Friday (World Cup) football: The weekend starts now
Not exactly Fab(iano): No matter how much Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano prayed today, Brazil could not get a goal against Portugal in a 0-0 tie (AP Photo).
Portugal and Brazil played this morning to a utilitarian 0-0 draw that suited both nations advancing out of Group G at the expense of Ivory Coast and North Korea.
The final games of the Group stage kick off at 11:30 a.m. today with Spain fighting for its World Cup life against Chile on ESPN and Switzerland and Honduras meeting on ESPN2 (and both with hopes still of advancing).
Then the round of 16 bracket will be set.
With the second round almost upon us, if you haven't yet signed up for the Daily Breeze World Soccer challenge now is your chance. And for those of you already registered, don't forget to make your picks for the next round (memo to self).
Of course, the World Cup games on most Americans' minds begins at 11 a.m. Saturday on ABC when the U.S. meets Ghana.
And if we get any more last-minute drama you've got to wonder how many more World Cup babies we'll see.
It looks like Jonathan Bornstein's family in Los Alamitos is getting revved up for this one.
Where are you going to watch?
As hard as it is to believe, there is other soccer going on this weekend. MLS cranks up again after a two-week break with Chivas USA at home taking on FC Dallas at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Home Depot Center (Prime) while the Galaxy are at Toronto at 4:30 p.m. Saturday (Fox Soccer Channel).
The most fascinating MLS game this weekend, however, may well be in Philadelphia where the Seattle Sounders may get a taste of what their home atmosphere is like for visiting teams against the Union at 2 p.m. Sunday (ESPN2). It's the venue's debut.
If it's live local soccer you want, the PDL Ventura County Fusion (5-3-1) visit the Los Angeles Legends (4-4-2) at 7 o'clock tonight, while the WPSL Ajax America Women (5-0) host the Claremont Stars (2-3-1) at noon Saturday.
Finally, for those of you who like to plan ahead the Galaxy has announced that there will be free parking and $10 admission (which includes entrance to the usually exclusive Stadium Club after the game) for Tuesday's U.S. Open Cup contest against AC St. Louis at Home Depot Center.
An excellent deal (and one, frankly, that should be the norm for all U.S. Open Cup games in Carson). Full details here.
Updated
Spain and Chile both advance after Honduras and the Swiss play to a goalless draw.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Leave a comment