SoCal’s “other” team upsets Italy at World Cup

Italy 1 New Zealand 1

i-a3413aa45ae65b32082fe901cc6cbb4c-allwhitescelebrate.jpgKiwi fans celebrate the biggest upset in the nation’s soccer history (AP Photos).

Game story here.

I have officially climbed aboard the New Zealand bandwagon.

On what basis?

Well, if it wasn’t enough that the plucky (it’s a mandatory adjective) Kiwis aptly shocked the cynical Italians and their “pathetic” (as the commentary team accurately observed) play-acting that won the Europeans an undeserved penalty, their own suspiciously offside goal notwithstanding, the New Zealand team has connections to Southern California.

i-e9771f03c2789dc5bcdb5240f1a0e783-elliotcelebrates.jpgMidfielder Simon Elliott, gesticulating to the crowd after the game above, was the workhorse of the Galaxy midfield for five seasons during the Sigi Schmid era until his legs began to give out. Elliott rejoined Schmid in Columbus after the Galaxy fired him until somehow managing to turn a knee injury into a transfer to Fulham (that left Schmid fuming at the time if I recall correctly) in 2005 where he barely played, yet somehow stuck around for several lucrative seasons before returning to MLS this year with Frank Yallop’s San Jose Earthquakes. Elliott , who turned 36 the day before the World Cup began, is currently without a club after being released by the Earthquakes earlier this year, by the way.

Another “local” on the Kiwis: Tony Lochhead, a product of UC Santa Barbara, who started nine games with the New England Revolution and also played for the PDL Orange County Blue Star.

And, of course, central defender Ryan Nelson Nelsen was a dominant force for D.C. United in MLS before walking onto the Blackburn Rovers first team in England.

He played a massive role in frustrating the Italians today, as did goalkeeper Mark Paston, below, in making several crucial saves (and giving himself a shot at a lucrative overseas contract for a season or two with that display one would think).

i-0385fcd3c347faa0829c8e755e00ed09-markpaston.jpg

It’s onto Paraguay Thursday for the Kiwis, who incredibly have a chance to qualify for the second round.

It’s been a great day of soccer so far at the World Cup and we’re not done yet.

Incidentally, loved the French journalist dropping the f-bomb on ESPN as he accurately quoted Nicolas Anelka’s comment to the French coach at the half of its loss to Mexico before he was thrown off the team. That has apparently precipitated an on-going meltdown in their camp. The strength and fitness coach, as well as the team spokesman, have walked out on the squad today after the French stormed off the practice field following an altercation between said coach and Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, according to ESPN.

Want more drama?

Don’t forget, it’s Brazil-Ivory Coast at 11:30 a.m. today on ABC.

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!