MLS Play-Offs: Conference Semi-Finals Review

Rea Salt Lake - Seattle Sounders FC

In the first round, an incredibly poor and lifeless performance saw the Sounders concede three goals and dig themselves into an incredibly deep hole. Heading into the match Wednesday night, they were hoping they had set the stage for a miraculous comeback much the same as San Jose's against the LA Galaxy back in 2003. Despite the fact that the return leg was almost an exact mirror image of the first one, the Sounders completely dominating the game and calling all of the shots and getting two goals because of that dominance, they just could not find that third and tying goal.

Houston Dynamo - Philadelphia Union

The first leg at PPL park saw an incredibly action-packed first half, Houston taking advantage of the Union's attempt at a new and unfamiliar formation. Two goals one minute apart in the first ten minutes saw the game still deadlocked, but half an hour in Calen Carr took the permanent lead for Houston. The Union were the aggressors in the second half, but through some great goalkeeping by Tally Hall just couldn't find an answer to Houston's second goal. Heading into the second leg, Philadelphia knew what they needed to do. Houston, playing their last match ever in Robertson Stadium, had other plans. Late in stoppage time at the end of the first half Houston had an excellent set piece opportunity that they took advantage of. Brad Davis swung the ball into the box and Brian Ching was there to head the ball in for the match's lone goal.

Sporting Kansas City - Colorado Rapids

An incredibly physical first leg not only saw three players leave the pitch with injuries for the defending champions, but two goals in favor of SKC. Teal Bunbury was the scorer of both, the first easily slipping the ball past Pickens off of a long ball from Julio Cesar and the second a penalty that was Bunbury himself drew from Tyrone Marshal who got his marching orders as well. Missing yet more key players, being down two goals and the second leg being in intimidating confines of Livestrong Sporting Park, Colorado had a mountain the size of Everest to climb, and as a result they were completely helpless at the hands of SKC. They added two more to the aggregate total, both through set pieces, both served into the box by Graham Zusi. Aurelian Colin and CJ Sapong were there to guide both opportunities into the back of the net.

LA Galaxy - New York Red Bulls

The marquee match-up of the play-offs certainly lived up to all the hype, seeing plenty of drama and action across both legs. The first leg saw the Galaxy take an early lead through a fantastic strike by former Red Bull Mike Magee assisted by none other than David Beckham. The Red Bulls did everything in their power to nullify the goal, but fantastic goalkeeping from Josh Saunders and overall defending from the Galaxy made sure that none of their efforts counted. Then only seconda after the final whistle frustrations boiled over, Rafa Marquez throwing the ball at Landon Donovan and inciting a brawl that saw both the Galaxy's Ju ninho and Marquez red carded. Marquez found himself with much more than a red card, however. He ended up being fined over two thousand dollars and suspended an additional two matches for his role and the matter after additional review. The Red Bulls were looking to make an upset in the second leg, but despite cultivating hope through an early goal by Luke Rodgers, they just couldn't do it. Magee added another goal just before the end of halftime, and then a penalty drawn by Beckham late in the second half sealed the deal.

A Hole Too Deep

Tonight the Sounders mustered everything the could against Real Salt Lake, but ultimately just could not dig themselves out of the hole that they dug themselves into with their poor performance in the first leg of the Western Conference Semi-Final.

The series was certainly a tale of two halves, RSL dominating in the first one and Sounders calling all of the shots in the second. Almost every advantageous stat favored the Sounders, most notably 26 total shots compared to RSL's paltry 4, 9 shots on goal to RSL's 1, and 61% possession. As already obvious, the Sounders absolutely dominated. RSL's defense, however, while notably missing both Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers were able to withstand the pressure and fend off any attempts on goal until mid-way into the second half.

The Sounders finally broke through in the fifty fourth minute thanks to a penalty kick drawn by Mike Fucito as he was fending off three RSL defenders and fighting for the ball in the box. Osvaldo Alonso stepped up to the spot and hammered the ball down the center of the goal, right underneath Nick Rimando. Then, just five minutes later in the sixty first minute the Sounders cut the defect down to just one goal, Fredy Montero slipping a cross over to a wide open Lamar Neagle who slid the shot in across the face of goal past Rimando.

The Sounders continued to press RSL for a third and series-tying goal, but just couldn't finish any more of their opportunities. As anyone could have predicted, the Sounders just could not make up for their lackluster performance in the first leg.

The Sounders Don't Show Up

The Sounders put on an absolutely disgraceful performance tonight, falling to Real Salt Lake by three goals in the the first leg of the Western Conference semi-finals. Until the dying minutes of the match, the Sounders simply couldn't hold possession and build and develop on the attack to save their lives. To put it simply, RSL called all the shots.

After claiming a dominant hold on the match early on, it took until the final five minutes of the first half for RSL to start off the scoring. Chris Wingert whipped in a cross coming off of an overlapping run that was destined for the far corner of Kasey Keller's net on it's own, but Alvaro Saborio put a foot in to tap it over the line. RSL then struck again just minutes into the second half, Saborio neatly flicking the ball served up by star playmaker Javier Morales past Keller. Towards the final fifteen minutes, after both of RSL's key center backs had been removed from the game due to injury, the Sounders were finally able to get a foothold in the match. Unfortunately they couldn't staunch the bleeding, RSL added one more goal before the night was done. Substitute Ned Grabavoy knocking the ball in past Keller after a frantic scramble in the box to clear the ball saw it land at his feet.

Next up, the return leg is this coming Wednesday. If the Sounders can't get Rosales back out on the field, I don't think that they stand a chance.

MLS Play-Offs: Wildcard Round Review

FC Dallas [0-2] New York Red Bulls

New York scored two first half goals to dispatch FC Dallas and gain passage into the Western Conference semi-finals and a marquee match against the LA Galaxy. The first half was scoreless, but the home side was largely the aggressor, creating opportunity after opportunity but unfortunately lacking the ability to convert any of them. The Red Bulls made them pay for their lack of finishing in the sixty first minute, Medhi Ballouchy sliding a pass to Joel Lindpere in the box and Lindpere knocking the ball home past Hartman. FC Dallas desperately tried to fight back, but again their lack of a finishing touch haunted them and New York put the game to bed deep into stoppage time at the end of the game. Thierry Henry collected a long pass, had his initial shot save, and finished off the rebound.

Colorado Rapids [1-0] Columbus Crew

For the second year in a row row, Colorado has been the one to eliminate the Crew from play-off contention. While the scoreline may give the impression of a close match, it was from it. Columbus had some purchase early one, managing to hold the ball and create opportunities, but after about fifteen minutes or so it became all Colorado. Following the swing of momentum, Colorado struck the night's only goal in the final minute of the first half. Kosuke Kimura received the ball from Brian Mullen, took it to the touch-line and pass it back to Omar Cummings in the box, who fire it past Will Hesmer. Throughout the remainder of the match Colorado continued to dominate, but just couldn't kill the nerve and put away any of their other opportunities. They move on to face Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.