Sunday, June 11, 2017

Underdogs, Rise Up

And a child shall lead them. We hope.
The U.S. Men's National Team is breathing slightly easier after grabbing seven points from a possible nine in its past three matches. Bruce Arena's boys have risen from dead last in the final stage of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying to third - and three teams automatically qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

The Americans aren't out of the woods just yet, but the panic that set in after consecutive losses to Mexico and Costa Rica to begin the Hex has subsided.

All of which makes this evening's roadie against Mexico in Estadio Azteca somewhat less nervy that it might be. Had the Yanks needed a result in Mexico City, it'd hard to be confident. Mexico is 19-1-2 all-time against the US in Mexico, having never lost in World Cup qualifying on home soil. We'd be thrilled with a draw against El Tri, but even that's a tall order.

But while we're all focused on the big one tonight, there's an even more compelling David vs. Goliath story unfolding in the U.S. Open Cup. On Tuesday night, MLS side D.C. United hosts pub-leaguers Christos FC, an amateur side from Baltimore, quite literally named for and sponsored by a liquor store.

Christos FC was founded in 1997 by a group of soccer-loving friends. The club competes in the Maryland Major Soccer league, and won last year's United States Adult Soccer Association Amateur Cup, which qualified it for the U.S. Open Cup, the national championship tournament.

After dispatching fourth-division Fredericksburg (VA) FC, 3-0, in the opening round, Christos FC figured to bow out against the USL's Richmond Kickers. But a 79th-minute goal by Baltimore Blast midfielder Geaton Caltabiano held up and send the upstarts to Chicago for a third-round match against Chicago FC. The team resorted to a GoFundMe campaign to cover travel costs to the Windy City, and only dressed 14 players.

And still, they won, topping Chicago by a 1-0 count.

So Tuesday at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland, Christos FC - the last remaining amateur side in the tournament - takes on one of MLS' most storied clubs. DC United isn't having a great season, but they're still a full-time professional side. Christos is a decided underdog.

But they're not going to Mexico City. Viva Christos.

39 comments:

rob said...

nadal is now 79-2 all-time at roland garros. stupid. that was an ass kicking.

zman said...

And I bet he won't be the 1 seed next year.

zman said...

I am zuncle! Zoe!

TR said...

This is an exciting 0-0 hockey game. Unfortunately I'm too old to stay up late.

Squeaky said...

Missed both games last night as I flew to Raliegh/Durham area. I'm here for 4 fun filled days of sitting in a conference room leading meetings. Boring. Any suggestions for meals and drinks?

Whitney said...

Call Stew and Spoid.

Dave said...

what a story . . . is this soccer match on TV tonight?

rob said...

hi, gheorghies. corporate event at a nice hotel in minneapolis with a full-size hoops court in the fitness club. lots of drunken shit talking at the bar leads to a really shitty horse tournament. yours truly defended the honor of the house of gheorghe, winning the title. we're all champions.

TR said...

What's the sigil for the House of Gheorghe?

Whitney said...

It's a bunch of lines and circles that looks like Big Gheorghe break-dancing.

zman said...

I figured it would be some variation of a six and a nine.

Mark said...

Drunk horse is fun. We had a hoop outside the house we lived in Gainesville. Lots of drunk horse games.

Mark said...

Good behind the scenes article on Durant in last night's post game. He hadn't had a drink in 4 months before last night.

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/13/an-inside-look-at-kevin-durants-first-three-hours-as-an-nba-champion/

Whitney said...

I enjoyed playing Rob in 21 on an indoor court at Finky's in Daytona in 1992. From what I remember... I think it ended well.

TR said...

There is a soul band playing across the street from my office on 51st & Park right now. Happens once a week during the summer. They are rocking some Marvin Gaye right now. I think my favorite people in the world are those that stumble upon music like this and just say "fuck it, I'm gonna groove out right now". There are always a handful of those sorts in NYC at impromptu concerts like this. Makes it more fun to see people spontaneously rock out while I'm spreeadsheeting.

TR said...

Band is now turning Heavy D's "Now That We Found Love" on its head.

zman said...

Money earnin' crew! Gramatan Hot Bagels!

Whitney said...

TR, is it the heavy D version or the Third World original?

TR said...

It was Heavy D. He is somewhere above Lou Albano and below Denzel in the list of greatest Mount Vernon natives.

TR said...

This article appealed to my immaturity:

http://jezebel.com/nice-jupiter-has-69-moons-1796062581

zman said...

AG Sessions just testified that the Constitution gives the President, as the head of the Executive branch, certain privileges including confidentiality of communications with his subordinates. Where does the Constitution say that?

rob said...

the christos/dc united match is streaming on dcunited.com starting in 5 minutes

T.J. said...

The Syracuse airport makes Albany Airport look like O'Hare

Squeaky said...

Livestream is awesome. DC United 0 - 1 CFC

Squeaky said...

Someone web dev guy is trying to place the 0-1 score in a white scoring box on the live stream and failing miserable.

Squeaky said...

1-1 36 minutes in

Squeaky said...

Strong first half from CFC. 1-1.

rob said...

the score update was like something out of mst3k. christos played dcu evenly for 20 minutes, but they're running out of gas.

TR said...

No basketball, no hockey, Yankees on West Coast and I missed the first 40 minutes of the new 30 for 30. Bummer.

Squeaky said...

TR, you are missing the monty in Montgomery county. DC United does not look that superior of a team considering 2-3 players from CFC are crapping up all over the field.

Squeaky said...

Dagger. Good Green eggs and ham call on the goal. 2-1 bad guys.

Squeaky said...

Well that was an ugly end. 4-1

TR said...

I have no idea what this Christos/DC United thing is. And I don't recognize MLS as a sport.

Whitney said...

If only there were a brief summary of what this soccer match was all about somewhere close by.

TR said...

C'mon. I'm supposed to read the WHOLE thing?

rob said...

someone post something stupid. the real world sucks.

Whitney said...


Fewer than 5,000 primary votes for Virginia governor separated the former RNC chairman from a wingnut Trumpie. America's not done voting for lunatic bigots.

Stewart refused to concede the race... naturally, as professionalism and decency are viewed as weaknesses in the Trump World of Inverse Competencies.

Here's a quote for you:

“This fight will continue, and I’ll continue to fight as long as you’ll fight with me,” Stewart told a roaring crowd of several dozen supporters. “There’s one word you’ll never hear from me, and that’s ‘unity.’ ”

Ain't exactly ask not what your country can do for you, eh? Way to barely stave off The Stupids, red voters.

zman said...

You should check out "American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America" by Colin Woodard. I've been meaning to write a post about it but haven't had the time (sorry rob) and Dave writes much better book reviews than I do so maybe he'll do it. The thesis is that the US was settled by a several different groups with different cultures that have been retained despite the intervening centuries. I think it helps explain at least some of what we're seeing in politics. Woodard wrote the book in 2011 but it's remarkably prescient.

Whitney said...

The cover of that book and the map of the cultures shows a nearly county for county replica of the split between "Tidewater" and "Greater Appalachia" and the split between Gillespie and Stewart voters. Interesting.