Having finally decided to get the MLS Live package (which I've just had for three days, love already and don't know why I didn't get it before!), I thought we may as well make the most of it and add some general Major League Soccer coverage to AFTN, which we'd planned to do all of last season but were too lazy!
Every week we'll bring you our look at the best and worst of the week's MLS action. We'll try and get it up earlier in the week too, depending when we catch up with all the games!
So what did week one of the 2013 season throw up for us?
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<b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
The game of the week (and the atmosphere of the week) went without question to PORTLAND v NEW YORK. What a fantastic advert for Major League Soccer that was. Some great goals, some calamities, a fighting comeback. It was just all round fantastic viewing. Mikael's mare in the first half cost the Timbers the full three points and that could come back to haunt them later on in the season. Portland's midfield certainly looks tighter and they have more to offer up front from first glance. New York look like a team that could do some real damage in the East once they fully click together.
If that was the game of the week, I'd nominate the first half of the HOUSTON - DC game as the half of the week. What a cracker that was. No goals, but plenty of incidents, including a penalty save and penalty non call, to follow on from the Eastern Conference final match ups from last season. DC could easily have had two players sent off in that first half. Daniel Woolard's cynically took out Boniek Garcia. He made no attempt to play the ball and Garcia would have bore down on goal. Later on, Chris Korb brought down Ricardo Clark outside of the box but a penalty was given, as was a booking. I'd have probably given him a straight red for that too, but it was borderline as a man was covering, but Clark had a great chance to score. The referee incidentally was Baldomero Toledo.
The first game of the 2013 MLS season kicked off in PHILADELPHIA and the Union must still be wondering just how they didn't come away from that game with three points. Sebastien Le Toux scored the first goal of the new MLS season for the second season running, but SPORTING KC showed they're still a force to be reckoned with in the east. It could have been a different story altogether if KC's Matt Besler had been sent off for a deliberate handball in the six yard box after trying to give the visitors a cheeky little knock on. He wasn't even booked!
FU DALLAS, the team we just love to hate, unfortunately got off to a winning start against a COLORADO side, that had some promising glimpses but showed very little. The Rapids started both of their first round SuperDraft picks, Deshorn Brown and Dillon Powers, which shows from the off the rebuilding year that this will be for them. Brown looks like he will be a lively proposition for defences once he fully settles at this level and I personally loved his kick into the midriff of Je-Vaughn Watson in the first half! Once they get into full gear, I still think that Dallas are going to be a danger to Vancouver's playoff hopes.
MONTREAL shocked SEATTLE thanks to a wonderful finish from Davy Arnaud. The Sounders deserved a draw, hitting the woodwork twice as they pushed for an equaliser, but the Impact looked a neat side and I stand by my high prediction for them in the east. They weren't afraid to take the game to Seattle and weren't overawed by the large crowd or the occasion. Great to see an eastern team take points of our playoff rivals as well.
My thoughts that CHIVAS would finish anywhere apart from bottom of the west may already be starting to look foolish! But the 3-0 scoreline certainly flattered COLUMBUS, who had a couple of danger players (Dominic Oduro and Federico Higuain) but didn't look any great shakes themselves and gave the ball away quite easily at times and in dangerous positions, something for Vancouver to look at on the game tape before next week's game. Chivas had numerous scoring chances which they squandered. Can the team gel and can Chelis get them to turn around? Some signs are there and in Julio Morales they have a player that should be interesting to watch for many reasons. He came off at the half here, had chances to score and could be deadly if he gets his eye in, but could have gone for a horrible late tackle in the 8th minute on Chad Marshall. With his penchant for hitting the deck too, he's going to be a guy we quickly learn to hate this season.
LA v CHICAGO was a blow out that just reiterates our belief that the Galaxy are still the team to beat in all of MLS and have to be favourites for the MLS Cup. Their talent pool and depth is frightening. I don't even want to talk any more about them!
I expected fireworks from the SAN JOSE - REAL SALT LAKE game but it was a bit of a muted affair. RSL proved what I was saying in our season preview that I feel that rumours of their death have been greatly exaggerated. I still think they'll finish above the Caps in 4th spot. With Nick Rimando in goal they always have that little advantage over some teams. San Jose definitely didn't look like repeating last season's heroics out there. Will Wondo be a flop now that he has his DP contract? Would be hilarious if he was.
We've already covered VANCOUVER - TORONTO enough. You can check back on the site if you missed any of it. Feeling comfortable about the Caps making it six point out of six on Saturday though.
<b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
Hard to disagree with the NASR winner, and LA hat-trick hero, MIKE MAGEE, who was busy throughout, but Sporting KC's Graham Zusi came a close second for me, with a key equaliser just before half time and two important second half assists.
Have to also give a shout out to New York's Fabian Espindola, who netted two goals on his debut and looks like a good addition for them
<b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
He may have let in two goals, but my nod goes to DC United's BILL HAMID. Four saves in total, including a huge one just before half time and a penalty save that he read all the way.
<b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
A few nice goals this week but Portland's DIEGO VALERI wins it for me. It was a lovely quick passing move from the Timbers, with some nice one touch football and some neat ball juggling by Valeri before an outside of the foot finish.
It's nominated for the official MLS "Goal of the Week", but one of my two runners ups isn't - Ricardo Clark v DC United. It was a wonderful team goal, nice passing moves, some fancy footwork on the byeline and a great finish from a tight angle from Clark.
Montreal's Davy Arnaud also deserves a shout out. Beautiful finish, wonderful lob through from Felipe Martins and of course, it was hilarious to see the Sounders lose on opening day.
<b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
As we eluded to above, BILL HAMID made a huge save for DC against Houston, just as half time was approaching. He smothered Giles Barnes' close range shot and although it didn't contribute to a DC win, it kept them in the game till very late on.
I also thought Nick Rimando did a great job in touching Chris Wondolowski's deflected close range shot onto the crossbar, a save which may have gone a long way in helping RSL gave the away win over San Jose.
<b><u>Cock Up of the Week:</u></b>
So many to choose from and most of them from Portland debutant Mikael Silvestre, who had about as nightmare of a MLS half as you may see this season and just looked like a deer in headlights out on the pitch. Incredibly though, he isn't this week's winner. No, no. That accolade goes to Colorado Rapids goalkeeper STEWARD CEUS, whose amazing dash from his area to cut out a Dallas through ball led to the only goal of the game as he completely misjudged the bounce of the ball and his attempt to head it clear.
<b><u>Knob of the Week:</u></b>
Giving our debut award to Portland's General Manager GAVIN WILKINSON. Just think - 4 weeks ago, Wilkinson had the rights to Nigel Reo-Coker and the Sounders had the rights to Mikael Silvestre. Gavin Wilkinson - GM Extraordinaire.
<b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
<b>Total goals</b> - 24
<b>Average goals per game</b> - 2.67
<b>Highest scoring team</b> - Los Angeles Galaxy (4 goals)
<b>Penalties awarded</b> - 1 (0 scored)
<b>Clean sheets</b> - 7 teams (CLB, DAL, HOU, LA, MON, RSL, VAN)
<b>Unbeaten teams</b> - 9 (inc NE, who didn't play)
<b>Winless teams</b> - 11 (inc NE, who didn't play)
<b>Sending offs</b> - 0 (should have been some though)
<b>Bookings</b> - 18 (of which dirty, dirty Chivas got 5)
<b>Total attendance</b> - 174,696 (from nine games)
<b>Average attendance</b> - 19,411
<b>Highest attendance</b> - 38,998 Seattle v Montreal (Vancouver second with 21,000)
<b>Lowest attendance</b> - 7,121 Chivas v Columbus
<b><u>Fantasy Football Highs and Lows (after Week 1):</u></b>
This is mainly my attempt to keep my interest in the competition going beyond the first few weeks this season, which has been my downfall in the past! We might drop some of the lowest stuff too if it gets too complicated to work out.
<b>Highest Scoring Goalkeeper</b>- Raul Fernandez (Dallas - 9 pts) / Troy Perkins (Montreal - 9 pts)
<b>Lowest Scoring Goalkeeper</b> - Donovan Ricketts (Portland - 0 pts)
<b>Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Josh Williams (Columbus - 14 pts)
<b>Lowest Scoring Defender</b> - James Riley (DC - minus 2 pts)
<b>Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Mike Magee (LA - 18 pts)
<b>Lowest Scoring Midfielder</b> - various zeros
<b>Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Alvaro Saborio (RSL - 12 pts) / Fabian Espindola (NY - 12 pts)
<b>Lowest Scoring Forward</b> - Julio Morales (Chivas - minus 1pt)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Player</b> - Mike Magee (LA - 18 pts)
<b>Week's Lowest Scoring Player</b> - James Riley (DC - minus 2 pts)
<b>Overall Highest Scoring Club</b> - Los Angeles Galaxy (94 pts)
<b>Overall Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Chivas USA (23 pts)
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