Other Sports U.S. Soccer snow game

Deberg_1990 · 03-25-2013, 10:14 AM

This was from a few nights ago....Nuts!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_2937522.html

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Soft snow started falling, and then kept getting heavier as the night progressed.

From the start of Friday's World Cup qualifier, the lines on the field were covered. As the game wore on, even the Americans in their white home uniforms became hard to see.

And then in the 55th minute, with the U.S. leading Costa Rica 1-0 on Clint Dempsey's early goal, the referee and match commissioner stopped it.

Would it continue? For a moment, it was as unclear as the view.

But then, after some heated discussions, play went on.

On a snowy night more suitable to slaloms than soccer, Dempsey's 16th-minute score in his first start as the American captain held up, giving the U.S. a 1-0 victory in a key qualifier for next year's World Cup.

"It was difficult out here to see anything," Dempsey said. "The second half, the snow coming up past your ankles, it was almost unplayable."

Several U.S. players wore short sleeves. A bare-chested Dempsey applauded fans after the final whistle.

Costa Rica's team seemed to have a harder time dealing with the winter wonderland. The Ticos have 24 hours to file a written protest with FIFA.

"You couldn't see the lines. You couldn't see the ball. You couldn't play," Costa Rica midfielder Michael Barrantes said.

Plows and shovels were used to clear the penalty areas, center circle and midfield stripe as snow got heavier, and a yellow-and-purple ball was used. Ten minutes into the second half, Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto wanted referee Joel Aguilar of El Salvador and match commissioner Victor Daniel of Grenada to suspend the game, but U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann made a case for playing on.

"That's why went onto the field with my bad Spanish, to interfere with the referee, `We're not stopping that game. It's only the lines,'" Klinsmann said. "They cleaned up the lines and they kept playing. The referees were clear, they said it was all about the lines. It's for both teams very difficult to play all the way through. I would have done anything possible to not stop it."

The match will be remembered in American soccer for the elements as much as the 1967 Ice Bowl is in the NFL. As the snow increased, it made the field resemble a cake topped with piles of sugar, and players' hair turned white as snow stuck along their scalps. During injury time, American defender Geoff Cameron even playfully pushed the back of a grounds crew member shoveling the field.

As the conditions deteriorated, the U.S. survived Michael Umana's apparent 70th-minute goal for Costa Rica that was disallowed for offside and came away with a red-very-white-and-blue victory. Brad Guzan, in goal because Tim Howard was injured, slid in the snow after balls like a kid in a park.

"You don't want to stop it. You want to keep that advantage and finish it off," Klinsmann said.

Pinto was angry during and after the game.

"I asked them to stop. They should suspend the ref," he said. "It was an embarrassment. It was an insult to Costa Rica and people coming in here."

**Bugeater** · 03-25-2013, 10:19 AM

That would almost make a soccer game worth watching.

**loochy** · 03-25-2013, 10:21 AM

Yes, I watched it.

Yes, the play was terrible.

Yes, it was a spectacle.

The Costa Ricans WANTED to keep playing, as did the Americans.

When the ref initially stopped the match the players circled him and pleaded to let the match continue. The USA wanted to continue because they were winning; the Costa Ricans wanted to continue because they were dominating play and they looked like they could score at any minute.

A reschedule is VERY unlikely at this point. WCQ matches can't just be rescheduled - they have to be put in an international break. Also, they couldn't have just played the next day because the weather was forecasted to get even worse.

BigCatDaddy · 03-25-2013, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

That would almost make a soccer game worth watching.

Almost.

**Dave Lane** · 03-25-2013, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

That would almost make a soccer game worth watching.

Only if they all killed themselves at mid field at the conclusion of play. Or at least the losing team.

blaise · 03-25-2013, 10:33 AM

I heard that Costa Rica filed a protest over the game today.

**loochy** · 03-25-2013, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

I heard that Costa Rica filed a protest over the game today.

yeah, but it'll get shot down too

**Predarat** · 03-25-2013, 10:42 AM

I don't watch alot of soccer, but that was awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

I heard that Costa Rica filed a protest over the game today.

I heard that too. That is crap of them, they were begging the refs and officials to let the game go on.

**DaFace** · 03-25-2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predarat

I heard that too. That is crap of them, they were begging the refs and officials to let the game go on.

Yeah, this sounds like a case of "Let's keep playing - we might score!" Followed soon after by "Oh shit, we didn't win. We shouldn't have kept playing!"

KC_Connection · 03-25-2013, 12:05 PM

I once played a soccer game in similar conditions to that. It was pretty fun and everybody on the field had no second thoughts about playing.

GloryDayz · 03-25-2013, 02:51 PM

It's both amazing and something I hope to see more of. I hope they make soccer an winter Olympic sport soon...

**penguinz** · 03-25-2013, 03:31 PM

No more an advantage to the US players than when other teams have to go to CR and play in 100 degree heat and high humidity at altitude on a rock hard synthetic surface.

Spicy McHaggis · 03-25-2013, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguinz

No more an advantage to the US players than when other teams have to go to CR and play in 100 degree heat and high humidity at altitude on a rock hard synthetic surface.

Exactly what I said. They have that shit show at Saprissa the US has to play on and we have Columbus and snowstorms in Denver.

Deal with it.

RickObie · 03-25-2013, 07:08 PM

...or coughing up a lung in Mexico City, it's called home field advantage, I wonder if Costa Rica would have protested if they had won : )

mikey23545 · 03-25-2013, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

I heard that Costa Rica filed a protest over the game today.

You have to expect that from a country that doesn't even have a military of any kind.

03-25-2013, 10:14 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3754454	U.S. Soccer snow game This was from a few nights ago....Nuts! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_2937522.html COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Soft snow started falling, and then kept getting heavier as the night progressed. From the start of Friday's World Cup qualifier, the lines on the field were covered. As the game wore on, even the Americans in their white home uniforms became hard to see. And then in the 55th minute, with the U.S. leading Costa Rica 1-0 on Clint Dempsey's early goal, the referee and match commissioner stopped it. Would it continue? For a moment, it was as unclear as the view. But then, after some heated discussions, play went on. On a snowy night more suitable to slaloms than soccer, Dempsey's 16th-minute score in his first start as the American captain held up, giving the U.S. a 1-0 victory in a key qualifier for next year's World Cup. "It was difficult out here to see anything," Dempsey said. "The second half, the snow coming up past your ankles, it was almost unplayable." Several U.S. players wore short sleeves. A bare-chested Dempsey applauded fans after the final whistle. Costa Rica's team seemed to have a harder time dealing with the winter wonderland. The Ticos have 24 hours to file a written protest with FIFA. "You couldn't see the lines. You couldn't see the ball. You couldn't play," Costa Rica midfielder Michael Barrantes said. Plows and shovels were used to clear the penalty areas, center circle and midfield stripe as snow got heavier, and a yellow-and-purple ball was used. Ten minutes into the second half, Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto wanted referee Joel Aguilar of El Salvador and match commissioner Victor Daniel of Grenada to suspend the game, but U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann made a case for playing on. "That's why went onto the field with my bad Spanish, to interfere with the referee, `We're not stopping that game. It's only the lines,'" Klinsmann said. "They cleaned up the lines and they kept playing. The referees were clear, they said it was all about the lines. It's for both teams very difficult to play all the way through. I would have done anything possible to not stop it." The match will be remembered in American soccer for the elements as much as the 1967 Ice Bowl is in the NFL. As the snow increased, it made the field resemble a cake topped with piles of sugar, and players' hair turned white as snow stuck along their scalps. During injury time, American defender Geoff Cameron even playfully pushed the back of a grounds crew member shoveling the field. As the conditions deteriorated, the U.S. survived Michael Umana's apparent 70th-minute goal for Costa Rica that was disallowed for offside and came away with a red-very-white-and-blue victory. Brad Guzan, in goal because Tim Howard was injured, slid in the snow after balls like a kid in a park. "You don't want to stop it. You want to keep that advantage and finish it off," Klinsmann said. Pinto was angry during and after the game. "I asked them to stop. They should suspend the ref," he said. "It was an embarrassment. It was an insult to Costa Rica and people coming in here."
Posts: 66,914

03-25-2013, 10:19 AM	#2
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6232680	That would almost make a soccer game worth watching.
Posts: 70,443

03-25-2013, 10:21 AM	#3
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $1880752	Yes, I watched it. Yes, the play was terrible. Yes, it was a spectacle. The Costa Ricans WANTED to keep playing, as did the Americans. When the ref initially stopped the match the players circled him and pleaded to let the match continue. The USA wanted to continue because they were winning; the Costa Ricans wanted to continue because they were dominating play and they looked like they could score at any minute. A reschedule is VERY unlikely at this point. WCQ matches can't just be rescheduled - they have to be put in an international break. Also, they couldn't have just played the next day because the weather was forecasted to get even worse. __________________ Hey Loochy, I'm hoooome!
Posts: 40,597

03-25-2013, 10:33 AM	#6
blaise In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $9999900	I heard that Costa Rica filed a protest over the game today.
Posts: 22,188

03-25-2013, 12:05 PM	#10
KC_Connection Perpetual Mediocrity Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $5122783	I once played a soccer game in similar conditions to that. It was pretty fun and everybody on the field had no second thoughts about playing.
Posts: 49,219

03-25-2013, 02:51 PM	#11
GloryDayz (Sir/Yes Sir/Aye Aye Sir) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Diving Casino cash: $3365380	It's both amazing and something I hope to see more of. I hope they make soccer an winter Olympic sport soon... __________________ . #President Trump loves and supports the constitution #McCarthy is a Sellout and Traitor to America #The FBLieIsCorrupt #DefundTheFBI #The FBI Is Not The Police #PresidentBidenIsMoronic #LizCheneyGotTheBoot #FJB #80,000,000 Mules (and a few Americans too) Voted For COVID To Continue #I still don't have COVID
Posts: 115,727

03-25-2013, 03:31 PM	#12
penguinz Supporter Join Date: Mar 2003 Casino cash: $2907626	No more an advantage to the US players than when other teams have to go to CR and play in 100 degree heat and high humidity at altitude on a rock hard synthetic surface. __________________
Posts: 16,429

03-25-2013, 07:08 PM	#14
RickObie What the Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Casino cash: $4720620	...or coughing up a lung in Mexico City, it's called home field advantage, I wonder if Costa Rica would have protested if they had won : )
Posts: 734