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 three of the 2013 season, Rivalry Week, throw up for us?
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<b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
After all the rivalry hype, I was expecting more from the games on offer this weekend. In the end it was more "Rivalry Weak" with many of the games, but it did provide some great results from a Whitecaps point of view.
There's some irony in what I feel was the best match on Saturday being the one that wasn't one of the derby encounters. I know few of you will probably agree with my decision but it was the game I personally enjoyed most overall, as COLUMBUS finally made it home from the West coast to take on SAN JOSE. It was an enjoyable game for a neutral to watch and as it was the one game of the weekend I wasn't really that fussed in watching in the first place, that surprise factor probably helped.
Both sides had chances, and San Jose played a game on the road that was both pleasing and attack minded. Wondo looked like getting some of his sharpness back and both teams hit well taken goals and played some nice football, creating 25 chances between them. Two attacking teams was just great to see after some of the performances this week. San Jose dropping another two points this early in the season was also great for the Caps.
The game that kicked off Rivalry Week may not have produced any goals but it did produce a lot of talking points and wasn't a bad game for a 0-0. Perhaps the main talking point surrounds is this going to be another NEW YORK side which on paper looks quality, but ends up one which just can't get the business done on the pitch? They dominated their home game against DC UNITED and should have been out of sight instead of sharing the spoils. 24 attempts on goal, compared to DC's 5, but the Red Bulls had nothing to show for it. They couldn't have come much closer, with Fabian Espindola crashing a header off the crossbar in the first half and then a long range drive off the post in the second. That could have given me some great Fantasy League points. And given New York three themselves. Instead the pressure is slowly mounting on new coach Mike Petke. Two points out of the first nine could end up proving costly to New York when everything shakes out in October. Not every team can do a LA and bounce back so well from a bad start, although with the quality that New York have, you do have to think they will start converting their chances soon and the East is looking so tight just now that a string of wins will drag any team back into things. As for DC, they came, sat back and did what they needed to do. Wasn't pretty, but was effective.
For Canadian fans not watching the stream from UVic, the big derby game north of the border this weekend was of course in MONTREAL. I was impressed with the amount of travelling support TORONTO took to the game. It's the kind of numbers I'd love to see Caps fans heading to Seattle and Portland in, and even if I'd like to think we could get that if it wasn't for the pesky border hassles, realistically I think we'd still be short. Shame it wasn't a classic game. As a neutral, well as neutral as you can be when you'd like both teams to lose, I was hoping for more. At least a punch up and some red cards, and you'd think having Baldomero Toledo in charge of a derby game would have guaranteed the latter. He did at least live up to his reputation by awarding two disputed penalties, taking his tally to an amazing 55 in 148 MLS games. One every 2.7 games he referees. Wow.
As for the game itself, Montreal deserved the win despite a bit of a fight back by Toronto in the second half. Right now, TFC look more a team of individuals than a cohesive unit, as Ryan Nelson looks to find the right mix. Returns from injury and maybe even a couple more additions before the transfer window closes will likely help. I thought Marco di Vaio timed his run wonderfully for the first goal, despite twitter protestations, and if Felipe Martins hadn't been so selfish in the closing minutes, di Vaio would have surely wrapped it up with his second and given a scoreline more reflective of how the game played out. So the Impact are still unbeaten, and it will be interesting to see just how well their old legs can hold up as the season goes on. I still think they're the heavy favourites to lift the Voyageurs Cup this year, possibly against Edmonton!
CHICAGO were another team this week to go on the road aiming to sit back, hang on and try and hit on the break when they faced KANSAS CITY. They were successful in that they got their first point of the season, but looked poor again as they executed it, seemingly forgetting the hitting on the break part for most of the game. The Fire still haven't scored a goal in three attempts this season. What a difference between this goal-less draw and the NY-DC one in terms of entertainment. The game amazingly ended up 11-a-side, with Silviu Petrescu going card happy in the robust encounter, issuing six yellow cards, which felt like more. In the end, KC didn't really push hard enough or were creative when it mattered, but Sean Johnson was on top form for Chicago and kept them in the game. The most entertaining part of the afternoon was watching Chicago coach Frank Klopas go nuts at various points. Would be fun seeing footage of him over the ninety minutes. He showed a lot more passion than his team.
It just seemed to be shaping up that one goal would win it in PHILADELPHIA and so it played out, amid miserable conditions. Always sunny in Philadelphia my ass. NEW ENGLAND weren't overly adventurous, but had their chances. The Union always looked that one step ahead. Philly assistant coach summed things up best when he said it wasn't the kind of day to "play", but despite that, there were some nice passing moves throughout the game from both sides. Just lousy finishing.
Derby games don't get much better for the fans than if their team has to overcome adversity to see off their bitter rivals. COLORADO didn't have to wait too long for adversity to come along against SALT LAKE, but in the end they fell just short of taking home the three points. Keeper Matt Pickens broke his arm in the fourth minute and was replaced by MLS debutant Clint Irwin and the occasion didn't get to the keeper, who played well and made a tremendous one handed save to keep out Luis Gil in the first half, before Alvaro Saborio finally found a way past him for an equaliser late on. The game was played in beautiful conditions at Rio Tinto. It's a great stadium to be at when the sun's out. The Rapids opened the scoring through Deshorn Brown. The rookie has looked dangerous in the opening weeks of the season. His pace has created problems for teams and created chances that he has not been able to take. He finally bagged his first MLS goal against RSL, but wasted other opportunities. It will be interesting to see how Vancouver defend against him. They should have enough practice at training in dealing with our own speed kings. More dropped points for our rivals though. Good stuff.
The most hyped game of the weekend was always going to be SEATTLE v PORTLAND. It didn't live up to the billing and we saw two teams still struggling to get used to each other and work out how to play to their best. I'd make an argument for it being the worst MLS Cascadia derby we've seen in MLS so far, as the second half just didn't really come to life. Even more surprising considering Vancouver weren't involved. Of course, I'm disappointed in any derby game between hated rivals that doesn't end with at least one sending off and one stretchering off. Portland did a pretty good smash and grab at the Clink. They really didn't deserve to come away from that game with anything, despite Valeri's cracking his first half free kick off the bar. Neither team played particularly well, but Seattle were the better, more cohesive side and looked dangerous going forward and up the wings. They were let down by final balls and finishing. I wish Vancouver were catching them earlier in the season before they really start to click, because when they do, they could be electric. Overall, seeing Portland and Seattle dropping so many points at this early stage of the season gives a huge boost to Vancouver's playoff aspirations. Points on the board and all that. We saw how important that was to us last year. The draw was also great from a Cascadia Cup point of view for the Whitecaps. Now all we have to do is actually win a derby game.
Sunday kicked off with the Texan derby and I'm sure this was many people's choice for 'Game of the Week' due to there being five goals, a two goal comeback and then a last minute winner. If you just watched the edited highlights, it was the sure fire winner. But apart from about 15-20 minutes of action in the entire match, it was a pretty dull affair, but somehow one that mustered up 19 attempts on goal and 12 on target.
Everything is bigger in Texas they say, but that could just be the people that live there that they're talking about and obviously not crowd size as the game drew the smallest attendance of the weekend. We've been saying that we felt this would have been an ideal time to get HOUSTON and not next week. DALLAS certainly found it that way, but made hard work of it in the end and in a weekend of controversial handballs in England, they won the match with their own one. The Dynamo looked out of sorts and Dallas made them pay. Bad day at the office due to Champions League travels or something that Vancouver can use to their advantage next week? Houston are certainly a different beast at home but there were some things in this game that the Caps could exploit, if we can actually send some decent set pieces into the box. Houston uncharacteristically struggled to deal with both high balls and pace on the deck. Vancouver should at least test them with the latter, but Houston won't be so tired next weekend and they certainly woke up towards the end of the game. Dallas worked on their set pieces for nearly an hour in the build up to this game and they got their rewards. All three goals came from high balls into the box that caused the Dynamo defence problems. Let's hope Rennie took note. Pressurising Tally Hall in the box also seemed to unsettle Houston. We need to get Brad Rusin in there doing just that at corners and free kicks. For Dallas, these are the kind of wins that can be the difference between a playoff team and one missing out and will give them no end of confidence moving forward. Probably the worst result of the weekend for the Caps.
Week 3 rounded off with the SoCal derby. I can't call it the Superclasico and keep a straight face, although the commentators clearly could and must have been on bonus pay for the dozens of times they dropped it into the game. And after all the lack of fire in the games that went before it, this one was feisty to say the least.
Chivas are playing a clever game right now. They can't compete in the skills aspect with their opposition, so they're bringing them down to their level and disrupting the flow of games with what appears to be a well thought out rotational fouling system. They're dirty bastards this season and are getting away with it for the most part, for now, in that despite their nine bookings in their three games so far, they've only had one sending off. It could easily have been four! And the one they did get a red for, shouldn't have been. How they came out of the LA game with just one booking though is mystifying. 22 fouls they gave away. This is going to catch up with them as the season wears on and the suspensions kick in.
They certainly knocked LA off their game. Some of the tackles from both sides were X-rated. Knee high tackles, late challenges, feet left in that little bit too long, elbows flying, shoulders into heads, the list goes on of all the cheap shots. Great derby fare for a neutral like me of course! They held firm in the second half and snatched an unlikely comeback draw with Carlos Alvarez's first MLS goal in his MLS debut. Chivas are certainly entertaining to watch this season in many regards. All their subs used by the start of the second half, whilst already being down to ten men, could have proved costly. It didn't. And their antics on the sidelines are just as interesting to watch, with their assistant coach being sent to the stand this game.
Vancouver go down to Chivas in two week's time. It's going to be an interesting game. If the Goats decide to go with three at the back against our pace in attack, then we could rip them apart. That's if they haven't kicked our flair guys off the park by that stage. I'm not sure that the Caps have the players to deal with such a robust encounter. Davidson and Watson may be needed to leave the foot in, and it will be a test of Mattocks' new found self discipline. As dodgy as they can look at the back, they showed against LA just how tight they can be when they put their minds to it. Maybe the Caps will get the bonus of half the Chivas team being suspended by that point.
So three week's gone. Montreal still top of the East and Vancouver joint top of the West. How long can the Canadian teams keep setting the pace? It's certainly going to be tested in week four.
<b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
No player really stood out as being head and shoulders above the rest this week. New York's Fabian Espindola could have taken the prize if the woodwork hadn't kept him out twice.
For this week's winner, we're turning our attention east to Montreal. PATRICE BERNIER had a good derby game for the Impact. One goal, one assist, and 50 successful passes, helped keep his team at the top of the Eastern Conference.
<b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
DC United's BILL HAMID has surprised me and is already in my running for 'Player of the Season So Far'. I was never a fan before. As we know with goalkeepers, the positives can change very quickly. He's had a great first three games though and produced a string of saves to keep out New York Red Bulls and earn his United side a valuable away point. His most important stop came in injury time, clawing out a James Riley deflection from right on the goal-line.
Chicago's Sean Johnson also deserves a mention for his saves to help earn his Fire side their first point of the season and Colorado's Clint Irwin for coming in early and almost guiding his side to their first win of the season.
<b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
It wasn't really a week for great goals. JUSTIN MORROW gets our plaudits for his sweet strike to equalise for San Jose against Columbus. It wasn't just the perfect placement that gets it our nod, the move started with a free kick near the corner flag in their own half and they quickly capitalised on the Crew backing off to pass the ball into the danger zone.
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<b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
As we mentioned above, BILL HAMID had a match winning save in stoppage time, clawing out a deflection off his own defender from right on the goal-line to earn his DC United side a valuable away point and another clean sheet. Just one of a number of find stops from HAMID in this game, but this one was the best of the lot. (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1646558/mls_2013-03-16-144758.640hq.mp4)
Colorado sub keeper Clint Irwin takes the runner up plaudits with his one handed save from RSL Luis Gil in the first half of their game, after some lovely build up play form the Saltines. (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1646966/mls_2013-03-16-190106.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Miss of the Week:</u></b>
FELIPE MARTINS should have wrapped the game up for Montreal in the closing minutes. As the Impact had a two on one, Martins had enough time to make a cup of tea and still find a spot to finish, or at least find Marco Di Vaio in the middle. To not even get it on target from that close range was terrible and he's lucky it didn't cost them the full three points. (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1646890/mls_2013-03-16-180230.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Cock Up of the Week:</u></b>
This week's award goes not to a player, nor a team, nor a referee, but to TSN. MLS have been hyping up Rivalry Week for a while now. NBC Sports did a bang up job down in the US on Saturday with three live games and a new live show covering the rest. What did TSN have? One measly MLS match all weekend. Way to help try and grow the game and the League in this country. If they couldn't fit it into their busy curling schedule, then why do they bid for the rights in the first place? Disappointing and a major mistake on their part as official TV partners to the League. It all well and good showing games in the middle and end of the season, but at the start is where there's a chance to help boost the attendances at all three of the Canadian clubs. It's hard to generate interest of the casuals in games against the likes of Columbus if they can't get to know the teams and players.
<b><u>Shit Haircut of the Week:</u></b>
As a baldy, I feel it's not really my place to comment too much on matters of hair, but what the hell is going on with Real Salt Lake's SEBASTIAN VELASQUEZ? I mean, it's nice that they let blind people run hairdressers in Colombia but if his hair is a fashion statement, it's a statement that's been forced at gunpoint.
Maybe he can share tips with Seattle's DeAndre Yedlin, who appears to have got his hairstyle ideas from looking at the loo brushes in Home Depot. Poor lad never even got a break at half time of the game against Portland as he was needed to unclear a blockage in the toilets in section 301.
<b><u>Dive of the Week:</u></b>
Name and shame. That's what everyone needs to start doing to these wankers. New England's JUAN TOJA flopped in horrible fashion in the second half of the Revs game in Philly. Fooled the ref, drew a free kick and a booking for his opponent, but thankfully didn't see any goal reward. He's looked good in other ways so far this season. Why the need to tarnish it with this. (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1646898/mls_2013-03-16-180738.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Tackle of the Week:</u></b>
Jeremy Hall's tackle, which earned him a booking against Montreal, was a perfect challenge. Why we're turning the game into a non contact sport I don't know. Hall won the ball well and I just don't see what was wrong with it. That was football and how I want to see my guys playing. (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1646766/mls_2013-03-16-163506.640hq.mp4)
I do like a cruncher and as runner up, AJ SOARES delivered one for New England in Philly, which drew a yellow. Could have been a red as no intention of going for the ball. But if you're going to get away with it, then go big or go home. (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1646878/mls_2013-03-16-175218.640hq.mp4)
Chivas' Oswaldo Minda would have won this week for his take out on Mike Magee's knee if he hadn't injured himself in the process.
<b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
<b>Total goals in week</b> - 17 (62 this season)
<b>Average goals per game</b> - 1.88 (2.21 ave this season)
<b>Highest scoring team</b> - Dallas (3 goals)
<b>Penalties awarded</b> - 2 (5 this season)
<b>Clean sheets</b> - 5 (14 this season)
<b>Unbeaten teams</b> - 3 (LA, Montreal, Vancouver)
<b>Winless teams</b> - 5 (Chicago, Colorado, New York, Portland, Seattle)
<b>Pointless teams</b> - Technically none, but Seattle will always be pointless to me
<b>Biggest win this season</b> - LA 4-0 v Chicago (2/3/13)
<b>Sending offs</b> - 1 (1 this season)
<b>Bookings</b> - 31 (76 this season)
<b>Total attendance</b> - 207,443 (509,644 total for season)
<b>Average attendance</b> - 23,049 (19,601 average for season)
<b>Highest attendance this week</b> - 40,150 Seattle v Portland
<b>Highest attendance this season</b> - 40,150 Seattle v Portland (16/3/13)
<b>Lowest attendance this week</b> - 15,623 Dallas v Houston
<b>Lowest attendance this season</b> - 7,121 Chivas v Columbus (2/3/13)
<b><u>Fantasy Football Highs and Lows (after Week 3):</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> - Bill Hamid (DC United - 26 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Goalkeeper</b> - Bill Hamid (DC United - 10 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Camara (Montreal) / Jakovic (DC) / McDonald (DC) (all 21 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Glauber (Columbus - 10 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Graham Zusi (KC - 30 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - 4 midfielders with 8 points
<b>Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Earnshaw (Toronto) / Higuain (Columbus) (both 21 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Federico Higuain (8 points)
<b>Overall Highest Scoring Club</b> - Columbus Crew (174 points)
<b>Overall Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Seattle Sounders (85 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Club</b> - DC United (65 points)
<b>Week's Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Toronto (31 points)
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