MLS Week in Review – Round 4 - 24th Minute

Round Four of MLS has come and gone: featuring eight matches, sixteen goals, a sprinkling of red cards, a ton of international absences and only a single draw - after rivalry weekend’s flurry of ties. There were some fine goals, a few surprises – Chivas dismantling Chicago – and the end of one streak, while others continued.

Before the results, the goal of the round.

There were some great strikes this weekend: Darren Mattocks’ blast from the top of the box; Juan Agudelo’s predatory curler in off the inside of the far-post; and Rafael’s long-range opportunistic bomb were all spectacular.

Top billing, however, goes to Columbus’ Ben Speas; not only for his low, game-winning, seeing-eye drive, but for the importance of the strike.

Not only was it his first as a professional, ending a very tight contest and disrupting United’s long – nineteen match – unbeaten run at RFK Stadium, but it carried a certain added significance.

Last August, a day after falling 1-0 to DC, Columbus learned of the sudden death of rookie midfielder Kirk Urso.

Speas was a teammate of Urso’s - both in Columbus and in college at North Carolina; both entered the world of the professional at the same time with the same club and fittingly, he dedicated his strike to his friend: "This is the place we found out about Kirk, so it was pretty emotional; I thought about that yesterday and I knew my first goal was going to be to [for] him and I wanted to get it today. It's just special."

Special indeed.

[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Results in Brief

DC 1 – Columbus 2

DC opened the weekend at home to Columbus in a match that, despite three goals, was highlighted by a pair of unbelievable goalkeeping displays: Bill Hamid with another fantastic double-save and Andy Gruenebaum twice denying Dwayne De Rosario at the back-post with miraculous stops.

Josh Williams, goal of the round winner from Round One, scored his second of the season, again from a set-piece, this time a header from a delivery curled in by Tyson Wahl. DC’s young Brazilian designated player, Rafael, leveled the score twenty-three minutes into his debut. His attempt, an alert strike from distance, lashing a ball on the half-volley after turning centre-back Glauber, caught Gruenebaum scrambling.

Speas kept his place in side and paid back coach Robert Warzycha’s faith with the game-winner latching onto a half-cleared Federico Higuain free-kick loose at the top of the box and smashing a low shot through a crowd. Ben Olsen’s DC sees their impressive unbeaten home run end, in part due to their concerning goal-scoring woes – only two goals through four matches.

New England 0 – Kansas City 0

New England and Kansas City battled not only each other, but also a fierce wind, to a scoreless draw at Gillette Stadium.

It was not a match without its chances: Clyde Simms cleared a CJ Sapong effort off the line and the Revolution had two penalty shouts – a clear Ike Opara hand-ball, the stronger case – waived away.

Both sides will be content with their continued defensive prowess, having now kept consecutive clean-sheets, but Sporting’s lack of scoring punch – they have not scored in nearly two-hundred minutes of play – will be of concern to Peter Vermes. Jay Heaps’ Revolution saw their streak of winning six straight home openers come to a crashing halt in the cold wind.

Montreal 1 – New York 0

Montreal maintains their perfect start to 2013 with a fourth straight win, this week over New York.

Marco Di Vaio scored his second of the season – another game-winner - after his sublime finish against Toronto last weekend. A Patrice Bernier first-time touch guided the ball behind the New York centre-backs for a clinical finish, taking advantage of one of the few times he was not called offside on the night.

New York, without Thierry Henry, will rue the chances wasted by debutant Peguy Luyindula, who twice should have found the back of the net, and a red card shown to Brandon Barklage for a pair of booking less than ten minutes apart.

Marco Schallibaum’s Impact sit confidently atop the Eastern Conference, while Mike Petke’s Red Bull, still winless, are mired at the bottom.

Houston 2 – Vancouver 1

Houston’s unbeaten home run – now standing at twenty-seven league and thirty-three all competitions – was momentarily threatened when Darren Mattocks blasted a shot from the top of the box to give Vancouver a lead heading into half-time.

Erik Hurtado played up to the Jamaican sophomore, who made space for his shot, turning Eric Brunner in the process, before hammering his effort high into the net.

The Dynamo stormed back with two goals in seven minutes in the second-half. English-born attacking midfielder, Giles Barnes, scored his first in MLS, rising highest to head in a Ricardo Clark right-sided delivery and Warren Creavalle managed to poke in a loose ball from an Adam Moffat corner kick that fell to him as he lay on the ground, squeaking it under Joe Cannon in goal.

Camilo nearly found an equalizer, his free-kick hitting both posts, but it was not to be for Martin Rennie’s charges, as Dominic Kinnear’s side continued their dominance at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Dallas 2 – Salt Lake 0

Schellas Hyndman’s Dallas picked up their third home win of the young season against a Salt Lake side depleted through injury and international absences.

As many as eleven players were unavailable to the visitors, though Nat Borchers made his first appearance of the year, and their unfamiliarity was on display.

Fabian Castillo finally saw Dallas ahead after seventy minutes. Jackson hit a cross-field ball that put the young Colombian into space, one-on-one against Lovel Palmer down the left; a burst of pace and a flash of boot opened the scoring when his left-footed blast was too much for Josh Saunders, in goal for Nick Rimando, to handle.

Jackson himself added a second eleven minutes later, harrying Saunders - after a suspect back-pass from Palmer - into a pair of poor touches that allowed the in-form Brazilian to poke the ball goal-ward.

A last-ditch block from Matt Hedges denied Devon Sandoval his first professional goal, Yordany Alvarez was sent off for a second bookable offense, and, despite the loss, Jason Kreis will be pleased with the fight his side put forth.

Los Angeles 1 – Colorado 0

A moment of madness from Colorado’s Drew Moor, lashing out with a back-hand swing at Marcelo Sarvas, defined this match between Western Conference foes. Moor was shown red, only the second of his nine-year career, reducing his already hampered side – both Pablo Mastroeni and Diego Calderon were forced off in the first-half through injury – to ten and simultaneously conceded what would be the game-winning penalty, as his infraction took place just inside the box.

In the absence of Robbie Keane and the still-wandering Landon Donovan, Mike Magee converted from the spot.

LA’s teenage striking duo of Jose Villareal and Jack McBean were handed starts and proved useful, though they – McBean in particular – were repeatedly denied by Clint Irwin, himself making his first MLS start after a debut last weekend, replacing the injured Matt Pickens, who left with a broken forearm early in the match.

Oscar Pareja will lament the misfortune – and madness – that has hampered his young team who are still winless on the season; Bruce Arena will have enjoyed his side finding a win, albeit marginal, and maintaining their unbeaten form, without Omar Gonzalez and their high-profile attackers.

San Jose 1 – Seattle 0

Chris Wondolowski scored his second of the season – and first from open play – to lead his San Jose to a narrow victory over Seattle.

A long kick from goalkeeper Jon Busch seconds into first-half stoppage-time was flicked by rookie Adam Jahn towards Wondolowski atop the left-side of the box. The striker took a touch to settle the ball before placing a right-footed strike across the keeper and in, off the inside of the post.

Seattle were without both Eddie Johnson and recently-signed Obafemi Martins and could muster little threat despite bossing possession.

Frank Yallop’s Earthquakes, themselves short-handed due to injury and internationals, will take the points and run; Sigi Schmid’s Sounders must contemplate their worst-ever franchise start in MLS, winless after three – two losses and a draw – from the bottom of the Western Conference table.

Chicago 1 – Chivas 4

Sunday’s lone fixture provided the shock of the round, though given Chicago’s rough start and Chivas’ penchant for late goals, hardly truly surprising.

Edgar Mejia opened the scoring with a thundering blast from the top of the box, before Patrick Nyarko, scoring the Fire’s first of the season, finished off a bit of wonderful interplay between Maicon Santos and Sherjill MacDonald with a tidy finish.

Joaquin Velazquez and Juan Agudelo put the match out of reach scoring within two minutes of each other – Velazquez from a free-header at the back-post from an Eric Avila left-sided free-kick and Agudelo outmuscling Jeff Larentoewicz to a long ball up-field from Jorge Villafana – before an own-goal from Jalil Anibaba in the final minute of regulation sealed the result.

Frank Klopas’ Chicago remain winless after four matches; El Chelis’ Chivas continue to surprise all – and delight some.

Canadian Content

Patrice Bernier was again the difference maker for the Montreal Impact. He controlled the match from his deep-lying midfield position and set up Di Vaio – his league-leading third assist of the season, all game-winners - with lovely first-time ball in behind the New York centre-backs to spring the Italian.

It was his forward surge that drew the second yellow from Barklage having gracefully moved past him towards goal. Bernier was again named Man of the Match and has arguably been the best - and most influential player - in MLS this season.

Nana Attakora made his first start of the season at right centre-back, in place of Victor Bernardez – away with Honduras, for San Jose as part of a former TFC heavy back-line – also containing Ty Harden and Dan Gargan.

Nana was excellent, showing the sort of performance that inspired such high hopes for him amongst the Toronto faithful. He quieted David Estrada with some very strong positional play as the forward tried to squeeze by on the end-line and almost got on the end of a corner kick – he was getting mauled by Andy Rose, who could have conceded a penalty, at the time - then couldn’t get out of the way of a goal-bound Ty Harden shot (Note: read that again).

He helped an Earthquakes side, without three regular starters, to keep their first clean-sheet of the season. When interviewed post-match, he spoke of the experience of Jason Hernandez and Busch helping and a great coaching staff – including Canadians, Frank Yallop and Mark Watson – keeping those on the bench motivated.

He was named third star of the match by MLSsoccer.com – with six interceptions and twelve clearances highlighting a no-nonsense defensive performance.

Kyle Porter came on for DC after thirty-one minutes, replacing Nick DeLeon, who left with an apparent right-leg injury. He had a goal controversially ruled offside – the offside Lionard Pajoy motioned towards the ball, freezing the Columbus back-line, allowing the on-side Porter to steal in unmolested and finish with a tidy, low left-footed effort – called back after consultation between the referee and linesman.

He provided an excellent cross into the box at the start of the second-half, finding a yard space on the right to curl a ball to the six that Pajoy should have finished, had he bothered to attack the service. He also comically ran straight into Glauber once in attack and pulled off a skillful nutmeg of Wahl.

Porter was very busy down the right flank, putting in a shift for United, but had a pair of unsuccessful dribbles and was tackled, losing possession ten times.

Karl Ouimette made his first start for Montreal, becoming the club’s first homegrown signing to do so. He had a tidy match as the right-sided centre-back, generally playing safe and was well supported by veterans Matteo Ferrari and Hassoun Camara on either side.

Ouimette put in a great sliding challenge on the dangerous Fabian Espindola who attempted to wile past him on the touch-line and even found himself on the end of a corner kick, but sent his unmarked header over the bar.

Dwayne De Rosario again started in the attacking midfielder’s role for DC, going the entire match. He had a tough afternoon, completing only twenty-eight of forty-four passes and losing possession a whopping twenty-three times, though usually well up field in the attacking end.

But in typical De Ro fashion twice nearly made the difference. His header from a left-sided Chris Pontius cross stretched the Columbus keeper, who just managed to push the effort around the post and he was later denied again on the goal-line by Gruenebaum with a miraculous save after the Canadian had attempted to force the rebound from a Brandon McDonald shot goal-ward.

Wandrille Lefevre and Russell Teibert were on the bench for their sides, Montreal and Vancouver, respectively.

Over Heard

San Jose Broadcaster - and former player - Kelly Gray dropped a little hockey knowledge proclaiming, “A kick-save, and a beaut” when Michael Gspurning denied Ramiro Corrales cleverly with his leg when the MLS elder statesman was in alone on a break.

The New York broadcast started a little sloppy, proclaiming Di Vaio as scorer of the first-ever Impact goal in MLS – he didn’t join the club until midseason, that honour went to Davy Arnaud.

But took on a whole new life with Shep Messing’s half-time rant on Chivas USA, proclaiming them borderline racist and declaring it was time for them to go.

The racism claim has been made before and is debatable. Soccer has a long history of clubs promoting their own, at times exclusively, and there is no proof, only speculation and insinuation, that Chivas would promote local products of Latin descent over those with other heritages.

Dan Kennedy and Tristan Bowen, both California boys, have a place in the side and Bobby Burling, well, who knows how he has stuck.

For a broadcasting partner of the league and such a large figure of the American soccer community, to so whole-heartedly slam another club, was a surprise and controversial.

See It Live (We’re Seeing It Live)

Jimmy Nielsen sprinting out to chew out his wall on a free-kick was entertaining, the big Dane is no stranger to confrontation; perhaps giving up smoking and the consumption of diet coke may not have been the best idea with Sporting’s rocky start to the season. Those nerves must be frayed.

Steve Zakuani does not like being subbed out. Twice now he has stormed off, face athunder, when being asked to leave the pitch, though he feels he can still contribute. Too early to say a rift has formed, perhaps it is just the sign of a fierce competitor, eager to help his side – given how much time Zakuani has missed; it comes as no surprise he wants to play.

Upcoming Fixtures

Saturday: Toronto-Los Angeles; New York-Philadelphia; New England-Dallas; Colorado-Portland; Kansas City-Montreal; Houston-San Jose; Salt Lake-Seattle; Chivas-Vancouver

Parting Thoughts

A few questions to ponder and discuss:

Montreal is the lone perfect team and have now won four matches to start the season; a tough test awaits as they visit KC, but given Sporting’s inability to score, can this marvelous run continue? Vancouver picked up their first loss of the season on the road, having relinquished the lead to two sloppy goals that began as poorly handled restarts; with their next match away to high-scoring Chivas, can they get contain the flying Super-Goats and get back to winning ways? And what of Toronto, who rested and took stock this round – will their BMO Field home opener continue to increase the positive vibes around the club or will LA take revenge for the Champions League meeting last season?

Four of the five winless teams – New York, Portland, Colorado and Seattle – take to the pitch; do they find their first wins? And the other, Chicago, has a bye week to sort out their troubles before hosting New York the following Sunday; can they turn around their woeful start? Dallas has ridden its three home wins to the top of the West; can they take that form on the road to New England? Houston’s continuing home record comes under fire from San Jose – a fierce match, as the Dynamo were once the Earthquakes - will it continue? Salt Lake hosts Seattle, in one of the marquee matches over the past years, but with both sides struggling, will it live up to billing?

Until next weekend.

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 4

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