Thursday, 24 June 2004
Are You Ready For Some Football?
This has got to be the most intense soccer game ever played. Portugal vs. England IN Portugal for the European Cup Quarterfinal (i.e. the Elite Eight). Check it out:
The fourth fastest goal in European Cup history. A long ball forward is not dealt with and Owen latches on to a poor defensive header to expertly flick the ball home and give England the perfect start.
HALF-TIME: An open first-half ends with England still leading the tournament hosts 1-0 in a tense quarter-final encounter.
83 mins: GOAL - Portugal 1-1 England
Despair for England as Simao crosses from the left and Postiga soars unmarked to send the equaliser flying into the net off his shoulder.
90 mins: Beckham's free-kick from the left is headed against by the bar by Campbell who reacts to bundle in the rebound - but the goal is disallowed by the referee for a foul by Terry on Ricardo.
FULL-TIME: A dramatic 90 minutes comes to an end with the scores still level, and the game will move into extra-time with the silver goal rule coming into force.
HALF-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME: The first period of extra-time ends with no further goals scored, meaning the final 15 minutes will be played out regardless.
110 mins: GOAL - Portugal 2-1 England
Phil Neville's stumble allows Rui Costa to advance and he lets fly from outside the box, sending a powerful shot flying into the top corner past a helpless James.
115 mins: GOAL - Portugal 2-2 England
Terry nods down Beckham's corner and Lampard swivels on the edge of the six-yard box to smash home a dramatic equaliser for England.
FULL-TIME OF EXTRA-TIME: England's fate will be decided in a penalty shoot-out as the referee blows his whistle to bring a thrilling encounter to a close.
FINAL RESULT: Portugal beat England
Portugal beat England 6-5 on penalties in a dramatic quarter-final in Lisbon.
What you have to understand here is that this game went to penalty shots to decide the winner. There is nothing in professional sports that's more nail-biting than a game that comes down to PKs.
Basically, what happens is each team picks 5 players and sends them out. Those players then stand 15 yards away from the goalie and fire off a single shot.
I used to be a goalie, and the only thing you can do against a penalty kick is stand directly in the middle and pick a side. Then, when the shooter fires the ball you dive in the direction you chose and pray that the ball hits you instead of going into the net. And remember, this is soccer - those nets are HUGE.
Today is a good day for my people.
Posted by flow Frazao on June 24, 2004 at 05:44 PM in Sports | Permalink
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/861883
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Are You Ready For Some Football?: