I have a ticket to the game, but I don't know if I'll ultimately head up to the 'plex or not.... One of my friends told me on Saturday to keep this coming Friday or Saturday evening open, (I didn't mention I had the ticket,) and with how the last day of the regular season panned out, I honestly don't know which team I'd be cheering for if I was there in person anyway. I will say, though, that whichever team wins this SF, I will be cheering for them to win the final. WNY already has one trophy and POR two, so one of these two teams needs to win the championship. (I would've loved it even more if DC hadn't choked on the Shield, so then CHI could go ahead for the championship without leaving anyone trophy-less. Generic POR fans are going to be insufferable as it already is with that second trophy.)
I agree that I would like to see one of these 2 teams win the championship. I don't have confidence that the Spirit can get it down. The Red Stars seem to me the favored team to win their next 2 matches.
Rain is expected on and off from now all the way through Saturday afternoon here in the DC area. Even if it's officially a sellout, (i.e. all seats sold,) I bet the stands won't be full when gametime itself actually rolls around. I'm thinking that sales haven't been as strong as hoped, though, since I've gotten an e-mail every day for the past eight or so days encouraging people to buy tickets. At least it's just showers predicted, i.e. no storms, so hopefully there won't be any lightning delays even if it does rain for the game.
http://equalizersoccer.com/2016/09/28/gabarra-dames-discuss-friday-semifinal/ http://equalizersoccer.com/2016/09/29/nwsl-semifinal-preview-chicago-red-stars-washington-spirit/
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/featu...urce=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_m_medium=t http://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/featu...urce=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_m_medium=t
My bet: Chicago wins. Huerta is on a bit of a roll -- and Washington won't be able to handle both her and Press if both of them are confident -- and they should be for this game. Moreover Chicago is better offensively on the flanks with Gilliland and Short.
In today's e-mail from the Spirit... Despite the forecast edging further away from the possibility of storms, it seems ticket sale are still low: First quote tells me they're not at 4k yet. Second quote doesn't even mention how GA tickets are going, so I'd expect at least 1/4 of capacity is still available (i.e. about half of the GA section). They also reminded people that, since it's a playoff game, there might be extra time or "kick from the mark" (I have no clue why they decided to use that instead of the more common "penalty kicks" or "shootout"). If it goes to KFTM, they've said they will (smartly) use the goal at Spirit Hill and not the goal at the scoreboard.
Penalty kick is incorrect, as there is no penalty involved. Shootout sounds like Hockey, and does not occur in FIFA literature. KFTM is the correct nomenclature. And it is correctly plural.
Fringe benefit of the FIFA WWC-17 kicking off in Jordan this morning: a free promo code good for 1 month of FS2Go! Subscribe or resubscribe with code "U17WNT", and you get NWSL playoffs! (Oh, and some other matches too, I guess.)
Lineups: Let's. Go. Spirit Semifinal Starting XI #WASvCHI #WeWill pic.twitter.com/JiE691zQWP— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) September 30, 2016 781997734266040320 is not a valid tweet id
36' 1-0 Nairn left ck, to 7m center, Johnston heads it away through box top right. Huster collects, backpass. Zadorsky unmarked in space at 27m box right, crosses inswinging to 6m 1/6 left. Krieger front-cuts DiBernardo, arrives turning away like Allie Long, back-heads a rocket into back left high.
The wind may be a significant factor in the match: Wind really whipping. Spirit playing into the wind right now. Will favor Chicago in 2nd half.— Jennifer Gordon (@jgordon0319) October 1, 2016
Halftime: Washington up 1-0. Chicago might have gotten away with handling in the box right before halftime.
Washington dominating.....both teams focus on the near side of the field, which has been the right flank for Washington going forward, the left flank for Chicago. Maybe the wind keeps them from switching fields. Did Chicago even get a shot off in the first half? An uncalled handball in the box by Huerta -- but, frankly, I don't think a handball such as that should be called unless the arm is extended and it's more deliberate than accidental. I feel the same way about a foul in the box. It should be flagrant if called. I suspect the second half will be different.