Okay, kids, we're finally here. So why don't we stretch our legs a bit and get our wits about us. This weekend is a pretty big one for U.S. soccer at the professional level. The MLS is playing its semifinals and the A-League plays its championship and, gee whiz, wouldn't you know it but the second division's final will be played in the friendly confines of Frontier Field, but I'll get to that in a bit. First, most American soccer fans will be celebrating qualification to the 2002 World Cup as the playoff games continue.
The United States Men's national squad qualified with a little help from their friends this past weekend. With an 11th hour penalty kick goal from Joe-Max Moore the Americans were able to pull out their must win match against Jamaica. Meanwhile, in Costa Rica, Mexico was unable to punch a goal in against arguably the best team in the region as they played to a 0-0 draw. While that was going on the unlikeliest of results was being hashed out as Trinidad and Tobago, this year's doormat in CONCACAF, went a man down in the 19th minute only to score the match's only goal in the 61st minute. Is it any wonder that Stern John was the man with the golden shoe in that encounter? A player who had made his name playing in the United States, first in New Orleans, then in Columbus, happened to be a man that played in honor of his fallen teammate, fellow former MLS and A-League player Mickey Trotman, in winning this game. With those three magically improbable results the U.S. booked its ticket to Japan/Korea.
Now for the true business of this column: to talk about the A-League championship to be settled on Sunday in Rochester. The Hershey Wildcats and Rochester Rhinos were chasing after each other for most of the season in the Northern Conference. Many people tipped the Wildcats to win the division over the Rhinos from the beginning of the season as well. Others made mention of this developing rivalry possibly reaching full bloom under the bright lights of October's A-League Championship.
Well, it's here and the combatants are ready to fight it out to find out just who is the best, not only in the Northern Conference, but in the league as well. The two Scotts, Vallow and Schweitzer, hold up the back line for Rochester which has been as tough to get through this year as it was last fall when the Rhinos defended their way to the title. The Wildcats will be looking to break down the Rhinos tough defense and get up early against their rivals. They'll need every ounce of talent on their squad to win this game, as it is their first time playing for the league championship. The 'Cats had the advantage through most of the matches this season but as slight as that advantage was I'm sure they know that this is that time of year when every Rhino player seems to be at their best.
Of course, the game hasn't even kicked off and there's already plenty of controversy. This time it centers on the league and the venue for the game instead of dealing directly with any of the participants in Saturday's match. For the second year in a row Rochester will host the final. Now, normally this wouldn't be that much of a problem but this year the Rhinos are the lower seed. If Rochester had won the Northern Conference and done as well in the regular season as Hershey then there wouldn't be a whole lot to complain about.
Then again if you're Hershey here are your questions: why did the league insist on saying they would "spread the wealth" only to hand the final to Rochester once again? How does the selection process actually work since now we know it doesn't go by who has the higher seeding or better regular season? The likely answers are that Rochester practically guarantees a sellout and their field was available. Unfortunately, Hershey had their field hung up by a car show that was in town for this weekend that may have also tied up many area hotels. Regardless, the league is taking a hit in the PR department for allowing Rochester to host once again even though a full house will look impressive on Fox Sports World. It is rumored that Hershey's front office had insisted they would have been able to host if they had been chosen but that seems a bit of a moot point now.
Either way this match is to be the showpiece for the league and for those of us who would be tempted to hold a grudge against the league or the Rhinos for having the biggest audience and arguably the most cash we should be reminded that this game could be a coming out party much like the Open Cup final that saw the Rhinos defeat the Colorado Rapids on national television. This is also the greatest chance any team has had to knock the Rhinos off since Minnesota had them as visitors two years ago. The 'Cats will be juiced to play this game and the Rhinos will be steaming to prove that they are still the team to beat. This will be a heck of a showdown at the FF Ranch and Wildlife Refuge so either get down there or settle down in front of the television for this nationally televised showcase of our league.
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