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.

Feedback Survey

This month has seen a pretty big dip in views, at a certain falling to a trickle. In light of that and some responses to my inquiries, I have put together a little survey. If you would please take the time to fill it out and provide me the feedback so that I can make my blog that much better.

Around the Rest of the League, Week 33

Wednesday, October 19th

DC United [1-1] Portland Timbers

The Timbers were the first to get on the board, Kenny Cooper easily nodding home a cross. DC were not able to find an answer until late, De Rosario turning and losing his defender and firing a shot over Troy Perkins. The remaining minuted of the match were perhaps some of the most exciting of the season, seeing incredible back-and-forth action as each team strove to find a game-winner.

Thursday, October 20th

New York Red Bulls [1-0] Philadelphia Union

One early goal by Dane Richards was all it took for the Red Bulls to book their ticket to the play-offs. Jan Gunnar Solli provided the excellent service, and Richards header found the woodwork but found it's way in with a little help from Mondragon's back. Late in the second half it had appeared that Le Toux had scored an equalizer off of a free kick, but the goal was ruled back for some sort of infraction in the box.

Saturday, October 22nd

Toronto FC [2-2] New England Revolution

Toronto took the early lead, but the Revolution fought back and drew level just before the end of the half. Then only one minute into the second period they stole the lead, Milton Caraglio easily tapping in a Feilhaber cross at the back post. Danny Koevermans made sure Toronto got something out of the match, knocking home his eighth goal of the season with only seven minutes left to play.

Vancouver Whitecaps [1-2] Colorado Rapids

After two straight wins, the Whitecaps ended the season on a sour note with two straight losses. After an uneventful first half, the home side struck first early after the break on a free kick effort by Alain Rochat. The lead couldn't stand, however, Jeff Larentowitz with the equalizer and Wells Thompson the game-winner.

DC United [0-1] Sporting Kansas City

Already out of the playoffs, DC could have played spoiler for SKC who were looking to clinch the top spot in the east. Unfortunately a lone goal by Matt Besler was the decider and SKC left  RFK Stadium with all three points and the number one spot in the east.

Chicago Fire [3-2] Columbus Crew

Diego Chaves provided was once again the hero, being at the right place at the right time once again. This time, however, it wasn't quite as dramatic. Defender Anibaba headed the ball home twice to give the Fire a two goal leading into the half. The Crew fought back in the second half, but Chaves' strike just one minute after the Crew drew level finally put the match to rest.

Real Salt Lake [1-1] Portland Timbers

Alvaro Saborio put RSL ahead late in the first half, and as the match was entering the closing stages it looked like RSL would end the night with all three points. Futty Danso played the spoiler, striking in the first minute of stoppage time to salvage a point for the Timbers.

Chivas USA [1-3] Seattle Sounders

Read recap here.

San Jose Earthquakes [4-2] FC Dallas

Having left the majority of their starters back at home, FC Dallas' intentions for this match were clear. The Earthquakes obliged, scoring four first half goals. Dallas were able to put one back just before the end of the half, and another late in the second half, but were totally and completely outclassed by San Jose.

Sunday, October 23rd

Houston Dynamo [3-1] LA Galaxy

The Galaxy brought a majority reserves to the match, and seeing their performance in the Reserves League they had very little chance at getting a result from the get go. Adam Moffat opened up the scoring with an absolute monster of a goal from forty yards out. Bobby Boswell and Carlos Costly accounted for Houston's other two goals, while rookie Jack McBean opened his MLS scoring account with the Galaxy's lone goal.

Capping Off A Fantastic Season

Heading into tonight's match, the Sounders were looking to continue building momentum and rhythm, and I think that it's safe to say that they've done just that. There is one downside to this match, however. The re-injuring of Mauro Rosales. Only eight minutes in he got taken down with a challenge eerily similar to the one by DC's Daniel Woolard that caused his initial injury. Fortunately, things don't initially look as dire, but we'll just have to wait and see.

Past the injuring of Rosales, the first half was largely uneventful. Both Fredy Montero and Alvaro Fernadez had good looks on goal, but couldn't sneak anything past Dan Kennedy. The game really opened up in the second half, however. The Sounders got on the board first, but it wasn't one of their players that scored. Amidst chaos in the box largely caused by the buzzing around of Montero, Andrew Boyens accidentally heeled the ball into his own net in the fifty third minute. That then opened the door for Fernandez who struck home his ninth goal of the season fifteen minutes later, neatly side-footing the ball past Kennedy. Second-half sub Sammy Ochoa then added a third, making an excellent run and knocking a Montero cross home with a diving header. Chivas were able to put one back through substitute Victor Estupinan, but by then the damage was to great to recover from.

Chivas may have dominated in terms of stats like total shots and possession, but the Sounders quality was ultimately on showcase. Hopefully the Sounders can do much of the same as they enter the play-offs next week against Real Salt Lake.

Rosales Is The Key

As Saturday night's match wore on, things were looking pretty dire for the Sounders. Down a goal thanks to a sloppy give-away, they're so far overall flat and uninspired performance did not exactly inspire confidence. Despite having Fredy Montero on the field, their attack was largely non-existent, as evidenced by they're lowly three total shots to San Jose's eight by half-time.

Then, in the sixty fourth minute, Mauro Rosales stepped onto the field to a roaring ovation from the 64,000 plus in attendance. He has quickly become crowd favorite, and he soon demonstrated why the crowd loves him so much. In fact, almost as soon as he stepped onto the field he made his impact on the match, the teams effectiveness and creativity in attack easily doubled. He assisted on two near misses by both forwards Montero and Ochoa, demonstrating the dimension that he brings to the right wing that the Sounders were really beginning to sorely miss.

Not only is it his effectiveness in attack that boosted the Sounders, but also his leadership and incredible work-rate. With these qualities he lifts every single player around him, arguably not only making them look better but also perform at a higher capacity. While the Sounders have continued to be successful in his absence, winning two league matches and their third consecutive US Open Cup, it is by far no surprise that as time wore on his absence was beginning to be felt. Nowhere was this more obvious than their 2-0 home loss against the Philadelphia Union. Without him, while still high in quality with the likes of Osvaldo Alonso and Alvaro Fernandez, the midfield suffers when it comes to holding the ball in accordance with the attack and in turn becomes increasingly susceptible to the attacking efforts by opposing teams. Both Philadelphia and San Jose played right through them in his absence.

In fact, for these very reasons Rosales deserves not only the Newcomer of the Year award, but Most Valuable Player as well. 

Defensive Errors Hurt The Sounders

A tie would've allowed the Sounders to win the group and face preferable competition in the quarter-finals, but unfortunately defensive errors plagues the Sounders as they fell 2-1 to Monterrey. Once again the Sounders found themselves in a bad position early, as Carreno took advantage of an asleep backline in the third minute and easily fired the ball past an advancing Brian Meredith. The Sounders were able to draw level only a few minutes before halftime, Fredy Montero curling a fantastic free kick just out of reach of the Monterrey keeper into the bottom left corner of the goal. The Sounders entered the second half looking good, but yet another defensive error haunted them. A poor and lazy backpass was easily picked off by Monterrey, and the initial attempt by Humberto Suazo was successfully defended, but the ball fell to Delgado who fired it past Meredith. Try as they might, the Sounders just couldn't find another equalizer. Monterrey's shameful time-wasting certainly didn't help the Sounders' case either. Regardless the Sounders have already clinched their birth in the quarter-finals, so this loss was of little consequence in terms of advancing.

CCL Group Stage Round 6

The sixth and final round of the CONCACAF Group Stage is almost upon us, and every single Major League Soccer team in the tournament has either the guarantee (Sounders) or the likelihood of moving on to the quarter-finals. As always, you can watch the matches through CONCACAF TV.

Tuesday, October 17th

Morelia [2-1] Alajuelense (Highlights)

[Goals: 36' P. Antonio Gabas (Ala), 56' J. Rojas (Mor), 59' M. Sabah (Mor)]
With this victory Morelia draws level with Alajuelense in terms of points, but takes the top of the group on head-to-head. Now the Galaxy must win against Montagua to make it through.

FC Dallas [0-1] Toronto FC (Highlights)

[Goals: 29' D. Koevermanns (TFC), 69' J. Plata (TFC), 81' J. Plata (TFC)]
FC Dallas came out incredibly and surprisingly flat, and Toronto took advantage. They cruised past their fellow MLS side into the quarter-finals.

Seattle Sounders FC [1-2] Monterrey (Highlights)
[Goals: 3' A. Carreno (Mon), 42' F. Montero (Sea), 60' C. Delgado (Mon)]
Read recap here.

Wednesday, October 18th

Santos Laguna [2-0] Colorado Rapids (Highlights)
[Goals: 55' A. Galindo (San), 67' J. Escoboza (San)]
Colorado simply couldn't muster what it took to win, and the points that they dropped at home came back to haunt them. Santos snuffed any possibility of Colorado moving on.

Pumas UNAM [1-0] Tauro (Highlights)
[Goals: 45' J. Cacho (Pum)]
With the victory, Pumas clinch the top spot in the group and move on to the quarter-finals along with Toronto FC.

Herediano [4-1] Communicaciones (Highlights)
[Goals: 8' C. Mejia (Com), 13' J. Barbosa (Her), 41' J. Barbosa (Her), 49' C. Montero (Her), 61' J. Cordero (Her)]
Though both teams were out of contention for moving out of the group stage, Herediano shocked Communicaciones by scoring four goals, three of which were ultimately uncontested. 

Thursday, October 19th

Metapan [3-2] Real Espana (Highlights)
[Goals: 50' P. Suarez (Met), 56' E. Delgado (Esp), 68' R. Sanchez (Met), 82' P. Suarez (Met), 90+2' M. Martinez (Esp)]
Colorado's hopes of moving on fell on this match, a draw being the result they needed. Unfortunately, a wild second half saw Metapan leave the match the winners and the Rapid's hopes of a quarter-final appearance die.

Montagua [0-1] LA Galaxy (Highlights)
[Goals: 29' Juninho (LAG)]
Despite being on the back-pedal for much of the match, Juninho's lone wonder goal was all the Galaxy needed to claim victory and a berth in the quarter-finals.