30+ 11s summer/fall schedule posted

The Angel City FC +30 11s side contesting the LA Municipal Soccer League tables starts summer/fall play Monday, July 6 in Division B with a match against Armenia Deportivo at John Ferraro (7 PM kickoff).

The 11s squad will be posted once it is announced this coming week by Manager Ben Kull and Coach Billy Alarcon.

The full season schedule is now available on the ACFC website fixtures page.

This season will also see Angel City FC competing in an inter-divisional championship (+30 A, B and C Divisions), if the squad finishes in the B Division's top 2.

In other news, Angel City will be awarded the Division C winners cup from the winter/spring season at the Home Depot Center before the July 11 match between Chivas and the Galaxy. Team members will also participate in a parade of champions.

Mixed bag for 7s

Angel City took two of three games Saturday, with ACFC knocking off Barrington United 12-2 and Angel City FC tackling Typhoon FC 12-4.

Marius Sandvik topped the day's single-game goal tally with four for ACFC, while Tiit Tikenberg took five over three games, with a hat trick in the Allstars match and singles for ACFC and Angel City FC. In his first game back for a while Mike Lewis showed some Welsh pride with a hat trick, topping English rival Craig Nichols, who settled for a brace on the day. And Russ Muratov, who only played for 2/3s a match notched a hat trick.

Other multi-goal scorers included: Volkert Besseling (2); David Alarcon (2); and Matt Onheiber (2). Jonny Ibanez, David Woirhaye and Brad Helmink took singles.

The AC Allstars came up short in the first match of the day losing 6-3 to a strong Matador FC side.

All three teams have the July 4 weekend off and return to play July 11.

Top Goal Scorers | Summer 7s

7 Tiit Tikenberg
6 Marius Sandvik
6 Craig Nichols
4 David Woirhaye
4 Russ Muratov
3 Jaime Chavez
3 Mike Lewis
2 Jonny Ibanez
2 David Alarcon
2 Volkert Besseling
2 Matt Onheiber
1 Brad Helmink
1 Michael Sharp
1 Brandon Cole
1 Kelechi Okoro

No 7 v 7 Action on July 4

Dear Saturday League Team Manager,
In observance of the July 4th Holiday, we are not scheduling any games to be played for the Saturday Leagues on July 4th. Please enjoy the day off with family, friends and lots of BBQs. Have fun on the 4th!

Your CO-Directors,

Rolando and Serafin
Santa Monica Adult Soccer League

Goal 3: Taking on the World

For those of you who are fans of the Goal movie series, following the football tribulations of Mexican immigrant superstar Santiago Munez, prepare for a big disappointment.

While the first two installments -- Goal: The Dream Begins and Goal II: Living the Dream -- are widely considered to be in the top five of great soccer flicks, the final movie in the trilogy should be red-carded and sent to the locker rooms.

Directed by Andy Morahan, and written and produced by Mike Jefferies from the first two Goal films, Goal! 3: Taking on the World will not have a theatrical release and was instead released straight to DVD and Blu-ray in the UK on June 15, 2009. The release date for North America has not been announced. Can you say budget issues?

From the movie's plot description (and the vast amount of hugely horrible reviews online) none of the open-ended plotlines from the first two films are followed up. In fact from what I have read, the series' main character Munez doesn't even play a significant role in the finale. He never makes the World Cup. Also, unlike earlier films, there are no football star cameos ... only stock footage of World Cup action is used. And all acted football action is green screened.

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(From Wikipedia)

In the third installment of the football drama trilogy Goal!, Kuno Becker returns as Mexican footballer Santiago Munez, who along with his best friends and England national team players Charlie Braithwaite (Leo Gregory) and Liam Adams (JJ Feild), are selected for their respective national teams at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany.

However, as the three attend the shooting of a film Braithwaite is featured in, tragedy befalls them. All 3 best friends and Braithwaite's new love interest and soon to be fiancee Sophia Rossi (played by Kasia Smutniak) suffer a car accident which puts Munez out of contention through injuries. Meanwhile, Liam Adams discovers to his horror that he has a new daughter, Bella, from former love interest June (played by Anya Lahiri). This only adds to Liam's preexisting alcoholism and release from Real Madrid. It is revealed that Munez is set to return to England as a Tottenham Hotspur player under a 2 year contract, along with Adams, who resigns with Newcastle United, the original club of both ex-Real players. The film goes on to depict the World Cup from the English perspective. Liam scores the winner against Sweden, assisted by a header from Charlie, and England successfully qualify for the knock-out stages. However, in the match against Ecuador, Braithwaite is injured, and dies on the way to the hospital, the result of a brain aneurysm suffered during the car accident in the beginning of the film. Italy beat France on penalties in the final to take home the crown of champions of the world.

England crash out of the quarterfinals against Portugal, as Adams, visibly shaken by Braithwaite's death, misses a crucial penalty against Portuguese keeper Ricardo while Cristiano Ronaldo converts. Despite the loss, the movie ends on a high note, as Adams weds June, together among friends again.

Also following the tournament around Germany in their St. George’s Cross festooned camper van are the ‘Geordie Boys’, whom we first met back in Goal!. Providing the entertaining fans' perspective of the matches are Newcastle United diehards Gordon (Mike Elliott), Foghorn (Christopher Fairbank), Walter (Jack McBride) and Phil (Craig Heaney) in their drunken, womanizing adventures in Germany.

Unlike in the first two films, Roz, Glen Foy, and Gavin Harris do not feature in the film, and all actual professional footballers are shown through stock World Cup footage. The sporting role of the actors' in this film is limited to the green screen.

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You can purchase a PAL version of the movie from Amazon UK, or scroll through the long list of pitiful one-star reviews and just put this one out to pasture.

ACFC starts summer 7s with trio of wins

Angel City's three summer 7s squads all tasted victory during action at the Santa Monica Airport fields Saturday.

The AC Allstars started the run with a 4-2 win over Euro United. Jaime Chavez notched a pair with Tiit Tikenberg and Mike Sharp each adding singles.

The second game saw the return of the Angel City FC vs Slutty Buffalo (this time No. 3) rivalry, with the home side rolling to an 8-4 win on the strength of a David Woirhaye hat-trick. Pete Wasek, Tiit Tikenberg, Jaime Chavez, Russ Muratov and Jonny Ibanez all added goals.

Keeper Dave Styles had a strong game in both of the two starting matches, filling in for an absent Peter Marlenga for the Allstars opener.

ACFC capped the day with a hard fought 8-5 win over Finn McCool United. Craig Nichols knocked in fours goals, with Marius Sandvik adding a brace. Brandon Cole and the newly signed Kelechi Okoro each netted a single. Sergei Baranov stepped between the posts for the match and made several inspired saves, including a PK.

Next week all three teams see action with games set for 11:30 am, 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm.

Top Goal Scorers | Summer 7s

4 Craig Nichols
3 David Woirhaye
3 Jaime Chavez
2 Marius Sandvik
2 Tiit Tikenberg
1 Michael Sharp
1 Brandon Cole
1 Kelechi Okoro
1 Russ Muratov
1 Jonny Ibanez

PS: belated best wishes to Coach Billy Alarcon, who's Birthday was June 8.

Sevens summer season starts Saturday

Saturday at the Santa Monica Airport soccer fields will again flow with the sounds of seven-a-side soccer starting June 20. The division cup which the AC Allstars won last season should also be making an appearance ... hopefully.

Angel City will again field three sides for the summer session, though squad names have swapped due to a scheduling mixup. Best of luck to everyone, and welcome to the new players joining us.

AC Allstars | Setanta Division

S Q U A D: Sergei Baranov, Jaime Chavez, Mike Gemballa, Rahoul Ghose, Miguel Lopez, Peter Marlenga, Michael Sharp, Dan Stafford, Tiit Tikenberg, David Woirhaye, Ian Worrel

AC Allstars vs Euro United | Santa Monica Airport - EAST | 10:30 AM

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Angel City FC | Sevilla Division

S Q U A D: Volkert Besseling, Santiago Gomez-Ribeiro, Brad Helmink, Jonny Ibanez, Ricardo Ledoux, Blake Lewis, Russ Muratov, Matt Onheiber, Dave Styles, Owen Szabo, Tiit Tikenberg, Peter Wasek

Angel City FC vs Slutty Buffalos 3 | Santa Monica Airport - EAST | 11:30 AM

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ACFC | Santiago Division

S Q U A D: Justin "Kirby" Adams, David "Puma" Alarcon, Ben Kull, Mike Lewis, Matty McCallum, Michael Magid, Bryan Moore, Craig Nichols, Ivan O'Neil, Marius Sandvik, Leo Wallach, Ari Yaghmaie

Finn McCool United vs ACFC | Santa Monica Airport - CENTER | 12:30 PM

Styles hits the big lights

ACFC Keeper Dave Styles got his moment of fame Saturday night at the Home Depot Center guarding the posts for an MLS Alumni squad in a friendly against their LA Galaxy counterparts from years past.

Cheered on by a raucous crowd of ACFC players, Styles played a strong second half letting only one goal past him. He made at least eight saves and backed up a fading defence to keep the score 3-0 by game's end.

Styles' fan base included: coach Billy Alarcon, manager Ben Kull and his father from Arizona, Puma and Irmgard, Marius Sandvik, an unusually mellow Rahoul and wife Katherine, Pete Wasek, Peter Marlenga, Sergei and Amy ... and Styles' mother ... all the way from Seattle.

Styles will be back in Santa Monica 7s league action this coming Saturday at the Santa Monica Airport fields.

Our teammate Tom Bry

Angel City club member Tom Bry was in a serious accident June 8. He was hit by an SUV Monday morning while riding his bike on Lincoln Blvd in Venice. The accident was not a hit and run, but we still don't know all the details.

Luckily Tom had no serious head or spinal damage and he is no longer in critical condition. Unfortunately he does have broken ribs, a compound fracture in his leg, a fractured pelvis, a broken arm and various other lacerations.

Tom finished surgery Monday night and is now in a room in the ICU at Reagan Hospital at UCLA. They're trying to limit the amount of visitors he has right now, so it won't be possible for guys to visit him today. Manos and I will be with him this afternoon.

In a few days, when he is moved to a regular room, it will be easier to visit and send him gifts. Right now he is awake and alert and in good spirits.

Tom will have a long and difficult recovery over the next six months. But we all know that he is among the most resilient people around. He's been able to play competitive soccer past the age of forty due to his ability to work hard, train smart and take care of his body. If anyone can recover from this, it is Tom.

Until then, please keep Tom in your thoughts and prayers. We will be organizing a club effort to raise money to send Tom a get well gift.

Thanks.

Ben Kull

ACFC practice updates

Since the UCLA fields are closed tonight due to maintenance the ACFC practice scheduled for tonight at 6:30 PM has been cancelled. The squad's next practice is this coming Sunday, June 14 at Playa Vista. Start is at 10 AM and cost per player will be $5 to $7 depending on attendance. We pay for this field rental. Please let Billy and Ben know if you are coming out.

ACFC take silver in shootout final

ACFC lost a heartbreaker in the final 2-1 to the del mar Sharks in the second of two shootout rounds. With the score tied after 90 minutes (Tiit Tikenberg scored in the first half on a PK) and an addition 5 minute OT round, the game went to a shootout featuring five players from each squad. With that ending in a 1-1 tie (Mike Gemballa notched the lone goal while keeper Michael Magid turned away four of five shots), the keepers each had a go. The Sharks won in the next round, scoring a second goal. ACFC did itself proud on the field taking home silver medals.

ACFC advance to 6 v 6 finals

ACFC lost their shootout round against the del mar Sharks but came back strong against the B flight winners, knocking off Franco Estrella 4-2 in an exciting semi-final. The game was tied at the half 2-2 with capitano David Woirhaye and Mike Gemballa notching goals. Marius Sandvik added a second half brace to take the win. ACFC face the del mar Sharks yet again in the 3pm final.

ACFC in shootout for Flight A seeding

Due to one team dropping out ACFC's 8am Sunday match is a no go. Instead the squad will have a shootout playoff at 10:30am against the del mar Sharks to determine top seed in flight A for the semis set for 11am. Whoever wins will play the second seed in flight B for a place in the 3pm finals.

ACFC mount comeback to tie in tourney opener

Angel City FC came from behind to take a 1-1 tie against the del mar Sharks during 6 v 6 tourney action Saturday. Down 1-0 at the half, ACFC were awarded a pk when Miguel Lopez was taken down by the goalie in the box. In an old NASL shootout format Tiit Tikenberg turned the goalie inside out to notch a goal and the tie.

Note that due to a lack of lights Tuesday's practice at UCLA has been bumped up to a 6:30 pm start.