I WAS READY FOR SOME FUTBOL

I went to watch some Dallas Cup action yesterday and learned at least two things. One, Frisco is far. Two, the drive was worth it. Some highlights and soccer-dorky commentary after the jump.

I headed out there without a schedule, which worked out fine. I could (and did) find the results and team names this morning. Besides, it was obvious by the crowd that surrounded Field 8 where the big game was, but I’ll get to that in a bit. Because before that game started, I meandered among the fields at Dr Pepper Park and watched some really good soccer and was only slightly wistful that I didn’t continue playing competitively after I broke my shin in Plano’s Under 16 City Championships. (Our team went on to win without me. I’d like to think they won for me. Go Wildcats.)

On Field 11, in U19 play, Takigawa Dai Ni looked much the best against TSC Texans. Though I saw no goals scored, I wasn’t surprised to see they won 3-1.

On Field 14, the team in blue, which was either Universidad de Monterrey or the Kosmos Supersonics, needs to control the ball in the defensive third. Looks like they managed to do so after I left and eked out a 1-1 tie.

In U17, MSC Dragons were clearly outmatched against CF Monterrey. I witnessed two fullbacks for the Dragons fail to clear and a CF Monterrey pick up the ball inside the 18, dribble through a couple more defenders, then score. The Dragons’ coach raised an excellent question from the sidelines. “Why didn’t you kick the ball out?” he asked in an accent that sounded half Arnold and half Columbian. “Kick it out!” he said before any of his players could answer. I stayed a little longer–long enough to see a beautiful left-footed direct kick from about 25 yards out spin over the 4-man wall and dart into the upper-right 90, out of reach of the despondent keeper. MSC Dragons lost 5-2.

I swear the sweeper for the Lewisham College Academy is the son of Dizzy Rascal, if not the rapper himself. He sounded exactly like him as he instructed his mates to “git that BOOL.” Before the first half ended, I asked a kid who’d been watching what the score was. “Nil-nil,” he told me. Then he waited a sec and added, “Zero-zero.” Thanks for the clarification. (The game ended that way.)

In some hard-fought U12 action, Kendall Soccer White-Explosion had a great name but bad result, losing to TSC Texans 6-0. I saw one of those six goals and agreed with many that it was a hand ball. In a way, I’m glad to see the White-Explosion got blown out, so that hand ball wasn’t a factor.

So then I went where the most people were gathered, on Field 8 on the other side of the road. The game had not yet begun, but thanks to the murmuring of anticipation I figured out Arsenal FC USA outta California was taking on Chelsea FC from England in U19 Supergroup play. Some really good football. Chelsea was going against the wind in the first half, a distinct disadvantage as the wind was gusty. But still, they dominated. The one goal I saw had the left back–”Jonas,” according to his teammates–make a great run along the sideline, beat his man, and make a good-enough cross such that the striker could control, shoot, and score. Not much later, the Arsenal keeper had to make an amazing kick save to keep the score 1-nil. (That means “one-zero.”) But the keeper could only do so much, apparently. Chelsea won 5-1 to stay undefeated in the tournament.

Seriously, if you’ve got the time and/or inclination, you should head out to Frisco. It’s like a soccer Woodstock out there.