

The NYCFC will indeed have its hands full and wait for some odd results from its rivals Orlando and Montreal to and win all of its matches if they have a chance to make it into the coveted sixth and spot for the league post season.

As the Big Apple Boys and its Manager Jason Kreis will have one tough outing in their last matches of the campaign with all around contenders as the Vancouver Whitecaps, DC United, New England and the most important and decisive Orlando City as a visitor.

At the end who will it be of these three aces that will net the last spot of the Eastern Conference, NYCFC, Orlando City SC or the Montreal Impact to hold on to it, take your pick.