Yes, We're Showing Another Rugby Highlight

((HT: Sky Sports))

Mainly, because it was the first time ever that a player has been sent off with a straight red card offense in the Grand Final (the sport's version of the Roman Numeral Classic in England)...

The HQ has always heard that Wigan is more a rugby town than a football town and this crowd shows it.

The Grand Final was Wigan and St. Helens- which St. Helens would win 14-6, but Ben Flower "lost the plot" as they say overseas...

Boy, did he ever...


We do dig the headset cam that the lead ref has wrapped around his head...

But, for those of you interested, here's the full highlights...

Someone Actually Touched Messi

((HT: beINSports))

Barcelona played Malaga today in La Liga and it appeared that the back line for Malaga wasn't going to roll over for anyone...

Much less Messi...

The weird thing about the whole exchange was that Weligton and Pique each got yellows when a red card REALLY would have been appropriate.

How good was Malaga's defense...???

Barcelona were held without a shot on goal in a league game for the first time in the past 11 seasons...

That good...

Under-20 Tourney Gets Ugly Between Northern Ireland And Mexico

((HT: Youtube/BBC Sport Ireland))

The Milk Cup is a tournament played in Ireland on a yearly basis and this year's tourney will only be remembered for this brawl that broke out between the two nations in the box.

Especially, after what the Mexico national player does at the end of the scrum


Northern Ireland won 2-1, but four players were sent off after the two fights and the match was called four minutes early by the lead official because of all the stuff going on.

Northern Ireland manager Stephen Craigan told the BBC:

"It was not nice. There were young kids here from around the world. They were here to watch a football match; they do not expect to see that. Mexico did it last year - they had a man sent off for punching. They have a history of it. I have to be careful what I say, but I would like to think Mexico will not be back at the Milk Cup."

The Mexico squad has since apologized...

Here's One Way To React To A Red Card

((HT: Pro Soccer Talk/Mendola/TV4 Sports))

The HQ would love to know where the foul was in this play that got Norkopping striker Alhaji Kamara tossed with a second yellow and a red card dismissal.

But it was obvious that Kamara wanted no part of any of it...

Here's the after...

Atlanta Silverbacks Beat Colorado in USOpen Cup With 8 Men

((HT: Colorado Rapids))

It was, let's face it, a weird night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in suburban Denver last night as the winner prepped for the quarterfinals in the US Open Cup- the United States version of the FA Cup- where any team, regardless of level can have a chance at winning a $250,000 cash prize for their franchise.

And the NASL is making their mark in the tourney. Carolina Railhawks beat the LA Galaxy 1-0, and the Silverbacks knocked off the Rapids 2-1 in a wild game that had weather delays (pictured, scarily right by Kevin Pugh/Colorado Rapids)

and ended up with the Rapids playing with a 10-on-8 advantage after a massive scrum and disagreements that led to five Silverbacks red cards- three to players and two to coaches who left the box and two reds for the Rapids- one player and a coach.

The end result is that it was 10v8 for 35 minutes- the last 25 of regulation and another 10 of stoppage time while everything was being settled on the pitch.

Here's the highlights- skip ahead to the hour mark
((HT: Atlanta Silverbacks/Colorado Rapids))


Rapids defender Drew Moor, the guy at the bottom of the pile and recipient of the cleats to the face said the loss was unacceptable
((HT: Colorado Rapids))


The Silverbacks will play either Columbus or Chicago in July in the Open Quarters. It will be interesting to see what the red card situation is for that match and how it may affect the home team.

Pepe Is Gone-Gone For USA Match

((HT: Clay's Vine))

Because of this... another classless outburst on the pitch


And Germany is rolling in the second half against Portugal, 3-0.

The larger question has to be around just how long will Cristiano Ronaldo be on the pitch and how much will he be saved for the USA match- the next one on their schedule...???

Rio 2014: And Diego Costa Deserves A Straight Red

((HT: Transfer Related's Vine))

Spain's Diego Costa is being booed every time he touches the ball- since he's spent most of his life as a South American person now playing for the World Champs.

But this move won't endear him to a lot of folks for the near future...
Yes, it was sold. But it's still a head butt during play


FIFA, soccer's "governing bardy," may opt for some kind of retroactive punishment here.
It should be interesting to see what goes down after this game

OSG Prem: The Top Stays Top, Except For Arsenal...

((HT: BPL on NBC/SkySports))

It was an unbelievable first twenty minutes for Chelsea against Arsenal...

Earlier in the week The Chosen One (Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho) maintained that his counterpart, Arsene Wenger, was only good at being a "specialist in failure." He kept pushing buttons and made sure everyone was on edge as the game started...

Eto'o and Schurrle made it 2-0 in the first 8 minutes, and then an odd call from referee Andre Marriner gave a red to Kieran Gibbs instead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain- who lobbied for it and still wasn't given the dismissal...


The red card will be transferred to AOC from Gibbs on Monday, by the way...
And the final was 6-0...congrats to Arsene Wenger in his 1000th appearance as manager... (???)


Mourinho still believes the title is Man City's to lose and after today's display against Fulham, who can really complain about that assessment. Yaya Toure scored on two PK's early on before this strike from the outside gave him his hat trick in a 5-0 win over Fulham...


Not to be outdone, Luis Suarez and Liverpool had their hands full with Cardiff for the first 55 minutes or so, then the Reds took over winning 6-3 as Suarez had a hat trick himself to go with Skrtel and Sturridge


Elsewhere, Hull City shut out West Brom 2-0, Everton held off Swansea 3-2 to keep a look at the Europa qualifier, Newcastle's Cisse scored near the death and dedicated the goal to suspended manger Alan Pardew in a big win over Crystal Palace, Norwich shut out Sunderland 2-0 as well, but the interesting story line late came from West Ham and Manchester United.

Rooney's 50-yarder on Adrian gave the Red Devils enough momentum to pull out a 2-0 win themselves...
Here's the goal- again- because we can... and Beckham's reaction was priceless...

OSG Prem: Chelsea Down To 9 Men, Loses At Villa- The Race Tightens

((HT: BPL on NBC/Sky Sports))

How do you say everything by saying nothing...???

You're Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in your post-match q-and-a after losing a shocker at Villa Park...

Fabien Delph scored the only goal in the 1-0 win that compresses the Premier League table all over again with Arsenal and Liverpool playing Sunday and Man City with three games in hand down only 6 points...


The Blues were handed to red cards- Willian (which was somewhat questionable) and Ramires (which was reckless in his challenge of El Ahmedi). So, once Ramires got his sending off Mourinho wanted to ask questions... he never got the opportunity since he claims referee Chris Foy wouldn't even talk to him.

Afterwards, the Chosen One chose his words...


So, everything compresses...

10-man Man City beat Hull City 2-0
Seamus Coleman broke out a flop shot to help Everton beat Cardiff 2-1
Fulham got a huge win for their hopes to stay up beating Newcastle 1-0
Southampton put up 4 in a win over Norwich
Stoke put up 3 in a win over West Ham- despite Andy Carroll's return
Sunderland and Crystal Palace had a scoreless draw and solved nothing for 17th and 18th in the table
And West Brom got a huge 3 points in stealing a win at Liberty Stadium to defeat Swansea

So, the two big match-ups tomorrow will sort out just how close the top of the table will be and, maybe, Mourinho was right. He's not the favorite after all...

This Got The Guy A Red Card...???

((HT: r/soccer and FoxSports))

Okay... here's the situation...

Guy in an amateur league in Italy scores and this happens...
Just watch the end of the celebration...


Got him a straight red and a quick exit...

Just glad he didn't put a gash in his forehead...

How About A Golasso And Two Ejections In MLS...??? In The Same Game...

((HT: CSNNE/MLS))

Well, the HQ can give it to you in the Chicago-New England Match-up...

Juan Agudelo was out of his mind with a back-heel moon shot that went in the net for the Revs early on, but the fireworks came late...

82nd minute and, best the HQ can tell, the rake across the eyes creates an issue that causes players and coaches to go after anyone- whether it was a Revs player or an official..

The Agudelo golasso is early and the "discussion" is at the 5:00 mark...


The Klopas discussion caused more discussion after the final whistle that led to more red cards for Bacary Soumare and Saer Sene... one each side just to keep it fair...

Fox Sports Soccer columnist Kyle McCarthy pieced it together on his Twitter:

Soumare got his red for confronting a trainer for the Revs and Sene went for pushing a Fire assistant...

USMNT Fighting Uphill Vs Costa Rica In Gold Cup Group Finale (But Winning)

((HT: Fox Soccer/CONCACAF))

Okay... something had to give between the USMNT and Costa Rica- both unbeaten in their last seven...

The US dominated time of possession in the first half and had their chances early in the second...
Which included this...


Costa Rica should be playing with ten for the rest of the game, but they're not...
Scoreless in the 63rd minute...

It was a shot on goal outside the box and not a pass...

Nicely done, CONCACAF...

UPDATE: 83rd minute, this happened...


So, for now, the US wins Group C with Costa Rica second and Cuba third to advance

OSG MLS: Jimmy Nielsen Goes Down... And Goes Down Hard...

((HT: MLS/MSG))

Last night, it was red Bulls and Sporting KC in the main US league...

KC was up 1-0 as the two headed to stoppage time and the New Yorkers needed to get the ball back. So, Juninho sent the ball back to goalie Jimmy Nielsen- with a little mustard behind it...


Instant red for Juninho, and the final score didn't change...