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 two of the 2013 season throw up for us and what just made us want to throw up?
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<b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
It wasn't exactly a week of standout games, but we're going to say the best was saved till last and give our 'Game of the Week' nomination to the SAN JOSE - NEW YORK game. It wasn't a classic, but we do love a bit of late drama. Remind me never to let anyone from New York Red Bulls take my dog out for a walk. They just can't hold on to a lead. They were in control of the game but San Jose were back in full late late show mode with two goals in the last eight minutes of the game and, of course, stoppage time, to snatch an undeserved win. It's a good job Wondo popped up to score the winning penalty because I was starting to think we were going see him appearing on California milk cartons any day now. Roy Miller's nightmare couple of minutes might be one of those moments that the Red Bulls look back on at the end of the season and rue the point(s) thrown away. Horrible for the Whitecaps too, who could have had a six point lead over the current Supporters' Shield champs.
We're staying at home for our runner-up and VANCOUVER's win over COLUMBUS. You'll have read enough about how that came about elsewhere on the site and if you haven't then you really should. The quality of the goals scored and the goalmouth action, especially in the first half, which was lacking in the other games, sees the game rise to top in our eyes. If someone wanted to make a decent argument for one of the other games, then we would listen!
I'm sure some reading this would nominate TORONTO kicking the week off with a 2-1 win for their long suffering fans, their first since July 18th last year. That's 15 games if anyone was counting. It was a mixed performance from TFC, who started lively, but like last week against Vancouver, they tired considerably as the game went on. SPORTING KC's goal looked like it was coming and they will feel a little aggrieved that they couldn't turn up the pressure and come away with at least a point. As we've been saying to anyone who wants to listen, Robert Earnshaw will do very well in MLS and his first goal is a fine example of what an experienced striker can add to your team. Toronto's latest addition though, John Bostock, seems to already want to start a new job as a turf inspector, the amount of times he spent hitting the deck. I already hate the guy and I'm pretty sure it won't be long before a lot of others in MLS are rallying to that cause. Overall, there were hopeful signs for Toronto. How they move this forward and build upon it is what will shape just how disappointing the season will be for them. KC will definitely be there or there abouts at the top of the East and I simply love their two tone blue kit and hope that the Caps go down that particular colour scheme road for their new one next season.
My tip for the East was DC UNITED and I've really liked what I've seen from them in their first two games, even though they're just 1 & 1. It looks a narrow 1-0 victory for them over REAL SALT LAKE on paper, but in reality they were seldom troubled and Nick Rimando had a couple of good saves that kept it at the solitary goal. That's not to say that RSL didn't threaten. They did, and had some really nice build up play in the process, but their finishing was either poor or thwarted by Bill Hamid in the DC goal, who I think is having a really strong season so far. DC's goal came after a delightful chip from ex-Cap John Thorrington, which Rimando produced a great save to keep out before Lionard Pajoy struck the rebound. 'Sicknote' looked a lot stronger and faster for DC, but sadly for him, his nickname came back to the fore and he went off injured with a possible MCL injury in the 75th minute. Poor guy. RSL looked like a different side from the one that dismantled San Jose last week and never looked like doing too much damage. Something for Vancouver to keep in mind was the fact that they lost their discipline quite easily through frustration, picking up four bookings, and if the Caps can push the right buttons in their three encounters, this could certainly be used to their advantage.
CHICAGO were taken apart by a ruthless LA side last week, whilst NEW ENGLAND had a bye to kick off their season. Neither side looked world beaters in the first half, but Matt Reis' fine one hand save from a 25 yard Dilly Duka rocket may have been the game's turning point. The Revolution turned up the heat in the second and left the Fire still looking for their first points of 2013. New England were well worth their win and played nice football, with some neat interchanges between ex Cap Lee Nguyen and Columbian Juan Toja in particular. They played enough entertaining football to show that if they can keep it going then they may be a surprise package in the East this year. Chicago may also keep surprising, but not in a good way considering how bad they've looked in two games now. It was the 92nd minute before the home side had a shot of any note in the second half.
The final game of Saturday saw PORTLAND hosting MONTREAL. It's been a long and lonely start for the Impact to kick off the season, with two away games in Cascadia and a long time away from home. Hasn't seemed to have hampered them mind you, as they sit top of the East with six points and lead the race to the Supporters' Shield. They've equalled their away wins tally from last season in two weeks after their 2-1 win over the Timbers, and they've been worthy of it. The Impact have been playing some nice football and continued that in Portland, who have now dropped five points from their first two home games and considering their road form in MLS, that could prove very costly to their playoffs hopes, which is great news for Vancouver. Not so great is the Impact's form and at the moment, I have to have them as favourites for the Voyageurs Cup. Still plenty of football to be played before that though.
Sunday saw COLORADO finally get to host PHILADELPHIA after the blizzards went away. Wimps. What's wrong with using an orange ball? In my day, blah, blah, blah. Anyhoo, there may have been three goals, but it was a pretty dull affair, albeit one with three well taken goals. Philly did what they needed to do to get the win and didn't look in any real trouble, even when the Rapids tied things up. It was basically an ideal away win tactically and will be the kind of display that I'm sure Martin Rennie will look for the Whitecaps to emulate this season. Jack McInerney had a quiet game but had probably the two big game turning moments - a goal-line clearance in the 19th minute and the game winning goal in the 79th minute. I can live with my striker doing that on the road and not much else. The Union's win was again good news for Vancouver, with another Western team pointless, not that we expect Colorado to be anywhere but the bottom two come the end of October.
Where they'll be battling CHIVAS. Maybe.
Some mocked us for not having Chivas as bottom of the West but if nothing else this season, they're going to be entertainingly unpredictable and they currently have more points in the West than four other teams. Unlikely to last! Sunday's win over DALLAS was another strange affair. At least they buried their 3 on 1 chance this week, after blowing last week's 3 on 0 one. Chivas seem to have players that are good at beating the offside and getting in behind the last defender, only to then completely waste the chance and letting the defence recover to snuff out the danger. Both last week and this, they could have had a lot more goals. On the flip side, they're looking very susceptible to being ripped apart by pace, especially if they continue with three at the back, which will be good news when Vancouver head there at the end of the month. What the Caps will really have to watch out for is just how dirty a team the Goats are this season. Eight bookings in two games and for the second week in a row, they were lucky not to have a man sent of after Mario De Luna's wild challenge on Kenny Cooper. They also seemed to have adopted a rotational kicking system against David Ferreira, not that that's a bad thing of course. Who will Vancouver face is another question, with Chelis making four changes to the starting line up from last week.
Dallas had their chances to put Chivas away, starting with Cooper's first chance just 16 seconds in, but for all their firepower at their disposal, they looked a disjointed team of talented individuals. It's also strange to see not only Eric Hassli in a different strip of blue and white, but also with hair and doing some kind of weird dance moves. As much as I hate him, I have to admit that when Ferreira is in full flow, he can be a joy to watch. His goal came at the end of a neat passing move and he took it well. Still a diving bastard though that deserves all the attention he gets.
After all the strange results these first two weeks, rivalry week is shaping up to go who knows what way.
<b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
There are times when 'Players of the Week' should not just be judged on goals and name alone. This is one of those times. Now this is no anti-TFC vibe going on here, but Robert Earnshaw did not deserve to be player of the week. Yes he scored two goals, but one was a penalty. For the rest of the match, he did hee-haw. Three successful passes and four unsuccessful passes do not an accolade make. He faded out of the game and it was hard to know he was playing by the end. Lazy voting! Anyway, rant over.
All that said, there weren't exactly a host of standout candidates this week, so I'm giving it to JACK MCINERNEY of Philadelphia. He was another player who didn't do loads in his match but he did more than Earnshaw all round, and his crucial goal-line clearance and match winning goal provided the pivotal moments in the Union's match against Colorado.
<b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
Again not a host of top candidates. New England's Matt Reis had some nice saves and kept a clean sheet, and to a lesser extent, so did DC's Bill Hamid. My winner this week though goes to Real Salt Lake's NICK RIMANDO. Five saves in total, some excellent ones, and the goal he did let in only came after a fantastic stop to keep out a John Thorrington chip, before the rebound was put away.
<b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
I almost want to give it to David Ferreira for his goal against Chivas, because I love to see good team goals with nice passing play, and it was a composed finish. But it's the Colombian submarine, so I can't.
So we cannot look any further than DAIGO KOBAYASHI's wonderstrike for Vancouver against Columbus. Yes, it's a homer decision but it was a sweet strike. It was also set up nicely from dispossessing a Columbus attack in a key position of the pitch. And to think, when he hit it, I was thinking "no, don't take a shot from there"! But he knew exactly what he was doing. Take a bow son. Take a bow.
East coasters may want to go with Hassoun Camara's bicycle kick for Montreal against Portland, but I feel this was more a hit and hope and could have gone anywhere effort. As it turned out, it was a cracking goal, but I think Kobayashi's took more execution.
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<b><u>Miss of the Week:</u></b>
"I missed it. I mean there’s nothing more to say, I missed it." That was NIGEL REO-COKER in the dressing room after his howler against Columbus on Saturday. With an open goal gaping, he should have buried it, but thankfully it didn't come back to cost or haunt Vancouver. Good job he isn't on his DP money yet. Some of the fans would have been crucifying him! (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1637820/mls_2013-03-09-202520.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
MATT REIS' superb one handed save from Dilly Duka's long range effort in the first half of the Chicago v New England game gets my honours this week. It was a great strike but the veteran Reis produced an acrobatic stop to keep the scores level, in what proved to be a pivotal moment in the match.
Nick Rimando had a couple of nice stops for Real Salt Lake against DC United that are worth a mention, including a first half one at his near post from a Chris Pontius shot and an acrobatic stop to keep out a John Thorrington chip before Lionard Pajoy pounced to head home the rebound.
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1637832/mls_2013-03-09-203032.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Cock Up of the Week:</u></b>
Got a few to pick from this week, all quickly pounced upon and leading to vital opportunistic goals. Third place was George John's slip for Dallas to let Chivas take the lead but the top two were close. Runner up was Matt Besler's short pass along the edge of the box that allowed Robert Earnshaw to grab his first MLS goal. The fact that the slip came due to KC being put under a lot of TFC pressure saw it finish second, with winner taking the plaudits for it just coming so out of the blue. Step forward Columbus' Brazilian blunderer GLAUBER, who simply lost control of his feet for a split second after receiving a pass from goalie Gruenebaum, allowing Kenny Miller to pounce and grab the winning goal.
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<b><u>Knob of the Week:</u></b>
Just when we thought we wouldn't put forward a nomination in this category this week, up steps New York's ROY MILLER. Oh Roy, Roy, Roy. What happened to you in those closing minutes? Not only do you jump with your arm up where it should never be as a defender and give away a penalty, you then negate your keepers' great save by going for a Sunday evening stroll in the box. Long flight back to New Jersey for you.
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<b><u>Tackle of the Week:</u></b>
This was wild and could easily have seen red. Chivas' Mario de Luna could really have done some serious damage to Kenny Cooper with his reckless tackle in the 67th minute of the game against Dallas. Cooper was class and didn't get up and punch his lights out, simply walking away with a stare.
(WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1638550/mls_2013-03-10-184250.640hq.mp4)
<b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
<b>Total goals in week</b> - 21 (45 this season)
<b>Average goals per game</b> - 2.63 (2.64 ave this season)
<b>Highest scoring team</b> - Chivas (no really), with 3 goals
<b>Penalties awarded</b> - 2 (3 this season)
<b>Clean sheets</b> - 2 (9 this season)
<b>Unbeaten teams</b> - 5 (Houston, Los Angeles, Montreal, New England, Vancouver)
<b>Winless teams</b> - 5 (Chicago, Colorado, New York, Portland, Seattle)
<b>Pointless teams</b> - 3 (Chicago, Colorado, and obviously Seattle, who are always pointless)
<b>Biggest win this season</b> - LA 4-0 v Chicago (2/3/13)
<b>Sending offs</b> - 0 (0 this season)
<b>Bookings</b> - 27, nine more than last week in one less game (45 this season)
<b>Total attendance</b> - 127,505 (302,201 this season)
<b>Average attendance</b> - 15,938 (17,777 this season)
<b>Highest attendance this week</b> - 25,991 Toronto v Sporting KC
<b>Highest attendance this season</b> - 38,998 Seattle v Montreal (2/3/13)
<b>Lowest attendance this week</b> - 6,801 Chivas v Dallas
<b>Lowest attendance this season</b> - 6,801 Chivas v Dallas (10/3/13)
<b><u>Fantasy Football Highs and Lows (after Week 2):</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 - 16 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Goalkeeper</b> - Matt Reis (New England - 10 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Hassoun Camara (Montreal - 18 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Hassoun Camara (Montreal - 9 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Graham Zusi (Sporting KC - 23 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Various (9 points)
<b>Highest Scoring Forward</b> -Fabian Espindola (New York Red Bulls - 15 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Robert Earnshaw (Toronto - 12 points)
<b>Overall Highest Scoring Club</b> - Montreal Impact (124 points)
<b>Overall Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Seattle Sounders (38 points)
<b>Week's Highest Scoring Club</b> - DC United (67 points)
<b>Week's Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Columbus Crew (31 points)
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