clarification | I have a quick clarification before today's soccer update. In the Gothia cup, the playoff rounds are tagged 1/64, 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, and so on. In my last post about the boys, I wrote that they made it to the round of eight because I thought their 1/8 game tag meant there were eight teams left. It turns out that the 8 refers to the number of games left, so there were actually 16 teams left alive in their group as of this morning. |
Marin FC Boys
Today is another day of majestic clouds marching across perfectly blue skies. Here's the usual evidence:
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Marco and Lars played their last game this morning at 8:00 a.m. against yet another Swedish team, Landvetter IS. The boys all looked sharp and alert, and Marin's passing game had a crispness to it that they'd not achieved all week. This game was not as physical (read borderline dirty) as so many of the other games we've played over the past two weeks (boys and girls alike), and Marin FC dominated the field throughout most of the game. Despite taking many shots and moving the ball better than ever, Marin did not find the net, and regulation time ended in a 0-0 draw.
As with the Lions Girls, the game moved into the dreaded PKs. Neither Marco nor Lars took PKs. Marin started in goal, and Landvetter IS made its first shot, Marin's goalie diving left and the shot going right. Marin went next and made a clean strike into the bottom left corner: 1-1. Simon, Marin's goalie, got his hands on Landvetter's second shot but was unable to block it. Unfortunately Marin's second shot hit the crossbar and bounced out: 2-1. Once again Simon got his hands on the next shot, but it went in anyway. Marin's third shot went low to the left, but Landvetter's goalie blocked it successfully: 3-1. In the fourth round, Landvetter's shot hit the frame in the upper left corner, and ricocheted out. Then Marin took its shot, but Landvetter's goalie also blocked this one. So final score, 1-3, and Marin was eliminated. As it happens, Landvetter played again at 1:00 today, and won 1-0, so they will play in the semi finals tonight at 6:00 (starting in three minutes, actually). The final for the Boys U14 B bracket is tomorrow at 2:00.
Here are a couple pictures from the game. (Lars was playing on the far side of the field from me, so I had a really hard time getting any shot of him that was recognizable.)
As with the Lions Girls, the game moved into the dreaded PKs. Neither Marco nor Lars took PKs. Marin started in goal, and Landvetter IS made its first shot, Marin's goalie diving left and the shot going right. Marin went next and made a clean strike into the bottom left corner: 1-1. Simon, Marin's goalie, got his hands on Landvetter's second shot but was unable to block it. Unfortunately Marin's second shot hit the crossbar and bounced out: 2-1. Once again Simon got his hands on the next shot, but it went in anyway. Marin's third shot went low to the left, but Landvetter's goalie blocked it successfully: 3-1. In the fourth round, Landvetter's shot hit the frame in the upper left corner, and ricocheted out. Then Marin took its shot, but Landvetter's goalie also blocked this one. So final score, 1-3, and Marin was eliminated. As it happens, Landvetter played again at 1:00 today, and won 1-0, so they will play in the semi finals tonight at 6:00 (starting in three minutes, actually). The final for the Boys U14 B bracket is tomorrow at 2:00.
Here are a couple pictures from the game. (Lars was playing on the far side of the field from me, so I had a really hard time getting any shot of him that was recognizable.)
Marco and Lars had a good run in both tournaments, and have played a staggering number of soccer games--13 games since last week, Tuesday, seven of those being played this week. The team was headed back to the school to rest after this morning's early game (they had to get up at 5:50 to get to the field on time). Lars and Marco plan to attend the Gothia Festival again this evening, which, I learned, is a music festival of sorts.
Alison and Bella got up early and came out to the field this morning with Norman to lend moral support to their two Lions brothers. All in all, I think our boys have had a terrific experience.
More later . . . Go Lions!
--tj
--tj
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