FC Basel makes history in the UEFA Champions League

As an FC Basel fan, I am terribly bias when it comes to the result of this game. I was down on my knees in the middle of the mall refreshing the live match streaming from uefa.com faster than the network could think. When that final whistle blew, tears were in my eyes and I was jumping up and down first pumping the air not even giving a crap who saw because they were just going to be jealous that I was such a winner. I have been an FC Basel fan since I got the guts to choose my own team in 2009. I was fourteen and decided that if I was old enough to see the talent that the players in their youth system had, I was old enough to choose to support FC Basel over EPL team and family favorite Liverpool FC. My decision was met with laughter, jokes, and criticism. "You'll never celebrate a big win!" "You'll never win the league!" "No one knows who those players are!" "You're never going to see Champions League football!" Well, FC Basel won the league in 2009, the double in 2010 and the league again in 2011. Recently, Basel's young stars are making headlines (namely Xherdan Shaqiri, Valentin Stocker, Granit Xhaka and Yann Sommer) and their seasoned players who are nearer to retirement than a career boost, are still being praised for their skill.
As for Champions League football, that story tells itself. Last season, Basel impressed on the European stage by defeating AS Roma at their home stadium but didn't make it through to the knockout stages. They then lost their momentum and fell out of Europa League against CSKA Moscow. This season, their highlight, without a doubt, was the performances against English powerhouse Manchester United. They held United to a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford and then made history by defeating them at St. Jakob-Park two goals to one.
As an FC Basel fan, that day, December 7th 2011 will never be forgotten. No matter how Basel fares in the next stage of the Champions League, I will be proud of their accomplishments so far and proud to be a Basel fan.

Welsh Coach Gary Speed Found Dead

Gary Speed passed away this morning suddenly after a successful footballing career. He will definitely be remembered. Rest in peace.

Goal of the Week

No one scores like this against Barcelona. Seriously.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOd9to20vnI

Liverpool VS Chelsea Match Preview

Chelsea will host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this Sunday hoping to get the three points to keep them in third place and ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who sit equal with them on points with one game in hand. The last time these two sides met was in a thrilling 1-0 victory to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge back in February of this year. Chelsea will also be looking to restore the club’s former glory after a series of disappointing results in both the EPL and the UEFA Champions League. The London club managed to salvage three points against Blackburn Rovers on November 5^th with only one goal scored by Frank Lampard in the 50^th minute. Previous results included a 1-1 draw in the Champions League against Belgian side Genk and a 5-3 thrashing from fellow London team, Arsenal.  Liverpool will also be hoping to redeem themselves after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Swansea also on the 5^th.

Liverpool will be welcoming back experienced defender Jamie Carragher who sat out the last two games with a major calf injury and fans will be hoping to see skipper Steven Gerrard in the starting eleven. Both teams will be glad to have players returning from international duty at all levels. Liverpool youngsters Jordan Henderson and Martin Kelly played alongside Josh McEachran who is on the books of Chelsea.

The two clubs are known for their fierce rivalry, but this time around it should be an especially enticing fixture considering former Reds stars Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles now play at Stamford Bridge under young manager Villas-Boas.  

With so much on the table, we’re up for an enticing match at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, be sure to tune in!

Xhaka Nets First Goal in Swiss Victory in Luxembourg, But Why the Long Faces?

Swiss and FC Basel starlet Granit Xhaka (19 years old) netted his first international goal for the Swiss first team in a friendly in Luxembourg today. The fixture turned out to be quite depressing for the Swiss. Despite the victory, the game only drew a crowd of 852 spectators. This small amount of support comes in the wake of the Swiss team failing to qualify for EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine despite success at a youth level.
The disappointment may be bitter for Swiss fans in general, but players and FC Basel followers should be celebrating the success of a product of strong youth development in the small European nation.

Vote For Save of the Year in the MLS

http://www.mlssoccer.com/sotw/soty2011/roundof16/groups1-2
Follow this link to vote for Tim Ream's save for the New York Redbulls against Landon Donovan and the LA Galaxy! What a well-timed tackle!

This Week in Group C...

Photo Credit: FC Basel Official Website

FC Basel held the Portuguese powerhouse Benfica to a 1-1 draw at the Estadio da Luz Wednesday night while Manchester United battled it out at home against Otelul Galati. United finished with two goals coming from Antonio Valencia early on in the eighth minute and an unfortunate own goal from Galati's own Sarghi in the 88th minute of play. Benfica lost out to possession against the visiting Swiss side, only holding 44% while Basel dominated with 56%. Benfica's forward Rodrigo slammed the first goal of the game home early on in the 4th minute and the team continued to apply pressure throughout the first half. Basel's veteran midfielder Benjamin Huggel savored the visitors a point in the 64th minute with a strong finish past the Benfica goalie.
As of now, Manchester United sit the top of the table with only one goal over Benfica, both level on 8 points. Basel are one win behind them with five points and Galati sit at the bottom of the table with zero points from four games.

Pete Fewing Makes his Exit from the Kitsap Pumas

Puma fan Ian Logan presented owner Robin Waite and former head coach Fewing with the 2011 Man of the Match plaque. Fans will fondly remember Fewing's two season's with the club.

Head Coach Peter Fewing has called an end to his career at the Kitsap Pumas after two seasons of juggling multiple coaching jobs and working for the Seattle Sounders on matchday. Fewing led the team to the USL/PDL National Championships this past season and also coached them through the US Open Cup, falling out of the competition in an enticing match against the Seattle Sounders at Starfire stadium in June.The fans thank him for his service to the club and wish him the best. Fewing was at the helm in some of the most exciting games in the clubs history and will not be forgotten.

How FIFA Works as a Political System

Many people in the United States consider soccer to be a mere game played by twenty-two men on a grass field and observed by drunken fans who take it too seriously. However, this sport has more in common with the politics and economic situation of the rest of the world than many assume.

Seattle Salutes Captain Kasey Keller

It couldn't have happened any other way. In the second half of Seattle Sounders FCs match against the San Jose Earth Quakes, captain Kasey Keller was forced to make four exceptional consecutive saves in front of the ECS and 64,140 adoring supporters. Sounders fans set a new MLS record, bringing in more fans for Kasey's final regular season match than FC Barcelona was able to attract when they visited in the summer of 2009. Keller was saluted by fans who turned out in the masses to thank their captain since the 2009 inaugural season. The former national team player has savored many points over his three seasons with the Sounders and has lead the squad to three consecutive US Open Cup wins after representing the United States in several top leagues all over Europe. His presence in the goal will definitely be missed. (Photo: Kasey Keller captains the Seattle Sounders/ Photo Credit: Soccer Extreme)

Thorsten Fink Calls and End to a Successful Career at Basel

FC Basel manager Thorsten Fink has called a halt to his career with the Swiss club and will move on to manage the German side Hamburg SV in the Bundesliga. The 14 time Swiss Champions won the Axpo Superleague three times under the German manager and won the double (Swiss Cup and the league) under Fink in the 2009/2010 season. Some of their best games in Champions League competition also came under Fink when they defeated AS Roma at home in the UEFA Champions League in 2010 and when the drew English giants Manchester United at Old Trafford in September. Players and staff alike have been expressing their emotion over Finks departure.

Angry Birds for Real

This cracked me up. These guys have some impressive kicks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh2P8OwSGRg

Coming Up This Week/Weekend/Part of Next Week

I will be posting a comparison essay on the government structures of FIFA and the United States of America since the two have a bit in common. I will also be writing about my reaction to the Seattle Sounders home game this Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes. This game will be Kasey Keller's last regular season home match for the Sounders before he retires, I'm sure it will be an amazing atmosphere! Coverage will include highlights and player ratings (from both teams) as well as photos and videos of the much anticipated ferry ride over to Seattle from Bainbridge Island! We're looking at a potential crowd of around 60,000 people all coming to thank Kasey Keller for his dedication and service to the team of Soccer City. Also a recap and some photos of the Wooden Spoon charity tournament on Bainbridge Island last weekend. The photos involve some wild and fun costumes and great action shots of players of all ages.

Great Article!

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/pumas-get-rolling-with-indoor-open-tryouts/

Here is and article written by some friends of mine who are fellow Kitsap Puma Superfans! This is their interpretation of the KPSC indoor open tryouts on the 1st and 2nd of October. Look for my take on the tryouts (http://www.prostamerika.com/2011/10/06/pumas-prepare-for-indoor-season-50354/) and coverage of FC Basel in the UEFA Champions League as well as coverage of the Kitsap Pumas indoor team in their season in the PASL on www.prostamerika.com