MLS Week in Review: Playoff Edition – Conference Semifinals, First Leg - 24th Minute

The first round proper of the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs unfolded over the weekend and what a spectacle it was.

Many deride the playoff system, but few can argue that it was not a dramatic and entertaining round of action, setting up four crucial second-leg deciders midweek.

Four matches were played, resulting in two home wins, an away win, and a draw, providing some eleven goals - each wonderful and crucial in its own right.

Eighteen yellow cards were shown – lending serious implication to the return matches; one player, Seattle’s Lamar Neagle, will be suspended for accumulating a second booking through the playoffs – and a single red - to New York’s Jamison Olave, whose absence could loom large come Wednesday.

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

In chronological order – Kelyn Rowe, Darlington Nagbe, and Sean Franklin earn the nods, but who will take the prize?

Rowe’s strike, a deft touch from the outside of his right-boot proved the difference between New England and Kansas City:

Nagbe’s touch, turn and finish, a feat of awareness and balance, also provided the separation between Portland and Seattle:

And Franklin’s game-winning right-footed rocket:

What can be said about that.

Results in Brief

New England 2 – Kansas City 1

Saturday’s first match pitted New England, third-place in the East, at home against second-seed Kansas City. Throughout the first half neither side managed to find much rhythm with the ball bouncing uncontrollably on the busily-designed turf.

Field conditions were only part of the struggle, as Sporting’s stated game-plan of enhancing their already formidable physicality saw the match devolve into a series of stop-starts with lots of little – and often unnecessary – shoves breaking up the flow of New England’s attack.

There were a series of half-chances, each wasted in turn: Kelyn Rowe hit a free-kick straight into the wall; Teal Bunbury got a good glimpse at goal from a ball over the top, but shot straight at Matt Reis, and Graham Zusi dragged a shot wide to end the half.

The Revolution came out lively at the start of the second with a trio of attacks – first Lee Nguyen having his cut-back pass cut out, then Diego Fagundez and his quick break forced wide by Aurelien Collin, before a short corner kick was played back to Jose Goncalves atop the area, but his shot was closed down and blocked.

A breakthrough finally came in the 55th minute:

A long, hopeful ball into the Kansas City box was cleared to Rowe deep in the midfield, he immediately returned the ball forward, picking out Juan Agudelo on the right, isolated against left-back, Seth Sinovic; Agudelo won the aerial challenge, flicking a header further wide right into the path of Nguyen.

His initial low shot was kick-saved by Nielsen – the best in the league at using his legs – only for the rebound to bank off the tracking Agudelo and then bobbling off the prone Nielsen before trickling towards goal.

Andy Dorman walked the ball to the line before deciding at the last second it needed to be tucked in with a quick right-boot.

That final touch spark protestations from Peter Vermes and his charges – was Dorman offside? Sporting seemed to think so – it was very tight, but probably was not.

Buoyant, New England would add a second twelve minutes later when Dorman, a surprise replacement for rookie, defensive-midfielder, Scott Caldwell, forced a turnover in midfielder, shielding Zusi away from a stray pass, to be collected by Agudelo.

The Stoke-bound forward turned towards goal and cut a diagonal path from the right of the centre-circle, jinking in-field around the challenge of Uri Rosell and passed Lawrence Olum before laying off to Nguyen – crucially the Colombian-born attacker continued his run, dragging the Sporting clump with him to the left.

Nguyen adroitly rolled a ball against the grain to the right, where Rowe had gotten the jump on Sinovic, finishing a low shot across the keeper to the left-side of goal with the outside of his right-boot.

New England led 2-0.

Kansas City are never to be taken lightly; they found a way back into the contest two minutes later in the 69th minute:

A long Zusi free-kick from the left was popped straight up in the air by Goncalves, falling down wide right near the end-line. Jacob Peterson was on hand to head back to Chance Myers above the near-post and his low ball into the middle, ricocheted off the standing leg back-flick of CJ Sapong before falling at the feet of Collin at the left-post to stab in with his left-foot.

As the match began to get really chippy and a flurry of yellows – six from the 69th minute onward - KC nearly leveled in the 72nd, when a low Rosell drive was beyond the stretch of Matt Reis, but caromed off the outside of the post and then crafted an even better chance in the third and final minute of stoppage-time when substitute Dom Dwyer got past Andrew Farrell from a long ball and nearly beat the keeper – Reis was equal to the challenge with a huge save.

The one-goal difference heading into the second leg sets up what should be a compelling encounter on Wednesday night in Kansas City.

Despite the win, New England’s Jay Heaps knew things would be different in the away leg, “I think it’s a step forward, but at the same time it’s a very difficult road ahead. If we’re talking three or four goals, then maybe this is a big step forward. But it’s a battle … we have a one-goal lead - it’s halftime and we have a big, big battle going to Kansas City.”

His opposite, Peter Vermes, after complaining about the officiating – no surprise there, “We haven't gotten any of those calls all year long, and I guess we're not going to get it now. It doesn't change. It just doesn't change” – looked forward to the return match, “I’m not worried about them. We’re going back to our place, and it’s going to be a fun atmosphere for us. That’s what I know.”

Seattle 1 – Portland 2

In short order came the night’s second match, fourth hosting first in the West, with Seattle entertaining their Cascadia rivals, Portland.

A mere three days removed from moving past Colorado in the play-in round, Seattle started bright, aided by a few nervy moments from Futty Danso on the Portland back-line: blushes from a poor clearance were spared by a deflected Brad Evans shot and then a scrambling back-header was sent mercifully over his own goal from a long throw for a corner kick.

Enduring a spell of pressure, the Timbers were aided by a lack of sharpness from the Sounders: Clint Dempsey’s corner kicks repeatedly failed to beat the first man; an Evans bouncer was straight at Donovan Ricketts, and then Lamar Neagle’s curling attempt, having made space for himself, was way off target.

Portland would punish that wastefulness after fifteen minutes:

Compressing the field on the left and moving the ball quickly with a series of sharp passes – Michael Harrington in to Darlington Nagbe, Nagbe forward to Diego Valeri, and Valeri back to Diego Chara – Portland opened up the right-flank for Chara to swing a ball into space for the bursting run of Jack Jewsbury.

Adam Moffat could not get over in time to prevent the cross and both Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Djimi Traore failed to either track Ryan Johnson or cut out the cross in their scramble to retreat, allowing the Jamaican forward to make his near-post run and win the flicked header that beat Marcus Hahnemann, putting the visitors in the lead, quieting the crowd.

Starting to find his range, having finally broken his duck in the final game of the regular season, Dempsey forced Ricketts to tip a free-kick over the bar before another skimmed just over.

Progressing at an electric clip, the pace continued into the half and picked up where it left off with the start of the second.

Content with their lead, Portland relied on their smothering defense to limit the chances and the emotion of the occasion proved costly for Neagle, who picked up a yellow card for a late tackle on Valeri and will miss the next match, having also been booked against Colorado.

Seattle would not let their spirits drop, doggedly pursuing a goal.

Eddie Johnson wasted a glorious chance, when he sent a free header from a Dempsey free-kick wide, and Oswaldo Alonso inspired his team forward with a brilliant tackle on Nagbe in midfield.

But Portland were playing it wise, waiting for their windows and then executing.

They nearly found a second ten minutes into the half, when Zach Scott emphatically shouldered the goal-scoring Johnson to the ground in the box, but the referee waived play on.

In the 67th minute, they would get that second goal:

Nagbe played back to the other Johnson, Will, from the right and sauntered in-field. Johnson helped the ball wide right to Kalif Alhassan, who proceeded towards goal. Meanwhile, Nagbe was ghosting on the edge of the crowd in the box, walking a tightrope between the spheres of Alonso and Traore, before curling a run to the high near-post.

Alhassan spotted his movement and fed him a low pass, Nagbe beat the lunge of Traore to the ball, then fluidly turned and hit a right-footer past Hahnemann, Smooth; very smooth.

Substitutions were made, including the additions of Mauro Rosales and Shalrie Joseph, who had not been heard from since late August, for the Sounders. The value of experience and presence on the bench would become evident.

Still not able to concede defeat, Dempsey again threatened when his header from a Mauro Rosales free-kick skimmed the top of the bar.

And finally, the Sounders found their goal in the final minute of regulation:

A long Evans throw-in from the right, deep in the Portland half, was knocked back to the penalty spot from the near-post by Joseph, setting up Alonso’s left-footed volley.

The low, hard drive straight down the middle found the back of the net and dragged Seattle back into the contest – a two-nil deficient heading into Portland would be near-insurmountable, given current form, but one is a different ball-game.

They would nearly level in the 94th, but Dempsey’s header from a clipped Alonso ball was straight at Ricketts, who made the save.

Another series separated by a single goal, however, it was the road team, Portland, who take that advantage into their own backyard for the second leg on Thursday.

Sigi Schmid recognized what that goal meant, “The goal at the end of the game was very important for us because it gives us the opportunity to go down there and win. We showed that we can carry the game to them. So we just have to go down to Portland, carry the game to them and score” adding, “It’s halftime of the game. We feel very confident we can go to Portland and win. Just as Portland came here and won, we feel very confident we can go there and win.”

While Caleb Porter sees things differently, “You’ve got two good teams, teams that don’t want to lose, our team refuses to lose and Seattle is in our way right now. We want to move on in this playoff tournament. Seattle is the team we drew, and now we’re one step away.”

Houston 2 – New York 2

For Sunday’s opener, the action returned to the Eastern Conference, with Supporters’ Shield winners, New York, gracing the pitch in Houston, where the Dynamo emphatically progressed past Montreal on Thursday.

The first good look of the match came from the visitors, with Thierry Henry attempting an audacious lob from the top of the box that fell marginally wide of testing Tally Hall.

New York kept up the pressure, resulting in an opener in the 22nd minute:

Peguy Luyindula played out of a crowd on the right to Johnny Steele in the middle, who in turn, dropped the ball back to Dax McCarty. He would keep the ball moving, swinging wide left for David Carney to lay a ball down the outside for Henry.

The Frenchman sharply let the service run across his body and hit a first-time cross to the back-post, over the watch of Eric Brunner, where Tim Cahill had gotten in front of Corey Ashe and leapt to meet it, powering in a header.

Slightly stunned at conceding so easily, Houston would respond with a good look of their own – Kofi Sarkodie sending a shot sailing over the bar from an Oscar Boniek Garcia cutback.

But ten minutes later, New York had doubled their lead on a quick break:

McCarty sent a long, early ball up to Cahill, Brunner tried to cut it out, but missed, and Bobby Boswell stepped in with a challenge, but was too late, as Cahill had already pushed a pass into the space behind the back-line for Eric Alexander.

Moving in from the right, Alexander cut inside onto his left foot, around the recovering Brunner, shaping to finish at the far side, before tucking it in at the near-post.

Houston would send another chance over the target in the waning moments of the first half when Bruin was put in by Garcia; New York, entered half-time looking imperious, with a solid lead, having scored on the only two shots they had – however, they would not find any more.

Even without Dominic Kinnear on the sideline – he was suspended for entering the field of play as the match against Montreal threatened to break into escalating violent – it is folly to ever rule out Houston and the match began to turn with poor clearance from Carney:

Warren Creavalle sprung Brad Davis down the left with a leading pass and Davis outpaced Marcus Holgersson towards the outside and hit a cross to the back-post. With no targets arriving, Carney let the ball bounce before sizing up a clearance, but his attempt sliced back into the middle, straight to Ricardo Clark to the left of the arc and his right-footer made its way through the crowd, kicking off of Jamison Olave to beat Luis Robles in goal.

Progressively the match became more physical and the cards – and stern words from the referee – became more frequent. Henry and Garcia were each booked, before Olave’s woes were compounded with a rash and dangerous scissor tackle on Omar Cummings in the 65th minute for which he saw red and left the pitch.

Against ten men, the hosts ratcheted up the pressure winning several corners - Brunner flicked a header from one wide – and finding space within which to operate, culminating in Will Bruin squaring a ball across the top of the box to set up Andrew Driver moments after he joined the fray, but his low shot went wide.

Driver would make amends for his poor aim with a strong run that saw his cross deflected into the side-netting for another corner kick in the 91st minute and seconds later – in the 92nd - Cummings would prove to be the unlikely hero:

Davis sent an out-swinging delivery from the left-side that was met by Boswell at the near-post and headed on target to the far-side. Robles scrambled to make the save, but succeeded in only pushing the ball to a lurking Cummings, on hand to tuck in the rebound.

Comeback complete, Houston had a good shout for a winner in the 94th minute, when the energetic Cummings was upended in the box on the turn by the lazy leg of Ibrahim Sekagya, but the referee waived play on, denying them a penalty kick.

An electric 2-2 draw sets up the second leg to be a classic: Houston rounding into their usual playoff form against New York who must wrestle with their playoff demons without their best defender, as Olave will be suspended for Wednesday’s return leg.

Wade Barrett, standing in for the suspended Kinnear, reflected on the inspired comeback, "We didn't script it this way, but we talked to the guys about not being too high if we scored first and not being too low if we got scored on first. It is 135 minutes to go from halftime, and the guys came out with a great attitude in the second half. The red card obviously helped us a little bit. We've got two goals against us, but the series isn't over yet. It was a fantastic performance in the second half, and the way things turned out, it feels really positive going into Wednesday."

New York’s Mike Petke was introspective post-match, "Poor clearance on our part, the red card killed us, and at the end of the day those goals were our fault - it wasn’t something creative, it was self-inflicted. But we’ll look on this on the road, and now we’re going to our place, and it's pretty much 0-0, so that’s a good thing. But our guys are injured with the way that we allowed them back into the game, and the Dynamo are extremely happy."

Los Angeles 1 – Salt Lake 0

The final match of the round was a high-profile Western meeting with third-seed LA hosting second-placed Salt Lake.

The tone of the match was set early when Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane caught Salt Lake sleeping from a throw-in in the fifth minute and spliced through the Salt Lake defense far too easily with a one-two, only for Keane to shank the attempt horribly – missed chances were the tale of the night.

In the nineteenth minute, a Chris Schuler turnover to Donovan saw him play in Keane down the right, but the low shot was straight at the keeper.

Two minutes after the half-hour mark, Schuler would make amends, cutting out a Robbie Rogers goalmouth ball for Keane, though the more dangerous run from Donovan - arriving late and open - was squandered by Rogers not lifting his head.

Schuler again made a miraculous intervention, cutting out a ball bound for Donovan from Keane and managing to push it wide of his goal, where many would have conceded an own-goal in that situation.

The second half began in that same vein, with another wasted chance from LA – Donovan feeding Keane down the left, only for the ball to get tangled in his feet and the attack to disintegrate.

Three minutes in, the Galaxy would finally get their breakthrough, from the most unexpected of sources – right-back, Sean Franklin:

Gyasi Zardes corraled a poor very poor Kyle Beckerman giveaway – one of many from the usually precise Salt Lake passers – and played wide left to Keane. The Irishman worked to the end-line before cutting back an odd-angled ball straight to the top of the box, well above the arc.

Franklin ran onto it and hammered a right-footed curler to the right-side of goal from thirty-plus yards.

In the lead, LA would return to their wasteful ways, when Rogers played to Donovan at the near-post, only for his touch to trickle wide.

Having attempted to quell Los Angeles with a five-man midfield – all for all intents and purposes, failing to do so - Salt Lake reverted to their tried and tested diamond 4-4-2 and brought attacking substitutes into the match, starting with Robbie Findley before the hour mark and showed a little life.

Alvaro Saborio had a crack from outside the box – it was wide; Beckerman drew a nervous dive from Galaxy keeper, Jaime Penedo – it too was probably wide, but the keeper was playing it safe, before their best look arrived in the 80th minute, when Chris Wingert’s clipped ball fell to Luis Gil at the right-post and his cross was whiskers beyond the stretch of Devon Sandoval, who was slightly impeded by Todd Dunivant.

With Salt Lake looking forward, chances opened up at the other end, but true to the theme, Keane would drag another shot wide and even a poor clearance for the visitors that nearly played in Donovan, was spared embarrassment by Nick Rimando alertly rushing out to smother.

Given all the looks they had, a one-goal lead in such a one-sided match seems insufficient heading into Salt Lake on Thursday, where they surely will not have as poor of a showing - will LA rue not taking advantage of those chances?

Bruce Arena commented briefly on the frustration, “We had our chances. A couple of players were a little off tonight. I think Rimando did very well. He was very composed in goal and didn’t make things very easy” before stating pragmatically, “I’d rather be the team ahead. These are always difficult matches. All the games in the league are all competitive going into the second game. It’s going to be difficult. Obviously, having the one goal is a real plus, but it’s going to take a heck of an effort in the next 90 minutes.”

Jason Kreis was blunt in his assessment, though the relief was palpable, “We can't afford to give away that many chances. On a different night, Keane and Donovan are going to kill you with those.*We've got to pay attention to the chances that were created against us that didn't score” continuing on to say, “We just need to play better, that’s it. The passes are there, you can see that the options were there, we’re just missing simple passes so some of our most important players need to play better, and they will.”

CanCon

Will Johnson become the first Canadian to take the pitch in the MLS playoffs starting and going the full match in Portland’s win at Seattle. He was excellent in the midfield, moving the ball well and stifling any attacks through the middle.

Kofi Opare started his first career MLS playoff match in LA’s win over Salt Lake, getting the nod in the back-line and barely put a foot wrong throughout.

Overheard

Though he played just 190 minutes in the regular season, enduring a year marred by repeated knee injuries and muscle strains, Omar Cummings was elated to get that goal as a reward for all his hard work after a season of trial and tribulation.

“Games like this and scoring a goal is what’s been pushing me. It’s been very difficult physically, but also mentally. You’re not getting the playing time you’re used to even. Yes, the season’s past, but I’ve still got a lot of important goals to score for this club.”

Playoffs are all about getting every last bit the squad and the roles played by the likes of Cummings, Shalrie Joseph, Andy Dorman, Sean Franklin, and to a lesser extent, Ryan Johnson – who found his time at the end of the season curtailed - are vital to post-season success.

Heckle of the week to the LA fans who yelled, “Nice Rat Tail, Velasquez!” in mockery of his Colombian style - there was some serious hair on display in that match with Velasquez, Gyasi Zardes, and Kyle Beckerman all involved.

See It Live

It was a tough weekend on the eyes as the combination of throw-ball lines crisscrossing the surface and the unwatchability of bouncy turf was headache inducing.

Still some wee tidbits to enjoy:

In New England, there were streamers that so vexed Jimmy Nielsen, a tiny island of travelling KC supporters in a sea of tarps at the abandoned end of the stadium, and Lee Nguyen’s goal-line block on Aurelien Collin that drew unwarranted penalty shouts.

There was Peter Vermes’ fury on New England’s first goal – more on that in a moment - and Seth Sinovic sarcastically clapped the next offside call, Chance Myers’ cheap shot to the back of Kelyn Rowe that left the midfielder shaken, and that Matt Reis save at the death.

In Seattle, there was a fancy, new, high-tech subs board – very flash – and Mauro Rosales not paying enough attention when collecting a bouncing ball for a corner kick, getting hit in the face as his eyes surveyed his options.

In Houston, Ricardo Clark knocking over the referee was the only lighter moment in a very serious contest.

And in LA, Chris Schuler’s block was a miraculous bit of defensive play, while Robbie Keane had a little laugh with Nick Rimando, first exchanging a word, then miming as though he was going to nod the ball out of the keeper’s hands as he prepared to distribute.

Check out the Roberto Carlos-esqe action on Sean Franklin’s blast:

Controversy

Was Andy Dorman onside?

Was Zach Scott’s shoulder-barge on Ryan Johnson worthy of a penalty kick? What about Michael Harrington’s flailing elbow that caught Mauro Rosales? Fair or foul?

And did Brad Evans step onto the pitch as he launched the long throw that led to Osvaldo Alonso’s late strike?

Did Jamison Olave deserve his red card?

And should Omar Cummings have had his penalty shout at end acknowledged?

Opinion Poll

How did the visual chaos of those extra lines and the bounciness of turf affect viewing of a great weekend of MLS playoff action?

Did it make these matches harder to watch?

Once thought to be banished from memory, what do the unfortunate confluence of factors that brought about their return do for the league’s credibility around the world? Should something be done to ensure the image of the spectacle be sacrosanct?

Upcoming Fixtures

All four series are delicately poised with only one-goal between the sides in three and the other tied. The Second Legs are coming up in short order with two on Wednesday followed by two on Thursday:

Wednesday: New York-Houston; Kansas City-New England. Thursday: Salt Lake-Los Angeles; Portland-Seattle.

It is recommended that all be watched.

All 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: Playoff Edition – Conference Semifinals, First Leg

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