MLS Week in Review – Round 03 - 24th Minute

The third round of MLS action took place over the weekend with nine matches played (seven on Saturday and two on Sunday - one of which was originally set for the previous day, but had to be rescheduled due to weather concerns), resulting in five home wins, three draws and a single, lonely, away win.

Goals were once more at a premium with just seventeen scored throughout, including an own-goal and two of three from the spot – the one attempt saved was eventually turned in on the follow-up.

The regular referees returned with emphasis, dishing out some 35 yellow cards and flashing three reds – two straight and one accumulative.

Before the results; the goals of the round:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Two strikes for consideration this weekend, up first, in chronological order, is Robbie Keane’s equalizer for Los Angeles in Salt Lake:

Wonderful use of guile, space, and the threat of a pass to back the defender into position and stroke a finish past the keeper.

Equally impressive was Columbus’ Bernardo Anor and his crack from distance against Philadelphia:

His first goal had put the Crew in front and this second sealed the result – proving to be the game-winner.

Results in Brief

New England 0 – Vancouver 0

Saturday started off with a match equal part dour and satisfactory; New England, who have still not scored on the season, earned a point (their first of the year) in their Foxborough home opener, while Vancouver, despite another mediocre road display, continued their unbeaten start with a second-straight draw, this time 0-0.

Defensive force Jose Goncalves, having settled his dispute with Jay Heaps, returned to the starting lineup and helped his side put in a strong outing, picking up their first clean-sheet of the season having conceded five through their first two matches.

Scoring on the other hand, proved elusive – thanks to one particularly fine save from David Ousted in the early goings, denying Andy Dorman from a corner – as the Revolution, even with their full-strength attacking quartet, could not end their scoreless run. The Whitecaps showed signs of life in flashes, but never really threatened Bobby Shuttleworth’s goal.

Heaps hailed the defensive success while lamenting the continued lack of finish; Carl Robinson praised his side’s effort and efficiency in a blustery and bouncy cross-continent contest.

Salt Lake 1 – Los Angeles 1

Salt Lake and LA, meeting for the second time already in this young season, battled (quite literally at times) to a 1-1 draw on goals from Alvaro Saborio and Robbie Keane in the first half.

Joao Plata, who has been on fire this season with two goals and an assist already through two matches, nearly scored in a third-straight game inside the opening two minutes, when an Omar Gonzalez miss allowed the wee man in alone, but he shot wide.

Undaunted, Plata would provide the ammunition for Saborio’s fierce strike, off a Javier Morales free-kick taken short. Plata collected the ball in acres of space on the left and lofted a cross over the crowd in the box to a wide open Saborio at the back-post, the Costa Rican took it down and lashed his right-footed finish finish across the keeper in the 19th minute.

Robbie Keane would respond in kind fifteen minutes later. The Galaxy forced a turnover in midfield and the Irishman bore down on Chris Schuler down the right. Using Rob Friend as a decoy, Keane waited, faked, shimmied to freeze the centre-back, and smashed a blast to the short-side past Nick Rimando in goal.

Neither side would find a way to break the deadlock, as the two tired teams resorted to physical play in lieu of a finish.

First year bench-boss, Jeff Cassar will not have been pleased with his side relinquishing the lead in a second-consecutive match, but should be contented with four points from two games against heated Western foes; Bruce Arena was most unhappy with the physicality of the match, losing AJ DeLaGarza to a late hit from Saborio and James Riley to a knee concern.

Toronto 1 – DC 0

Jermain Defoe again turned hero with his third goal of the young season, leading Toronto to their first-ever perfect start to an MLS season with a 1-0 win; DC, meanwhile, slip to a second-consecutive defeat, extending their winless run from last season to fourteen matches.

The excited, if slightly anxious, fans had to wait nearly an hour – thanks to some fine saves from Bill Hamid – to see the high-profile import capitalize on a poor clearance from Bobby Boswell, who played the rebound from a saved Gilberto tester into the feet of Defoe, rather than out for a corner.

The poacher calmly slipped his finish into the gaping cage from mere yards out.

The pitch in Toronto looked as though it had some growing to do, as did the play from both heavily remodeled sides – lacking the familiarity to turn half-chances to looks and looks to goals. The match got a little feisty with time and Michael Bradley, who was again impressive, required a series of staples to close a gash, having clashed heads with Davy Arnaud who left afterwards.

Toronto would see out the slim margin of victory once more, soothing some worries in the process – Ryan Nelsen will have been pleased with the strong start, but knows it is a long road ahead. Ben Olsen too must preach patience; theirs is a side whose season has just begun - and his job will likely depend on a little understanding as well.

Columbus 2 – Philadelphia 1

Bernardo Anor, the quiet Venezuelan, sprang to life with a two-goal first half performance to power the Crew to a second-straight victory to open the season, despite Leo Fernandes’ introduction in the second half that looked to turn the tide the way of the visiting Union, who fell 2-1 in Columbus.

Anor’s first came after 24 minutes, when the attacker got loose of the marking of Sebastian Le Toux on Federico Higuain’s right-sided corner kick and Christian Maidana, the man on the far-post, whiffed at his clearance attempt. He would add a second in the second minute of stoppage-time, walloping a left-footed strike from some 25-plus-yards that served past a startled Zac MacMath in the Philadelphia goal.

Fernandes, who set up the winner as a starter last weekend, needed just seven minutes on the pitch to pull one back for the visitors, tapping in from inside the six-yard box a Le Toux ball, after Giancarlo Gonzalez’ weak clearance was predatorily feasted upon by the wily Frenchmen.

The visiting Union, who had yet to taste defeat this season, went in search of an equalizer that would not come, as the Crew saw out the result in their home opener.

Gregg Berhalter refused to get ahead of himself, enjoying the win, but knowing there is still much work to be done, while his opposite, John Hackworth, lamented another goal from a restart coming to haunt, as Portland’s late equalizer did on opening day.

Colorado 2 – Portland 0

The Rapids made the most of their home opener, turning two penalty kick attempts into goals to hand the visiting Timbers their first loss of the season.

It may not have been of the wintery weather forecasted to be in proportions of Snow Clasico-lore, but the blowing winds and drifting snow made for a rather miserable scene in the thin mountain air. The sides traded half-chances in the trying conditions, but one player in particular seemed put off by the clime.

Portland keeper, Donovan Ricketts, Jamaican International, did not enjoy his afternoon, bobbling simple catches on several occasions before a moment of hesitation turned the game in the final twenty minutes.

Dillon Powers lifted a ball over the Portland back-line for Deshorn Brown to chase. It appeared as though the solid ground would carry the bouncing ball to the keeper, but Ricketts hesitated for a split-second, then threw himself towards Brown, catching the forward in nearly the same area as New York defender, Armando, had last week – been a tough go for Brown’s breadbasket.

A cooler head may have dealt with the threat, but Ricketts conceded the penalty, was shown red for his trouble, and was carried off on a stretcher for good measure, having taken a knock of some sort to his knee.

Vicente Sanchez stepped to the spot in the 73rd minute, ignored the Timber mind-games, and calmly slotted in his second penalty kick of the season.

Sanchez would stick the dagger in two minutes later, sprung down the right by a Powers ball, partially rounding back-up keeper, Andrew Weber, only to go to ground, if somewhat opportunistically, at the half-challenge. The referee bit and pointed to the spot.

Brown would take this time, Weber saved – low to his right, but overshot the loose ball and the quick-footed Brown was fastest to the loose ball, knocking the rebound into the gaping cage.

The home win will be remembered as the first of Pablo Mastroeni’s tenure as head coach of the club he played for just last season; Colorado continue an unbeaten start to their season. Caleb Porter and Portland will point to five minutes of madness haunting an otherwise gutsy road performance, but must step up to the challenges of playing away from home if they are to truly be an elite team in this league.

Kansas City 1 – San Jose 0

Two exhausted teams coming off midweek Champions League disappointment met on Saturday evening – this one too would be decided from the penalty spot.

Injured, tired, and in need of putting the past two weeks in the rear view mirror, both sides gutted out a scrappy performance on a less-than-green pitch. It was a match of snatched chances and mental errors.

Ike Opara should have put the hosts in front after Sal Zizzo’s follow up chance from an acrobatic Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi goal-line clearance, but the defender got his feet all tangled, hitting the post from yards out then bumbling the rebound wide.

A mental mistake, or possibly sheer frustration, would prove decisive, as Steven Lenhart grew tired of waiting for a bouncing ball to settle, opting to swat it away instead – Kansas City were correspondingly awarded a spot kick.

Jon Busch was immense in the shootout on Wednesday, but could offer little resistance, as Dom Dwyer stroked his attempt by the keeper in the 57th minute.

Chris Wondolowski would send a glorious look wide in the dwindling time, and San Jose suffered a ninth-straight loss in KC, while the defending champions finally picked up their first win, and clean-sheet, of the season.

Peter Vermes, who had decried his side’s inability to see out matches in the first two rounds, will be pleased at protecting this result against a foe who plays until the end; Mark Watson and San Jose must find a way to not rely so heavily on late-magic, if his side is to make the next step in its development.

Dallas 3 – Chivas 1

The Mauro Diaz-show continued, as the young Argentinean playmaker continued to pull the strings for Dallas, setting up their first two goals in a 3-1 display at home over Chivas.

The first half was a physical, scoreless stalemate. All four goals came in the final twenty minutes with Diaz setting alight the touch-paper in the 71st minute from a free-kick. Hendry Thomas rose up to meet the delivery, knocking into the path of Fabian Castillo who touched past Dan Kennedy in the Chivas goal with his left foot.

Seven minutes later Diaz again initiated Dallas’ second, slipping in Je-Vaughan Watson down the right-side of the box, the Jamaican rounded the keeper and finished into the open goal from a tight angle. Red-hot Erick Torres would draw one back for Los Ameri-Goats in the 81st minute after Adolfo Bautista won the ball at the top of the box, played wide left for substitute Kristopher Tyrpak who laid a neat ball to the near-post for Cubo to touch in his third goal in as many matches.

Michel, again a late substitute, would reinstate Dallas’ two-goal advantage in the 86th minute, curling a deflected free-kick past Kennedy into the Chivas goal.

Thomas would see red in the 94th minute for a harsh and senseless lunge on Bofo Bautista.

Oscar Pareja got one over on his long-time friend, teammate and colleague, Wilmer Cabrera in their first meeting of the season, as his side remains unbeaten through three matches – winning both at home and drawing in KC last weekend. Cabrera was reticent to be overly harsh, but was not pleased with how his side gave away cheap goals, twice from restarts and the other from a turnover.

Chicago 1 – New York 1

Sunday’s opening match would not be decided by all the high-profile firepower – Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill, and Mike Magee, who made his first start of the season - on the pitch, but by goals from defensive midfielders, each from a corner kick.

Chicago’s Jeff Larentowicz would put the home side ahead after just six minutes, battling for position above the near-post to meet a right-sided out-swinging corner kick from rookie sensation, Harrison Shipp, directing it in to the top near-corner of the goal.

But Red Bull midfield-bull dog, Dax McCarty responded fifteen minutes later from Henry’s corner, after the loose ball fell to him at the top of the area, to poke a right-footer through the crowd into the Chicago goal.

Luis Robles was called upon to retain New York’s share of the points, making two solid saves, but neither side could find the advantage - the draw was a fair enough result.

Chicago’s Frank Yallop was pleased enough with the point against New York in the home opener, but will need to see his side protect a lead, having conceded equalizers after going ahead in their last two. Mike Petke was quietly jubilant at his time taking a point on their travels, which have often been unkind to them, especially in Chicago.

Montreal 0 – Seattle 1

Postponed 24 hours due to the threat of snow – that did indeed come – Montreal were unable to see away the challenge of a Clint Dempsey-less Seattle in the Canadian side’s home opener, falling 0-2.

Seattle took the lead somewhat fortuitously in the eighth minute, when one-time Montreal player, Lamar Neagle, got on the end of a Gonzalo Pineda set-piece, flicking his header towards goal. The ball would rebound off the bar and bound in off the retreating figure of Troy Perkins, who was unlucky and charged with an own-goal.

Perkins would redeem himself with a huge save on Obafemi Martins later on in the first half, but could not reprise that role in the 58th minute, when Martins rose to meet a Kenny Cooper cross and powered his finish past the outstretched hands of the keeper, getting a touch, but not enough.

For Montreal’s Frank Klopas, the disappointing start to the season continues with a third-straight loss; to be the fair, the schedule – and the weather - has hardly been kind. Sigi Schmid and Seattle, however, rose to the challenge of picking up their game on the road, putting the absence of two starters (Dempsey and Brad Evans) and a home loss to Toronto last weekend behind them, garnering their second win of the season.

CanCon

As usual, CSN’s extended look at the Canadian performances will be posted tomorrow (Tuesday) around noon.

Strong outings from the TFC duo of Doneil Henry and Jonathan Osorio, as well as a battling start from Rob Friend against Salt Lake. The usual ever-presents – Will Johnson and Patrice Bernier – will make an appearance, while Russell Teibert returns from injury (with a new haircut, which will be broken down in detail) and Kyle Porter pops up in Toronto, as does Nana Attakora, though he stayed on the bench.

Overheard

Blurb of the round goes to Colorado’s Pablo Mastroeni, commenting on Vicente Sanchez ‘winning’ his side that second penalty kick to close out the challenge of Portland – “If the referee calls it, whatever it is it is. I’m not qualified to make any kind of - I can’t override any calls. I can’t take them away. I don’t waste my energy commenting on the refs, whether they’re for or against us. My focus is purely on what we need to do as a team to continue on the path and improve every game.”

It is always interesting to hear the responses given to the pool-reporter from the MLS referee post-match – from the Colorado-Portland match:

On why Ricketts was sent off: Ricketts was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

On who initiated the contact on the penalty: The contact was made by Ricketts on the challenge, hence the penalty against Portland.

Not quite robot referees, but definitely automated responses – the revolution cometh!

In Lieu of the ‘See It Live’ segment, a few…

News and Notes

The usual referees returned to the pitch this past weekend, having settled their dispute. Was there a difference? Hard to say, but there sure were a lot of penalty kicks and cards this weekend; making up for lost time.

All three MLS sides disappointingly dropped out of the CONCACAF Champions League midweek:

LA laid an egg in the first half against Tijuana, losing 4-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate after carrying a one-goal advantage across the border from the first leg – a lead then squandered by conceding inside the first minute of play.

San Jose, though decimated by injury and suspension, put up the best fight, taking the lead in the series, only to go level again – they appeared to win in extra time, only to get CONCACAF’d by an off-side decision, cruelly falling 5-4 on penalty kicks, after playing Tolcua square at twos after 210 minutes.

Kansas City, who many had pegged as MLS’ best chance collapsed miserably. Carry a one-goal lead into Cruz Azul, Sporting conceded after two minutes, fell behind before the half-hour, and ultimately lost 5-1 on the night; 5-2 on aggregate. It was a humbling.

Controversy

Plenty of penalty decisions and red cards to debate this round:

Did Vicente Sanchez fool the referee for Colorado’s second? And what to make of the almighty collision between Jamaican teammates that saw the Rapids awarded their first? There was, however, little doubt about Steven Lenhart’s handball in Kansas City.

Should, as Bruce Arena thought, Alvaro Saborio have seen more than yellow for this late contact on AJ DeLaGarza? What do make of Colorado’s Jose Mari and his six-minute pair of bookings - one, two; soft? Hendry Thomas probably deserved his late dismissal in Dallas; what was he thinking going into a tackle like that at that time in the match?

Upcoming Fixtures

Nine more matches coming up next weekend, eight on Saturday and one set for Sunday.

Saturday: Philadelphia-Montreal; DC-Chicago; Colorado-Kansas City; Vancouver-Houston; Dallas-Portland; Salt Lake-Toronto; Seattle-Columbus; San Jose-New England Sunday: New York-Chivas

All videos and quotes courtesy of MLSsoccer.com

Each week James takes a look at the league as a whole.

You can follow James on twitter @grawsee or read more of his writing at Partially Obstructed View

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MLS Week in Review – Round 03

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