Weekend Roundup 2.21 - 2/22

Colorado Rapids - No games, but less than a month away from the start of the season!

Queen of the South - QoS hosted league leaders (and historical feuding family) St. Johnstone. If the Doonhamers had any remaining hope for promotion this was a must win game. Both sides looked up for the challenge with end to end action but it was Queens who broke through before half to take the lead, and they then doubled it shortly after the break. Johnstone wouldn't give up though, and managed to equalize only for Queens to take the lead again 2 minutes later. Unfortunately QoS couldn't hold on to it for long enough and conceded the tying goal with less than 5 minutes to play. While a draw against the league leaders is usually a good thing, it was 2 points left on the pitch for Queens. With the draw the Doonhamers slip to 7th in the league, just 4 points out of the relegation playoff spot with 7 games to play (but Clyde in 9th has two games in hand).

Blackburn Rovers - Battling relegation the last place Rovers wanted to go was Old Trafford but ManUre was on the schedule this week so off they went. The Red Devils came in with a long league-winning streak and over 21 hours of perfect defense. As expected United scored first, just past the midway point of the first half. Roque Santa Cruz did what nobody could do for 22 hours before him though, and scored a great equalizer to bring Rovers back into the match. The game was a back and forth affair after that, with the only difference being a Ronaldo free kick that Robinson couldn't stop. Ryan Nelsen almost had his first ever Rovers goal later but the post denied him and Blackburn was unlucky to get out without a point.

The week got worse today as the team travelled to Coventry for the FA Cup replay. It was one game too many as Blackburn dropped out of the FA Cup on a 1-0 defeat. This leaves the rovers with only survival to play for and with 13 games to play they are two points from safety. They do hold a game in hand over the rest of the field. That game at Fulham will be played after all the other games of the season are complete, and may be a win or go down situation.

CD Tenerife - Tenerife went back to the mainland to play Huesca this week. After the first 10 minutes the CDT defense was rarely tested, while the Huesca keeper was quite busy. Unfortunately he was up to the task, stopping shot after shot, and the game ended in a scoreless draw. Tenerife stays in second place but is now 5 points back of leader Xerez. They are in the promotion zone by only 2 points, but other results have created a gap between 4th and 5th place. Still 17 games to go though, so anything could happen.

Kildare County - Kildare got news this week that their application for a 1st Division license was successful! Prior 1st Division side Cobh Ramblers could only meet the standards for the "A" Championship this year so they will be relegated and the Thoroughbreds will stay up in their place. Surely a chance for Kildare to turn things around from last season as they can't expect to get saved from relegation two years in a row. The season starts in two weeks with Kildare hosting Finn Harps on Friday March 6th.