Manchester City: Unbelievable Comeback or QPR Choke?

I know this game was a couple days ago, I felt I needed to write about it. What a crazy finish to an unbelievable game. Who would have thought we would see 2 goals in stoppage time. You rarely ever see 1 goal never mind 2. It took every bit of the 44 years, 93 minutes and 20 seconds for Manchester City to end the agony of being the No. 2 team in a town where traditionally only one has ever really mattered. Manchester City has always been the little sister to the world soccer power, Manchester United. And yet again they were almost placed in that same spot. Until that epoch-defining moment when Sergio Aguero slashed through the QPR penalty area, collected Mario Balotelli’s layoff, sidestepped a defender and buried the ball in the back of the net, United were still the Lords of Manchester as well as champions of all they surveyed in English soccer. With 2 goals in stoppage time, Man. City was able to take the upper hand over United and take over a city for the first time in 44 years.

Now, as I have looked at this game, I have been questioning whether this was just a once in a lifetime comeback or just another choke job by the opposing team. And of course I believe it has elements of both. You can’t ever have a great comeback without the choking of another team. It’s like the peanut butter without the jelly, it just doesn’t work out. Although QPR may have been a man down, to let up 2 goals in stoppage time is just unacceptable. They had only let up 1 goal throughout the entire game! But I look at what Man. City did as extremely impressive and I do look at it as an unbelievable comeback. They were able to use there one man advantage and take control of the game. They were aggressive, physical, and it seemed as if the Man. City players realized, well jeez we can’t lose another title to United. In 125 nerve-shredding seconds, Mancini’s (Man. City Coach) men displayed the other Manchester’s patented ability to snatch the miraculous from the jaws of the impossible.

The best part of it all was the way that the Manchester United players, coaches and fans reacted after learning of the improbable comeback, and learning that the trophy had been taken from one end of Manchester to the other. The United faithful reacted to the last five breath-stopping minutes at the Etihad as if they had been nutted by the Man. City players one by one. After Aguero’s strike hit the back of the net, Sir Alex’s (Man U. Coach) face deflated like a hot air balloon (only redder, saggier and with more hot air).

It was an unbelievable ending to a day, Mother’s Day, that always has great sporting events. Who would have thought a soccer game would have provided so many sports fans with so much excitement and glee.

English Premier League: Why it is so much better than the MLS

Now I know that this Manchester United vs. Manchester City game is taking place as I write this. And it may be the biggest Premier League game ever, but I am writing for one reason: I enjoy soccer. Especially English Premier League soccer. It is the best soccer in the world besides when the Wold Cup takes place, but then it is just the same players, just representing their countries. I understand that there aren’t very many prominent soccer fans in the US and let me tell you why, I could possibly play for an MLS team. The MLS teams compared to say, a Manchester United, is like comparing the New York Yankees to a little league baseball team, it is just unfair. Fans get very excited every time one of these English Premier League teams make an appearance in the states. And for good reason they get to actually watch some very quality soccer. The biggest problem with these games is that none of the prominent players from these Premier League teams ever plays. Normally, you will get the backups or the “JV” players per-say who still are able to dominate the MLS clubs.

I remember I went to Gillette Stadium to watch Manchester United play the New England Revolution, not really knowing what to expect, I was very excited to see Wayne Rooney and many of the other start players that United had. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of them, I was able to see their backups win the game 6-1. Not don’t get me wrong it was still great soccer to watch, but it just isn’t the same. I wish the MLS games had some of the same atmosphere that these Premier League teams have. It is amazing to see how many people go to these soccer games and watch, but not only watch, they’re standing and cheering the entire game and don’t miss a second. Soccer is like a religion across the world and that is our biggest problem in the US, we just don’t care for it as much. That is why the US has never won a World Cup, let alone come very close.

The English Premier League attracts the greatest players in the world to play for their respected clubs. And for great reason. Very few professional soccer players get paid well to play the sport they love. But that is what the English clubs have over these MLS teams. These English clubs and Premier League teams have the ability to pay the best players what they deserve. The USA just doesn’t support the MLS like it does say, the NFL, where teams are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It is not only the money that attracts these players to these teams it is the atmospheres that they play in. One of the most famous stadiums in the world, Old Trafford Stadium, where Manchester United plays, is known for having the greatest, craziest fans on the planet. As an athlete I know I love to play in front of big crowds and I know that these players are no different, and the MLS can not compete with this.

With all of that said, I would love to see soccer become a bigger sport in the US. I love to watch English Premier League soccer because it is the best soccer in the world. And don’t get me wrong, I am a football, basketball, and baseball guy at heart, but watching a quality Premier League game is something I love to do. It is just an awesome sport to watch, especially with the atmosphere that the players play in.