Tuesday, August 01, 2006

When Did We Become the Cubs?

Seriously! I waited two days to calm down before commenting on the debacle that was the ending to the Atlanta match. 4 goals in the final 8 minutes of play saw the Thunder go from a probable 1-0 victory to a 1-1 draw. Then a 2-1 lead that looked like the final to a 2-2 draw, then in the final seconds of stoppage time a 3-2 defeat. It was sickening to watch everything slide out of their fingers so late in the game.
A missed clearance from a normally solid Dustin Brannan gave the Silverbacks their first goal. So eight minutes to go, score tied at a goal apeice, not terrible right? We can still salvage a point at home. Then in comes Ansou Toure. Someone that I've never seen, but heard nothing but praise for. So minutes after Toure checks in a pass from Leo Gibson goes too far for Knox, but Toure out sprints a defender to the ball despite the defender having a solid twenty yard head start. He took the ball down to the end line and pounded it right at the keeper. Not sure how the shot found a way into the net, but it did and in the 89th minute the Thunder go ahead 2-1. I'm going nuts in the booth. Incredible run of play leads to an amazing goal and most of all a lead.
Atlanta takes the kickoff runs down near the endline, sends in a cross that one of the defenders just misses with a boot, and Joe Warren can't grab. It sails back post where Maurice Hughes Leaps in the air and volleys it into the roof of the net with the outside of his foot.

That's jubilation to utter dispair in 60 seconds...BUT WAIT theres more.

The Thunder turn over the kickoff (yeah first clue this was going down hill) and concede a corner which is subsequently punched in for the winning goal. Yes, you read that right, punched. As in with a fist. Goal stood without discussion and the ref blew an end to three minutes of stoppage time after about 1:45.

Adding this latest fiasco to the previous loss against Charlston it leavs me qurious as to how we find a way to lose next. To go from scrapping out unlikely wins against MLS sides last year to this is painful.

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