With a busy midweek ahead of games, we finally got back to watching the week's games in a timely manner.
So here's our latest 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 10 of the 2013 season throw up for us?
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<b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
The week kicked off on Thursday evening with a dull game in PORTLAND. Neither the home side, nor NEW ENGLAND could find a way through and it was pretty boring to watch at times. Surprising considering how both teams have played this season. The Revs will be very happy to come away from the great unwashed with a point. There's not going to be many teams doing that with the Timbers in their stride. Or maybe there will be now after the loss of Mikael Silvestre. After the horrible start to his MLS career, the experienced defender had settled and was looking strong. Obviously not strong enough.
The weekend kicked off with three games at 1pm our time. The game we chose to watch live was the one in SAN JOSE. MONTREAL went in at the half a goal up from a fantastic long range strike from Justin Mapp, that had some swerve on it. With the pressure San Jose subjected them to and the chances they had, it was hard to believe the Impact went in with the lead. They had Troy Perkins to thank for a string of good saves and the defence for staying strong. Hopefully Vancouver's management team were watching. Not so much for how to play against Montreal in the Voyageurs Cup, but for how to defend period. It was soon two not long after the restart before the trademark Earthquakes comeback and stoppage time goal that tied it up. It's getting a bit boring now guys. Not that we'd want to see that continued never say die spirit in Vancouver. From a Whitecaps point of view, it was bad to see San Jose get a point but at least it showed us a way to penetrate Montreal, who totally fell out of the game after their second goal. Still some V Cup hope then.
From one Western Conference rival to another, and SEATTLE travelled east to take on PHILADELPHIA. And another fightback. Seattle showed Vancouver how they need to play on the road, especially against Eastern opposition. After they took the lead, Philly came roaring back and should have tied it up in the first half. In the end, two goals in just over a minute from Danny Cruz seemingly had them in the ascendency and almost coasting. Then just after their assistant coach was on TV saying they'd like to kill off the game with some possession football, Seattle scrambled the equaliser. The Union had their chances to grab a third, including some right in front of an empty net, and should have had a last second penalty, but it seemed their luck was just not in. The game exploded into a red card fest late on. First we got a ridiculous double sending off late on. Not ridiculous for the ref issuing the cards, he wasn't really left with much choice, but because Lamar Neagle and Sheanon Williams were absolute idiots to even get involved like that at that point of the game. Twats. It's going to really hit Philly hard, as they lost Jeff Parke with an injury in the first half. Seattle then went down to nine, when loo brush head, DeAndre Yedlin, either got a straight red for his hair looking shit or a late tackle from behind or both. Eddie Johnson was also lucky not to see red moments later for a kick out.
After all that, the other early start had a lot to live up to. It didn't really oblige. NBC picked the dud of the three. It's not that it was a bad game, it wasn't. It just wasn't anywhere near as good. NEW YORK made it three away wins in a row with a wonderfully taken header from Tim Cahill with nine minutes left. COLUMBUS know they should have taken at least a point and probably all three. New York started okay, but it was the home side making most of the running. They missed a penalty but that was really as close as they got. The Red Bulls' Roy Miller was lucky not to pick up a second yellow, which could have changed the course of the game. It was a good penalty save from Luis Robles, but man, is he an adventure in goal for New York. Looks decidedly dodgy.
I shouldn't complain about that game really as Saturday rounded off with two games that seemed watching paint dry a more appealing hobby.
The latest VANCOUVER road debacle will be covered a lot more elsewhere on here. Let's just say that REAL SALT LAKE were no great shakes and never had to get out of first gear. Yet that was still way more than enough to see off the little challenge that the Whitecaps posed them. Two goals thanks to quick thinking by RSL and I don't know what defensively by the Caps. Too many regulars just not cutting it and changes need to come. It's time for a long hard look at the players, the tactics, the formations and the manager before it become a lost cause.
Just when you thought you'd watched the least entertaining game of the weekend, along comes COLORADO's win over TORONTO. Now usually you can enjoy Toronto losing to another late goal no matter what, but by the time this winner had come around I was numb and really wondering why I went for the full game option and not the highlights one. Robert Earnshaw could have won it for TFC before the late hit, but his miss was heavily punished. No real positives to take from the game. Even the goal was scrappy as hell and three points for Colorado just meant Vancouver's night got even worse as they slumped to second bottom of the West, with no signs that anyone is plugging the holes in their boat.
Thankfully the action picked up again on Sunday as KANSAS CITY took the game to CHIVAS in some style and equalled the highest win of the season so far in MLS. It was four goals going on more, with wave after wave of KC attacks from the first kick off, yet they only managed to lead by one at the half. Chivas have come back well in the second half of games this season but they stood no chance in this one and KC continued where they left off after the break. The Goats cause wasn't helped by the sending off of Dan Kennedy for conceding a penalty. No matter how many times I've watched the replay, I can't decide 100% whether he made contact with Paulo Nagamura or not. KC added another two and Chivas had nothing in reply. KC are a very entertaining team to watch of late. Have to say I look forward to their games on MLS Live. Even more so if they have the commentary in English, unlike this one.
The week rounded off with a rematch of the last two MLS Cup finals and this time Houston got a little revenge with the only goal of the game in the second half. Not a fantastic game for the neutral but at least there was a dreadful penalty from Landycakes, which Tally Hall easily saved. A great result from a Whitecaps point of view. Now if only we could actually help ourselves.
The week's results have seen Vancouver slip to 8th spot but despite all the doom and gloom, we only sit five points off second. On paper that's great, but unfortunately we're playing on grass and turf and it's hard to see just where the Caps will get their next win from right now.
<b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
For single handedly dragging Philadelphia back into their match against Seattle, and for scoring two unassisted goals against the Sounders, Danny Cruz was our runner up in this week's award.
The winner this week though was Kansas City's CLAUDIO BIELER. Two goals, a third ruled out for offside and 35 successful passes as he ran Chivas ragged. Always looked busy throughout and earned some nice points for my fantasy team in the process!
<b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
Montreal's TROY PERKINS may have conceded twice, including a late equaliser, but he produced a string of top save to keep his team in the game at San Jose. They could easily have been down and out by half time. He's been a real difference maker for them this season.
<b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
Tim Cahill's headed winner for New York was nice. A precision finish. I also loved the tight angled finish of Danny Cruz's second goal for Philadelphia against Seattle. Good build up play too and a stunning finish that gave Seattle no chance of keeping it out. Andrew Driver hit a sweet strike too for Houston to win in LA.
RSL's Luis Gil's opener wasn't the best finish you'll see all weekend but the quick thinking of Nick Rimando to set it up and the great wham-bam execution of the move really caught our eye. Yes, the Whitecaps defence also had a helping hand, but it was a nice goal. That was probably our runner up.
We're giving the winner though to Real Salt Lake's JAVIER MORALES. Not really so much for his finish but just the whole move that led to the goal. Yes, more defensive mistakes from Vancouver, but the move started in RSL's own penalty box when they forced a giveaway. 8 passes and 22 seconds later it was in the back of the Whitecaps net.
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<b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
Montreal's TROY PERKINS produced a fantastic one handed stop on a goalbound Chris Wondolowski header in the first half of the game in San Jose. What made this save even better for me was Perkins' quick reactions. He was seemingly down and out after trying to get to an Adam Jahn header that crashed off the bar, but somehow got up and turned the ball away from Wondo when it looked like a certain goal.
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1715294/mls_2013-05-04-162934.640hq.mp4
<b><u>Funniest Moment of the Week:</u></b>
We love FRANK YALLOP. He was great on our "West Coast Soccer" podcast and is always good for a quote. During the first half, the San Jose commentators asked him how he felt being a goal behind despite San Jose dominating - "It pisses you off" was his reply. Straight shooting as always.
<b><u>Tackle of the Week:</u></b>
Two ex Whitecaps had a coming together in San Jose, with Montreal's JEB BROVSKY looking at the greater picture and stopping a dangerous Earthquakes break in its tracks by shoving Shea Salinas into the advertising boards. Sure it got Brovsky a yellow, but it possibly saved his team from worse as it was 2 on 3, but could have soon become 3 on 3 with the Earthquakes having a lot of space.
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1715308/mls_2013-05-04-163708.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
After Week 10 - 85 games
<b>Total goals in week</b> - 17 (185 this season)
<b>Average goals per game</b> - 2.13 (2.18 ave this season)
<b>Highest scoring team</b> - Sporting KC (4 goals)
<b>Biggest win this season</b> - 4-0 LA v Chicago (2/3/13) & KC v Chivas (5/5/13)
<b>Goals scored by feet</b> - 13
<b>Goals by headers</b> - 3
<b>Goals scored by other body parts!</b> - 1
<b>Goals inside box</b> - 14
<b>Goals inside six yard box</b> - 3
<b>Goals outside box</b> - 3
<b>Penalties awarded</b> - 3, only one scored (20 this season)
<b>Clean sheets</b> - 7 (48 this season)
<b>Sending offs</b> - 4 (17 this season)
<b>Bookings</b> - 21 (250 this season)
<b>Total attendance this week</b> - 130,132 (1,469,316 total for season)
<b>Average attendance this week</b> - 16,267 (17,286 average for season)
<b>Highest attendance this week</b> - 20,674 Portland v New England
<b>Highest attendance this season</b> - 40,150 Seattle v Portland (16/3/13)
<b>Lowest attendance this week</b> - 10,074 San Jose v Montreal
<b>Lowest attendance this season</b> - 7,121 Chivas v Columbus (2/3/13)
<b><u>Fantasy Football Highs and Lows (after Week 10):</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> - Luis Robles (New York - 58 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Goalkeeper</b> - Luis Robles (New York - 15 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Aurelien Collin (KC - 77 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Mechack Jerome (KC - 10 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Graham Zusi (KC - 76 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Graham Zusi (KC - 14 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Claudio Bieler (KC - 48 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Claudio Bieler (KC - 12 points)
<b>Overall Highest Scoring Club</b> - Sporting KC (596 points)
<b>Overall Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Toronto (334 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Club</b> - Sporting KC (91 points)
<b>Week's Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Chivas USA (16 points)
<b>Best Weekly Score so far</b> - Los Angeles Galaxy (94 points - Week One)
<b>Worst Weekly Score so far</b> - Chivas USA (16 points - Week Ten)
<b>Highest Scoring Club Defence (inc GK)</b> - Dallas (326 points)
<b>Lowest Scoring Club Defence (inc GK)</b> - Philadelphia Union (121 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Club Midfield</b> - New York Red Bulls (248 points)
<b>Lowest Scoring Club Midfield</b> - Columbus Crew (98 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Club Forwards</b> - Columbus Crew (112 points)
<b>Lowest Scoring Club Forwards</b> - Seattle Sounders (33 points)
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