Predicting MLS is like predicting the winning lottery numbers, easier said than done. Off to a poor start, hopefully I turn it around this week. Before then, lets review last weeks action...
NEW ENGLAND 2-1 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Snow and a slick pitch made for a slow start from San Jose, with the Revs pressing the game from both sides of the ball. The game started to turn when Rowe swapped the left for the right, with Agudelo moving left. Coming inside from the right, Rowe bagged New England's first two goals of the season.After the half, San Jose made changes and made the game tighter, getting a goal back, but in the end, the Revs did enough for all three points.
MONTREAL IMPACT 2-2 ORLANDO CITY: The first half hour of this match was a mix of poor defending and luck, with the next hour of the match becoming a banal stalemate. The scoring started in the 14th minute, after a St. Ledger handball that Piatti put away, Montreal took a 2-0 lead. Within minutes, Orlando struck back, tying it 2-2 in the first half hour. From there on, Montreal had plenty of corners, and Orlando plenty of free kicks, with nothing come from it. By the 80th minute, Orlando began time wasting, happy with a point.
DC UNITED 1-0 LA GALAXY: A war of attrition is the best way to describe the first hour of the match, with injuries to Leanardo and Beirnbaum forcing each team to make an early sub and a quick rethink about the game plan. The match started to open up after additional subs and tactical changes after 60 minutes, with an added time goal off of a scramble from Pontius stealing three points for DC.
NEW YORK CITY FC 0-1 SPORTING KANSAS CITY: Not much to report here. Opara nicked an early goal, and not much of merit happened after that. NY was chippy as hell, so its not surprising they had two red cards from their first two matches. Both teams are hard battling and tactically sound, but there was very little flash or fire on display from either side.
COLUMBUS CREW 1-2 NEW YORK REDBULLS: A stop/start first half, there wasn't enough quality possession either way. The Crew made the first major mistake of the game when Pogatetz made a silly challenge, running over Sam in the box, with BWP converting the PK. The moment of the match for me came when Sal Zizzo went over rather easily in the box, getting the response "He went down like a Tijuana whore" from the Crew fans. This was followed by Tchani leveling the match off a set piece, before Grella's shot from long distance won the day. While Robles was forced into several great saves down the stretch, the Crew threw away their chances and harmed their next match when Higuain was sent off with a second yellow in the 83rd minute for dissent.
VANCOUVER 2-1 PORTLAND TIMBERS: Portland's Ghanian international Kwarsey continues to struggle in MLS, and both goals for Vancouver did not look good for the new keeper. Mezquida took a lovely free kick, which Kwarsey flapped at in ludicrous manner, before Adi leveled. There were plenty of chances both ways, or at least half chances, when right at the death Robert Earnshaw sealed his debut with a goal, three minutes after coming into the match, where again Kwarsey seemed unaware of how to deal with a basic chip. On the other side, Ousted was immense all match long.
FC DALLAS 0-0 SEATTLE SOUNDERS: Acosta was too geared up for his first action in some time, was sent off. For the first time in MLS history, there was not a single shot on target in the entire match. Enough said about this stinker.
HOUSTON DYNAMO 0-0 COLORADO RAPIDS: Colorado has gone 510 minutes without a goal. Missing key figures due to internationals, Houston had very little bite. Again, enough said.
CHICAGO FIRE 1-0 PHILADELPHIA UNION: Fred was sent off for Philly late. Chicago finally scored a goal. Not much else happened. Pretty dire, as to be expected from both of these sides, though for some reason the main thought coming from the match seems to be that Harry Shipp is the next Blanco. He's ugly, short, and slow. Apart from that, I don't see it. He's more of a poor mans Iniesta than the new Blanco. What generated this buzz for Shipp? He isn't Maloney, which is a plus, and he made a few decent passes, supplying the free kick the goal arose from. Hardly Blanco.
REAL SALT LAKE 2-1 TORONTO FC: The game got off to a slow start, with Mulholland getting the opener as the first half neared its end. The second half was mainly controlled by Toronto, even with some big names missing, with the atomic ant delivering a free kick which Hagglund headed home. A draw would have been a fair result, but near the death, (giving up late goals, something familiar with the US and MLS teams) Allen got the first goal of his career, giving RSL all three points. Both teams played well for the major pieces missing, giving both teams hope that they have the depth for the long slog of the MLS season.
WEEK 5 PREDICTION:
OLRANDO CITY SC 1-1 DC UNITED: Unimas match of the week on Good Friday, expect a hard fought battle with each side happy with a point.
CHICAGO FIRE 0-1 TORONTO FC: The names will be back, which should help TFC, but will it help or hurt Chicago? Being at home should give Chicago a leg up, but I see Toronto breaking their hearts and a new goalless streak starting for the Fire.
COLORADO RAPIDS 0-0 NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: If there is a goal to be had in this match, expect NE to get it. Colorado's goalless streak should reach 600 minutes.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 1-1 HOUSTON DYNAMO: Sigi vs Owen. Should be fun to watch. Only home pitch advantage may separate these two.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 2-2 LA GALAXY: Potentially the match of the week, either team can put a few past the opponent. De LaGarza should be in for the injured Leanardo, which isn't much of a step down. Don't be shocked if a red card decides the match.
PORTLAND TIMBERS FC 1-2 FC DALLAS: Despite last weeks difficult match, most of it down to ten men, I still believe in Dallas. Kwarsey against Blas? Bet on Blas.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 2-2 REAL SALT LAKE: ESPN2's Sunday Night Match, I expect a hot crowd, a hard fought battle, and an entertaining match. A nice change for what Sunday has been giving us as of late.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2-1 PHILADELPHIA UNION: Fox Sports 1 Sunday Night Match, I can see no other result than Sporting KC going over on a dire Union. Philly is battling the Fire to see who fires their coach first this season, and though they both should, a few more poor results and Philly may get the itchy trigger finger first.
Its a holiday weekend, now would be a good time to get stuck in.
Thanks for reading, and remember as always, MLS Matters.
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