your daily recap

[rone]

Portugal 2 - Mexico 1: Mexico came out pressing for a goal, then allowed one on a fast counterattack and precise finish.  Mexico almost tied the game two minutes after that.  15 minutes later, the Mexican captain punched (?!) a ball in the area, so a penalty was clearly called for and netted.  The Mexicans scored one after the Portuguese brutally failed to cover their back post on a corner kick.  Then the Mexicans got a penalty kick called in their favor, but it was shanked.  After that, the same guy who caused the penalty kick got a yellow card for diving and, as he already had one, was sent off.  Portugal dominated while playing some substitutes.  Mexico also played some substitutes and looked lost at times.

Angola 1 - Iran 1: Angola finally scored, and Iran managed to eke out a point.  For Angola to move on, Mexico had to lose and Angola had to win and make up a four-goal difference with Mexico.  Good luck in `10.  I must note that Angola and Trinidad & Tobago both have a predominantly black team, except for one white starter who was born in what was once their colonial master and wears #7.

Argentina 0 - Netherlands 0: A brutal match.  Just horrid.  Again, lots of subs on both sides, except Argentina's had lots of talent, and yet no real interest in winning the game.  This should've been a marquee game and it stank.  Biggest disappointment so far.

Ivory Coast 3 - Serbia & Montenegro 2: The Serbs went up 2-0, but the Ivorians clawed back with a penalty (on another idiotic ballpunch by a defender), and after that a Serb got sent off on a double-yellow in first-half injury time.  They scored twice more in the second half, the last another penalty kick with less than 5 minutes to go.  Good luck in `10.

Comments

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

You thought so? His performance didn't seem noteworthy.

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

It was a trainwreck, though I suppose it was the best that Portugal could buy.

The biggest standout moment was when Perez (Mexico) got hammered down by a Portguese player. Fonseca (Mexico) argued with the ref, yelling at him and actually poking and prodding him for not calling the foul. Rather than rightfully yellow Fonseca, the ref blew him off and yellow carded the fouled player, Perez, thus giving him his second yellow of the game, thus a red card, thus ejecting him from the game. For Fonseca's indignation and poking!

Until that moment, even though the ref's calls were favoring Portugal for the most part, I was able to say that it was simply bad reffing. But I can't think of any explanation other than favoritism for ignoring Fonseca's tantrum (he pushed and poked the ref!) and red carding the fouled player who was still getting up from the foul.

Overall, though, even accounting for bad reffing, it was still Portugal's game to fail to lose. Neither team played well, they were suck, but Portugal's suckage was less than the suckage of Mexico.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Actually, Perez got carded for diving. Which he did.

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

No way, I completely disagree! But even granting that, the card was excessive. It would not have gotten Fonseca off the field to have carded him to poking the ref, but it sure was convenient to go around the poker and card the diver/fouled.

See it my way! See it my way! I am ever so cute!

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

OMG, you're using the icon with the smoldering eyes! How does 2wanda ever get anything done when those eyes are open?

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Ah, jeez, that's just an artifact of scrunching down the original picture to icon size. The full size picture shows my eyes in their bleary, just-woke-up , can't-even-focus glory.

[2wanda.livejournal.com]

Even sleepy and bleary eyed, I find you irresistible.

Come here, you hot babe.