Thirsty Thursday

On this sacred night in colleges across the United States, the youth of this nation simply are thirsty, parched of entertainment and stimuli. Fortunately for me, someone who has a really long paper to write,  can seek temporary appeasement in soccer. Today ended up providing a feast of goals and games, littered with surprise victors and typical dominant displays of ability. However, the true prize of the day lies at the end of it in the playoff match between my beloved New York Red Bulls and the enemy DC United.

It's only deserved that we should begin with the paramount performance by Edinson Cavani, who put 4 goals pass the boys from the Ukraine. The North Londoners put on an incredible performance at home in White Hart Lane, with the star of the night being the short yet dangerous striker, Jermain Defoe, finding the back of the net 3 times. Although the glory was heaped heavily upon the shoulders' of those players, the team efforts, in the surprise performances, are even more intriguing. First, praises go to Wilson Eduardo, with his brace, the Portugese man participated in the upsetting of European giants, Athletico Madrid. While we're in Spain, the boys from the north coast looked rather lost after falling in the San Mames to a 3-2 goalfest. The game went back and forth until the French side, Lyon, were able to edge out Athletic Bilbao, off the boot of Lacazette.

Although these games have provided a much needed substitute for the looming fixture in my head,  the rematch, because last night's game was unable to start due to the mountainous masses of snow that covered the pitch.  The second, MLS playoff leg between my, New York Red Bulls and arch-rivals, DC United.

The game has already begun as I write this and I cannot help but comment on the unsettled nature of my stomach right now. I think the closest comparison I can draw is how everyone else in this office felt, that uneasy feeling one gets from smelling some of the worst things imaginable, is indeed happening. Anyways, the game so far has been a fight, a competition where both teams have nothing but contempt for the other and humiliating the opponent sits center-stage.

The importance of this game cannot be overstated. The New York Red Bulls, a team that has yet to win an MLS cup and failed to even appear in a final for over 4 years, need to find the scoring touch tonight. However, the real story of this game is what's happening off the field, a game that exists only due to Hurricane Sandy forcing the switching of the first leg to DC and then, the return leg last night being snowed out. New York and New Jersey saw some of the worst destruction seen in the northeast. This a region that is suffering and frankly, a win from a team that needs to step up and perform, would be very important to a certain group of people in the Tri-State area.

The Red Bulls are going to need stelar performances from the designated players, Tim Cahill, Thierry Henry, and Rafa Marquez, all of whom need to show why they are the DPs by making a difference. That said, other players like, Kenny Cooper or Marcus Holgersson, have to produce large performances up top and in the defense. They have to contend with the likes of, Lionard Pajoy for DC United, who is deadly in the striker role. Cooper needs to hold the ball up and place it for a classic Henry finish. The Red Bulls are going to have to bring their all tonight. Get a win for New York, for the fans who stood around in the snow last night, for the brave few able to go tonight and the rest of us Red Bull fans that have been waiting for some twinkle of success for some time now.

The second half is starting, so let's see how this goes for the next 45ish minutes. Cheers!