Real Salt Lake-Vancouver Whitecaps game rained out, four other matches end in tie.
Major League Soccer teams have made all kinds of concessions in order to accomodate big-name European clubs. One of the most common is importing temporary grass, something the Vancouver Whitecaps did for their friendly against Manchester City, but also planned to use for Saturday's match against Real Salt Lake. Apparently, they weren't expecting heavy rain, which ultimately led to field being deemed unplayable and the game being postponed.
"We have been working around the clock to do everything in our powers to keep the field as dry as possible," said Paul Barber, Vancouver Whitecaps FC chief executive officer. "Unfortunately, the combination of consistent rain and limited drainage options available for a temporary grass field has left us no other choice but to postpone today’s match. Tickets for today’s game will be valid for the rescheduled match and we will work directly with all ticket holders who are unable to attend the new date. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience."
In an eery replay of a week ago, the Seattle Sounders came back from two one-goal deficits to win. This time, it came against the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids 4-3 in a match that featured end-to-end action quite literally from the opening whistle.
The Rapids stormed out to a 1--0 lead when Wells Thompson scored in the first minute, only to relinquish the lead six minutes later when Alvaro Fernandez equalized in the 7th minute. The Sounders controlled much of the rest of the half, but couldn't find the go-ahead goal. That came back to bite them when Jeff Larentowicz was left all alone at the top of the penalty area and sent the Rapids into the half leading 2-1.
The Sounders again wasted little time finding the equalizer when Roger Levesque got just enough of a pass to the near post to make 2-2 in the 48th minute. From there, it was mostly all Sounders. They took their first lead on Fredy Montero's sixth goal of the season, in the 82nd minute and pushed it to 4-2 on Mauro Rosales' goal just two minutes later. Montero and Rosales each finished with a goal and an assist.
Caleb Folan was able to pull one back with a 90th minute goal, but it was too little too late and the Rapids never really threatened to equalize.
The Sounders have now gone unbeaten in nine straight MLS matches (6-0-3) and are just a point behind the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Supporters' Shield race. The Rapids continued a frustrating run of form that has seen them win just three of their past 18 following their 3-0-0 start to the season. Even more potentially problematic, they lost Conor Casey to an apparent Achilles' injury that could force him out of the lineup again.
This isn't the most interesting week on the MLS schedule. There are only a few games between two sides with reasonable playoff aspirations. One game that did have some promise to be must-see-TV was Brian Mullan's first appearance at CenturyLink Field since breaking Steve Zakuani's leg back in April. The game is scheduled for Fox Soccer and who doesn't love to see a player showered in boos?
Well, Gary Smith, for one. The Rapids coach elected to leave his left winger at home, leaving us with just a mildly interesting game between two teams jockeying for position in the Western Conference.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Real Salt Lake, 4 p.m., Saturday
Tom Soehn has created quite the situation for himself. Since taking over the Whitecaps after firing Teitur Thordarson, his team has gone 1-1-5. All the while, he's been inserting "his guys" into the lineup and even go as far as shipping out players who were brought in by the old regime (over which he had significant personnel control, anyway). Maybe the signing of Mustapha Jarju will signal the turnaround point. Right now, though, it's hard to see how they beat a team like Real Salt Lake, who might not be quite as good as originally believed, but are still among the three or four best teams in the league. Pick: RSL 2-1
Seattle Sounders vs. Colorado Rapids, 4 p.m., Saturday (Fox Soccer)
This was supposed to have Game of the Week written all over it, as Brian Mullan was expected to make his long-awaited return to Century Link Field where he would presumably be showered in boos. Gary Smith had different ideas, though, and left his somewhat ailing left midfielder at home. You can see why Smith might not feel his team needs any distractions as they've won just 3 of 17 since starting out 3-0-0. His team is slowly returning to health, but they will face a Sounders team that is playing as good as any other in the league. Pick: Sounders 2-1.
Columbus Crew vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m., Saturday
At the start of the season, much was made of the Crew's insistence that this was not a rebuilding year despite their jettisoning nearly all of their experienced players during the offseason. I and many other had a good laugh at their expense, in fact. Regardless of how it plays out from here, Robert Warzycha deserves some credit for his team's start. Through 18 matches, he has the Crew sitting at 27 points, just one behind the Eastern Conference leaders. It hasn't always been pretty, but there are no style points in this league. Pick: Crew 1-0.
Houston Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:30 p.m., Saturday
As bad as the Dynamo have been at times this season, most of their struggles have been on the road. Through nine matches away from Robertson Stadium, they are winless and have claimed just three points. At home, it's been a different story where they are a much more respectable 5-3-2. Facing a Sporting KC team that has held its own on the road since their awful start, this seems to have tie written all over it. Pick: Tied 1-1.
Chicago Fire vs. Portland Timbers, 8:30 p.m., Saturday
The shine sure has washed off the Timbers, hasn't it? Suddenly a team that was unbeatable at home and was talking almost openly about riding that form into the playoffs is merely good at home. They are still awful away from Jeld-Wen Field, though, having claimed a league-worst two road points through seven matches. The Fire will be looking to win just their second home game this season, but have also lost just once at Toyota Park. A tie seems a reasonable prediction. Pick: Tied 1-1.
FC Dallas vs. DC United, 9 p.m., Saturday
A little more than halfway through the season and it's hard not to marvel at the job that Schellas Hyndman has done since taking over at FC Dallas 2.5 years ago. Despite lacking his best player, this might be the best core in all of MLS, despite their loss to RSL last week. Even with that loss, this team has won 9 of 14 since David Ferreira went down with a season-ending injury. They face a United team that has proven capable of beating almost anyone, but also capable of falling apart regardless of the opponent. This is their biggest test to date. Pick: FCD 2-0.
Chivas USA vs. New York Red Bulls, 10:30 p.m., Saturday (Galavision)
Scorn was heaped upon Red Bulls coach Hans Backe basically elected to remain home and train his first-choice team rather than risk fatigue during their midweek U.S. Open Cup match. If there are soccer gods, they will punish his well-rested side this week when they face a surprisingly mediocre Chivas USA team that has put itself in the thick of the playoff picture with three straight results. If they do end up making the playoffs, Nick LaBrocca will have to get some consideration for MVP honors. A win might be too much to ask, but a tie seems perfectly reasonable. Pick: Tied 2-2.
New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union, 7 p.m., Sunday
The Revolution seem to be getting hit from all sides lately. Their on-field product is bad (3-8-6), most of the off-field attention they've received is best classified as "public-relations nightmare," and even when they manage to draw 51,000-plus for a friendly against Manchester United, it only seems to magnify how badly the team is otherwise run. It's been almost the complete opposite in Philadelphia where the team currently finds itself tied for the lead in the Eastern Conference in just its second year of existence. Pick: Union 1-0.
New England Revolution Vs. Philadelphia Union: Carlos Ruiz Leads Union To Top Of East
There might not be a less appreciated players in MLS than Carlos Ruiz. While many players operate under the national radar, few produce like him, seemingly to the chagrin of their own fanbase. Well, maybe that's finally changing. Fresh off rubbishing rumors that he was heading to Mexico, Ruiz scored in his third consecutive game to lead the Philadelphia Union to a resounding 3-0 win over the New England Revolution on Sunday to move to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Ruiz scored the game's opening goal in the 12th minute, finishing a feed from Keon Daniel header. Ruiz had started the sequence when he flicked on a ball from just inside midfield and followed the play all the way into the goal box. The Union also got goals from defender Carlos Valdes and Sheanon Williams. They know sit at 31 points, two clear of the New York Red Bulls with two matches in hand.
The Revolution did not take a single shot in the first half and did not force Union goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon into a single save. They have now gone winless in nine straight and are mired at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
Jul 18 1:25a by Jeremiah Oshan - 0 comments