MLS Murky Offseason....The Story So Far.

While MLS trumpeted high profile new signings, it's Golden Boot winner went South

You could say that the last couple of weeks of this MLS offseason have been.....eventful.  Personally I would describe it as a soap opera almost juicy enough to pass that English soccer soap opera, you know the one, "Dream Team."  Love MLS or hate it, you've been able to look around the last couple of weeks and find plenty of ammunition to support your point of view.

The rumblings began before the playoffs were even totally underway.  After the Colorado Rapids lost to the Seattle Sounders in the first round, a rumor spread through MLS like wildfire that Rapids manager, and my pick for Manager of the Year, Oscar Pareja would be packing his bags and heading for the open job at FC Dallas.  That rumor was laughed at and even went away for awhile, until a couple of weeks ago when reports hit that Pareja had resigned from the Rapids.  This was eventually followed up with an announcement that Colorado and Dallas had reached a deal for Pareja to coach in Dallas.   But that wasn't all for the Rapids either.  On January 9 Chivas USA announced that Rapids assistant Wilmer Cabrera was now the head coach of the Goats.  This left Colorado without a head coach on draft day, and Colorado legend Pablo Mastroeni was named as "Assistant to the Technical Director."  The Rapids website suggests that they will take their time looking for a new coach, and that they may hire an interim coach for the short term.  That's rattling a few sabers as the beginning of preseason training is nearly upon us.

Now as rough as that might sound for our friends in Colorado who still have an outstanding young squad, it's nothing to what supporters of the Vancouver Whitecaps have endured so far.  The Caps, despite just missing the playoffs last year, had some things to be positive about.  They won the Cascadia Cup and ended up with the MLS Golden Boot winner, Camilo Sanvezzo.  Camilo looked to be a dynamic player that their new coach could build around in the offseason.

Then Mexican side Queretaro posted a picture of Camilo wearing their kit on twitter and introducing him to their fans as a new signing.

This seemed to take both the league and Vancouver completely by surprise.  After all, the 'Caps had exercised a club option for Camilo at the end of the season.  Chaos reigned.  The 'Caps said they still had Camilo's International Transfer Certificate, and that Camilo would be expected to report for preseason training.  New pictures soon emerged of Camilo training with his new side south of the border.  There was much snarling and gnashing of teeth, and nearly every MLS pundit on twitter turned into a Lawyer that specialized in International Contract and Commerce Law.  The 'Caps had a strong case.  The 'Caps had no case.  Rulings of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport were cited.  FIFA precedents were mentioned.  In the end all the poor folks in Vancouver got was a half hearted apology from Queretaro, a transfer fee that might have been put to use earlier, and a statement from Don Garber saying he was "disappointed" in the situation.

Really Mr. Garber?  You should be outraged.  Your league's top scorer just went to a rival league.  Not just a rival league, THE RIVAL LEAGUE.  Now, nobody's saying that Camilo was the next Pele or anything, but he was clearly a dynamic player that leaves a huge hole in Vancouver's lineup right before the start of preseason training.  I'm glad that Mr. Garber is disappointed, but I'd like to see him be as outraged as the Vancouver supporters that I follow on Twitter are.

But why should he be outraged?  While the league's leading scorer was sneaking out the back door, MLS was too busy pointing to a brand new shiny object for us all to love.  Ok, actually two brand new shiny objects, Jermaine Defoe and US International Michael Bradley, who signed with Toronto FC.  Now I'm not here to bag on these great signings.  I'm thrilled for TFC Supporters, who now actually have something to be excited about.  TFC's season tickets looked to sell out in a manner of days and depending on who you were, you were either putting MLS Cup in their hands or at least putting them on par with Sporting Kansas City and New York Red Bulls, which they are clearly not.  But hey, new signings generate excitement which is great for the league, and I look forward to seeing them play when TFC visits Rio Tinto.

The question I have is this: more league money was used to sign up Defoe and Bradley, one way or another, just like it was for Dempsey.  On the surface I don't have an issue with this, these players are extremely talented guys who will help raise the profile of MLS.  On the other hand, the league couldn't spare a little cash to throw at Camilo so the 'Caps could keep the Golden Boot winner around?  That's followed up by reports that the league is having issues with the Philadelphia Union's pursuit of Maurice Edu, even after the Union traded up to the top allocation spot to get him, of course neither Dempsey or Bradley were put through allocation, the reasoning being that they are DPs.  The Union want to pay Edu, but the league doesn't believe that he is worth that money.

Now the league is probably right in that regard.  Edu is no Dempsey or Bradley.  Coaching moves aside though, this all underscores the need for more transparency in the way MLS handles these things.  Garber flat out said in the State if the League that they were kind of "making it up as they go along."  Really?  The game itself has rules, supposedly MLS has player acquisition rules and procedures as well.  However these rules, which were already murky in the first place, seem to have gone right out the window in some very high profile matters while they are more strictly applied in other cases.  Wouldn't it be nice to have a set of rules that applied to everybody in this "single entity structure?"

On top of that, Garber announced during the draft that MLS is still bleeding money to the tune of  7-10 million dollars per year.  Of course, if you've read "Soccernomics" you don't REALLY expect soccer organizations to turn a profit, but I know my job would be in trouble if my company was losing 7 mil per year.  My employers wouldn't be out dropping extravagant money on new employees either.  Of course all of this hits as negotiations are set to be going forward for a new CBA between the league and it's players, and you couldn't begrudge the rank and file MLS player for wondering where his piece of the pie is in all this.   I'm hoping for a salary cap bump and a salary bump.  We could also do away with this stupid allocation process which the league only uses when it suits them anyway.  Let the players play where they want within the confines of the salary cap structure.

In the end, it probably seems like I'm really ripping on MLS here.  It's true, I do have concerns.  Bradley and Defoe aren't Beckham.  I think the future of the league will be cemented by bringing up academy talent  and perhaps more players from Latin America to help raise the total standard of play in the league.  Bradley, Defoe, and Dempsey aren't going to do that by themselves.  Ticket sales and jersey sales are great, and help the league's bottom line.  However if the league really wants to raise it's profile, we need to keep raising the standard of soccer on the pitch by providing a set of rules for all clubs to follow, raising salaries and the cap to make the league a more attractive destination, and be a little bit more careful throwing huge chunks of league money at players while we're still bleeding money.

But that's all just my two cents.  I can't wait until the season starts so we can actually talk about the product on the pitch instead of "MLS: As the Brazuca Turns."

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.

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.

MLS Notes, 12/9/12: Re-entry Draft and Philadelphia ReUnion

The Chicago Fire acquired Maicon Santos in the MLS Reentry draft.

Things simmered on the MLS transaction front this week after RSL and the Portland Timbers started proceedings with a bang last Monday.  There were a couple of notable trades that went down, and the league held the first phase of it's reentry draft.  There were some decent names on the table, but for the most part the first phase was a dull affair, with only one team in action.

The Chicago Fire were that one team that picked up a player in phase one.  They picked up forward Maicon Santos, who had had his option declined by DC United.  Santos started last season really well for United, and looked to have finally found a home at RFK.  However, as the season wore on his playing time and production tailed off, leading DC to ultimately to deem him expendable.

No other team picked up a player in the first phase, and teams are now free to negotiate with their declined players leading up to the second pahse of the draft later this coming week.

There was also some really good news for Sons of Ben and the supporters of the Philadelphia Union.  Fan favorite Sebastian Le Toux traded back to the Union from the New York Red Bulls.  Le Toux had been shipped out to the Vancouver Whitecaps prior to 2012 as part of Peter Nowak's purge.  Later in the season the Whitecaps sent him to the Red Bulls as part of the deal that sent Dane Richards to Vancouver.  Le Toux was excited about returning to Philly, where he hopes he can remain for the duration of his MLS stay.

That was not all of the activity for the Union however.  They also acquired defender Jeff Parke from the Seattle Sounders, who are in need of cap relief.  They also loaned midfielder Zach Pfeffer to Hoffenheim in Germany.

MLS Inquest 2012: Philadelphia Union

Carlos Valdes has emerged as a defensive force for the Union (Getty Images)

MLS Inquest 2012: Philadelphia Union
Record: 10-18-6
Points: 36
Finish: 8th (Eastern Conference)


Player of the Year: Carlos Valdes
As the Union often struggled to find goals this year, it was their defense that helped keep them in quite a few matches.  The leader of that defense is Carlos Valdes.  Not only is he a top notch defender, but his foot is a threat on set pieces as well.  His strong play this season for the Union also earned him a look from the Colombian National Team late in the year.  Also impressive for a defender, he only picked up 4 yellow cards in 33 matches, and not one single red card the entire year.  His work rate on the pitch is outstanding, and he rarely puts himself in compromising positions.  Valdes is the kind of rock you can build a team around.

Flop of the Year: Freddy Adu
Have American soccer fans had their fill of Freddy Adu yet?  I hope not, because despite the drama around him and two different head coaches at Philly this year, I still think Adu can be an impact player both in MLS and for the national team.  One does get the sense that the window is closing though.  Peter Nowak seemed to have a man crush on Adu, while John Hackworth seemed to not really have much use for him.  There has to be a middle ground for him, but he struggled to find it, scoring only 5 goals and 1 assist.  How much of it is him and how much of it is his coach?  We may never know, but it's safe to say that he fell short of expectations this year.

The Good:
The Union did improve after John Hackworth was appointed head man following the departure of Peter Nowack.  The on pitch product improved, and the feeling around the club and the organization seemed to pick up as well.  The Union also have one of the best grounds in the league, in my opinion, and great supporters that always provide plenty of atmosphere at their matches, think Sons of Ben.  Unfortunately, these fans really deserve more than they got this season.

The Bad:
One of the biggest issues the Union had this year was their inability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.  For much of the season, they featured Colombian striker Lionard Pajoy, who did manage 5 goals in his time with the club.  Unortunately, Pajoy seemed to have trouble hitting the broadside of a barn, and probably should have been among the league leaders if his finishing was more consistent.  Eventually Pajoy was shown the door in Philly, sent to DC United who made the playoffs while the Union coninued to struggle.

The Ugly:
Unquestionably one of the ugliest situations in MLS this year had to be the departure of Peter Nowak from the Union and the circumstances surrounding it.  Nowak had seen a steady stream of departures from the Union roster, including Sebastian Le Toux, Danny Califf, and Danny Mwanga to name a few. The situation was obviously toxic, and once the weight was lifted and he was dismissed, the Union won 5 out of their next 8 matches, accounting for 50% of their win total for the season.  The drama kept coming though, as Nowak then filed a lawsuit against the Union for wrongful termination.  The Union then turned around and threatened to file criminal and fraudulent allegations against him after it came to light that he may have personally profited from Union player transactions.  I don't know much about the the legal mess, except that it's truly ugly.

The Verdict:
Despite their immediate improvement under John Hackworth, the Union couldn't sustain the momentum and never seriously contended for the Eastern Conference playoffs.  This is a real pity for the club, who saw Nowak systematically dismantle the side's playoff team from the year before.  Losing fan favorite Le Toux seemed to be an especially big blow, considering the issues the Union had scoring goals at times.  Still, the foundation seems to be there for the Union, despite the fact that they need to work out whatever is going on with Adu.  They should fish or cut bait with him.  If they could piece together more of an offensive threat over the off season I could see them competing for a playoff spot again next year.  They have to get better to catch Montreal and Columbus though, who improved significantly.

Match Thoughts: Crew Deal Gut-Punch to Union Hopes

Eddie Gaven celebrates his match winning goal. (Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Union were in dire need of three points at home in this one to keep their flagging playoff hopes alive.  Last Friday they had failed to capitalize on an RSL team weary from Champions League battles, and this week they faced a surging Columbus Crew side, who have playoff designs of their own.

The match had a rather cagey opening to it as both sides had reason to be a bit nervy.  As mentioned earlier, the Union were in need of the points, and were winless in their last five.  The Crew were minus starting goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum and were fielding rookie Michael Lampson in place of him.  The Union failed to test the youngster early, as he was more than able to survive a couple of half chances from the Philly attack.

That all changed in the 29th minute though.  Chris Birchall had dragged down Michael Farfan about thirty yards from goal, setting up a direct free kick in a dangerous spot.  Carlos Valdes stepped up for the Union and took the kick, which bounced off of two Columbus players before trickling past a helpless Lampson into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the Union.

The goal really didn't seem to stun the Crew much.  They began immediately chipping away at the Union defenses in search of an equalizer.  The Union were the next to concede a dangerous set piece chance, and the Crew made them pay.  Frederico Higuain sent his free kick in toward the six, where it met Josh Williams.  The Crew defender headed into goal to knot the match at 1-1 in the 41st minute.

The second half started as blandly as the first did, but things got rather spicy in the 68th minute.  The referee blew his whistle after a clearance and ran back into the Crew attacking third to confer with his assistant, who had witnessed an off the ball scuffle between Josh Williams and the Union's Antoine Hoppenot.  There really weren't any good replays available, as the camera had followed the ball up the pitch.  However, apparently Williams had at least shoved Hoppenot.  Williams was given a straight red card and Hoppenot was shown a yellow.  This put the Crew down to 10 men with just over 20 minutes to go and had the Union licking their chops.

Philly then pushed forward and put Lampson's goal under heavy bombardment.  The young keeper was up to the task, though he did give up a couple of scary rebounds.  He made the biggest stop of the match on 80 minutes against Gabe Farfan, who looked sure to give the Union the lead right near the goal line.

Unfortunately for the Union, they were so busy keeping up the pressure at the offensive end that they left their back door pretty much unguarded.  You can't really blame them, a draw would would have done them absolutely no good, but it created a brutal way to lose.  The Crew went on a counter attack right at the death in stoppage time.  Higuain again pulled the strings, before getting the ball to Justin Meram in the area, who smartly dished over to Eddie Gaven who slotted the ball home to give the Crew the 1-2 win.

The 3 points for the Crew ties them on 39 points with the Montreal Impact.  Both clubs sit two points behind the Chicago Fire and DC United for the 4th and 5th  playoff spots, respectively.  This makes the match between Spurs and l'Impact this weekend even more juicy. 

The Union are pretty much toast.  They're stuck on 25 points, 16 back of the last playoff spot and only 4 ahead of TFC for last place.  Yet after this match, they signed Hackworth as a permanent coach while Adu gets nothing but garbage minutes.  If I were a Union supporter, I'd want answers.  This was a playoff team last year.

DC United and Philadelphia Draw Contentious Derby

Dwayne De Rosario looks on after being subbed in stoppage time (Getty Images)

It used to be that the big rivalry for DC United was against the New York (or New York/New Jersey) team.  However, if this match from last night is any indication, the rivalry between United and the Philadelphia Union is getting to a rather, shall we say healthy, stage.

The match was nothing if not contentious and controversial, and it was the Union who jumped out to the early lead.  In the 8th minute Freddy Adu sent a ball in that found Carlos Valdes, whose shot was blocked by DC.  Unfortunately for United the ball fell to an onrushing Brian Carroll for the Union, who popped it into the back of the net to make it 0-1 to the visitors.

DC struck back in the second half after the cards had begun to be dealt.  Sheanon Williams picked up the first yellow of the match for Philly in the 37th, and it would come back to haunt him.  DC got their first goal in the 57th minute, courtesy of a Union own goal.  Branko Boskovic sent in a free kick that got by pretty much everyone except Union defender Amobi Okugo, who accidentally headed it into his own net to tie the match at one.

The controversy really kicked off in the 64th minute when United had a go ahead goal disallowed.  Hamdi Salihi appeared to have scored as he poked the ball past Zac MacMath, but the referee ruled that Salihi interfered with the Union shot stopper.  DC and their crowd weren't at all happy, and replays seemed to suggest that MacMath did not have control of the ball.  Nevertheless, the match continued at 1-1.

However United would have a great chance to cinch up the points late, as the Union conceded a PK in the 86th minute.  DC captain Dwayne De Rosario stepped up to take the spot kick and drilled it into the net to seemingly make it 2-1.  The celebrations were short lived though as referee Mark Geiger rained on their parade once again.  He ruled that both a DC and a Union player had encroached on the PK, so the kick had to be retaken.  This time, the replays and still photos showed Geiger to be correct.  DeRo had to wait as other Union players argued about the kick for several minutes, and finally missed the retake and the score remained 1-1.

The drama was nowhere near done though.  In the confusion around the penalty kick, a fight ensued that saw Boskovic receive a red card and Gabriel Farfan and Roger Torres receive yellow cards for Philly.  Then in the first minute of stoppage time, Emiliano Dudar got DC's second red after a nasty studs up tackle.  Philly was not able to capitalize on the two man advantage though as just a couple of minutes later Williams got his matching orders after a second yellow card.  The match descended into pushing, shoving, and near anarchy as Geiger finally blew the whistle and ended things at 1-1.

The argument going around DC this morning was that the encroachment call is "trifling" and should not have been called by Geiger, basically saying the Salihi's infraction didn't affect anything and should not have been called.  This apparently comes from a USSF clarification on the LOTG.  However, DC clearly had a player in the arc and Philly clearly had a player in the box when DeRo struck the kick.  However FIFA law 14 clearly states that if a player from both teams encroach, the kick must be retaken.  Add to that the fact that Geiger warned the players before hand about encroachment, and there's no surprise that it was called.  In the end, the referee doesn't take the kick, and had DeRo hit the second attempt, this conversation would not be happening.

I doubt that it will make DC United fans feel better though, but the point does put DC back into the playoff places in the east, 1 point ahead of Montreal.

Match Thoughts: Impact Win 10 vs 10 Bruiser Over Union

The Union's Jack McInerney sees red after an altercation with Nelson Rivas (Getty Images)

Unfortunately the story of this match isn't going to end up being the Impact's continued dominance at Stade Saputo, or Felipe's gorgeous second half goal.  It's not going to be the Union's missed chances either.  It's going to be about two stupid choices made by players who should know better, and the Disciplinary Committee will surely have something to say about one of them.

The last time the Union met the Impact in Philly it was a close, physical affair, and it wasn't much different last night in Montreal.  However, the Union did some really nice things in the first half and probably were unlucky to not have netted at least one goal.  Lionard Pajoy nearly put Philly out in front in the 21st minute after Carlos Valdes dumped the ball to him after the Colombian had made a brilliant full field run.  Pajoy sliced through the last of Montreal's defense, but his shot hit the far post and bounced out of trouble.  Then in the 28th minute Jack McInerney headed a free kick into the ground in front of the Montreal goal, but Donovan Ricketts was on his game and managed to keep it out.

The Impact seemed to have trouble getting their attack going through much of the first half.  They were missing DP striker Marco Di Vaio, who was in Italy facing charges over the match fixing issues there.  Andrew Wenger stepped into that role, and got the Impact on the board right before halftime.  In the 44th minute Patrice Bernier sent a cross into Wenger off of a corner kick and the rookie headed an expert shot into the goal to give the Impact a 1-0 lead going to the break.

The Union nearly equalized early on in the second half as Michael Farfan nodded a Sheanon Williams cross just wide of the post, but the big story of the half came in the 69th minute.  Philadelphia's Antoine Hoppenot went up for a header with Montreal's Nelson Rivas.  Hoppenot tossed the Impact defender to the ground as the two landed, and Rivas took exception. He walked up to the Philly forward and sent him crashing to the ground with a nasty head-butt.  At that point Jack McInerney came rushing to his teammate's defense with a punch/shove from behind on Rivas.  Both Rivas and McInerney were shown the red card, McInerney's seeming to be for retaliation. 

The match did open up a little with the 10 on 10 action, but Montreal iced it in the 78th minute.  Felipe took a cross from Hassoun Camara and whipped in a goal that you'll most likely see a few times on this weeks highlight reel, and Montreal took a 2-0 lead.  In the 83rd minute Michael Farfan had a shot saved, but it fell to Valdes, who had a great look at the open net.  Unfortunately for the Union, the ball came in at a bad angle and Valdes had to lift his leg rather high to get it, tapping the the shot wide of the near post, sealing the 2-0 win for the Impact at full time.

Montreal's Rivas Channels Joey Barton, Gets Ejected (Video)

Well, well.  Check out this little altercation between between Montreal's Nelson Rivas and Philadelphia's Antoine Hoppenot and Jack McInerney.  Rivas and McInerney were shown straight reds on the play.  Do you agree?




My thought is this, the contact from McInerney probably warranted just a yellow, but when it's retaliation, expect to see red, especially from a young, card happy ref. Rivas is gonna miss a few games though.

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."

US Open Cup 4th Round Review

Last night wasn't quite as bad for MLS teams in the US Open Cup.  After all, DC and Colorado lost to other MLS sides.  However, there was at least one major disappointment for the MLS faithful to swallow as well.

That disappointment was the New York Red Bulls.  They lost 3-1 to the Harrisburg City Islanders in extra time.  The Islanders are known for giant killing in this tourney, but that's not likely to console the Red Bulls.  With the match knotted at 1-1 in the 4th minute of extra time, former Red Bull Sainey Touray lobbed a shot in over Ryan Meara to make it 2-1.  After the Red Bulls were incorrectly denied a PK for a handball, Lucky Mkosana fired home the final nail in the coffin in the 112th minute to make the final 3-1.

Handball in the box also played a significant roll in Chivas USA's 1-2 at the Carolina Railhawks.  Carolina had just taken down the Galaxy in the last round, but couldn't pull off the double over the LA teams.  Juan Pablo Angel hit a penalty kick in second half stoppage time after a Railhawk's defender handled in the box to give the Goats the win.

As mentioned earlier, there were two matches that took place between MLS sides.  Philadelphia needed extra time to overcome DC United 1-2 at DC.  At Livestrong Sporting Park, Sporting Kansas City shut down the Colorado Rapids en route to a 2-0 win.

The most interesting match of the night was supposed to be Seattle Sounders vs Cal FC at Seattle's Starfire Sports complex.  Amateur side Cal FC, coached by former US Soccer great Eric Wynalda, pulled off the upset in round 3 against Portland, but Seattle was just too big of an ask.  Despite being held scoreless in the first half, the Sounders poured on five in the second, two by Fredy Montero, to make it 5-0 at full time.

The evening's slate was rounded out in San Jose where the Earthquakes were pitted against Minnesota Stars FC, who took down Real Salt Lake last week at Rio Tinto Stadium.  Minnesota couldn't pull off the upset for the second straight week, as a goal from Steven Lenhart propelled San Jose to the 1-0 win.

Two other matches were held without MLS sides.  The Dayton Dutch Lions beat the Michigan Bucks 2-1 and the Charlotte Eagles took down NASL's San Antonio Scorpions 2-1 in extra time.

Galaxy and the Union Feel the Sting of MLS Suspensions

The MLS disciplinary returned from their memorial day vacation today and dropped the hammer on players from the LA Galaxy and Philadelphia Union.  The Houston vs. LA match featured two incidents, and the TFC vs. Philly game featured another.

The biggest news comes out of the LA matchup.  Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens was suspended 1 game for his challenge of Houston's Adam Moffat in the 46th minute.  This comes under the "endangering the safety of his opponent" heading.  Forward/wannabe 'keeper Mike Magee was also suspended 1 game for something new called "aggravated dissent."  This includes throwing a ball in the general direction of the referee in the 92nd minute.  FC Dallas fans are probably wondering if Magee would have gotten 3 games had he hit the ref.  I'm wondering, since we can suspend guys for "aggravated dissent," can we suspend David Beckham for "aggravating dissent?"  Both players were fined the obligatory undisclosed amount.

There was more bad news for the Union as well.  Not only did they actually lose to TFC, but forward Lionard Pajoy was suspended for 1 game and fined as well.  His suspension arises from the cleaning out of TFC's Joao Plata in the 29th minute.  This is pretty bad for the Union as Pajoy has been one of the only players who really looks capable of scoring goals. 

Red Bulls, Chivas USA, and Philly Swap Players

Juan Agudelo has been traded to Chivas USA (Goal.com)

Three MLS squads look very different this evening than they did at the start of business today.  Chivas USA pulled off two deals, one with New York Red Bulls and the other with the Philadelphia Union.  The deal with Philadelphia had been rumored for a few days, but the deal with NY came as a bit of a surprise.

The Goats will send midfielder Mike Lahoud to Philadelphia for want-away center back Danny Califf.  The former Union captain had experienced a falling out with head coach Peter Nowak.  He had made 65 appearances in three years in Philadelphia.

Turns out there was a reason Chivas needed another center back.  They dealt MLS All-Star defender Heath Pearce to the New York Red Bulls in exchange for US International forward Juan Agudelo.  There will also be allocation money changing hands, and the Red Bulls will pick up a piece of any future selling fee should Chivas sell Agudelo.

For the Union, the reasoning behind the deal is pretty clear.  They unload Califf and pick up an experienced player in the midfield.  Despite the fact that the deal has been rumored for several days. both sides were fairly coy up until the trade was completed today.

New York addresses one of their biggest needs by acquiring a proven, top level MLS defender to put in front of Ryan Meara.  Yes, Agudelo has a ton of potential upside, but according to Red Bulls management, he himself pushed for a trade somewhere where he could get more playing time. 

So the Goats add a veteran presence on the back line.  Also, if both Juan Pablo Angel and Juan Agudelo can stay healthy, their attack could be lethal.  I'm not sure this puts them up with RSL, San Jose, and Seattle, but I fully expect them to compete for the playoffs, maybe at the expense of Vancouver, Colorado, Dallas, or yes, the Galaxy.

Match Thoughts; Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls

New York's Juan Agudelo attempts a bicycle kick in the second half. (Getty Images)

The budding rivalry between the Philadelphia Union and the New York Red Bulls is evolving into one of the better ones in MLS and this particular match just added fuel to the fire.  The Union have really been struggling this season, especially in the goals department.  They had recorded 2 or fewer shots on goal in 6 straight matches, a dubious MLS record.  The Red Bulls were streaking in another way, winners of their last three.

The Union clearly came to play in this one though, and dominated most of the first half.  Freddy Adu in particular seemed to be in rare form, both sending in shots on target and creating chances for his teammates.  However in the 5th minute he picked up a yellow card for a nasty tackle on Roy Miller and that would come back to haunt the Union star.  Still, Adu had the best chance of the early minutes, sending a bullet into goal in the 8th that was smothered by Ryan Meara.

New York only really only had one attack in the first half, but they made it count.  In the 17th minute Mehdi Ballouchy found Joel Lindpere in the box, and Lindpere struck it hard into the Philadelphia net to give the Red Bulls a 0-1 lead.

The Union didn't miss a beat though and continued their attack.  Lionard Pajoy was much more active, and had his best game in a Union uniform.  In the 24th minute he let loose a rocket from the top of the penalty area but Meara managed to pull out another nice save to preserve the lead.  However in the 31st Philly finally struck.  Adu sent a nice cross into the area that found the head of Pajoy, who promptly buried the strike to equalize the match at 1-1.

Unfortunately things went horribly wrong for the Union in the 43rd minute.  Freddy Adu was driving with the ball in the area, and tried to go between two NY defenders.  He went to the floor and the referee's whistle blew.  The Union fans expected a penalty, but instead the ref showed Adu his second yellow card for diving. Replays clearly showed their was no contact on the play, but Adu continued to plead his case even as the red card came out.  Later he would say that he did not intentionally fall over on purpose, but braced for contact that never came.  At any rate the half ended with the score at 1-1 but the Union down a man.

The Union responded immediately in the second half though and took the lead through the foot of Pajoy.  In the 46th minute he squeezed through the NY defense and slotted in a goal from an odd angle to make it 2-1.  That would be the last joy for the Union though.

Juan Agudelo checked in again and injected heart and pace into the Red Bulls offense, much the same way as he did midweek against Houston.  Philadelphia began to show signs of fatigue from being down a man and New York capitalized.  In the 68th minute Red Bulls defender Markus Holgersson got totally free on a corner kick and equalized with a header to make it 2-2.  Ten minutes later Kenny Cooper gave the Red Bulls the lead for good, tapping in an odd angle shot of his own to make it 2-3.

The Union did get a golden chance to equalize late though.  There was a scrum in the NY area in the 86th minute, and the ball ended up flying free parallel to the NY goal line.  Michael Farfan was right there for Philly and all he had to do was touch the ball to send it in for the equalizer.  He tried to lift his leg and kick it in, but totally whiffed and the ball drifted past the goal and out for a goal kick, taking with it the Union's last good chance to equalize.  The match finished at 2-3.

NOTES:  The good news for Philadelphia is that it was their first multigoal game of the year.  Earlier in the week they beat German club Schalke 04 in a friendly at PPL park, but were subjected to chants of "Lets see you do it on Sunday."  Ryan Meara sported a new horrible haircut that is apparently the handy work of Wilman Conde.  He must have still been intoxicated when he did it.

Match Thoughts: Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado Rapids

Tony Cascio celebrates after scoring vs the Union. (Getty Images)

It was another East vs. West clash at PPL Park on Sunday as the Philadelphia Union hosted the Colorado Rapids. The Union came in after dropping their first match against the Timbers, while Colorado pasted the Crew the prior weekend at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Surely the Union were excited to get home in front of their supporters, but the Rapids had other ideas.

The Rapids got out of the blocks fast, creating a chance in the opening minute. Omar Cummings broke away on the Union goal, but Zac MacMath, who had a horrible match for Philly last week, managed to turn it away and deny the Rapids the early lead.

Philadelphia largely controlled the first half after that. Gabriel Gomez worked Matt Pickens in goal twice from free kicks, but the Rapids' 'keeper was more than up to the task. The Union got their first really good chance of the game in the 33rd minute, when newcomer Lionard Pajoy ripped a shot at the Rapids goal, only to have it drift wide. In the 41st minute Danny Mwanga announced his presence with a shot on target only to have it well saved by Pickens.

As the first half came to a close, Jeff Larentowicz picked up a yellow card for the Rapids in the 44th minute. That would come back to haunt him later, but the half ended 0-0.

The Union continued to create chances out of the gate in the second half. In the 48th minute Michael Farfan had a shot blocked. The ball then fell to Pajoy, but his return shot was easily saved.

In the 56th minute the Rapids finally made the Union pay for missing out on their opportunities. They sent an early cross into the area, and it looked like MacMath was going to collect it easily. Instead the ball went through his hands and fell to Jaime Castrillon, who easily tapped the ball into the open goal to make it 0-1 to the Rapids. It was another howler from the young Union 'keeper, the second in as many weeks.

However just two minutes later, the Union were handed a bit of hope. Larentowicz went in from behind on Keon Daniel in the midfield and picked up his second yellow card. Seeing the red, he went to the locker room knowing he had made a dumb mistake and wondering whether or not it was going to cost his team.

Luckily for the Ginger Ninja, the rest of the Rapids were up to the task. In the 62nd minute they went up 0-2 after Tony Cascio got loose and again beat MacMath to smack a ball into the goal at the far post. Yes, it had a lot of power, but MacMath did get a touch on it and in my mind should have done better.

The Union refused to go away though, still fighting on with the man advantage. Pajoy headed in a gorgeous goal off of a corner kick in the 67th minute to make it 1-2. They also had a couple more good looks before the end of the match. Farfan hit the crossbar in the 72nd, and Pajoy had a gorgeous look in the 89th, only to send the shot over the bar. In the end, the Rapids held on for the 1-2 win and picked up a valuable 3 road points that will surely come in handy in the Western Conference race.

Mondragon Leaves Philadelphia Union

Big news out of MLS's Eastern Conference this afternoon. The Philadelphia Union have announced that GK and team captain Faryd Mondragon will depart the club. Mondragon, who started for MLS in the all star game last year, will be returning to Colombia and his original club, Deportivo Cali. He cites family reasons for his departure.

Mondragon was the number one 'keeper in Philly last season before breaking his finger against Real Salt Lake. He did return before the end of the season and started for the Union in the MLS playoffs. He finished 2nd in 'keeper of the year voting and posted seven clean sheets.

The Union will look to up and coming 'keeper Zac MacMath. He's a very highly rated prospect and should still do well in goal. However, the loss of Mondragon will surely be felt.

MONDRAGON IN THE 2011 ALL STAR GAME (MLSSoccer.com)

Major League Soccer Sets It's Final Four

After a less than barn burning round of 2nd leg fixtures, MLS now has it's final four teams that will square off in the conference finals.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: SPORTING KC vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Game Time: Sunday, November 6, at 5:30 PM Eastern from Livestrong Sporting Park.

Kansas City put another 2-0 result on the defending champion Colorado Rapids last night to earn their birth. To be fair to the Rapids, they were missing probably 8 of their preferred starters to injuries and suspension, but KC did the job, as Colorado never seriously threatened the lead in KC.

Tonight, Houston totally shut down the Philadelphia Union. They got a 45th minute goal from Brian Ching to cement the result after a 1-2 win at PPL Park earlier this week. The Union looked like they were just happy to be in the playoffs.

I have to tip KC at home in this one, though Houston is a veteran club that has been playing well. I'll call it 2-1, with KC advancing to MLS Cup.


WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: LA GALAXY vs REAL SALT LAKE
Game Time: Sunday, November 6 at 9:00 PM ET from the Home Depot Center.

After drilling Seattle 3-0 last Saturday at Rio Tinto, RSL just managed to hold on against the Sounders at the CLink, conceding 2 second half goals but holding on to win the aggregate 3-2. It's a little deceptive, as the first Seattle goal via PK was total Horse Shit, but whatever.

LA defeated a lackluster NY Red Bulls side tonight. The New Yorkers jumped to a lead in the 4th minute via Luke Rodgers, but from then on it was mostly LA. Magee scored a Beckham corner kick in the first half, and then Donovan iced it with a PK in the second, making the final 3-1 to LA on aggregate.

RSL and LA have been on this collision course all year. I truly believe they are the best two squads in MLS, with Seattle being right there as well. It's going to be a battle, but I'll take RSL 1-2 over the Galaxy.

Now we just wait and see!

Philadelphia Union's Disallowed Goal vs. NY Red Bulls (10/20/11)

YOU MAKE THE CALL:




I don't know, footy fans, what do YOU think?

At issue:
Did the ball strike Valdes' head? If it didn't, did he impede Rost from making a play? Was Valdes actually offside in the first place?

Match Thoughts: New York Red Bulls vs. Philadelphia Union.

Well, there's no WAY a match where the New York Red Bulls are fighting for their playoff lives could be boring, right? The task going into the match tonight was simple: win and you're in. Heck, even draw and you're probably in. Had they had a draw, the only way they could still fall out of the playoffs would have been for Portland to utterly destroy RSL to make up goal differential.

Of course, the Red Bulls were having to play this match without Thierry Henry. The Frenchman picked up a red card against Sporting KC last week and was ineligible to help his team tonight.

The Red Bulls got their goal early. In the 7th minute, Dane Richards hit a header off of a Jan Gunnar Solli cross off the post, but it bounced off the back of Philly 'keeper Faryd Mondragon and into the goal. It was offically credited as a Philly own goal, but NY had the 1-0 lead. Surely Mondragon's back broke the hearts of Timbers fans tonight.

New York bunkered in for defense after that, and you can't blame them. The Union did get a couple of chances though. Danny Mwanga smacked a shot just off target shortly after half time. In the 67th minute, Philly put the ball in the back of the net. Le Toux sent in a free kick that appeared to be headed in by Carlos Valdes, however, he was ruled offside. The replays aren't really clear cut. To me it looked like it went straight in and didn't go off of Valdes' head. Plus I don't really think he was off. I would have to say the Union got screwed a little.

That being said the Red Bulls wasted two great chances to score in the second half. In the 52nd minute Tim Ream, who I love to hate, had a total sitter for a goal off of a corner and somehow headed it wide. Why do we think he's so great again? In the 58th minute Luke Rodgers came flying in and struck a Mondragon rebound at point blank range, but somehow hit it over the bar. I bet he makes that 98 out of 100 times. Wow.

In the end, the Union couldn't muster the equalizer and the Red Bulls hung on to win 1-0. The result gives them the 10th and final playoff spot in MLS. It also leaves the Portland Timbers out in the cold. The Union could finish anywhere from 1st to 4th in the East, though the scenarios for them finishing 1st are all real long shots.

Great Win For RSL Versus Philly

It's been awhile since I've blogged about RSL. Not really because of that bad patch we were in, but because with the start of the EPL Season and the transfer window drama, I just haven't been paying too much attention to MLS. With tonight's victory against the Union, RSL has strung together back to back gritty wins against both Chivas USA and Philly, both of which are sides that play solid defense and have great 'keepers.

This one was always going to be a tough one for RSL, they had a lot of players out. Alvarez with El Salvador, Will Johnson with Canada, Jean Alexandre with Haiti, Nat Borchers with a suspension, Chris Wingert with an injury, Javy Morales close but still not back. Yikes. Captain Kyle Beckerman started tonight but trained with the USA team all week. Alvaro Saborio played for Costa Rica last night against the USA, but he returned to RSL for the game starting on the bench. On the plus side, Paulo Jr. is back from injury and got the starting nod, he was active all night. Ned Grabavoy also came back from injury, coming in as a second half sub.

Most of the action, and all the goals came in the first half tonight. In the 18th minute, Beckerman put RSL in the lead. He played a short corner, took a pass back from Schuler then absolutely BLASTED a GOLAZO from outside the area. Nobody got in the way, if they had, it probably would have removed their heads. Mondragon stood no chance. 1-0 to the Claret and Cobalt. Then in the 25th minute, Schuler made his presence felt by rising above EVERYBODY on a corner kick and heading the ball down and into the net to make it 2-0. Sebastian Le Toux, who I really like, got one back for the Union just a few minutes later, getting on the end of a Justin Mapp cross and making it 2-1, which was the result at the interval.

The second half was more gritty and less end to end stuff. Mondragon left the game at half time with a broken finger. The Union brought in rookie MacMath, who did an excellent job for them in goal in second half, keeping RSL off the board. RSL also had two men make their team debuts in the second half. Cody Arnoux made his MLS debut after being injured most of the season. New acquisition Blake Wagner also came in late for Robbie Russell. Freddy Adu entered in the second half for the Union, and unfortunately the RSL fans booed him pretty good. I think that's pretty lame. Anyone probably would have made the same jump he did. He's a good guy and a solid player.

There were no goals in the second half as RSL held on for the victory, 2-1. The win puts RSL into 4th place in the West, 1 point ahead of the Rapids.