Match Thoughts: Portland Timbers vs. Chicago Fire

The Rose City again had no pity for the Chicago Fire (Getty Images)

The Portland Timbers needed a win in this one, there is little doubt about that.  They'd been playing better recently, but coming up with draws instead of wins had kept them mired at the foot of the Western Conference table.  Following the Galaxy's defeat to Chivas, the Timbers could escape last place with a win over the Fire.

Portland coach Jon Spencer had been preaching service into the box after Portland's scoreless draw at Houston.  That did improve somewhat for the Timbers, who scored both of their goals from corner kicks.  In the 4th minute they got the ball into Kris Boyd after a throw in but his header was saved at point blank range by Sean Johnson.  It was really the only noteworthy chance for either side until Eric Brunner hook volleyed a ball into the Chicago net off of a corner kick in the 20th minute. 

The kick gave the Timbers the 1-0 lead which they looked keen to hold into halftime.  However, the Fire have come back from 1 goal deficits 3 times on the road this year.  In the 36th minute Pavel Pardo unleashed a wicked strike on the Timbers goal that was well saved by Troy Perkins.  Then in the 39th minute Jalil Anibaba ended up with the ball in the box after a poor clearance from the Timbers and slid a shot in far post to tie the match at 1-1 going to the interval.

The second half proved very frustrating to watch.  The Fire players started going to the floor with every little bit of contact.  Thankfully the referee wasn't buying it.  Then of course the Fire complained to said referee.  It really was embarrassing.

The Timbers had yet another chance off of a set piece in the 47th minute, but this time Brunner's header missed the target.  They did finally get the deserved lead in 52nd, when Chicago's Logan Pause deflected in a Timbers corner for an own goal that put Portland up 2-1. 

The Fire did mount a bit of an attacking presence later in the second half, but the Timbers did a much better job of managing the game, staying with the Fire attackers and not giving up many good looks.  The tension came to a head in the 80th minute when the the Fire's Sebastián Grazzini went down easily in the box trying to earn a penalty.  The referee saw right through it and gave him a yellow card for simulation. 

The last ten minutes plus stoppage time saw little significant attacking action from the Fire, and the Timbers held on for the three points, dropping the LA Galaxy into last place in the west.  It certainly could be a win for Portland to build on, and I think they definitely played better, but their best service still came from set pieces, as the Fire were able to get more balls into the 18 from the run of play.  For the Timbers to truly mount a climb out of the cellar, they need to improve on this some more.  I'm sure Spencer would agree.

Didier Drogba Will Leave Chelsea.

Well yesterday was kind of a sad day for must of us Chelsea Supporters, but it was a day most of us saw coming nonetheless.  On Monday, the strong rumor was that Didier Drogba had opted to leave Chelsea when his contract expired at the end of June.  Late Monday night, USA time, those rumors were walked back a bit.  However yesterday the Blues confirmed that the star of the Champions League final was definitely leaving after eight years at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba had this to say on Chelsea's website:

"It has been a very difficult decision for me to make and I am very proud of what we have achieved, but the time is right for a new challenge for me.

"As a team we have accomplished so much and have won every single trophy possible.

"Saturday was a very special moment for everyone at the club and for all the fans, and I am very proud to have played my part in bringing many trophies to this club, which has been my home for the last eight years.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the club especially [owner] Roman [Abramovich] and my team-mates, many of whom have become very close friends and will be my friends for life.

"I would also like to say a very special thank you to the Chelsea fans who have shown me so much love and support over the years.

"I wish the club all the best and continued success for the future - you will always be in my heart.''

Drogba appeared in 341 games for Chelsea, scoring 157 goals and winning 10 trophies.  Despite the fact that MLS continues to clamor about the possibility of Drogs coming to the USA, most of the rumors say he'll be headed for a big pay day in China.

I would personally like to thank Didier Drogba as a Chelsea FC fan.  He's provided so man of my memorable moments in sport over recent years, and I'll never forget him!  Thanks Drogs!

Match Thoughts: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Columbus Crew

Olman Vargas and Steven Lenhart battle for the ball. (Getty Images)

San Jose had their momentum slowed a little bit last week when they had to come from behind late in the match to salvage a draw vs. Chivas USA at Buck Shaw stadium.  This week they were looking to get back on track versus a Crew side that's been struggling to score goals.  However, the Crew had managed a 2-1 victory their last time out against FC Dallas, so they were looking to build on that.

The Quakes were on fire in the first half, and it seemed like it was just a matter of time before they notched a goal.  The pressure appeared to come to fruition in the 21st minute when Steven Lenhart was fouled in the box, earning a penalty kick for the home side.  Chris Wondolowski stepped up to take the kick, but Columbus 'keeper Andy Gruenebaum absolutely stoned him to keep the score level at 0-0.  It was the fist of many great saves for Gruenebaum, who kept the Crew in it for most of the match.

It looked like things were going to go into halftime scoreless, but the Crew had other ideas.  In first half stoppage time Justin Meram sliced a gorgeous ball that slid just past John Busch and into the far side net to give the Crew the 0-1 lead at the break.  It really was a first class strike.

The Quakes offense slowed a bit in the second half, and the Crew grabbed some more possession.  However, they had a hard time trying to find the right combination to get their second, and one could just sense San Jose was itching for another comeback.

They did get their comeback, and it was really late on.  Alan Gordon, who came in as a sub was the man of the hour once again for the Quakes.  He rescued a point last week in stoppage time in against Chivas with an equalizer, and this week he did it in the the 90th, finally blasting a ball past the wall known as Andy Gruenebaum to tie the match at 1-1, which was the full time result.

NOTES:  Andy Gruenebaum made seven saves overall, including 3 point blank efforts in the first half.  Meram scored in his second straight match for Columbus, accounting for both of his goals on the year.  Alan Gordon's match tying strike was his third of the year for the Quakes.  Both goals from this one are up for MLS Goal of the week.

Congratulations to Santos Laguna: 2012 Mexican Clausura Champions

Santos Laguna hoists the trophy as 2012 Mexican Clausura Champions

The Puddle would like to extend congratulations to Santos Laguna, who beat 2 time defending CONCACAF Champions Monterrey 3-2 over two legs to claim the 2012 Mexican Clausura title.  The title is their 4th overall in the Mexican Primera Division..

The win is huge for the Mexican side founded in 1983.  Coming into this final, they had been to 3 of the last 4 finals in Mexico, losing them all.  They also lost to Monterrey in the finals of the CONCACAF Champions League last month.  This should be, and deserves to be, very sweet for the Torreon side.

The first leg was played in Monterrey earlier this week and ended in a 1-1 draw.  Santos won last night's 2nd leg in Torreon 2-1 with goals from Oribe Peralta and Daniel Luduena.  Monterrey manager Victor Manuel Vucetich suffered his first ever loss in a final.. His stats include 5 Mexico Primera titles and the 2 CONCACAF titles.

Last night was all about Santos though, and I hope the team and their supporters enjoy it!

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.

Puddle's Goal(s) of the Weekend: Didier Drogba Clinches the European Cup

Of course these are my goals of the weekend! I don't know if you'll like the soundtrack, but it does a great job of showing both Drogba's header and his PK at the end.

Congratulations to Chelsea FC, 2012 Champions of Europe!

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech holds the European Cup as his team hoists him on their shoulders

I've never been happier to make a blog posting than I am tonight.  If you read my blog or follow my tweets, you probably know that I'm a Chelsea supporter.  Thus I am extremely happy and proud of my team for winning the 2012 UEFA Champions League Title.

It was very much against the odds in the final as well.  The Blues had to take on Bayern Munich in Munich to win the title.  Obviously, Bayern were the heavy favorites.  However Chelsea brought Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, and a ton of heart.

The match was scoreless into the 83rd minute when Thomas Muller finally broke through the Chelsea defense to make it 1-0, and Bayern had one hand on the trophy.  Chelsea pulled that hand back 5 minutes later when Didier Drogba equalized.  The match went into extra time, but no further goals were scored. 

Juan Mata missed his first PK, and Bayern took the advantage making their first three.  Then Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger missed their last two, handing the advantage to Chelsea as David Luiz, Frank Lampard, and Ashley Cole had all iced their kicks.  Didier Drogba nailed the final shot to hand Chelsea the European Cup on what could be his last act for the team.

I don't think you could have even thought to write a script like that.

Chelsea will also earn the final English spot in next year's Champions League.  Tottenham Hotspur, who had finished 4th in the Premier League, will now drop to the Europa League with Newcastle and Liverpool.

Suffice it to say, I'm a very happy footy fan this week.  Congrats to my Chelsea boys!