Day 11; Random Goalfest and the odds-on-outsiders-surprise-package-favourites-in-the-shape-of-dark-horses

The odds-on-outsiders-surprise-package-favourites-in-the-shape-of-dark-horses were on show again, this time versus Russia and Fabio Capello, trying to overcome his apparent World Cup voodoo. That was the day's first match, it's last saw USMNT face Portugal in an entertaining tie. However, the most exciting game of the day was sandwiched between these two matches, as Algeria and South Korea finally created the 'Random Goalfest' that I'd been falsely predicting would happen in games previous.

Capello either very sad or asleep.

The goal glut begun with a long ball over the Korean defence, which relied on Islan Slimani's pace to make the pass involved a good one. Latching onto the bouncing ball and emerging in between two opposition defenders, he opened the scoring on 26 minutes, lifting the ball ever so slightly over the goalkeeper's noggin. The lead was doubled when the same keeper made an abysmal decision to jump into the air and wait, to attempt to receive a corner. Halliche interrupted the goalie's plan, and headed Algeria into a two-nil lead. Rattled by this sudden collapse, South Korea's defence struggled to recover and dealt nervously with any long balls were fired towards them, and a third goal was conceded as the result of another failure to make a clearance, Slimani's composed pass and Djabou's finish. 3-0 at half time.

Algeria cruising, like the classic aeroplane celebration above

The general conception at the interval was that South Korea would need an early goal, similar to Liverpool vs AC Milan, Istanbul, 2005, which I've only mentioned once already in these Wolrd Cup blogs. And an early goal did come, the highly rated but so far ineffective, Son Heung-min was fortunate to control the ball on the back of head/neck/back, before beating his marker and applying a precise finish, through the legs of M'Bohli in the Algerian goal. Comeback on?

Nope. 12 minutes later, the three-goal cushion, in fact more like a three-goal barricade, was restored. Brahimi played a one-two to open the Korea defence, which had only been on the latch anyway, before rounding off the goal of the game with a tidy finish. But the fun wasn't over there, as Koo Ja-Cheol scrambled another goal over the line to return the deficit to two goals, and promote this game from a five-goal affair, to a six-goal thriller. #RandomGoalfest.

Taking plaudits for the Goalfest.

Other than the conceding of a penalty, Belgium's second match of their group campaign was etchings similar to their first, as they struggled to find any real rhythm in their play, and only advice from the punditry on show was to 'get Eden Hazard on the ball more.' Yet even getting the Chelsea player on the ball more was unlikely to liven this game up, with the slow tempo and frequent mistakes being greeted with boos and whistles from the neutral Brazilians in the crowd, spoilt by the vast amount entertaining football that has been in offer up until now. 

Comparisons with this fixture could be made with England versus USA in 2010, Algeria against England in 2010, and the 2010 meeting of England and Slovenia. And what do you know? Capello happened to be involved in all three of those dull sporting events. As well as Brazilian boo-boys, there was also the occasional sleeper in the crowd, caught delightfully by TV cameras.

The saviour of Belguim, and the game of football, came in the shape of 19 year old, Divock Origi, on as a sub for the again disappointing, and angry on the bench, Romelu Lukaku, who like the rest of his team, has failed to live up to pre-tournament expectations. Origi's goal came in the 88th minute, with the number seventeen applying the finish to Hazard's pull back, revelling in the tactical genius that was to 'get Hazard on the ball... more.'

"...and then they, give you the ball more."

The United States of America or the USMNT as they're referred to when it comes to 'soccer,' met Portugal on the back of their damaging defeat to Germany. However, it was the morally damaged side who took the lead, through a certain tricky winger, once of Sporting Lisbon, and one of the true footballing superstars of our generation; Nani. If you thought it was Ronaldo I wouldn't be surprised as Phil Neville in the BBC studio claims, there is little in terms of ability between the pair, just one of his baffling opinions he offered during coverage of the game. 

There were more strange goings on in the stadium, Clint Dempsey, a player who seemed to be past his prime about two years ago, was leading the States brilliantly up front, playing with youth behind his years, and a broken nose. He was the only one with a facial injury, Football Hipster God, Raul Meireles injured his exquisite beard in a collision with the dreadlocked Beckerman.

#BeardProblems

After half-time, an even game in statistics came an even game on the scoreboard, as a powerful shot from the alliteratingly named, Jermaine Jones beat Beto in Portugal's goal, who was favoured to the awful Rui Patricio. Then, further pain for Portugal and their captain who seemed to be having a bad day at the office/football stadium in Manaus, Brazil. Somewhat of a scramble in the box, with shots and blocks exchanging blows, eventually found Clint Dempsey's stars and stripes covered chest, and rolled over the line to send all of America, or at least Chicago, into scenes of elation.

Chicago thinks soccer rules

The lead held until seconds left, a lead which would've guaranteed American qualification if it had lasted those extra moments. Cristiano Ronaldo was allowed ample time and space on the right hand flank, to produce a flash of brilliance when his team needed it most, similar to Messi, although less obviously spectacular. CR7 as he's referred to for merchandise and branding reasons, whipped in a perfect cross for Varela, who was left with a simple header thanks to the quality of the ball, Beckham-esque. A point for each team leaves USA needing a draw at least against Coach Klinsmann's fellow Germans, whereas Portugal will need a victory against Ghana and US defeat to make Ronaldo's World Cup dreams come true in movie style fashion.