MLS week 7 Review
May 11, 2008 by f4denz.
Predictions
So I got the results right on the Crew, Fire, Revolution, and RSL wins, and got the Dynamo and Galaxy matches wrong. So 4-2 this week, not too bad.
Crew take back first place
This match was closer than I thought, with San Jose not giving up after they lost their first half 1-0 lead by allowing Columbus to score 3 goals in 10 minutes. San Jose got back into the match a Ryan Johnson goal in the 89th minute, and continued to attack until the final whistle. In fact San Jose outshot the Crew 19-14, with the two sides being almost dead even in shots on goal 8 for the Crew and 7 for the Quakes. The Crew dominated two statistical areas in the match, corner kicks 18-7 and the final score 3-2.
Not so Golden Balls
Well last week Beck’s almost single handedly got his team a point on the road, but this week the superstar wasn’t him or Landycakes, it was Juan Pablo Angel. It was in the 77th minute that the Galaxy’s Gordon turned a ball in the box and scored to even the match 1-1, but when you have super players, you sometimes get rewarded for it. Angel, answered Gordon’s goal just sixty seconds later as he got the ball after a superb run by Dane Richards that sliced the Galaxy midfield and defense, then it was the crafty Angel, responding to the keepers aggression by putting the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the 2008 campaign. Despite the Galaxy throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the Red Bulls for the last 10 minutes, plus stoppage time, one of the leagues best defenses stayed tough and got their team 3 points on the road. New York Red Bulls 2- LA Galaxy 1.
Winless no longer
Well we all knew that the last team in the MLS to get a victory this season would not stay winless for long. Houston solved not only their winless problem, but would solve a couple other issues in doing so. The Dynamo came out will all pistons firing in front of their home crowd, and the Rapids were up for the test, as each team tried to get an early goal and put weak efforts on goal. Houston controls possession for most of the first half and have the better of the chances, including a DeRo effort from a 12th minute free kick that is too high and the flag is up for an offsides call, then in the 18th minute Ching gets a 1 on 1 with the keeper and chips it over the top of the goal, another DeRo effort comes in the 24th minute from a free kick, but goes wide. DeRo leads the MLS in shots the season with 24, 9 of which have been on goal, but not a single one has found the back of the net. Colorado wasn’t without their efforts as Cummings had a great effort, but as shut down cold by Pat “ice, ice” Onstad. The first half however did not end scoreless, in the 44th minute a failed offside trap by Colorado, left Ching with another 1 on 1 with Bonda, but this time Ching gets by him, and rolls the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the 2008 season, 1-0 Houston.
The second half saw Colorado play much more aggressively in an attempt to equal the score, but Houston is still the better team and control much of the second half as well. Colorado does get a great chance in the 68th minute on a free kick just outside of the box, but it gets headed over for a goal kick, but Colorado gets the ball back off the goal kick and counters as Gomez plays a great ball to Cummings, who finds the back of the net to tie the match at 1-1. Houston starts playing more aggressive as they move their back line higher into the attack, and Colorado tried to take advantage of it, but neither team really gets much of a chance. In the 80th minute Medhi Ballouchy comes into the match, it is his first action of the 2008 season. Houston is still the more aggressive side and win a corner kick in the 85th minute, on the kick the ball is handed inside the box by Ihemelu and a PK is issued. DeRo is going to take it, and without much trouble puts it into the back of the net to give his team a 2-1 lead, but more importantly he gets his first goal of the year. Now things get interesting, McManus who went out of the match in the 65th minute, appears to get a second yellow card while on the bench and is shown a red card (this was clear while watching the match, but isn’t showing up on the MLS website yet), and should not be eligible for the Thursday matchup with RSL. Colorado has a few minute of frantic attacking, but nothing gets by Onstad and Houston wins the match 2-1, to get their first win of the season, and both Ching and DeRo get their first goals of the 2008 season.
The goats continue to struggle
This was an interesting match up as New England got many of their injured players back, and Chivas continued to struggle, Chivas was the more aggressive side to start the match and a couple efforts were easily stopped by Reis. Mendoza was all over the pitch in both attack and defense and all match was the best Chivas player, but Galindo also put forth a good effort. Chivas had a number of early chances but their finishing problems continued as the defense of New England bent but did not break, the Revolution did attack but they did so with a much more deliberate effort, in the 18th minute Mansally gets a great ball from Albright and makes the most of the match up with Guzan and finds the back of the net 1-0 Revolution. Chivas continues to get chances created by their midfield, but their forwards simply do not capitalize on them as New England’s defense continues their bend not break approach to the match. Both sides are battling in the midfield, but play is sloppy on both sides, Chivas controls more of the possession, but as the half ends the Rev’s have the goal.
The second half sees a welcome site to all MLS fans, the return of Taylor Twellman. Chivas again is the more aggressive side and in the 51st minute Mendoza makes a great pass to Galindo who fires a shot into the wrong side of the net, another blown chance. New England is controlling more possession in the second half and twice get the ball in the box, but only one weak shot to show for it, but in the 59th minute one of the New England counters ends with a great pass by Steve Ralston find Twellman, who finishes it to give New England a 2-0 lead. A scare for the Rev’s as Shavar Thomas steps on Twellman, who crumples to the pitch in pain, but Taylor walks it off and continues. Chivas get’s another chance in the 76th minute as they have some great passes in the attacking third, but Sasha’s touch fails him and nothing comes of it. Both teams play some fairly ugly ball for the rest of regular time as Chivas continues to try to attack, but the New England defense is up to the task. In the 93rd minute after several minutes of aggressive attacks, Chivas gets something to show for it, as Galindo gets Reis to follow him to the endline and passes the ball back to Braun, who puts it into the back of the net a few seconds before the final whistle 2-1 New England is the final score.
RSL vs. FC Dallas
I am working on a summary of the match, but as is my new habit, I want to watch the match again, so the emotions of last night do not cloud my opinions. It should be up later this evening or early Monday morning.
OFF MY SOAPBOX