Tag: Jong Ajax

’10 to Track’ Globetrotting Friday soccer matches – a world of footyball awaits!

Fridays tend to be a little lighter for soccer scheds around the world.  So we pack our bags and hit the tarmac!   Let’s Trot – learn some Fun Facts about teams and leagues from far and wide.

As always, we start close to home, then expand our soccer horizons.

  1. Atlanta United II vs. North Carolina FC – United Soccer League

Welcome to the only high-end match in America.  No MLS today, but do get one second-tier game.

ATL2 is down in 14th in the Eastern Conference.  For all the success Atlanta’s MLS side is having, their reserve team is lousy.

North Carolina is one of the USL clubs Noob has a soft spot for.  They moved over from the almost seemingly-defunct North American Soccer League.  To know why, please check out the Interviews D-Twosday page on this site.  Those are a gas, and so unreal you’ll hardly believe they’re believable.  Yup!  That came out right.

Anywho, NCFC is in 10th place.  Not scintillating, except a little when you remember each conference gets it’s top eight into the Playoffs.  They’re only three points out of 8th.

There’s a massive gulf in the table between ATL2 and those below and everyone else.  NC probably wins by a goal or two here on the road.

RESULT:   NC   1-6    Not a typo.   Cameroonian forward Ulrich Donovan Ewolo has four goals.

B.  Puebla vs. CF America – Liga MX

They’re about halfway through the Apertura (first half-season) in Mexico.  Unsurprisingly, CFA is near the top (3rd).   Puebla are in 10th.  They’re likely better than that and will climb.  They win a lot but almost never draw, which is painful in the table.

RESULT:   CF America   2-3       Puebla lead twice before giving up the winning score at 90′.  And CFA had even just lost a man to a red card at 88′.

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Can’t tell if Number B is mildly scolding or in pain, a la Puebla.

  1. Necaxa vs. Monterrey – Liga MX Femenil

Little Billy Donovan from Springfield writes:

Dear Mr. Noob,

Why do you list the Mexican men’s league before the women’s?  My mom says it’s because you’re a misogynistic – well, she’ll wash my mouth out with soap if I use the word she did.

Billy, thanks for writing in.  Wait, how did you know Noob would — know what?  Never mind.

But since you’re writing, wouldn’t your mom just end up harmlessly washing your hand if you wrote the bad word she did?  Also, she sounds like quite the hypocrite, and you can tell her Noob said so.  I’ll bet she’s not even hot.

When Noob featured matches from both leagues in the same Track, I list first whichever match is more intriguing and/or features teams that are collectively higher in their table.

Necaxa are in last in their Group.  (The league is divided into two.)  Monterrey are in 4th, need to climb two spots to make the Playoffs.   That quest moves forward today.  Visitors by a couple, easy.

RESULT:   Monterrey   0-2

  1. Wydad Casablanca vs. ES Setif – CAF Champions League

Africa’s version is in its Quarterfinals, where each matchup is a two-legged, home-and-away affair.

Noob Tracked the first leg not long back, and ES Setif took care of business at home with a 1-0 win.  Now it’s the defending champions’ turn to host.  Based on their ELO ratings (thank you, footballdatabase.com), Noob figures Wydad is easily a goal favorite at their own place, probably a 3:2 favorite with take it by two goals and advance.

RESULT:   0-0     And so the champs are OUT.  ES Setif moves on to the Semis.

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Apparently, Wydad supporter’s know or assume Gerard Butler is a supporter, too.

  1. Cork City vs. Dundalk – League of Ireland Premier

It’s the pair of clubs longer-tenured Noobites knew would be at the top at the end, if not the order.

Defending champs Cork City are down seven points in the table.  They need a win today or the race is over.  Since it’s on their pitch, that’s more likely than not to happen.  But only by a tiny bit.  Dundalk have the advantage of only needing to play for a draw.  And they’re better on both sides of the ball, really put it all together this season.

Fun Fact:  Cork City are supporter-owned, by FORAS.  It stands for Friends of the Rebel Army and is Irish for “development”.

RESULT:   Dundalk   0-1      While it’s not a mathematical certainty, Noob’s ready to call the league finished!  Congrats to the fighting ‘Dalks!   I’m sure that’s their nickname…

  1. HJK vs. RoPS – Finland Veikkausliga

It’s all but over in Finalnd as well.  HJK lead #B RoPS by nine with just a few matches left to play.  These two play very good if not quite great D.  The difference has been HJK scores nearly twice a game on average while RoPS is only average in that department.   Today is probably coronation day for the defending titleholders.

RESULT:   HJK   3-0     Give HJK another crown!

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For about two seconds, Noob didn’t notice this was a split image.

Yup.  Thought HJK fielded a giant.

  1. Zalgiris Vilnius vs. Suduva – Lithuania A Lyga

This league isn’t quite a true summer one like the above two, is only about 2/3 of the way through.  And the title race is closer.  Suduva won last year narrowly over ZV, and the margin is about the same now.

Still, ZV at home is the play if you’re such a gambling addict that Lithuanian soccer is part of your fix.  Degenerate!

Fun Fact:  Zalgiris’ supporters group are Pietų IV.   Noob has no idea how to begin to pronounce that.

RESULT:   ZV   1-0

  1. Al-Wahda vs. Al-Wasl – Arabian Gulf League

This is the top league in United Arab Emirates.   They’re just a couple matches into the season.  These were last year’s #B and #3 squads.  Wasl will have to accelerate on offense a little more to play for a second-place spot.  They’ll need a miracle to surpass Al-Ain.  Both would.

RESULT:   Al-Wahda   4-1

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Al-Wahda are nicknamed “Excellencies”.

Ooh la la!   

Here is your rrrroast. Duck, Al-Wahda.

  1. Partizani Tirana vs. Flamutari – Albania Super Liga

Partizani finished 5th last season.  Normally that would get you squat, but perennial powerhouse Skenderbeu Korce got hit with a record ten-year ban from international play by UEFA.   That moved the tournament invitations down a rung in table each, so allowed P.T. to eke into Europa League.  Where they got skunked over two matches in the first qualifying round.

If you’d like to know a little more about the S.K. match-fixing nawteeness, Noob recommends checking out Bros Talking Soccer, podcast episode 90.  The question comes at the 35’, but why not listen to the whole thing?  One of only three podcasts on which I spend time.  Look, they’re Bros.   They talk.  And it’s about soccer.  In this day and age, it’s hard to find such transparency in the offering!   Muy bueno.

Oh yeah, Flamutari was 6th last year.  OK.

Fun Fact:  Brostalkingsoccerpodcast.com is the website  where Noobites can get mucho info.

RESULT:   Tirana   2-0

  1. Go Ahead Eagles vs. Jong Ajax – Netherlands Eerste Divisie

Noob finishes our ‘Trotting Track in the Netherlands second division!   Both teams this very early season are high enough in the table to be in the Promotion conversation.  Jong (Young) Ajax are disallowed though, as reserve teams there can’t move up to top flite.

Only the top finisher will move up automatically.  GHE are #B, which places them atop the spots that will qualify for the postseason Promotion playoffs.  They’re leading the league in offense, and Noob considers them to easily be a goal favorite today.

RESULT:   Eagles   2-1

Image result for speelgoedmuseum deventerSo long from the Toy Museum, Deventer — home of Go Head Eagles!

The city.   They don’t live with the toys.

’10 to Track’ soccer matches for Globetrotting Friday! Quality football, a Bob Ross appearance, and The Management hurts Noob’s feelings

We’ve got a super-solid lineup for “the ten most important matches to follow for the newish American fan”, especially considering it’s a Friday!

Fear not.  By Track’s end, we’ll still Globetrot for one unusual desitination.  Until then, enjoy the weirdest soccer previewing on the interblag.

  1. New England Revolution vs. Montreal Impact – MLS

Both these clubs missed the Playoffs last season.  But they’ve each won two out of four early for promising starts.

Noob doesn’t think either have the offense to stay in the top half of the Eastern Conference standings.  Which might prove me wrong today though?  (7:30 PM Eastern, NBA League Pass 8)

RESULT:   New England   4-0    Montreal lost a player to a red card pretty early.

Nostalgia time —

B.  England vs. Wales – women’s World Cup qualification (UEFA)

Wales are 3-1-0 in this Group.  All three of their wins have been 1-0 (or 0-1).

England, meanwhile, are 3-0-0 and have outscored their opponents 15-zilch.  Wales make qualify for World Cup by finishing #B in this bunch, but they’ll be dragon soup today.

RESULT:   0-0     no soup for Noob

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Danger!  Number B about to be carried away by dragon over soup-threat!

  1. Cardiff City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers – English Championship

The top two face off in England’s second division!  If they finish as such (likely), they’ll both be automatically promoted to Premier League next season.  Still, Fulham and Aston Villa aren’t that far back of Cardiff, so they’re still plenty motivated.

To win today, Cardiff will have to control the pace.  They play the best defense in that league.  WW have the best offense though.

RESULT:   Wolverhampton   0-1

  1. Puebla vs. Pachuca – Liga MX

Puebla are in a three-way tie for the last two spots in the table that will make the postseason Liguilla (playoffs).

Pachuca are only two points behind them, but have to leap several teams to make the top eight themselves.  Noob’s nowhere near convinced their wide-open style/Swiss cheese defense (though good offense) can get it done today.  (8:00 PM, Univision Deportes)

RESULT:   Pachuca   2-6      Of course, Noob could be mistaken…

Image result for soccer swiss cheese

  1. Waterford vs. Cork City – Irish Premier

Promoted to Premier this season, Waterford continue to impress.  They’re tied for #B in the table, just a point off Cork City’s pace.   They don’t score anywhere near enough to likely stay there, but it’s fun to see new blood near the top for now.

RESULT:   Waterford   2-1    Waterford move into a tie for 1st.  4 red cards were issued in the final minute of regulation.  

  1. France vs. Nigeria –women’s international friendly

World Cup tuneup!   Maybe it’s a little early to call it that, since the women’s isn’t until 2019.    But France are automatically in as the host nation (and would qualify anyway, trust me).    Africa’s qualification tournament doesn’t start until summer, but Nigeria is one of that federation’s four strongest.  So tuneup, says I!

RESULT:   France   8-0     Apparently Nigeria tuned out

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Noob can relate.  Thanks, Bob.

  1. Sporting Charleroi vs. Anderlecht – Belgian First Division A

Belgium’s top league has divided into Championship and Relegation subdivisions now. These two finished the regular season #B and #3, but Gent has now passed them both.  Since Belgium only gets two berths into Champions League, this is a vital match for both sides.

Charleroi better start finding the back of the net again.  They’re in a drought.

RESULT:   Anderlecht   1-2

  1. Ludogorets Razgrad vs. CSKA-Sofia – Bulgaria First Pro League

Bulgaria’s top league is ranked in the top half of UEFA (24th), but that’s still only good for one Champions league berth next year.  These two are #1 and #B, separated by only three points in the table, and very similar statistically as well.  Dynamite matchup.

RESULT:   Ludogorets Razgrad   3-2     Sofia went down a man to a red card early in the 2nd half.  LR scored the equalizer and winning goals very late.

Image result for soccer dynamite

  1. Jong Ajax vs. NEC Nijmegen – Dutch Eerste Divisie

It’s a tie for #B!   And they’re just a point out of 1st place, too.  As a reserve side, Jong Ajax isn’t eligible to be promoted.  But the Fighting Nijets are.

RESULT:   J.Ajax   3-2

The Management would like to apologize to our readers.  NEC are not the “Nijets” or even “Nidgets”, and even the correctly-spelled latter one would be a terrible nickname in any case.  Thank you for—

They didn’t seem to have a mascot.  So I gave them one.

You’re the Nidget.

That hurts me.  Just because you may be right doesn’t mean you don’t need to shut up.

  1. Waterhouse vs. Harbour View – Jamaica Premier

We need us some Jamaica time after that high drama!  4th place hosts 5th.  Noob leans libertarian-ish, so while not a user himself, smoke it if you’ve got it.

RESULT:   Waterhouse   2-1     Turns out this was played yesterday.  And that it was the second leg of a league playoff Quarterfinal!  Waterhouse advances on aggregate, 3-1.

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That’s the spirit.