We’ve got a three-part post to start off this morning.
First up, the answers to Tuesday’s NASL quiz. Thanks for playing. A few readers came up with several correct answers, and Prison Mike came verrrry close on one, but no one was able to ace all five.
Here they are:
1. Name the two players who played in both the NASL and Major League Soccer.
Hint: One is South African by birth who played for the USMNT, and the other is a recent coach of the Mexican national team.
A: Roy Wegerle, Hugo Sanchez.
2. Who was MVP of the final (1984) NASL season?
Hint: He went on to a legendary indoor-soccer career—as much as such thing is possible—with the New York Arrows, among other clubs. Also earned 14 caps for Yugoslavia.
A: Steve Zungul, who went on to score 372 goals in 145 games for the Arrows. Check him out here, and here.
3. Which team won the league in ’84?
Hint: They had a German striker with a wicked left foot, and were located in the Midwest, like the Columbus Crew, which has the same black-and-yellow color schem as this team did.
A: Chicago Sting. Their lethal striker was Karl–Heinz Granitza.
4. Who is the NASL’s alltime leading scorer?
Hint: This one’s easy.
A: Giorgio Chinaglia, with an astonishing 193 goals in 213 appearances. He also scored 50 in 43 playoff games. The man’s play was as immense as his ego.
5. Which team suited up George Best, Teofilo Cubillas, and Gerd Muller, yet never won an NASL title?
Hint: They also featured former MLS coach and current Gol TV commentator Ray Hudson—and they might be coming back.
A: Ft. Lauderdale Strikers
QUOTE OF THE DAY (POSSIBLY THE YEAR):
From Reuters:
Michel D’Hooghe, Senior FIFA executive committee member and chairman of FIFA’s medical committee, on the rash of brutal tackling the game has seen in the past few years:
“I have made myself a compilation of hard tackles with dramatic consequences over the last two or three years in the most important competitions in the world. I do not dare to present it—it would take away your appetite. It is terrible. This must go out [of the game]. … This is my wish, that all that brutality that sometimes goes close to criminality on the field is thrown out in the interest of our players and of a nice soccer game.”
Los Angeles 1, Philadelphia 0
Beckham follows last week’s game-winning goal with a game-winning assist; Edson Buddle bags his league-leading 16 goal of the season; and Fred gets his melon split open by fellow Brazillian Juninho (not intentionally, we don’t think).
Also: A terrific backheel by MVP-worthy Sebastien Le Toux produces a save-of-the-week candidate from Donovan Ricketts.
Good game last night. Check it out:
It’s Friday: the next four days hold a full slate of MLS action, Euro 2012 qualifiers, and international friendlies—including two U.S. games. Buckle in.
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