Crew-Timbers Five Thoughts

1. I thought this was a really fun game to kick off ESPN's Sunday slate for the 2016 season. It had a little bit of everything. Lots of attacking (39 shots between the two teams), pretty goals (Federico Higuaín's overhead kick may end up being the Goal of the Year), talented young USMNT contributors (Tchani, Nagbe, Trapp, Finlay), and solid performances (Diego Chara and Diego Valeri come to mind). If this is the level of play we're going to see in MLS all season long, I think we're in for a real treat.


2. Dairon Asprilla had SO MANY chances that he failed to take advantage of in this game. I always find these kind of situations frustrating because on the one hand, he must be doing something right to get so many chances, but on the other hand, ARRRGH. Asprilla had just one goal and two assists last year in his debut season with Portland, but if yesterday was any indication, he could put up some gaudy numbers in 2016. You know, IF he can start converting some of those opportunities.


3. Jermaine Taylor wasn't spectacular for Portland, but he was good enough to limit references to the departure of Jorge Villafaña. The Crew were limited to a spectacular goal by Higuaín, but otherwise the Portland defense, despite surrendering over 60% of possession, was up to the task. The one "concern" is that Taylor has never made more than 26 starts in a season, compared to Villafaña who started all but one game a year ago. So keeping that in mind, the Timbers will have to find someone else who can hold down left back for at least a portion of the season.


4. I thought Diego Valeri was terrific and you could really see what a difference he makes when he's healthy. I would expect to see him deliver numbers on par with his performance in 2013 and 2014 (combined 21 goals, 27 assists). What's really impressive to me is what Valeri's talent says about the level of skill in Argentina. Here's Diego Valeri, a 29 year old in the prime of his career putting up double-doubles in MLS, and yet he's managed a measly 3 CAPs in his international career. CRAZY.


5. Anyone else get nervous when Will Trapp went down holding his knee after that collision with teammate Gastón Sauro in the first half? Trapp missed several months of 2015 with a concussion, and he's an obvious difference maker for the Crew when he's on the field. Not to mention his contributions to the U.S. U-23s who have a huge series with Colombia coming up. So definitely glad to see he turned out to be all right.

CCL Update - Final MLS Thoughts

In a word, I'm disappointed. Four chances (eight if you count both legs) for an MLS club to beat a Liga MX side and we went winless with four draws and were shut out in four of eight matches. And so, once again, the CONCACAF Champions League title will be raised by a club from Liga MX and the MLS drought continues. Here are my final thoughts for each of the four clubs:

LA Galaxy - Failed to score in either leg against Santos Laguna despite a "star-studded" roster which turned in an unremarkable performance. We knew there would be chemistry issues in LA with all of the new faces, but I think we thought the tandem of Gio dos Santos and Robbie Keane would be more effective. Same can be said of the central midfield duo of Steven Gerrard and Nigel de Jong.

Seattle Sounders - Seattle actually led on aggregate goals three times in their series with América, but couldn't sustain a lead at all. When they took a 1-0 lead on the road in the second leg, they conceded the equalizer a minute later and the go ahead goal just moments after that. Their three goals scored were by far the most by any of the four MLS sides and Seattle also managed to be the only MLS team not to get shut out in the quarterfinals, but their inability to hold a lead/play well with a lead is what ultimately doomed them.

DC United - For the second year in a row, Bill Hamid was unavailable to United in the knockout round of the CCL. Not to say he would've done any better than Andrew Dykstra, but from a confidence standpoint, DC United likely would have headed into the series on a higher note had he been there. If there's a bright spot for United, it was rookie Julian Buescher who scored a laser-beam long range strike in just his second professional match.

Real Salt Lake - Perhaps the most unlikely of MLS teams to succeed, RSL was a missed penalty kick away from overcoming a 2-0 deficit against Tigres. The addition of Yura Movsisyan looks to be a great one, and Juan Manuel Martinez and Joao Plata will provide additional support on offense for a team that lacked in that a year ago. Still, in big games you have to make big kicks and missing a penalty when down one is a back breaker no matter how you look at it, especially when it's missed by arguably one of the league's best on set pieces in Javier Morales.

Anyhow, despite the MLS's early exit, there is still reason for U.S. fans to follow the rest of the tournament. A pair of American left backs started both quarterfinal matches for their respective Mexican clubs and combined to pitch three shutouts in the quarterfinals with the one goal conceded being Julian Buescher's long range golazo for DC United. With left back a perennial question mark for the U.S., the 26 year old Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna) and 31 year old Jonathan Bornstein (Querétaro) could present some intriguing options for Jurgen Klinsmann moving forward. Villafaña has youth national team experience but has never been CAP'd with the senior team while Bornstein was CAP'd 38 teams between 2007 and 2011 and even scored a pair of goals including one during World Cup Qualifying back in 2009. Here's a look at how all of the American Exports performed in CCL action this week:

José Francisco Torres - Tigres UANL - Started vs RSL, 76 mins, 1 shot
Ventura Alvarado - América - Dressed but did not play vs Seattle
Jorge Villafaña - Santos Laguna - Started vs LA Galaxy - 90 mins
Jonathan Bornstein - Querétaro - Started vs DC United - 90 mins, 2 shots

The semifinals will kick off in two weeks with Santos Laguna taking on América and Tigres UANL taking on Querétaro. Regardless of what happens, an American will raise the CCL Trophy this April.

CCL Rookie Watch

Julian Buescher got his rookie campaign off to a strong start with a brilliant goal off the bench in D.C. United's second leg draw with Querétaro. Buescher was the only member of the 2016 SuperDraft Class to dress for the CCL Quarterfinal matches. Here's a rundown of all the rookie action:

Leg 1

11. Julian Buescher - DC United - Sub vs Querétaro, 14 mins
HGP - Jordan Morris - Seattle - Started vs América, 85 mins, 2 shots

Leg 2

11. Julian Buescher - DC United - Sub vs Querétaro, 16 mins, 1 shot, 1 goal
HGP - Jordan Morris - Seattle - Started vs América, 70 mins

2015-16 CCL Goal Scorers by Nationality - Quarterfinal Leg 2 Update

Argentina (14)

Emanuel Villa - Querétaro F.C. - 6
Martín Bravo - Santos Laguna - 2
Jonathan Hansen - Herediano - 2
Diego González - Santos Laguna - 1
Carlos Izquierdoz - Santos Laguna - 1
Juan Manuel Martínez - Real Salt Lake - 1
Rubens Sambueza - Club América - 1

Belize (2)

Deon McCaulay - Verdes FC - 2

Brazil (3)

Danilinho - Querétaro F.C. - 1
Ricardinho Paraiba - Santa Tecla - 1
Israel Silva - Motagua - 1

Canada (1)

Kianz Froese - Vancouver Whitecaps - 1

Cape Verde (4)

Djaniny - Santos Laguna - 4

Chile (1)

Bryan Rabello - Santos Laguna - 1

Colombia (9)

Carlos Quintero - Club América - 4
Andrés Andrade - Club América - 1
Yerson Candelo - Querétaro F.C. - 1
Olmes García - Real Salt Lake - 1
Jámison Olave - Real Salt Lake - 1
Andrés Rentería - Santos Laguna - 1

Costa Rica (12)

Johnny Woodly - Municipal - 2
Marvin Angulo - Saprissa - 1
Jairo Arrieta - DC United - 1
Randall Azofeifa - Herediano - 1
Daniel Colindres - Saprissa - 1
Kenny Cunningham - Herediano - 1
Mynor Escoe - Saprissa - 1
Dylan Flores - Saprissa - 1
David Guzmán - Saprissa - 1
David Ramírez - Saprissa - 1
Deyver Vega - Saprissa - 1

Ecuador (5)

Michael Arroyo - Club América - 3
Joao Plata - Real Salt Lake - 2

El Salvador (6)

Tony Rugamas - Isidro Metapán - 2
Josué Flores - Isidro Metapán - 1
Irvin Herrera - Santa Tecla - 1
Otonel Salinas - Isidro Metapán - 1
Giovanni Zavaleta - Santa Tecla - 1

Finland (1)

Mika Väyrynen - LA Galaxy - 1

France (1)

André-Pierre Gignac - Tigres UANL - 1

Germany (1)

Julian Büscher - DC United - 1

Ghana (2)

Kofi Opare - DC United - 2

Guatemala (2)

Wilson Lalín - Comunicaciones - 1
Carlos Ruiz - Municipal - 1

Honduras (7)

Erick Andino - Motagua - 2
Alberth Elis - Olimpia - 2
Wilmer Crisanto - Motagua - 1
Eddie Hernández - Motagua - 1
Néstor Martínez - Olimpia - 1

Ireland (2)

Robbie Keane - LA Galaxy - 2

Jamaica (4)

Dino Williams - Montego Bay FC - 2
Allan Ottey - Montego Bay FC - 1
Jermaine Woozencroft - Montego Bay FC - 1

Mexico (23)

Oribe Peralta - Club América - 3
Miguel Aguilar - DC United - 2
Alonso Escoboza - Santos Laguna - 2
Luis Ángel Mendoza - Santos Laguna - 2
Sinha - Querétaro F.C. - 2
Alonso Zamora - Tigres UANL - 2
Antonio Briseño - Tigers UANL - 1
Jürgen Damm - Tigres UANL - 1
Ulises Dávila - Santos Laguna - 1
Kevin Gutiérrez - Querétaro F.C. - 1
Raúl Mendiola - LA Galaxy - 1
Víctor Milke - Querétaro F.C. - 1
Javier Orozco - Santos Laguna - 1
José Rivas - Tigres UANL - 1
Giovani dos Santos - LA Galaxy - 1
Ángel Sepúlveda - Querétaro F.C. - 1

Nicaragua (1)

Raúl Leguías - Walter Ferretti - 1

Nigeria (1)

Ikechukwu Uche - Tigres UANL - 1

Panama (17)

Jhonny Ruiz - San Francisco - 3
Ervin Zorilla - San Francisco - 2
Renán Addles - Árabe Unido - 1
Abdiel Arroyo - Árabe Unido - 1
Rolando Blackburn - Comunicaciones - 1
Moisés Gil - San Francisco - 1
Martín Gómez - San Francisco - 1
José González - Árabe Unido - 1
Eduardo Jiménez - San Francisco - 1
Daniel Morán - San Francisco - 1
Jonathan Pinilla - San Francisco - 1
Armando Polo - Árabe Unido - 1
Richard Rodriguez - San Francisco - 1
Enrico Small - Árabe Unido - 1

Paraguay (2)

Pablo Aguilar - Club América - 1
Édgar Benítez - Querétaro F.C. - 1

Saint Lucia (1)

Kurt Frederick - W Connection FC - 1

Spain (1)

Ignacio Maganto - LA Galaxy - 1

Sweden (1)

Erik Friberg - Seattle Sounders - 1

Trinidad and Tobago (4)

Ataullah Guerra - Central FC - 2
Alvin Jones - W Connection FC - 1
Willis Plaza - Central FC - 1

Uruguay (1)

Bernardo Laureiro - Walter Ferretti - 1

USA (20)

Alan Gordon - LA Galaxy - 5
Lamar Neagle - Seattle Sounders - 3
Clint Dempsey - Seattle Sounders - 2
Conor Doyle - DC United - 2
Ventura Alvarado - Club América - 1
Chad Barrett - Seattle Sounders - 1
Brad Evans - Seattle Sounders - 1
Michael Farfan - DC United - 1
Jared Jeffrey - DC United - 1
Tim Parker - Vancouver Whitecaps - 1
José Francisco Torres - Tigres UANL - 1
Gyasi Zardes - LA Galaxy - 1

Who's Adding Who - Philadelphia Union

In:

M Chris Pontius (12/7/15 - trade from D.C. United) - After being named an MLS All-Star and Best XI selection in 2012, Pontius has struggled, scoring just six goals over the past three seasons. The Union hope a change of scenery does him well as Pontius leaves United after a 7 year-run with the Black and Red. Pontius made 17 starts for United in 2015 scoring three goals and adding one assist.
M Walter Restrepo (1/12/16 - transfer from NY Cosmos) - The 27 year old winger comes to MLS after spending the past five seasons in the U.S.'s lower divisions, most recently in the NASL with the Cosmos. Restrepo has been named to the NASL Best XI twice in his career.
D Anderson Conceicao (1/13/16 - loan from Tombense) - The 6'2" Brazilian Center Back is on a season long loan from Tombense (Brazil). Despite signing with Tombense in 2011, he has spent most of his time elsewhere going on loans to Criciúma (Brazil), Figueirense (Brazil), Mallorca (Spain), Atlético Goianiense (Brazil), Bahia (Brazil), Joinville (Brazil), and América Mineiro (Brazil) before now coming to Philadelphia.
D Joshua Yaro (1/14/16 - SuperDraft) - The second overall pick in this year's draft made 17 starts for Georgetown in 2015 on his way to being named an NSCAA First Team All American and the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He appeared in 57 matches in his three years with the Hoyas.
D Keegan Rosenberry (1/14/16 - SuperDraft) - Taken one pick after his college teammate Yaro, Rosenberry started over 20 games in each of his four years at Georgetown. Rosenberry scored two goals in his senior year and added a career-best six assists.
F Fabian Herbers (1/14/16 - SuperDraft) - The Union's third pick in the top six of this year's draft, Herbers helped Creighton reach the NCAA College Cup Quarterfinals in his junior year while leading the team in goals with 15 and assists with 17. His 15 goals were tied for the third in Division I while his 17 assists were tops in the nation.
M Roland Alberg (2/4/16 - transfer from ADO Den Haag) - Dutch attacking midfielder Alberg comes to the Union from ADO Den Haag of the Dutch Eredivisie. Alberg is coming off his best professional season during which he scored eight goals and tallied nine assists.
GK Matt Jones (2/9/16 - loan from Belenenses) - English-born Jones moved to the U.S. in 2005 to attend Sacred Heart University. After four years with the Pioneers he joined the Western Mass Pioneers (USL Second Division) for a brief stint before returning to Europe with Portuguese side C.D. Santa Clara. Jones has played in Portugal ever since, and arrives back in the U.S. on a season long loan from Belenenses.
D Taylor Washington (2/19/16 - SuperDraft) - Washington was limited to 11 starts in 2011 with George Mason, but started every game for the Patriots in 2013 and 2014. A transfer from Boston University, the left-sided player and 23rd overall pick in the draft was the third defender selected in this year's draft by the Union.
D Cole Missimo (2/23/16 - SuperDraft) - The 64th overall pick in this year's draft, Missimo played four years at Northwestern. During his senior year, Missimo scored one goal and added two assists on his way to being named to the NSCAA Second Team All-Big Ten Conference for the second straight year.
D Ken Tribbett (2/23/16 - free) - The former Drexel Dragon has played in the U.S.'s lower divisions since 2013, recently signing with the Union's USL side Bethlehem Steel before leaving to sign with Steel's parent club less than a month later. Tribbett spent the 2015 season with the Harrisburg City Islanders in the USL.
M Ilsinho (2/24/16 - free) - Signed to a two-year deal, the former Brazilian international brings UEFA Champions League experience from his time with Shakhtar Donetsk to the Union locker room. A bronze-medal winner at the 2008 Olympics, Ilsinho has been without a club since leaving Shakhtar in June.

Out:

M Cristian Maidana (12/7/15 - traded to Houston) - Houston Dynamo
M Andrew Wenger (12/7/15 - traded to Houston) - Houston Dynamo
F Fernando Aristeguieta (12/10/15 - loan expired) - Red Star (France) on loan from Nantes
F Dzenan Catic (12/10/15 - option declined) - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL)
F Conor Casey (12/10/15 - option declined) - Columbus Crew
M Fred (12/10/15 - option declined)
M Danny Cruz (12/10/15 - option declined) - Minnesota United FC (NASL)
F Antoine Hoppenot (12/10/15 - option declined) - FC Cincinnati (USL)
D Ethan White (12/10/15 - traded to NYCFC) - New York City FC
D Steven Vitoria (12/10/15 - option declined) - Benfica (Portugal)
M Eric Bird (12/10/15 - option declined)
M Jimmy McLaughlin (12/10/15 - option declined) - FC Cincinnati (USL)
GK Zac MacMath (12/11/15 - traded to Colorado) - Colorado Rapids
M Michael Lahoud (1/12/16 - loaned to NY Cosmos) - New York Cosmos (NASL)
M Zach Pfeffer (1/15/16 - traded to Colorado) - Colorado Rapids

Who's Adding Who - Orlando City SC

In:

GK Mason Stajduhar (11/9/15 - Homegrown) - A keeper for the U.S. U-20s and a member of the U-18 USSDA Best XI team, Stajduhar has been a member of Orlando City's academy teams in recent years.
GK Joe Bendik (12/21/15 - trade from Toronto) - With the departure of Tally Hall, Joe Bendik is the favorite to start in net for City in 2015. Bendik started his professional career in Norway before signing in MLS in 2012 with the Portland Timbers. After a year in Portland, he assumed the starting keeper job in Toronto until losing playing time to Chris Konopka in 2015. Bendik is 18-37-23 in his career with nine shutouts in 76 starts.
M Richmond Laryea (1/14/16 - SuperDraft) - Laryea scored 11 goals and added seven assists in his breakout 2015 campaign with Akron. The NSCAA Third Team All-American hails from Toronto and was a member of the Canadian U-18 National Team. He was selected with the seventh overall pick in the draft.
F Hadji Barry (1/14/16 - SuperDraft) - Barry played collegiately for UCF and led the Knights with 11 goals in 17 starts in 2015. Barry was selected with the 13th overall pick in the draft.
D/M Devron Garcia (1/27/16 - transfer from CD Victoria) - The 19 year-old defensive midfielder teamed with Orlando City teammate Bryan Róchez with Honduras at the U-20 World Cup. He's represented Honduras at both the U-17 and U-20 level.
M Antonio Nocerino (2/18/16 - trade from D.C. United) - The 30 year-old Nocerino has played professionally with both Juventus and Milan where he played alongside current teammate Kaká. A versatile midfielder, Nocerino has earned 15 CAPs with Italy's National Team, and was named to the 2011-12 Serie A team of the year.
Out:

GK Tally Hall (11/25/15 - option declined)
GK Josh Ford (11/25/15 - option declined) - San Antonio FC (USL)
D Corey Ashe (11/25/15 - option declined) - Columbus Crew
M Eric Avila (11/25/15 - option declined) - Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)
M Lewis Neal (11/25/15 - option declined) - Orlando City B (USL)
F Danny Mwanga (11/25/15 - option declined) - Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)
F Adam Bedell (11/25/15 - option declined)
F Sidney Rivera (11/25/15 - option declined)
M Tony Cascio (11/25/15 - out of contract)
M Estrela (1/30/16 - waived) - APOEL FC (Cyprus)

Who's Adding Who - New York Red Bulls

In:

D Tyler Adams (11/1/15 - USL / Homegrown) - Adams, who just turned 17 last month, signed with New York Red Bulls II last March. He logged 808 minutes over 11 matches for Red Bulls II in 2015 and has also featured in over 20 matches with the U.S. U-17s.
F Brandon Allen (12/21/15 - Homegrown) - Allen led Georgetown in scoring as a senior in 2015 with 12 goals and was second on the team with seven assists while starting all 21 matches for the 16-2-3 Hoyas.
M Derrick Etienne (12/21/15 - Homegrown) - As a freshman at the University of Virginia, Etienne made 17 appearances in 2015 scoring two goals and adding one assist. His efforts earned him a spot on the 2015 ACC All-Rookie Team. Etienne featured for Haiti's U-20 squad at last January's CONCACAF Championships.
F Alex Muyl (12/22/15 - Homegrown) - Allen's teammate at Georgetown, Muyl tallied a team high ten assists in 2015 while finishing second on the team with six goals as a junior.
M Chris Thorsheim (12/23/15 - Homegrown) - Thorsheim led Bucknell in 2015 with eight goals and was second on the team with six assists as the Bison finished the season with a record of 7-6-5. The New Jersey native started every game.
D Scott Thomsen (12/23/15 - Homegrown) - Limited to just five games during his senior year at Virginia due to a sports hernia, Thomsen did start at left back for both of the Cavaliers' NCAA Tournament matches in 2015. Thomsen was 14th in the nation with eight assists in 2014.
D Gideon Baah (2/9/16 - transfer from HJK Helsinki) - The Ghanaian defender spent the beginning of his pro career in Ghana before heading to Europe with FC Honka in 2013 where he went on to win the league's Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year awards. Tabbed as a replacement for the departed Matt Miazga in central defense, the 24 year-old Baah has already experienced the Europa League and UEFA Champions League, and made his National Team debut for Ghana against Canada this past October.

Out:
 
D Roy Miller (12/2/15 - option declined) - Saprissa (Costa Rica)
D Anthony Wallace (12/2/15 - option declined)
M Leo Stolz (12/2/15 - option declined)
F Manolo Sanchez (12/2/15 - option declined) - San Antonio FC (USL)
M Marius Obekop (12/2/15 - option declined) - Orlando City B (USL)
M Dane Richards (12/2/15 - option declined) - Miami FC (NASL)
GK Santiago Castaño (1/25/16 - released)
D Matt Miazga (1/30/16 - transfer to Chelsea) - Chelsea (England)
D Shawn McLaws (2/12/16 - waived)
M Mael Corboz (2/29/16 - waived)