This is an entry about soccer, so if you don't care, you are excused. This past Sunday was a bizarre day in Dutch soccer history. On the last day of our regular season, three teams were equal on points at the top of the table, AZ Alkmaar, Ajax Amsterdam, and PSV Eindhoven. Whoever finished on top on Sunday would be crowned champions, the two others would advance to the post-season, with two more teams to play for one more spot in the European Champion's League next season.
AZ were way ahead on goal difference going into their final game, and had the weakest opponents in Excelsior, which can be considered a farm affiliate of Feyenoord, the club that finished seventh. If Feyenoord are the New York Yankees, Excelsior are the Staten Island Yankees. Ajax werwe one goal ahead of PSV, who blew a huge advantage only last week, and were considered to be out of contention.
As the games unwound, it became apparent pretty soon that AZ wouldn't have such an easy stroll in Rotterdam, and after 20 minutes Ajax became the most likely to win. That situation lasted for an hour, when suddenly PSV had scored two more goals than Ajax, giving Ajax only ten minutes to score one more goal. And all this time AZ were tied 2-2 at Excelsior, and if they were to score just one goal themselves everything would be over for both Ajax and PSV. AZ had a multitude of scoring opportunities, but then just before the final whistle, the unspeakable happened, and Excelsior scored the winner. That meant AZ were completely out of it, and Ajax only needed that one measly goal to win it all. The goal never came, and PSV took their third title in a row. The championship came as such a surprise to them however, that a victory parade hadn't even been organized in Eindhoven.
AZ are the representatives of my region, so you can imagine that we're all a bit down-beat up here. I normally root for Feyenoord, but I do feel a certain pride when AZ are successful. Also for the past 26 season only three different teams, Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord have won the title, so it would have been time for a change. Well, change, in 1981 AZ were the champions, and since 1963 no other club than these four have ever won the league championship.
AZ still have the cup final and the second Champions League pennant to play for so all is not lost for them. The cup, by the way is a one game decides all knockout competition, that involves pro and amateur teams from across the country. In American soccer there is the US Open Cup, which is a comparable competition.
I live in a soccer household, When my son was a youngster and played we lived and breathed it. My hubby being Hungarian by birth, watches all the European competitions, English league, Spanish league and the list goes on. It's a great game!
Now to another great game...You guessed it cricket.
The duckworth system...I hate it! But according to the head gurus of the ICC... It is a fair system...Who am I to argue with them?
The final did turn out a bit shoddy in the end but that was not the players fault. From what I read the West Indians struggled with
getting things right and failed on a few occassions. To offer the players the bad light rule and then decide to go back and play out 2 overs in the dark was a bit asinine to say the least. How ever it would not have mattered if it was the full 50 overs. Australia's batting line up has much more depth than any other team. The Shri Lankans don't have a great depth if the opposition gets the top three out reasonably early & cheaply then they usually have the game in the bag. Their top 3 batsman are very good world class champion batsmen but good teams need more amo'. And Australia's bowlers for the most part bowl to the field set plus perfect line and length not giving the batsman anything cheaply. The fast bowler Tait is the exception to that rule, he does give runs away but is in the team because Ponting has great faith in him and he does take wickets. He will become better with experience. Sorry I'm writing an epic comment. Adam Gilchrist hit good form on the day it counted. So that's what I think.
Lots of Love and (((HUGS))) from Dawnie.x
No, I haven't returned to MySpace. This acquaintance goes back eleven years.
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I live in a soccer household, When my son was a youngster and played we lived and breathed it. My hubby being Hungarian by birth, watches all the European competitions, English league, Spanish league and the list goes on. It's a great game!
