"The Big Time" 1/28

OPPORTUNITIES AT STAKE: Chance to compete against five different international penalty kickers during the halftime show of a U.S. vs. Costa Rica men's soccer game at the Home Depot Center and maybe even practice & be scouted for a Brazilian pro soccer team
COMPETITORS (goalkeepers): Craig Ellison (Manchester, England), John Ward (Shamokin, PA) & Daniel Illyes (Budapest, Hungary; wearing a mostly black uniform)
MENTORS: Gaucho Pinho (Atlanta Silverbacks goalkeeper coach) & Alex Morgan (U.S. Women's National Team forward)

First Challenge ("A Coat of Arms"): In L.A., the three players have 50 balls & three minutes to score as many points as possible. If a throw hits a target but doesn't go in, it's worth one point. Any ball that goes inside the defender target's worth three; the midfielder target's worth five & the forward target's worth 10. The lowest scorer will get penalized at the start of the second challenge.

John- 24
Daniel- 40
Craig- 9

(Note: All three guys used just their right arm for this challenge.)

Challenge #2: Six water jets are sprayed at each player & they have to collect as much water as they can w/ a bucket before pouring it into an urn. When there's enough water in the urn, they can grab a soccer ball. John & Daniel have to collect 15 gallons of water, while Craig's assessed a one-gallon penalty (so he needs 16).

FIRST TO FINISH- Daniel
ELIMINATED- John

FINAL CHALLENGE ("Goalie Wars"): The two remaining goalkeepers have to play both offense & defense indoors mostly in the dark until one guy scores five times, at which point they earn the chance at "The Big Time".

BIG WINNER- Craig (5-3)

(Note: Craig got hit in one of the eyes midway in the challenge.)

TBT: The people Craig competed in the shootout against were Juan Pablo Angel (Chivas USA F), Lauren Cheney (U.S. Women's National Team midfielder), Frankie Hejduk (L.A. Galaxy defender), Megan Rapinoe (U.S. WNT MF) & Brian McBride (former U.S. Men's NT F). If he was successful at least three times, he would go to Brazil.

CRAIG'S DEFENDING RESULTS:

Juan Pablo- MISS (Juan Pablo's kick went clear right of the goal)
Lauren- MISS (Craig trapped it)
Frankie- GOAL
Megan- JUST MISSED; WIN! (her kick hit the left crossbar)
Brian- GOAL

Next week's basketball-themed episode will air at 4 PM EST.