And you didn't mention games that finish nil-nil? Surely that's the no1 hate?
Anyway, there are reasons ...
Most of the answers are down to how it began to be formally organised in the nineteenth century. Before they had stadiums or 'designated areas' the ground used for a game would be more of the common land in the town or village, laid out for the community. This in a village was called 'the pitch.'
I suspect 'matches' comes from before they had organised fixture lists and teams would challenge other teams, matching themselves against each other.
A few years ago, I held in my hands a letter from 1857, which remains the oldest written evidence of a game in Scotland (which is where the game we know todaywas actually born, despite what the English say). Written from one club secretary to the other, suggesting a 'match' between their clubs and laying out the rules they'd play by (there were a few variations around at the time). Also, he says words to the effect of 'how about we stop half-way through, have a few minutes rest and then change ends?', which is of course 'half-time' today.
'Sides' - no idea. Never thought about it. Intriguing.
'Soccer' is because football is actually 'Association Football' to give it its full name (there were other types too, like rugby football). And in the late 1890s, the racy, young, posh things in society went through a stage shortening names and adding 'er' at the end. Rugger for rugby, soccer for football ... there is another common example too, but I can't think of what it is now. But both 'rugger' and 'soccer' are terms not used in Britain - I suspect because they fell out of fashion and were never really used by those who actually followed the games. 'Rugger' in particular is a very upper class term, hated by most decent people.
So there you are.
