Midweek MLS and Both MLS sides fall in CONCACAF
April 10, 2008 by f4denz.
New England find their form and the Wiz lose theirs
What a reversal of roles from the first two weeks of MLS, the first match of week 3 featured unbeaten and untied KC Wizards against one win (3-0 over Houston) and one loss (0-4 drubbing by Chicago) Revolution. New England are still missing a number of starters due to injury and one to a red card in the loss to the Fire, but they showed up ready to play in a cold rainy night at the converted baseball field the Wiz now call home, they got a boost in the 12th minute when KC put the ball in the back of their own net. 1-0 New England, but a foul in the box in minute 28 and KC tied it at 1-1 as Jewsbury scored his second goal of the match, this time he put it in past Reis. Five minutes later New England’s attack paid off as Sainey Nyassi (has to be the early leader for Rookie of the year) put in his second goal in 3 matches, and then just seven minutes later, they got their third goal of the night when Kenny Mansally who only saw 14 minutes of action in 2007 put the match on ice for New England. KC simply did not look like the team that beat Colorado last weekend, or the team that handed DC United an opening day loss, perhaps it was the weather, but it sure appeared more likely that New England simply started playing like we know they are capable of. Only time will tell if KC is for real, and if New England’s young talent can keep them going while their stars are on the bench with injuries.
DC United, too little and too late
Putting two goals in during the final five minutes of their 2nd leg against Pachuca was simply too little, having gone down 0-2 during the first match in Mexico and allowing a goal in the 76th minute meant they needed at least 3 goals in 15 minutes to push the match to extra time. I will give DC credit, they attacked and attacked all match long, they played hard, and ran all night long, but inability to score first, put them behind the eight ball and they simply could not get out from behind it. Pachuca is a very talented team, and it showed all night long. They weathered the attacks and countered well against United three man back line, and finally got a goal to put the contest out of reach. I feel for the United players who now have to come to RES to face off against RSL a team that has beat them the past two years in Utah, I imagine the elevation, the fact that they will have played 4 matches in two weeks, and an improved RSL squad will not make this a happy weekend for DC. I am predicting RSL get their first win of the season 2-1 over the boys from the nation’s capital.
Beaten, Bruised, and Battered
Defending MLS champions had a rash of injuries, no Mullen, no Holden, no Onstad, no Robinson, no Boswell (he wasn’t hurt, he was suspended for Yellow cards), and then early Waibel gets hurt and an injured Mullen had to take his place. DeRo, once again tried to put the team on his back and work his magic to lift the wonder warrior to a win in a match played in hostile territory. But Saprissa in the purple kits were simply too much for the Dynamo to handle and 3-0 means that no MLS team will represent CONCACAF in the World Club Championships.
Tomorrow- My Weekend Predictions
OFF MY SOAPBOX