Second Place For My Boys

While I was at sea, my two favorite football (that's soccer for my American friends) players had big matches going for the championship.  When I arrived home tonight I was able to finally watch the matches. 

In England....

Manchester United, my favorite team in the English Premiere League and my co-favorite player Wayne Rooney lost to Manchester City last Monday.  The two teams are now tied for first in the standings, but City has the tie break edge over United on goals scored on the season by eight.  So unless City stumbles in its last two games, they will edge out my boy Rooney and United as champions.  

Meanwhile in Australia....
 

Everyone knows I love Wayne Rooney in the English Premiere League, but my co-favorite footballer/soccer player is Shane Smeltz.  He plays for the Perth Glory in Australia's A-League and about two weeks ago he played in his first league grand final match. He is the A-Leagues all-time leading goal scorer, but has yet to win a championship.  

I was hoping he could win his first championship and maybe score the game winner in dramatic fashion.  But in the 15th minute he took a accidental elbow to his face from Matt Smith which split his skin from nose to lip and inside his mouth.  Blood just flowed out of him as he collapsed straight to the ground.  Play was stopped for four minutes as the medics attempted to stop the bleeding. 

He continued to play until late in the match with a bandage over his face, but he was obviously not able to play at his full strength and his team lost to the Brisbane Roar 2-1. He recently had plastic surgery to repair the damage.  I wish him well and hopefully next year he finally get the championship to add to his great career.