Today was another day of changeable Swedish weather--sunny, blue skies and white clouds in the midmorning followed by a slate-grey lid of a sky and drizzle in the afternoon. Marco and Lars played in the sun; the Lions Girls played in the drizzle.
The Lions Girls
The girls had another great game today in the rain. But beforehand, they arrived to the fields early to watch the game of their Swedish "team pals," whom they had dinner with tonight and who will be coming to visit San Francisco next spring! By the time it was warm-up time, the drizzle had started, and it pretty much continued that way for the entire game.
The team the girls played today was not as strong as the one they faced yesterday, and though they worked hard and never gave up, the Lions Girls prevailed, 4-0. If after tomorrow's games there is a tie in points (wins, losses, draws), then goal differential comes into play, so the Lions played hard till the final whistle. The goals were varied: a corner-kick header, a right cross bumped in with the hips, a dribble around a fallen goalie (she slipped on the wet grass), and an angled shot from the right side of the box. The opposing team got close a couple times, but Matani handled everything that came her way with grace and efficiency.
After the game, the girls went back to the school to change out of their wet clothes and then went on the meet their new Swedish friends. Tomorrow is the last day of first round play; as you may already know from looking at the standings, the Lions are currently leading their group. Here are the pictures (Betsy likely has more); the group shot with the players in pink is of the Lions Girls with their new Swedish friends:
The team the girls played today was not as strong as the one they faced yesterday, and though they worked hard and never gave up, the Lions Girls prevailed, 4-0. If after tomorrow's games there is a tie in points (wins, losses, draws), then goal differential comes into play, so the Lions played hard till the final whistle. The goals were varied: a corner-kick header, a right cross bumped in with the hips, a dribble around a fallen goalie (she slipped on the wet grass), and an angled shot from the right side of the box. The opposing team got close a couple times, but Matani handled everything that came her way with grace and efficiency.
After the game, the girls went back to the school to change out of their wet clothes and then went on the meet their new Swedish friends. Tomorrow is the last day of first round play; as you may already know from looking at the standings, the Lions are currently leading their group. Here are the pictures (Betsy likely has more); the group shot with the players in pink is of the Lions Girls with their new Swedish friends:
Marco and Lars
The boys' bracket continues to be incredibly tough, and Marin FC lost their game this morning 0-2 to another Swedish team with precision passing and ball control skills. The boys played hard, but gave up a goal due to a free kick following an unnecessary foul (as they did last week in Denmark). The second goal against them was strange, I thought, as the attacking player virtually tackled Marin FC's keeper and then got control of the ball and dribbled it into our goal, all while Simon, the goalie, was on the ground injured. The ref didn't call a foul and counted the goal.
Nevertheless, both Lars and Marco were in reasonable spirits, considering, and were off with their team to go to the amusement park in the center of Gothenburg. The last two pictures are on the bus after the game.
Nevertheless, both Lars and Marco were in reasonable spirits, considering, and were off with their team to go to the amusement park in the center of Gothenburg. The last two pictures are on the bus after the game.
Finally, Norman and I ran into the one team playing here at Gothia from Colombia, La Equidad, playing in the boys U18 bracket. Here's one of them warming up for their game today (which they went on to win).
That's all for today. Tomorrow we play the last games of round one and plan to go our for a team-parent dinner.
Good night, and Go Lions!
--tj
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