Any Futbol (soccer) fans out there?

What a fucking night in Sacramento! Sacramento defeated Sporting Kansas City 5-4 on penalties in the Open Cup Semifinal.
I've been to Anfield, I've been to Selhurst, I've been to Wembley, I've seen the USMNT win the Gold Cup, but last night was the most exciting and electrifying sporting event I've ever been to.
That's 3 MLS clubs defeated. 1 more to go.

 

In SL,UT we have a saying: "FUKC"

Last night was a riot!

 

My kid and I are flying to San Jose this weekend to watch RSL dominate the Quakes on their own pitch. Should also be a riot. =]

 

That should be fun. I've driven past that stadium a bunch of times, but have never been there.
I'm debating if I want to go to Orlando for the Final. I really don't want to go to FL for any reason, I'd actually prefer if Sacramento just didn't show up for the game.

 

Posting for reference. It will be here soon enough

 

I just found this thread. That was such a great moment. I've been a Republic fan since they started (season ticket holder for the first 3 seasons.)

 

yes big fan ! sorry guys all Euro teams

PSG
Real
Manchester
Arsenal
Bayern
AS Roma
AC Milan
SSC Napoli

 

Which one?

 

Watching Brighton vs. Liverpool

has been a pretty exciting game so far.

 

I'm watching Crystal Palace v. Chelsea.

Pulisic hasn't played this game yet.. but Pulisic is overrated. Bigtime.

 

I've got some other words to describe it. Contemplating if I should put my TAA shit on today.

 

Never understood soccer. Two teams can go at it for 90 min and still end up at 0 - 0

 

And yet there's still 100x the speed, fluidity, action, and athleticism of American football. A true mystery.

 

And yet I didn't mention anything about "American football". A true mystery indeed

 

Oh, you don't watch football?

 

I do not. Thanks for asking though.

 

Forgive me - 99% of the time when someone says almost exactly what you said they follow up with something about American football being the greatest.

 

Guess I'm a 1%er

 

The Leeds vs. Villa game this weekend was a good 0-0 draw.
@Backslider I made the same assumption about him being an American Football fan also. I mean come on he lives in Texas, is it that big of a stretch?
I get that Americans grow up believing that there must be a winner and there must be a loser in all things, so it's difficult when that paradigm is challenged. Draws can be fascinating and can add another layer of emotion and appreciation to sports. When your team is down a goal and gets a last minute equalizer, the adrenaline dump is unreal. When both keepers are standing on their heads, saving every shot that is hit at them it can be an amazing spectacle. When the two clubs just above your club in the standings are playing you sacrifice a goat in the hope of a 0-0 draw.
@texasrho83 knockout rounds of tournaments, sometimes allow for a draw with a replay later, but normally have two additional 15 minute periods followed by a penalty shootout if necessary to determine a winner. Is that better? I'm trying to figure out for you as an individual, is it the draw that bothers you or low scores? What sport(s) do you follow?

 

The draw doesn't appeal to me for sure. If it helps, I don't follow Hockey either...we just don't do that down here lol

I'm a baseball guy but I quit watching when they get dramatic (player strikes and politics).

 

I think understanding the rules and scoring helps a lot here. What I love about soccer is the constant flow. It's never stop and go like baseball, football, etc. I am a baseball and basketball fan, though. A draw often means a hard-fought game that was incredibly evenly matched. Sometimes it means terrible luck, or not capitalizing on opportunities. A draw is typically not an ideal scenario for either team, but sometimes a draw can feel like a loss while other times it can feel like a win. There is a lot of nuance here that must be understood in order to really appreciate this.

Further, there CANNOT be draws in important final games. A conference final or a final, for example, cannot end in a draw. In this case another 30 minutes of play will occur - if there is still a draw after this point it will go to a penalty shootout. You really have to respect players when this happens - it's likely that all subs or substitution windows have been utilized by the time the 90-minute mark occurs. Some players will have run 8-10 miles during this 90 minutes (plus stoppage time) and now have to go another 30 minutes. More often than not, players who go a full 90 minutes are ready to collapse on the field after 90 minutes... Going another 30 is the ultimate testament to their drive.

As @GodlessPro is alluding to, there are a lot of weird scenarios that go into play. A win is 3 points, a draw is 1 point, and a loss is 0 points. At the end of the season the top teams go into the final - the structure can vary a little depending on the league, and some leagues will promote or relegate teams who are at the top or the bottom of the standings, respectively.

The major take away is that a draw can be a draw, but can also be a win or a loss. Those who really love soccer love the individual opportunities inside the games. The fluidity, the chances, the athleticism, the drive.. You just don't get it at this level in many other sports. And again, as @GodlessPro mentioned, the adrenaline rush of a goal, particularly one that has a big impact on the result, is unmatched in other sports. Every soccer game is a layered story. When you're putting it in the basket 40+ times a game for each team, the chapters are less pronounced and kind of all meld into one another. Still a good book, but a very different style.

 

I'm a big MLS fan. Rooting for LAFC over the weekend was painful. Rooting for Sporting KC was also painful, but seeing Seattle lose and not make the playoffs for the first time in their history was very satisfying. Particularly after Freddy Juarez (RSL's old head coach) and Albert Rusnak (RSL's old captain) left for Seattle over the past 18 months. Seems like poetic justice, if you ask me.

 

The Malmo v Union Berlin game is popping off. Flares, flash bangs, all kinds of shit.

 

Not sure if anyone is watching the MLS Cup today, but it's a nail biter fo sho!

About to go to a shootout after Bale levels it 3-3 in the 128th minute. Craaazy game.

 

I was down in Johnson Valley having too much fun and forgot about it. I turned on the radio and listened to the shootout.

 

Who’s ready for tomorrow?

 

Pumped

 

Similarly pumped. Hoping to see Qatar lose miserably tomorrow morning.

Have some PTO and holidays this week so it's going to be bourbon and soccer all week.

 

I started the bourbon a day early