31 July 2017

Fierce battle for play-off phase

We have come to the penultimate qualifying stage where no slip-ups are allowed, so at the first 3 days of next month we will know all winners. Thus, these are the last 90 minutes (or maybe more) before the play off round, where pairs will be known at the end of next working week.

No one wants to play on the first day of the Champions league qualifiers, however only one match will break the dead lock. All other 14 games will be played 24 hours later.

Tuesday, 01 August at 19.00 CET: Sheriff - Qarabag.

Wednesday, 02 August at 19.00 CET: APOEL Nicosia - Viitorul.
Wednesday, 02 August at 19.00 CET: BATE Borisov - Slavia Prague.
Wednesday, 02 August at 19.00 CET: CSKA Moscow - AEK.
Wednesday, 02 August at 19.45 CET: Basaksehir - Club Brugge.
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.00 CET: FC Copenhagen - Vardar.
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.15 CET: Viktoria Plzen - Steaua *.
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.15 CET: Young Boys Bern - Dynamo Kyiv.
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.30 CET: FH Hafnarfjordur - Maribor.
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.30 CET: Ludogorets Razgrad - Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.45 CET: Ajax - Nice.
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.45 CET: Legia - Astana.
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.45 CET: Olympiacos - Partizan
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.45 CET: Rijeka - Red Bull Salzburg.
Wednesday, 02 August at 20.45 CET: Rosenborg - Celtic.

* Because of the name issue this club nowadays is known as FCSB. In order to avoid any confusion of who exactly this team is, here it will be written as it had been known before with a famous name - Steaua.

In the Europa league things are quite different. As many first 90 minutes matches ended in one goal difference there is a possibility that many pairs will go into extra time. For the second leg, this competition will be played over two days.

Wednesday, 02 August at 18.00 CET: AEL Limassol - Austria Vienna.
Wednesday, 02 August at 18.00 CET: Sion - Suduva.

Thursday, 03 August at 17.00 CET: Dinamo Minsk -AEK Larnaca.
Thursday, 03 August at 17.00 CET: Skendija - Trakai.
Thursday, 03 August at 18.30 CET: Odds Ballklubb - Dinamo Zagreb.
Thursday, 03 August at 19.00 CET: Apollon Limassol - Aberdeen.
Thursday, 03 August at 19.00 CET: Gabala - PAO.
Thursday, 03 August at 19.00 CET: Olexandriya - Astra.
Thursday, 03 August at 19.00 CET: Sparta Prague - Crvena Zvezda.
Thursday, 03 August at 19.00 CET: Videoton - Bordeaux.
Thursday, 03 August at 19.00 CET: Zenit Saint Petersburg - Bnei Yehuda.
Thursday, 03 August at 19.30 CET: Fenerbahce - Sturm Graz.
Thursday, 03 August at 19.30 CET: Fola Esch - Ostersunds.
Thursday, 03 August at 19.45 CET: Lyngby - Krasnodar.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.00 CET: Maritimo - Botev Plovdiv.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.00 CET: PAOK - Olimpik Donetsk.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.00 CET: Skenderbeu - Mlada Boleslav.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.15 CET: Lech - Utrecht.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.30 CET: Altach - Gent.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.30 CET: Hajduk - Brondby.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.30 CET: Midtjylland - Arka.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.45 CET: Athletic Bilbao - Dinamo Bucharest.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.45 CET: Milan - Universitatea Craiova.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.45 CET: Oostende - Olympique Marseille.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.45 CET: Osijek - PSV Eindhoven.
Thursday, 03 August at 20.45 CET: Ruzomberok - Everton.
Thursday, 03 August at 21.00 CET: Panionios - Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Thursday, 03 August at 21.05 CET: Domzale - Freiburg.
Thursday, 03 August at 22.00 CET: Braga - AIK Solna.

30 July 2017

Like father like son

From last Tuesday Spanish FA president Angel Maria Villar Llona, together with his son Gorka Villar who is an ex-CONMEBOL executive, are spending the nights in jail. Besides these two, three other officials were arrested at the headquarters in Madrid. All of them are charged of misappropriation of funds, improper management and falsifying documents.
Based on these accusations Spanish police have opened an investigation of organizing friendly matches against Spain. The father is accused of arranging friendly matches where in return his son gets commercial agreement, financial benefit, contracts for representation, lobbying etc. For the authorities 7 games are suspicious: Mexico and Argentina in 2010, Venezuela and Costa Rica away in 2011, Qatar away in 2013, Bosnia and Herzegovina in Swiss town of Saint Gallen and South Korea in Austrian Salzburg in 2016.

29 July 2017

Figures from Gold Cup

General information: Copa Oro or Gold Cup was the fourteenth edition that successfully ended two days ago. With 2 outstanding strikes the host nation, United States of America lifted title number 6, who is now short only a trophy from their great rivals Mexico (which has 7). In this competition we saw practically everything in 3 weeks: goals, shaking of the crossbars, high scores (at some point), one annulled game with even fantastic saves from close range and 11 meters.
Goals and draws: From the first match that ended 2:4, we knew that many goals will follow up right through the end. And that prediction came true: in total 55 goals were scored or 2.29 per match. All players had an incredible second half, who they scored 35 goals, unlike first 45 minutes when 20 times the ball got into the net. If we are talking by rounds, then first stage gave the most goals from all 3: 17 were scored in just 6 games, second had 12 and the last had one more - 13. First knockout phase (quarterfinals) produced 7 followed by 3 each in the semifinals and final games. Only one player has touched its own net, and it was an important match: first quarterfinal just 13 minutes from normal time.
At this thriving tournament only in the group stage we had only 3 draws. And all off them were scoreless. But because one game was void, officially we saw only 2 stalemates.
Surprise and disappointments: From the quarterfinals and up until the end, everyone thought (or some of us) that most teams will play cautiously in order to reach the title. Luckily (for the supporters and viewers) that was not the case. Surprisingly all matches finished in normal time i.e. we did not see a single additional time from the knockout phase.
In terms of goals, Curacao in its 3 matches did not touch the net at all. However, if we are talking about points - French Guiana, Nicaragua and above mentioned Curacao has failed to record points in the group phase i.e. have lost all 3 games.
Terrible shooters versus penalty giver: In 24 matches we saw only 4 penalties, but not all of them were converted. Most of them got the host nation (2), and both were saved by the same goalkeeper from a single game in a space of 13 minutes. One other penalty was given for Curacao, however that was also spectacularly saved. All 3 above players must learn from Darren Mattocks (Jamaica) who calmly scored a goal from 11 meters.
Filthy boys: Everything was calm and in fair play until the unlucky match number 13 for Ludovic Baal from French Guiana, who received a straight red card from the ‘blue’ Mexican referee. In this section he is accompanied with Luis Fernando Copete (Nicaragua) who received 2 yellow. This both 'incidents' happened in round 3 of the group stage.
Entertaining match(es): We can agree that all 24 were entertaining to watch. Maybe some will say the first game was better where we saw 6 goals from the start, but game number 16 had something special and differentiate from others with 1 red card, 2 fantastic penalty saves and 3 goals.

28 July 2017

One goal difference in most matches

Mlada Boleslav - Skenderbeu 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 42 Jan Chramosta
              1:1 86-own goal Pavel Cmovs
              2:1 87 Adam Janos

Olimpik Donetsk - PAOK 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 49 Stanislav Bilenkyi
              1:1 59 Pedro Henrique

Maccabi Tel Aviv - Panionios 1:0


Scorer: 1:0 48 Vidar Oern Kjartansson

AEK Larnaca - Dinamo Minsk 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 41 Tete Chamorro
              2:0 70 Hector Hevel

AIK Solna - Braga 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 10 Raul Silva
              1:1 18-pen Daniel Sundgren

Krasnodar - Lyngby 2:1

Scorers: 0:1 64 Jeppe Kjaer
              1:1 67 Victor Claesson
              2:1 90+3 Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov

Ostersunds - Fola Esch 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 50 Fouad Bachirou

PSV Eindhoven - Osijek 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 57-pen Borna Barisic

Sturm Graz - Fenerbahce 1:2

Scorers: 1:0 10 Stefan Hierlander
              1:1 28-own goal Dario Maresic
              1:2 34 Roman Neustadter

Suduva - Sion 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 02-own goal Paulo Ricardo Ferreira
              2:0 08 Paulius Janusauskas
              3:0 90 Karolis Laukzemis

Utrecht - Lech 0:0

Astra - Olexandriya 0:0

Bnei Yehuda - Zenit Saint Petersburg 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 58 Domenico Criscito
              0:2 90 Aleksandr Kokorin

Botev Plovdiv - Maritimo 0:0

Dinamo Bucharest - Athletic Bilbao 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 20 Aymeric Laporte
              1:1 54 Rivaldinho

Arka - Midtjylland 3:2

Scorers: 1:0 31 Marcus Vinicius
              1:1 33 Rilwan Hassan
              1:2 36 Marc dal Hende
              2:2 39-pen Marcus Vinicius
              3:2 90+2 Rafal Siemaszko

Brondby - Hajduk 0:0

Bordeaux - Videoton 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 18 Younousse Sankhare
              1:1 23 Marko Scepovic
              2:1 33 Younousse Sankhare

Crvena Zvezda - Sparta Prague 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 13 Richmond Boakye
              2:0 64 Guelor Kanga

Gent - Altach 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 04 Louis Clement Ngwat-Mahop
              1:1 76 Kalifa Coulibaly

PAO - Gabala 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 37-pen Guillermo Molins

Aberdeen - Apollon Limassol 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 04 Ryan Christie
              1:1 59 Jander Santana
              2:1 78 Graeme Shinnie

Dinamo Zagreb - Odds Ballklubb 2:1

Scorers: 0:1 19 Stefan Mladenovic
              1:1 31 Armin Hodzic
              2:1 41 Junior Fernandes

Olympique Marseille - Oostende 4:2

Scorers: 1:0 02 Valere Germain
              1:1 26-pen Sebastien Siani
              2:1 32 Morgan Sanson
              3:1 52 Valere Germain
              3:2 68 Knowledge Musona
              4:2 82 Valere Germain

Austria Vienna - AEL Limassol 0:0

Everton - Ruzomberok 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 65 Leighton Baines

Freiburg - Domzale 1:0 

Scorer: 1:0 20 Nils Petersen

27 July 2017

Trophy number six remained at home

United States of America - Jamaica 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 45 Jozy Altidore
              1:1 50 Je-Vaughn Watson
              2:1 88 Jordan Morris

Strange, but nevertheless entertaining game in rainy Bruges

Astana - Legia 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 35 Junior Kabananga
              2:0 45 Ivan Mayewski
              2:1 79 Armando Sadiku
              3:1 90+4 Patrick Twumasi

Dynamo Kyiv - Young Boys Bern 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 15 Andriy Yarmolenko
              2:0 34 Dieumerci Mbokani
              2:1 90 Christian Fassnacht
              3:1 90+2 Denys Garmash

Red Bull Salzburg - Rijeka 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 30 Mario Gavranovic
              1:1 48 Hwang Hee-Chan

Hapoel Beer Sheva - Ludogorets Razgrad 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 19 Anthony Nwakaeme
              2:0 79 Michael Ohana

Viitorul - APOEL Nicosia 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 75 Cristian Ganea

Maribor - FH Hafnarfjordur 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 54 Marcos Tavares

Celtic - Rosenborg 0:0

Nice - Ajax 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 32 Mario Baloteli
              1:1 48 Donny van de Beek

Club Brugge - Basaksehir 3:3

Scorers: 1:0 05 Dennis Bonaventure
              2:0 15 Stefano Denswil
              2:1 59 Marcio Mossoro
              2:2 63 Eljero Elia
              2:3 73 Marcio Mossoro
              3:3 78 Stefano Denswil

25 July 2017

Disgrace: we waited 110 minutes to see the first goal in this phase, and what a 'goal' it was

Qarabag - Sheriff Tiraspol 0:0

Slavia Prague - BATE Borisov 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 20-pen Milan Skoda

Steaua - Viktoria Plzen 2:2

Scorers: 0:1 23 Michal Krmencik
              1:1 37 Constantin Budescu
              1:2 53 Jan Kopic
              2:2 61 Felipe Teixeira

AEK - CSKA Moscow 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 45 Alan Dzagoev
              0:2 55 Pontus Wernbloom

Partizan - Olympiacos 1:3

Scorers: 0:1 06 El Fardou Ben Nabouhane
              1:1 10 Leandre Tawamba Kana
              1:2 56 El Fardou Ben Nabouhane
              1:3 90+1 Emmanuel Emenike

Penalties after second round of qualifying matches

Last week UEFA has punished two European clubs in different competition.
Playing on the first and only (so far) strange qualifying day in the Champions league - Friday, was not good for Linfield, who lost their first leg game against Celtic and later received a punishment. For throwing objects onto the pitch and fans invasion after the game, the Northern Irish champions have to close one sector of their pitch in the next European match and financially are fined 10.000 euros. However, 5 days later disciplinary action was opened against Celtic as well. Again the Scottish champions are going to be fined because in the return leg in Glasgow their fans spread a flag of masked soldier of Irish Republican Army. Penalties for this omission will be known this Friday.
On 13 July there was an unsolicited behavior on one match at the Europa league tournament. Last Friday the organization has send Hajduk a 'greeting card', after the team has qualified for the next phase. The Croatian club has to pay amount of 55.000 euros or: 50.000 for racist behavior from their own spectators plus 5.000 euros for throwing objects in a game against Levski Sofia. The team from Split has announced it will lodge a complaint.

24 July 2017

Unusual final

Everybody was expecting the final to be played between the two giants, but in the second semi-final one Caribbean nation had other ideas. With calm and cautious play, Jamaica will face its second consecutive final match, after this morning defeated Mexico and made their revenge for the loss 2 years ago. On the other side, the hosts are very poised to become champions for the sixth time and the team is well supported by their noisy fans. Will the title stay at home or the 'Reggae Boyz' will stage another surprise, we are going to find out on 27 July, Thursday from 03.30 CET.

Second and last half of qualifiers

Bit by bit, we have reached the midway point of qualifiers. Over three days, and in the last week of July, are scheduled to be played first leg in both European league competitions. From this stage we can say that both tournaments are getting serious as ‘semi’ known clubs are entering.

The ‘strongest’, Champions league, usually starts first. In the third qualifying round we will see 13 new teams for the first time. At this phase 6 matches are playing on the first and 9 on the second day.

Tuesday, 25 July at 19.00 CET: Qarabag - Sheriff Tiraspol.
Tuesday, 25 July at 19.00 CET: Slavia Prague - BATE Borisov.
Tuesday, 25 July at 19.30 CET: AEK - CSKA Moscow.
Tuesday, 25 July at 19.30 CET: Steaua - Viktoria Plzen.
Tuesday, 25 July at 20.00 CET: Vardar - FC Copenhagen.
Tuesday, 25 July at 20.45 CET: Partizan - Olympiacos.

Wednesday, 26 July at 16.00 CET: Astana - Legia.
Wednesday, 26 July at 18.30 CET: Dynamo Kyiv - Young Boys Bern.
Wednesday, 26 July at 18.45 CET: Red Bull Salzburg - Rijeka.
Wednesday, 26 July at 19.00 CET: Hapoel Beer Sheva - Ludogorets Razgrad.
Wednesday, 26 July at 20.00 CET: Viitorul - APOEL Nicosia.
Wednesday, 26 July at 20.20 CET: Maribor - FH Hafnarfjordur.
Wednesday, 26 July at 20.45 CET: Celtic - Rosenborg.
Wednesday, 26 July at 20.45 CET: Nice - Ajax.
Wednesday, 26 July at 21.00 CET: Club Brugge - Basaksehir.

Twenty five clubs will be seen for the first time and they will be mixed up with 33 winners from the second qualifying round. From the first starting match and up until the last, Europa league, with its 29 pairs, will entertaining us for full 5 hours.

Thursday, 27 July at 18.00 CET: Mlada Boleslav - Skenderbeu.
Thursday, 27 July at 18.30 CET: Olimpik Donetsk - PAOK.
Thursday, 27 July at 18.30 CET: Trakai - Skendija.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.00 CET: AEK Larnaca - Dinamo Minsk.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.00 CET: AIK Solna - Braga.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.00 CET: Krasnodar - Lyngby.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.00 CET: Maccabi Tel Aviv - Panionios.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.00 CET: Ostersunds - Fola Esch.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.00 CET: PSV Eindhoven - Osijek.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.00 CET: Sturm Graz - Fenerbahce.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.00 CET: Suduva - Sion.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.00 CET: Utrecht - Lech.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.30 CET: Astra - Olexandriya.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.30 CET: Bnei Yehuda - Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.30 CET: Botev Plovdiv - Maritimo.
Thursday, 27 July at 19.30 CET: Dinamo Bucharest - Athletic Bilbao.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.00 CET: Arka - Midtjylland.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.00 CET: Brondby - Hajduk.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.00 CET: Universitatea Craiova - Milan.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.30 CET: Bordeaux - Videoton.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.30 CET: Crvena Zvezda - Sparta Prague.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.30 CET: Gent - Altach.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.30 CET: PAO (Panathinaikos) - Gabala.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.45 CET: Aberdeen - Apollon Limassol.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.45 CET: Dinamo Zagreb - Odds Ballklubb.
Thursday, 27 July at 20.45 CET: Olympique Marseille - Oostende.
Thursday, 27 July at 21.05 CET: Austria Vienna - AEL Limassol.
Thursday, 27 July at 21.05 CET: Everton - Ruzomberok.
Thursday, 27 July at 21.05 CET: Freiburg - Domzale.

Gold Cup awaits new champion

Mexico - Jamaica 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 87 Kemar Lawrence

23 July 2017

Dominating the game, hosts secure final spot

Costa Rica - United States of America 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 72 Jozy Altidore
              0:2 82 Clint Dempsey

22 July 2017

Known referee for Super Cup final

Before every official start of the season there is a Super Cup match, just to see which champion plays better football: the winner from the Champions league or its counter part from the Europa league. Champions from those two competitions will battle it out in a one match show next month. It is already known that Real Madrid and Manchester United will clash each other 08 August, and UEFA this Thursday revealed the man who will lead that game. That honor belonged to Gianluca Rocchi and he will have great help by Elenito di Liberatore and Mauro Tonolini, who are all from Italy.

21 July 2017

One goal difference in both games

Jamaica - Canada 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 06 Shaun Francis
              2:0 49 Romario Williams
              2:1 60 Junior Hoilett

Mexico - Honduras 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 03 Rodolfo Pizarro

Penalties needed in Lithuania

Lyngby - Slovan Bratislava 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 19-pen Mikkel Rygaard Jensen
              2:0 30 Martin Ornskov
              2:1 89 Filip Orsula

Mlada Boleslav - Shamrock Rovers 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 08 Jan Chramosta
              2:0 31 Golgol Mebrahtu

Suduva - Liepaja 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 56 Seydina Keita

Trakai - Norrkoping 2:1, on penalties: 5-3

Scorers: 1:0 11 Maksim Maksimov
              2:0 34 Maksim Maksimov
              2:1 85 Simon Skrabb

VPS Vaasa - Brondby 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 11 Jerry Voutilainen
              1:1 15-own goal Marko Meerits
              2:1 39 Ebrima Sohna

Dinamo Brest - Altach 0:3

Scorers: 0:1 08 Nicolas Ngamaleu
              0:2 43 Stefan Nutz
              0:3 51 Simon Piesinger

AEK Larnaca - Cork City 1:0 

Scorer: 1:0 32 Florian Taulemesse

Zaria - Apollon Limassol 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 45-pen Alex da Silva
              1:1 47 Maxim Focsa
              1:2 79 Andre Schembri

Levski Sofia - Hajduk 1:2

Scorers: 1:0 69 Sergiu Bus
              1:1 81 Frank Ohandza
              1:2 86 Ante Erceg

AIK Solna - Zeljeznicar 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 47 Nils-Eric Johansson
              2:0 84 Henok Goitom

Brann Bergen - Ruzomberok 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 63 Kristi Qose
              0:2 77-pen Dominik Kruzilak

Midtjylland - Ferencvaros 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 34 Gustav Wikheim
              1:1 63 Rui Pedro
              2:1 71 Rasmus Nissen
              3:1 80 Alexander Sorloth

Bnei Yehuda - Trencin 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 49 Mavis Tchibota
              2:0 85 Yuval Ashkenazi

Odd Ballklubb - Vaduz 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 81 Stefan Mladenovic

Zira - Astra 0:0


Utrecht - Valletta 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 18 Sean Klaiber
              2:0 76 Willem Janssen
              3:0 83 Zakaria Labyad
              3:1 88 Santiago Malano

Galatasaray - Ostersunds 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 60-pen Brwa Nouri
              1:1 68 Ahmet Calik

Botev Plovdiv - Beitar Jerusalem 4:0

Scorers: 1:0 10 Plamen Dimov
              2:0 32 Fernando Viana
              3:0 46 Lachezar Baltanov
              4:0 89 Felipe Brisola

Fola Esch - Inter Baku 4:1

Scorers: 1:0 20 Samir Hadji
              2:0 31 Enis Saiti
              3:0 58 Tom Laterza
              3:1 69 Pardis Fardjad-Azad
              4:1 90+3 Cedric Sacras

Luzern - Osijek 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 19 Tomi Juric
              2:0 62 Tomi Juric
              2:1 72 Muzafer Ejupi

Skenderbeu - Kairat Almaty 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 50 Sabien Lilaj
              2:0 83 Sebino Plaku

AEL Limassol - Progres Niedekorn 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 69 Fidelis Irhene
              1:1 82 Emmanuel Francoise
              2:1 88 Kevin Pierre Lafrance

Lech - Haugesund 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 32 Darko Jevtic
              2:0 90+3 Lasse Nielsen

Domzale - Valur Reykjavik 3:2

Scorers: 0:1 03-pen Gudjon Petur Lydsson
              1:1 24-pen Ivan Firer
              1:2 43 Nicolas Bogild
              2:2 69 Jure Balkovec
              3:2 70 Senijad Ibricic

Jagiellonia - Gabala 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 18 Ilgar Gurbanov
              0:2 89 Filip Ozobic

Mladost Podgorica - Sturm Graz 0:3

Scorers: 0:1 33 Stefan Hierlander
              0:2 39 Philipp Zulechner
              0:3 46 Deni Alar

Crvena Zvezda - Irtysh Pavlodar 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 10 Mitchell Donald
              2:0 76 Slavoljub Srnic

Gorica - Panionios 2:3

Scorers: 0:1 11 Giorgios Masouras
              1:1 15-pen Rifet Kapic
              1:2 16 Samed Yesil
              1:3 23 Lazaros Lamprou
              2:3 67-pen Rifet Kapic

Siroki Brijeg - Aberdeen 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 71 Greg Stewart
              0:2 77 Gary Mackay-Steven

Videoton - Nomme Kalju 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 36 Danko Lazovic
              1:1 49-pen Artjom Dmitrijev

KR Reykjavik - Maccabi Tel Aviv 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 56 Omer Atzily
              0:2 65 Dor Peretz

20 July 2017

Fantastic header, unfortunately into its own net, opened quarterfinals phase

Costa Rica - Panama 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 77-own goal Anibal Cesis Godoy

United States of America - El Salvador 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 41 Omar Gonzalez
              2:0 45+2 Eric Lichaj

One match needed additional minutes

F91 Dudelange - APOEL Nicosia 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 39-pen Igor de Camargo

Rosenborg - Dundalk 1:1, 2:1 after extra time

Scorers: 0:1 11 Brian Gratland
              1:1 42 Yann-Erik de Lanlay
              2:1 98 Matthias Vilhjalmsson

Kukesi - Sheriff Tiraspol

Scorers: 1:0 34 Izair Emini
              2:0 45 Pero Pejic
              2:1 55 Cyrille Bayala

FC Copenhagen - Zilina 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 19 Yusuf Otubanjo
              1:1 48-pen Benjamin Verbic
              1:2 57 Filip Kasa

Ludogorets Razgrad - Zalgiris 4:1

Scorers: 0:1 14 Serge Nyuiadzi
              1:1 40 Natanael
              2:1 54 Wanderson
              3:1 56 Claudiu Keseru
              4:1 73 Claudiu Keseru

Maribor - Zrinjski 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 06 Ognjen Todorovic
              1:1 27 Mitja Viler

Red Bull Salzburg - Hibernians 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 11 Marc Rzatkowski
              2:0 19 Fredrik Gulbrandsen
              3:0 85 Amadou Haidara

Legia - IFK Mariehamn 6:0

Scorers: 1:0 06 Guilherme
              2:0 37-own goal Kristian Kojola
              3:0 39 Michal Kucharczyk
              4:0 54-pen Michal Kucharczyk
              5:0 80 Sebastian Szymanski
              6:0 81 Konrad Michalak

Celtic - Linfield 4:0

Scorers: 1:0 04 Scott Sinclair
              2:0 46 Tom Rogic
              3:0 54 Scott Sinclair
              4:0 90+2 Stuart Armstrong

Honved - Hapoel Beer Sheva 2:3

Scorers: 0:1 12 John Ogu
              0:2 16 Anthony Nwakaeme
              1:2 45+2-pen Davide Lanzafame
              2:2 73 Botond Barath
              2:3 84 Anthony Nwakaeme

18 July 2017

Visiting victories were put in sandwich after both starting and closing game ended in draws

Astana - Spartaks 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 58 Patrick Twumasi
              1:1 71 Edgards Vardanjans

Alahskert - BATE Borisov 1:3

Scorers: 1:0 18 Uros Nenadovic
              1:1 23 Mikhail Gordeychuk
              1:2 35 Mikhail Gordeychuk
              1:3 78 Maksim Volodko

Samtredia - Qarabag 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 22 Wilde-Donald Guerrier

TNS - Rijeka 1:5

Scorers: 0:1 41 Florentin Matei
              0:2 54 Mario Gavranovic
              0:3 61 Alexander Gorgon
              0:4 64 Stefan Ristovski
              1:4 69 Adrian Cieslewicz
              1:5 79 Mario Gavranovic

Vikingur - Hafnarfjordur 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 78-pen Steven Lennon
              0:2 90+1 Thorainn Ingi Valdimarsson

Buducnost - Partizan 0:0

Easy points

We can tell freely now that Honduras may be the luckiest team in just finished group stages of the Gold Cup (so far), on a game where they had trouble to find the net.
At the start of the second leg in group A they played against French Guiana, who did a terrible mistake. Probably it was out of desperation for getting back on track in the group, the newcomers fielded unqualified player in the tournament. Last Thursday CONCACAF has decided that Florent Malouda, who is born in Cayenne (French Guiana), does not have the right to play for the national team at the event. Because he already played for France, he was fined with an undisclosed amount, banned for two matches and practically gave all three points to their opponents.
The midfielder played in the Caribbean qualifiers 2017 on two games this June, but did not have the right to play in the major competition.

17 July 2017

Knockout phase

The group stage is over and now practically begins the real business. The hunt for the Gold Cup trophy begins from next week, and by the end of the weekend we will know who will be those two teams who will compete at the grand final on 26 July.

20 July, Thursday at 00.00 CET: Costa Rica - Panama.
20 July, Thursday at 03.00 CET: United States of America - El Salvador.

21 July, Friday at 01.30 CET: Jamaica - Canada.
21 July, Friday at 04.30 CET: Mexico - Honduras.

Winners of the first day will be the first semifinal and that is going to be played on 23 July, Sunday at 04.00 CET. And the following morning i.e. 24 July, Monday at 03.00 CET will be playing the winning teams from third and fourth quarter finals.

Back to normality

After very odd last couple of legs: missing a day from the famous trio (of days) and adding a completely new day, next week the Europa league competitions are back to normal. Plenty of football action ahead of us and indeed a good entertainment for these hot summer days. After this leg, these qualifiers will be practically at the halfway point from entering the group phase.

The well known Champions league tournament is divided into two days. On the first day we welcome 7 pairs, while the following 10 matches will complete this second qualifying stage.

Tuesday, 18 July at 16.00 CET: Astana - Spartaks.
Tuesday, 18 July at 18.00 CET: Alaskert - BATE Borisov.
Tuesday, 18 July at 18.00 CET: Vardar - Malmo.
Tuesday, 18 July at 19.00 CET: Samtredia - Qarabag.
Tuesday, 18 July at 19.00 CET: TNS - Rijeka.
Tuesday, 18 July at 19.00 CET: Vikingur - Hafnarfjordur.
Tuesday, 18 July at 20.45 CET: Buducnost - Partizan.

Wednesday, 19 July at 18.00 CET: F91 Dudelange - APOEL Nicosia.
Wednesday, 19 July at 19.15 CET: Rosenborg - Dundalk.
Wednesday, 19 July at 19.30 CET: FC Copenhagen - Zilina.
Wednesday, 19 July at 19.30 CET: Kukesi - Sheriff Tiraspol.
Wednesday, 19 July at 20.00 CET: Ludogorets Razgrad - Zalgiris.
Wednesday, 19 July at 20.15 CET: Maribor - Zrinjski.
Wednesday, 19 July at 20.30 CET: Red Bull Salzburg - Hibernians.
Wednesday, 19 July at 20.45 CET: Celtic - Linfield.
Wednesday, 19 July at 20.45 CET: Legia - IFK Mariehamn.
Wednesday, 19 July at 21.15 CET: Honved - Hapoel Beer Sheva.

Most entertaining and thrilling Europa league is back only on one day. As various times are applied winners of the 33 games will be known in less than 7 hours, so from that point on we are going to know the schedule for the third qualifying round.

Thursday, 20 July at 17.00 CET: Dinamo Minsk - Rabotnicki.
Thursday, 20 July at 17.00 CET: Lyngby - Slovan Bratislava.
Thursday, 20 July at 18.00 CET: HJK Helsinki - Skendija.
Thursday, 20 July at 18.00 CET: Mlada Boleslav - Shamrock Rovers.
Thursday, 20 July at 18.00 CET: Suduva - Liepaja.
Thursday, 20 July at 18.00 CET: Trakai - Norrkoping.
Thursday, 20 July at 18.00 CET: VPS Vaasa - Brondby.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: AEK Larnaca - Cork City.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: AEL Limassol - Progres Niedekorn.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: AIK Solna - Zeljeznicar.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: Bnei Yehuda - Trencin.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: Brann Bergen - Ruzomberok.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: Dinamo Brest - Altach.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: Levski Sofia - Hajduk.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: Midtjylland - Ferencvaros.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: Odd Ballklubb - Vaduz.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: Zaria - Apollon Limassol.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.00 CET: Zira - Astra.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.30 CET: Botev Plovdiv - Beitar Jerusalem.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.30 CET: Fola Esch - Inter Baku.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.30 CET: Galatasaray - Ostersunds.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.30 CET: Utrecht - Valletta.
Thursday, 20 July at 19.45 CET: Luzern - Osijek.
Thursday, 20 July at 20.00 CET: Domzale - Valur Reykjavik.
Thursday, 20 July at 20.00 CET: Lech - Haugesund.
Thursday, 20 July at 20.00 CET: Skenderbeu - Kairat Almaty.
Thursday, 20 July at 20.30 CET: Crvena Zvezda - Irtysh Pavlodar.
Thursday, 20 July at 20.30 CET: Jagiellonia - Gabala.
Thursday, 20 July at 20.30 CET: Mladost Podgorica - Sturm Graz.
Thursday, 20 July at 20.45 CET: Gorica - Panionios.
Thursday, 20 July at 20.45 CET: Siroki Brijeg - Aberdeen.
Thursday, 20 July at 21.00 CET: Videoton - Nomme Kalju.
Thursday, 20 July at 21.15 CET: KR Reykjavik - Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Goodbye group stage

Jamaica - El Salvador 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 14 Nelson Bonilla
              1:1 63-pen Darren Mattocks

Curacao - Mexico 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 22 Angel Sepulveda
              0:2 90+1 Edson Alvarez

16 July 2017

Master of penalties: Nicaragua goalkeeper, Justo Lorente saved two 11-metre kicks

Panama - Martinique 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 43 Michael Murillo
              2:0 60 Abdiel Arroyo
              3:0 66 Gabriel Torres

Nicaragua - United States of America 0:3

Scorers: 0:1 36 Joe Corona
              0:2 56 Kelyn Rowe
              0:3 87 Matt Miazga

15 July 2017

Second time slot is afraid of goals (at the moment)

Costa Rica - French Guiana 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 03 Ariel Rodriguez
              2:0 79 Rodney Wallace
              3:0 82 David Ramirez

Canada - Honduras 0:0