Australia beats Uruguay on PKs to go for the first time in 32 years.

Trinidad and Tobago beats Bahrain 1-0 to advance to their first ever World Cup. The country has 1 million people! Massive props for them.

Switzerland are losing 3-2 to Turkey in the 90th but they'll go through as a result of their 2-0 at home...oops changed to 4-2 as a typed the rest. They need one more in added time or else aren't going because of the away goals rule.

Czech Republic are up 1-0 at HT. Seeing as how they won the fixture in Norway 1-0, Norway is going to have to score 2 in the final 45 to do it. Not impossible, but it looks like the Czech Republic is heading to Germany.

Spain and Slovakia 0-0 at HT. I'm thinking Spain is pretty safe on account of their 5-1 victory Satruday.

Anybody watching the Bahrain vs TT game right now? See the play and dis-allowed goal by the Bahrain guy? Being an ex-goalie, I like the call...but being a soccer fan, I like the play by the Bahrain player. For those who have not seen it, late in the game and the game is 1-0 TT and the TT goalie had the ball and is ready to punt it, and as soon as he lets go of the ball but before he punts it, the Bahrain player jumps in and kicks it away and runs it down to put it in the goal. Pretty beautiful as he made no contact with the goalie! However, I have to think it is a dangerous play...but gutsy and skillful.

[This message has been edited by randy828 (edited 11/16/2005 8:53p).]

randy, that play was illegal because under the Laws, the keeper is considered to have possession of the ball until he punts it away, even though he technically isn't holding while it's on its way down to his foot. It's considered the same play as if the opposing player had just come up and kicked it out of the keeper's hands. The referee made the right call. I could pull the rule, but I don't have time now. Anyway, it's a pretty clear-cut rule that is meant to prevent opposing forwards from constantly harassing a keeper who is legally handling the ball in the box. I guess you could say the rule exists to make dangerous kicks at the keeper less likely, but I don't think this one is considered a "dangerous play" per se under the Laws.

By the way, that game was played about 11 hours ago. You must be watching a replay.

I remember when Thierry Henry did that to Brad Friedel a couple years ago. Pretty funny. I think it should be legal as long as they don't touch the goalie. Goalies are overprotected by the rules.

7 pm Nov. 20 vs. Southern at Reed Arena - I can't wait!
"I feel like we have some unfinished business." - Chris Walker
On the bandwagon since birth. Raised in the bleachers of Kyle, Olsen, and G. Rollie White

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randy, that play was illegal because under the Laws, the keeper is considered to have possession of the ball until he punts it away, even though he technically isn't holding while it's on its way down to his foot. It's considered the same play as if the opposing player had just come up and kicked it out of the keeper's hands. The referee made the right call. I could pull the rule, but I don't have time now. Anyway, it's a pretty clear-cut rule that is meant to prevent opposing forwards from constantly harassing a keeper who is legally handling the ball in the box. I guess you could say the rule exists to make dangerous kicks at the keeper less likely, but I don't think this one is considered a "dangerous play" per se under the Laws.

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What's the rule about standing in front of a keeper and trying to block his punt after he's kicked it? Obviously you can't do it or more people would try it, but I've never seen the offical rule on that.

Well, since the keeper has unlimited steps, you can't really effectively stand in front of him any more. If you consistently ran close to the keeper while he is trying to punt, you would probably get carded for encroachment.

Yep - as I understand the rule (and there has been a lot of talk about it since this incident the other day), once the keeper has possession of the ball, you can't interefere with him/her for any reason. All you can do is maintain your position on the field or move towards your goal, away from the keeper.

I'm just glad the ref got the call right.

Cheers,
Kevin Lindstrom
Class of '93

The Aussies won, which means I'M GOING TO WC 06! A friend's wife (who is Australian) is gonna get us there because the Socceroos are in the Cup!

Hey buckeye, its me, your long lost brother. Looks like I get to go to the world cup too, rigt?