Had family in town so did not have as much time to watch games this weekend.
Saturday
RSL 0 at 1 DC United
This game the Road Form of RSL came back to earth. RSL has never won a game at RFK stadium and this week was know different, as United over came there loss to Houston the following week to record their first win of the season. The best chance for RSL in the first half came off of cross to the far post that was just pushed away by Bill Hamid to keep airborne Saborio from heading the ball in at the corner. DC had a great chance saved when Pajoy passed into the path of a on rushing Pontious who dribbled down the left side of goal and had a shot headed for just inside the post saved by Rimando.
The games loan goal came just before the hour mark off a broken DC corner kick. The ball was hit on the ground to no one, RSL managed a weak clearance that was collected from Man of the Match John Thorrington who hit a sweet chip on goal. The original shot was punched by a on form Rimando, to a just onside Pajoy who buried the ball into the back of the net. The rest of the half saw sustained possesion from RSL with more pressure on the DC goal coming after the Thorrington injury at about the 75 minute mark. This pressure lead to no goals however. The last highlight of the game came in the last minutes of the game, a save of the week candidate, Rimando stone walled El Pescadito, (Carlos Ruiz) from point blank range. Overall this game was memorable both teams forward cores neutralized and frustrated from the physical play of the respective back lines. Moving forward DCU will hope that the injury to midfielder, and Man of the Match, John Thorrington was minor and will not keep him out of action to long. Thorrington continual stymied the RSL attack, and kept the midfield from playing playing effective service to the forwards.
DC will be happy to have Dwayne DeRosario back from suspension to partner with Pontious in the attack. Other than the goal and a few decent passes Pajoy spent the entire game petulant about the physicallity of the RSL defense while Panamanian national Marcos Sanchez looked completely unprepared for the speed of play in MLS. Sanchez was continual closed down and dispossessed of the ball. As for RSL there is continued encouragement from the strong CB tandem of Watson-Sirboe and Schuler. As well as some flashes from Velasquez* Gil and Stephenson. However Kreis and company will be happy to have Grabavoy and Morales back to hopefully get more out of the forwards* As well the RSL back line will be bolstered with the return of Borchers and Wingert.
DC will be happy to have Dwayne DeRosario back from suspension to partner with Pontious in the attack. Other than the goal and a few decent passes Pajoy spent the entire game petulant about the physicallity of the RSL defense while Panamanian national Marcos Sanchez looked completely unprepared for the speed of play in MLS. Sanchez was continual closed down and dispossessed of the ball. As for RSL there is continued encouragement from the strong CB tandem of Watson-Sirboe and Schuler. As well as some flashes from Velasquez* Gil and Stephenson. However Kreis and company will be happy to have Grabavoy and Morales back to hopefully get more out of the forwards* As well the RSL back line will be bolstered with the return of Borchers and Wingert.
Sunday.
NYRB 1 at 2 San Jose Earthquakes
This was a dreadfully boring game for the first 80 or so minutes. NY was comfortable in charge of the game. Scored a pretty goal with Eric Alexander running onto a beautiful Henry chip that was headed into his path. Even if the play should have been whistled dead, NY still had the better chances and should have scored on a couple of set plays. One a great shot from Tim Cahill that hit Jamison Olave who was offside in front of goal. San Jose really only had a couple of chances, one early on when Fucito somehow skied a cross over the bar from inside the six.
The last 15 minutes however featured a what is now a signature San Jose Earthquakes comeback facilitated by another Roy Miller melt down. Miller, was beat on equalizer by Jahn. Committed an egregious handball on the box that lead to the PK. Then encroached on the initial penalty kick that was saved by Robles. The comeback could not have happened however if not for the three great subs by Frank Yallop. Adam Jahn, Cordell Cato and Sam Garza brought energy and enthusiasm to a team that was lacking in both for the first 75 minutes of the match, with out which NYRB would never have been put under pressure.
The last 15 minutes however featured a what is now a signature San Jose Earthquakes comeback facilitated by another Roy Miller melt down. Miller, was beat on equalizer by Jahn. Committed an egregious handball on the box that lead to the PK. Then encroached on the initial penalty kick that was saved by Robles. The comeback could not have happened however if not for the three great subs by Frank Yallop. Adam Jahn, Cordell Cato and Sam Garza brought energy and enthusiasm to a team that was lacking in both for the first 75 minutes of the match, with out which NYRB would never have been put under pressure.
Parody.
The Western Conference looks deep again. With both Vancouver and Portland looking improved over last year. Seattle retooling with new acquisition Obafemi Martins. Salt Lake and San Jose looking strong again. The Galaxy bringing back a hopefully recharged and refocused Donovan, plus a DP to be named later. Colorado has impressive youngsters Brown and Powers as well as getting back Pablo Mastroeni. Chivas and Dallas have impressive collections of offensive talent. (Chivas does lack a defense and Dallas looks to lack cohesion or a game plan though both impressions may change.) Chances are that someone with a good record will be left out come playoff time.
While in the East after the ever strong Houston. Toronto shows life by beating a SKC team that has yet to show up for both halves. While NYRB shows promise if not the same affliction as Sporting of not being able to tune in for a full 90. DC has some good pieces and will compete for a spot. While Philadelphia looks game if not under financial stress of paying players not to play for them. New England also has some life with some quality players if not much depth. While Montreal so far has shown to the the most organized team in the league. It may not be the prettiest team to watch, but if they can maintain their defense, which will mostly depend on the health of their aging Italian stars, they will be a difficult to get points off of. Columbus has a great attack with Higuain and Arrieta, but will need Chad Marshall and play some of his best ball to to anchor the defense. Even Chicago, as flat and dysfunctional as they have looked so far this year** have proven MLS players.
The Western Conference looks deep again. With both Vancouver and Portland looking improved over last year. Seattle retooling with new acquisition Obafemi Martins. Salt Lake and San Jose looking strong again. The Galaxy bringing back a hopefully recharged and refocused Donovan, plus a DP to be named later. Colorado has impressive youngsters Brown and Powers as well as getting back Pablo Mastroeni. Chivas and Dallas have impressive collections of offensive talent. (Chivas does lack a defense and Dallas looks to lack cohesion or a game plan though both impressions may change.) Chances are that someone with a good record will be left out come playoff time.
While in the East after the ever strong Houston. Toronto shows life by beating a SKC team that has yet to show up for both halves. While NYRB shows promise if not the same affliction as Sporting of not being able to tune in for a full 90. DC has some good pieces and will compete for a spot. While Philadelphia looks game if not under financial stress of paying players not to play for them. New England also has some life with some quality players if not much depth. While Montreal so far has shown to the the most organized team in the league. It may not be the prettiest team to watch, but if they can maintain their defense, which will mostly depend on the health of their aging Italian stars, they will be a difficult to get points off of. Columbus has a great attack with Higuain and Arrieta, but will need Chad Marshall and play some of his best ball to to anchor the defense. Even Chicago, as flat and dysfunctional as they have looked so far this year** have proven MLS players.
*Velasquez the second year man from Spartanburg Methodist, a Junior College. showed some exceptionable footwork and ball control in tight spaces. The emergence of Velasquez is an intersting case. His fellow RSL second year midfielder Enzo Martinez, played on the same championship club team as velasquez in High School. Martinez, who has yet to see the field at RSL, was highly recruited and went on to star at North Carolina while Velasquez was virtually unknown in College and MLS circles prior to RSL drafting him. This is not a knock on Martinez who from all accounts will become a fine player. But it does show RSL's ability to recognize the talent and draft him when the college system broke down.
** I caught about 15 minutes of the NE-Chi match, Just enough to see the Bengston goal of a great chip from Rowe. Also heard the commentators talk about Hans Backe repeatedly telling them last year that Joel Lindpere is not a central midfield. So far his inability to form a cohesive partnership with stalwart Center Mid Jeff Laroniwtz, though to soon in the experiment to be definitive, seems to prove Backe right.
** I caught about 15 minutes of the NE-Chi match, Just enough to see the Bengston goal of a great chip from Rowe. Also heard the commentators talk about Hans Backe repeatedly telling them last year that Joel Lindpere is not a central midfield. So far his inability to form a cohesive partnership with stalwart Center Mid Jeff Laroniwtz, though to soon in the experiment to be definitive, seems to prove Backe right.
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