Costa Rica Protest Shot Down, USA Win Stands.

Geoff Cameron in the snow last week at the Dick. (Washington Post)

Last week's World Cup Qualifier at between the USA and Costa Rica will be forever etched in most of our memories.  The USA pulled out a hard fought 1-0 win on home soil in the midst of a huge snow storm, earning their first win of the 2013 Hexagonal. 

Well, as it turns out, Costa Rica were not quite as thrilled with the conditions under which the game was played in Commerce City, Colorado.  They filed a protest with FIFA, seeking to have the match replayed.  FIFA confirmed the receipt of the protest on Monday, but shot it down on technicalities rather quickly on Tuesday.  As it turns out, the captain of the team filing the protest needs to have a meeting on the field about the conditions and this must include the captain of the other team.  This never took place.  Also, according to FIFA regulations, the formal protest must be filed within two hours after the end of the match.  FIFA did not receive the protest until two days after the match.  This has resulted in the match, and the USA's win, being upheld.

The fact that none of this took place really underlines the fact that the only reason the Ticos bothered to file a protest was because they lost.  Early on in the second half, the referee stopped the match, ostensibly to allow for the clearing of the lines on the pitch.  ESPN reported that the FIFA match delegate had called for the match to be stopped.  However, from the appearance on TV, it seemed that players from both the USA and Costa Rica were anxious to continue.  After a few minutes the ref restarted the match.  It's worth noting that at the time the match was halted, Costa Rica totally had the run of play and was in the midst of their best spell of the night.  Surely had they managed to fight back for a draw, such a protest never would have been made.

So who knows what actually went on outside of the players and the match officials?  Many folks, including myself, lauded the fact that Costa Rica was willing to soldier on in the match.  They put out a valiant effort all match long and nearly equalized a couple of times.  It's also worth nothing that both squads have games today (Tuesday) that required a fair bit of international travel.  The forecast in Colorado didn't call for conditions to really improve until Sunday morning, so both teams probably wanted to get out of Dodge.

The protest doesn't really change my opinion of the Costa Rican players.  As I said, they gave it their all, probably more than many teams in CONCACAF would have.  I am disappointed that the squad, or likely the Costa Rican FA, decided to file the protest, but in the end I'm happy with the result.  Onwards and Upwards and good luck to the boys in the Azteca.  They're going to need it.

Reo-Coker Criticizes Teammate, Draws Coach's Ire

Nigel Reo Coker and Darren Mattocks celebrate a goal on Saturday. (Vancouver Sun)

Vancouver forward Darren Mattocks had an......interesting weekend.  He put his side up 1-0 with a great goal in Houston last Saturday, but failed convert on a second half chance when he possibly should have passed instead of taking a shot.  Had he scored, the 'Caps would have gone up 2-0, as it was, Houston came back to win the game 2-1.

Former Premier League man Nigel Reo-Coker, who was wearing the captain's armband for Vancouver, spoke out after the game, saying that he had informed the youngster that he should have passed...

“I said to Darren after the game, ‘With the level we’re at now, those are the small margins that we can’t let pass us by.  We take our second chance, the game’s 2-0. It would have been very difficult for them to come back.

“That’s the difference between playing a higher level of football and a lower level of football. You take your chances. You might only get once chance away from home and you must learn to take that one chance that you may get.”

That's all well and good, and even Mattocks said that he welcomed the comments from his veteran teammate.  However, Vancouver head coach Martin Rennie was not as impressed.  He didn't mind that Reo-Coker made his feelings known to Mattocks, but he was not pleased that he aired his comments to the media.  When asked about Reo-Coker's comments he said,

“That’s not something we’ll be doing too much of.  In terms of communicating directly within the team, yes, that has to be clear what we expect. But publicly, no."

Rennie went on to say that generally it's not something he gets into immediately after a game.  He said that dealing with these kind of issues is better after a couple of days so that emotions aren't running as high and everyone has a clear head.

What do you guys think?  Should Reo-Coker have made his comments public?  Personally, I think that speaking in public about something like that is probably the coach's job.  As for the play itself, I saw it live and thought Mattocks should have passed.  It should be noticed that Mattocks didn't actually miss, he just forced a rather easy save out of Tally Hall.  At any rate, sound like the 'Caps might be on their way back down to earth a little bit.

Mexico Stumbles in Honduras, Still Winless In Hex

Mexico dropped 2 points today in a draw with Honduras (FoxDeportes.com)

El Tri and their fans were quite happy today as proceedings in their World Cup Qualifying match were going their way down in Honduras.  Chicharito had a couple of goals and they looked to be in charge and heading to their first win of the Hex, but Honduras had other plans as they stormed back late on to earn a draw.

Mexico looked the better side early on as they came out bright and pushed into the Honduras penalty area.  Javier Aquino Carmona produced El Tri's first chance of the match on 7 minutes, but sent his shot wide of the Honduran goal.  Chicharito got into the act in the very next minute, as he attempted to get a header on target but saw it drift wide as well.  As it turns out the Manchester United man was just getting his sights on the goal, but more on that later.

The home side jumped into the match after surviving the opening burst from Mexico.  In the 10th minute Emilio Izaguirre dropped a hopeful shot in from outside of the 18, but the shot flew just over the bar.  In the end it was harmless despite drawing a collective "ooh" from the crowd, but it was probably closer than it should have been.  Seattle's Mario Martinez also got into the shooting spree for Honduras, but like Izaguirre had a hard time finding the actual target.

Mexico drew first blood though, and it came in minute 28.  Their wide play caused problems for Honduras all day, and that's something the USA will have to keep in mind when they play at the Azteca next week.  The Honduran defense watched helplessly as Andres Guardado floated a great cross into the six where Chicharito was waiting.  He calmly headed the ball past the 'keeper to give Mexico the 0-1 lead.

Honduras hardly abandoned efforts for the first half though, instead they pushed forward after the goal aiming to get the equalizer.  It looked to be a sure thing in the 42nd minute when Carlos Costly slipped the defense and got 1v1 with Ochoa, but Hector Moreno came in with a great sliding tackle right at the last minute, knocking the ball away and preserving Mexico's lead going into halftime.

Mexico hit the pitch in the second half looking to put the nail in Honduras' coffin, and it looked like they were going to do just that.  They burned Honduras on a ball in from wide once again in the 54th minute.  This time it was Carlos Salcido who sent in a free kick to Chicharito, who tapped the ball in from just outside the six to make it 0-2.

El Tri seemed to be on cruise control going into the last 15 minutes, but they were jolted awake in minute 77.  Mario Martinez sent in a gorgeous service from a corner, and Costly rose, heading the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-2.  You could sense Mexico tense up even through the television.

As it turns out, there was good reason to be nervous.  Just one minute later a defender brought Costly down in the box for a clear penalty.   New England's Jerry Bengston stood up to take the spot-kick, but his effort was well saved by Ochoa in goal.  Unfortunately, the rebound went right back to Bengston, who tapped the ball into the open net to equalize the match at 2-2.

Neither side was able to really muster anything in the last 10 minutes, and the match finished 2-2.  Honduras will gladly take the point, as they sit at the top of the Hex after two games with 4.  The draw, coupled with the US win over Costa Rica, drops Mexico into 4th place heading into Tuesday's showdown at the Azteca.  Keep in mind, the top three CONCACAF teams automatically qualify for Brazil 2014.  The fourth team will play New Zealand (from the Oceania region) for one of the last spots in.

MLS News Roundup: Quakes to Debut Honduran, Rapids Recovery, Galaxy Head to White House

Rapids Captain Pablo Mastroeni hopes to play in LA on Saurday (ColoradoRapids.com)

It's been a somewhat slow news week in MLS, somewhat understandably, as most of the the focus in US Soccer is leading up to the USA clash with Costa Rica this Friday in Colorado.  There were a few interesting tidbits dropped here and there though, mostly in the Western Conference.

First up the defending Supporter's Shield Champion San Jose Earthquakes are looking to strengthen their injury depleted attack vs Seattle.  They've signed Honduran international attacker Walter Martinez.  According to head man Frank Yallop, he may make his debut against the Sounders this weekend, though he probably won't start.  MLSSoccer.com describes Martinez as a quick attacker who likes to take on defenders.  With Steven Lenhart and Alan Gordon still out, The Quakes need to plug some holes.  He joins Victor Bernardez and Marvin Chavez as Hondurans on the Quakes' squad.

The Rapids are looking to ease their injury crisis as well after they lost starting goalkeeper Matt Pickens at RSL last weekend.  According to the club site, former RSL backup Kyle Reynish is training with the club, though I would suspect Clint Irwin to get the start vs the Galaxy.  Meanwhile, Captain Pablo Mastroeni hopes to be on the field in LA after injuring his hamstring in the week two loss against the Union.  Striker Edson Buddle played most of the reserve match against RSL last weekend, but hasn't trained fully this week. He could play against his old team this weekend.  Finally, MLSSoccer.com is reporting that the Rapids might be interested in pursuing Kevin Hartman as a goal keeping solution as well.

Finally. the MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy will be making a visit to Washington DC on March 26.  They won't be playing United, but instead they will be honored by President Barack Obama for winning their second straight MLS Championship.  They will be joined by Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings for this event honoring LA champions.  The Galaxy will also participate in the First Lady's "Let's Move" Initiative on the South Lawn of the White House.

Match Thoughts: Real Salt Lake vs Colorado Rapids

Joao Plata and Alvaro Saborio celebrate RSL's equalizer (Deseret News)

So 24 hours on, I've finally gotten to sit down and and think about what I saw and what I thought about the 1-1 draw between RSL and Colorado at Rio Tinto Stadium.  The Rocky Mountain Cup is on the line this year as two of the three matches between the two sides will take place in Colorado.  This was their only shot vs the Rapids in Salt Lake this year, and I think they blew it a bit, despite bossing the second half to get a result.

First off, I have to say that my thoughts go out to Matt Pickens.  The Colorado 'keeper broke his left arm in the 4th minute when Kwame Watson-Siriboe collided with him while battling for a corner kick.  From my seat in lower section 30 (the opposite side of the pitch) it looked like a regular battle for a corner.  The video however, is......something else.  It was just brutal.  Pickens is expected to miss 3-4 months, and the Puddle wishes him a speedy and full recovery.  Clint Irwin did remarkably well for the Rapids coming on as a sub. and perhaps had Colorado's best performance in goal this year, though he probably could have done better on Sabo's goal.

The best word I could use to describe the game from RSL's point of view is: sloppy.  It turned out that a lot of the passing stats were pretty decent, RSL completed 87% of their passes and had nearly 70% of the possession, but there were some pretty big flubbed passes, even one from Kyle Beckerman, which is pretty uncharacteristic. There were also some pretty weak clearances from the back, as it just seemed like RSL's execution was a step or two off all match long.

The offense still seems to be very sluggish, and both of RSL's starting forwards had chances that they would have liked to have back.  In the 18th minute Robbie Findley had a great look at goal from just outside the area but missed.  That really had to be better.  Devon Sandoval brought a ball down for Sabo in the 83rd minute and put it on a plate for him, but Sabo also blazed his shot over the bar.  In the end, only 4 of RSL's 19 shots ended up on target, a pretty paltry sum when the Claret and Cobalt should have done a better job testing Colorado's young keeper. 

Now for my grades, which don't mean much, it's just how I see it.

Defense--D+
Now, you might think this is a little harsh being that RSL only gave up the one goal.  However, I'm taking into account quite a few sloppy clearances and the fact that our back line gave up way too many cheap looks on Nick Rimando's goal.  Rimando played well, as usual, but I think he arguably had a tougher day than the Rapid's young keeper.  RSL was also very fortunate that the Rapids were having some issues hitting the target as well.

As for the goal, it was a real kicker.  I just see us continually getting skinned again and again until Chris Wingert is back.  For the most part, our guys have done an admirable job, but getting absolutely torched on that goal by Colorado was one of the worst moments of the season so far, for me.  The defense must tighten up.

Midfield--C
I felt the Rapids did a pretty good job putting off our guys in the midfield from time to time.  In the end it's still a work in progress as Luis Gil and Sebastian Velasquez continue to mold themselves into the fabric of this team.  They both looked like they were in a little over their head at times, maybe because of the pressure of the rivalry and the home opener.  I wouldn't say the service was quality either, but in the end it was another serviceable and average performance from some guys who are doing a pretty decent job of holding it together.  It was nice to see Grabavoy back, and this team need Javier Morales as the dynamo.

Forwards--B
Plata and Saborio have instant chemistry.  They showed it again yesterday.  The applause for Plata when he checked in yesterday were massive, while the ovation for Findley was, shall we say, subdued when he checked out.  Now, while I don't think it's fair to judge Robbie on just three matches, and I think any expectation that he was going to come in and score right off the bat was probably a little optimistic, this much seems plain to me: The fanbase still isn't sold on this move and it's not moving in the right direction, yet.

During the post game show they made a point that the return of Javier Morales would probably help open Robbie up some.  I hope they're right, but I think the fans want to see something now.  I know Robbie is working his tail off and wants to contribute just as bad as the fans want him to, but it's just not there yet.  Failing to hit the target and work the keeper on that nice look in the first half just brought back every not so great memory of Robbie in many RSL fans, including myself.  I know he can do better, and he's going to have to, because Sabo is going out on international duty and he has all of our goals.

I do want to give a shout out to Devon Sandoval though.  I LOVE this kid. I loved him as a draft pick and I love what I've seen of him on the pitch.  He handles the ball really well, and had Sabo finished that late chance yesterday, Devon would have had the game winning assist.  He seems to have the perspective and work ethic that both Jason Kreis and the RSL family admire so much, and he's going to learn a TON from Sabo.

Palmeiras Fans Attack Team at Airport

Palmeiras coaches during their Copa Libertadores match in Argentina (AP Photo)

South American football continues to generate the wrong kind of headlines following more bad fan behavior.  This time, supporters of the Brazilian club Palmeiras "confronted" their own players in an airport as the team was preparing to return home after a 0-1 Copa Libertadores defeat to Tigre in Buenos Aires.

The group of fans confronted the players at Jorge Newbery Airport.  According to the Associated Press, the attackers were wearing the jerseys of Palmeiras' largest Supporter group.  Goalkeeper Fernando Prass was injured when a fan threw a cup at Jorge Valdivia, a Palmeiras midfielder, and missed, striking Prass.  Prass was treated for cuts to his hand and ear.

Security guards attempted to intervene, and Palmeiras Captain Henrique tried to calm the group of fans, but eventually Valdivia had to retreat and hide in a bathroom surrounded by security until the situation was under control.  According to Brazilian media, Valdivia was verbally harassed by his club's own fans prior to the match and allegedly retaliated with obscene gestures.  The club has said that they support Valdivia.

Three fans were detained in Argentina, but were later released.  Goalkeeper Prass remained in Argentina in order to receive treatment for his injuries.  The rest of the team returned to Brazil and left the airport through a secure exit.

This is just another issue of football related violence that has cropped up as Brazil prepares to host the FIFA World Cup next year.  Brazil's Footbaall Federation President as well as the Minister for Sports condemned the actions, saying that these issues are damaging the sport of football.

View the AP article HERE.

Late Davis Strike Propels Dynamo to CCL Win

The Dynamo celebrate Davis's 89th minute winner (houstondynamo.com)

The Houston Dynamo deserve a lot of credit for what they were able to accomplish last night at BBVA Compass Stadium.  Overall, they played a pretty smart brand of football (though not always pretty or perfect) and managed to ride a late goal by Brad Davis to a win and a 1-0 aggregate lead over Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League.

They certainly weren't dominating by any stretch of the imagination, and Santos came out firing with Darwin Quintero hitting the first shot in the very first minute, only to see his effort go off target.  Marc Crosas also missed the frame in the third minute, and after that Houston started to settle down. 

The first quality chance of the match fell to the Dynamo on 18 minutes.  Houston had been applying some pressure to Santos goal, and it paid off with a corner kick chance.  Bobby Boswell directed a bullet header on frame from said corner, and looked to have Santos 'keeper Oswaldo Sanchez beaten, but the Santos defender stationed at the post did his job, clearing it just off the line to keep the MLS side from taking the lead.

However the Dynamo nearly surrendered a goal of their own just two minutes later.  In a preview of what was to be a theme of the night, Houston 'keeper Tally Hall played a kick out of goal, trying to build from the back.  Unfortunately he kicked it right to Herculez Gomez.  The American international played it over to Quintero, but once again Houston was fortunate to see his shot drift harmlessly away from the target.  The Dynamo had a few bad flubs playing out of the back, but luckily Santos were not able to capitalize.

Fast forward to the second half where Santos had their best spell of the match on 57 minutes.  An outstanding move up the pitch resulted in a great look for Oribe Peralta, which he managed to put on frame.  Tally Hall was equal to the effort though, making a great save to preserve the the clean sheet.

In the 89th minute Jermaine Taylor couldn't find the target from a header off a corner kick and Santos took the ball back up the pitch and looked as though they were all set to settle in for a scoreless draw.  However, they turned the ball over just inside the Dynamo half and Houston streaked up the field on a counter attack.  Corey Ashe hit Brad Davis just inside the left of the penalty area, and the Dynamo marksman calmly slid the ball inside the far post to give the Dynamo the 1-0 win.  It was a great finish by a great player.

Now, will it be enough to hold up for Houston down in Torreon?  I kind of doubt it.  Still the 1 goal win without allowing the away goal was the minimum that Houston needed to achieve and they did just that.  As long as they can go punch to punch with Santos down in Mexico, they'll have a shot as the Mexicans weren't able to secure a road goal advantage.  It will still be tough, though this Santos team is obviously not as lethal as previous editions.  In the end, no matter what happens, this was still a nice win for them which should help to continue to build the confidence of MLS sides in this tournament.

United vs Real Madrid: Was it? Wasn't it? What of it?

Nani saw a controversial red card in the second half. (AP Photo)

Ok.  Let's cut right to it, no match review.  If you're a soccer fan, you've probably already seen the play multiple times.  If you haven't, you will.  I can't imagine anything happening in the rest of the soccer week that is going to dislodge this as the number one talking point or banter topic.  Indeed, should Real Madrid go on to win the Champions League, this could go down as the defining moment of the European season.

So, Nani saw red.  Was it justified?  If you really haven't seen it yet, he went in with a high boot while challenging Madrid's Alvaro Arbeola.  Now, I don't think even most Madrid fans would honestly think that was a red card, but I could be wrong.  I didn't think it was.  I'm not a referee, so I'm not going to get into the detail and argue the laws of the game.  There was quite the twitter conversation about Law 12, but in the end, I was hard pressed to see any player or prominent media personality that agreed with the call.  You see that play most often called as a yellow, hardly ever a red.

Now, I do say "hardly ever" because I've seen it.  Last year RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman saw red for a very similar challenge against a Tauro FC player.  Of course, astute supporters will point out that for Beckerman, the issue was intent.  Even as an RSL fan, I believe that Kyle wanted to kick the Tauro player, and I don't think Nani had that intent, so there's that.  I think it was a yellow on Nani.

So what happened after that?  Jose Mourinho out-managed Sir Alex, that's what.  The substitutions were key.  Luka Modric was the right man at exactly the right time.  His equalizer goal was outstanding, and Ronaldo's finish of Higuain's low cross was absolute class.  Diego Lopez also came up huge in goal for Madrid at the end.

What of United though?  Where was Chicharito?  Why did Rooney start the game on the bench?  United might just need RVP to subdue the Premier League, but the Champion's League is a different story.  Keep in mind, no United player scored in this one.  Their goal was an own goal by Sergio "I drop trophies and miss PKs" Ramos.  I really didn't see United catch fire until they went behind.  They were somewhat relying on that road goal as their trump, and they got burned for it.  Still, in the final analysis, it's too bad that we're talking about the ref and not the players.

Again: My take: Yellow Card, not red.  Do I feel for United?  Hell no.  Wanna see why?

So United, enjoy your turn on the wrong end of the decision for once.  Karma's a bitch, huh?  Not so funny now.

Puddle's Goal of the Weekend: Sabo Scores RSL's First

Alvaro Saborio (Pictured here for Costa Rica) tallied two goals for RSL this weekend

Yes.  I'm biased.  Sorry.  I try not to be a homer on this blog, but since it's the first weekend of MLS and this goal brought me so much happiness, it's my goal of the weekend.  Check out the ball over the top from Joao Plata to set up Sabo's clinical finish.  It was the first of his two as RSL took down the Quakes in San Jose.  He also earned a selection on the MLS Best XI squad for week 1.  Kyle Beckerman and Joao Plata received honorable mentions.

Here's the goal:

Sabo Strikes Twice as RSL Banish Quakes Ghosts

Captain Kyle Beckerman made his 300th MLS appearance against San Jose (realsaltlake.com)

Last night was a pretty good night all around for Real Salt Lake and their supporters, though it was far from a sure thing until late on in the match.  The Claret and Cobalt were looking to exorcise the demons from last year's two tough showings on the road at Buck Shaw stadium, and in the end, they managed to do exactly that.

Things started out a little shaky in the first half as the Quakes created a few really good chances.  Fortunately, Chris Wondolowski rather uncharacteristically couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and neither could his new strike partner, Mike Fucito.  Nick Rimando did have to reach into his bag of tricks a couple of times though.  In the 26th minute Rafael Baca directed a close range shot on frame.  It was definitely headed for the roof of the net, but Rimando just got a little bit on it to parry it off of the crossbar and preserve the clean sheet.

RSL tightened things up quite a bit in the second half though, and started to get more of the quality chances.  However, it wasn't until newly minted Claret and Cobalt man Joao Plata entered in the 65th minute that RSL really found their spark.  In the 71st minute Plata hit Alvaro Saborio over the top with a great ball, and the Costa Rican broke on the San Jose goal.  Getting in behind the defense, he easily slotted past a relatively helpless Jon Busch to make it 0-1.

The Quakes pushed hard after that, but they were obviously short on fire power without Steven Lenhart and Alan Gordon, who did not play due to injury.  In the end, it was RSL who added the match clincher as Beckerman hit Sabo in the middle of the box to cap a 12 pass sequence.  Sabo once again fired home a clinical finish to make it 0-2 on 85 minutes.  As the match progressed into five minutes of stoppage time, the Quakes "Goonie magic" was obviously not going to manifest itself.  In the dying minutes, a couple of San Jose players started running their mouths at Kyle Beckerman, who just pointed to the scoreboard in answer.  It was my favorite moment of the match.

So what were the good, the bad, and the just plain ok for the Claret and Cobalt in this one?

The defense really had some issues especially up our left side in the first half.  Mansally and Schuler looked a little lost at times, with Mansally drifting quite far into the center of the pitch and unveiling lots of space up that flank, which the Quakes tried to exploit a couple of times.  He also gave the ball away quite cheaply a couple of times.  However, both of these guys came back strong in the second half, with Mansally really responding under pressure, making a couple of key blocks and tackles in and around the penalty area.  I was very impressed with the way Kenny stepped it up, great job!  Set piece defense was a little shaky as well, as Wondo got free a couple of times, but in the end they were bent but not broken as they persevered and made the key clearances when they had to.  My defensive grade: B.

The midfield really looked spectacular at times, especially in the second half.  They did seem to have some issues pushing up through the Quakes defense and getting the ball to Sabo and Robbie Findley in the first half, but then again, coach Kreis had said beforehand that the key focus was going to be defense and weathering the storm, so it wasn't really surprising.   Still, both Luis Gil and Sebastian Velasquez had some quality chances, with Sebas in particular showing off a couple of pretty sick skill check sequences.  

They really came to life in the second half though.  Towards the end of the match Beckerman, Gil, and Sebas really started to pick apart the Quakes defense, obviously gassed from having to deal with the speed of Findley and then Palta.  The second goal was largely a result of this stellar passing as our midfield really asserted itself.  Khari Stephenson and Yordany Alvarez both had solid opening showings as well.  I really enjoyed the stable, veteran presence that Khari brought.  Midfield grade: B+.

The forwards did what they needed to in this game.  In my season predictions I mentioned that if RSL can put the ball in the net, they can really go places, and that's what happened last night.  Do we expect anything less from Alvaro Saborio?  He'll never get the attention he deserves, but he really is one of the top three strikers in MLS, as he clearly showed again last night with two absolutely clinical finishes.  Some people will slag a bit on Robbie Findley, but I thought he was pretty solid.  Plata obviously had better chemistry with Sabo than Findley did right off the bat, but Robbie did well to put himself in dangerous positions and the Quakes back line was obviously tired from having to follow him.  Plata was the man though.  His speed and hustle brought an immediate spark to the pitch and San Jose didn't have an answer for him.  His ball to Sabo was exquisite.  What a weapon for RSL to have.  I would also like to see him get up top and play with Findley.  If they can develop chemistry together, well, speed kills.

Even RSL rookie forward Devon Sandoval got in on the act late, making his MLS debut.  He didn't get much in the way of touches, coming in on 87 minutes, but he showed a real hard-nosed willingness to get in and mix it up, and I was very impressed with his short stint.  Forwards grade: A-.

The crucial question here is: Can RSL continue to successfully manage expectations?  Everybody involved with the Clareat and Cobalt felt great last night.  It was great to get back in the win column, especially at San Jose, it was also great to see the ball flying into the net, but this is still a work in progress.  The defense needs to tighten up, especially on set pieces and up the left with Wingert out, though like I said, Mansally was 100% better in the second half.  The midfield could still gel some, but the veteran/young gun mix of Beckerman/Stephenson and Veasquez/Gil worked pretty darn well.  Finally. I'd like to see Findley develop more chemistry with both Sabo and Plata up front.

To sum it up, the guys definitely exceeded my expectations last night, my pick was a draw.  In doing so, perhaps they sent a message to the rest of MLS.....don't forget about us!

Meet the new boss.....same as the old boss.

Crew Close Down "New Look" Chivas in Season Opener.

Chivas USA tried their best to compete with Federico Higuain, to no avail. (TheCrew.com)

The folks behind Chivas USA have really been trying to convince everyone that they know what they're doing with their offseason, well, whatever strategy they had.  It really didn't look like it though Saturday night as they fell apart down the stretch to fall to an imposing Columbus Crew side at the Home Depot Center.

Much was made about Chelis, the Goats' new head man and his "eight second" philosophy.  If you missed that, basically Chelis wants his players to win the ball back within eight seconds of losing it.  That was nowhere to be found Saturday night, particularly in the first half.

Most of the joy in the first half went to the Black and Gold, with Dominic Oduro getting forward with his speed on 12 minutes, but the newest member of the Columbus strike force hit his shot well into the stands, it was not the last the Chivas defense would see of him though.  Josh Williams directed a header on frame in minute 16, forcing Dan Kennedy into his first action of the night as he saved the shot to keep the score level.

However it wasn't all Columbus as Chivas started to find their way a bit later in the first half.  Their best chance came on minute 27 when forward Julio Morales latched on to a turnover in the Crew defense and pushed toward goal.  However Andy Gruenebaum was up to the task, making a diving save to stone the Chivas man.  It's why I continue to believe that Gruenebaum is one of the best, and most underrated 'keepers in MLS.

Chelis made some attacking subs for Chivas to start the second half, bringing in the more familiar names of Miller Bolanos and Juan Agudelo.  The Goats attack was instantly better for it, probably since they brought in two guys who are actually, you know, used to playing in MLS.  Chances were still few and far between though as Gruenebaum wasn't seriously tested.

It was the Crew who drew first blood in the 51st minute.  Predictably, the first goal of the new Crew season came off the foot of Federico Higuain.  He collected a nice ball from Jairo Arrieta near the top of the area and blasted home his first of the year to make it 0-1.

After the opening goal Chivas pushed a bit and had what was probably their best stretch of the match.  Unfortunately for them, even on the rare occasion that they did get the ball on frame Gruenebaum was a wall in goal.  He parried an effort from Bolanos in the 59th minute that was the Goats' most significant chance of the second half.

In the end, the more Chivas pushed up, the more exposed their already weak back line became, and it all came crashing down in the final minutes.  In the 88th minute Williams volleyed home a beautiful goal off of a corner kick to make it 0-2.  It really was a finish worthy of a top class striker.  Finally in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Oduro got his first goal as a member of the Crew, taking the ball from his own half and charging all the way to the Chivas penalty area, where he promptly gave Kennedy the traffic cone treatment and deposited the ball into the empty net to make it 0-3 at the full time whistle.

The match went pretty much as expected, though the final scoreline might be a little unjust to the Goats.  Next week they host FC Dallas as the Crew travel north of the border to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps.

MLS 2013: Western Conference Predictions and Questions

If the Eastern conference isn't your thing, why not try the Western Conference?  No big intros here, lets just get right to it, my predicted table plus three big questions to answer at the end of it all.  Here we go...


9. Chivas USA--Do I REALLY have to explain this one?  Oh, right, I'm supposed to go gaga over Chelis.  Not buying it, sorry, especially since he basically said he only expects to spend one year at the club.  What's the point?  The Goats dumped most of their players who weren't of Hispanic origin, though gee, I see they didn't dare part ways with Dan Kennedy.  This team is a joke to me, sorry.  They need to get out of LA and down into San Diego where there's not a two time defending MLS Cup champ in town.  The other thing is, if another MLS club tried to build a foundation on a specific ethnic identity, no way it would fly, and it shouldn't fly here either.

8. Vancouver Whitecaps--Yawn.  Last year they nearly fell out of the playoffs after making some deals that really could have propelled them into the upper echelon of the Western Conference.  The Kenny Miller thing didn't work out, or at least hasn't yet, and I don't see Paulo Jr doing anything up there that he didn't at RSL.  Darren Mattocks could eventually be a golden boot type player, but to me he needs to do some more growing up before he can lead this time past the teams in front of them.

7. Portland Timbers--Let's dispense with this question now.  Is this the year Portland finally capitalizes on their "atmosphere" and pushes into the playoffs?  Nope.  They made some nice pickups, sure, but why anyone would put Caleb Porter in charge of pro club after the U-23 debacle is beyond me.  Sorry, Frederic Piquionne doesn't impress me anymore than Kris Boyd did before last season started.  Will the league continue to shove Portland down our collective throats?  Yes.  Will they make the playoffs?  No.

6. FC Dallas--To me, this team goes as far as David Ferreira takes them. That could be an awfully long way.  If the New York version of Kenny Cooper shows up, that should help a lot.  If the Portland version shows up, well then he'll just play well against RSL.  The defense will be decent but I think dumping Kevin Hartman was a mistake.  That guy kept Dallas in a lot of games over the last couple of years.  We'll make sure to keep an eye on Blas Perez's diving scores as well.

5. Colorado Rapids--The Rapids are going to be better this year.  I'll also tag them to get back to the playoffs.  Last year Oscar Pareja had a system, but not the players for it.  This year, he'll have both.  It might take some time to gel, but I think they'll make it.  If they can play solid, stylish, football at 5280, they'll wear some teams out and there could be some woodshed type beatings.

4. Real Salt Lake--This is probably where I get flamed.  First off, yes, RSL lost some key parts, but  I thought the front office did a great job holding things together.  There's no reason to think that they won't still be a playoff team, especially when you look at the clubs behind them.  However, I'm not sure the preseason was overly comforting.  The loss to a largely reserve Seattle squad in the DDC final mirrored every big loss RSL has had the couple of years, going back to the Champion's League Final vs Monterrey.  If the team can put the ball in the net on a regular basis, they could top the conference.  However, without seeing it, this is as high as I can put them at the moment.  Injuries will be key as well, though there won't be as many matches to contend with this year.

3. San Jose Earthquakes--I'll address these guys a bit more in the questions segment, but I don't think it's going to be as golden a year for the "Goonies" this time around.  That classic flick has already been ruined for me though.  It's gonna be Wondo, Wondo, Wondo.  Keep in mind that the Quakes WILL have CCL matches to contend with this year as well.  We'll see how Wondo fairs in that tourney as the Quakes get a taste of their own flopping, knee-you-in-the-stomach, stop the game at every chance style.

2. L.A. Galaxy--To the relief of their fans, Landon "Holiday in Cambodia" Donovan will be returning, but not just yet.  Also, of course, Beckham is gone, as MLS was so keen to point out at the end of last season.  *Gag* However Robbie Keane stayed home this offseason, not going out on loan.  This should help him shoulder the load until Donovan returns and is up to form.  Also, if you think the Galaxy aren't going to sign another big name DP, you're probably nuts.  It might not be Lampard, but it will be significant.

1. Seattle Sounders--My Seattle friends will love this, but as I try to take an unbiased look, I really think this could be their year.  Michael Gspurning is in my mind the best 'keeper in MLS, which is an even bigger compliment because he doesn't have the best defense in MLS in front of him.  Yes, Montero is gone, but they have some guy who likes to go by the name of Eddie Johnson who should continue his beast mode form.  Did we mention Rosales and Alonso yet?  Tiffert has been pretty much as advertised and Shalrie Joseph is a really nice pickup as well, at the expense of whatever Chivas USA is trying to do.

Three Big Questions--Western Conference

1. Will the Quakes continue the magic form from last season?

My Answer--NO.  First off, the Galaxy managed to dispense with the Quakes quite easily in the playoffs, and they did drop a few points down the stretch, though not often losing.  Plus you can't think that the Quakes are going to get ALL the calls and the breaks going their way like they did last year.  Losing Simon Dawkins will be significant as well.  Also, the Quakes will have more matches to contend with, just like RSL and Seattle did down the stretch last year, and as I mentioned earlier, they're bound to run into their own "frustrating" play style in CCL.  They'll still be a playoff team though.

2. Can Real Salt Lake avoid a big slide after offseason cap trouble?

My Answer--YES. Now, lets remember that "can they" and "will they" are two very different questions.  The new look RSL squad has a TON of potential.  If things work out as Jason and Garth want them to, they could top the league.  However, as we saw displayed so many times last year, things don't always go as planned (think US Open Cup and CCL crash and burn).  They have the players to contend for the Cup and the Shield, and even that wannabe FA Cup thing we try out every year.  Bottom line though, the ball HAS TO GO IN THE BACK OF THE NET.  Especially at home.  We shall see.

3. Can the Galaxy hold on until Donovan gets back and they sign another DP?

My Answer--YES.  Sure they can, they're still a solid club,  However, who cares?  Look what happened last year.  Would you bet against them as long as they scraped into the playoffs?  I sure don't think I would.

So there you have it, my Western Conference thoughts.  Many of my fellow RSL fans will disagree, and I hope they finish higher than I pegged them. Until then, just callin' em like I see em.  Let the matches begin!

MLS 2013: Eastern Conference Predictions and Questions

With the MLS season finally starting tomorrow (yay!) it's time to sit down and pound this out.  I'm not gonna call it a preview this year, because hey, what we all come up with during these prognostications means exactly SQUAT.   I watch as much MLS as anyone who's not paid to do it, and hey, even I'm not sure what's going on.  I think the league could be wide open this year, especially in the Eastern Conference.  So, I'll give my predictions on the order of finish from the ground up, and make a couple of observations about each club.  Then I'll pose a few questions that I think might have an effect on the conference race.

10. Toronto FC--Sorry guys, I just can't see anything better happening for TFC just yet.  I really want to, for their fans' sake, but I just don't see it there.  Last year I predicted they would make the playoffs for the first time.  I'm not going anywhere NEAR that route.  Kevin Payne and Ryan Nelsen can provide a solid foundation, I think, but they don't have the players.  Robert Earnshaw could be a good signing though, and their fortunes might improve if Danny Koevermans can stay healthy.

9. New England Revolution--I'm not sure what New England has really been up to to improve in the offseason either, except for the addition of Juan Toja, which, while solid, isn't a huge "move up the table" move for me.  Jerry Bengston and Saer Sene have quality, Sene showed it more, but I think the Revs will need more from these guys.  Matt Reis is as solid as they come in goal, but they have to keep him from facing firing squads all season.  The other thing this team desperately needs is their own stadium.

8. Philadelphia Union--What do you do with the Union?  I put them above New England pretty much because they got Sebastien Le Toux back.  He'll do good things, but who else will?  Freddy Adu is, what exactly?  Gone I guess.  Carlos Valdes is out on loan, and come on, there is a reason the Rapids got rid of Conor Casey.  I would tab Antoine Hoppenot to up his contribution though.

7. Montreal Impact--The Impact continue to strive to be the first Serie A team from the last decade to be located in North America, but to what end?  Does anybody really think Alessandro Nesta is gonna last all year without getting injured?  The Impact were pretty decent last year, and they have most of their guys back, but I just don't see it as enough to catch the top 5 in the Eastern Conference.  Stranger things have happened though.

6. Chicago Fire--To me. the Fire are the question mark team out east.  They were VERY active in the offseason, and I think they made some nice additions.  Think Jeff Larentowicz, Joel Lindpere, and Maicon Santos.  Sean Johnson is certainly up to the task in goal, and the defense is solid.  They could easily be a 3,4, or 5 team, but I've got them just on the outside looking in.

5. Columbus Crew--The Crew were one of the toughest games for opponents late last year, and I think they've just gotten better.  If Dominic Oduro finds his form, watch out.  The team brings back Federico Higuain and Jairo Arrieta, plus they're always tough score against, especially at Crew Stadium.  I think they'll hit the playoffs this year, and they could do some big damage if they get there.  Don't sleep on this club.

4. Houston Dynamo--Ok, we get it.  Two-time defending Eastern Conference Champs.  The quality on this side is undeniable, and I think they'll still have a significant edge at BBVA Compass Stadium.  Ching is back as player/coach, so his influence is still there.  I don't see why this team couldn't at least follow the same map as they have the last couple of years.  Plus, I wouldn't bet against Dom Kinnear, unless they're playing the Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final.

3. Sporting Kansas City--The loss of Espinoza and Kamara are going to hurt this club.  The addition of Benny Feilhaber is cringe worthy in my opinion, but I will admit I'm biased because I don't care for his attitude.  Their trump cards are Graham Zusi and Jimmy Nielsen.  Plus, like Houston, they're one of the few clubs that I feel have an actual home field advantage at Cheatstrong, err, I mean Sporting Park.  It's not fair to chide Sporting over that though.  They're still one of the top sides out east and should continue to play like it.

2. New York Red Bulls--You'd think this team almost couldn't help but be in the top two just by showing up on the pitch.  The addition of Jamison Olave is a MAJOR step toward addressing their defensive concerns, provided he stays healthy and doesn't continue to fall prey to some of those mental lapses that seem to plague him the last year and a half or so at RSL.  They also have arguably the best player in the league in Henry.  If they can pull it all together, a big "if," they could finally get their hands on some silverware this year.

1. D.C United--I'm a huge fan of what Ben Olsen has done with this team, in fact I see it as being very similar to what Jason Kreis has done with RSL.  Sure, it would be nice if DeRo stayed healthy and stopped head-butting people, but Chris Pontius is one of the the most dangerous players in MLS to my mind, and they added Carlos Ruiz not only to score some goals, but help rub some people the wrong way.  Hamid is a great talent in goal, and their defense, though not the flashiest or meanest, is more than up to snuff.  This could be the year that DC adds another star over their crest.

Eastern Conference--Three Big Questions

1--Can the New York Red Bulls put it all together and make the run people have been predicting since Henry signed on?

My Answer--YES.  My big beef with the Red Bulls has been defense, and they've definitely improved.  Ultimatey I think DC takes the regular season, but I'd love too see these two squads in the conference final.


2--Who is the "sleeper" team in the conference this year?

My Answer--The Columbus Crew. The middle of the east could be pretty crowded with Houston, Columbus, Chicago, and maybe even Montreal all getting into the mix.  If the Crew can get to the playoffs, they could follow the Houston Blueprint very easily.


3--Is this year when the East catches, and eclipses, the West?

My Answer--YES, in a way..... I still see the top couple of teams out west being better than the top couple of teams in the east.  However, I really see this as being the year those middle teams in the east might outpace the mid-table teams in the west.  That would have a bigger impact, pardon the pun, if we still had a balanced schedule.

So there are my thoughts for the east this year.  Starting tomorrow, we'll get to see just how full of BS and hot air I am.  Good luck to all of the clubs and their supporters.  A couple of you are going to need it.