Columbus Crew vs New England Revolution
Two of the league's hottest teams will face off tomorrow when the Crew take on the Revs. Columbus has won eight of their last eleven and two of three against the Revs on the year, while the Revs have nine wins in their last twelve and just one loss since adding Jermaine Jones into the fold. To make things even more intriguing, that loss came against Columbus on September 20th.
Players to Watch:
For Columbus: Federico Higuain. Higuain tied for the club lead with 11 goals this season including the game winner in their 1-0 win over New England last month. While his brother Gonzalo is the more famous Higuain, don't discount Federico's ability to impact the MLS postseason.
For New England: Lee Nguyen. Nguyen led the league in Game Winning Goals with 9, was the league's highest scoring American with 18 finishes, and has 10 goals in his last 11 matches as well as 5 goals in his last 4. As Nguyen goes, so go the Revs.
Prediction:
New England advances. I'm loving Ethan Finlay and the exciting Columbus attack, but Jermaine Jones and Lee Nguyen are firing on all cylinders right now.
New York Red Bulls vs DC United
DC United is the only American club left in the Champions League this year, and they'll be back again next season thanks to winning the Eastern Conference regular season title. DC tied for the league lead in fewest goals allowed thanks to keeper Bill Hamid, and despite all of New York's weapons, DC scored only three fewer goals on the year. In three matches this season, New York managed just one goal against Hamid, and New York's Big Three of Thierry Henry, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Tim Cahill was shutout.
Players to Watch:
For New York: Thierry Henry. The veteran Frenchman can do it all, and while this was Bradley Wright-Phillips' year, Henry is equally important, if not more so, to their success. Case in point, it was Henry's pass that set up BWP's equalizer against Sporting in the Knockout Round.
For DC: Eddie Johnson. Johnson had a relatively quiet season with just 7 goals, but he's scored in two of the last three games, scored twice in last year's postseason, and has two goals in this year's Champions League. An accomplished finisher with big game experience, Johnson has the potential to be a difference maker in this series.
Prediction:
DC advances. I think there are too many question marks and a lack of consistency for the Red Bulls. They've yet to solve Bill Hamid and DC didn't win the Eastern Conference by accident.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Western Conference Semifinal Preview
Real Salt Lake vs Los Angeles
MLS powers RSL and the LA Galaxy face off in a rematch of the 2009 MLS Cup Finals. This is one of the more evenly matched rivalries in MLS as the three matches this year were split down the middle with a pair of 1-0 games and a 1-1 draw. LA's high-powered trinity of Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and breakout performer Gyasi Zardes will have a tough task ahead of them trying to score goals against U.S. National Team keeper Nick Rimando, but no team gave up fewer goals this season than the Galaxy so don't expect a high scoring series.
Players to Watch:
For LA: Gyasi Zardes. After a run that saw Zardes score 13 goals in 16 games, the 23 year-old homegrown talent has cooled off getting shut out in his last four matches, which not surprisingly correlated to just one Galaxy win. If LA is going to have a chance against RSL, they'll need Zardes to produce. He did have the game winner in their last match against Real Salt Lake in July.
For Real Salt Lake: Alvaro Saborio. Saborio missed almost four months of the season, and the World Cup, with a fractured foot, but he's back now. He's scored twice in six matches since returning and has eight goals in just sixteen games on the season.
Prediction:
Los Angeles advances. It's going to be close, but I don't see Landon Donvoan's farewell tour ending here.
FC Dallas vs Seattle Sounders
Seattle has already claimed a double this year taking the U.S. Open Cup and the Supporter's Shield and their first hurdle in clinching a third piece of hardware this season will be FC Dallas. Seattle took two of three matches between the two teams this year, but Dallas did hand them a 3-1 defeat in September. Dallas needed a late penalty to advance to the semis edging out the Whitecaps 2-1.
Players to Watch:
For Dallas: Tesho Akindele. After going two and a half months between goals, Akindele scored the opener against Vancouver in the Knockout Round. If he can be a complement to Blas Perez up top and make the Dallas attack more potent, it will make for a much more competitive series.
For Seattle: Marco Pappa. The Guatemalan midfielder was the hero in the season finale against LA and has a knack for scoring goals on the big stage. Used effectively as a starter and a substitute, he's a terrific sidekick for stars Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey.
Prediction:
Seattle advances. The Sounders have too many weapons and they're hungry for a Championship.
MLS powers RSL and the LA Galaxy face off in a rematch of the 2009 MLS Cup Finals. This is one of the more evenly matched rivalries in MLS as the three matches this year were split down the middle with a pair of 1-0 games and a 1-1 draw. LA's high-powered trinity of Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and breakout performer Gyasi Zardes will have a tough task ahead of them trying to score goals against U.S. National Team keeper Nick Rimando, but no team gave up fewer goals this season than the Galaxy so don't expect a high scoring series.
Players to Watch:
For LA: Gyasi Zardes. After a run that saw Zardes score 13 goals in 16 games, the 23 year-old homegrown talent has cooled off getting shut out in his last four matches, which not surprisingly correlated to just one Galaxy win. If LA is going to have a chance against RSL, they'll need Zardes to produce. He did have the game winner in their last match against Real Salt Lake in July.
For Real Salt Lake: Alvaro Saborio. Saborio missed almost four months of the season, and the World Cup, with a fractured foot, but he's back now. He's scored twice in six matches since returning and has eight goals in just sixteen games on the season.
Prediction:
Los Angeles advances. It's going to be close, but I don't see Landon Donvoan's farewell tour ending here.
FC Dallas vs Seattle Sounders
Seattle has already claimed a double this year taking the U.S. Open Cup and the Supporter's Shield and their first hurdle in clinching a third piece of hardware this season will be FC Dallas. Seattle took two of three matches between the two teams this year, but Dallas did hand them a 3-1 defeat in September. Dallas needed a late penalty to advance to the semis edging out the Whitecaps 2-1.
Players to Watch:
For Dallas: Tesho Akindele. After going two and a half months between goals, Akindele scored the opener against Vancouver in the Knockout Round. If he can be a complement to Blas Perez up top and make the Dallas attack more potent, it will make for a much more competitive series.
For Seattle: Marco Pappa. The Guatemalan midfielder was the hero in the season finale against LA and has a knack for scoring goals on the big stage. Used effectively as a starter and a substitute, he's a terrific sidekick for stars Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey.
Prediction:
Seattle advances. The Sounders have too many weapons and they're hungry for a Championship.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Boyd Scores in German Cup
Terrence Boyd scored his first goal since joining RB Leipzig of the 2. Bundesliga in a 3-1 German Cup win over DFB Pokal. Boyd, who came up with Hertha BSC and Borussia Dortmund's youth clubs, spent the past two seasons in Austria. He signed with Leipzig in June and debuted this month.
Boyd has appeared in 13 games for the U.S. Men's National Team, but is still looking for his first international goal.
Boyd has appeared in 13 games for the U.S. Men's National Team, but is still looking for his first international goal.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Knockout Round Preview
Vancouver Whitecaps at FC Dallas
The MLS playoffs kick off tomorrow night with a showdown between Vancouver and Dallas. The Whitecaps haven't allowed a goal in the month of October including a 2-0 win over Dallas in Vancouver on October 4th. Dallas meanwhile has split its last six with 3 wins and 3 losses. Dallas has the more potent offense led by Blas Perez and Fabian Castillo, but Vancouver's defense anchored by Costa Rica's Kendall Waston and David Ousted, the league leader in shutouts, has been one of the league's best.
Players to Watch:
For Dallas: Blas Perez. The Panamanian striker led Dallas with 11 goals this season including both goals in Dallas's 2-1 win over Vancouver on September 13th and a third goal against Vancouver in a 2-2 draw in July. He also led the club with 6 assists.
For Vancouver: Mauro Rosales. Acquired in a midseason trade from Chivas USA, Rosales, has hit double digit assists in three of his four MLS seasons. Rosales assisted on both of Vancouver's goals in their win over Dallas on October 4th.
Prediction:
Vancouver 1 Dallas 0 - Vancouver has the momentum while Dallas has been inconsistent. Ousted makes it 5 shutouts in a row while the offense does just enough.
Sporting Kansas City at New York Red Bulls
The Defending Champs are on the ropes. Banged up and burned out, Sporting has won just three times in their last thirteen matches. They also got themselves knocked out of the Champions League last week, and they haven't beaten New York this year, most recently falling 2-0 on Sunday night. They have the star power and the experience, but New York has Bradley Wright-Phillips and a rested Thierry Henry.
Players to Watch:
For New York: Bradley Wright-Phillips scored 27 goals this season and scored at least one in all three matches against Sporting this year. With a banged up back line, stopping BWP doesn't sound promising.
For Sporting: Dom Dwyer came out of nowhere to finish second in MLS with 22 goals this year, but only one of those came against the Red Bulls. Dwyer is one of the few healthy bodies for Sporting right now, but he'll need help if his struggling club is going to defend their title
Prediction:
New York 3 Sporting KC 1 - All things being equal I think Sporting is the better team, but they've undergone a brutal stretch of games and I don't know that they're healthy enough to contend with BWP and Henry right now.
The MLS playoffs kick off tomorrow night with a showdown between Vancouver and Dallas. The Whitecaps haven't allowed a goal in the month of October including a 2-0 win over Dallas in Vancouver on October 4th. Dallas meanwhile has split its last six with 3 wins and 3 losses. Dallas has the more potent offense led by Blas Perez and Fabian Castillo, but Vancouver's defense anchored by Costa Rica's Kendall Waston and David Ousted, the league leader in shutouts, has been one of the league's best.
Players to Watch:
For Dallas: Blas Perez. The Panamanian striker led Dallas with 11 goals this season including both goals in Dallas's 2-1 win over Vancouver on September 13th and a third goal against Vancouver in a 2-2 draw in July. He also led the club with 6 assists.
For Vancouver: Mauro Rosales. Acquired in a midseason trade from Chivas USA, Rosales, has hit double digit assists in three of his four MLS seasons. Rosales assisted on both of Vancouver's goals in their win over Dallas on October 4th.
Prediction:
Vancouver 1 Dallas 0 - Vancouver has the momentum while Dallas has been inconsistent. Ousted makes it 5 shutouts in a row while the offense does just enough.
Sporting Kansas City at New York Red Bulls
The Defending Champs are on the ropes. Banged up and burned out, Sporting has won just three times in their last thirteen matches. They also got themselves knocked out of the Champions League last week, and they haven't beaten New York this year, most recently falling 2-0 on Sunday night. They have the star power and the experience, but New York has Bradley Wright-Phillips and a rested Thierry Henry.
Players to Watch:
For New York: Bradley Wright-Phillips scored 27 goals this season and scored at least one in all three matches against Sporting this year. With a banged up back line, stopping BWP doesn't sound promising.
For Sporting: Dom Dwyer came out of nowhere to finish second in MLS with 22 goals this year, but only one of those came against the Red Bulls. Dwyer is one of the few healthy bodies for Sporting right now, but he'll need help if his struggling club is going to defend their title
Prediction:
New York 3 Sporting KC 1 - All things being equal I think Sporting is the better team, but they've undergone a brutal stretch of games and I don't know that they're healthy enough to contend with BWP and Henry right now.
Monday, October 27, 2014
MLS Conference Realignment Coming
So if you didn't already hear, Chivas USA is going away after this season which means next year we'll have a 20 team league with the additions of Orlando City FC and New York FC. Here's what the new conference alignment looks like:
EAST
Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, DC United, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, New York City FC, Orlando City FC, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC
WEST
Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City, LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
So in essence, the Western Conference traded away Chivas USA for Defending MLS Champs Sporting Kansas City, and the Houston Dynamo while the East adds expansion clubs New York City FC and Orlando City FC. So next year in the West, three of the following clubs won't make the postseason: Dallas, Houston, Sporting KC, LA, Portland, Real Salt Lake, Seattle and Vancouver. BRUTAL.
But hey, maybe Toronto will finally make the postseason!
ESPN Article on Chivas USA
EAST
Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, DC United, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, New York City FC, Orlando City FC, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC
WEST
Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City, LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
So in essence, the Western Conference traded away Chivas USA for Defending MLS Champs Sporting Kansas City, and the Houston Dynamo while the East adds expansion clubs New York City FC and Orlando City FC. So next year in the West, three of the following clubs won't make the postseason: Dallas, Houston, Sporting KC, LA, Portland, Real Salt Lake, Seattle and Vancouver. BRUTAL.
But hey, maybe Toronto will finally make the postseason!
ESPN Article on Chivas USA
Wambach Nets Four in U.S. Rout
The Legend of Abby Wambach continued this weekend as she scored four more goals and added an assist in the CONCACAF Women's Championship capping off a perfect tournament for the U.S. Women. Carli Lloyd added a goal and a pair of assists as the U.S. steamrolled overmatched Costa Rica 6-0.
For the tournament, the U.S. outscored their opponents 21-0 in five matches getting 7 goals from Wambach and 5 more from Lloyd who was named the tournament's best player. Seven other Americans scored at least one goal. Here are the match highlights:
Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 in extra time behind a pair of late goals from Charlyn Corral to take third place in the tournament and clinch the region's final World Cup berth.
For the tournament, the U.S. outscored their opponents 21-0 in five matches getting 7 goals from Wambach and 5 more from Lloyd who was named the tournament's best player. Seven other Americans scored at least one goal. Here are the match highlights:
Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 in extra time behind a pair of late goals from Charlyn Corral to take third place in the tournament and clinch the region's final World Cup berth.
Weekly Recap
Pretty exciting final week of the season as we saw the Supporter's Shield decided not by American icons Clint Dempsey or Landon Donovan, nor by MVP candidates Obafemi Martins or Robbie Keane. Instead Guatemalan International Marco Pappa came off the bench to score two goals and secure the double for the Sounders. We also saw Italian veteran Marco Di Vaio cap off his career with one final goal, Bradley Wright-Phillips tie the league's single season scoring record with 2 goals against Sporting KC, Lee Nguyen add to his MVP campaign with his 18th goal of the season and 9th game winner, and yet another Toronto FC campaign end in disappointment. But the week's biggest disappointment has to belong to the Portland Timbers. Not only were they eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions League with a 3-1 loss to Olimpia, they also watched Vancouver get a late winner from Kendall "Elementary My Dear" Waston to clinch the final playoff spot for the Whitecaps leaving Portland on the outside looking in. For the rest of us though, there are playoffs to look forward to!
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