Fern Mc Costigan: March 2018

Saturday, March 31, 2018

So near but no win for the Portland Timbers

Chicago Fire 2, Portland Timbers 2

Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois

The Portland Timbers heading into Toyota Park and looking forward for their first win of the campaign. With the labels of all around favorites to net what seems to be that elusive first win of this 2018. The Portland Boys had to settle with a point and looking forward to next week match in Orlando.

Still back to the drawing board for manager Giovanni Savarese after seeing a certain defensive meltdown that allowed the local Fire strikers take their opportunities in full. Once again, goals that could be prevented the rest is well known.

With an early lead taken by the Portland Timbers with a marvelous, play in midfield with Sebastian Blanco as its author, robing the ball and shaking his defender to pass to a wide-open Diego Valeri. As last campaign MVP, the Andean doing his usual magic beat the Fire goalkeeper Ricardo Sanchez for the first score.

So far, in the campaign I believe in this initial eleven sent by manager Savarese to the field is the ideal one. by seeing some moves in the defensive backfield of Marco Farfan along with Zarek Valentin in the sides and in the center Bill Tuiloma and Larry Mabbialas as center backs. The repeat of his Dallas 4-3-2-1 formation would enable them to a sure win.

Still in the defensive midfield, we had Diego Chara in the center, With Cristhian Paredes consolidating in this position with another notable match and for Andres Flores making his first start and doing it nicely. As the frontal attack, once again the Andeans head it up along with Adi in the lone front.

As the first half, the Portland Boys had a display of their amazing football that going into halftime these had the upper hand and just needing 45 minutes to play of the second half to wrap this one up.

As the hunger and ambition shown in the first half, was missing in action, as well the defensive game giving many liberties to Bastian Schweinsteiger all sorts of open spaces. The German become at the end the hero of the match with his two assists considered as golden.

In one play in the 50 minute, the local Chicago Fire via a play with Basty to Brandon Vincent putting in the center the Fire first score came via an unmarked Nikola Nicolic scoring his third goal of the campaign even this up to the dismay of the Portland players.

Still do not call the Portland Boys quitters as a play started by Paredes and passing to Blanco the Andean sending it to Andres Flores in the right to put the ball in the center and for Blanco to head the second goal and his third of this 2018.

The Portland Timbers recover the lead and seeing how he went into the area unmarked versus a covered Adi surrounded by several Fire players, this could been the Argentinian second goal after a near miss in the first half denied by the post.

The Portland squad ahead in the scoreboard and going towards their first win of the season and within ten minutes it is when disaster once again came in the shape of Brandon Vincent who in the 84 minute put the score even.

As Basty once again making his presence and given a lot of space by Paredes, his shoot hit gold with a well-placed Vincent who headed the ball home and even it up for his side to share the points and deliver their first point.

At the end the Portland Timbers in every match despite some minor details, the initial eleven sent by Gio into the field are slowly adapting to his game demand and style of play. The only side of this story that luck has not been in the plus for them to deliver those first three points of gold.

Photos Credit and Property of USA TODAY 2018

Zlatan a difference maker in the first ever Angelino Derby

Los Angeles Galaxy 4, Los Angeles Football Club 3

Stub Hub Center, Carson, California

With the league first ever Angelino Derby dubbed as El Trafico, today in Tinsel Town we lived a sort of motion picture match with an exciting finish in the end. As the first of many heated contests between both of the City of Angels squads in the LA Galaxy and the LAFC.

Today in the colossus of Carson, California, the whole of Stub Hub Center filled to its utmost of capacity with a total sold out. As for all of those in attendance today, they lived a goal fest as well a one of a kind match.

On the hosts, LA Galaxy sporting one of the game most controversial of players in their debutante Zlatan Ibramovic already in the Galacticos roster for this match, despite his arrival just a few days.

As the Galaxy struggling in the campaign and for manager Sigi Schmidt making all kind of moves in his initial eleven dealing with injuries, still with notable players ready to start and display tier qualities in the field. The German sent his trademark 4-2-3-1 formation with Ola Kamara in the attack with Emmanuel Boateng, Sebastian Lleget and Chris Pontius in lieu of injured Roman Alessandrini and Gio Dos Santos.

For Schmidt with all the right moves and new faces in his initial eleven, at the end these really paid off, as in this match Ibra did not started and being in the bench until the seventieth minute.

For the visitors manager Bob Bradley sending his deluxe initial eleven and sporting the same formation that of his counterpart, the attack lead by Marco Ureña accompanied by Diego Rossi, Carlos Vela and Latif Blessing.

Still the initiative in this match taken by the LAFC and in each play these put in display a total dominance in the first half with an early goal by Carlos Vela their top of the line player who opened the score with a spectacular shoot with just six minutes in play.

So far, in this first edition of El Trafico as the fans have dubbed this competition, the LAFC was in total control in contrast of a local Galaxy fans seeing in disbelief how their cross the I-5 foes taking charge in its entirety of this match.

With a second goal coming twenty minutes later and once again the Mexican international putting the expansion side ahead in the 26 minute when both Diego Rossi and Marco Ureña combined for the assist that put their squad ahead.

Going to halftime the LAFC was looking like they were on the verge of netting an easy win as the newcomers were on the hunt again and after several near misses in the first half they we relooking forward to adding to the count.

As Ureña inside the area and followed to closely by the galaxy defender Daniel Steres and with no chance to pass to a lone Carlos Vela the Tico took the shoot and for the misfortunes of Steres he put the score in favor of the LAFC with an own goal.

With a kind of a day for the Galaxy, the reaction and rally of these came in the 61 when Servando Carrasco netting his first start and passing to a wide open Sebastian Llegett to put this contest in 3-1.

All of a sudden we had a contest and a rally by Sigi Schmidt troops, putting in evidence their desires of not going down without a fight, it’s when a combination of Emmanuel Boateng with a wide-open Chris Pontius to put the score at 3-2.

Now we had a contest and after the incorporation of Ibra in the 71 minute, the Swede started rallying up his new teammates, twenty minutes were enough for him to make an all-around impact in the field.

Four minutes later Zlatan made his seal with an spectacular shoot from near midfield the Galaxy tied the match for the dismay of a tired LAFC not believing how the tables were turned and now the match was tied at 3 goals each.

However the afternoon belonged to the Swede that assisted by Baggio Hussidic and Ashley Cole to pass to what became the man of the Zlatan who headed the winning goal on injury time with 91 minutes in the match.

At the end, this should be the match of the week and for both Zlatan Ibramovic and Carlos Vela contributing for their respective teams with a double and a nice display of top of the line football, unforgettable!

Give Zlatan and his LA Galaxy, Round one of El Trafico Derby.

Photos Credit and Property of USA TODAY 2018

Friday, March 30, 2018

Dundalk setting the tone in the League of Ireland

Dundalk 3, Bohemians 0

Oriel Park, Dundalk

For Stephen Kenny and company looking good and still unbeaten at home with his Lilywhites is another highlight in this week in the League of Ireland. With a 3-0, rout over a troubled Bohemians.

So far, in the campaign the Town Boys tied in points in second place with newcomer and recently promoted Waterford FC.

Still Dundalk has a lead over the Blues with a win early in the campaign and trailing by one point over the first place and defending champions Cork City winning today. Within reach and the possibilities of catapulting to the top anytime.

Being with the label of undefeated at home and seeing a notable presence of its followers in every match, Stephen Kenny and company provide the rest with a display of a one of a kind football and netting important wins at Oriel Park.

As this win and netting a clean sheet for eight consecutive matches in succession and despite the likes of Gary Rogers coming off in the 6 minute surrendering to a calf injury, the likes of Gabriel Sava preserve the blank sheet for the win.

With an early foul to the Town newcomer Kristian Andorjan in the 24 minute, he got foul inside the area in a play provoked by the visiting Gypsies defender Dan Casey to set the play that delivered the first goal of the match.

For Patrick Hoban beating the visitor’s goalkeeper Shane Supple, the whole of Oriel Park went into frenzy, twelve minutes passed by when another play performed by the locals converted into the match second goal by Sean Gannon in the 32 minute.

As Jamie McGrath setting the play and going behind the visitors feeble defense it’s when Gannon came in the clutch and delivered the second goal of the half and sending the match into halftime with a commanding two-goal lead.

The return of activities in the second half saw once again the complete dominance of the locals in a match dominated from start to finish in its entirety and not allowing many liberties to the visitors and despite a near scare in the ninety minute.

However, despite the locals having the match in their pockets and at time seen as an easy win, the visiting Bohs put their defense in heightened alert. As the start of the second half with just twenty seconds of its start, the Lilywhites had a close one with a long range shoot done by Keith Ward just shaving the posts.

In addition, other plays were Stephen Fooley the local’s defender saving the day and Sava in the 89, another close one with Dinny Corcoran attempt blocked heroically by the Town midfield Chris Shields.

Still the night was not over for the Dundalk Bunch with Michael Duffy on injury time scoring the third goal of the evening and assuring the points and seeing how the local Lilywhites raising to the occasion and ending their scoring drought for good.

Monday, March 26, 2018

The Norn Iron building up a prominent future

Northern Ireland 2, Republic OF South Korea 1

Windsor Park, Belfast

For manager Michael O’ Neill forging a contender in the Norn Iron is not an easy endeavor but not difficult at the end. With a mix of youth and veterans in the Norn Iron initial eleven, the Michael O’ Neill era is off to another start and so far things are looking up positive.

Despite the Green and White Army not making it into the grand fete of the World Cup and their foes being in the list of invitees, this match saw a new era in football Northern style with a novel incorporation making a dream debut.

A squad plagued with several veterans but now its manager looking into the incorporation in slow steps of promising young players making their presentation and preparing for future competitions, at the end many of us like what we saw this past Saturday.

As the South Koreans are no walks in the park and for their manager Shin Tae- Yong making all the preparations of a perfect afternoon for football under the sun in a nice Belfast day and a sporting a total sold out.

The game was under way with an attacking formation sent by manager O’ Neill to counter the attack of the visiting Koreans game plan, with a 4-3-3 with Josh Magennis in the front accompanied by Jamie Ward and George Jones.

Still the novelties in the Norn Iron were Norwich City fullback Jamal Lewis and Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson, Millwall midfielder George Saville and game hero Queens Park Rangers forward Paul Smyth.

Promising is the ideal word to describe these lads that are looking forward to consolidate a spot in the national team as future starters and for sure these are paving a bright future ahead of them after what they showed off in this friendly.

Still there are some details to correct after the Boys from the North caught off guard with a nice volley sent by Son to his favorite target Kwoon Chang- Hoon in the seventh minute catching the whole Norn Iron defense out of touch for the first score.

Despite the surprise, the home field advantage worked well for a battling Norn Iron and with all the right moves performed by its manager at the end these paid off with a display of pure effort and winning desires put by the locals.

The locals almost opened the score in the 13 minute when the game official annulated in what could be the first goal of the Norn Iron by Jamie Ward in the 13 minute. After this play, the referee called out another play but this time against the Koreans with Son called offside.

However, despite the first goal by the Koreans, I give kudos to the Green and White Army defense stepping up and coming strong not allowing the Koreans dynamic duo of Son and Seung Hung- Min orchestrating all kind of attacks and plays.

For the locals, defense stepping up their act and effectively countered the Koreans offensive intents in a successful way all afternoon long.

With I considered a smart play created by veteran Oliver Norwood in a free kick attempt, surprising the Korean wall getting the ball Jamie Ward and this pushing it to the feet of defender Kim Min- Jae to equalize the match at one goal apiece.

Setting the stage for Paul Smyth with a combination between him and assists from Connor Washington strongly keeping an eye on the ball, passing it to Smyth, and converting in what became the winning goal in the 84 minute.

At the end, the moves performed by manager O’ Neill paid off as well his gambles with new faces in the Norn Iron lineup assuring a promising future for North Ireland football in the international stage.