I'm pumped for this game. History shows us that when the Galaxy and Smurfs meet in big-game situations, Donovan always wins. Well, this one's big for us.
READ for inspiration against the Dynamo because it's History Time!!! The Galaxy's campaign reminded me of Italy on the road to Spain 1982. They had a promising squad but was severely depleted of them to other factors. Unlike the Galaxy which were depleted by injuries, the Italians were depleted by suspensions due to one of the biggest sporting scandals ever in 1980 as many people were arrested due to bribery, illegal betting, etc. One of the stars were Paolo Rossi (the equivelant of Carlos Pavon. Had a bright career earlier and then he sucked ass. The fact that he was suspended for 2 whole years without playing a single match also helped in making him very unfit). However, the Italian coach Enzo Bearzot kept faith in his team and especially on Paolo Rossi despite the Italian not playing any football in over 2 years. But it was clear that Italy was not a contender in the World Cup. Poland managed to outclass Italy and the Italians were lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw. The next game, they took the lead against Peru only to give it up in the 83rd minute for the match to end 1-1. In both games, it was clear that Paolo Rossi was completely unfit. He couldn't make a complete and accurate pass, he couldn't run, he missed chance after chance, etc. And largely thanks to him, Italy were humiliated when they were held to a draw by first time qualifiers Cameroon 1-1 and only getting through the first phase due to goal difference (they have scored one more goal then Cameroon. So in the first phase, Italy tied all three games while scoring 2 and conceding 2). The press were baying for blood, especially since Rossi was yet to tally once. At their Vigo hideaway, the Azzurri dodged further debate by refusing to talk to the media (FIFA regulations still allowed this at the time), taking advantage of the three-day break to bond his squad still tighter and work hard on their mind-set. Yet, brave was the Italian that gave the side any hope, particularly as, to go all the way, the team were going to have to knock out the World Champions Argentina, now reinforced by a young sensation named Maradona, and Brazil, who at the time were fielding one of their strongest sides of all time -- featuring such legends as Zico, Falcao, Socrates, Cerezo, Junior and Eder. But reinvigorated to perfection by their wily coach, the Italians were about to rediscover their lost touch in style. With the safeguard of the seemingly unbeatable Dino Zoff in goal, the Azzurri set about exploiting the slightest space as they launched deadly counter-attacks to stun an Argentine side guilty of over-confidence (2-1). Still no goals from Paolo Rossi, but little matter. Bearzot stuck to his guns, giving one last chance to the striker with no lead in his pencil. Tele Santana's Brazil went into this second-round match at Espanyol's Sarria stadium with a semi-final place in their sights. The format of the 1982 tournament included a second group stage and with both teams having already beaten holders Argentina, the Seleção's bigger margin of victory (3-1) ensured they now needed only a draw. It took Rossi just five minutes to find his range in Barcelona. The source of the goal was his Juventus team-mate Antonio Cabrini, who, receiving Gabriele Oriali's ball out on the left flank, spotted his team-mate's run to the far post and sent over a perfectly measured cross which Rossi headed low past Valdir Peres. Brazil went after an equaliser at once, which meant leaving their defence short of cover and Rossi duly turned provider, laying on a chance for Francesco Graziani who ballooned the ball high and wide. If Italy were unusually attack-minded, their opponents were just doing what they did best - going forward and creating chances. On ten minutes the burly centre-forward, Serginho, scuffed his shot wide with only Dino Zoff to beat. Italy's lead did not last long as, just two minutes later, Socrates made it 1-1. The tall, lanky midfielder strolled into the Italy half and slipped a pass forward to Zico with his back to goal. There seemed no danger but suddenly the No10 span away from his marker and returned the ball to Socrates, who advancing down the inside-right channel, drove a low shot between Zoff and the near post. Frustration began to creep into the Italian game as the Brazilians set up camp in their half and soon Claudio Gentile's name had gone into referee Abraham Klein's notebook. Yet rather than find the second goal they were seeking, in the 25 th minute Brazil gifted one to their opponents. Valdir Peres played the ball out to Leandro who, in turn, found Cerezo. Under no pressure, the defender clipped a careless cross-field pass straight into the path of Rossi who, in true predatory fashion, intercepted before despatching a rasping drive into the back of the net. Forced to play catch-up again, the Brazilians laid siege to the Italian penalty area. It was all hands to the pump for the Azzurri, or in the case of Gentile to the shirt of the sparkling Zico - the Italian man-marker tugging it with such force shortly before the interval that it ripped. If the first half was spectacular, the second was thrill-a-minute as Brazil continued to dominate with the Italians lying in wait, hoping to deal another hammer blow on the break. Falcao had a glorious chance to equalise just two minutes after the interval but his cross-shot took a slight deflection. Italy's Bruno Conti, and Zico and Serginho for Brazil then saw further chances go begging with Serginho perhaps the most profligate as he failed to chip the advancing Zoff. Cerezo was next to go close, picking up a pass from Junior before unleashing a right-foot thunderbolt that clattered against the left upright. At last, though, in the 68 th minute, Brazil drew level - and what a goal it was. Coming forward down the left side, Junior broke infield and found Falcao stationed on the right-hand corner of the penalty box. After feinting a pass to Cerezo, who had made a decoy run, the Roma man cut inside and from the edge of the area drilled the ball high to Zoff's right. Having clawed their way back into the game, Brazil continued to push forward in search of a third goal - a tactic that would ultimately prove their undoing. Following a Zoff save from substitute Paulo Isidoro, Italy countered on 74 minutes, forcing a corner on the right. After Bruno Conti's centre was half-cleared to the edge of the area, Marco Tardelli drove the ball back towards goal and Rossi appeared on the edge of the six-yard box to complete his hat-trick, the only man to score a hat-trick on Brazil. A goal down for the third time with only 16 minutes left to play, Brazil threw everything forward but there was no way past the 40-year-old Zoff. In the dying seconds, Oscar headed low to the far corner but the veteran keeper got his hands to the ball just before it could cross the line. Brazil's fate was sealed and against all odds, the Italians were on the semifinals after defeating the best teams of South America. Aftermath For the semifinal, Italy had to face Poland again. In the first round, Italy were outclassed and only managed a draw. But in the wake of its brilliant second-round performance, Italy easily dispatched Poland in the first semi-final through two goals from Paolo Rossi. Once again Rossi scored first in the final to set Italy on a victory over West Germany in the final. The final ended 3-1 and Italy were winners of Spain 1982 and World Champions for the third time. This was Italy's first World Cup win since winnign France 1938. Paolo Rossi is the only player still to win the World Cup, Golden Boot, and Golden Ball all at once. When he came back to Rome, he was (and still is) a hero. Hopefully, Pavon would get inspired by this story.
Help Houston is stalking the goal now. the passing lanes are opening up for them. jeez we are so disorganized in the back.
I don't know how to work this application, but other guys are using this link . . . Sopcast stream is up. sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/31936
non call Non Call on Harden... sorry folks that should have been a penalty. Harden dragged down Ngwenya. Also his challenge came up with no touch on the ball. There will be a make up call you can bank on it.
hate to say it But Houston deserved that goal. And of course its f**king Jaqua to put in the old net. karma coming back to bite us in the ass