Trip Down Memory Lane - #9: MSX lose last Cup game in OT

The Medford Strikers Xtreme had existed since U9 in Marlton, and had been in the Strikers organization since U12, when I joined them. But now, at U18, we knew our days were dwindling as we played in the 2008 State Cup. The next loss could be the last game we were together.

After a first round bye, the Xtreme shut out US Parma Azzuri, 3-0 at Rutgers-Newark to advance to the quarter-finals against Manalapan at the TCNJ Soccer Stadium on May 3. Here's the coverage of the game from the MSX website:

Only the Russian Linesman Was Missing as Manalapan Ends MSX Cup Dreams

A strange overtime goal ended the Xtreme’s final State Cup dream last Sunday.

In a dramatic and intense quarterfinal match against the Manalapan Shooting Stars that was eerily reminiscent of one of the great games in soccer history, Brenna Rubino evened the score at 2-2 with a goal just 2:40 from regulation time only to see the Shooting Stars clinch the victory with a goal that appeared to defy the laws of physics.

Forty-two years earlier, in the 1966 World Cup final at London’s Wembley Stadium, Germany came from behind to tie the game, 2-2 in the closing seconds. In the overtime England sent a ball that struck the underside of the crossbar, bounced down and out. The Swiss referee could not tell if the ball completely crossed the goalline, but the Russian linesman ruled it a goal to put England up, 3-2. As Germany pushed everyone forward in an effort to equalize, England scored once again for the 4-2 final.

Like that long-ago Cup final, this match was played in a top venue – The College of New Jersey soccer stadium. And while the crowd for this one was about 100,000 less, the intensity on the pitch was the same.

This was the third straight year these two sides had met in the quarterfinals with MSX winning in a shootout in ’06, and MSS by a 3-2 score last year. But Manalapan apparently forgot to read the memo that said it was Medford’s turn in '08.

Although the Strikers controlled play in the opening minutes, Manalapan drew first blood in the 12^th minute when it scored off a corner kick that the Xtreme failed to clear. Medford had a chance to tie with 15 minutes remaining in the half but the MSS keeper, who played an outstanding game, made a diving grab off a close shot by Marissa DiMarco to preserve the lead. Ten minutes later Barb Previ had a chance but her shot was just wide left and the half ended 1-0.

Just three minutes into the second half Manalapan increased its lead to 2-0 when a player won a ball in the defensive third and went 70 yards for the goal. But DiMarco cut the lead in half a minute later when she looped a ball from a sharp angle on the right just out of the keeper’s reach and into the left side of the goal.

As the clock wound down, the Xtreme put Bridget Claus, a fullback by trade, in goal as a “keeper-sweeper,” akin to pulling the goalie for an extra skater in ice hockey. This enabled Medford to attack with 10 and the strategy paid off. Just as Wolfgang Weber scored for Germany in the waning moments to tie the ’62 game, Rubino did the same for the Xtreme.

Linda Sierra won a ball at midfield, passed off to DiMarco then took a return pass and streaked down the left side. She crossed the ball in front of the goal where Rubino came in from the right and knocked it home less than three minutes from time.

The first 15-minute overtime was scoreless, but it took another great save by the Shooting Stars’ goalie to keep her team in the game. The teams switched sides, and there were thoughts of a shootout as the second extra session reached the halfway point. But suddenly, in the 114^th minute, a Manalapan shot hit under the crossbar, went down and out, just as Geoff Hurst’s shot for England had done in '66. And as in that Cup final, the referee could not make the call but instead relied on his assistant referee (as linesmen are now called) who signaled the goal.

Once again the Xtreme went to Claus as the keeper-sweeper in hopes of another miracle. But this time there was no miracle, and as England did in ’66 at Wembley, Manalapan did in ’08 at TCNJ by scoring an empty net goal to make the final 4-2.

Manalapan goes through to the semi-final against Arsenal Blast, a 2-1 come-from behind winner over ESA Flames. The match will be played May 17 at 3:30 at TCNJ Field #2, with PDA Power facing defending state champion Wall Strikers in the other U18 semi-final.

Congratulations from the Xtreme to Coach O, one of the class acts of the sport, and the Manalapan Shooting Stars on a well-played and hard fought win, and best of luck in the semis.

The disappointment of losing was softened somewhat by the fact that we knew we never gave up and the girls gave it their all for 120 minutes. Was that third goal all the way over the line? Hard to say and just as no one in Germany or England knows for sure if England's third goal really was a goal, we'll never know. All that matters is that the "Russian linesman" said it was, so it was.

We actually played one more game - a meaningless league game at Cranbury played as much for nostalgia as anything. And to show that there's a reason they play the games, before the match started, the MSX and Manalapan coaches watched Arsenal Blast edge ESA Flames, 2-1 in another quarterfinal and agreed that whomever won our game would have an easy win over Arsenl the next week and a trip to the finals. Wrong. As great a team as MSS was, the following week they, too, ended their run with a loss to Arsenal.

Trip Down Memory Lane - #10: Currywurst gegen Weisswurst

After more than 50 years in the sport of soccer, I've had a lot of memories. So I decided to compile my top 10 and will share them with everyone, starting today with #10.

Memory # 10: Watching Hertha Berlin beat Bayern München, 2-1, in the Berlin Olympic Stadium on a frigid December night in 2001.

Kirsten and Scott both lived in Berlin during the 2001-2002 school year, Kirsten teaching on a Fulbright grant and Scott studying on his junior year abroad. Just a little more than two months after the 9/11 attacks, Louise and I flew to Berlin to spend nearly three weeks visiting. We wanted to see a Bundesliga game and what better game than Hertha against Bayern. The match was promoted as Currywurst gegen Weisswurst. Currywurst is a favorite in Berlin while the white sausage known as Weisswurst is a Bavarian specialty found in Munich (München).

Tickets to Bundesliga matches don't go on sale until much closer to the game date than is common in the United States. When the schedule is released at the start of the season the teams may know who they play each weekend, but the exact date and time of a match may not be finalized until later. Kirsten was able to score tickets for this Sunday night match at the historic Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The seats were in the end of the stadium but had a good view of the field. When we arrived some obnoxious fan was in one of our seats and said as a season ticket holder he could sit wherever he wanted. Kirsten was able to convince him to move.

Although Hertha had played in London the previous Thursday and Bayern in South America on Wednesday, the pace of the game was incredible. Petal to the metal for 90 minutes. Although not all the regular starters played, it was still and exciting, fast-paced match.

And you haven't lived until you've heard 50,000 Germans singing Nur Nach Hause, the Hertha theme song, as the Hertha fans did after the victory.

Union's Colombian Connection Arrives

PHILADELPHIA -- The Union added some international defensive experience today when it announced the signing of Colombia internationals, Faryd Mondragón and Carlos Valdés. Mondragón, a goalkeeper, is 39 and has 50 caps. Ironically his last appearance with the national team was at the Union's PPL Park back on Octo. 12. Valdés, a 25-year old defender, has been capped four times.

I went to the Union's press conference at Fado in Center City, but couldn't see anything - it's a great bar, but a terrible venue for a media event. The Union people were in a small room in the front, and those who did not get there in time to sit in there were stuck in a hallway trying to look through a doorway and catch a glimpse of the players. I did hear manager Peter Nowak say the team was not finished upgrading its roster.

Valdés most recently played for Santa Fe, the Colombian Cup winner. Faryd Mondragón, 14 years older, was with FC Cologne in the German Bundesliga the past three seasons. Given his age, one can't help wonder if he is keeping the spot warm for the Union's first round draft pick, Zac MacMath of Maryland.

Here is the story of the Union's latest signings: http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/01/union-agree-terms-gk-mondragon-d-valdes

Coaches: Does this lady sound familiar?

I always knew my long-time acquaintance, Terry Sachs, was a good lawyer. Last August I found out she and her husband were Bowdoin parents - their daughter Betsy is a first-year Polar Bear getting ready for her first college lacrosse season. And at lunch last week I found out that Terry is not only a soccer mom, but a club administrator in Chestnut Hill.

We had gotten together to talk about Bowdoin, where my daughter graduated in '01. We spent most of the time swapping soccer stories. And had we both not had hours to bill for our respective firms, we doubtless could have still been talking soccer when happy hour rolled around.

Terry promised to send me a link to a cartoon she promised I would enjoy. I did and so will you. I ask all the coaches reading this how many of the lines uttered by the mother they have heard in their time. Click here to watch.

RIP, Joe Platt

The world of youth soccer lost a good one today when Joe Platt, long-time president of the South Jersey Girls Soccer League, died this morning. I was privileged to know Joe from when I coached his daughter, Erica, more than 15 years ago, and afterwards. He was truly one of the good guys in the sport.

Usually I am happy to hear from a former player, but the e-mail from Erica Platt Barney today brought the sad news of Joe's sudden passing. Erica, one of the nicest girls I ever coached, said, " I know my father had a wonderful impact on so many lives over the years . . . Through sports and Corpus Christi, work, the community and his Christian walk in life he has met so many wonderful people and I hope I can speak for everyone that he has left a wonderful memory in the hearts of us all."

Rest assured, dear Erica, that your Dad did indeed leave a wonderful memory in the hearts of us all in the South Jersey soccer community - and far beyond.

Well? Long-time Philly sportswriter Phil Jasner dies

Sportswriting lost a good one yesterday with the untimely death of Philadelphia Daily News professional basketball beat write, Phil Jasner, at age 68.

Although he became nationally known as a basketball writer, and was one of the best at it, I actually got to know Phil as a soccer writer back in ’73 when he and I covered the Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League at Veterans Stadium (and occasionally on the road). Phil had recently made the step from small suburban papers to the big-time Daily News while I was on the news staff at the Courier-Post, but covering the Atoms for the league magazine based in Toronto.

Phil was one of my favorites among the daily papers’ writers covering the team. Aside from being a real pro as a sportswriter, he had a great sense of humor and was a good guy to be around. He wasted no words and after a game would go up to Atoms coach Al Miller and say something like, “Reaction?” or “Well?” and then sit back and listen, getting more than enough material for the next day’s story.

Read Rich Hoffman’s tribute in the Daily News to a life well-lived.

As an aside, Daily News columnist and former sports editor Stan Hochman, is quoted in Hoffman’s piece about Jasner’s time covering the Atoms: "Relentless is the way I remember his reporting style back in those days, ever on the prowl for human interest stories. We had a soccer team back then, the Atoms. Half the team spoke no English, but that didn't stop Phil. They won a title and one of the star players wanted to celebrate with champagne. So he bought a bunch of long-necked, gilt-wrapped bottles in a drugstore, thinking they were champagne. Turned out he'd bought shampoo. Phil wrote a memorable story about it."

Makes for a good anecdote about Phil, hanging out with those typical foreigners who play soccer. Except it’s not true. Every player on the 1973 Atoms spoke English. I knew them all and remember them all: Americans - Bob Rigby, Norm Wingert, Stan Startzell, Charlie Ducilli, Lew Meehl, Barry Barto, Bob Smith, Bill Straub, Casey Bahr; British/Scottish - George O’Neill, Chris Dunleavy, Jim Fryatt, Andy Provan, Roy Evans, Derek Trevis; Germans - Karl Minor, Manny Schellscheidt: Jamaican - Raymond Parri

I had originally commented on how I thought Stan was playing off stereotypes of soccer being played mostly by foreigners who don't speak English. I e-mailed him to that effect and he took exception to my "smart-ass comment," correctly pointing out that he was asked for a memory of Phil Jasner and thinking back 37 years that he remembered the Atoms as including a bunch of Mexicans. (They came in '76, when I was no longer covering them.) He pleaded as a defense his (understandable) sadness in losing a long-friend and colleague. I e-mailed an apology and I hope he accepts it.

Women qualify for '11 World Cup, US Seeks Men's Cup in '22

Two good articles in today's New York Times, both by Jere Longman, speak to the state of professional soccer in the United States. One discusses yesterday's 1-0 victory over Italy, which qualified the U.S. women for this summer's Women's World Cup. The other predicts an increase in soccer interest in this country is the United States is awarded the 2022 World Cup.

On the men's side, Longman notes that the United States staged the most successful World Cup in history back in 1994 and that there were are sufficient existing stadiums with supporting infrastructure that public money would not be required. Top competitors appear to be Australia and Qatar, neither of which has hosted a World Cup.

The Women's World Cup will be in Germany this summer and the Americans barely qualified. Yesterday's victory gave them a 2-0 aggregate win in the home and home play-off for the 16th and final spot. The fact that the United States came down to the wire before qualifying demonstrate what Longman calls "growing democratization of women’s soccer" around the world. He points out that while more countries around the world are spending more money on women's soccer, the United States has stagnated. Its U-17 team did not qualify for the world championships and the U-20 squad lost to Nigeria in the quarterfinals. Add to that the fact that the Women's United Soccer Association - founded in the glow of the 1999 World Cup victory - folded in 2003 and the current league, Women's Professional Soccer, is struggling financially and for recognition. Three of its top teams - St. Louis, Los Angeles and the California-based FC Gold Pride, have folded in the past year or so.