Weekend Roundup 4/12-4/13

Colorado Rapids - My game wrapup is here. With only FSL and Dallas also getting wins in the West Colorado retains its lead in the West, 1 point ahead of Dallas. Colorado is third overall in MLS behind KC and Chicago by a point, though KC has played one more game than the Rapids. The Rapids are tied with Chivas for the best offense in the league, and tied for 3rd behind Chicago and NY (who has played one less game) for best defense.

Queen of the South - Queen of the South went to Hampden Park to face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Semi-Finals, and walked away with the biggest upset of the year in the competition, defeating Aberdeen 4-3. This is perhaps the biggest result in Queen of the South history, putting them into the Scottish Cup Final for the first time ever. Their only other appearance in the semi-finals was in 1950 where they forced Rangers to a replay before crashing out.

The Doonhamers came into the match with nothing to lose, as Aberdeen were heavy favorites. Queens started off on the right foot, as Steve Tosh put the Dumfries men up 1-0 midway through the first half. About 15 minutes later Aberdden equalized but Queens continued to have the better run of play. Stephen Dobbie, Queens top scorer, limped off before half and things weren't looking good for Queens as the teams went to the locker room tied 1-1, but nobody expected what was coming.

3 minutes after half Paul Burns put Queens back out front, and the game was on. 4 minutes later Aberdeen evened the score at 2 apiece, only to see Queens retake the lead 5 minutes later on Sean O'Conner's strike. That lead lasted all of 2 minutes before Aberdeen returned the favor, leveling the score 3-3. That lasted for 1 minute as John Stewart found the back of the net for what would be the game-winning goal, giving QoS the lead once and for all, 4-3. In the space of 12 minutes Queens took the lead 3 times, and Aberdeen responded twice.

After that madness it was time for the Doonhamers to hold on for dear life, and they did just that, with Aberdeen hitting the crossbar and post in quick succession. After 4 minutes of stoppage time it was all over, and Queens were in their first final! Not only that, but should Rangers beat St. Johnstone in the other semi-final this coming Sunday, Queen of the South will be guaranteed the Scottish Cup UEFA Cup spot next season, as Rangers have already clinched a Champions League spot. If St. Johnstone win, then it will be two first division clubs fighting for the oldest Cup in the world. Until then they have 3 league matches left, to determine the 4th-6th positions in the First Division between QoS, Dunfermline, and Partick. Then its a month of training before the Scottish Cup final on May 24th.

I'm getting a copy of this game (hopefully) and will have another writeup once I get a chance to view it.

Blackburn Rovers - As one team sees Europe on the horizon, another sees it fading away. Blackburn Fell to 3 goals in the second half, before getting a consolation goal late on the road at Anfield. Liverpool was too much for the Blackburn defense to handle, and bad ball handling led to the first two goals as Blackburn gave possession away cheaply and paid for it. At that point the game was over, but both teams manged to put one on the scoreboard late. With the loss Blackburn slipped to 9th in the table with 4 games remaining, 4 points behind Villa for the 7th spot, the spot with the first priority on the Intertoto Cup slot since Portsmouth (in 6th) has already passed.

Tenerife - For the second straight week a controversial decision by the referee cost Tenerife 2 vital points. This week they faced Elche at home, a team only 3 points ahead of them in the promotion race. Tenerife opened the scoring late i nthe first half, and even though they had a man set off in the second they seemed like they would hold on for the win. Then in the 84th minute a penalty was called on the CDT keeper, when replays showed no evidence of a foul. Eleche converted the penalty, stealing a point and costing Tenerife 2. In response to this and how Las Palmas scored after stoppage time was supposed to be complete last week, Tenerife has lodged an official protest. At this point Tenerife is 5 points out of the promotion spot and in 7th place, with 9 matches to play. Had they won the last two games instead of drawn them they would be in 5th place, 1 point from a promotion spot.

Ebbsfleet United - Ebbsfleet's match against Droylsden was postponed due to a waterlogged Droylsden pitch.