Author | Lightnews

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 13h

The penalty for Chicago throws things off a bit.

Philly was dominant and efficient. A great combo.

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 15h

Generally, a suplex means the one getting thrown lands on his head and neck. Concussion stuff, etc.

That is not what happened here. This was a tackle. Lopez was held and driven down to his back.

It was a clear red card offense, but no brains were scrambled. Lopez had control over his reaction.

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 15h

Lopez didn’t get hit in the head. He had agency; he needed to control his reaction.

If you’re the ref you have to punish violent conduct so teams don’t get the impression they can get away with more.

Kicking out at a player is violent conduct. End of.

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 15h

Both incidents are not equal in degree, but they are both commonly considered as red card offenses.

If you think retaliation should not be punished because it’s “justified,” you probably haven’t watched many sports. Retaliation is often the only thing that is punished.

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 16h

Look at that read. As the ball is kicked Kadono already KNOWS.

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 17h

games like these are the best argument against the best-of-3 format.

tension is completely lost when aggregate goal difference does not matter.

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 17h

Not sure. Here's what I've got.

SAC: 3 squares (field player blocks) and a diamond (GK save)
OC: 7 squares

seems to line up with your 7-4 SOT readout

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

Sacramento Republic FC 0-0 Orange County SC

Passes per shot sequence: SAC 7.6-5.9 OC
Avg Progression to shot (m): SAC 40-30.3 OC

Shots: SAC 13-11 OC
xG: SAC 1.06-0.65 OC
xG (open play): SAC 0.78-0.53 OC
xG (dead ball): SAC 0.28-0.12 OC

#USL #SACvOC #RepublicFC #ForCounty

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 17h

A note here: Opta counts shots blocked by field players as shots on target.

They should not do this. It's misleading.

USL Analytics @uslstat.bsky.social · 1d

Sacramento Republic FC: 0 (0.86 xG)
vs
Orange County SC: 0 (0.42 xG)

#SACvOC | #RepublicFC | #ForCounty | #USLChampionship | 🤖⚽

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 17h

The laws don’t make exceptions for “deserving” a punch or a kick, mate.

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 17h

I mean, they weren’t and that’s not my point.

The rugby tackle was a red card offense, the subsequent kick-out was also a red card offense, regardless of the circumstances.

He wasn’t suplexed, he had his wits about him. He didn’t have to kick out.

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 17h

Rhode Island the much better team in this one IMO

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 17h

Honestly? A very light rugby tackle. Still a red, and kicking out is also a red.

Is what it is. Chippy game.

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 18h

Shades of Vancouver-Dallas Game 1, save for the fact that Dallas was actually trying.

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 5d

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-0 FC Dallas

Passes per shot: VAN 7-5 FCD
Avg Progression to shot (m): VAN 34.3-49.5 FCD

Shots: VAN 22-1 FCD
xG: VAN 3.66-0.04 FCD
xG (open play): VAN 2.63-0.04 FCD
xG (dead ball): VAN 1.04-0 FCD

#MLS #VANvFCD #VWFC #DTID

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

I'll hold the L here lol. Heat of the moment.

They weren't bad, but I heard a lot about their weekend/holiday plans... and the banter with the sideline was ugh.

When the game is repetitive, you run out of stuff.

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

For emphasis: one forced save (diamond) on both charts here through 120 minutes.

SAC tried to pass through a brick wall, but they were left shooting from deep, or giving the ball away.

OC had like 7 transition breaks and committed far too few numbers. Not enough wheels on the parked bus?

Good W.

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

Sacramento Republic FC 0-0 Orange County SC

Passes per shot sequence: SAC 7.6-5.9 OC
Avg Progression to shot (m): SAC 40-30.3 OC

Shots: SAC 13-11 OC
xG: SAC 1.06-0.65 OC
xG (open play): SAC 0.78-0.53 OC
xG (dead ball): SAC 0.28-0.12 OC

#USL #SACvOC #RepublicFC #ForCounty

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

Sacramento Republic FC 0-0 Orange County SC

Passes per shot sequence: SAC 7.6-5.9 OC
Avg Progression to shot (m): SAC 40-30.3 OC

Shots: SAC 13-11 OC
xG: SAC 1.06-0.65 OC
xG (open play): SAC 0.78-0.53 OC
xG (dead ball): SAC 0.28-0.12 OC

#USL #SACvOC #RepublicFC #ForCounty

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

Only critique I may have is that he jumps early. He’ll struggle against stutter steps.

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

As a goalkeeper I really appreciated how decisive he was even if he was going the wrong way.

Those three saves landed into his hands, but that’s because he made the right read on all three.

5/7 correct guesses is really good.

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

Portland vs San Diego in the Sunday afternoon spot dovetails nicely with the fact that neither have an NFL team

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

As the NYC mayor campaign ends in blatant Islamophobia, Zohran drops this banger and I am here for it.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 2d

أنا اسمي زهران ممدان وعم رشّح حالي لأكون العمدة الجديد في مدينة نيويورك

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

Why 22 minutes have a PIP so we can get that content through the commercials

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

@xowngoals.com

seven Seattle dogs seems do-able, should be timed.

Seven Seattle dogs in seven minutes?

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

Life got busy past couple weeks, so we're missing some regular season games and that's on me.

Working on a Shiny app so you can access every game from every league.

Pinning this to keep my ass honest.

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

When Kadono made a correct read, it made the shooter look very foolish. The three saves looked placed in his gloves.

His reaction time is insane, even if he jumps early sometimes.

Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

Seventh OC shot: No-looker to the opposite post. This guy should have been the first taker.

Seventh OC shot: They've been hyping Jack Gurr all game. Kadono says he's trash. Early run up, telegraphed to Kadono's left, perfect read, authoritative save. LFG OC!

OC 5-4 SAC eat it

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Matt Barger @mattbarger.bsky.social · 1d

Hell is something, apparently.

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