Copa America Centenario

Group A

Friday 3rd June 2016

Kick off 18.30 Actual 18.40

U.S.A. 0 Colombia 2,  attendance 67,439

8′ 0-1 C. Zapata

42′ 0-2 J. Rodriguez (pen)

@ Levi’s Stadium

4900, Marie P. De Bartolo Way

Santa Clara, CA 95054

Admission $74 + $13.75 fees, Print at home ticket.

No programme.

An early flight from Los Angeles, courtesy of American Airlines, saw me land at San Jose airport nice and early and checked into my hotel shortly after 11am. With the temperature in the 90’s it meant the hotel pool was soon getting its use before going for lunch. No need for car hire here as the stadium is well served by the VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) with regular trains running from a stop around 300 yards from my hotel. A bargain price of $4 return and you stop right outside the stadium. It was well organised after the match, which meant I managed to get on the second train heading back south.

This was the first time I had been to a Continental Championship, so wasn’t sure what it would be like, but as everyone knows, the United States certainly know how to run an event. This tournament is to celebrate 100 years of the Copa America and is slotted in as an extra, being held outside South America for the first time. It is normally held every 4 years, Chile having won the last one as hosts in 2015. As well as being the first match of the tournament it doubled as the opening ceremony.

The Levi’s Stadium, which opened in 2014, is home to San Francisco 49ers of the N.F.L. and is situated about 40 miles south of San Francisco. Despite the giant screens showing the match as a sell out, it was short of the 68,500 capacity and the empty seats certainly backed that up.

It was a really good atmosphere, the Colombians probably having a 60-40 split of the support. U.S.A. contained a number of players with experience in the Premier League in England, namely Brad Guzan, Geoff Cameron and DeAndre Yedlin, with perhaps the best known being Clint Dempsey, now at Seattle Sounders. Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones have also played a few games in England. Colombia had a couple with Premier League experience,  Arsenal reserve ‘keeper David Ospina and Juan Cuadrado, who failed to make an impression at Chelsea, but probably their two best known were James Rodriguez and Carlos Bacca, who ply their trade at Real Madrid and A.C. Milan, respectively. The game was pretty much over once Colombia went in front and the second half was a stroll in the park for them. U.S.A. did plenty of running, but just didn’t have any creativity to make an impression.

Major League Soccer

Thursday 2nd June 2016

Kick off 19.30 Actual 19.39

Los Angeles Galaxy 0 Sporting  Kansas City 0,  attendance 19,651

@ StubHub Center

18400, Avalon Boulevard

Carson, CA 90746

Admission $29.50 + $7.50 fees, Print at home ticket

Programme free, 40 pages.

The StubHub Center was opened in 2003 and was known as the Home Depot Center until changing name to its current sponsor in 2013. It was the second ‘soccer specific’ stadium to open in the M.L.S. era and was also home to the now defunct Chivas USA.

I had taken a nice steady drive up from San Diego and checked in at my hotel near Los Angeles Airport, before heading the 10 miles south to Carson, getting a cheap $10 parking slot. I already knew that Robbie Keane was away on international duty, but was disappointed to find out that Steven Gerrard would also miss the match, probably already back in England, as there was a 3 week break in the M.L.S. following this round of fixtures. At least I got to see Ashley Cole !

The first thing I noticed was the club crest for the visitors used on the big screens was the old Kansas City Wizards one. Never mind, it’s only 6 years since they changed their name. Secondly, I was surprised at how low the crowd was and nowhere near the 27,000 capacity, although having witnessed one of the worst matches I have ever seen, then this is little wonder. On this showing Galaxy have no chance of winning the league, either finishing top at the end of the regular season, or advancing to win the M.L.S. Cup. I asked the lad sat next to me if they were always this bad, but he was also English, on holiday over here, and unbelievably lives just 5 miles from my house back in the U.K. Small world.

After the match I headed back to drop off the hire car, ready for an early start the next morning.

International Friendly Match

Wednesday 1st June 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.37

Mexico 1 Chile 0,  attendance 68,254

86′ 1-0 J. Hernandez

@ Qualcomm Stadium

9449, Friars Road

San Diego, CA 92108

$30 admission + $7.75 fees, Print at home ticket.

No programme.

I had visited the Qualcomm Stadium in October 2015 (see American Football section) for a San Diego Chargers match in the N.F.L. This was my first visit for proper football and despite this only being a friendly, and also taking place midweek, the attendance actually beat that of the Chargers by 2,417. I had flown into Los Angeles late morning before picking up a hire car and heading two hours or so south to my hotel about 15 minutes drive north of the stadium.

With the ground being so full it was noticeable how few of the Mexican fans can read. Endless times people arrived at their seats only to find someone already sat there. The charade then took place of showing their ticket to everyone in the row, before reaching one of them capable of actually being able to read the information and attempting to direct them to the correct area. Of course, once arriving there, the same scenario occurs again.

I actually thought Chile were the better side, in particular Vidal and Sanchez, who were excellent. It was a bit harsh on them when substitute Javier Hernandez headed in at the far post to send the vast hordes of Mexicans home happy. This extends their unbeaten run to 19 matches.

International Friendly Match

Saturday 28th May 2016

Kick off 17.00 Actual 17.40

Mexico 1 Paraguay 0,  attendance 63,049

32′ 1-0 A. Guardado

@ Georgia Dome

1, Georgia Dome Drive Northwest

Atlanta, GA 30313

$44 admission + $9.30 fees, Print at home ticket

No programme.

Another trip done as a day return, this time courtesy of Delta Airlines. With a 22.20 flight back to Dallas, this was always doable, even allowing for the fact that games involving Mexico always fail to kick off on time, but as this is now the norm, then easy to allow for it in planning. The Atlanta Subway, known as the MARTA, runs from the airport, with both the Georgia Dome and Philips Arena, home of the N.B.A.’s Atlanta Hawks, using the same station. The basketball arena is right outside, whilst the football stadium is a couple of hundred yards further on. The cheapest ticket avaiable, transport wise, was the $10 day ticket. Very good value for transport to and from an airport.

Georgia Dome is home to the Atlanta Falcons of the N.F.L., although they are due to move in to the brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the 2017 season, which will also be home to the new M.L.S. franchise Atlanta United. The new stadium is well underway and is hardly a ‘move’ at all, as it is probably only 100 yards from the current stadium.

When it opened in 1992, the Georgia Dome was the largest fully covered stadium in the world by capacity, although now surpassed. Capacity is 74,228 these days, although the stadium has held 80,892 for an SEC American Football Championship Game in 2008. The stadium will be demolished once the Mercedes- Benz Stadium is up and running, thus becoming a car park and new 800 room hotel.

Once again the Mexican support turned out in huge numbers. Both these countries are warming up for next months Copa America Centenario, being held outside South America for the first time, here in  U.S.A., to celebrate 100 years of the tournament. Mexico will certainly fancy their chances of reaching the semi final at least, having not lost since a defeat to Ecuador in a Copa America match in June 2015, a run now stretching to 18 matches, including friendlies.

With the help of gaining an hour due to the time zone and a prompt pick up at the airport by the other half, I was home for midnight.

The following photos show the progress in the construction of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and its close proximity to the Georgia Dome.

Friendly Match

Wednesday 25th May 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.02

New York Cosmos 2 S.D. Eibar 2,  attendance 4,000

3′ 0-1

10′ 0-2

12′ 1-2

53′ 2-2

@ Sam Boyd Stadium

7000, East Russell Road

Las Vegas, NV 89122

$28 admission + $8.50  fees, Will Call ticket

No programme.

This was done as a day return, although strictly speaking the return flight was after midnight, but you get the gist. Getting from the airport was easy, taking the local bus service for $3, which involved a change, before getting off at the MGM Grand Hotel, at the southern end of the strip. The trip to the stadium was with an Uber ride, as was the return directly to the airport. It worked out much cheaper than a day’s car hire and the whole day’s transport was only around $25, where parking alone would have been $20 at the stadium.

I am not too sure how a match between 2 clubs that barely draw crowds of 10,000 between them for home games, was ever going to pull in many of the Nevada public. Had I known that the crowd was going to be so poor, then I could have purchased a ticket on the night, presumably saving the booking fee. I am glad I went for the cheapest ticket option as there was certainly no problem sitting wherever you liked.

The match was certainly entertaining, both teams playing with an open and attacking style. The game even went to penalties, although I only found this out when reading a match report at the airport, although I wouldn’t have stayed for them anyway, as they are totally meaningless, but as we know, you can’t have a ‘tie’ over here, even in a friendly it seems. For those that are interested, it finished 7-6 to Cosmos.

Sam Boyd Stadium, named after a major figure in the hotel and casino industry, is home to the U.N.L.V. Rebels American Football team and also hosts the annual N.C.A.A. Las Vegas Bowl in December. Capacity here is 35,500, which can be expanded to 40,000. The Stadium was opened in 1971 and has since undergone renovation in 1999 and 2015.

So, a long and tiring day, arriving back indoors just before 6 am the following morning.

North Texas Premier Soccer Association

Division 4 (Spring Season)

Play Off Semi Final

Sunday 22nd May 2016

Kick off 13.30 Actual 14.19

Inter Milan 3 C.F.H. F.C. 1,  attendance 52

23′ 0-1 (pen)

25′ 1-1 (pen)

77′ 2-1

84′ 3-1

@ Breckinridge Park, Pitch A14

3400, Park Vista Road

Richardson, TX 75082

No admission or programme.

Annoyingly, this one kicked off late due to the preceding match going to extra time, then penalties, and although kick off times were structured to allow for this, it only works if the matches kick off on time, which very rarely happens, if ever.  As the same officials were appointed to both matches they needed a rest period as well. The game itself was only going to be won by one team. Inter were very impressive and played really good football, helped no doubt by the fact the team were of Hispanic background. Unusually for this league, they also had good support.

North Texas Premier Soccer Association

Division 3 (Spring Season)

Play Off Semi Final

Sunday 22nd May 2016

Kick off 11.00 Actual 11.06

N.T.F.C. Royals 4 Dragon 1, attendance 9

36′ 1-0

42′ 2-0

52′ 3-0

64′ 3-1

88′ 4-1

@ Breckinridge Park, Pitch A15

3400, Park Vista Road

Richardson, TX 75082

No admission or programme.

Breckinridge Park is a multi pitch complex, although I think only  four of these are full size, A12, A13, A14 and A15, all of which are used by N.T.P.S.A. to host matches. There are no facilities here whatsoever.

National Premier Soccer League

South Central Conference

Friday 20th May 2016

Kick off 19.30 Actual 20.47

Liverpool Warriors 0 Houston Dutch Lions F.C. 1,  attendance 130

38′ 0-1

@ McKinney Boyd High School

600, North Lake Forest Drive

McKinney, TX 75071

$5 admission

No programme.

I arrived here just after 7pm, only to be told that the visitors had not arrived, but would be here shortly, as their coach had suffered a puncture en route. In England, this would mean the team probably wouldn’t show up, but sure enough, around 8.15pm the coach pulled into the car park. The 230 mile trip north from Conroe, just north of Houston, would have been bad enough as it was, even without the puncture.

Once the game got going there looked like being only one winner, but it was far more comfortable than the score line suggests, the home ‘keeper being by far their best player. I was very surprised that the visitors had around a dozen supporters with them, including five of them speaking Dutch. Not something you’d expect to hear 30 miles north of Dallas !

North Texas Premier Soccer Association

Division 2 (Spring Season)

Sunday 15th May 2016

Kick off 11.00

Somerset F.C. v Goodfriend United, MATCH POSTPONED

@ R.E. Good Soccer Complex, Pitch 4

Elm Fork Drive

Carrolton, TX 75056.

Arrived here to find a dozen players going through a training session as the opposition team had cried off at short notice. Didn’t bother asking which team, but seemed strange as it was 2nd v 1st in the league. More annoying was the fact that it is the only time I have seen that this pitch has been scheduled to host a match.

National Premier Soccer League

South Central Conference

Wednesday 11th May 2016

Kick off 19.00, 19.30 or 20.00  No one seemed to know. Actual 20.05

Dallas City F.C. 2 Liverpool Warriors 1,  attendance 200

18′ 1-0

42′ 2-0

90′ + 6, 2-1

@ Roffino Stadium

Bishop Lynch High School

9750, Ferguson Road

Dallas, TX 75228

$10 admission

No programme.

First impression here is that the club are a total shambles and little wonder the crowd was absolutely pathetic for a local derby. Apart from playing the match on the same evening as F.C. Dallas, although their crowds are also a complete joke, there was total confusion about what time the match was actually kicking off. The NPSL website said 19.00, Dallas City were saying 19.30 and the visitors had tweeted it was 20.00. In the end, none of them were right, although at least the visitors were nearest with their guess. To make matters worse, thunder and lightening was forecast  around 21.00, so to kick off late was absolutely ridiculous. We ended up missing the storm by a matter of minutes as it turned out.

The game was difficult to follow as there are American Football markings on the pitch and the goal areas don’t even have proper football markings at all in places, with many of the lines not painted on. I did ask the Referee at halftime how the pitch was allowed to stage matches at this level, as none of the officials would be able to give decisions 100 % certain that offences were in or out of the 18 yard boxes. Still, as its U.S.A we’re talking about, then I doubt anyone cares, although most probably don’t know what the markings are anyway.

Liverpool did themselves no favours by having a player red carded just before halftime and also had a penalty saved as we reached 90 minutes.