Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

Good morning everybody

Today's schedule boasts some quality games (including some that have already begun). If you plan on watching today's matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play by play in the comments section below.

Here is today's schedule of games on TV:

• 7:30am- Setanta USA - Reading at Arsenal
• 9:45am- Setanta USA - Liverpool at Fulham
• 10am- FSC- Tottenham at Wigan
• Noon- FSC- Manchester United at Blackburn
• 2pm- GolTV- Espanyol at Barcelona
• 2pm- Setanta USA- Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund (German Cup Final)
• 2:30pm- FSC- Palermo at Fiorentina
• 4pm- GolTV- Almeria at Sevilla
• 4:15pm- Setanta USA- Derby County at West Ham United
• 4:30pm- FSC- Livorno at AS Roma
• 6pm- GolTV- Real Betis at Atletico Madrid
• 6:30pm- FSC- Bolton at Middlesbrough
• 7:30pm- HDNet- New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls
• 9:30pm- FSC- San Jose Earthquakes at Colorado Rapids

Enjoy the soccer.

Comments

[Dave]

Fulham already down..

[Andrew]

Are Juan Pablo Angel and Arturo Alvarez playing today?

[Andrew]

And by Alvavrez I mean tomorrow...

[Chase]

This could be a perfect day for Liverpool, news has emerged that Hicks doesn't have complete control over Gillette selling his shares to DIC and that Gillette already has a deal in place to be completed in late May. Then DIC would use there position to force out Hicks using their stronger financial position.

[Spencer]

Yes Alvarez and JPA are both suppose to be playing.

[Andrew]

Thanks Spencer!

[Spencer]

Anyone know why Spector isn't playing? Is he injured?

[eric]

Liverpool got a goal by Pennent in the 17th, but it's still 1-0 in the 60th... (just reading scoreboard, not watching it)

[Coach]

Anyone see the disgraceful lines on the field at Wigan? I'd say it reminds me of GS, but the footie is better and the crowd is way more vocal.

[dano]

And Fulham are done.

[eric]

Crouch puts one home, 2-0 70th

[Beckster]

Covey played full 90 in Reading's loss. From the write-ups, seems as if he did well.

[aristotle]

It's funny watching Wigan vs Tottenham and the obscene amount of scoring chances being missed. I don't know how many times I've watched an MLS game where a lot of chances were being missed, and then you see people posting saying that they would never miss that many chances in the EPL. Well, take a look at this game. You would think that the object of the game was to miss as many goal scoring opportunities as possible. All out offense from end to end for the whole game. It looks like it will finish 1-1. The score should be at least 9-9!

[Chase]

Dempsey has been Fulham's best players, him and McBride seemed like the only players who wanted to win today. Terrible performance from a team playing to stay up.

Liverpool have been really solid, great performance from the "weak" side. Pennant and Masch were the MOTM.

[Spencer]

Dempsey sure looks like he wants to stay in the Premiership. Quality performance by him. Johnson and Boca well find new teams in the championship.

[Spencer]

Anyone know a good place to get a live stream for the RSL TFC game? Other than myp2p.eu?

[Chase]

So why exactly does Feilhaber make the bench for Derby everyweek, but never gets to play, even when their season has been over for a month and half...Jewell sucks as bad as Hodgson...

[DigzTFC]

TFC games are streamed on cbc.ca but I don't know if you can get it outside of Canada. Was the game not worth a mention Ives or its not being aired in the US?

[aristotle]

The relegation picture is really looking bad for Americans now. Fulham and Derby are obviously going to be relegated, but now it's really starting to look like Reading will be the third team. That would be 9 out of 12 American players in the EPL being relegated. Ouch!

[Spencer]

How did the ManU Blackburn game not make the top 5? I think anytime we have a chance to watch the best team in the world is the best game of the day.

[eric]

Great save by Friedel, Tevez was one-on-one and he shut him down.

0-0, 12th

[Andy]

Digz - the TFC game is not being shown on tv stateside, but it can be watched online on mlslive.tv

[Spencer]

Santa Cruz scores. 1-0 Blackburn.

[eric]

Friedel smothers an ok free kick by Ronaldo, who hasn't really gotten it going yet today

[aristotle]

Anyone else fascinated by the promotion and relegation battles in the lower divisions, or is it just me?

I've been tracking Bournemouth's heroic effort to avoid relegation. They were an absolute lock to be relegated, and they probably will still be relegated, but they have picked up 18 out of a possible 21 points in their last 7 games to try and stay alive. Sadly, it looks like the season will end before they can move out of the relegation zone.

Swansea and Cardiff will be in the same division again next year. I spent time in Wales as a kid and remember the fierce battles their opposing fans had with each other. As I recall some fans walked around with the scarves of both teams just to avoid trouble with Swansea or Cardiff fans! I'm sure everyone's just really excited by this, huh?

Sorry if this is out of place and no one wants to hear or discuss lower divisions.

[Danny]

A flying jump kick only warrants a yellow for Rooney? When is this guy going to get put in his place? That kind of kick is incredibly dangerous and deserved more. What a joke. He gets away with murder.

[DCM]

TFC 1 - 0 RSL: 31st Robert (1st MLS goal) scores off a free kick from just beyond the top of the box that went through the wall with a deflection off a defender's (Ian Joy) boot that leaves Rimando looking at it go in the net.

[Chase]

As the BBC put it, Rooney is on one of his classic crusades to get sent off, great game so far, come on Rovers, I want Chelsea to still think they have a chance at the title going into the CL game Tuesday...

[RPH]

Thanks for the RSL-TFC update. I'm going out of mind to find a live feed on this.

[Spencer]

guy to myp2p.eu if you have sopcast, and you can get a live feed RPH
Its not a great one, but it will do.

[Spencer]

The TFC goal wasn't a deflection. The wall turned and jumped just right that the ball went in. They say its a deflection but the guy is a left footed, and you can tell by the way he hit it that it was always going to go that way. RSL is playing sloppy. But big note is Sturgis left in the 25th about with an injury.

[Hincha Tim]

Halftime 1-0 to Toronto. RSL looks terrible. They are playing like they did last year. NO midfield play, no possession. Toronto definitely the better team the first half. Very disappointing half of play from RSL. Borcher and Rimando were the only players who played well. They need to bring Williams in at midfield and get Findley out of the game. Findley has the first touch of a 1st year Junior high player.

[Spencer]

Ronaldo nails the post.

[Hincha Tim]

I'm unfortunately coming to the realization that Joy may not be the answer for outside left back. Defensive liability and adds nothing on offense. Mantilla was sketchy again, he gave up the foul after miss playing the ball that led to the goal. The RSL midfield is in shambles.
Dourchers still has not impressed me after 2 plus games. Not enough bite, certainly no target forward like we were told he was going to be.
For Toronto, Robert is going to be a great player for them, Winn is a great player.
They strung some nice sequences together. This team is a solid team now with the additions.
Very disappointing game plan from Kreis, over and over again trying the direct route from the defenders to the forwards. RSL didn't string more than 3 passes together until injury time.

[aristotle]

Hincha Tim:

Yes, interesting half time stats to back up what you are saying about RSL. No shots on goal, no shots period, no corner kicks, and Toronto's goalkeeper did not have to make a single save. How often do you see those statistics at half time?

I'm watching the second half, but I missed the first half. Those stats are what's showing on the MLS web site. Maybe I won't watch the second half!

[Hincha Tim]

Aristotle,
Those stats don't lie. It was an utterly disappointing half in terms of quality of play from RSL. The worst I've seen from some time including last year. At least they're only down 1-0.

[KingSnake]

Kasey Keller is past it. Never should have let Pennant's goal by, especially on the near post. Seattle better not sign him ...

[Brant]

Watching the Blackburn - ManU game... I swear Friedel has saran wrap across his net today. That 79th minute save (watch the highlights) was grand.

[Hincha Tim]

MUCH better from RSL at the start. 5-6 corner kicks but not one in the area of their "target forward" Deuchar ????? Joy gets badly beaten again. Where's the width from RSL?

[Chase]

What a game between ManU and Blackburn, Friedel is having an unbelievable game, the mancs are throwing everything into the attack, they probably should have gotten a penalty just now...

Right now the big winners are Chelski and Barca.

[Brant]

Goal - ManU. Law of averages finally catches up to Friedel. He was running out of miracles. But damn, the 10 minutes leading up to it were a goalkeeping clinic.

[DCM]

ManU finally finishes one off and Friedel had no chance this time.

[Chase]

Seriously, after another amazing save from Freidel, the Mancs get a goal, lame...

[Hincha Tim]

Williams in Joy out for RSL.

[DCM]

Its too bad that Bburn couldn't hold on for the last few minutes because Friedel's been sick throughout the match

[Spencer]

RSL is dominating the 2nd half.

[mitchell]

Man U goal lame? Freidel was definately man of the match, but the ref was garbage.

[Hincha Tim]

RSL need to finish their many chances. Totally different game then first half.

[eric]

Man of the Match Friedel single handedly keeps the title race alive and meaning in the upcoming ManU - Chelsea showdown.

United certainly could have had more goals on an average keeper, but I didn't think Scholes brought much to the match, and Giggs didn't have the speed to be too dangerous on the wing. Fergie tried to steal some rest for some of his midfield ahead of the Barca clash, and it backfired, not to take anything away from Friedel's heroics.

[Chase]

Yeah its lame, a two point manure lead would have left the game next week far more entertaining, as a Chelsea win would leave them in first, now if Chelsea win, with the goal difference, the mancs still have the lead and have games against West Ham (who barely beat Derby today) and Wigan to close out the title.

Its not lame for mancs, but for neutral spectators, or those who despise united like myself, the consequences of next weeks game would have been even more magnified if they had dropped all three points today.

Friedel was amazing, I haven't seen a goalkeeping performance like that in some time. And was the ref garbage, when he didn't give Blackburn a penalty earlier in the game or give Rooney a red when he deserved it???

[mitchell]

Chase:
I thought Rooney's tackle was red worthy and the ref missed penalties for both sides. I thought the ref let too much go. Chelsea would have to win next weekend no matter the result from this game to even have a chance.

[Robert]

Nice of you to forget that all the games from Mexico -many involving American players- are all on TV as well this weekend.

[Hincha Tim]

Toronto wins 1-0. Deserved win for Toronto. RSL dominated second half but could finish what chances they had and didn't look particularly dangerous in attacking third despite having vast majority of possession. Deuchar is not "Dr. Goals" but "Dr. No". Only one goal in 3 1/2 games. Borcher a rock at the back. Three steps back for RSL.

[Chase]

I'm just saying that the ramification of a Chelsea win next week would have been much bigger in Man U had lost. It seems like Chelsea has no sense of urgency as a team and that a chance to take their destiny into their own hands, with the opportunity to take sole possession of first could have made for a much better game. Frankenstein, despite his numerous faults, could have got them up for that one.

Now even if they win next week, they still need United to stumble against two weak teams, which will make it more difficult to get the mentally weak Chelsea up for it.

I really think Barca is the big winner though, Rooney is dinged up and Man U A-team just played an incredibly draining 90 minutes.

[Robert]

Here, hope this helps...
Fútbol - Liga mexicana
Torneo Clausura 2008, Jornada 15
Sábado 19 de abril
6:00 PM Este
5:00 PM Centro
3:00 PM Pacífico

Monterrey vs. Guadalajara Univision
En vivo
Fútbol - Liga mexicana
Torneo Clausura 2008, Jornada 15
Sábado 19 de abril
10:00 PM Este
9:00 PM Centro
7:00 PM Pacífico

Atlas vs. Tigres TeleFutura

Fútbol - Liga mexicana
Torneo Clausura 2008, Jornada 15
Domingo 20 de abril
1:00 PM Este
12:00 PM Centro
10:00 AM Pacífico

UNAM vs. Toluca TeleFutura
En vivo

Fútbol - Liga mexicana
Torneo Clausura 2008, Jornada 15
Domingo 20 de abril
6:00 PM Este
5:00 PM Centro
3:00 PM Pacífico

América vs. Atlante Galavisión
En vivo

Azteca America and ESPN Deportes have games as well.

[Spencer]

I'm not sure if TFC deserved the win, but at very least a deserved draw would have been deserving for both teams. It was a tale of two halves. The goal for TFC came off the wall not doing their job.

[Richard]

totti injured - whats new
amelia kills roma's chances at 3 points and we must now hope and pray that torino AT LEAST ties inter tomorrow...so for now, FORZA GRANATA!

[Ives]

Robert, I appreciate the contribution but let me make something clear. I didn't "forget" the Mexican league games. I have never included them and no one has ever complained once about that exclusion. It's nothing against the Mexican league, there just has never been a big demand for them from the readers on this site.

I'm not trying to replace SoccerTV and I'm not tlisting every soccer game being shown in any language on any station in the Americas. I wish I had time to do that but I don't. Now, if some readers actually start asking for it then I'll consider adding it, but readers are always encouraged to include games I don't include, like Robert did.

[Joe_in_ND]

Fulham are going down, down, down.

[Hincha Tim]

Spencer,
Yes, it was a game of two different halves. But in the end, Toronto found the net in their half and RSL did not in their half.

[Mike Caramba]

Is it just me, or do all refs hate San Jose?

[RHYbread]

It's more MLS referees hating on everyone than SanHo in particular.