Kind of pointless perhaps doing our weekly look at the best and worst of the week's MLS action so late and after the next week has begun, but we'd all but finished it and just couldn't get the time to watch the last two games!
We made it in the end and got this far, so we may as well run the piece and if anyone else is interested apart from me for the stats, then great! So what did week 11 of the 2013 season throw up for us?
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<b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
The busiest week of the new season so far. 15 games in total, with many teams playing twice and rounding off with the 100th game of the year.
The week's action kicked off on Wednesday with poor DC United. A 4-0 thumping from HOUSTON and although the Dynamo went in two goals up at the half, it was two going on ten. Will Bruin was outstanding for Houston, with two goals and two assists in the rout. DC really got it together for the second half though and did everything but score. They had efforts cleared off the line, one of which looked to have crossed, a penalty given just outside the box and they forced 15 corner kicks and had 13 attempts on goal. When your luck's not in, it's really not in in this league. Firmly rooted at the bottom of the East, they look a hopeless cause despite playing some nice football. It's the horrible football, sloppy defending and constantly having to chase the game, thus leaving gaps, that's killing them. If they're not careful they're going to be playing in front of an empty stadium. Oh, wait.....
The action continued in an entertaining match between NEW YORK and MONTREAL, which was a great advert for MLS on the one hand and a great advert for not adding a second New York team on the other. What was with all those empty seats for a top of the Conference clash? I know Montreal, like all the Canadian teams, won't be seen as a huge draw in many US markets, but this was a visiting team that were playing some lovely football and, as mentioned, a battle of two of the top form teams in the Eastern Conference, if not in all of MLS right now. Montreal were disappointing for most of the match and seemed happy to try and get away with just a point if they could. New York deserved the win and Thierry Henry once again ran the show, with a spectacular second goal in the process. It was strange leaving Marco di Vaio on the bench, but when he came on, boy did he make a difference for the Impact. What a player he still is. That's what the Whitecaps need up front. An experienced goalscorer, who still has it, and not just a pile of young, inexperienced talent. He could have single handedly grabbed an unlikely point for Montreal with a spectacular stoppage time display.
The first Western team to hit the pitch was the Caps conquerors from last weekend, as SALT LAKE headed east to NEW ENGLAND. It was a horrible result for Vancouver. It was kind of a horrible game to watch in general for the most part. RSL became the new Dick Turpins of MLS, with a smash and grab raid and three undeserved points. It could, and should, have been so much different. RSL again looked poor, but the Revs did what the Caps couldn't and scored against them. The salty ones obviously listened to Nigel Reo-Coker's comments at their patch last week and didn't play soft on the road. Quite a physical performance from them. The ref was quite weak for this one, but not as weak as Saer Sene's horrible stoppage time spot kick, which was easily saved and was a sickener for Vancouver in the playoff race.
But if that was sickener, SEATTLE's last gasp win in KANSAS CITY was far worse. It was as much unexpected as it was horrible and KC should have had this game well won before Djimi Traore put the ball away in the 94th minute. Looking at is with a neutrals hat on, it was a fighting performance from the Sounders who will garner great heart from the result. With my Whitecaps hat on, it meant that Seattle now draw level on points with Vancouver, making the Caps basically bottom of the West.
The great unwashed went to Conference leaders DALLAS and came away with a point. Always good when two of your rivals drop points, but like Salt Lake, PORTLAND stage something of a smash and grab. DALLAS will definitely see this as two points dropped, but it's hard to feel sorry for them as they once again hit the deck at every opportunity. Eric Hassli certainly seems to fit in well there, giving him a chance to do his trademark sitting on his ass and waving his arms about bit. Not a wonderful game in general. Portland keep their record of taking at least a point from every MLS away game this season. Next stop? Vancouver. Woo-hoo!
The midweek action rounded off with another trademark performance, this time from TORONTO as they lost another late goal to go down in SAN JOSE, with the Earthquakes getting their usual late winner. TFC had done well to hold off the homes side's pressure and take the lead, putting in one of those away performances that Vancouver seem incapable of. Then it all went wrong, but they at least made San Jose work for three points and another horrible result for the Caps.
Not sure how many times I can use the word horrible in this review but that's basically what all the midweek results were from a Vancouver point of view. And what was with the crappy crowds? Was there some kind of boycott with these midweek matches we didn't get the memo about? An average of 11,468 for the six games, helped by KC drawing 18,602 against Seattle. Dire stuff from DC, New England and Dallas though.
The weekend's action kicked off in CHICAGO, where PHILADELPHIA came to visit. Why do NBC continue to pick games with little appeal and why did TSN2 decide to show it of all games? The home side had their chances but Philly snatched the points, aided by some good saves from Zac MacMath. Not much more to say about it!
The other early start was a whole different matter. MONTREAL showed their pedigree by coming back twice to beat SALT LAKE in a five goal thriller in front of a surprisingly low crowd at Stade Saputo. It was looking bad news for Vancouver with RSL looking highly likely to come away with a point, but the Impact were excellent and never gave up. I liked RSL's attitude on the road, but it was an ominous warning for Vancouver for the V's Cup final on Wednesday.
Two Western teams battled it out in SEATTLE and it was a resurgent Sounders who continued their fine recent form with a comprehensive victory over a poor looking SAN JOSE side. This was the kind of game we've been waiting for Vancouver to have. One where everything just seems to click in to place and the goals go in. A one off or a signal that a Seattle to be reckoned with are back in the mix? Sadly I fear the latter.
VANCOUVER of course did have a kind of coming of age game themselves. Beating LOS ANGELES for the first time was excellent, but it wasn't done in anywhere near the kind of fashion that Seattle had on show. It may be an old cliché but football certainly is a game of inches. If Omar Gonzalez puts his header away just past the hour mark, then we could be looking at a whole different mood in the rain city right now. It was a great all round performance but may just be one which kick-starts a few on the team, with the key being just how they now build upon it.
It was the Col derby as Umbus hosted Orado, in a pretty unexciting game. COLORADO scored early and then COLUMBUS seemed to be camped in their half for most of the remainder of the game, yet never really looked much like getting back in to it. The Rapids winning by two never really looked on the cards, but that's how it worked out, making Vancouver's win all the more crucial, as those around them are getting points in and worryingly many are doing so on the road.
From the Col derby to the New one, with NEW YORK heading north to take on NEW ENGLAND. Again, not the best. Two goals in a minute woke the game up before it quickly went back to sleep again. After all the other action this week, I just found this game disappointing. Even the condensed highlights on MLS Live were too long for this one!
Saturday rounded off with bottom of the pile DC unsurprisingly losing out to MLS leading DALLAS. The Double D's (Diving Douches) kept their good form going and continue to set the pace that the Caps and the rest of the west are struggling to keep pace with. We've been going on about DC's bad luck this season and it was more of the same as they hit the post and then Dallas went up the pitch and took the lead. A nice DeRo free kick got them back in to it before the half but there was only going to be one winner in the second and although it was a scrambled goal that did it, it was a deserved Dallas win. Eric Hassli made his first start of the season, having an assist on the first goal, continuing his trend for picking up bookings and not too much else.
Sunday started with more depressing news for the Caps. PORTLAND are still looking good. They got back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over CHIVAS, who have gone to pot after their great start. It was one way traffic and Portland ran out very comfortable winners, although they made hard work of getting the ball in the net, which could be some consolation for Vancouver for the meeting on Saturday. Chivas looked very poor. Shame the Caps had to meet them when they did.
The week rounded off with a monumental match between HOUSTON and KANSAS CITY. Not only was it the 100th game of the MLS season to date, it also brought to an end Houston’s impressive unbeaten home streak after 36 games. There may have only been one goal in the game but it was an entertaining, and somewhat feisty affair. A nice little rivalry has been build up between the two teams in the last couple of playoff games and that will only be even bigger after the Dynamo losing their home record to KC now. I love KC’s Aurelien Collin. He brings so much passion to his performances and a lot of skill. I’d love to see Vancouver make a play for him. He’s only on $250,000. Try and tempt him with some DeMerit style cash and see what happens.
So a busy week is over and we’re all set to crank it up once again. Vancouver’s win was vital with what was going on around them. Half the points of the Conference leaders though. Chivas look like they’ve fallen away. I expect Colorado to do the same soon. That leaves the Caps battling with six others for the five playoff spots and you have to feel right now that we’re just not strong enough to win that battle, whatever a win over LA may have done for the team’s confidence.
<b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
A few really stellar candidates this week. You have to look at Thierry Henry obviously for his two goal performance for New York on the Wednesday.
Houston's WILL BRUIN had a fantastic midweek game himself and a solid, if unspectacular, Saturday one. In the midweek clash with DC he scored twice and had two assists in the Dynamo's rout. Six shots on goal in total in the two games, but he mostly gets the nod for his midweek performance.
<b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
MICHAEL GSPURNING wasn’t the most overworked of keepers, just six in total, but he kept two vital clean sheets to help his Seattle Sounders team continue their recent good form and move up the table.
<b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
I think it would have taken a monumental Eric Hassli v Seattle style effort to stop New York's THIERRY HENRY from winning the award this week. A beautiful bicycle kick from the Frenchman, which when I first saw it I thought was just a hit and hope. When you watch his head on the replay though he knows exactly what he was doing and positioned himself perfectly. A true masterclass from a great striker. Oh for one of those in Vancouver right now. The commentators were saying 'goal of the season' and 'goal of the decade'. I say, steady homers. Nowhere near being the latter.
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<b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
He may have let in four, but Bill Hamid also came up big to keep out Giles Barnes with an excellent one handed save at his near post, but the best save of the week came later in that DC-Houston match, but this time from a Dynamo player.
Our first non goalkeeper to win the award this season is Houston's KOFI SARKODIE for his fantastic double goal-line stop from DeRo. It was hard to pick the superlative for his efforts, and yes, maybe his second block was over the line, but it was a great piece of defending none the less and officially no goal was conceded. It was a huge turning point in the match two, with a goal pulling the home side back to within one.
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1720520/mls_2013-05-08-203320.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Funniest Moment of the Week:</u></b>
Funniest moment of the week came form the KC-Seattle game when Sounders sub keeper Marcus Hahneman was sent off from the bench in the first half for dissent. Should probably change his name to Hahaneman. Not rip-roaringly funny but anything bad affecting Seattle makes me chuckle and takes my mind off the Whitecaps woes. Sadly I was deprived of seeing of my favourite things in football and an outfield player having to go in goal due to starting goalkeeper injury.
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1720624/mls_2013-05-08-212024.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Cock Up of the Week:</u></b>
Goes to MLS itself for scheduling some horribly attended midweek encounters. Five of the six games mustered just 50,208 between them, for an average of 10,041 and Chivas weren’t even one of them. A few biggies later on in the week, including Seattle’s usual monster one, brought the League average up but just papers over some cracks that some teams just can’t draw crowds for the less fashionable teams who visit.
<b><u>Fud of the Week:</u></b>
The Portland ballboy who wouldn’t give the ball back to Chivas’ Mario de Luna. This just annoyed me so much. Way more than De Luna pushing him. If he was going to get suspended he should have made it worthwhile. You're there to do a job, not to try and be a dick. Hopefully the Timbers get rid of him. He’s not the victim here!
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1725464/mls_2013-05-12-190104.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Tackle of the Week:</u></b>
If you can trip him or pull his jersey to stop him getting away from you, what's your next alternative? Houston's ANDREW DRIVER had the answer and no, it wasn't biting. Driver decided to hold on to Kyle Porter's leg, setting up much hilarity as the former Whitecap tried to wriggle free in the middle of the pitch.
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1720472/mls_2013-05-08-195912.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
After Week 11 - 100 games
<b>Total goals in week</b> - 41 (226 this season)
<b>Average goals per game</b> - 2.73 (2.26 ave this season)
<b>Highest scoring team</b> - Houston and Seattle (4 goals)
<b>Biggest win this season</b> - 4-0 LA v Chicago (2/3/13) / KC v Chivas (5/5/13) / Houston at DC (8/5/13) / Seattle v San Jose (11/5/13)
<b>Goals scored by feet</b> - 37
<b>Goals by headers</b> - 2
<b>Goals scored by other body parts!</b> - 2
<b>Goals inside box</b> - 37
<b>Goals inside six yard box</b> - 8
<b>Goals outside box</b> - 4
<b>Penalties awarded</b> - 2, one scored (22 this season)
<b>Clean sheets</b> - 7 (55 this season)
<b>Sending offs</b> - 1 (18 this season)
<b>Bookings</b> - 45 (295 this season)
<b>Total attendance this week</b> - 237,182 (1,706,498 total for season)
<b>Average attendance this week</b> - 15,812 (17,065 average for season)
<b>Highest attendance this week</b> - 38,880 Seattle v San Jose
<b>Highest attendance this season</b> - 40,150 Seattle v Portland (16/3/13)
<b>Lowest attendance this week</b> - 8,040 New England v Portland
<b>Lowest attendance this season</b> - 7,121 Chivas v Columbus (2/3/13)
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