19 May 2008
MLS Weekend Recap: Statement Week
Posted by Drew Epperley under: Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; Coaching Hot Seats; Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; DC United; David Freakin Beckham; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; KC Wizards; LA Galaxy; Landon Freakin Donovan; MLS; New England Revolution; New York Red Bulls; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Toronto FC .
Week number eight is in the books and for some teams it was a statement week. Houston showed us the win at home last week wasn’t a fluke as they go on the road and score their second straight win of the year. LA took their circus on the road and dropped a five-spot on Dallas. Down eight or nine men to injuries, Chivas was able to get their first come-from-behind victory Saturday night against DC United.
A very interesting weekend to say the least. We had plenty of goals, plenty of nasty weather and plenty of movement in the standings. The western conference is slowly coming along here as a couple clubs inched their way over the 10 point line, though all would still be forth or worse if we were in a single table here.
The attendance wasn’t to0 shabby this weekend. Beckham and that Galaxy sold out Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, actually they did a little more than sold out the place as it was a standing room only kind of ticket to some. But aside from the 22,000 in Dallas the weekend saw the typical sellout in Toronto, and a bunch of 13 - 17k figures. Not too shabby considering the weather in New York and Chicago.
While I don’t have the time this week to break down each game, I will throw out some points from each game.
- Both Toronto and New York should have won their home games. New York more so than Toronto, as the Red Bulls had plenty of solid chances on goal.
- Speaking of that Red Bulls - Wizards game, that may have been the best performance out of Kevin Hartman in some time. He nearly won the game for his club. Too bad once again his defense let him down late in the game.
- Houston showed up in a very chippy game with the Fire. Loads of fouls (26 between the two sides). Wilman Conde got some PT for the Fire but my feelings are still he didn’t help out on that second Houston goal. Instead of getting back into place for the free kick, Conde yelled at the ref about the call, Houston then took a quick kick and Bobby Boswell headed home the game winner. Chicago needs to get rid of him I think.
- What’s up with the Fire at home, they’re just 2-2 at home while 3-0-1 on the road. Starting to get ugly here in the Windy City.
- Speaking of ugly, how about that own-goal on San Jose’s James Riley? Geez, it takes some skill to head the ball over your own keeper from 18 or 20 yards out.
- We keep saying that San Jose is starting to come around but shutout for the sixth time in eight matches this year? That isn’t improvement at all folks. I know its early but even Toronto didn’t get shutout that badly this early in the year.
- New England finally looked good at home again. Then again, I think it was a combination of San Jose making them look good at home. Nice goal by Kheli Dube early in the game.
- How about Marcello Gallardo’s goal against Chivas? Probably goal of the week, too bad it wasn’t enough against Chivas who had their first come-from-behind win against United.
- Just how bad are things in DC right now? The GM and President won’t talk after the games, the coach looks lost out there. I suppose Soehn’s days are really numbered here (more on that later).
- Kudos to Jorge Flores on his first goal. I must say that kid is a hell of a story. Why the league doesn’t hype him up more is beyond me. He wins a competition, earns a roster spot, gets called up nationally, and finally scores his first goal. Where’s the love on him?
- Good job by Chivas for coming back in that one, they were down nine guys to injury and six of those were defenders. It didn’t hurt that DC couldn’t hit anything Saturday night.
- Ugly amount of red cards this weekend. Serioux in Dallas on a nasty tackle against Beckham, Dave van den Bergh in New York’s tackle on Davy Arnaud. And Juan Carlos Osorio’s ejections. Too bad, he will miss the Chicago game next week. Think he planed that?
- Welcome back Edson Buddle. We were talking in the press box yesterday how he looked. Probably his best in a couple years, since his Columbus days. But in all honesty, he had his moments yesterday. At times he was classic Buddle, on the ground, looking for calls rather than going against defenders and shotting on goal.
- Beckham helped out nicely though, that cross on Buddle’s third goal was very nice.
- Quiet game by Landon Donovan, but anyone realize he got two assists? Yeah his season totals now stand at eight goals and five assists. Wow.
- Something fishy is going on in Dallas. The team is definitely going through a rough patch or some growing pains. I don’t think its time yet to call for Steve Morrow’s job, or Michael Hitchcock’s GM position but before long something has to be done.
One Comment so far...
Cannon Girl Says:
21 May 2008 at 12:21 am.
Drew, Drew, Drew, you’re forgetting that your new favorite team, the Beckham-Donovan show,
had an ‘own-goal’ too during last season’s Superliga final, courtesy of ol’ Wonder Boy #8, and they bounced back quite nicely with a little winning streak (sans Becks who was injured, gotta give the guy credit for trying though) right before the playoffs, although it was a little too late. The Quakes are a far superior team than last season’s Galaxy and have way too much talent and potential to be counted out at this point. Besides, they had some good players out due to injury Saturday, but my Joe is still worth his weight in gold and Yallop’s back in his element so I’m keeping the faith!
