That's On Point: The Web Site

Busy busy day. I actually had a new "Yay or Nay" planned for today, but I'll save it for a rainy day and jump into a frantic day in the world of soccer.

Might as well start with Arsenal advancing into the Round of 16 of the Champions League via a 0-0 draw at Porto. Sadly, this eliminated CSKA Moscow, who amazing lost to hapless Hamburg. Didn't see a minute of this match, but there must not have been too much going on. I'll assume Monsieurs Henry and Flamini modeled some stylish and sensible man-scarfs from the Estádio do Dragão stands.

Still, if I needed another reason to strengthen my man-crush on Emmanuel Eboue, I found it in the above picture. Not sure how that flies in the Muslim sectors of the Cote D'Ivoire, but kudos for standing up for your beliefs, even if it means getting a burning tire placed around your neck. (Note, most Ivorians are Christians, but still.)

Now for a game I did actually watch...for about 60-odd minutes -- Manchester United 3, Benfica 1. Revenge for Fergies' boys.

In some regard, it might have been beneficial (from a sporting standpoint) for United to have been eliminated from the Champions League. Hear me out. The side is thin (witness John O'Shea is the first or second guy off the bench) and if they're going to push the swelled ranks of Chelsea for the English crown, midweek games won't exactly help. God forbid if Rooney, Ronaldo or Giggs ever picked up an injury. King Henrik won't be able to do it all himself.

That said, for a financial standpoint United couldn't afford another early exit in Europe especially considering the lump of dept Malcom "They're always stealin' me gold" Glazer incurred when he took the club off the stock exchange. (SAF needs to find some way to get Bruce Gradkowski out there.)

The first half of this one was gritty, compelling and rich stuff.

Nelson's strike was a thing of beauty. Though, for all the money lavished around the pitch on United -- the defense led by "Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande" can be super lackadaisical and gave the Cape Verdian more space than Andy Ritcher at an all-you-can-eat buffet. (Yeah, Nelson had a hand ball later too.)



Of course, it was a defender -- Serbian shower fanatic Nemanja Vidic -- that headed home the equaliser for United past a stunned Quim. Great point by Derek Rae how the £16-million pound man Michael Carrick drew Luisao out of position. Good to see all the loot is accounting for something. (After that there were a couple more headers from Giggs and Saha to give United first place in the group, after I had turned away to FSC.)

Still, I'm enamored by Benfica's Simao. Someone would do some good busniess snapping him up in January, even if he is Cup-tied for Europe.

Final 16: Aresenal, Manchester United, Porto, Lille, Barcelona, AS Roma, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia, Lyon, Real Madrid, Celtic and AC Milan

As a stand up guy, here was my pre-tournament predictions. I went 10-6. Took too many gambles. Still sticking with my thoughts on Real Madrid winning it all, even if Lyon look the best team in Europe right now. Personally, I'm pulling for the Bhoys.

And let's all collectively cross our fingers that and save ourselves from: Chelsea/Barcelona or Chelsea/Liverpool. Please.

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Now, I'll need the video back-up for this...but boy howdy, Emre had a goal-of-the-year candidate for Newcastle today vs. Reading. The helmet-haired Turk took the ball from about midfield, put a sneaky move on the Royal defense and then chipped sickly over American Marcus Hahnemann.



I'm all for great goals, but this was the second day in a row that an American keeper in England was made to look foolish. Tuesday, my personal hero, Brad Freidel fell asleep on a last-second free kick vs. Charlton. Moroccan Talal El Karkouri didn't do much with the kick, but Big Brad hardly reacted, letting it easy go into the net. As a colleague of mine is fond to say -- "BALLS!"

Then again, I guess the Addicks owed him for this.

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The other big news from today is that FIFA has changed some qualification rules for the 2010 World Cup. In a minor tweak, the fourth place CONCACAF squad will now have a playoff with the fifth place South American squad. Previously the CONCACAF team played the fifth best Asian team, note Trinadad & Tobago defeating Bahrain to gain entry to Germany 2006. Oceania, which formerly played off against South American, plays the fifth Asian team. It could put the odd scenario of Australia -- which bolted Oceania for Asia -- could play one of its former whipping boys. In any event this makes it a whole lot easier for Asia to gain five teams and a whole lot harder for CONCACAF to get four.

Oh right, the USSF again denies its hired Jurgen Klinsmann. Apparently they're too busy scheduling the 2009 U-17 girls Pan American Gold Cup Championship to see to the matter.

Labels: champions league, Soccer