Z/Web

Boring, disappointing game. The U.S. was flat and hardly had a shot on goal the whole night. Their one goal was questionable, as it looked like Tiffeny Milbret fouled the Brazilian keeper to give Mia Hamm a shot at an open net, but nothing was called and the game finished 1-0 with the Americans advancing. Best move of the game was an incredible late second half save by the American keeper to keep Brazil out.

With K.C. having the best defense in the league and only needing a draw, and considering the two teams only had one goal in the previous two playoff games (K.C. won the first 1-0 and the last was 0-0), I figured this would be a low scoring game. K.C. seemed on track scoring early, and Colorado had no offense at all. Coming into the second half Colorado still had a chance, but then K.C. scored two goals to make 3-0! The Rapids battled on, however, almost immediately getting a goal back by Paul Bravo with a terrific turn and shoot at the top of the box, but with only a few minutes left it didn’t look like the Rapids could do. In the final minute their pressure paid off with a penalty call, but there wasn’t time for anything else and the game finished 3-2, with Kansas City advancing to play Los Angeles in the semifinals.

Terrific film. I’d wanted to see it long ago, but never got around to it, but as it’s by the writer/director of the quirky film not turn into a swan at the end. Brutally honest and occasionally viscious. My favorite scene? It’s the dinner scene where the mom is trying to get the girl to say that she loves the (bratty) little sister and the girl’s refusing. So the mom says, “Then you can just stay at the table until you tell you sister you love her!” You can imagine what happens. Forced love. I love it!

Powerhouse Arsenal just really seemed to struggle while Ipswich played excellently. However, though Ipswich got a great goal early, they missed several great chances later, and sure enough, Arsenal managed to sneak one past the keeper late in the game for a 1-1 final.