SOCCER STUFF; KICKERS NEED HELP
It has been obvious for some time that your Richmond Kickers professional soccer team needs to find someone (or someones) who can put the ball in the net. Saturday night, before a small crowd at City Stadium, the offensive-poor Roos dropped a 2-0 USL LeagueOne decision to Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC … How bad was it? Well … the home team managed one shot on goal against EDWARD DELGADO, who entered with a bloated goals-against 1.50 … The Kickers didn’t have a corner kick until the 81st minute … The shutout … sorry, clean sheet … was the visitors’ first of the season in league play. Tenth-place Richmond has been blanked five times, scoring a total of 11 goals in 10 games for a minus 6 overall … Only No. 9 Chattanooga has allowed more goals (20 to 17).
Three-times league-leading scorer and MVP
EMILLIANO TERZAGHI made his third
appearance of the season in the 53d minute for the
Kickers … but the most notable thing the Argentinian
striker did was push down a yappy opponent – and
draw a warning -- prior to a Richmond free kick … It
seemed like the Hailstorm had a player on the ground a
lot, delaying the game on a hot, steamy night … yet it
was Northern Colorado coach EAMON ZAYED, who
drew a yellow card after becoming very animated late
in the going and, effectively, giving his players more
time to recover. Whatever works ,,, With the three
points, the Hailstorm jumped over Richmond to
seventh … despite managing only eight goals in seven
games.
Actually, the final spread have been a lot worse, Afte
ETHAN HOARDhad much too much time with the
ball inside the Kickers box, he smacked a bullet to the
short side for Northern Colorado’s second goal in the
51st minute. From there the Hailstorm had three blue-
ribbon chances to score only to pass the ball instead of
shoot it. Two came on clean breakaways.
Northern Colorado hasn’t lost in eight games (all
competitions), winning four in a row, and moved to 3-
2-2 in the USL’s second division. Richmond is 2-3-5 in
10th place with nine points … In fact, only two teams
in the 12-team league have played as many games (No.
6 South Georgia and No. 1 Greenville, both with 11).
The three teams above the Kickers have at least two
games in hand … the bottom two – 5 and 4 points,
respectively – have played two and three fewer games
than Richmond.
……. That little old (well, at 6-2 not so little … it’s just
an expression, after all) cheerleader himself ALEXI
LALLAS was front and center on Fox Sunday
morning … and out came the pom-poms when asked
to pontificate about that afternoon’s game between
Bolivia and the USMNT.
“America’s playing … so come on, get out of bed, get
on your feet. It doesn’t matter whether you’re into
soccer … or you’re not into soccer. AMERICA’S
PLAYING! GET ON YOUR FEET… and cheer for
the U.S. Men’s team … It’s a team worthy of your
time, attention and your belief,” the former national
side defenseman turned TV know-it-all said.
Understand, Lallas has been an outspoken critic of
men’s soccer … and the direction thereof … in this
country for a very long time. So what brought this
sudden (if momentary) plus rating of a program that
has had more drama than success in recent years? …
That’s easy enough. Fox will carry CopaAmerica
2024, starting Sunday (June 23) with U.S/Bolivia …
and one guess who is paid by Fox for his soccer
expertise … and who picks America’s Team to reach
the final against defending World Cup champ
everybody’s Copa favorite Argentina?
Lallas also said it’s about time for the U.S., to shine.
“They’ve been given everything … the money, the
resources … the opportunity to be successful,” he said.
The goal no longer is to qualify for the World Cup
every four … “but to win it.” … Sorry, Alexi, but it
seems to me I’ve heard that song before … and so
have you. Just watch. The Americans stumble even a
little bit … and it will be business as usual. Lallas will
revert to form … starting with already-embattled coach
GREGG BERHALTER. He must go.
Until next time ...
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