Our weekly, sometimes offbeat, look at the best and worst of the week's MLS action. We took your suggestions on board and either embedded videos of our best/worst selections or included links. So what did week six of the 2013 season throw up for us?
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<b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
Only seven matches this week, with five teams having byes. All this time off has really helped LA and Seattle in the CONCACAF Champions League of course, so it's been worth it. Imagine how shit they'd have been without it!
The action kicked off on Friday night as KANSAS CITY hosted DC UNITED in a pretty dour encounter at times. I was expecting so much more from this one the way that both teams have been playing this season, so it was a bit of a letdown. The only goal of the game came from Claudio Bieler and it was a nice finish, after some fantastic work by Soony Saad to dispossess DC and set it up. KC play some nice football. Excellent build up play, good hustling and what comes across as a great team spirit. It's what I want to see from the Whitecaps. They had what appeared to be a vocal and encouraging mid game huddle on the pitch when DC's McDonald was down injured and receiving treatment at one point. KC created some good chances but didn't keep Bill Hamid too busy. DC themselves had a couple of promising moves but again they came to nothing and it was the fourth clean sheet in a row for Kansas City. They're looking a good bet for the Supporters' Shield already I feel.
The unlikeliest comeback of the weekend came in TORONTO. TFC were awful for most of their match against DALLAS, but came good when it mattered to grab a point that never looked on. Toronto really struggled in the first half, mustering no shots at all to Dallas' six. Although they looked a little better in the second half, they seldom troubled Raul Fernandez in the Dallas goal until the last six minutes. The Texans hit a lovely second goal that capitalised on John Bostock's cheap giveaway with a perfectly flighted ball over the Reds defence for Blas Perez to bury. From nowhere, Toronto got back in to it, helped by some terrible Dallas defending for their first goal and a beautiful strike for their second. They should have had a penalty in that crazy six minute spell as well. Dallas are looking good and that's bad news for Vancouver, so let's hope that this shock collapse has a really horrible negative effect on them. They have so many objectionable wankers on that team. What such a comeback will do the confidence of Toronto is another matter. They could have won it in those last few minutes and that fighting to the end attitude should give their long suffering fans some crumbs of comfort. They just need to do it for longer than a few minutes in a match.
COLUMBUS at home to PHILADELPHIA isn't really a game on the schedule that sets your pulse racing. As it turned out, it was one of the best games of the weekend. Entertaining end to end stuff, with many missed chances as it ended in a 1-1 draw. The Crew probably did enough to get the win, apart from the important aspect of putting the ball in the net for a second goal. Both sides have shown enough in their first few games to indicate that they will be there or thereabouts in the playoff mix come October. For both teams, consistency is what is going to determine their fate and so far neither side has been able to put together a string of good performances.
The Rocky Mountain Cup derbies are coming thick and fast early in the season and this one started off as a cracker before settling down into a game in which both teams had chances to add to the one goal that decided the match, but couldn't make those opportunities pay. The previously winless COLORADO took an early lead to the shock of everyone, as ex Cap Atiba Harris actually hit the target in the fifth minute for what proved to be the match winning goal. Sure it was only from six yards out but we've all seen him miss from there before. We saw the Harris we came to know as the game progressed. REAL SALT LAKE should have levelled minutes later but missed a penalty. RSL had the better of the rest of the first half, but the Rapids came out in storming fashion in the second, before the match became a pretty even affair. Nick Rimando had a couple of big saves that kept RSL in the game and the visitors must have headed home wondering how they didn't get anything out of that game. They should have had another penalty late on, but they had their other chances too, as did the Rapids. Their first win of the season brought Colorado to within two points of the Whitecaps, despite their currently horrendous injury situation. They may have unearthed a star in MLS rookie goalkeeper Clint Irwin.
PORTLAND don't have their troubles to seek right now. Still winless going in to their home game against HOUSTON, they had to make two substitutions to injury in the first 27 minutes of a match that got chippy pretty quickly in the pouring Portland rain. But they showed some great resilience to come back and win comfortably in the end, with some excellent teamwork on the second goal to create something from a forced giveaway deep in their own half. Could have been a lot more than two goals in their second half performance against a Houston side that are so different away from their home fortress. The Dynamo were almost unrecognisable to the team we've seen against Vancouver and San Jose these last two weeks. Despite their combination of horrible early season form and luck, the Timbers have dragged themselves back up the Western Conference and sit one point back of Vancouver and the playoff spots. With the advantage Portland get from their home form, it's something that Vancouver need to emulate and whichever team sorts it out on the road best between these two Cascadian sides and Real Salt Lake could be the deciding factor for which of them make the playoffs.
VANCOUVER grabbed an unexpected point in SAN JOSE despite being ripped apart at times in the first half. It was a result which will give them a bit of a confidence boost and at least means that they don't head home from a three game road trip completely empty handed. They battled well in the second half and managed to prevent San Jose from providing some more of their trademark last ditch heroics. The point moved the Caps up one spot in the West and into the last playoff position. So no worse, or no better than last season so far and that's in many regards.
The last game of the weekend took place Sunday in CHICAGO, with NEW YORK heading east to try and do something they've struggled to do there - get a win. And they're still looking for their first win since 2006. I'm sure when ESPN picked this as their 'game of the week' they were expecting a top of the conference clash and not one with two struggling teams. The Fire's 3-1 win heaps even more pressure on Red Bulls coach Mike Petke. His history with the club will buy him a little bit of time but he's in a market that needs success, especially with the money they've spent and the players they've brought in. If he was with some English clubs, he'd probably find himself out of a job one of these coming Mondays. He still might. Thierry Henry's late match winner last week is now looking massive for him. Henry again looked like the spark that New York need when he came on as sub and he nearly scored a beautiful curler, but it crashed off the post instead. Inches away from talking about a different story altogether, then came along Maicon 'Supersub' Santos with his match winning brace. It's not that New York are playing that badly, although any MLS team that has Johnny Steele as a regular starter doesn't fill me with too much hope from the off. They're creating chances but just can't finish them. Another ten in this game, which is low by their standards. The New York defence was terrible. It was Vancouver style marking and awareness out there, and goalkeeper Luis Robles looked such a week link and had a horrible game. Chicago got their first win of the season and climbed above two teams in the process. With the chances they had, they deserved their win.
So with the dust all settled for this weekend, Vancouver move into the playoff spots in the West again, Montreal stay top of the East without playing, and Toronto move up to 6th spot in what is a very, very tight Eastern Conference.
There's also word of a new MLS themed Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movie - "Winless In Seattle". Expect lots of tears. The Sounders are now the only team in MLS still to win this season. Long may it continue.
<b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
I'm not always a fan of giving the 'Player of the Week' award to the player that's scored the most goals that week. There's often been better players that just aren't in the limelight and it sometimes just smacks of lazy voting. That's how it often feels with the NASR award in MLS, as with Will Johnson's one last week, who frankly did very little apart from his two goals and one of them was a penalty. This week though, a Portland player does deserve it. Step forward RYAN JOHNSON, who got a brace to give the Timbers their first win of the season and he could have had at least a hat-trick in an excellent second half performance. He covered a lot of attacking half of the pitch and contributed 24 successful passes. Nice finish for the second goal too, and some nice team play in the build up to it.
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<b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
There were no real stand out performances in goal this week. Many keepers did well but not throughout the whole game. Some had good saves and some kept clean sheets, but weren't really tested. Real Salt Lake's NICK RIMANDO may have been on the losing side in the derby against Colorado, but he produced a couple of excellent saves that kept his team in the game till the end and he's taking it for me over his opposite number, Clint Irwin.
<b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
Maicon Santos' go ahead goal for Chicago against New York was lovely. Great footwork by Santos and a wonderful finish with the outside of his foot.
Darrel Russell's 90th minute equaliser for Toronto seemed to come out of nowhere, with both him and his team playing poorly for most of the game. It was a sweet strike and a vital one that could have ended up anywhere but nestled perfectly in the net to give TFC a point.
And it would have won our GotW if it wasn't for the excellent finish from JAMISON OLAVE for New York at Chicago. Olave's goal did it for us for both the build up play of two fine headers to set him up (especially Tim Cahill, who did fantastic to create anything from Juninho's woefully high corner) and the technique in the final volley.
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<b><u>Miss of the Week:</u></b>
Chris Rolfe's horrific penalty miss for Chicago against New York could have taken this award most weeks. You have to at least hit the target from the spot. No excuse for not and when your team is in a funk at the moment, it's even worse.
The Columbus - Philadelphia game was the gift that kept giving in this category this week though. We could have gone with the Crew's Dominic Oduro blasting over after nicely working his way through on goal. Or Philly's Connor Casey firing high when anywhere on target was likely to have meant the Union went in at the half with a vital two goal lead. Instead the dubious honour has to go to Columbus' EDDIE GAVEN who found himself just needing to make contact and shoot anywhere on goal to bring the Crew level. Instead, as the commentators perfectly described it, it was a swing and a miss. MLS didn't have it as a clip to show you unfortunately.
<b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
It didn't turn out to the be the game changer it could have been but Nick Rimando acrobatic stop to keep out Colorado's Jamie Smith was a good one, but we can't look beyond JOE CANNON's huge last second point saving stop from Dan Gargan's header for Vancouver against San Jose. Who knows what that save and point earned could mean come the end of the season. It might be one of those moments that we call back to as being pivotal.
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1676528/mls_2013-04-07-004528.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Funniest Moment of the Week:</u></b>
ANDY O'BRIEN pulling up the flopping Steven Lenhart was fantastic to see. In fact O'Brien chirping away and winding up Wondo and other San Jose players was also a joy to behold. For such a quiet guy, he has a great intensity out there. Now some will argue that you can't do that to a player, you should never pull them up by their shirt, put your hands on them blah blah blah. And sure, if it happened to your guy, you would be going nuts, but this was to clownboy, so screw that. Who hasn't wanted to smack him in the face at some point? What made the incident all the more funny was Lenhart's reaction and disbelief to the whole thing. But if you want the letter of the law, then they both should have been booked for their actions and reactions, so Lenhart would have been off for a second yellow. Now that would have been even funnier. Damn you ref, you took <i>that</i> funny moment away from us.
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<b><u>Cock Up of the Week:</u></b>
You can't look any further than San Jose's ALAN GORDON and VICTOR BERNARDEZ both going off to change their cleats at the same time, leaving the Earthquakes two men down and allowing Vancouver to grab an equaliser. Fair enough, it was slippy out there and you had the wrong footwear on, but as two very experienced pros you should be very aware to not have both of you doing it at the same time. Not that I'm complaining in the slightest.
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<b><u>Fuds of the Week:</u></b>
Carrying on from the above, it has to be the SAN JOSE MANAGEMENT. Surely someone on that bench must have seen that two of their guys were off the field at the same time. That should never, ever be allowed to happen in the first place, never mind when the opposition were attacking. Someone okayed it. Please let us know who, we have a muffin basket here for you. Actually, with all the moaning and whining that they did throughout that second half, let's just give all of the Earthquakes the Fuds award.
<b><u>Dive of the Week:</u></b>
Name and shame. That's one way to shame these bastards, but taking points off their team would be our preferred option. This week's cheat is New York's PEGUY LUYINDULA, for his farcical attempt to win a penalty that at least saw him get a yellow card for his antics. He later had to go off injured. Karma truly is a bitch.
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1677380/mls_2013-04-07-183820.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Tackle of the Week:</u></b>
As regular readers will know, I do love a good cruncher and they don't come much better than Vancouver's NIGEL REO-COKER on San Jose's Sam Cronin. Nothing better than when your own man sends an opponent flying through the air and not even a booking, although MLS may take a look at it later. Still worth it though. He'd pretty much done bugger all else for the game.
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<b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
After Week 6 - 49 games
<b>Total goals in week</b> - 16 (106 this season)
<b>Average goals per game</b> - 2.29 (2.16 ave this season)
<b>Highest scoring team</b> - Chicago Fire (3 goals)
<b>Penalties awarded</b> - 2, zero scored (10 this season)
<b>Clean sheets</b> - 2 (25 this season)
<b>Unbeaten teams</b> - 1 (Los Angeles Galaxy)
<b>Winless teams</b> - 1 (Seattle Sounders)
<b>Biggest win this season</b> - LA 4-0 v Chicago (2/3/13)
<b>Sending offs</b> - 0 (4 this season)
<b>Bookings</b> - 30 (140 this season)
<b>Total attendance this week</b> - 104,374 (852,293 total for season)
<b>Average attendance this week</b> - 14,911 (17,394 average for season)
<b>Highest attendance this week</b> - 20,674 Portland v Houston
<b>Highest attendance this season</b> - 40,150 Seattle v Portland (16/3/13)
<b>Lowest attendance this week</b> - 10,293 Columbus v Philadelphia
<b>Lowest attendance this season</b> - 7,121 Chivas v Columbus (2/3/13)
<b><u>Fantasy Football Highs and Lows (after Week 6):</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!
<b>Highest Scoring Goalkeeper</b> - Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting KC - 34 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Goalkeeper</b> - Clint Irwin (Colorado Rapids - 12 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Aurelien Collin (Sporting KC - 43 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Aurelien Collin (Sporting KC - 10 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Graham Zusi (Sporting KC - 45 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Daniel Paladini (Chicago Fire - 13 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Robert Earnshaw (Toronto - 30 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Maicon Santos (Chicago Fire - 12 points)
<b>Overall Highest Scoring Club</b> - Dallas (369 points)
<b>Overall Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Seattle Sounders (165 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Club</b> - Portland Timbers (75 points)
<b>Week's Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Real Salt Lake (28 points)
<b>Best Weekly Score so far</b> - Los Angeles (94 points - Week 1)
<b>Worst Weekly Score so far</b> - Chivas (23 points - Week 1)
<b>Highest Scoring Club Defence (inc GK)</b> - Dallas (200 points)
<b>Lowest Scoring Club Defence (inc GK)</b> - Toronto (65 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Club Midfield</b> - Dallas (132 points)
<b>Lowest Scoring Club Midfield</b> - Columbus Crew (56 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Club Forwards</b> - Columbus Crew (66 points)
<b>Lowest Scoring Club Forwards</b> - New England Revolution (17 points)
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