Writer's Note: Each Monday I will do an overview of all the action that took place on the weekend. For the Summer to Fall months it will be MLS, and in the Winter to Spring it will be the English Premier League. In this weekly review I will go over the scores, and offer my overall commentary of the week's fixtures, and the updated tables.
Real Salt Lake 4- Chivas USA 0
The week started off with a bang on Wednesday Night, as RSL put a beat-down on Chivas. Chivas kept them off the board till the 43rd, but then the storm came with 3 second half goals for the Lakers. A big blow for Chivas who want are in the middle of the play-off chase, but one again Rio Tinto Stadium proves to be a fortress in Utah.
Seattle Sounders 0- Toronto FC 0
Toronto's biggest criticism this year has been it's inability to play well on the road. There performance at Qwest Field should silence the critics, and the Reds managed to outplay the Sounders in best environment in MLS. Sounders boss Sigi Schmit was displeased with his side, saying they were lucky to take a point at home. Sounders are comfortable in play-off position, Toronto still needs some more work to get to the post-season.
New England Revolution 2- San Jose Earthquakes 1
The battered and bruised Revolution are making a push when it counts. a win at home over the Earthquakes is not anything to write a novel about. However Steve Nicol has kept his group together though adversity in terms of injuries and a slow start. Now in play-off contention the Revs are the team that is creeping up on everybody else. As for the Earthquakes, well.....they get high draft picks next year.
Chicago Fire 0- DC United 1
Personally this is heart-breaking for me too write about, but the show must go on!!! The Fire are dismal at Toyota Park and really need this win to keep with the Crew in the Supporters Shield race for best record. The Fire dominated play but United took advantage of a free-kick to steal 3 points. This is a huge road win for United, as it helps there cause in the play-off chase. The dynasty of the MLS is looking to finally add its fifth Cup, and first since 2004
Kansas City Wizards 0- Real Salt Lake 1
As one play-off push survives, another dies. RSL helped there cause the most with a 1-0 road win at Kansas City. The Wizards out shot Salt Lake 16-2, but the Lakers put both of there shots on target, and one went in. Chris Seitz made 8 saves to get the shut-out. Real Salt Lake is in the play-off right now, but not by much. This loss also signifies the end of the Wizards hope for the post-season. KC has had an up and down year, with the firing of Head Coach Curt Onlouf, the Wizards prove, you can not win in Minor League Baseball parks!!
Los Angeles Galaxy 1- Chivas USA 0
In the league's biggest match of the week, the league's biggest star stole the spot light. David Beckham's 80th minute strike was perfect, and proved to be the difference in the Super Classico. The win makes the Galaxy almost a sure bet to be in the play-off for the first time since winning the Cup since 2005. As for Chivas a tough week losing two games, one to the city rivals. Chivas have gone from safely in the play-offs, to bubble teams in only 4 days.
Colorado Rapids 1- Houston Dynamo 0
For the past two weeks Houston has finally has shown that they are only mere mortals. A loss on the road at Colorado is forgive able, but the Dynamo did not find the back of the net again. They only posted 6 shots (only 1 on goal). As for the Rapids, a much needed win, and it will be a sweet 3 points since you have to believe the Mountain Men did not expect 3 points against the league's best, even at home. Colorado is part of the large pack that is tied for the second to last play-off spot, and the next month will be hair pulling for Rapids supporters. As for the Dynamo not an important game, but great chance to get a hold of the Supporters Shield slipped through.
New York Red Bulls 1- Columbus Crew o
Speaking of the Supporter's Shield, I guess NOBODY wants to win it. The Crew had the best chance to take three points of all the league leaders. The Red Bulls have been (and still are) a dismal team at best, just awful. But since Head Coach Juan Carlos Osorio left the Red Bulls have won two in a row. AGAIN THE RED BULLS HAVE WON TWO IN A ROW, STOP THE PRESSES. Still, this is an awful season for the Red Bulls, 4 wins, 4 ties, 16 losses. To bad there is no relegation in MLS. As for Columbus, I am sure the Fire and Dynamo are writing you guys thank-you notes for missing a prime opportunity to pull away from the pack
After this week the MLS play-off picture is still as discombobulated as ever. The leaders lost, and the chasers won. This will make the final stretch of the regular season, more exciting. (Proof the regular season is as exciting as play-offs to the American sports fan). The race for the Supporters Shield, and CONCACAF Champions League spot, is still up for grabs, as the Fire, Crew, and Dynamo all lost. Now David Beckham, and Landon Donavon look to lead the Galaxy to MLS regular season crown. But there is more soccer to be played, after this week made more of mess of the leagues table......And yes I still believe 10 college teams can still beat the Red Bulls!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
UEFA Champions Leauge group draw provides intrigue in early stages
This year's version of the UEFA Champions League provides an interesting start to the tournament. Normally each group would have 2 giants that would dominate smaller clubs for some of Europe's lesser know leagues. Usually the group stages were ignored as the more prestigious clubs waltzed though the group stages as if they were an annoyance, taking their attention away from getting a good start in their respected domestic leagues.
But the soccer gods seems to smile on this years tournament, and have offered some interesting intrigue for this year's tournament. While they may only be group stages, these matches will be great appetizers before European crown jewel of football, the knock-out stages of the Champions League (which to your typical American non-soccer sports fans you can describe as imagine if the BCS made a play-off system).
Group A seems to have intrigue with the bigger three clubs appearing to be equals, look for the matches with Maccibi Haifa to be the difference in terms of points and goals. Manchester United should rule group B with Wolfsburg and Moscow battling for second. Looks for Real Madrid and AC Milan to stroll though group C, and group D boast Chelsea, with Athletico Madrid perceived to be second, but FC Porto darling of last years party are back for more.
In the other half of the groups group E looks to be the most open, Liverpool should win, but the Reds form hasn't been stellar lately, the other 3 teams should provide a nice dog-fight for advancement. In group F Barca and Inter should advance, nothing else has to be said. Group G has to be the group of sleeper teams, Stuttgart, Sevilla, Rangers, and Unirea Urziceni are a group with not a lot of fan fair, (you know it is bad when the most recognizable team is a Scottish side that is not Celtic). Still the sides in group G could provide the Cinderella of the tournament. Finally there is group F, Arsenal will dominate, Olympiakos and Standard Liege will fight for second (though the Dutch-side looks a lot less dangerous without American Oguchi Onyewu)
Here is the order of how I believe the group stages will go
Group A: 1. Bayren Munich 2. Juventes 3. Bordeaux 4. Maccibi Haifa
Group B: 1. Manchester United 2. Wolfsburg 3. Moscow 4. Besiktas
Group C: 1. AC Milan 2. Real Madrid 3. Marseile 4. Zurich
Group D: 1. Chelsea 2. Porto 3. Atletico Madrid 4. Apoel Nicosia
Group E: 1. Liverpool 2. Lyon 3. Fiorentina 4. Debrecen
Group F: 1. Barca 2. InterMilan 3. Kiev 4. Moscow
Group G: 1. Sevilla 2. Stuttgart 3. Rangers 4. Unirea Urziceni
Group H: 1.Arsenal 2. Olympiakos 3. AZ Alkmaar 4. Standard Ligue
No matter the results (and please don't quote me on my predictions) this edition of the UCL will prove to be as great as the rest....but really it's on FSC????
But the soccer gods seems to smile on this years tournament, and have offered some interesting intrigue for this year's tournament. While they may only be group stages, these matches will be great appetizers before European crown jewel of football, the knock-out stages of the Champions League (which to your typical American non-soccer sports fans you can describe as imagine if the BCS made a play-off system).
Group A seems to have intrigue with the bigger three clubs appearing to be equals, look for the matches with Maccibi Haifa to be the difference in terms of points and goals. Manchester United should rule group B with Wolfsburg and Moscow battling for second. Looks for Real Madrid and AC Milan to stroll though group C, and group D boast Chelsea, with Athletico Madrid perceived to be second, but FC Porto darling of last years party are back for more.
In the other half of the groups group E looks to be the most open, Liverpool should win, but the Reds form hasn't been stellar lately, the other 3 teams should provide a nice dog-fight for advancement. In group F Barca and Inter should advance, nothing else has to be said. Group G has to be the group of sleeper teams, Stuttgart, Sevilla, Rangers, and Unirea Urziceni are a group with not a lot of fan fair, (you know it is bad when the most recognizable team is a Scottish side that is not Celtic). Still the sides in group G could provide the Cinderella of the tournament. Finally there is group F, Arsenal will dominate, Olympiakos and Standard Liege will fight for second (though the Dutch-side looks a lot less dangerous without American Oguchi Onyewu)
Here is the order of how I believe the group stages will go
Group A: 1. Bayren Munich 2. Juventes 3. Bordeaux 4. Maccibi Haifa
Group B: 1. Manchester United 2. Wolfsburg 3. Moscow 4. Besiktas
Group C: 1. AC Milan 2. Real Madrid 3. Marseile 4. Zurich
Group D: 1. Chelsea 2. Porto 3. Atletico Madrid 4. Apoel Nicosia
Group E: 1. Liverpool 2. Lyon 3. Fiorentina 4. Debrecen
Group F: 1. Barca 2. InterMilan 3. Kiev 4. Moscow
Group G: 1. Sevilla 2. Stuttgart 3. Rangers 4. Unirea Urziceni
Group H: 1.Arsenal 2. Olympiakos 3. AZ Alkmaar 4. Standard Ligue
No matter the results (and please don't quote me on my predictions) this edition of the UCL will prove to be as great as the rest....but really it's on FSC????
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Concacaf Champions League: A sourer but needed medicine for MLS
One of the minor dots on the 2009-2010 soccer calender is the second installment of the Concacaf Champions League. I say minor because with the tournament being in only its second year of existence it has not developed the same tradition of its European rival. Other than a lack of history the CCL faces some other challenges, particularly catching the attention of the American audience. While some critics say that it would be best to scrap the tournament, I am believe the tournament is a good thing for MLS.
However, some changes need to be made in order for the tournament to catch an appeal. The first one is basic: The results!! In the first edition of the tournament the MLS crashed in burned, Chivas USA, and New England being ousted in the Preliminary Round) and DC United looking like a high school team in the group stages. Houston was the only American side (with the exception of the Puerto Rico Islanders) who looked respectable against foreign competition.
One could argue that it was not fair for MLS teams to do well in the first year, since those four sides competed in SuperLiga earlier in the year and the 2009-10 results would be better. However so far that is not true. While DC United made it through the preliminaries New York failed to, and Toronto FC lost to Puerto Rico (then again do American loyalties lie with the Toronto and the League, or the Islanders and the Nation?) also the Red Bulls are not exactly the class of the league and their qualification in the tournament was a miracle.
Still, in the group stage things are not looking too sharp. DC is looking for a repeat of the dud they preformed last year. Columbus got thumped 5-0 by Cruz Azul. Houston still preforms well, showing why they are the class of the league.
With these negative results the nay-sayers will state the the CCL should be dropped from the MLS schedule, due to a lack of interest from both clubs and fans however that is not they way to go. MLS needs to participate in Concacaf's premiere club competition, and needs to showcase what it is capable of doing. What needs to happen is a bigger emphasis on the tournament. Last spring Houston rotated there pre-season around the tournament so they could put there best effort into the competition. Also during this season teams competing in Super Liga reserved 2 weeks of the schedule for Super Liga play only, this resulted in the Chicago Fire advancing to the Final.
Finally, MLS needs to create a culture and incentives for teams to do well. Perhaps increasing a teams salary cap based on results in the tournament, or finally issuing a much needed increase in overall salary-cap and roster size. Juggling 3 completions is a lot easier when you have the man-power to compete and not completely exhaust the players. MLS is doing a good thing by competing in the CCL, they just need to re-modify the teams representing the league, and creating a larger incentive for doing well.
The Champions League is good for MLS, it will help grow the league. Right now it is going through some rough spots, but a fish can only be as big as the pond it lives in, and MLS can only be as big as Concacaf. MLS needs to support it's confederation, and this young tournament. It will create winners in the long run, for both Concacaf and MLS.
However, some changes need to be made in order for the tournament to catch an appeal. The first one is basic: The results!! In the first edition of the tournament the MLS crashed in burned, Chivas USA, and New England being ousted in the Preliminary Round) and DC United looking like a high school team in the group stages. Houston was the only American side (with the exception of the Puerto Rico Islanders) who looked respectable against foreign competition.
One could argue that it was not fair for MLS teams to do well in the first year, since those four sides competed in SuperLiga earlier in the year and the 2009-10 results would be better. However so far that is not true. While DC United made it through the preliminaries New York failed to, and Toronto FC lost to Puerto Rico (then again do American loyalties lie with the Toronto and the League, or the Islanders and the Nation?) also the Red Bulls are not exactly the class of the league and their qualification in the tournament was a miracle.
Still, in the group stage things are not looking too sharp. DC is looking for a repeat of the dud they preformed last year. Columbus got thumped 5-0 by Cruz Azul. Houston still preforms well, showing why they are the class of the league.
With these negative results the nay-sayers will state the the CCL should be dropped from the MLS schedule, due to a lack of interest from both clubs and fans however that is not they way to go. MLS needs to participate in Concacaf's premiere club competition, and needs to showcase what it is capable of doing. What needs to happen is a bigger emphasis on the tournament. Last spring Houston rotated there pre-season around the tournament so they could put there best effort into the competition. Also during this season teams competing in Super Liga reserved 2 weeks of the schedule for Super Liga play only, this resulted in the Chicago Fire advancing to the Final.
Finally, MLS needs to create a culture and incentives for teams to do well. Perhaps increasing a teams salary cap based on results in the tournament, or finally issuing a much needed increase in overall salary-cap and roster size. Juggling 3 completions is a lot easier when you have the man-power to compete and not completely exhaust the players. MLS is doing a good thing by competing in the CCL, they just need to re-modify the teams representing the league, and creating a larger incentive for doing well.
The Champions League is good for MLS, it will help grow the league. Right now it is going through some rough spots, but a fish can only be as big as the pond it lives in, and MLS can only be as big as Concacaf. MLS needs to support it's confederation, and this young tournament. It will create winners in the long run, for both Concacaf and MLS.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Soccer Scence in America on the Rise
A certain change in taking place in American media. A change that looks to threaten the steady balance of the American sporting scene that was set decades ago. Call it a fad, call it a revolution, call it whatever you want. But people are noticing that foreign game with the round ball that's played on the pitch is slowing working it's way into the American consciences.
ESPN recently signed with the English Premiere League, and Spain's La Liga, with these deals the American Broadcasting giant is bringing Europe's top talent to the States. This is breath of fresh air that American Soccer fans having been gagging for (especially since the UEFA Champions League will be seen on Fox Soccer Channel this year, a channel with little exposure in America). At first this seems like a sower trade for those in the US, trading the chance to see Europe's best in AC Milan, FC Bayren Munchen, and Inter Milan, for EPL bottom dwellers like Burnly, Wigan, and Hull City? However, once people step back they will notice that ESPN has done a savvy thing. With ESPN broadcasting at least 2 top-notch leagues(EPL, and La Liga) a week for the entire season, soccer gets more exposure that 2 UCL matches a week from Sep.-Oct. and April-May.
But putting aside the numbers, fans will notice that domestic league soccer is more entertaining, with managers not having to worry about aggregate or away goals, league matches prove to be more open and feature aggressive styles. Arsenal outscoring opponents 10-2 through 2 matches anyone? Also ESPN is making the right call bringing in the two giants to American Television, American soccer fans seems to build up loyalty towards certain English clubs, I know more Liverpool fans that I do Clippers fans. For those who are not soccer savvy, having the same league on each week will help people associate more with them, then seeing to European teams one week, then another pair from a different countries.
ESPN choosing to broadcast top-notch soccer was a great move, and the Soccer sub-culture in America will greatly appreciate it (so much that some of us will get up at 7:45 AM on a Saturday). This will feed the appetite for Soccer in this county that is one display in areas like Seattle (kudos to the Sounders) the World Football Challenge, and US National Team games. Hopefully this exposure will lead to bigger things for the worlds game in the melting pot that is America. Top-Notch Soccer, along with a nice healthy dose of MLS (know your roots!!) will bring joy to the soccer community. ........or at least make it more popular than World Series of Poker.
ESPN recently signed with the English Premiere League, and Spain's La Liga, with these deals the American Broadcasting giant is bringing Europe's top talent to the States. This is breath of fresh air that American Soccer fans having been gagging for (especially since the UEFA Champions League will be seen on Fox Soccer Channel this year, a channel with little exposure in America). At first this seems like a sower trade for those in the US, trading the chance to see Europe's best in AC Milan, FC Bayren Munchen, and Inter Milan, for EPL bottom dwellers like Burnly, Wigan, and Hull City? However, once people step back they will notice that ESPN has done a savvy thing. With ESPN broadcasting at least 2 top-notch leagues(EPL, and La Liga) a week for the entire season, soccer gets more exposure that 2 UCL matches a week from Sep.-Oct. and April-May.
But putting aside the numbers, fans will notice that domestic league soccer is more entertaining, with managers not having to worry about aggregate or away goals, league matches prove to be more open and feature aggressive styles. Arsenal outscoring opponents 10-2 through 2 matches anyone? Also ESPN is making the right call bringing in the two giants to American Television, American soccer fans seems to build up loyalty towards certain English clubs, I know more Liverpool fans that I do Clippers fans. For those who are not soccer savvy, having the same league on each week will help people associate more with them, then seeing to European teams one week, then another pair from a different countries.
ESPN choosing to broadcast top-notch soccer was a great move, and the Soccer sub-culture in America will greatly appreciate it (so much that some of us will get up at 7:45 AM on a Saturday). This will feed the appetite for Soccer in this county that is one display in areas like Seattle (kudos to the Sounders) the World Football Challenge, and US National Team games. Hopefully this exposure will lead to bigger things for the worlds game in the melting pot that is America. Top-Notch Soccer, along with a nice healthy dose of MLS (know your roots!!) will bring joy to the soccer community. ........or at least make it more popular than World Series of Poker.
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