New design, my weekend

It was definitely time for a change around here.............enter new background! I like this one because it's funky and colorful, while my last one was rather sweet and spring-like. This one reminds me of summer.



And then, my weekend: NOTHING!



Haha, just kidding. The weekend really began Friday, when the US team played Slovenia. I was sure we would beat them rather easily, but I was wrong. By halftime, we were down 2-0. How annoying!!!!!!



But I guess there was some sort of pep talk at halftime, because then we were back on track.



Landon Donovan scored a fantastic goal to bring our hopes back up. Then, a little while later, Michael Bradley (son of the US team's coach!) scored a very nice half-volley to tie the score at 2-2.


By this time, we were sure that the US could eek out a win.

But then: time for some controversy.

Late in the game, with just a few minutes to play, a US player was fouled just outside the Slovenian box. Donovan set the ball up, prepared to deliver one of his bending balls in to the box for someone (most likely six-foot-four defender Oguchi Onyewu) to get a head on it.

What happened next will go down in the history books.

Donovan bent it in. Amid the chaos of defenders vs. forwards, Maurice Edu managed to connect with Donovan's cross. The ball deflected perfectly off his foot, past the Slovenian keeper, and in to the net.


Mom and I started screaming in joy. Then the screams turned to agony.

Edu held his head in his hands as the referee (Koman Coulibaly, from Mali) whistled the play dead.

Coulibaly was instantly surrounded by outraged US players, demanding to know why he had called back the goal.

Perhaps the referee didn't understand English. Perhaps he was a bit overwhelmed by his first job as a World Cup referee. Or perhaps he was just intimidated by the swarm of players around him.
Whatever the scenario, Coulibaly gave no reason for calling back Edu's goal. He simply gave the Slovenians a free kick and moved on.

Mom and I were frantic! What could the referee have seen that would have convinced him to call back the goal?

For the rest of the day, sports analysts tried to see the situation from Coulibaly's viewpoint. Who could he have called the foul on?

Was it Edu, trying to avoid his defender?

Or Carlos Bocenagra, attempting (rather unsuccessfully) to wriggle free of his opponent's vice-like grip?

Surely he would not have called a foul on Michael Bradley, who was practically getting mugged?

As ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas said, lots of things go on in the penalty area during a free kick. Players are shoving and pushing to get to the ball. It's part of the game.

But our players getting harassed, and we get called for the foul? Unbelievable.



There's my rant for the week. Don't worry though: WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ON WEDNESDAY!


Enjoy your weekend.

Love,