2014 World Cup - Quarterfinals - Brazil vs Colombia
Brazil 2 vs Columbia 1 - I was watching a Soccer match when a Hockey game broke out...
Irrational exuberance and optimism that the fix might be abeyance had us picking Colombia to rock the boat and Rodriguez to rock the baby. Not so fast, Joe...
20 years ago defender Andrés Escobar was murdered by the cartel in Medellin, ten days after scoring an own goal vs the US which eliminated Columbia from the 94 Cup.
Today, conservative coaching moves and a derelict official combined to murder my optimism and Colombia's chances for a semi-final appearance.
Canarinho coach Scolari switched Maicon for Alves (bookings) at rightback and Paulinho for Gustavo at midfield.
Los Cafeteros went conservative with Midfielders Ibarbo and Guarin in place of midfielder Aguilar and striker Martinez.
Colombia entered as the only team to win all its games and win them in regulation.
Scolari's choices worked as much as Pekerman's would prove fatal, with Zuniga and Rodriguez never getting the feeds or push they had in the previous games.
At 7' with uncharacteristic inept defending by Colombia, on a free kick the ball fizzled in from the left, straight through the 6 yd box, over the heads of Luiz & Zapata, and was tucked away into an open net at the far post by an unmarked Silva.
At 66' Zuniga lifted a free kick into the Brazilian area from the right, Brazilian Luiz deflected the ball into the 6 yd area, a scrum ensued on the edge, several air kicks later, with Julio Cesar caught in the pile up, Yepe's sent the equalizer into the net.
Not so fast, Joe... remember WHERE we are playing and how the officials swing.
On Zuniga's initial free kick it appeared that two red shirts were inches offside, and the flag is up.
However, Columbia did not meet that kick as Brazilian defender Luiz deflected the ball creating a goal front scrum.
Spanish ref, Carballo ignoring reality, followed his FIFA mandate, unjustly disallowing the equalizer and changing the complexion of the game.
At 69' its 2-0 Brazil, from a beautifully struck free kick Luis side footed over the wall and sent whistling past Ospina, who had no chance, into the top right corner of the net.
Both squads took turns being on their heels and hanging on by fingertips. In the end, it was the refs horrible inconsistency that let the match get out of control.
Knowing that yellow card amnesty was one match away, he elected to keep the yellow in his pocket until the late going while "only" calling 54 penalties, Brazil 31 to 23 for Colombia.
We say "only" because there were many more which Carballo neglected to call, his dereliction turned a free flowing game into a thugfest, in which several players should have been sent off and eventually someone was critically injured.
At 80', Rodriguez clipped a diagonal ball from the left hand edge, releasing Bacca into the area down the inside right. Bacca was upended in the box by goalie Julio Cesar, who should have been sent off but only received a yellow?
The penalty kick resulted in Rodriquez scoring his 6th goal in 5 games.
The officials dereliction devolved this match into blatant grabbing, shoving, NBA body blocks, NHL body checking and breakaway take downs.
How bad did it get? A yellow to Silva at 64' forces Brazil to play Germany without their defensive leader & team captain...
...in addition to star striker Neymar who took a knee to the back in extra time, fracturing a vertebrae.
In any event, Brazil advance to face Germany in what we fear will be this Cups 3rd officiating debacle involving the host nation.
Whoever FIFA's favorite sons may face, we suspect the matches will be much like Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter...
...wrought with NHL style play, curious calls/non calls and dubious Don King like boxing match results.
Irrational exuberance and optimism that the fix might be abeyance had us picking Colombia to rock the boat and Rodriguez to rock the baby. Not so fast, Joe...
20 years ago defender Andrés Escobar was murdered by the cartel in Medellin, ten days after scoring an own goal vs the US which eliminated Columbia from the 94 Cup.
Today, conservative coaching moves and a derelict official combined to murder my optimism and Colombia's chances for a semi-final appearance.
Canarinho coach Scolari switched Maicon for Alves (bookings) at rightback and Paulinho for Gustavo at midfield.
Los Cafeteros went conservative with Midfielders Ibarbo and Guarin in place of midfielder Aguilar and striker Martinez.
Colombia entered as the only team to win all its games and win them in regulation.
Scolari's choices worked as much as Pekerman's would prove fatal, with Zuniga and Rodriguez never getting the feeds or push they had in the previous games.
At 7' with uncharacteristic inept defending by Colombia, on a free kick the ball fizzled in from the left, straight through the 6 yd box, over the heads of Luiz & Zapata, and was tucked away into an open net at the far post by an unmarked Silva.
At 66' Zuniga lifted a free kick into the Brazilian area from the right, Brazilian Luiz deflected the ball into the 6 yd area, a scrum ensued on the edge, several air kicks later, with Julio Cesar caught in the pile up, Yepe's sent the equalizer into the net.
Not so fast, Joe... remember WHERE we are playing and how the officials swing.
On Zuniga's initial free kick it appeared that two red shirts were inches offside, and the flag is up.
However, Columbia did not meet that kick as Brazilian defender Luiz deflected the ball creating a goal front scrum.
Spanish ref, Carballo ignoring reality, followed his FIFA mandate, unjustly disallowing the equalizer and changing the complexion of the game.
At 69' its 2-0 Brazil, from a beautifully struck free kick Luis side footed over the wall and sent whistling past Ospina, who had no chance, into the top right corner of the net.
Both squads took turns being on their heels and hanging on by fingertips. In the end, it was the refs horrible inconsistency that let the match get out of control.
Knowing that yellow card amnesty was one match away, he elected to keep the yellow in his pocket until the late going while "only" calling 54 penalties, Brazil 31 to 23 for Colombia.
We say "only" because there were many more which Carballo neglected to call, his dereliction turned a free flowing game into a thugfest, in which several players should have been sent off and eventually someone was critically injured.
At 80', Rodriguez clipped a diagonal ball from the left hand edge, releasing Bacca into the area down the inside right. Bacca was upended in the box by goalie Julio Cesar, who should have been sent off but only received a yellow?
The penalty kick resulted in Rodriquez scoring his 6th goal in 5 games.
The officials dereliction devolved this match into blatant grabbing, shoving, NBA body blocks, NHL body checking and breakaway take downs.
How bad did it get? A yellow to Silva at 64' forces Brazil to play Germany without their defensive leader & team captain...
...in addition to star striker Neymar who took a knee to the back in extra time, fracturing a vertebrae.
In any event, Brazil advance to face Germany in what we fear will be this Cups 3rd officiating debacle involving the host nation.
Whoever FIFA's favorite sons may face, we suspect the matches will be much like Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter...
...wrought with NHL style play, curious calls/non calls and dubious Don King like boxing match results.
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