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Post by jobe on Nov 25, 2012 8:27:58 GMT 8
Second game ends in a draw. Malditas 3-3 California Cosmos. Marissa Park with 2 goals and Alyssa Montejo with a goal.
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Post by jobe on Nov 25, 2012 8:33:40 GMT 8
Malditas were leading the whole time against the Cosmos and were quite unfortunate that they had to settle for a draw. It was 3 points in the bag but bad luck that they were held to a draw and settle for 1 point.
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Post by cjeagle on Nov 25, 2012 11:10:26 GMT 8
I am quite impressed by the results the women's national team is getting. Those clubs they are playing are quite good and includes players from other countries national teams. I think we should do very well in Asia if they play in AFC competitions.
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Post by cjeagle on Nov 25, 2012 16:04:47 GMT 8
Considering the level that the women's team are playing and their potential to contend in the AFC, I predict that they will reach the FIFA World Cup before the men do.
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Post by jobe on Nov 25, 2012 16:54:25 GMT 8
Because of the success of Japan in the World Cup and the good performances of SK and Australia, Asia has been granted a total of 5 slots for the 2015 FIFA World Cup.
In Asia, the top 5 teams are head and shoulders over the rest of the field. These 5 teams are Japan, South Korea, China, Australia and North Korea. The battle will just be among these teams and the rest of Asia would have to settle for the crumbs. No other team comes even close to the top 5.
However, fortunately for the rest of Asia, North Korea seems to be ineligible to vie for the World cup slot. I am not sure of the reason though why they were suspended. But good news for the rest of Asia.
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Post by jobe on Nov 25, 2012 16:58:54 GMT 8
With North Korea out of the way, the rest of Asia will battle it out for the last slot. The top 4 teams, while they will still compete in the finals, will surely corner the other 4 spots. I don't see any team being a real threat against the top 4.
16 teams divided into 4 groups will battle it out in May of 2013 and the top team of each group will face Japan, South Korea, Australia and China to battle for the 5 available slots for Asia in the World Cup.
The Malditas will face Thailand, Iran and Bangladesh in Group B. If we continue to improve, and get the needed recruits (Nadia Link etc.), I think we can top the group. Thailand will again be the favorites for Group B.
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Post by jobe on Nov 25, 2012 17:11:53 GMT 8
Unlike in the men's side of football, the middle eastern teams are not real threats in the women's side. Perhaps due to their culture and religious beliefs, the middle eastern distaff side are not as competitive against the rest of Asia. But we still have to watch out for Iran as they have a good footballing tradition which may spill over on their women's squad, inspite of cultural restrictions.
For me, the real threats would come from SEA teams, such as Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. They have excellent women's programs and they are very fast and shifty. India should also be mentioned along with the 3 SEA teams.
But with the current format and the draw for the FIFA qualifiers, we just need to deal with Thailand and Iran. The Thais are the favorites, with Iran as the darkhorse. If the Malditas continue to improve with their quality and cohesion, the Philippines may be able to top the group.
If we top the group, we will join the 8-team finals. 5 of the 8 will progress into the World Cup proper. If you think about it, 5 out of 8 seems to present good odds for the teams. But in reality, as I have previously said, only 1 slot is realistically available. The top 4 teams (Japan, South Korea, Australia and China) will surely get the other 4 slots. The other four will battle it out for the 5th slot.
Still, Malditas have a good chance of cornering the 5th slot. All the best!
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Post by jobe on Nov 25, 2012 17:28:37 GMT 8
I am quite impressed by the results the women's national team is getting. Those clubs they are playing are quite good and includes players from other countries national teams. I think we should do very well in Asia if they play in AFC competitions. The California Cosmos are led by the star player of the Mexican national team, Maribel Dominguez and their goal keeper is the GK of the Colombian national team, Alejandra Velasco. The Cosmos are really for real. By the way, to put things in perspective, Mexico has a FIFA women's ranking of 24 while Colombia has a FIFA women's ranking of 28.
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Post by jobe on Nov 25, 2012 17:34:34 GMT 8
Cosmos' Maribel Dominguez, the star player of Mexico, even kicked our Heather Cook in the groin, but Dominguez was not even red carded for that. We led 2-0 halftime but settled for a draw. '
We battle Leon for our third game and if we win, we go into the finals. If we win this Cup, I believe it will be the first tournament victory for the Malditas.
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Post by jobe on Nov 26, 2012 13:22:17 GMT 8
Overpowering show by the Malditas, routing Leon 8-1. Well done Malditas!!!!
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Post by jobe on Nov 26, 2012 13:25:31 GMT 8
Malditas are now in the finals of the Viking Cup. Malditas led all the way against Leon. HT was 4-0 for the Malditas. Best game so far for the national team.
Finals on Tuesday.
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Post by jobe on Nov 26, 2012 13:42:27 GMT 8
Malditas v. Leon 8-1 Cosmos v. Leon 8-1 Malditas v Metrostars 1-0 Leon v. Metrostars 3-3 Malditas v Cosmos 3-3
Finals will most likely be Malditas against Cosmos.
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Post by macduff on Nov 26, 2012 14:15:58 GMT 8
No disrespect to the MNT, but The Philippines is like Canada or the USA. The women have a much better oppurtunity to win than the men. This group of Malditas grew up in countries where women footballers were the international heroes and where women's programs get more funding than the men because they are more successful. Even when the women beat Indonesia and Singapore, and tie Malaysia, people call them losers and undeserving of Puma uniforms and international tournaments. It is a good bet that this group of players will win their AFC group by surprising Thailand. The odds are very much against them qualifying for the World Cup but there is a chance and I would not have said that last year. They will likely be outplayed by the big teams in the AFC but they can compete and make our opponents nervous.
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Post by jobe on Nov 26, 2012 15:50:55 GMT 8
Malditas v. Leon 8-1 Cosmos v. Leon 8-1 Malditas v Metrostars 1-0 Leon v. Metrostars 3-3 Malditas v Cosmos 3-3 Finals will most likely be Malditas against Cosmos. Update: Cosmos v Metrostars 1-0. So it's official that the Viking Cup title will be disputed by the Malditas and Cosmos. They both have the identical stats: 7 points. Scored 12 goals and conceded 4 goals.
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Post by jobe on Nov 26, 2012 15:52:06 GMT 8
In the match won by the Malditas against Leon via a scoreline of 8-1, Jesse Shugg scored an amazing 5 goals.
Great win!!
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