FILE – In this May 30, 2009, file photo, New England Revolution’s Taylor Twellman reacts to a missed scoring opportunity against D.C. United during the first half of an MLS soccer game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Twellman is expected to announce that concussion issues are forcing him to end his career. The 30-year-old Twellman has scheduled a press conference Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010, at Gillette Stadium with head coach Steve Nicol to announce that he will abandon his quest at a come
Tuesday’s Copa Sudamericana match between Independiente Santa Fe and Botafogo was interrupted in the 67th minute due to an unexpected pitch invader. No, it wasn’t a college student dressed as a referee. And, it wasn’t a streaker dressed in… well, nothing.
The Independiente-Botafogo match was halted for about three minutes because a dog ran onto the field. The canine easily evaded any stadium personnel who approached and eventually a few of the players made half-hearted attempts at corralling it. Eventually, the dog seemed to lose interest in being chased and departed of his own volition. With Santa Fe already leading 4-0, maybe the dog decided it was best to beat the rush for the parking lot.
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Hat Tip: Dirty Tackle
Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney (2nd L) scores their second goal between Manchester City’s Belgian midfielder Vincent Kompany (L) and English defender Micah Richards (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on February 12, 2011.
After famously having its hopes of qualification for the 2010 World Cup dashed by a goal scored by way of a Thierry Henry handball, the Irish Men’s National Soccer Team was the beneficiary of some poor officiating and a gift goal as they defeated Armenia to clinch a spot in playoffs for the European Championship. Not only did the referee miss a handball by Ireland’s Simon Cox as he controlled a ball while bearing down on the Armenian goal, but he issued a red card to the Armenian goalkeeper for blocking Cox’s shot with his arm after leaving his own penalty area — the only space in the field that a goalie can use his hands — to attempt to stop the attacking player.
Even without the assistance of the referee, Ireland was getting plenty of help from Armenia.
A few minutes before halftime of Tuesday’s Euro 2012 qualifier, Ireland’s Kevin Doyle received a pass right in front of the net and had a perfect opportunity to snap the 0-0 tie. But he whiffed on the backheel attempt and the ball rolled by him. Fortunately for Doyle, Armenia’s Valeri Aleksanyan was right there and accidentally kicked it into his own net.
Gifted a goal by Armenia and a one-man advantage by the referee, Ireland would win 2-1.
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Brek Shea will probably want this one back.
While the USA men’s soccer team had plenty of near misses in their 1-0 victory over Honduras on Saturday, Brek Shea’s failure to make contact with the ball in the 52nd minute was hands down the most egregious.
Left all alone in the box, Shea was on the receiving end of a beautiful cross from Jozy Altidore. With nobody but the goalkeeper to beat and a mere tap in probably sufficient enough to put the USA up by two goals, Shea, unbelievably, tripped over the ball.
Despite the flub, the FC Dallas star still earned the praise of USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann who said of Shea after the match, “He’s full of energy, he’s creative, and he’s fast and has a good physical presence.”
Granted all these things may be true, but another mistake like that in a game that counts, and we’re doubtful the coach, or USA soccer fans, will be as forgiving.
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