MLS Top 5/Bottom5: Week 3.

Where do Will Bruin and the Dynamo sit in my first rankings?

So I really wanted to try my hand at some rankings and trend spotting this year in MLS.  The fact that there is so much parity in the league makes this kind of thing really fun and challenging for me, and gives me something to think about during long lulls at work, and to keep me up at night with my mind turning over and over.  I decided to wait a couple of weeks though, until everybody had at least a couple of games under their belt, though I suspect that rankings like this are always fairly inaccurate this early in the season anyway.   What I'm going to present to you are my top five and bottom five, with comments on each.

TOP 5--   


1. HOUSTON DYNAMO --The Dynamo were quite impressive in their opening matches, and Will Bruin (above) was on fire.  According to the league site, he is one of the most captained fantasy players going into week four as well.  Dom Kinnear's side has also yet to give up a goal.  However, they still might be a paper tiger.  Their first match was against the Revs, who have been absolutely awful so far, and their second was against the almost equally hapless Montreal Impact, sans Marco Di Vaio.  Also, both of those matches have been at home, where they're always good.  This week they travel to Vancouver, who should provide a better test.

2. TORONTO FC--I've been pretty skeptical about TFC in the offseason and through the preseason.  These new additions are great, but at this point, I still have to see it to believe it from them.  However, I just might be starting to see it.  The win at Seattle was definitely a quality win, though a 1-0 victory over DC at home was slightly less impressive.  Defoe and Bradley have been the real deal for sure, and Cesar is big time keeper in net.  However, their job gets a little harder this weekend coming to RSL, especially without speedster Jackson, who has been suspended by the disciplinary committee. 

3. REAL SALT LAKE--RSL's biggest problem in the opening weeks has been a failure to land the knockout punch, or the inverse, letting some rather simple defensive mistakes put teams back on level ground.  Still, undefeated with 5 points from 3 games with LA and San Jose (2 of them on the road) is a pretty solid start.  The other issue is injuries, especially up top, with Big Dev, Joao Plata, and Robbie Findley all injured. 

4. SEATTLE SOUNDERS--It wasn't a pretty performance, but Seattle took down Sporting in the first match at home at beat the Impact on the road last week.  Those two results were sandwiched around that home loss to TFC.  The Sounders played well at Montreal and executed their game plan and counter attack very effectively, despite not having Clint Dempsey.  If Obafemi Martins stays healthy, he's gonna cause MLS defenses some issues this year, without having to compete with the large "Pay Me" ego that he used to partner with.

5. COLUMBUS CREW--The Crew opened the season with an absolute smack down of DC United at RFK, and then beat the Union at home in week three.  They had to hold on a bit in that one, but it was still an impressive performance against a Union squad that I think is gonna be pretty good.  This weekend they travel to Seattle, where the local supporters will be less than welcoming after the fiasco that surrounded the "Seattle is sending capos to Columbus for the USMNT" article that happened last summer.  They have potentially the biggest test of any of my top five this weekend.


BOTTOM 5--

15. PORTLAND TIMBERS--Sorry, I'm still not sold on the Portland Timbers.  Apparently "Porterball" still means draw at home and lose on the road, at least so far this year.  Their defense is still suspect, and while the midfield is a strength, they still lack a true target guy up front.  Urruti doesn't cut it for me, he's just a bull in a china shop.  The Timbers have yet to show me that they can take the next step by converting all those draws from last year into wins and gain points consistently on the road.  It doesn't get any easier for them this weekend as they play at FC Dallas, who just missed out on my top 5.

16. CHIVAS USA--The Goats are definitely an improved side, and looked decent in their first two matches, even though they had to largely resort to packing it in to try to keep the Whitecaps out after going a man down at home.  It didn't work.  This last weekend they were largely pasted by FC Dallas on the road.  They're better, but not good enough, yet.  This weekend they travel to New York, where the Red Bulls will be looking to smack them around and get their season on track.

17.  MONTREAL IMPACT--I'm not rating them lower because they've been without Di Vaio, and hey, that  road swing through Texas isn't going to be easy for anybody.  However, they never really threatened the Sounders at home either.  They were in the match, but I never really thought, "Oh yeah, here they come."  Getting Di Vaio back will help, but as of right now, I really can't see Montreal really making a push for anything.  This weekend they play at Philly, and I'm forecasting a Union victory.

18. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION--I'm so disappointed in the Revs so far.  I really thought they were gonna build on the playoff run from last year, and they still might.  However, it's hard to really find much that they did right in their opening three matches, though they did get their first point this last weekend, albeit without managing to score a goal.  It's too bad that they didn't get to hold on to Juan Agudelo.  This week they travel to play at San Jose, and you'd have to figure in a win for the Quakes, maybe without having to pull the "Goonie" stuff.

19. DC UNITED--DC was another team that ostensibly got better this offseason, at least they threw a bunch of money at players, particularly one Eddie Johnson.  They then paired Mr. "Pay Me" with Mr. "I Dive and Miss Big Shots" in Fabian Espindola, who also is known to be a bit combative.  Both Seattle and RSL fans predicted that this experiment was not going to go well.  For all their spending and revamping, DC have shown nada, zero, zilch.   This week they host the Fire, and Mike Magee will probably look to feast on DC's back line.

The Grinder: RSL Hold Off Houston Dynamo

Houston's Adam Moffat conceded the PK that turned into the winning goal.

Saturday night was RSL's first league home match since this disappointing loss to Sporting Kansas City last month.  Recent MLS results had seen the Claret and Cobalt pick up only one of their last nine available points, yet somehow they were still at the top of the Western Conference.  Wednesday night, an Open Cup play win over the Portland Timbers instilled some new confidence in the team, but again they gave up a late goal, which had been the hoodoo of the side in recent weeks.

Houston came out well in the first 15 minutes, determined to put some pressure on RSL's more tired legs.  It seemed to work well for a time, even getting some possession in the RSL 3rd.  However, their midfield really didn't seem to be connecting well with Will Bruin up front, and for the most part he was a non factor.

After weathering the opening Houston storm relatively unscathed, the Claret and Cobalt started to assert themselves fairly well.  Jason Kreis came out in a 4-2-1-3 formation featuring Alvaro Saborio, Joao Plata, and Olmes Garcia up front.  Plata didn't have the best of nights, but the Dynamo seemed to have particular trouble with Olmes, fouling him quite a bit.  Still, the pressure mounted by RSL didn't pay off until late in the first half.

In the 37th minute, Olmes Garcia went up for a header in the penalty area.  Houston's Adam Moffat came in and clearly undercut him, dropping him to the ground as he went for the ball.  The referee pointed to the spot, awarding RSL a PK.  The Dynamo and some media folks have tried to call this into controversy, but I think it was the absolute right call.  You see that particular call made at midfield all the time and nobody says a word, because it's foul.  If you do it in the penalty area, you concede a PK.  It seems pretty cut and dry to me.  At any rate, Saborio wrong wayed Tally Hall on the PK, sending RSL into the locker room up 1-0.

The Dynamo came out in the second half with the same intensity that they started the first half with.  I expected a similar outcome, that they would press really hard for 10 or 15 minutes and then RSL would gain control again.  That didn't happen though as the fatigue from Wednesday night started to set in.

Despite the pressure, it never really felt out of hand.  There were a couple of times that I wanted to avert my eyes though, as RSL gave up some dangerous set piece opportunities late in the match.  Brad Davis and the Dynamo specialize in these.  There was one in particular, either late in regulation or in stoppage time, where Davis had pretty much a straight on look at the goal. I wrapped my scarf around my face in panic, but couldn't resist having a peek.  RSL's wall stood firm though, repelling the attack and holding on to the 1-0 win.

So certainly Saturday night wasn't the Claret and Cobalt's best performance or finest hour.  In my mind, the fatigue from Wednesday took it's toll, and one has to remember that Kyle Beckerman has basically been playing two matches per week for the last 6 weeks.  He was also carrying a knock.  Kreis said post game that he will look to rest the RSL captain in training this week. 

But it was Beckerman's own post game comments that resonated with me.  He mentioned that the team was really focused on keeping the clean sheet, and it showed.  Late goals cost RSL points against Sporting, New York, and Colorado.  RSL was in position to win all three of those games, but only took one point.  Saturday night the defense, bolstered by the return of Wingert, Beltran, and Salcedo, clamped down on a dangerous Dynamo attack and held all three points.  It WAS one of their finest hours and a job well done.

So with that in mind, here are the Puddle's Three Stars for Saturday Night:

THIRD STAR--Carlos Salcedo, CB, RSL:  I just can't get enough of this kid.  Salcedo has been a complete revelation this year out of the Academy.  We could have been in big trouble with Schuler and Kwame out, but this kid has not only stepped in, but he has stepped UP.  He did have one bad give away in the first half, but he got back to help limit the chance, and it didn't hamper his effort for the rest of the match.

SECOND STAR--Olmes Garcia, F, RSL: Olmes didn't have any goals Saturday night, but the Dynamo really couldn't handle him, hence the fouls and the PK.  The great thing about this kid is that he's only going to get better.  We'll see if the league adjusts to him.

FIRST STAR--Ned Grabavoy, MF, RSL:  Ned is very quietly having a career year, and it's a testament to him that it's been so quiet.  He steps in anywhere and everywhere and does whatever is asked of him.  Saturday night he missed one pass out of 42.  Insane.

MLS Eastern Conference at the Halfway Point: Entirely Up For Grabs

The failings of Ben Olsen's DC United headline the first half back east.

Interestingly enough, the major story of the Eastern Conference in the first half is not who is at the top of the table, but rather who is at the bottom.  No disrespect to the Montreal Impact, who sit up top, but they've really slipped in recent weeks, and the fact that they remain in 1st place is more of a monument to the inconsistency of the teams behind them than a tribute to their play.  At the bottom though, DC United have been a league worst all season.  This from a team that I personally thought might compete for the Cup this year.  Here is my rundown of the teams and their top players for the first half.

1. Montreal Impact, 31 Points

The Impact have really shown that they are a force to be reckoned with this year, and they got off to a huge start, including road wins in Cascadia, to jump way ahead of the East.  However the shine has come off in recent weeks, especially on the defensive end.  The Colorado Rapids came from behind to beat them at Stade Saputo, and then last week they dropped points at home to the lowly Chivas USA, who actually led for a good portion of the match.  Still, the Impact lead the league in PPG, but my main concern for them going forward is can their aging roster (Di Vaio and Nesta types) keep up with the grueling MLS schedule in the second half, especially considering that they'll be playing in CCL.  

First half Team MVP--Marco Di Vaio.  The Italian leads the league in off-side calls, but he's right there in goals as well.  Until recently he has been a shoe-in for your three goal monte, but has kind of cooled off of late.  Still, he is a great scorer and gives opposing defenses plenty to think about.

2. Sporting Kansas City, 30 Points 
I didn't really think Sporting Kansas City was going to go away, despite the fact that they've struggled a bit more at home than they're used to.  In particular, they seem to be more prone at giving up goals at Sporting Park.  I still think this team has all the tools, particularly with the return of Kei Kamara from his loan in the EPL.  I think he's one of the most fun players in the league to watch and is almost always a danger man.    Like Montreal, Sporting will be dealing with CCL play later on this year, so it will be interesting to see how they hold up and if that gives some of the teams behind them an opening.
First half Team MVP--Graham Zusi.  Zusi is one of the best, if not the best, midfielder in MLS in my opinion, and he's made significant strides with the National Team. To me, Sporting seem to be lacking security in their play when he's not around, and he should help propel them through the congested second half.

3. New York Red Bulls, 28 Points.
I still don't think the Red Bulls have gotten it.  They seem to continue to believe that bringing in guys on basis of name recognition is the way to MLS Cup, regardless of the player's age.  At the beginning of the year they signed former Brazilian international Juninho.  Hey that's great, but he was 38 years old.  Did it work? Nope.  Red Bulls did help solidify their back line with the addition of Jamison Olave, but some injury issues, the same that affected him in recent years at RSL, have started to crop up again, as well as a red card every once in awhile.  However, I do like the signing of Ibrahim Sekagya, a 6'1 defender from Uganda.  He could step in beside Olave and help out a lot.  Tim Cahill has also started to come around, which should bolster their attack.
First Half team MVP--Tim Cahill.  Yeah, I'm not going with Henry here, mainly because I haven't been all that impressed with him this year.  To me the times when the Red Bulls have really been able to hit a higher gear is when Cahill has been in form and in the lineup.  They'll need him to stay consistent to keep threatening the top of the conference.

4. Philadelphia Union, 27 Points.

Well hello there, Philadelphia.  It seems like this team has finally recovered from the junk and the drama that Peter Nowak put them through at the end of his tenure.   Jack McInerney has been the star of the squad, and the return of Sebastian Le Toux has reignited his form and given the Union another weapon.  Speaking of weapons, how about Conor Casey?  Has there been a more underrated pick up in MLS this year?  I kind of figured Casey might be through after being jettisoned from the Rapids, but not only has he stayed healthy, but he has proven that he can still be one of the most productive big men in the league.  My question about the Union is in goal.  Zac MacMath is progressing, but the youngster is still essentially learning on the job and has been fairly inconsistent. I think he'll need to step it up a bit going forward, but still the Union look pretty solid as a playoff team right now.
First Half Team MVP--Jack McInerney.  This is pretty easy to justify.  He's turned into a big time goalscorer who has also proven his ability to pass off to teammates to help create.

5. Houston Dynamo, 26 Points.
Injuries and international absences have hit the Dynamo hard so far this season.  They've been without Brad Davis quite a bit, as well as Oscar Boniek Garcia.  Will Bruin has played well, but is also in the USA camp.  Meanwhile the Dynamo acquired former Rapids man Omar Cummings, but unlike Casey for the Union, Cummings has failed to yield any real dividends for Houston.  To make matters a little more pressing, Houston lost their unbeaten streak at home.  It seems like more and more opponents are figuring out the stadium, and the Texas summer heat only lasts for so long.  I have my doubts as to whether the Dynamo can retain their playoff position, but they always seem to stick around somehow.
First half Team MVP--Tally Hall.  I look at Hall a lot like I do Clint Irwin of the Rapids.  He keeps Houston in matches, and with a little more support he can keep them in the playoff hunt.

6. New England Revolution, 24 Points.
Don't look now, but here come the Revs.  They've been kind of quiet about it, but I think they're one of the more improved sides in MLS.  Diego Fagundez has really come on strong, as has Bobby Shuttleworth in goal.  As you probably know, GK Matt Reis's father in law was severely injured in the Boston Marathon bombing, and the emergence of Shuttleworth has been great to let Matt and his family focus on that.  Saer Sene continues to be a force in attack as well.  Right now they're just a little too inconsistent, especially playing from a winning position.  They seem to be learning how to close matches out.  Still, this team just might fly under the radar right into a playoff spot.
First Half Team MVP--Diego Fagundez.  Sure, he isn't scoring all the goals, but he's proven himself to be highly capable both attacking and creating.  This young man is the future of this club and the future is now!

7. Columbus Crew, 23 Points.
The Crew have been a little disappointing for me this year.  However, they have a completely valid excuse.  They've lost a few key players, including Eddie Gaven, to season ending injuries, and it's wreaked havok.  Jario Arrieta has also missed significant time for national team duty.  Federico Higuain has struggled a bit more than last year, it's possible that the league is adjusting to him somewhat.  What is of more concern however is the fact that he is among a group of Argentinian players who have been suspected of doctoring their passports.  We'll have to see where this goes, but whatever happens, I think the Crew could use multiple reinforcements if they want to stay in the playoff race.
First Half team MVP--Dominic Oduro.  You may not have heard much about him in the rest of MLS, but Oduro has really settled in nicely in Columbus and fashioned himself into one of their top weapons.  His speed is always tough to deal with and his eight goals show an improvement in finishing.

8. Chicago Fire, 21 Points. 
When you talk about the story of the Fire's season so far, you have to talk about Mike Magee.  Some folks wondered if he could continue to play as well as he has after departing the Galaxy.  Yes he has, and he's been the man for the Fire.  Bakary Soumare came over from Philly and helped solidfy things at the back in front of Sean Johnson, one of the better young 'keepers in the league.  However, it seems like the Fire are still having a little trouble putting all the pieces together on a regular basis.  Right now I don't see them as a playoff team.  Sure, they've gotten better, but I can't see them cracking the top five.
First Half Team MVP--Mike Magee, cause duh.  #MikeMageeFacts

9. Toronto FC, 13 points.
At some point the long suffering fans in Toronto are going to get a winner, but it doesn't look like it's going to be this year as TFC have already lost touch with the playoff group.  Last week local media trumpeted the arrival of Diego Forlan, and MLS even asked via Facebook if TFC were now contenders.  Forlan and his agent shot down the reports the very next day, but for a few hours the fans had something to be excited about.  The revolving door of players continues, and I don't see Ryan Nelsen bringing in the stability that the club needs, at least not yet.  I look for the carousel of players to continue as Nelsen looks for guys that fit his mold, whatever that is.
First Half Team MVP--Robert Earnshaw.  One of the new additions that has stuck, Earnshaw has been one of the few bright spots for TFC.  He is probably their only consistent goal scoring threat, for what it's worth.

 10. DC United, 10 points.
How do you go about pinpointing what in the world is wrong at RFK?  Both Dwayne De Rosario and Chris Pontius have been injured, and that hasn't helped, but the defense has been a disaster in front of Bill Hamid.  The front office has seemed clueless for much of the year, and Ben Olsen's penchant for blaming the referees has gotten real old, real fast.  United needs help everywhere.  If they can solidify the lineup and make a run ahead of Chivas USA and TFC, that might be something to build on.  If they can't, Olsen's days may be numbered.
First Half Team MVP--Dwayne De Rosario.  The former MVP has to get healthy and stay healthy.  He is the best hope this team has of getting out of the cellar.

So there you have it, my thoughts on the East.  In the end I suspect that Sporting KC, Montreal, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia, and the Revs will be your five playoff teams, but there is a lot of football left to be played.

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.

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.

Seattle, LA, DC, and Houston Advance to MLS Conference Finals

Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry were unable to push NYRB onward (Getty Images)

To say that the MLS playoffs have been interesting and eventful so far would be an understatement.  We've had games moved and postponed by weather, trophy winners have crashed out, there have been stellar performances in goal, and an era has probably ended at one of MLS's most successful clubs in recent years.

There was another very noticeable trend as well. Every team that had the so called "advantage" of having the second leg of the tie at home lost.  Of those four teams. only Sporting Kansas City went home in trouble, but the visitors were able to move on in every case.

The first series to be decided was Sporting KC versus Houston on Wednesday night.  The Dynamo went to Livestrong Sporting Park up 2-0 on aggregate after beating KC fairly handily at BBVA Compass Stadium.  Sporting pressed Houston all night long, but for the most part came up short trying to find the target.  Seth Sinovic scored for KC on a diving header in the 64th minute, but they couldn't beat Tally Hall again, and the US Open Cup winners crashed out of the MLS Cup Playoffs 1-2 on aggregate. 

The result in Wednesday's second match was perhaps even more surprising.  It looked like business as usual for the San Jose Earthquakes when they scored a stoppage time winner in the first leg of their series at the LA Galaxy, sending them back to Buck Shaw stadium with a 1-0 aggregate lead.   However in the second leg, LA pretty much put the "Goonies" to the sword rather quickly.  Robbie Keane scored twice and Mike Magee added one as the defending MLS Cup Champs pushed out to a 1-3 aggregate lead.  Alan Gordon added a goal late on to make it 2-3, and things seemed like they might be set up for more stoppage time magic for the Quakes, but LA held on to end the season for the Quakes, your 2012 Supporters Shield Winners.

Thursday night the odd series between New York Red Bulls and DC United finished up.  It was supposed to finish Wednesday as well, but the appearance of snow at Hurricane Sandy battered Red Bull Arena forced a 1 day postponement, much to the annoyance of DC United.  In the end, DC would get the last laugh in this wild game.  DC 'keeper Bill Hamid was sent off for bringing down Kenny Cooper in the box in the 69th minute.  Cooper converted the PK, but it was called back after NY's two most expensive players. Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry, were called for encroachment.  DC backup 'keeper Joe Willis saved the second PK attempt to preserve the 1-1 aggregate score from RFK.

Shortly thereafter, Rafa Marquez was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving both sides with 10 men.  DC's Nick DeLeon then found the winning goal late on to make the final aggregate score 1-2.

The final match of the round took place in Sandy between RSL and Seattle Sounders.  The teams had fought to a scoreless, bloody draw in Seattle, and things were largely the same at Rio Tinto Stadium as both Christian Tiffert and Tony Beltran would get bloodied in this hard fought, well played match.  In the end, Seattle capitalized on an RSL mistake, as Jamison Olave turned the ball over and Mario Martinez scored an absolute GOLAZO to notch the only goal of the series as Seattle deservedly took the tie 0-1. 

So now the season has ended for everyone but four teams, and the conference finals are set.  They'll take place over two legs on the next two Sundays, with LA and Houston hosting this weekend and Seattle and DC hosting the second legs next weekend.  Both should be interesting ties.

Houston's Heartbreak Hotel for RSL.

RSL's Yordany Alvarez battles in Houston. (Getty Images)

What is there to say to the RSL faithful tonight?  To be like the Miami Heat's "Good Effort" kid seems to ring a little hollow.  One thing is for sure, that was an absolutely brutal way to lose.  Dropping on a PK in stoppage time is hard enough, but when you do it after not only saving a PK earlier, but being denied a possible winner in the late stages, it's even worse.

RSL had the better of the ball through most of the match, especially in the first half, but good chances were hard to come by as the absence of Alvaro Saborio was keenly felt.  Fabian Espindola did have a couple of nice looks, forcing a good save out of Tally Hall in the 11th minute   Ricardo Clark also made what was likely a goal saving tackle in on the speedy RSL forward in minute 31, and the half ended  scoreless.

Things picked up a bit in the second half, and the Dynamo looked likely to take the lead in the 75th minute when Chris Schuler brought Will Bruin down in the box to concede a PK.   The usually trustworthy Brad Davis stepped up to take it, but Nick Rimando made the save to keep the game scoreless.

RSL then had their two best chances of the match.  In the 79th minute Nat Borchers looked certain to score, putting a bouncing header to Tally Hall's far post on a set piece, however the Houston 'keeper made a fantastic save to keep the Dynamo in it.  Then in the 89th minute Ned Grabavoy got one on one with Hall, but once again the Houston 'keeper came up big and stopped the shot cold.

The Dynamo got their magic in stoppage time, as the only big defensive mistake of the night came back to haunt the Claret and Cobalt.  Mac Kandji lost the RSL defense and slipped unmarked into the penalty area.  Nick Rimando came out to try and claim the incoming ball, but bowled over Kandji from behind, conceding a second penalty to the Dynamo.  This time Colin Clark absolutely smashed the ball past Rimando into the back of the net to give the Dynamo a 1-0 win at full time.

In my match preview I noted that Houston was very likely to get a goal, even through late dramatics.  Therefore RSL would need two to win.  However, the Dynamo seemed to be unconcerned about the RSL attack without Sabo, and they took the only chance they needed to get the win.

The defense has cleaned itself up for the most part.  The problem is this, when you don't score any goals, you have no chance at winning and you have to play perfectly to earn the draw.  The perfect match wasn't going to happen against Houston in their building.

Someone at forward needs to be a threat for RSL.  The last time a striker besides Saborio scored for the Claret and Cobalt was June 16th when Fabi dropped two on Chivas USA.  Since that match, RSL is 4-8-2, picking up only 14 of 42 possible points.  That's barely a point per game, and nowhere near good enough to compete in MLS.  The power outage is staggering.  We need to give the defense and Nick Rimando some breathing room by scoring more goals, and 3 out of our 5 forwards seem incapable of scoring.  One of them, the ONLY one who is a proven scorer in MLS, never gets off the bench.

Without more balls going into the opposing net, it's tough to see RSL making a deep playoff run. If RSL falls into the 4 or 5 slot, and even manages to win that first match, how do we feel about stopping San Jose's machine if we can't score?  It's gotta change.

Tonight, the credit goes to the Dynamo for sticking to their plan and their guns.

Preview: Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake

Houston celebrates their win over RSL last August in Houston

The fact that Real Salt Lake has a serious aversion to winning in Texas is not lost on most RSL fans.  The Claret and Cobalt have failed to win in 20 visits to the Lone Star state, and that is where they find themselves Thursday night against the Houston Dynamo in brand new BBVA Compass Stadium.

The news doesn't get a lot better for RSL if you just read the tail of the tape preview.  Captain Kyle Beckerman will be missing from the lineup as well as Alvaro Saborio and Will Johnson, all away on international duty.  Apparently MLS can't get it through their head to give ALL the clubs the FIFA date off, especially as this is a World Cup Qualifying week.  Nick Rimando was also called in to the US National team, but will be Houston to play the match tomorrow night.  Also, BBVA Compass has been a fortress for the Dynamo since it's opening, as it's been hard for any team to get a result there, let alone a win.

It's not all bad though.   Houston comes into the match winless in their last four, and suffered a nasty defeat at the hands of the Chicago Fire last weekend.  They've dropped from the top of the table in the East to fourth, now looking over their shoulder in the playoff race.  They'll also have international absences of their own.  Oscar Boniek Garcia will be with Honduras, Andre Hainault will be wearing Canadian colors, and both Jermaine Taylor and Je-Vaughn Watson have been called into the Jamaica squad that will face the USA.

Boniek Garcia in particular has been a constant threat for the Dynamo since his signing earlier in the summer, so that will be one less attacking option for the Dynamo.  However RSL will still have to deal with the ever present form of Brad Davis and his lethal service, probably the best left foot in MLS.  Also RSL will have to defend Will Bruin, who has 11 goals on the season for the Dynamo.

A big part of playing against, and having success against, Houston is to defend the set piece well.  The Dynamo have 11 goals from set pieces this year, trailing only San Jose with 15.  The cultured left foot of Brad Davis is a huge part of that, and it concerns me as RSL has given up some pretty cheap goals on set pieces this year, though they've been much better of late.  It will be of paramount importance to limit the chances that the Dynamo get to to punish them in this area.

The big hit Houston takes from the international week is on their back line, and I think RSL can possibly exploit that.  They'll be missing two of their top defenders in Taylor and Hainault, and of course they no longer have Geoff Cameron to be a rock in their defense as he's off to Stoke City.  Keeping that in mind, the Dynamo have allowed 8 goals in their four game winless streak.  Even minus Saborio, the speed and ability of Fabian Espindola and Paulo Jr should be able to cause Houston some problems at the back and create some quality chances on goal.

As for RSL's defense, it looks like the line will probably be Beltran/Watson-Siriboe/Borchers/Wingert across the back.  Watson Siriboe has been stellar filling in for Olave, and we'll probably need his height defending those Davis free kicks.  Plus, that guy is going to get on the score sheet from a set piece of his own, sooner rather than later.  RSL has posted three straight clean sheets across all competitions and we'll need that effort to take three points form BBVA Compass Stadium.

On the injury front, Houston will have MF Adam Moffat listed as doubtful with a adductor strain and FW Calen Carr as questionable with knee swelling.  For RSL, Jamison Olave is still listed as doubtful, while Kenny Mansally is questionable.  Chris Schuler, who was in the 18 against DC, is listed as probable.  

The Claret and Cobalt have a number of guys who are on suspension notice for their next yellow card: chief among them Espindola and Javier Morales.  Olave and Saborio are as well, but they won't see action.  Calen Carr is the only player in that boat for the Dynamo.

The referee tomorrow night is Ismail Elfath.  Everybody hold your breath.  In 5 MLS matches he's given out 4 reds and 3 pks.  He averages 22.6 fouls per game and 2.2 yellows.  The 4th official is the infamous Jasen Anno.  

So what's going to go down in the Texas heat Thursday night?  I don't think we'll see the same effort/formation that we saw for the point in Philly.  The chance for three is there but SOMEBODY has to step up and score goals, because Sabo won't be there to help us out.  I think we'll get one.  However, Houston has a knack for drama at home, and I see them getting one as well.  I'll call it a 1-1 draw.  I honestly think we'll need two to win, so hopefully somebody can step up to shoulder the load.

Dynamo's Cameron Finally Seals Move to Stoke

Houston's Geoff Cameron (center) has secured a move to Stoke City of the EPL

Good news today for people who like seeing our quality American players head overseas to compete in Europe.   Houston Dynamo and US International Defender Geoff Cameron has finally completed his move to Stoke City of the Barclay's Premier League as his UK Work Permit came through today.  According to Sky Sports, Stoke manager Tony Pulis and chief executive Tony Scholes were able to successfully lobby an appeal hearing today in Manchester.

Cameron is now cleared to join the Potters, which is a relief for them as the new EPL season is little more than a week away.  According to Cameron, Stoke plan to try him at both center back and center mid.  Either is fine by him, as long as he can get the minutes to work into the club.

Cameron is quoted as saying...

“It’s surreal because it’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I think I ended my career with the Dynamo with a pretty good game. I thought that was one of my best games of the season against D.C. United [July 15] and now I want to go abroad and try the UK and get that experience and test my ability.”

Best of luck to Mr. Cameron as he embarks on the new phase of his career.  He should do well at Stoke, as he seems to the type of hard working, slightly underrated player that Pulis loves to work on.

Match Thoughts: Houston Dynamo vs. New York Red Bulls

NY's Victor Palsson commits a yellow card tackle on Oscar Boniek Garcia (Getty Images)

Ladies and Gentlemen, there's a new sheriff in town in the Eastern Conference.  Please welcome the Houston Dynamo, your new leaders.  They vaulted into the pole position with a convincing 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls Friday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.

New York was hoping for a bright start, with new DP Tim Cahill making his MLS debut.  It didn't happen as the Dynamo seized control from the first kick off.   In the second minute Brad Davis set up for a free kick and put the ball into the penalty area.  The Red Bulls looked utterly lost as the ball finally fell to Andre Hainault, who put a shot on target that Bill Gaudette was barely able to keep out.  Then Jermaine Taylor came in totally unmarked and tapped the ball over the goal line to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead.

After that the crowd in Houston waited to see if the Red Bulls could regroup and try to get into the match after giving up the first goal.  It didn't happen.  The Houston attack continued to cause New York problems as their defense wandered rather aimlessly and their midfield just looked uninspired without Dax McCarty, who was serving a suspension for yellow card accumulation.  Both Will Bruin and Oscar Boniek-Garcia forced saves out of Gaudette, but Calen Carr finally added the Dynamo insurance goal in the 28th minute.  He got loose and headed in a cross from Mac Kandji to make it 2-0, which was the score at half time.

The Dynamo continued their march early in the second half.  Will Bruin nearly made it 3-0 in the 47th minute, but sent his shot just wide of the far post.  New York did get a couple of looks as well, though none really threatening.  Tim Cahill missed with a header in the 64th minute and Kenny Cooper hit a shot right at Tally Hall in the 74th.  Thierry Henry was practically invisible. 

Boniek-Garcia had a couple of good looks late on for the Dynamo.  In the 86th minute he drove a shot that just missed the far upper corner, and Gaudette managed to save his last effort in the first minute of stoppage time to make the final score 2-0.

The win puts the Dynamo on top of the East with 40 points, though Sporting Kansas City equaled that total with a win over New England on Saturday.  New York falls to third place, still on 38 points.  The two teams will meet again next Friday at Red Bull Arena.

Match Thoughts: Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union

Brian Ching puts the Dynamo in the lead from the spot. (Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Union traveled to Houston and the new BBVA Compass Stadium Saturday hoping to build on the momentum of their previous home victory against Sporting Kansas City.  The Dynamo were looking forward to some home cooking after a lackluster performance last time out against the Montreal Impact.

The Union have certainly been playing better since the dismissal of Peter Nowack as manager, but the Dynamo controlled this match early on.  Brad Davis was very active, as per usual, and they were also featuring a brand new designated player.  Honduran attacker Oscar Boniek Garcia, a Gold Cup veteran, made his debut for the club and looked pretty good.  He didn't do anything flashy, but definitely helped set up the attack as Houston debuted a new 4-3-3 formation.

The Dynamo put some decent pressure on the Philly goal in the first 20 minutes, and it finally paid off in the 19th.  Mac Kandji took a cross from Boniek Garcia near the top of the area and laid it off to Brad Davis.  Davis, ever the expert marksman, chipped the ball over the 'keeper and nestled it into the side netting to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead.

Houston would also have a chance to double the lead before the half.  Set pieces are a forte of this club, and they nearly made another one pay off in the 34th minute.  Brad Davis found the head of US International Geoff Cameron, but the big central defender somehow missed the target with his shot and the half ended at 1-0.

The Union came out like a totally different team in the second half though and equalized almost immediately.  In the 46th minute Brian Carroll connected with one Keon Daniel, who blasted the ball past Tally Hall into the bottom of the goal to tie the match at 1-1 and send the Dynamo reeling.

Philadelphia would continue to press for the go ahead goal in the next minutes and the Dynamo put out a lot of work to withstand the storm.  Michael Farfan had a shot saved by Hall in the 48th minute, and Gabriel Gomez had a shot blocked in the 53rd.  Their best chance came in the 72nd minute when super sub Antoine Hoppenot sent a shot just over Tally Hall's crossbar.  

However the game changer happened in the the 81st minute when Gabe Farfan brought down Brian Ching in the 18 to concede a PK.  The Houston main-stay then stepped up himself to take the kick, and iced it to make the score 2-1 in the 82nd and hand the Dynamo 3 points at home.  It was also his first goal in the new Stadium, which is often called "the house that Ching built."

Match Thoughts: New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo

Matt Reis makes a save in Saturday's match vs the Houston Dynamo (Getty Images)

You be the judge:  what's the biggest story out of this match,  a major missed opportunity for the New England Revolution or another gutsy performance by a weary Houston Dynamo squad to salvage a late draw?  A case could be made for either point, but it's safe to say that the Dynamo left Gillette Stadium the happier of the two sides.

It was kind of a back and forth affair, and it was definitely a chippy match, with Houston dealing most, but not all of the big hits.  Despite the fact that the Revs were looking for their third straight win at home, Houston looked the better side in the opening minutes.  One couldn't really tell that they had just played on Tuesday.

However, the first of the hits came in the 25th minute, and it was a hit that cost the Dynamo dearly.  Brad Davis plowed over Saer Sene in the area and conceded a penalty kick.  How you manage to run over Sene is beyond me after seeing him in person when the Revs played at Rio Tinto a few weeks back.  The guy is HUGE.  Nevertheless, the Frenchman nailed the spot kick to give the Revs a 1-0 lead.

Everyone in MLS knows that the Dynamo are a big threat on seat pieces with Brad Davis providing the balls in.  According to the Revs announcers, New England paid a lot of attention to set piece defense in practice last week.  You really couldn't tell though.  In the 31st minute Davis sent a ball into the box that Will Bruin managed to head home to make the match 1-1.

The second half got even more chippy and the yellow cards started flying.  Both teams tried to attack, but it was the Revolution who got on the board next.  In the 57th minute Sene swiped the ball from Geoff Cameron and streaked up the field, nailing the ball past Tally Hall to make it 2-1 Revs.

It looked like New England would hang on, even as the Dynamo applied a ton of pressure late on.  The pressure paid off for the men in orange in the 87th minute.  Brian Ching and Luiz Carmago put together a nice 1-2 around the Revs area.  The end result was Ching flicking a pass over the Revs defense which Carmago knocked past Reis to equalize the match at 2-2, which was the full time result.  Houston's perseverance paid off, and the Revs were left to rue dropped points at home, miring them in 5th place in the East.

Match Thoughts: Houston Dynamo vs. Portland Timbers

Troy Perkins turned in a man of the match performance for Portland. (Getty Images)

At first glance this match looked like a real albatross on the MLS schedule.  A Tuesday night duel in Houston after the Dynamo had just played an emotional and draining match on Saturday, as well as another midweek match last week.  Meanwhile, Portland didn't play this last weekend, in theory giving them an edge.  It didn't turn out at that way at all.  In the end, the match ended up being one of the most forgettable of the the MLS campaign so far.

Portland came out of the gates looking totally lethargic on offense.  Darlington Nagbe really looked like he was the only one who really came to play.  Kris Boyd grew increasingly frustrated as service into the Dynamo penalty area was non existent.  There was absolutely zero creativity from anyone in a green shirt.

It wasn't quite the same for Houston though.  They certainly outworked Portland despite their obviously tired legs.  The Dynamo ended up taking 17 shots in the match but they ran into a couple of problems.  One, they rarely hit the target.  Two, when they did, Troy Perkins was an absolute brick wall.

Houston captain Brian Ching checked in later in the second half to try and provide the Dynamo offense with the little extra they needed to get over the hump.  One would figure he'd get at least one big chance, and he did.  Late on he got the ball right in front of the Portland goal, but sent his shot flying horribly over the crossbar.  In the 87th minute Calen Carr got 1v1 with Perkins, but the Portland keeper came up huge and smotherd the shot to preserve the 0-0 draw.

Sure, Portland will take the point on the road.  However this team has issues.  First off, they have nothing going on offense.  They invested heavily in Kris Boyd as a DP, but it's not working all that well.  Yes, he has a couple of goals, but he doesn't really create much.  He's a target man and when he doesn't get the service, he doesn't get much going.  Everyone talks about how wonderful Boyd was with Rangers, however taking a look at his stats after leaving Scotland, I'm not sure why anyone is really surprised at the results thus far.  In the end, the Timbers still can't win on the road, and whatever advantage they had at Jeld-Wen Field has seemingly evaporated.  This is not a good recipe for climbing the table in MLS.  They need some help.

For Houston, it was disappointing that they didn't get the win, but they'll chalk it up to being their 3rd match in seven days and take solace in the fact that they really did outplay the struggling Portland side.

Match Thoughts: Houston Dynamo vs DC United

The new home of the Houston Dynamo:  BBVA Compass Stadium (Getty Images)

It looked like the star of this match was going to be Houston's brand new stadium, that is until one Brad Davis showed up.  His second half strike helped the Dynamo open their stadium in style, leading them to a 1-0 win over Eastern Conference foe DC United.

Despite a somewhat tentative start from both teams, it was clear throughout the match that the Dynamo were the side in the ascendency.  The more the match wore on, the more the Houston heat took effect on both clubs, but more so on DC United.  DC did have a chance in minute 13, but Maicon Santos saw his shot go wide.

After that it was pretty much all Dynamo, with Bill Hamid turning in a great performance to keep United in the match.  Houston had a couple of good chances before the break, as Bobby Boswell missed a shot in the 36th, and Je-vaughn Watson put a shot over the bar in stoppage time to keep the score 0-0 going into half time.

Davis's goal of the week candidate strike came in the 67th minute.  He took a ball from André Hainault and blasted a shot toward the goal from thirty plus yards.  Hamid jumped to his left at full stretch but couldn't get to the ball as it nestled in the net to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead.

After that about the only thing the Dynamo faithful could ask for was a goal from their Captain, Brian Ching.  The beloved striker was somewhat controversially reattained from Montreal after being lost in the expansion draft, but it's clear his home really is in Houston.  He tried his best to add to Houston's goal tally, but just couldn't quite do it.  Hamid saved a close up effort in the 76th and he missed the target in the 77th.  He left the match in the 84th minute to a standing ovation.  In the end, the Dynamo would take it as they held on for the 1-0 victory.

NOTES:  Ching had reason to hope for a goal.  When Houston played their first match at Robertson Stadium in 2006, he scored 4 goals.  The win snaps a five game winless spell for the Dynamo, that included a loss at DC United a couple of weeks back.  For United, the biggest talking point was an injury to Perry Kitchen, who left the match in the first half with an ankle injury.  However, an MRI came back negative and he is listed as questionable for DC's next match against the Rapids.

Match Thoughts: New York Red Bulls vs. Houston Dynamo

Kenny Cooper kisses the ball after scoring in the 7th minute. (Getty Images for NYRB)

Sometimes in sports it's better to be lucky than good.  Well, I wouldn't argue that the Red Bulls aren't good, but without Thierry Henry, they're certainly down a notch.  Last night a flukey goal helped them to an important home result over a Houston Dynamo squad that was obviously preoccupied.

In the opening minutes it honestly seemed like a match that neither side wanted to be involved in.  New York seemed to be slightly the more interested side, and it paid off for them in the 7th minute on what would end up being the only goal of the match. Mehdi Ballouchy slid a ball across the center to Kenny Cooper near the top of the area, but Cooper couldn't quite hold on.  Houston attempted an awful back pass in their own area to Tally Hall, and as he rushed on to clear it, Cooper jumped in the way and deflected the clearance into the net to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead.

Houston gradually came into the match after the goal, getting more and more of the possession.  Quality chances were few and far between for much of the first half though.  Cam Weaver forced a save out of Ryan Meara in the 15th, and Geoff Cameron missed a header in first half stoppage time, but that was largely it as the half ended with 1-0 score line.

The Red Bulls subbed in Juan Agudelo for the second half, and the young US International certainly injected some pace into the game and gave the Dynamo defense someone to be concerned about other than Cooper.  In the 65th minute he cranked a shot on target from just outside of the area, but Tally Hall dived to his left and made a great save. 

Still, the better chances came for Houston in the second half.  The last ten minutes really opened up and resulted in the best action of the match.  Brad Davis, returning from injury, had a flurry of chances.  However, he failed to hit the target in both the 81st and 82nd minutes.  In the 85th minute Adam Moffat slammed a shot that literally barely went over the bar.  Meara would have had no chance.  Davis would have another chance on the 88th minute, but his on rushing header again failed to find the target as the Houston midfielder collapsed to the pitch in frustration.  Calen Carr took the last attacking breath for the Dynamo in the final minute of stoppage time, but once again Meara came up big on the save and preserved the 1-0 home win for New York.

NOTES:  The clean sheet was the second straight for the Red Bulls patch work defense and 'keeper Ryan Meara after blanking the Galaxy in LA last weekend.  Meara becomes the first NY 'keeper to post back to back clean sheets in his rookie season, a stat that goes all the way back to the Metrostars days.  Rafa Marquez is finished with his three game ban, but sat out due to an ankle injury.  For Houston, Brian Ching stayed behind as the Dynamo look to open BBVA Compass Stadium this weekend against DC United.

Puddle's MLS Matches of the Week.

Last year I wrote a few entries previewing all of the MLS for a particular weekend.  Well my work schedule has changed a bit since then, so I don't get to do as much reading prior to the fixtures.  This year I'm going to try just a picking a couple of matches and keeping an eye on them.

D.C. United vs Houston Dynamo:
RFK Stadium, Saturday, 4/28/12 7:30 PM EDT

Last year the Houston Dynamo represented the Eastern Conference in MLS Cup.  Meanwhile, DC United began a process of trying to restore themselves to MLS powerhouse status under Ben Olsen.  This year both of these clubs are off to a pretty hot start, under somewhat different circumstances.

The Houston Dynamo come into the match on the sixth game of a rough road trip as they wait for the opening of their new BBVA Compass Stadium.  However, they've done well so far, claiming 8 points in the first five matches of the season.  Last week they played to a 2-2 draw against Columbus at Crew Stadium.  DC United currently sit in second place in the east, on 12 points.  Last weekend they thumped the New York Red Bulls at RFK stadium 4-1, in a match that was never close.

It will be interesting to see if Houston can contain DC's offense, which has really been amongst the goals in recent weeks.  Maicon Santos has been especially hot, scoring 4 goals and adding 1 assist in the last 5 games.  Also, Chris Pontius scored a hat trick last weekend against New York.  However, these aren't DC's only weapons.  Nick DeLeon is certainly an early contender for Rookie of the Year.  He's scored three goals already this season, tops among rookies.  Houston also can't forget Dwayne De Rosario, who hasn't found the back of the net yet in 2012, but is always orchestrating the United attack.

For the Dynamo, they'll still be without a couple of key figures.  Colin Clark is still serving his early season suspension, and Brad Davis is still listed as doubtful.  Luckily for the Dynamo, they've had some different weapons start to emerge in the last couple of weeks, namely their forwards.  Through the first three matches of the season, the Dynamo forwards had not contributed either a goal or an assist.  However, Will Bruin and Brian Ching have combined for the last three Dynamo tallies, leading them to draws in their last two away matches.  Houston will need these guys to put in a good work rate against a reforged DC back line now anchored by former RSL man Robbie Russell.

Houston leads the all time series between the two clubs 7-3.  There have been 2 draws.  However, all 3 of DC's wins have come at RFK.  I look for DC to have too many weapons and outlast the road weary Dynamo.  I'll say it'll be 2-1 DC at full time.


L.A. Galaxy vs. F.C. Dallas
 Home Depot Center, Saturday, 4/28/12 10:30 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Galaxy have pulled themselves away from the brink, and off of the foot of the Western Conference table, after a horrid start to the season.  Maybe expectations were tempered for the Galaxy after early home losses and an early exit from Champions League.  Maybe they just finally got their act together.  Who knows?  They do seem to be getting back in the saddle a bit after holding on to a tough win at the Colorado Rapids last weekend.

FC Dallas has been trending the other direction.  Over the last few years they've been a Western Conference power, but they've been sputtering this year.  Last weekend they lost 1-0 up in Vancouver, and dropped points at home against Real Salt Lake midweek, coming out with a 1-1 draw after being dominated in the second half.

The Hoops will have more hands to the pump against the Galaxy this weekend though.  Blas Perez will return after being suspended against RSL, so he'll be somewhat rested.  Jackson has been recalled from loan at Cruziero in Brazil, and made his first appearance of the year midweek.  Team them with Brek Shea and they could possibly deal some damage to an LA defense that has yet to hold a clean sheet this season.

However the Galaxy have been tuning up their weapons the last couple of weeks as well, beating both Portland and the Rapids.  Still, it must be said that they didn't dominate either opponent.  Only a Josh Saunders penalty stop preserved all three points against Colorado, and they didn't really get a good grip against the Timbers until late in the second half.  Certainly, Keane and Donovan will be about their usual activities, and David Beckham is listed as questionable, but should see minutes.  It will be interesting to see if the supporting cast can help them step up against a tough Dallas defense.  Keeper Kevin Hartman is listed as questionable to go against the Galaxy attack, however EJ Holland's article on the Dallas injury list says he will not play, and backup Chris Seitz will get his third consecutive start.

I'm going to call this one a draw, but I want to pick the Galaxy.  I do think they'll get to Seitz, however, with Perez coming back rested and Brek Shea being, well, Brek Shea, I look for them to keep the vulnerable Galaxy defense from notching their first clean sheet of the year.  Look for 1-1 or 2-2 at full time.

 

MLS Injury and Suspension Round Up

Several Major League Soccer clubs will be facing injury and suspension issues going into play this weekend.  Here's my guide to some of the biggest news.

First up, the New England Revolution.  They'll be missing captain Shalrie Joseph after the league handed down a one game suspension earlier this week.  In the 62nd minute of last Thursday's game at FC Dallas, Joseph made a lunging tackle on Ricardo Villar of the Hoops.  It was a late tackle, and Joseph received a yellow card.  Villar suffered a right mid foot sprain on the play.  The league felt it deserved harsher punishment.  Benny Feilhaber is still listed as doubtful, but has trained this week.

Next we have the Houston Dynamo, who are still dealing with both injury and suspension issues as well.  Colin Clark is still in the midst of his ban from the ball boy incident in Seattle, and Adam Moffat will be missing the game through suspension as well.  Brad Davis will be out with a calf injury, leaving the team very short through the midfield for the match against Chicago. The Dynamo will perhaps be looking to former TFC man Nathan Sturgis to help plug these holes.

There's some slightly better news to report from the Columbus Crew camp.  Last week Julius James suffered a collapsed lung after training and was taken straight to the hospital for emergency surgery.  According to MLSSoccer.com, he's feeling better and recovering, but will be out for at least a month.  The Puddle wishes him a speedy and safe recovery. 

Last but not least, SoccerbyIves is reporting that NY Red Bulls defender Wilman Conde may miss up to a month after injuring his groin in practice.  Conde has already missed three matches for Red Bulls so far, and Ives is keying in on Markus Holgersson to step up.  Click the link above for the whole story.  Plus, if you're interested in MLS and you're NOT following Ives on Twitter at @SoccerbyIves, you should be.

More Injury Woes For Houston's Davis

Some more troubling news on the MLS injury front this afternoon.  MLSsoccer.com is reporting that Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis sustained an injury in training this weekend and his status for the weekend's match against the Chicago Fire is in doubt.

Apparently Davis injured his calf during a training session on Saturday, and missed today's training to have an MRI on the injury.  The Dynamo have said that the results of the test were not yet available as of 5:30 CDT Monday.

This would be a big blow for the Dynamo under any circumstance, but it's particularly tough right now.  Two other Dynamo midfielders: Colin Clark and Adam Moffat, will be serving suspensions this weekend so it will severely test the Dynamo's depth.

Stayed tuned to the MLS and Dynamo official sites for development on this story.  Davis is one of the best service guys in the league and I hope he can play.  He's fun to watch.

MLS Disciplinary Notes: Seattle vs. Houston

The major thing that made headlines in this match was, unfortunately, Colin Clark cursing out a Seattle ball boy.  However, there were a couple of other issues which warranted a look from the league, and this morning, they came down with decisions on those.

First off the Dynamo's Adam Moffat was suspended one game and fined for a tackle made on Osvaldo Alonso.  In 35th minute, Moffat hit Alonso just below the knee with a high boot. He was issued a yellow card for the play.  MLS says the suspension and fine are because Moffat endangered the safety of his opponent.

Sounders midfielder Alvaro Fernandez was also fined an undisclosed amount for embellishment of contact.  In the 82nd minute, Fernandez reacted to contact with Houston's Brad Davis, who was on a yellow card, like he had been shot or something.  He went to the floor, clearly in an attempt ton get Davis sent off.  Fortunately, the referee wasn't buying his antics.  Fernandez has gained a reputation for diving, and it appears to have caught up with him.

I agree with the action in both of these cases, with one issue.  I think Fernandez should be suspended for a game.  Last year, MLS set as precedent for diving after Charlie Davies dived and earned a PK against RSL.  Later in the season, RSL's Alvaro Saborio was fined and suspended for diving and earning a PK.  Surely Sounders fans would point out that Fernandez was not trying to win a PK.  However, he was obviously trying to get Davis sent off, which would affect not only the current match (which Seattle led 2-0 in the 82nd minute) but a future match as Davis would have been suspended.  To me that's just as unsportsman like.  However, I am glad the league decided to take some kind of action.

MLS Suspends, Fines Dynamo's Colin Clark

If you've read my blog for awhile, or perhaps if you're familiar with my twitter stream, you know that I'm often skeptical of Major League Soccer's "punishments."  Let me say right off, I think they got this one absolutely right.

Last Friday night, in the early minutes of the Dynamo's match at Seattle, on-field microphones picked up Dynamo midfielder Colin Clark using some pretty offensive language toward a ball boy.  I'm not going to repost it here, but let's suffice it to say both words start with an F, and included an anti-gay slur.

Oops.

For his part, Clark issued a fairly prompt apology via twitter at about 12 AM Pacific time, Saturday morning--

"I'd like to offer a sincere apology to everyone who watched the game, especially the ball boy for whom I used awful language towards,"

His next tweet read--

"I didn't mean to disrespect anyone and am sorry for letting my emotions get the best of me, It's not who I am and it won't happen again."

Clark also released a more full statement later.  However, today MLS handed down disciplinary action including a 3 game suspension, a fine of an undisclosed amount, and league mandated sensitivity/diversity training.  I think they got it just about right.  It's not overkill and it's not a slap on the wrist either.

My take on this whole thing:  I don't think Colin Clark is a bad guy.  His apologies seem sincere.  He apologized personally to the ball boy.  He says that this is not who he is, and I'll take him at face value on that.  He apparently doesn't have a history of this type of behavior.

Anyone that's played competitive sports at any level knows that sometimes your emotions can get the best of you, though that's tempered by the fact that this happened very early in the match.  It's not an excuse at all, but I'll take Clark's word that he just lost his head and shot his mouth off.  Hopefully the punishment will keep him from doing that again, and in theory it will make other players or staff think twice about this behavior in future.