here's predicts vs. actuals (3/2 & 3/3). home team is listed first. a fair amount of drama in couple of areas this weekend.
Predict: SD Surf 3 vs. FC Golden State 2. Actuals: Did not play. In other news around SD Surf, the SD Surf coach held a team meeting w/ the 05 and 04 teams last week announcing that he was moving to LAFC, presumably to help support LAFC's expansion into u16/17+. Word on this forum is that several players from both the 04 and 05 teams will also be moving to LAFC for 2019-20.
For reference, SD Surf's key 04 midfielder was guest playing for LAFC during the Feb round of Generation Adidas Cup matches (GA is an all MLS tournament for u15 and u17 MLS teams), and since the 05 LAFC team has taken a step down on the offensive side in 2018-19, it's reasonable to assume that they're likely is looking to improve in this area and there's a 1-2 SD Surf players who could help them here.
Can't speak for the 04s but the 05 SD Surf team has been together for quite some time, so this is a bit of news. Will be interesting to see about what actually happens since the logistics of traveling during the week from SD to LA for practice seem prohibitive unless families move.
Predict: Strikers 1 vs Nomads 1. Actuals: Strikers 4 vs. Nomads 2. This was a game to watch this weekend since the Nomads are ranked #8 by TD, and while TD doesn't rank Strikers in the top 25 nationally, Strikers likely should have been ranked at #11 nationally. Last time these teams met, Nomads won 3-0.
Per the game report, looks like a fun game to watch. Nomads went up up 2-0 by the 35th minute but Strikers squeezed one in right before halftime for a halftime score of 2-1. Strikers then came back with three more after halftime, with two Striker players each getting a brace for the full game. Looks like there may have been some match-up issues that the Strikers took advantage of.
Does anyone have more color commentary on this one?
Predict: Arsenal 2 vs Ballistic 2. Actuals: Arsenal 1 vs Ballistic 0.
Predict: Real SoCal 1 vs LAFC 8. Actuals: Real SoCal 0 vs. LAFC 2. RSC seems to frequently give LAFC a tougher time than expected, and would describe these matches as almost a rivalry but not quite (RSC needs to consistently win some before using the R word). Some of this is match-ups, and some of it is style of play, w/ RSC playing defensive, physical soccer with strategic fouling and then relying on counters for offense.
Per the game report, game was tied 0-0 at half, and LAFC picked up their two goals at the 46th and 78th minutes. RSC played eleven players the full 80 minutes with no substitutions. On LAFC's side, the game report says that LAFC only rostered one 2005 player but did not play him. LAFC did play five players the full 80, and made substitutions throughout the second half.
Does anyone have more color commentary on this one? Seems like a really interesting match.
Predict: LAUFA 3 vs. LAGSD 1. Actuals: LAUFA 4 vs. LAGSD 1