Game Reports
Toronto FC 1 - 2 Chicago Fire
Man, I never thought Chicago would look this good after losing Pappa and Grazzini. I've seen plenty of stuff from Fire fans about how Pappa was hit-or-miss, but he seemed at least like a useful MLS player. But now, with MacDonald, Rolfe, and Fernandez, omg.
On the plus side for TFC, Luis Silva continues to look like a budding star. His control and assist on
Hassli's goal, and with Berry on his back no less, was...wow.
Sporting Kansas City 1 - 1 Houston Dynamo
If Sporting wants to be the best team in the East they need to not play games like this. In almost a textbook copy of how Houston beat SKC in the playoffs last season, they came in and allowed SKC to control possession and take bad shots. It's not that Sporting was bad this game, it's just that Houston gave them what they knew was the lesser of two evils. Sporting blasted a ton of shots, but few were truly dangerous.
Everyone in the playoffs is going to try to clog up the game against SKC, and they're going to have to be better.
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 - 0 Colorado Rapids
If this were Europe, Colorado's coach would've been gone months ago. The 4-3-3 is not working here.
Toronto FC 1 - 1 Philadelphia Union
If the two worst teams in MLS play to a draw does anyone really care?
Portland Timbers 1 - 1 Seattle Sounders
Portland had a chance to clinch the Cascadia Cup but Fredy Montero made sure that wouldn't happen. And seriously, what
a hell of a goal it was by the Colombian. Rodney Wallace pulled the tying goal back, and then Bright Dike missed what should've been the game winner.
And now we set up for an interesting climax to the only thing Portland has left to play for. If Seattle can handle their business against Vancouver next weekend, the Timbers will visit Seattle on October 7th with the Cascadia Cup on the line. If Portland wins, they get to raise the cup on Seattle's pitch. If Seattle wins (or ties most likely, but depends on the VAN/SEA result) they repeat as Cascadia Cup champions.
New York Red Bulls 3 - 1 Columbus Crew
We've all seen the Henry goal so no reason to point that out here. He was a monster all night and seems to be rounding back into stellar form for the playoff run. For Columbus, Higuain couldn't start the game because of a foot injury (Warzycha said he could've been lost for the season with extended playing time) and he was sorely missed in the Crew midfield.
DC United 2 - 1 New England Revolution
Big big big win. Not that a home match against New England was a hugely difficult proposition, but you never know how things are going to go after losing your team's best player and heart and soul. But Chris Pontius decided to celebrate his new contract by putting on a show agains the poor Revs. He's certainly earned his place on January camp this year, and I wouldn't be completely surprised if he makes his way onto the roster for the last batch of pre-hex WCQs (sorry Torres and/or Corona).
FC Dallas 1 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
Alright, we've got a race in the West! Thanks to Julian de Guzman's 96th minute winner FC Dallas is within a point of sneaking in to the final playoff spot. Vancouver has a 4-game home stand upcoming and a game in hand, so they have the leg up. But they've also been the team ****ting the bed lately while FC Dallas is only getting better.
Chicago Fire 3 - 1 Montreal Impact
Nothing to see here. Just more Fire beast-moding. MacDonald, Alex, and Fernandez all scored. That's the kind of effect you want your acquired talent to have! Friedrich had to leave in the 41st with "neck stiffness" but all signs point to him being healthy for this weekend's match.
The Fire are a fun team to watch, if you haven't caught a game yet. Winning 6 of their last 7 doesn't hurt either. The only downside is that they have Wells Thompson now, and I hate that dude.
Chivas USA 0 - 2 San Jose Earthquakes
Holy God, I could not have been any more wrong about anything than I was about Chivas acquiring all these pieces and turning in to a contender for the 5th Western Conference playoff spot. Since the beginning of July, Chivas is 1-3-7 (6 points, -15 GD). How can you add Califf, Joseph, and Agudelo and get that much worse?
Random thoughts
CCL Update:
Tauro 0 - 1 RSL (this one just finished)
9/19 8pm: LA Galaxy @ Puerto Rico Islanders
9/19 10pm: Seattle Sounders @ Marathon (Honduras)
9/20 8pm: Houston Dynamo vs. FAS (El Salvador)
Fun games this week:
9/19 7pm: New York Red Bulls vs. Sporting KC (omg yes please!!!)
9/22 830pm: Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew (hot team vs. desperate team)
9/22 1030pm: Seattle Sounders vs. San Jose Earthquakes (2 best teams in MLS right now)
Rankings
MLS Elo Rankings
1575.5734 - San Jose Earthquakes
1570.9150 - Seattle Sounders
1559.1127 - Los Angeles Galaxy
1555.0137 - Sporting Kansas City
1548.3872 - New York Red Bulls
1538.8661 - Houston Dynamo
1538.1171 - Chicago Fire
1532.9419 - Real Salt Lake
1512.5858 - DC United
1507.6720 - Columbus Crew
1483.4711 - Montreal Impact
1481.2121 - FC Dallas
1463.2697 - Vancouver Whitecaps
1461.7606 - Philadelphia Union
1459.5446 - Colorado Rapids
1443.3642 - New England Revolution
1434.8388 - Portland Timbers
1430.8518 - Chivas USA
1402.5027 - Toronto FC
MLS Single Table
Code:
Team GP W-D-L PTS GD
San Jose Earthquakes 28 17-5-6 56 +25
Sporting Kansas City 28 15-6-7 51 +10
Chicago Fire 28 15-5-8 50 +7
New York Red Bulls 28 14-7-7 49 +9
Seattle Sounders FC 28 13-9-6 48 +15
Los Angeles Galaxy 29 14-4-11 46 +10
Houston Dynamo 29 12-10-7 46 +7
Real Salt Lake 29 14-4-11 46 +5
DC United 28 13-5-10 44 +6
Columbus Crew 28 12-6-10 42 -1
Montreal Impact 30 12-3-15 39 -5
Vancouver Whitecaps 29 10-7-12 37 -9
FC Dallas 30 9-9-12 36 -3
Colorado Rapids 29 9-2-18 29 -7
New England Revolution 29 7-7-15 28 -4
Portland Timbers 28 7-7-14 28 -19
Chivas USA 27 7-7-14 28 -22
Philadelphia Union 26 7-6-13 27 -5
Toronto FC 29 5-7-17 22 -19
