MLS week 6

May 4, 2008 by f4denz.

Week 6 Picks and Results

Matches I did not see

So I try to watch or record as many matches as I can, this week I missed two matches: Dynamo vs. Chivas, which ended in a 0-0 draw, the match had more cards (8 yellow and 1 red), than shots on goal (3 by Chivas and 5 by Houston). The other match I did not get to see (well I saw a few minutes of it) was the Crew vs. the Wizards, which saw Columbus, continue their winning ways at home as they beat the Wiz 2-1. Columbus now sits atop the Eastern Conference with 15 points in 6 matches, at home they are now 4-0, impressive by standard.

Quakes vs. FC Dallas

There are a couple of examples this weekend of a better team, with a better effort not getting a win. The first half was a show in possession and match control, San Jose looked much better playing at home than they did on Wednesday night, but with an expansion team without much depth you never know what you will get. San Jose had a number of chances to get on the scoreboard in both halves, but most often they failed to get a shot off. The highlight for them had to be the wing play of James Riley, who looked very good moving up from his defensive position, too often his crosses were on target but no one was in the box to get a chance on goal. Dallas played most of the match trying to launch long balls over the top to Cooper, a tactic which failed time after time, in the second half Dallas tried a more conventional attacking style and while they did not score they had a number of good chances and ended up with more shots on goal than the Quakes. End result was a 0-0 draw.

DC’s woes in the Mountains continue

I am not sure why DC United has such problems in matches in the mountains but they do. The first half was dominated by the Rapids, who controlled possession and attacked often but did not finish their many scoring chances. DC looked more like the team that RSL beat 4-0 a few weeks ago, than they did the team that beat RSL 4-1 last weekend. The first half ended 0-0, but that would not last long as the Rapids finally put one of their 17 shots in the match into the back of the goal in the 52^nd minute, and followed that up with a safety goal in 72^nd minute. Colorado should have put a couple more into the back of net, but they failed to convert some easy chances as Omar Cummings struggled. I am sure that DC is happy that their trips to the mountains are done for this year, as they go 0-2 and do not score a single goal in their away matches against RSL and Colorado.

The Fire are red hot

At least against New England they are, despite a slow start in their match on Saturday, the Fire would not be put out against the Revolution and despite being outshot by a 11-5 margin, they would score early (Rolfe in the 29^th minute), and often (Thorrington in the 50^th and King in the 76^th), to give themselves a perfect record so far against the Rev’s. In fact the boys from New England have not scored a single goal against Chicago in their two matches and now have a 3-0 loss to go along with their 4-0 loss on the opening match of the April 3^rd ESPN2 doubleheader. The Fire are the only team in striking position of the hotter than fire Columbus Crew. The battle of the two hottest teams early in this MLS season will not happen until their first meeting two months from now on July 5^th in Chicago.

Real vs. Beckham

I will be posting a complete review of the 2-2 draw on Monday morning; it will include some interesting after the match details as well. All I can say now it that Captain Bastard was present.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

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