Aluko scores as England beats Russia 3-2
Athletica forward Eniola Aluko scored the tying goal in the 32nd minute as England came back from a quick 2-0 deficit to beat Russia 3-2 at the European Women’s Championships in Finland. Aluko played the full 90 minutes in a must-win game for the English. England is now tied for second in its group with Italy, which it has already lost to. It closes the first round with Sweden. England will have its hands full to get through. Sweden has wrapped up a spot in the quarters, but hasn’t clinched first, so it needs to play in its last game. Since the first result is head to head rather than goal difference, if Italy beats Russia, it’s got second, which leaves England to try to be one of the two best third-place teams, which is pretty much of a crap shoot, though the people at UEFA, who presumably are crunching the numbers, say a tie will put them through. (A tie would also clinch the group for Sweden, so maybe the teams can stand at midfield and stare at each other.)
Earlier, Sweden beat Italy 2-0. Athletica defender Sara Larsson, who started the first game, did not play.
Tom there are some confusing stories on the internet about Jeff Coooper’s attempt to buy the entire USL. The stories read that he was in final negotiations with Nike, when they made a last minute switch to another suitor. Any truth to this and if so, what does that say about his bid to get a MSL team?
Cooper a day late a dollar short? never!
Yeah, sorry to threadjack, but I’d like to know the same things as Billiken.
Assuming it’s true that Cooper tried and failed to buy USL, now what? Is MLS definitively off the table? Will Cooper pursue a USL-1 franchise from the same league owners who just beat him out of the USL purchase in a deal that looks questionable at best? Will Glavin exercise his USL-1 franchise rights by fielding a team, or will he let Cooper operate one, or will he just sit on the rights for the foreseeable future? Or will Cooper consider joining forces with the other disaffected USL-1 owners in some sort of breakway league?
Sounds like there’s plenty there for a story. Is there any hope for pro outdoor men’s soccer in St. Louis or are we still stuck in the same maddening limbo as always?
“In the Know”: Cooper had the highest bid and the support of most of the owners. Go back to picking your nose. You might find something worthwhile in there - you certainly won’t in any of your posts. Was it you or your kid who got snubbed by SLSG?
I’m told there’s an internet account of what happened out there that is quite accurate as to the nuts and bolts of what went on. Cooper was very close to buying the USL, but the deal fell through very late.
Where it stands is this: Right now, the USL-1 is in flux. There’s a chance that many of the current owners may leave the league and start their own league (presumably minus a few). Not surprisingly Cooper isn’t going to commit to anything until this all shakes out. My guess is that if the breakaway owners start a new league — and there would be complications, like getting U.S. Soccer approval — Cooper will sign on. If they stay in USL and everybody’s happy, he’ll sign on there. Right now, he just has to see what leagues are out there to join.
As to how this affects MLS hopes, I don’t know that it will. A USL team is by no means a concession on his part. The league won’t expand again before 2012 and quite possibly won’t do it until 2013 or later. Vancouver and Portland both enhanced their MLS bids by having successful USL-1 teams. If he can build a successful USL-1 (or whatever the league ends up being) franchise, it would enhance the bid for an MLS team and it’s not as though the cost of a USL team would impact one’s ability to get an MLS franchise.
Thanks, Tom! Should be interesting to see what happens.