By TRAVIS CLARK
For a club and player who had been scoring with ease the last three games, to go more than 70 minutes without a goal was rather unusual. That was the case for Lionel Messi and Barcelona Wednesday, unable to solve a well-organized Osasuna side for the majority of the match.
Someone had to step up, and it was Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who seized the goal-scoring mantle from Messi — who had a quiet game by his standards — breaking through in the 73rd minute. Youngster Bojan Krkic added a second to seal the 2-0 win.
With the La Liga title coming down to the wire, the win gives Barcelona a temporary three-point lead at the top of the table, with title rivals Real Madrid playing Getafe today.
Here's a few other stories for Thursday:
MEXICO DRAWS ICELAND
In front of over 63,000 fans in Charlotte, a Mexican team comprised mostly of World Cup-hopefuls couldn't come up with any goals, drawing Iceland 0-0. The match was an opportunity for Javier Aguirre to get a long look at a number of fringe players who failed to impress, at least offensively. A number of missed opportunities plagued Mexico, who were frustrated by a squad comprised heavily of amateurs from a country that has never qualified for the World Cup.
CELTIC EMBARRASSED BY ST. MIRREN, RANGERS OUT IN SCOTTISH CUP
Former New England Revolution midfielder Andy Dorman scored a brace as host St. Mirren humbled Scottish power Celtic 4-0. The loss leaves Rangers in firm control of the Scottish Premier League, 10 points ahead of their Glasgow counterparts with two games in hand. Rangers suffered bad news of their own, however, getting knocked out 1-0 in the Scottish Cup to Dundee United.
BAYERN REACH GERMAN CUP FINAL
Bayern Munich reached the final of the German Cup, eking out a 1-0 win over Schalke in extra time. Arjen Robben's winner in the 112th minute gave Bayern the win, and a chance at their 15th German Cup. They'll face Werder Bremen on May 15.
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What do you think of Barcelona's latest win? Who will win the La Liga title? Any chance Celtic can catch Rangers now?
Share your thoughts below.
Mexico had basically their B side out their while Iceland had a bunch of amateurs, equivalent to an E side. A lot of experts have Mexico coming out of their group in S.A. I think Mexico is going to have a very poor showing. Not because of their games against North Korea and Iceland were poor, but because they simply stink. The First game against the hosts will be very difficult. During qualifying, Mexico demonstrated that they cannot win away from Azteca. Their asses pucker when they are away from Azteca. The vuvuzelas will drown out the Mexican crowed in their own taco sauce. If south Africa plays anything like they did against Spain and Brazil in the confederations Cup, Mexico will just be a plate of leftover beans by the end of the World Cup.
Having lived in NC for the last 12 years, I’m actually surprised there wasn’t a packed stadium last night. (There’s about 200,00-300,000 Hispanics in NC alone, and 80 percent are from Mexico).
Iceland, however, doesn’t travel as well…
This wasn’t the A or even B Iceland team. It was players based on Iceland and didn’t have any of the best players who plays professionally abroad.
OmarVizquel – Masssssss Poot!
Dear moderator, what’s wrong with linking to a DFW essay?
true, his movement off the ball isn’t that great, but he is fine in Barca’s style. Henry’s movement off the ball is also not great which is why they are not the most effective combo. Ibra will be much better with Barca when Henry is not there anymore. As for him not being able to move the ball quickly, huh? He is very good moving the ball in and around the box, which is the most difficult place to do (especially with the way some teams pack it in against Barca). Add to that he is a very good target in the box. Add to that, he can strike from distance. Add to that he is a good target when moving the ball through the midfield with others running off him…
No, it’s actually weekly. And only during the season (and preseason) in comparison, the NBA pays players bi-weekly as does MLB. The NFL pays weekly, during the season only as well (technically, NFl players are paid by the game)
Don’t you mean “a word he was saying” rather than “an word he was saying”?
Your sentence is confusing me…… j/k …really I am just messing around.
BTW, Evil John Locke’s link to Merriam predicts the very fallout we have here regarding the offending sentence. LOL
His ability to move the ball quickly is non-existent?
Are you kidding me?
I think it looked like a spear.
Look, I’m just impressed that the Mexicans were able to put over 60,000 asses into seats in Charlotte, NC. My Mexican friends tell me that many of the Mexicans who go to to these National team games in the USA would never go to a game in Azteca. Instead, many of these fans use these games as a way to socialize with other Mexicans-in-exile. It is a way to keep their culture going. Yeah, you can cheer the National team but really it is about meeting new people and trying to jump on a senorita.
He is the best target forward in the world. It seems like Messi and the Barcelona offense are doing pretty o.k. with Ibrahimovich on the field.
The highlight of the Mexico-Iceland game was the Bank of America staff member who viciously tackled the guy who ran onto the field about 30 seconds into the second half.
It was a mix of a clothesline and The Rock’s “RockBottom” move from WWE. (from a fan in the stands) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt-5mNPbRR0 OR (Telemundo’s better quality shot) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R7Bh8DLvZ0&feature=related
i see colorado making the playoffs now and i see toronto still failing.
Ibrahimovic to barcelona was a bad idea. He is not the type of player that would do well there. his movement off the ball is minimal and his ability to move the ball quickly is non existant. He is a very good player but just doesn’t mesh with the barcelona style of play.
It must have been youth players.
Knowing Mexico’s recent luck with FIFA draws, I wouldn’t put it past them to draw Iceland in a group.
Grammatically acceptable, according to the hard-and-fast rules:
The hopefuls compose the national team (or, The national team is composed of the hopefuls). The national team comprises the hopefuls.
It is the traditional rule, which you’ll learn in most English departments, newspapers, etc. I can’t help noticing it, I’m a professional editor, and all of us worth our salt have to know this rule.
I am no grammar policeman. I’ve posted hundreds of posts on SBI, and this is the only grammar-related one.
At first I didn’t understand the title as it reads, “Mexico draws Iceland”. Shouldn’t it read “Mexico draws against Iceland”?
Isn’t the Icelandic League full-time?
I believe that you are incorrect. Here is what I found:
comprise / compose
According to the traditional rule, the whole comprises the parts, and the parts compose the whole. Thus, the board comprises five members, whereas five members compose (or make up) the board.
Only caught the last 10 mins of the Mexico/Iceland game. Mexico put a lot of pressure on them some nice decent shots on goal but the keeper was equal. Like the Mexican team jersey with the black and green and red trims
Hey, is anyone else having issues with the new MLS website? Whenever I attempt to log on, it pops up with a registration/sign in screen…but no way to register to begin with…
Help?
Thanks Aris, but it’s not really about that any more.
the time when they will really need him is when Henry is gone. they don’t play that well together and I think Ibra will step up and be more prolific once Henry leaves
Yeah, it’s strange. Maybe somebody out there knows.
I know what you mean. The article I found says its 20K per month so it amounts to 5K a week or 240K per year before taxes. Though I’m not sure how much Vietnam taxes.
I don’t know if they would be paid every week. I’d imagine every two like most jobs but playing professional football isn’t a regular job.
My thoughts exactly. “We can’t beat Iceland?! I don’t care if it’s our B team! We have a real problem with depth! Even a European guppy (even smaller than a minnow) can hold us scoreless! Bring back Lavolpe!”
Also, anybody see the CD9 article on YA? Gives a good break down of his timeline for the next month.
A good quote, and I understand what you’re saying. However, we shouldn’t be so caught in doing things well that we act harshly towards those who don’t do things well. At least not until it becomes a truly serious issue.
Seriously…where the like button for this ^^^
lol
It always amuses me how soccer wages are divided into weekly segments, instead of yearly sums like the rest of the sporting world (and the rest of us who have jobs). It makes me envision Wayne Rooney standing in a long line, smoking and wearing a long navy blue coat and a dockworker’s hat, with the rest of the workers about to collect their weekly sum.
Do they actually receive money every week into their account? Or is this “weekly” stuff just a way to picture a lot of money in manageable segments?
haha well played… well played… I even proofread the damn thing because I knew I would do something like that.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere” – Dr. MLK Jr.
We still do. The slippery slope I’m afraid of is one where we are so afraid to make mistakes, we don’t take any chances and therefore we don’t get anywhere, not quickly anyways.
This is the kind of slippery slope that will lead us to ruin in this country. For goodness sake, we used to stand for something. I for one am not going to sit idly by as we crash and burn.
No reputable newspaper style guide in the country would back you up.
But your indignation makes my original post worthwhile!
Busy night of sports with the Sweet 16 as well…guess I’ll just have to pop over to CBS occasionally.
Always enjoy watching Sounders games at home, tonight’s will just be that much more special.
You mean ‘Grammar Police’?? Kidding, kidding.
No mention of Inter’s win and Milan’s loss!??
This weekend is HUGE in Italy. If Roma beats Inter, and Milan beats Lazio, then three teams will be fighting for the top spot, all within a point of each other.
PUMPED for the MLS season to start.
Are you serious? Even if Travis did happen to make a mistake (even though he didn’t), stop trying to act so perfect and correct a sentence in his article if you know exactly what he is trying to say. It’s very annoying, especially when you know exactly what he is trying to say. Now if you couldn’t understand an word he was saying, then that’s a different story.
I wonder if the Mexican fans on the Mexican equivalent of soccerbyives display the same knee-jerk reactionary sentiments we see on here when the US plays in similar games. They complain
1) That we aren’t playing anyone that is any good
2) That we draw with those teams, regardless of what players we actually play
3) That Bob Bradley’s tactics are horrible
and finally
4)__________ player OBVIOUSLY should be called up
I just wonder if Mexico has more reasonable, or less reasonable fans than the USA has. People are probably the same the world over though.
Comprised is the right word genius. Just as the United States is comprised of 50 States, a soccer team can be comprised of hopefuls.
Compose works too but comprise fits the sentence better.
so if the mexicans are hopefuls, then what were iceland 5th graders? Are you better than a 5th grader? I guess not
I have no idea why i am responding to a dumb post like this but…
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprise
So it can be used… some lame people who think they are the police of grammar think that it is not accurate, but who really cares? That’s right you do… no offense
Fromer Galaxy player Gavin Glinton is going to play in Vietnam. He will be making $5K a week. He and Nguyen (who is going to a new club) join 3 other Americans who play in Vietnam.
True, I’m not going to lie though… I thought Ibrahim would kill it at barca but that hasn’t been the case
“a Mexican team comprised mostly of World Cup-hopefuls” –> composed mostly of
I think in terms of looking at what they lost (Eto’o and millions of extra euros to bring him over) maybe a “failed move” isn’t the right term but certainly not as high a move as they had hoped…
Would anyone consider Ibra. at Barcelona a failed move ?