This weekend the MLS reaches its crescendo. That it’s a repeat of last years final matters
not. Two of the better MLS franchises
will meet in RFK Stadium. Come Sunday
afternoon the prevalence for the Supporters’ Shield holders not to win the MLS
Cup will be strengthened.
Play offs; being somewhat of a
lottery; make the Supporters’ Shield holders face the same tough games as those
whose season was not quite as formidable.
But let’s not kid ourselves. The difference in points and performance between
DC United, New England, Chivas and Houston
isn’t great.
DC topped the Eastern Conference
with 55 points, only 5 ahead of New England.
Chivas; winners of the Western
Conference with 53 points; topped Houston by only 1 point.
This final will see two of the
four stand out teams in the MLS face each other. By standout I mean better by a significant
margin than the teams below them on points, in either the West or East.
The top four teams all displayed
a consistency of results lacking in the other MLS franchises. That DC and Chivas are not present is a
vagary of the Play Off format.
New England.
New England was defeated by Houston in the MLS Cup
Final 2006 by penalties; always a cruel and somewhat arbitrary way to lose a
game (Hey! I’m English, I understand penalty shoot out losses all too well!)
In 2005 they made the MLS Cup
final only to lose out to LA in extra time.
Prior to that the Revolution lost
to the LA in the MLS Cup Final 2002; again after extra time.
Always the bridesmaid and never
the bride for Steve Nicol, at least in Boston. This time the will be the Scot’s third final
in a row; he will want to finally get a win in the most prestigious of US
football competitions. This season the
Revolution will surely be uplifted by the win in the US Open Cup Final. They have shown themselves capable of
succeeding in a cup format. They need to
do it one more time to convince the media of their credentials.
Houston Dynamo.
Houston is the Current MLS Cup Holders and has
the benefit of having beaten their opponent’s already in last years final. Before the move to Houston the franchise was the San Jose
Earthquakes and won two MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003. The Dynamo is a new franchise. Winning the MLS Cup in its first season the
Dynamo has done rather well. Now is
another test of their credentials, can they win again? This season the Dynamo did lose to Charleston; from US
League – 1 in the third round of the US Open Cup, but started the season with a
win in the Carolina Challenge Cup.
2007 Season.
Meetings between the two teams
this season have produced a draw and a win for New England. In a poor start to the Dynamo’s season New England came to Robertson Stadium and went home 1-0
winners. The Dynamo played better in
Gillette Stadium with a pulsating 3-3 draw.
Only Real
Salt Lake
and New England have put 3 goals in one game past the outstanding Houston all season
defence.
New England have has three or
more goals scored against them by Kansas City (4), Columbus Crew (3) & (3),
Houston Dynamo (3), DC United (3) & (4), Colorado Rapids (3) numerous times
this season.
Play off form.
Houston has a less than excellent start to
the 2007 play offs. A loss on the road
to arch-rivals, FC Dallas. This was
turned around with style, verve and goals in a 4-1 win in the second leg in
Robertson Stadium.
The Western Conference Final was
a pretty awful game, Houston didn’t play well
but Kansas City
was woefully poor. This game saw another
injury to star striker, Brian Ching.
New England beat off New York with some tough
defence in the first two play off games.
The Eastern Conference final was again solidly defensive in victory over
Chicago.
Current form suggests New England is stronger.
In the heat of Cup Final there will be little to choose between the two
teams.
Who’ll likely get a game in the final?
Houston Dynamo:
Likely 4 4 2.
Onstad – name is already on the
team sheet after some good performances in the plays off and a solid season.
Waibel – solid, experienced right
back.
Cochrane - solid, experienced,
tough tackling centre back.
Robinson - tough, experienced no
nonsense centre back, good in the air.
Barrett - solid, experienced left
back, can get forward and can attack when he has to.
This back four is the best unit
in the MLS; they all have a good understanding of what each other are doing and
make up a defense better than the sum of its parts.
Mullan – likes to get forward in
support of the attack but also defends well.
His energy is exceptional and he will run and harry all game.
Mulrooney – will sit and work
with his back four and allow the skill players to do their job, he does have a
useful cross on him.
De Rosario – the creative spark
in the Dynamo midfield, if he can get involved Houston play better.
Davis – decent left sided midfielder who can
deliver a good ball in from free kicks.
Holden – good passer with an eye
for goal who can slip into the Dynamo midfield and cause problems for the opposition.
Ching – Scorer of the tying goal
in last years MLS Cup final but unlikely to start, his season has one of
absences for Houston, injury and USMNT call ups the reasons. May be fit, but picked up an injury against Kansas City.
Ngwenya – pace with a good first
touch, and the ability to score the spectacular goal. The Zimbabwean’s versatility has enabled him
to play wide and up front for Houston
giving them options, his pace and strength on the ball is good.
Jaqua – tall, rangy, can hold the
ball up and is a threat at set pieces but despite his skills he isn’t a prolific
goal getter.
Ianni – will provide decent cover
for the back four.
New England Revolution:
Likely 3 5 2
Reis – clean sheet so far in the
play offs. Commands the box well but
does occasionally flail.
John – pace and a good left foot
at the back, works well in a back three or back four.
Heaps – one of the better
homegrown defenders, does well on the right in a four or three man back
line.
Parkhurst – can defend and start
attacks. A good defender who will get
better. This year he got the MLS
Defender of the Year award and the individual Fair Play Award.
Riley – a good back up defender
or can be used in a back four. Good ball
control and has a nice turn of speed.
Smith – the Bermudan is a big winger
but has pace down the left, can come inside and score or put in some good
crosses.
Larentowicz – a capable
destructive player who protects the back four, he has a powerful shot but
occasionally tends to get too boisterous in his tackling.
Josephs – the Grenadian is a
powerful midfielder who can sit and defend or support the attack with a good
range of accurate passing. Pops up with
good goals every now and then.
Dorman – plays all over the
midfield and is a good goal scorer.
Thompson – an able wide
midfielder who is getting more experienced under Nicol. He can play right or left but plays more on
the right.
Leonard – has been pushed to the
fringes of the squad.
Ralston – Experienced set up man
for Twellman, he’s developed a knack of knowing when and where to play the ball
for any of the New England forwards and is
astute with the ball. A strong work
ethic means he defends from the front and can also provides goals.
Twellman – the point man and New England’s top scorer.
His form in the play offs has been exceptional and his knack for scoring
will be required at RFK.
Noonan – a good utility player
who can slot into midfield or attack or play out wide. Two good feet and can hold up the ball well.
Cristman – had a good season as a
Rookie. He can lead the line and score goals;
he’s a bit raw but a quick study with some good skills.
Managers.
Both managers have options and
will want to keep their lineups close to their chests.
Kinnear is the spitting man’s manager;
his constant stream of phlegm litters the technical area of each game he
manages. Apart from that particular
habit his record is pretty decent. As
assistant to Frank Yallop he helped the San Jose Earthquakes to 3 MLS Cups then
as manager took the same franchise to the MLS Supporters’ Shield. He was the manager of Houston when the franchise won the MLS Cup
last year.
Nicol has taken the New England
Revolution to three of the last six MLS Cup Finals where he lost all of them
outside regulation time. He was
initially hired in 2002 as an interim manager but that move was made
permanent. He doesn’t spit when he’s on
the sidelines.
What to expect on the pitch.
This will be a final dominated by
defence; which in a league with particularly mistake ridden defensive performances;
will be refreshing. It’s going to need a
mistake or a great piece of skill to beat either team, one has a stellar
defensive unit and one hasn’t let a goal in during the play offs.
Through the middle the play is
likely to be congested, Josephs and Larentowicz will work hard to stifle De
Rosario. The wide players may be the
key. Dorman or Thompson and Smith for
New England and Mullan and Barrett for Houston.
Neither keeper had the record
that Guzan did but both sometimes look suspect.
Twellman is a quality finisher
and with the right service will cause even the Houston back line problems. Jaqua and Ngwenya aren’t prolific but their
pace and the aerial ability of Jaqua may cause problems. Both teams have displayed skill on set
pieces, from both sides of the ball.
Who to support?
I’m neither a Houston
nor a New England fan but I will be at RFK on
Sunday so my main decisions are twofold.
What football shirt to wear and
who to support?
Post Script :
This is the only Silverware that
will be presented in DC this season.
The last game of the regular
season decided who got the last place in the 2007 play offs; Blanco goes
onwards whilst Beckham gets to ruminate before another season starts.
First let’s start with the axe –
now that the eight teams have their chance to prepare for the first leg what do
the other franchises do.
WEST:-
Colorado – A team with a solid manager and a
real lack of goals. Will the wily Clavijo
retain his job? I haven’t seen enough of
the Rapids this season to really make anything more than a guess.
LA Galaxy – surely a coach; who
admittedly managed to get the team on a late season burst with some good away
wins; who has a goal difference of -10; only won nine times in a thirty game season;
who has the best US player on is side and the terrible mismanagement of Beckham’s
(a manager who doesn’t get to decide his team sheet should surely resign
immediately) and finally the Galaxy played some of the poorest MLS football
this season, especially the back four; should go. Alexi Lalas comes across as pretty hard nosed
and it’s hard to see how he can justify keeping Yallop on.
Yallop isn’t a bad coach but he’s
probably not the coach that LA need right now.
Real Salt Lake – still struggling with the
previous coach’s poor initial selection of players Jason Kreis is making the
best of a bad hand. Trouble is he’s
traded quality for quality (Beckerman for Ballouchy) so the team as a whole
remains rather poor (Eddie Pope aside but he’ll retire now) and he’s barely out
of his playing boots. He’s a prime candidate
to accept an assistants job but without any coaching experience I think the
rebuilding of Real is beyond him.
EAST:-
Columbus Crew – Some quality players and a
useful coach but a lack of consistency.
That might save Sigi Schmid’s job.
Toronto FC – Mo Johnston has a
sound platform upon which to build, his season has been up and down with two
terrible records to his name (longest winless streak and longest goalless
streak); but he has shown signs of good management and will probably be given at
least 2008 to really turn things around, he really needs to sort out his sievelike
defence.
FIRST ROUND MATCH UPS:-
October 25th
Chicago Fire v DC United
One convincing win for DC and two
draws. DC have taken their foot of the
gas a touch recently and Chicago
will be buoyed by the win against LA.
Expect a tight game with a result for DC. Will Emilio have his shooting boots on?
The weather forecast is cool; mid
40’s; and cloudy.
October 27th
New York Red Bulls v New England Revolution
Two wins and an away draw. The rivalry, the form of NE and home
advantage scream a home win. Angel’s
performance in front of goal could a spanner in the works though.
The weather forecast is cool; low
50’s with a chance of showers and thunderstorms.
FC Dallas v Houston
Dynamo
Two wins and goalless draw
without conceding a goal. Houston seem to have their
rivals’ number. De Rosario is the one to
watch in this game.
The weather forecast is mostly
clear with temperatures in the 60s.
Kansas City Wizards v Chivas USA
Both sides won at home this
season. Tough one to call; if Chivas
injury problems subside you have to fancy them for the win. How will Eddie Johnson perform in front of
goal?
The weather forecast is partly
cloudy and temperatures in the 50s.
This season the East has five teams, the West just three. Is the East the better conference?
The Supporter’s Shield goes to
the East.
63 wins versus 43 for play off
teams – an average of 12.6 versus 14.3.
230 goals versus 126 scored for
play off teams – an average of 46 versus 42.
207 goals versus 95 conceded for
the play off teams – an average of 41.4 versus 31.6.
Each Eastern conference team has
three inter conference games but only plays two against the West.
Each Western conference team has
three inter conference games but only plays two against the East.
Of the ten top scorers only nine
make the play offs; of those nine 6 are from the East.
New York has Angel (19) and Altidore (9). New England
has Twellman (16). Kansas City has Johnson (15). Chivas has Galyndo (12) and Razov (11). LA has Donovan (8). DC has Emilio (20) and Gomez (10).
Of the top five goalkeepers; by
MLS statistics; three are in the West and one of those won’t be in the play
offs.
Assist leaders (for the stattos
amongst you) with only Schelloto from Columbus
missing out. Again, Chivas have two,
Kljestan 13) and Razov (8). LA has
Donovan (13). New
England has Ralston (14). Kansas City has Arnaud
(9). New York has van den Bergh (8). DC has Gomes (9) and Fred (8).
Feisty players abound, the top
yellow card holders (making the play offs are) Robinson (11) for Houston. Marsch (9) and Nagamura (8) for Chivas. Olsen (8) for DC. And the only real livewire in the play offs
is New York’s
Mathis with two reds.
The Supporter’s Shield winner has
won the MLS Cup four times:-
1997 – DC United
1999 – DC United
2000 – Kansas City
2002 – LA Galaxy
Whomever you think is the best
conference it’ll be a tough competition.
The away goal rule will surely come into play so a 2-1 loss away in the
first game isn’t curtains. Some of the
best talents in the MLS are being left out this year but the teams involved
have enough quality to provide the end of season tournament with plenty of
quality football. This season no one
team has dominated the league; every team has had it’s ups and downs. And when it’s win or go home the games can
throw up suprises.
I still have to go with DC – they’ve
just played the best football I’ve seen in the MLS this season.
Quality Cup Final, five goals, a good referee all in all a splendid
match. .
The oldest team tournament in US
sports is the US Open Cup, currently named after Lamar Hunt; a long time benefactor
to football in the US
and particularly the MLS.
Two MLS teams had both needed
extra time to beat US League 1 opposition in the semis. This tournament is akin to the FA Cup in England, a competition for all levels of
football in the US. The only odd rule is no more than five senior
internationals per team that gave Steve Morrow and Stevie Nicol a couple of
selection headaches. Pizza Hut park in Frisco, Texas
was the venue; a home game for FC Dallas, was sparse at the kickoff but filled
up as the game unfolded. Plenty at stake
for both teams, FC Dallas needed a boost with somewhat of a late season slump
and New England need to prove to themselves
that they could win a Cup competition; runners up in the last two MLS Cup
Finals. The evening was bright and warm
and the drummers; so much an MLS feature in most of the stadia; were warmed
up. The crowd was low, probably due to
the mid week game time and lack of fanfare about the game. A Cup Final should be a weekend affair and
much more attention given to it.
With a definite Latin flavour to
his side Steve Morrow had some tough choices to make; a less than fully
integrated Denilson and substitute Ricardinho were omitted from the team in
favour of other Internationals. Sala
starts in goal behind a back four of Moor, Goodson, Serioux and Wagenfuhr; a
solid enough back line but can be mistake prone; McCarty; always improving;
Ricchetti and Toja; the playmaker occupied the middle with Alvarez; a great
left foot; and Oduro; plenty of pace; forward on the flanks and Ruiz the focal
point of the attack.
New England played their usual 3
5 2 in front of Reis; Heaps, Parkhurst; developing into a US MNT player and
Riley formed a back three; Thompson and Smith; a good young Bermudan operated
on the flanks with Dorman and Larentowicz in the centre, Ralston; more used to
being a wide player, played further forward; Twellman and Noonan; one of the
MLS’s best forward partnerships; led the line.
.
The game started well with Dallas making the early
running, forceful wide play and the young Colombian pulling the strings in the
midfield. New England looked to absorb the
pressure and counter with quick counters, they were the away side and expected
to be heard pushed in the opening portion of the game.
Oduro combines with McCarty and a
good deep cross is delivered without anyone on the end of it.
Goodson fluffs an easy clearance
and allows Twellman in behind the defence; the New England
forward rushes a touch and doesn’t take advantage of the early gift.
Wagenfuhr looks good going
forward and puts in a lovely ball as Dallas look
to use the flanks to get behind New England
and open them up and when Oduro and Alvarez switch flanks the home team really
works up a head of steam. A free kick is
only half cleared by Reis, the second ball in from Ricchetti is just too high
for an unmarked Oduro at the back stick; Gordon heads wide from a long Serioux
throw in. New England start to exert a
bit of pressure in midfield; Smith gets in a good cross from wide and wins a
corner; then from some Dallas pressure New England break out and come forward
quickly; Ralston goes deep on the right and whips a ball into he box; Serioux;
obviously without a shout from Sala; tires to clear the ball wrong footed and it
skips up over the big ‘keeper to Noonan at the back stick, unmarked the forward
has time to juggle with then tap the ball into an empty net. Dallas
were playing better football, had more of the ball and go behind from some
really sloppy defending.
Dallas keep up their attacking
football, Ruiz is out muscled by Parkhurst in trying to stab home a through
ball; McCarty plays in Oduro but Reis is quick off his line; Alvarez splits the
defence with a great pass but Ruiz just can’t connect from eight yards out;
another good Alvarez cross only results in a corner kick; Noonan can’t find
Twellman on a quick counter which typifies the New England play; a Wagenfuhr
run on the left pulls the defender wide and Alvarez cuts in from the flanks to
take advantage of the space, he unleashes a beautiful strike with the outside
of his left boot, the ball curls past the flying Reis to smack home off the
inside of the far post; a serious piece of quality from Dallas to draw
level.
The tempo of the game increase,
both side are looking for the next goal although Dallas still retain more
possession, New England are playing themselves into the game with stout
defending and lightning quick counter attacks.
Oduro’s pace isn’t quote enough
to capitalize on Riley’s defensive mistake as Reis is very quick to come out
and claim the loose ball; Alvarez finds himself one on one with Reis and the
big keeper does well to save with his legs; Twellman finds space on the edge of
the are but his snapshot is held by Sala; a New England attack is thwarted by
Goodson as he heads behind for a corner, Ralston takes the kick; from the right;
Ruiz and Noonan jump together as Sala stays on his line, the ball comes off the
Dallas player and Twellman is at his predatory best with a back post shot that
finds the net; Serioux hadn’t marked the New England forward very well. Yet another goal practically handed to New
England by shoddy Dallas
defending.
Ricchetti was injured so Yi came
on at the half, he went into the back four as Serioux came forward to occupy
Ricchetti’s midfield place; no changes were made by New England.
Morrow talked about possession
and attacking whilst Mariner spoke about dropping deeper and playing hard
against the Dallas
front three.
Alvarez, McCarty and Toja combine
from the whistle but the move is cleared by New England; Ruiz heads wide when
given a great opportunity from Moor’s ball in; up at the other end Twellman
shoots narrowly wide after getting open in the area; Oduro puts in a good ball
from the left but Ruiz can’t find the net at the back post.
The game is finely balanced with
tactical shifts and tussle going on all over the pitch, Dallas still have more
possession but the danger of New England on the break keep them honest.
Twellman can only find Sala after
a good Smith cross; Serioux makes a great run down the right channel and looks disappointed
to only get a corner after his claims for a penalty are waved away; it’s two
against one as New England breaks from the Dallas corner, Wagenfuhr is back
against Twellman and Noonan; the ball goes from left to right and Twellman is
pushed wide, he retains the ball and keep his head up; he doesn’t play the ball
in the air but rolls a great near post cross on the floor; Noonan back heels
into the path of Thompson who buries New England’s third from close range. Dallas gives
away a third with more mental weakness at the back, although the New England counter attack was particularly swift.
Dallas keep up their momentum
with more attacking play; New England are more cautious and sit back more to
protect their lead; but the first attack of note after the goal is from the
visitors; Sala claims a Smith cross; Dallas gets a free kick within range of
the goal; it comes back off the wall and Serioux is the quickest to react, his
effort allows him to deliver a good cross from the right, Goodson heads the
ball back into the box from the back post and the substitute Thompson; brought
on for the injured Yi just before the kick was taken; gets a goal with his
smoothly executed first touch.
Alvarez sees his cross collected
by Reis; Twellman is almost in on goal after a slip by Serioux; Alvarez puts in
a ball which McCarty does well to get on, it’s half cleared and Wagenfuhr goes
just over with a well directed shot from range; Cooper comes on for Wagenfuhr
and Cristman replaces Thompson; Ruiz is almost in on an Alvarez cross but
Ralston does enough to put him off; Odoru’s goal is called back for an offside
and right at the death a McCarty free kick is headed over by Cooper.
New England
gets the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time.
They played well and took
advantage of some sloppy defending by Dallas
in an open and entertaining game.
Dallas will rue their sloppy defending, it
probably cost them the match. We did see
a candidate for goal of the season; the first half strike by Alvarez was sheer
class.
The referee had a good game, he
let things flow made few mistakes and took into account the added fire of a Cup
Final. He didn’t pay any attention to
the bawling and ranting coming from the New England
manager either.
Top two in the East clash; DC triumph by two as Nicol sees red; DC 4,
NE 2.
A sunny early September Sunday,
one of the better rivalries in football; two teams in winning form and a place
at the top of the East the prize; entry to next season’s CONCACAF Champions’ Cup
via the MLS Supporters’ Shield was also an incentive.
Vocal crowd, beautiful day and
the prospect o####reat game, this is football.
Perkins remained between the
sticks for DC; behind a solid back four of Namoff, McTavish; rotating in for
Boswell; Vanney and Burch; Simms anchored the midfield with Fred and Gros; back
after 4 weeks out with worries about multiple concussions; out wide and Gomez
closer to Moreno
and Emilio.
A formation set up for wide play,
Burch has some good deep crosses and Fred and Gros have the skill to beat the
opposing fullbacks.
Nicol, getting quite portly;
favoured a back three of Heaps; back from injury; , Parkhurst and John
protecting Reis in goal; a five man midfield with Larentowicz anchoring,
Josephs doing the graft and Ralston, Dorman and Smith providing the service up
to Noonan and Twellman, a solid partnership up front.
Anything into Twellman or Noonan
would cause problems, and if the wide players could get into the game NE had
plenty of goals in them.
Fred and Burch overlap and the
full back delivers a great ball into the area, John chests it down as New
England scramble it clear; a shaky defensive start; then Gros fires in a ball
from the same side which Emilo controls beautifully on his chest he turns but
can’t get a shot off before he is closed down; DC are starting strong,
again.
It isn’t all the home team’s ball
though, Burch has to foul Ralston to stop the wide player delivering a cross, and
the resultant free kick doesn’t amount to much.
DC start looking to exploit their
width whilst NE looks for quicker more decisive balls through the middle, the
midfield is fast and competitive.
Ralston’s next free kick from the
left is too high; Josephs stumbles and Fred takes advantage, spraying the ball
forward to Emilio who lashes one into the side netting; Noonan’s cross almost
finds an open Twellman but is cut out; Moreno turns provider and lays off a
superb ball inside to Gomez, Heaps manages to scramble a corner; a Gomez free
kick brings and excellent save from Reis, covering his goal well.
Twellman feeds Doorman who finds
Smith on the left, the wide player’s cross is half cleared allowing Larentowicz
to feed the ball back into the danger area a moments of passing and probing is
undone with Noonan fractionally offside.
Gomez and Emilio combine in the
centre then spread the ball out to Namoff, his far post cross is a great ball
but Gomez strayed fractionally behind the last defender. The play has opened up after NE weather the
early pressure from the home side, the ball is zipping around on the pitch and
both defences are working hard.
Reis comes out quickly to deny
Moreno; Fred delivers an early cross which is headed behind by NE, the ball
comes back after being cleared through Burch and Moreno forces a save from
Reis.
Josephs does not endear himself
to Twellman after wasting the forward’s good work on the right with a sloppy
final ball.
Gros is sharp with his throw in, Moreno turns and delivers
the ball inside Smith for Fred; the midfielder has time and space to fire past
Reis for the opener; decisive play by DC to take advantage of a sleepy NE.
McTavish saves his ‘keeper’s
blushes moments later, Heaps catches Perkins fluffing after a free kick and the
big defender heads off the line.
Gomez gets his chance after
beating John but fires wide; Twellman heads against the post after getting
space in the box to work a Smith cross in; the renewed New England pressure
tells soon after, a great pulled back cross from Smith after a quick counter
from NE sees Vanney allowing Twellman too much space, Burch hasn’t got back
quickly enough to cover and the athletic forward chests the ball down and
hammers it past Perkins for the equalizer, classic and excellent counter
attacking goal.
Nicol and Soehn keep the status
quo.
DC starts on the front foot,
strong and forceful and looking to dominate the game, NE doesn’t wilt but are
pushed back.
Doorman combines with Smith who
spanners his shot coming in off the flank, it falls to Noonan who fires over,
good counter attacking from the visitors.
Gros skins Heaps and delivers a
ball in for Moreno, the Bolivian fires straight at Reis; another counter sees
New England go ahead, a corner kick sees Perkins flail, Heaps is quickest to
the ball and bundles it into Perkins and across the line for a scrappy
second.
Stung into action the home side
light up RFK, applying sweltering pressure on New England; Simms has a snapshot
go wide; he starts another move allowing Gros a shot which Reis parries clear;
Namoff gets forward and lays the ball off to Gomez, Emilo fires a ball in which
is blocked and Moreno; alert and predatory in the box; feeds on the scraps for
his 110th and DC’s equalizer.
Cristman replaces Noonan and
Olsen comes on for Fred as both managers try to swing the game; Olsen provides
a more physical presence to combat the power off Smith, Fred was overwhelmed at
times; Cristman is looking to continue his attack on the Rookie of the
year.
Twellman finds time and space in
the area but his shot is tame; Olsen starts things for DC, but Josephs is in
hand to break up a flowing move; Gros and Emilio fashion a chance for Gomez but
the ball goes wide; the game is even and tight, likely the next goal will win
it.
The fifth goal is very
contentious and results in the fuming ex-Liverpool stalwart being ejected.
Smith barges into Olsen who kicks
out from the floor to bring the big man down; Moreno picks the ball up and
plays it forward to Olsen; who got up from his tussle with Smith, playing to
the whistle; Olsen goes forward down the right and delivers a cross in for
Gomez, the shot looks to be heading for the safe hands of Reis but Emilio is on
hand to deflect the ball past a wrong footed and complaining NE ‘keeper. Replays show that Smith clearly committed a
foul and that play was allowed to continue, the New England manager give a few
instructions for his assistant; ex Tractor Boy Mariner; before stomping off,
lip readers all had a good laugh at his comments to the officials.
Pretty soon Smith is replaced by
Thompson, and Carroll come on for Simms and Boswell replaces Gomez, DC look to
defend with six and hold the game in front of them for the remaining minutes,
NE frantically look for an equalizer.
The final goal comes of a
substitute; Carroll runs rings around the mostly ineffective Heaps and cuts the
ball back from the byline, Emilio pops up between John and Parkhurst and buries
his header in the corner; poor defending and maybe something to make Nicol
re-think his back three.
In front, level, behind level
then in front; an up and down game for DC which showed the manager has his head
#### on right with some excellent substitutions and monstrously good performances
from key players, the worst of the bunch today was a shoddy Perkins
performance, elsewhere the DC team showed steel, grit, skill and flair to grab
an important three points and a huge fillip going into the tail end of the
season Wow, always a pleasure to watch
the men in black. .
Heaps may have scored but he
defended poorly today, in spurts the team played well but the substitutions
really didn’t. Twellman looked dangerous
against the DC back four but rarely got the required service. NE played a strong game but lacked the finish
to take advantage of a below par Perkins.
First class refereeing, the game
flowed, not a bunch of silly yellows and reds, key decisions were correct and
the assistants supported well. This
should appear as an MLS referee training video in due course.
New England Revolution fail to come to grip with indefatigable DC
United, the capital’s team tough out a quality 3-0 road win.
New England
hosted their second opponents in four days, a sunny, bright North Eastern
summer afternoon, a home crowd dwarfed by Gillette Stadium and a point behind MLS
leaders Houston, with two games in hand.
The away team was struggling on the road and needed a good win to
revitalize their season; pre game they occupied the last playoff spot.
Nicol makes one change from the
team that beat Kansas City;
Riley returns for John working with Parkhurst and Heaps in a back three, and
Smith wide left, Ralston wide right, Dorman, Larentowicz and Joseph complete
the midfield, Noonan and Twellman combine up front with Reis in goal.
Without Gomez; injury; Fred;
suspension; and Moreno; injury; Shoen fields an unfamiliar 4 4 2 formation,
Dyachenko comes into a midfield with Olsen on the right, Simms holding and Gros
on the left, Kpene and Emilio occupied the forward spots and Perkins was
guarded by Namoff, McTavish, Boswell and Burch, the latter a converted striker.
New England apply early pressure
down the right; with Ralston; and on the left with Smith, the big winger sees
space and takes a shot but McTavish blocks for a corner. DC clear the corner and break quickly, Burch
delivering a 40 yard cross field ball to Emilio, the forward manages to chest
the ball down but can’t convert the chance.
United occupy the flanks,
particularly the right whilst New England are
patiently playing themselves into the game.
Ralston breaks and wins a corner
on the right which DC clear. Ralston is
involved again, evading Simms and dropping a good ball in the area.
McTavish announces the DC intent
with a physical challenge on Twellman, the forward shows the Revolution intent
with a sharp cross into the box which DC manage to clear, Dyachenko picks up
the ball and delivers it to Kpene, a good ball but a touch too heavy allows
Reis to claim, he clears quickly but Namoff shows his experience by heading
safely back to Perkins.
Josephs spreads the ball out wide
to Smith and the winger stretches to get in a cross from deep, it sails over
Twellman but Ralston collects on the right, he feeds Dorman who sees his shot
blocked, NE keep possession with Smith but his ball inside isn’t a cross or a
shot and sails harmlessly wide.
Burch delivers a long diagonal
ball to Olsen on the right, the International shows skill with his first touch,
he attacks the area and slots a ball into Dyachenko, the ball clips Emilio’s
heel; preventing the Canadian from shooting so Dyachenko dink the ball deep for
Emilio to run on to, New England wins the ball and clear.
Ralston delivers a free kick from
the right, Josephs gets the ball in and an attacking Larentowicz just misses a
goal.
McTavish reinforces Shoen’s
determination and gets carded for scything through Jospeh, moments later he
wins the ball deep and starts to attack, his run from deep draws New England to
him and he flicks a pass wide to Kpene, and runs on for the return ball; a
header down for Emilio; NE half clear but DC retains possession, Burch delivers
a ball from the left and Emilio sees his effort easily pushed wide by Reis, DC
don’t threaten with the corner kick. Reis’s
distribution starts another attack and Ralston cuts back a ball on the DC
right, Heaps crosses and Perkins wins the aerial battle with Twellman.
Dyachenko and Emilio combine but
are blocked, it goes wide to Olsen who feeds Simms for a shot; the experienced
keeper fails to cover the ball and a quick thinking Gros takes it into the
goal. Reis is incensed but his ‘keeping
was pretty bad.
Kpene wins tough corner off Riley
from deep in the penalty area, Olsen tries a training ground cut back which
doesn’t quite work.
DC continues with the application
of pressure, delivered with tough and uncompromising play. NE looks to break and show their manager’s
patience.
Simms plays a ball from midfield
out to Emilio on the left the striker cuts inside and forces a save from Reis,
DC’s next attack sees an offside Olsen kick the ball away and get a yellow for
his troubles.
New England break with Smith and
he forces a corner kick, it’s delivered to the back post for Noonan to head
back across the goal, a deflection gives the home team another corner which
Perkins claims safely.
Dyachenko and Olsen again
combine; lovely first touch and pass from Olsen allow Dyachenko in but he can’t
find the space to shoot. Kipne makes a
byline cross back across the area, Olsen shoots but NE clear, DC keep
possession with a smart interception from Namoff, he sprays the ball wide to
Burch who feeds Kpene, his through ball beats Riley and Parkhurst; Emilio receives
the pass free from his marker; after ghosting behind Riley; and slots the ball
neatly past Reis.
DC do not relent with their
pressure, keeping NE pinned back.
Burch takes a deep free kick, NE
clear to Gros who forces a corner, the ex forward continues his good attacking
play with a pass to Gros, Kpene gets the ball but is well tackled by
Larentowicz.
John comes in for the injured
Parkhurst and NE shuffle their back three.
NE don’t have any rhythm to their
play and are struggling to be cohesive they are still dangerous when they break,
DC maintain their tenacious tackling in midfield, winning the lose balls and stopping
NE from playing.
A corner kick from Ralston is met
by Twellman but Olsen clears off the line.
NE break again but Namoff dispossesses Smith, Ralston gets the ball from
midfield and crosses, DC half clears with Boswell and when the ball comes in
again McTavish clears with conviction.
NE apple their best pressure of
the game as the half ends seeing DC sit back and hold on for the whistle.
Half time substitutions see Kpene
withdrawn for Moreno
and Dorman comes off for Cristman.
Play starts and straightaway
Heaps is booked for a rash challenge. Moreno’s free kick on the right is wasted; straight at
Reis, DC remain combatative in midfield and Moreno gets an opportunity on the edge of the
area but is closed down by NE. Ralston
takes a free kick which Perkins punches clear, Emilio breaks with pace but has
too much on the ball for Gros.
DC’s determination is slowing NE
down, preventing them from getting into the game. When NE does manage a break Joseph’s shot
goes for a throw in.
Moreno finds himself on the edge of the NE
area twice in succession but fails to deliver any end result; his third chance
sees a neat volley go just over. DC retains
their solidity at the back and play the ball forward intelligently;
particularly Burch and Namoff.
Jospeh shoulders Emilio to the
pitch and then dives looking for a free kick and remains without a yellow card,
Larentowicz shows his frustration with a yellow card challenge.
DC remain tough and don’t let NE
occasional pressure phase them, Moreno forces Riley into conceding a corner,
Riley clears the delivery and Simms shoots at Reis from the clearance.
NE breaks with Smith down the
left Simms marshals him but is hauled down with Smith winning a free kick, DC
deal easily. Larentowicz’s effort is
cleared by DC, Reis’s clearance sees miscommunication between Perkins and
Olsen, Olsen clears but Smith is clattered by Perkins and require
treatment.
Moreno comes off for the more defensive
Carroll and Larentowicz is brought off for the more attacking rookie,
Thompson.
Emilio is clipped by Thompson in
the middle of the park, Emilio restarts quickly to Olsen and receives the
return pass in space and he runs towards the goal and shoots through Reis for a
second goal.
DC retain their fight and tough
midfield tackling whilst NE struggle to play or attack with any conviction, set
plays provide their best opportunities.
Josephs plays Thompson in and the
rookie fluffs it behind under pressure from Olsen.
As the time ticks out the game
gets a touch fiery with hard challenges coming thick and fast in midfield, New England’s late chance from a Ralston cross is
trickled just wide by substitute Cristman.
DC’s last chance sees Olsen
combine with Emilio; the forward attacks the NE goal and forces a final save
from Reis.
Nicol may blame the closeness of
the games and tiredness but the reality is New England
couldn’t cope with a tough DC side. They
remained one of MLSs more dangerous teams and had their share of chances but
they were never able to create pattern in their play; it came in fits and
starts with a lot of ball chasing in between.
Shoen’s team were tough, hard
working, showed an appetite for the game and some smart and technical play. All over the park they dominated the bulk of
the play leaving NE struggling to play their game. They looked like the home team. This was probably the best display of
football in the MLS all season, nowhere did DC look weak or wanting, Olsen had
a blinding game, Namoff nullified Smith, Burch settled into his new role and
showed what a great long passer he can be, McTavish and Boswell were solid at
the back and full of fight, Simms broke up the NE play with ease, Dyachenko filled
in for Gomez with aplomb, Gros showed pace and drive and the two forwards
combined well all over the pitch. The
only bad point for Shoen was a cameo from Moreno
who was replaced to protect his back.
Referee was a bit of a homer,
Joseph didn’t get a card three times, elsewhere though he was able to let DC
and NE go at it without stopping the play every five seconds; despite the high
number of fouls. Overall an above
average performance.
Brilliant Burse debut and Moor header clinch a tenth win for FC Dallas;
Colorado
Rapids come up empty with a 1-0 loss.
Hot and humid Texas;
Pizza Hut Park
in Frisco; hosted the West’s second best team and the third placed team. Solid home support and a vibrant cohort of
drummers plus expectation of home win added to the atmosphere. MLS is so much better in purpose built
stadia.
Morrow had Burse in goal starting
his first MLS game due to injuries for Hislop and Sala, a 4 5 1 had Moor and
Gbandi on the flanks with Serioux and Goodson at centre back, Toja acted as
playmaker in midfield supported by McCarty; back from U20 duty; and Richetti,
Alvarez and Oduro looked to attack with Ruiz operating as lone striker. This formation had garnered 24 goals this
season.
Colorado; looking to have a shot
to make the playoffs; stuck with 3 5 2, Coundoul; second in MLS saves this
season; protected by Ihemelu, Prideaux and Erpen with Mastroeni in front, Cook,
Cancela, Kirovski and Englishman Clarke covered the midfield with Peterson and
Hernandez the tandem forwards. Only nine
away goals all season for Clavijo’s team.
Early Colorado pressure created a chance for Peterson;
he shot fractionally wide of####reat ball in from Kirovski on the right.
Erpen stops the industrious Ruiz
with a quality tackle in the box but is later beaten by Alvarez; smart work
from Toja allows the opportunity for the Texan ghosting past Erpen before being
denied by a smart Coundoul save.
Dallas
focuses on keeping possession and looking for an opening, Ruiz working his
socks off along the back line of Colorado. The Rapids are a touch disjointed but look to
break quickly from midfield.
Cooke finds Hernandez with a
good, diagonal ball, the volley is too high.
Richetti’s pass beats everyone
and drifts harmlessly behind, Ruiz starts move and Oduro beats Prideaux before
finding the Mexican.
Dallas continue to use patience
and measured passing as Colorado struggle to move the ball coherently forward,
a bad first touch being a weak point for the team.
A quick break from the middle
sees Oduro out pace Erpen, the defender still manages to push the Ghanaian wide
and the final shot is weak.
Colorado combines for their first flowing
and coherent move on 21 minutes but can’t find the net.
Ruiz receives the ball in space
and with time but runs into trouble.
Hernandez and Peterson combine to run at Dallas; the defence backs off and the
shooting opportunity comes to nothing.
Moor comes close from a corner.
Toja gets tackled by Hernandez;
the ball is won but the man went down so it’s a free kick; Dallas tries to take it quickly but the
referee calls it back. McCarty takes the
balls and delivers a great cross; at pace; into the heart of the area, a static
Colorado
defence allows the ball to bounce twice and Coundoul merely flails at the ball
allowing Moor to head in from close range at the back post. Bad defending on a free kick again, a real
MLS achilles heel.
Burse collects and then clears
the ball up field, Alvarez nods on for Ruiz but the Mexican can’t find the
ball. The goalkeeper isn’t as polished
on the Colorado’s
next opportunity. A free kick delivered
into the area is headed down by Ihemelu, Burse can only palm the ball towards
Hernandez; the Argentinean is distraught to have missed the target from inside
the six yard box.
Erpen wins the ball from Oduro on
the left but the referee gives Dallas a free kick, McCarty’s ball in is good
but Colorado manage to clear it away.
Serioux gets on the end of another McCarty free kick but heads
over. Erpen is rounded by Oduro and Ruiz
receives the cross but can only shoot wide.
Oduro is once again in the thick of things but his cross is finally
cleared after a moment of pinball in the Colorado
area.
Both teams remain the same for
the restart.
Ruiz cuts through the Colorado defence and is
only thwarted when the ball clips the heel of a prone Prideaux.
Ruiz keeps the Dallas pressure going when he combined deep
with Oduro but no space can be found for a shot.
Alvarez finds space in the
middle, passes the ball wide to Toja; the cross can only find the hands of Coundoul. More Dallas
pressure leads to a corner kick which sees Coundoul save, from the second
corner the ‘keeper distributes quickly but Hernandez’s cross field ball just misses
Cooke.
Dallas are pressing the attack
and look fluid and composed going forward, Colorado are managing to hold on
whilst still looking to break.
Gbandi and Toja combine on the
left but the cross is too high for Ruiz, Richetti crosses from the byline but Colorado clear, Oduro
feeds Alvarez on a swift attack but the Texan is disposessed.
Clavijo tries to change things
with Gomez and Osorno coming on for Kivorski and Cooke. A free kick on the right sees a Cancela
delivery headed just wide by Erpen, the substitute Osorno combines with Peterson;
his chip is just kept out by Burse.
The substitutes are having an
impact with Colorado getting forward more and Dallas losing their
attacking impetus.
Gomez works hard on the flank but
his cutback cross isn’t read by Hernandez and Dallas clear. Gomez attacks again but his choice of ball in
the box isn’t good, it only finds a Dallas
player and is cleared.
Ruiz steps it up for Dallas as his pass finds
Richetti in space; his shot is well saved by a diving Coundoul.
Dallas is reasserting their midfield play
with some fluid passing.
Colorado breaks are more energetic as time
starts to run out, Gomez gets forward but shoots poorly, Hernandez pressure
causes Burse and Goodson to concede an unnecessary corner, Erpen heads down but
Osorno can’t find the net with a simple header at the back post.
Dallas comes back with Alvarez, allowed time
and space on the edge of the box he shoots wide.
Osorno turns provider with a
great cross from the right, as the ball pops up Peterson chests it and volleys
it goal bound, the excellent Burse flings himself at the ball and is able to
turn it away.
Cancela hits a free kick into the
Dallas area but Moor clears; all game the
defender has read balls into the box before anyone else; the ball falls to
Osorno who crosses with Goodson clearing, a final volleyed effort from Clark shows good technique but flies the wrong side of
the post.
Colorado
continues to pressure Dallas but without a final
ball or quality cross the attacks flounder, Clark
can’t evade Serioux so dinks the ball to Petersen who puts a poor ball into the
box.
Dallas
break after soaking up the Colorado pressure,
a deep; left to right; cross from Rhine just
evades Alvarez at the far post.
Gomez delivers a good ball to
Peterson but his cross can’t find either of his two team mates in the area, Clark’s cross from the left sails over Gomez and
Hernandez and a Cancela corner is punched clear by Burse. Two late thirty yard free kicks from Colorado both lead to Dallas clearances.
Clavijo saw his best performances
from Erpen and Coundoul, neither was able alter the outcome. Osorno looked good coming on as a substitute
but the team lacked focus and creativity, for much of the game their attacks
and forward play were aimless. Both
Hernandez and Osorno should have scored two goals. The play offs; on this tepid performance;
look like being a goal for the Rapids in the 2008 season.
Morrow will be satisfied with his
team, they won without really impressing.
Toja, Ruiz, Alvarez and Oduro all look talented but faced a quality
‘keeper. Goodson and Moor looked solid
at the back and had the excellent Burse to keep the sheet clean. Their failure to kill the game off; at home;
will worry the manager.
The referee was a typical MLS
referee, a touch inconsistent, a tad whistle happy and a wee bit harsh.
New England Revolution grind out a well earned 2-0 home win; second
half sees home team dominant and Kansas City falling apart.
Muggy and hot on the East Coast
for the visit of the Wizards, two and three in the MLS clash at Foxborough to
see who will lead the East. Those guys
with the muskets are still hanging out watching the game.
Nicol makes a couple of changes
from last week’s team; John comes in for Riley working with Parkhurst and Heaps
in a back three, and Smith starts instead of Thompson in a five man midfield
with Dorman, Larentowicz, Joseph and Ralston, Noonan and Twellman combine up
front and Reis still keeps goal.
Onalfo matches Arnaud with
Johnson’s pace up front, the creative Argentinean; Marinelli joins a middle
four of Zavagnin, Victorine and wide man Harrington, Hartman keep go
