MSA Cup Group Playoffs finish saturday.

[Cheeta]

Well, it's getting down to the nitty-gritty in the MSA Cup. Last game before the semi-finals draw is tomorrow at 5:00 at Vince Leah where South End Celtic, having beaten Hanover thursday night well take on Sokol for the right to go into the final four.

Hellas, Maples Juventus, and Sons of Italy Lions having won their groups respectively are allready in the draw for the semi matchups and well have to wait for the S.E. Celtic-Sokol match's outcome, and mid august to carry on the tourny.

Bit of drama this year. Group C, the Group of Death, threatened to knock out Canadian Champions Sons of Italy Lions had the Lions not earned a victory or draw against Sokol on the final day of group play. As it is, former Canadian Champions Lucania are out and all is not well in the Sokol camp as they've dropped three games in three encounters to their number one rival, Lions, so far this year.

It gets better. S.E. Celtic, the last 1st division side in the tourny are proving a hard nut to crack when they're on their day and might still provide an upset should Sokol get lazy. Two years out of the tourny before the final would not go down well with Sokol who're generaly recongnised as the best club in Manitoba in both 2002 and 2003.

The well coached Maples Juventus, "best of the rest" in the Premier Division are more than capable of doing their part as giant killer as well. Depth well be their undoing but in the single match semis the unlikely can certainly happen.

After tomorrow aftenoon's match Cup play well break untell August 17th. Followed by the final on the 24th. Well post the semi-final matchups later as they become available.

"Minority of one"

[THE_TRUTH]

Thanks cheeta for the report. do you knwo who won last night between sokol and lucania? and have you been out to any games? just wanna know how the gameis coming along back home

[Cheeta]

Friday's match has been rescheduled to allow for today's Cup playoff. They met in their group play and Sokol came away with the goods, 3-1. Not Lucania's best outting but honestly they're into a bit of a slide these days as far as I can see. Maybe, well I know, Lions, Sokol, and Maples are stronger this year so it's all relative. Hellas can still put a fright into a team for an hour or so. So I'd say the division has gotten stronger and Lucania hasn't kept up. Clarkes are still in the thick of it. Paul screaming at everybody and Desi kicking them.

Have caught most of Sokol's matchs this year, couple of Lion's fixtures as well, but not as many as I'd like. Most matchs are being played out of Vince Leah this season with a few sprinkled in at Maples. Soccer Complex is mending the pitchs so no Premier footy in south Winnipeg this year. Just fine by me.

Elmwood's got some matchs coming up at the **** park at Chalmers so I'll be getting those evenings in but that's probably a little below division as far as your interested.

If you hadn't heard Thistle disbanded. Seemed out of the blue to me but maybe to others it wasn't. Actually upset about it. Remember watching them at Transcona Stadium years and years ago as a wee cub. Fu'k, remember watching them at Alexander Park during that field's dying days.

Lions look like taking everything this season. Looked their best so far against Sokol in the final game of the Cup match (1-nil), garbage ref'ing aside. Season's half done and Sokol still hasn't found an answer in a quality attacking midfielder to support their star strikers. If they do I take back my prediction and call the Reds. We'll see.



"Minority of one"

[THE_TRUTH]

thanks, i knew sokol would be good and by training with lucania this winter i thought they would have done much better. I don't think john was the coaching solution the needed and you said somethign about paul clark. last i heard he was the sundogs coach. who are the standouts for lucania this year. with regards to maples, i didn't think they'd do to well cuz i played a exhibition game against them for hellas and we absolutely dominated from start to finish and beat them 7-1. i don't know if they were missing players. so what part of the city you from.

THE TRUTH HAS SPOKEN

[Cheeta]

Haven't seen enough of Lucania this year to qualify an opinion on anyone. Between the Sundogs games and couple of others? Jamie DeSilva, very active, Both the Rockes and maybe Joey when he's able to stay upright. But again, a disclaimer due to limited viewing time.

If they can keep some of those young bucks tearing up and down the pitch I'm thinking Maples have a pretty good future. Seen them twice I think only this year. They did look good loosing though, if that's anything.

That Sundogs experiment maybe a bit of a disappointment. Think those involved were expecting a bit too much. Tell you what though. That Sundogs/Lucania side PLUS Vaske and Nolly Sanchez looked like it could be something very, very, good. The PDL Spitfire side that came up also impressed me. Quality side. Full marks. Missed the Chill match as the venue got changed and I hadn't bothered to check the website. Get a lot broader involvement if this PDL thing takes flight next year I'd think. Don't dought Winnipeg could put together a wicked team (providing for age exemptions).

Been prowling the east end. Moved up from the East Elmwood/Braeside neighbourhood to Valley Gardens recently if your familiar with East Kildonan in general. What a differance 8 blocks can make!

"Minority of one"

[THE_TRUTH]

yes i'm familiar with that area as i grew up in southdale/st. vital. what teams have you played for?

THE TRUTH HAS SPOKEN

[Cheeta]

Never played senior football. Geezus, called it quits got to be 15 years ago doing indoor at Duncan Street (that should say it all) on and off with a club called Bordeaux Kickers. Unlimited endurance and an extra gear could only take the Cheeta so far. Alas, it was 3-down football for me but that game took my knees and now I'm a 30 something cripple, or at least feel it. Can still open the throttle now and again but I pay for it later (buy me a couple of lagers next time your in town and I'll tell you my car thief story).

Southdale? Life on the other side of the tracks. Nice.;)

By the by, Sokol-7 S.E. Celtic-2 on a toasty, humid evening which I spent at my first east Indian wedding/reception. (Never seen such a thing. Nothing but impressed. Best wishs all around to Anu & Vik and their future life in California).

Cup semis well include Hellas, Maples Juventus, Sons of Italy Lions and Sokol S.C. Here's to hoping the Lions and Sokol don't draw the same semi matchup! Would make up for a grand final.

"Minority of one"

[THE_TRUTH]

well from what i heard 2 teams who met in the round robin are not allowed to meet again till the finals. Also i think a few bev's would be a good idea next time i'm in town. and yes i remember duncan street. the worst possible place to play indoor, fun but deadly. good thing i was a kid so i could recover.

i guess i have to back hellas for the cup( my brother plays for them) even though sokol or SOI would represent manitoba better.

THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE