Friendly Match

Saturday 9th July 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.20

Club Leon 1 C.A. Monarcas Morelia 2,  attendance 6,062

45′ + 2, 0-1

81′ 1-1

85′ 1-2

@ Dell Diamond

3400, East Palm Valley Boulevard

Round Rock, TX 78664

$55  Admission +$ 1.50 fees, Print at home ticket *

No programme.

I had called in here en route to the afternoon match as it was only 8 miles out of the way. I needed to suss out the car parking options as I wouldn’t have much time to spare. As it turned out it was half an hour, as despite only arriving here at 6.50pm, the game kicked off 20 minutes late.

One thing that is certainly worth a mention. The cost of printing the ticket at home was just $1.50, unlike the total rip off prices charged by most ticket agencies, especially Ticketmaster, who are one of the worst for this. When printed off, the ticket size was minute. Whilst walking round the stadium in the morning I was surprised to see the ticket office open so early, so thought I would just make sure that the ticket barcode would scan correctly. Without even asking, the girl on the desk offered to print a replacement for me, actually producing a proper ticket instead. Always nice to have a real ticket to keep as a souvenir.

As was the case this afternoon, it was another game, played in a manner not expected in a friendly. Good atmosphere too, Leon being the better supported of the two sides.

Dell Diamond is home to the Round Rock Express, the AAA M.i.L.B. team who are affiliated to the Texas Rangers of M.L.B. It was opened in April 2000 and has a capacity of 11,631.

Friendly Match (Interjet Cup)

Saturday 9th July 2016

Kick off 15.00 Actual 15.06

Club America 1 Club Santos Laguna 1,  attendance 15,000

85′ 0-1

86′ 1-1

@ The Alamodome

100, Montana Street

San Antonio, TX 78203

Admission $54 + $8.01 fees (resale) Print at home ticket

No programme.

Just like the Mexican National team, many club sides play friendlies here in U.S.A. to give their fans now living north of the border an opportunity to see their teams in the flesh. Tickets were only available through a resale website, which seemed odd, but no problem purchasing one. Even better, from my point of view, was the fact that it was an afternoon kick off which opened up the possibility of a double.

The Alamodome is home to the University Texas San Antonio Roadrunners American Football team and also hosts the annual N.C.A.A. Alamo Bowl game. It has previously been home to San Antonio Spurs in the N.B.A. from 1993 to 2002, hosted a couple of the N.H.L.’s Dallas Stars games, back in 1994 and 1995 and even hosted the New Orleans Saints, of the N.F.L., for 3 games, after Hurricane Katrina had damaged their own stadium.

The stadium holds 65,000, although the record attendance for a sporting event was 66,166 for the 2007 Alamo Bowl game between Penn State and Texas A&M.

Despite being a friendly, it was anything but, and seemed very niggly throughout. Club America had a man sent off after 38 minutes for an over the top challenge and this didn’t help the flow of the game and just as it looked like ending scoreless, we somehow managed two goals out of nowhere. I had parked in the car park right outside the stadium for $20 , as I needed a quick getaway, although with the stadium being close to Downtown San Antonio, then it would be difficult to park for free anyway. Luckily, the game didn’t overrun too badly and I was heading back north by 5pm, on my way to the second match of the day.

United States Soccer Development Academy

U18 Quarter Final

Thursday 7th July 2016

Kick off 19.30 Actual 19.27

F.C. Dallas U18 1 Sporting Kansas CityU18 0 (AET),  attendance 325

108′ 1-0

@ Toyota Soccer Center, Pitch 4

9200, World Cup Way

Frisco, TX 75034

No admission or programme.

Toyota Soccer Center is a 17 pitch complex situated immediately north of Toyota Stadium. According to the complex map, Pitch 4 is the ‘ feature game field’.

F.C. Dallas had enough chances to win half a dozen matches. By the time they got the winner I had resigned myself to having to endure penalties. Just to make it a little easier for Dallas the visitors had a man red carded on 116 minutes.

Heading back south I was passed by a couple of unmarked vehicles with blue flashing lights. Sadly, it transpired, they were heading to downtown Dallas where 5 police officers had been murdered.

National Premier Soccer League

South Central Conference

Saturday 2nd July 2016

Kick off 12.00 Actual 12.06

Corinthians F.C. San Antonio 4 Houston Regals S.C.A. 0,  attendance 78

53′ 1-0

59′ 2-0

65′ 3-0

89′ 4-0 (pen)

@ Manuel Vidrio Soccer Complex

999, Shadow Mist

Leon Valley, TX 78238

No admission or programme.

I was all set for this one as a 3pm kick off. At around 11.30pm on Friday night I noticed on their twitter account a conversation where it mentioned it would be kicking off at noon. A tweet at 7.30am on the day of the game was sent to try and confirm which time was correct, as it is a good 4 hour drive to San Antonio at best, so I was going to have to set off now anyway, just in case. I only arrived at the ground at 11.56 am and a minute later they tweeted a reply saying the game was indeed at noon !

I was surprised there was no admission charge, unless they had given up by this time ? There was a small refreshment table set up and a nice cheeseburger, or two, went down very well at a bargain $2 each. Water was only $1 a bottle as well, which was certainly needed as the temperature gauge on the car was showing 96 degrees when I arrived. Full marks also go to the young lad taking the orders, as he is the first person in the States to understand what you are ordering when asking for water. Others just look at you blankly, before another person in the queue translates for you so you get your ‘waarduur’ as requested.

This was the third time I had seen the bottom of the table visitors this season and the second consecutive 4-0 thrashing I have seen them take. They are not good, and as they say, the league table doesn’t lie.

National Premier Soccer League

South Central Conference

Wednesday 29th June 2016

Kick off 18.00 Actual 18.09

Shreveport Rafters F.C. 0 Dallas City F.C. 3,  attendance 500

22′ 0-1

42′ 0-2

57′ 0-3

@ Lee Hedges Stadium

6115, East Kings Highway

Shreveport, LA 71105

$11 Admission (only $10 bought in advance)

No programme.

This was my last opportunity to be chauffeured for a while, this being a trip east along the I-20 into Louisiana and the nearest town to the Texan border on this route. It would also complete the only states that are sensible to drive to out of Texas, having already been to Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahoma. There is of course the state of New Mexico, to the west, but the nearest city where I know for sure that they play ‘soccer’ is Albuquerque, a mere 650 miles away. Heading north, through Oklahoma State, would bring in Kansas and Missouri though, at 365 miles and 420 miles respectively. Today was only 193 miles each way.

Six o’clock seemed rather early for two part time clubs to be kicking off midweek, especially as there were floodlights here. Despite both teams being out of the changing rooms ten minutes before the scheduled start, the female Referee still managed to get the game started nine minutes late. This was a sign of things to come with a totally inept display where she was completely out of her depth. The Assessor sat in the stands would certainly be in for a late night.

Rafters are one of the better supported teams in this league and the fans certainly deserve a better team on the pitch than this. Dallas didn’t have to be that good to win at a stroll. One thing that really did grate after a while was the constant playing of adverts each time the ball went out of play…..Rafters throw in sponsored by such and such steak house……Billy’s Burger Bar corner kick, etc.etc. This is one American trait that has no place whatsoever in the world of proper football.

Premier Development League

Southern Conference

Monday 27th June 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.03

Oklahoma City Energy F.C. U23 5 St. Louis F.C. U23 1,  attendance 56

2′ 1-0 (pen)

13′ 2-0

21′ 3-0

25′ 4-0

30′ 4-1

47′ 5-1

@ Norman High School Soccer Complex

24th Avenue Southeast

Norman, OK 73071

$8 Admission

No programme.

The Premier Development League sits at the fourth level of ‘soccer’ in the U.S.A. alongside the National Premier Soccer League as the top level men’s amateur competition. There are currently 65 teams competing in four conferences, which in turn are split into ten regional divisions. Unfortunately, from a Groundhoppers point of view, the season is far too short, running from May ’til July, with the play offs finished by early August.

This was all over very early on and it became something of a damage limitation excercise for St. Louis, especially when they conceded so early in the second half having rallied somewhat leading up to the interval. It was the first time I had been chauffeured to a match and despite it being a mere 370 mile round trip, it was a welcome change.

National Premier Soccer League

South Central Conference

Sunday 26th June 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.03

Houston Dutch Lions F.C. 4 Houston Regals S.C.A. 0,  attendance 102

1′ 1-0

12′ 2-0

69′ 3-0 (pen)

76′ 4-0

@ Dutch Lions F.C. Soccer Facility

14562, I-45 S

Conroe, TX 77384

$10 Admission

Programme free, 4 pages.

This would be the last day I would drive to a game with a ‘hopper for company for the foreseeable future. A mere 205 miles south to Conroe, just north of Houston, adjacent to the I-45 highway.

Dutch Lions needed a win to guarantee their place in the play offs and bottom of the table Regals were unlikely to deny them, especially after going 2-0 down so early. It was already game over and two more were added late on before Regals had a man red carded five minutes from time.

Dutch Lions were founded in 2011 as Texas Dutch Lions F.C. and played their inaugural season in the U.S.L. Premier Development League. On 1st April 2013 their official name was changed to Houston Dutch Lions F.C.

United Soccer League

Western Conference

Saturday 25th June 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.13

Oklahoma City Energy F.C. 1 Vancouver Whitecaps F.C.  II 1,  attendance 4,905

26′ 0-1

45′ + 2, 1-1

@ Taft Stadium

Northwest 27th Street

Oklahoma City, OK 73107

$10 Admission

Team sheet free, single card, printed double sided.

OKC Energy F.C. Joined the U.S.L. in 2014. Having previously been affiliated to Sporting Kansas City, they have this season joined with F.C. Dallas. They moved into their current home, Taft Stadium, in 2015. It was opened in 1934, but closed in 2013 whilst major renovation was carried out, reopening in 2015. Seating capacity was reduced from 18,000 down to the current 7,500, and an artificial pitch was laid, the red-stone facade being the only original feature remaining unaltered.

We did the sensible thing here and went for the cheapest tickets, the wing section of the stand that faced directly into the sun. Not a problem though, because like so many of the American ‘soccer’ teams, the constant bragging of selling out sections of the stadium, or even more ridiculous, the whole stadium, meant we would simply just go and sit elsewhere once inside. We opted for the best seats in the main stand, in the shade, that were selling at $30, but sparsely populated. No checks on tickets, in fact not sure if they had anyone to check anyway. And, as we rightly thought, nowhere near the crowd they were claiming and probably 3,000 at most.

Whitecaps were far better for the opening half hour, but seemed to lose their way once they went ahead. The second half tailed off dramatically, perhaps the heat had got to the players. It was unusual to have a fellow ‘hopper with me for company and the 200 miles drive back south didn’t feel as far as it normally would.

United Soccer League

Western Conference

Wednesday 22nd June 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.11

Rio Grande Valley F.C. Toros 1 Arizona United 1,  attendance 1,656

21′ 1-0

63′ 1-1

@ University Texas Rio Grande Valley Soccer and Track & Field Complex

North Jackson Road

Edinburg, TX 78541

$10 Admission

No programme.

This one was an ideal double with last nights match, although it meant a 330 mile drive south west to within a couple of miles of the Mexican border. It was also on the priority ‘ to do’ list, as the stadium is only being used as a temporary home whilst their own brand new stadium is completed. The fact of the distance involved and booking ahead for hotels and flights, meant booking tickets ahead as well to guarantee us getting in, which was done over the phone with tickets collected on arrival at the stadium. We needn’t have panicked, as our crowd estimate of 800 was on the generous side and nowhere near the official figure of double that. RGV Toros, who have joined the U.S.L. this season, are actually a hybrid affiliate of M.L.S. club Houston Dynamo, which sees Dynamo responsible for the tactical side of the club, with the ownership group, Lone Star, responsible for operations and day to day management.

After an overnight stop in Edinburg I was dropped off at McAllen International Airport, less than 5 miles from our hotel. I was taking the flight back to Dallas, but the driver would be taking in matches in San Antonio and Fort Worth, both at stadiums I had already visited, before arriving at our house late tomorrow evening.

Copa America Centenario

Semi Final

Tuesday 21st June 2016

Kick off 20.00 Actual 20.07

U.S.A. 0 Argentina 4,  attendance 70,858

3′ 0-1 E.Lavezzi

32′ 0-2 L. Messi

50′ 0-3 G. Higuain

86′ 0-4 G. Higuain

@ NRG Stadium

1, Reliant Park

Houston, TX 77054

Admission $100 + $11.80 fees, Print at home ticket.

No programme.

When I purchased my ticket for this one it looked like the match would be involving Argentina or Chile, as one of them would surely win Group D and then dispose of a second placed team from another group in the Quarter Final. As it turned out, it was Argentina who topped the group and then comfortably beat Venezuela 4-1 to reach the Semis. With the way the other groups panned out, it meant whoever got through from the Quarter Final between U.S.A. and Ecuador, it would be a third time I would see them play in the tournament. I would have much preferred it to have been Ecuador.

Originally, I was just going to drive down to Houston and return straight after the match. This plan changed when a mate of mine, who was over on a 3 week holiday in the States, which would include staying with us for a few days from the following weekend, also bought a ticket for this one, and I was certainly interested in the match he had planned for the following night. Southwest Airlines run an hourly service from Dallas Love Airport down to William P. Hobby Airport, in the south west of Houston, ideal for being picked up there and also convenient for the NRG Stadium. Oddly, considering we had both bought a ticket without knowing we would be going together, we were in the same section, his seat being just 7 rows back from mine. I flew down at noon and was picked up just after 1pm. I was very surprised when I got into the car to see that there was no SatNav, but my mate said we wouldn’t need one as he had looked at the map before he left the U.K. !

NRG Stadium is home to the Houston Texans of the N.F.L. having opened in 2002 as Reliant Stadium, before changing to its current sponsors name in 2013.  It was the first stadium in the N.F.L. to be constructed with a retractable roof and is due to host the 2017 Super Bowl, having previously hosted it in  2004. Capacity here is 71,795 and today’s attendance was the highest ever for a ‘soccer’ match in Houston.

As for the match. Well, it was pretty much the ‘Lionel Messi Show’, as he was outstanding, scoring a sublime free kick and making two of the other 3 goals. Had Ecuador made it through, then on this form, the result would have probably been the same.