How bad can it get? Week 19 recap.
So the second half of the season started for me the same way the first one ended. I was lucky to walk away with one correct prediction. But enough of my belly aching, onward to the recap.
Real Salt Lake vs. Chivas
This was ESPN's game of the week and what a game it was. In the 19th minute, insanity ruled the field as Real's Clint Mathis and Chivas's Esteban Arias were both tossed after Arias kicked a ball at an injured Mathis and then Mathis came unhinged. Things were still in wild mode when Arturo Torres put Chivas ahead in the 28th. Andy Williams was able to both tie the game in the 49th minute and make a little history. His goal was the 5000th goal in MLS's history. It was a sweat shot from about 20-25 yards out that keeper Brad Guzan really didn't have a chance at. Real was in control for much of the rest of the match and scored the winner off a penalty kick in the 74th. Chris Brown was brought down in the box and Jason Kresis took the kick. Just for the record, I think the call was very weak. Brown was falling before he entered the box, but what can one do. The other thing I noticed was how poor Real is at flooding the box. It seemed like every attack ended up with only 2 or 3 people in the area. Salt Lake was lucky to get the win.
New England vs. Kansas City
What happened to New England? They had two chances early at near empty nets and missed both. KC, a team that really has not been very inspiring this year, but the pass from Josh Wolff to a spiriting Chris Klein in the 47th was amazing. Wolff just snuck past the Revs backline and had an easy time against Matt Reis. New England did not give up and just a minute later when Taylor Twellman curled a shot into the box and Shalrie Joseph headed it home. However, KC remained strong. They connect some good runs including the game winner in the 74th. Jose Burciaga booted one to Josh Wolff who held it for a moment and then quick passed it to Scott Sealy. Sealy drew the keeper out and then placed it home handing New England their first defeat at home this year.
Chicago vs. DC United
DC dominated this game the first 80 minutes going up 3-0 on goals by Brian Carroll, Dema Kovalenko and Jamie Moreno (pk). But then Chicago started whipping it up a bit. Lubos Reiter put a shot from a corner kick scramble into the net in the 83rd and just 5 minutes later; Ivan Guerrero kicked one across the box to Chris Rolfe who put it past goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Chicago could smell blood and kept attacking. In extra time they tried to relive the second goal, but Rimando was waiting this time. And the game ended. This was 15 minutes of really exciting soccer.
FC Dallas vs. MetroStars
Dallas did it again. They jumped to an early lead then collapsed in the second half. This time Carlos Ruiz started things off for Dallas (and the new Pizza Hut Park) by scoring in the 31st and 34th minutes. Dallas was looking like the team of a month or so ago. Then came the second half. Where was Dallas? The MetroStar's Youri Djorkaeff made FC's backline look like wet toilet paper. He punch home goals in the 47th and 53rd. From that point on it was a "run-out-the-clock" kind of experience. So what is up with Dallas? Seven of the last 11 goals scored against them have come in the second half (the number is even worse if you throw out the three goals Salt Lake scored on them in their July 23rd slaughter in Utah). Ever since they lost late to New England on the 16th of July, this team has looked weak. They just don't seem to be able to play a full 90 minutes. If they don't do something quick, they might just end up in third place in a division they should be leading (lucky for them, team number three is LA).
Colorado vs. Los Angeles
Go Jeff Cunningham go! This game got off to a roaring start when Colorado's own Jaff Cunningham put his side up in just the 7th minute. Jean-Philippe Peguero added another in the 30th minute, but it didn't much matter because LA never really threatened. So this leaves LA with only one win in their last 10 matches and only 5 points ahead of Colorado. A bad time for LA fans to be sure.
San Jose vs. Columbus
The hottest team in soccer, San Jose, continued their fabulous run as Dwayne DeRosario and Brad Davis both scored to give their side the win and sole ownership of first place in the Western Conference. Columbus, who was the second hottest team going into the All-Star break, did try to make it interesting late in the second half when Chris Henderson took Kyle Martino's pass and bashed it into goal. However, the Crew was just not enough for the Quakes.
So how did I do, let's take a look
My Guesses vs. Final Scores
Game (my guess) Final score
Real Salt Lake - Chivas (2-2) 2-1
New England - KC (2-0) 1-2
Chicago - DC (1-2) 2-3
FC Dallas - MetroStars (3-1) 2-2
Colorado - LA (0-1) 2-0
San Jose - Columbus (1-1) 2-1
Total so far this season: 3-11 (oh that is just sad)
Real Salt Lake vs. Chivas
This was ESPN's game of the week and what a game it was. In the 19th minute, insanity ruled the field as Real's Clint Mathis and Chivas's Esteban Arias were both tossed after Arias kicked a ball at an injured Mathis and then Mathis came unhinged. Things were still in wild mode when Arturo Torres put Chivas ahead in the 28th. Andy Williams was able to both tie the game in the 49th minute and make a little history. His goal was the 5000th goal in MLS's history. It was a sweat shot from about 20-25 yards out that keeper Brad Guzan really didn't have a chance at. Real was in control for much of the rest of the match and scored the winner off a penalty kick in the 74th. Chris Brown was brought down in the box and Jason Kresis took the kick. Just for the record, I think the call was very weak. Brown was falling before he entered the box, but what can one do. The other thing I noticed was how poor Real is at flooding the box. It seemed like every attack ended up with only 2 or 3 people in the area. Salt Lake was lucky to get the win.
New England vs. Kansas City
What happened to New England? They had two chances early at near empty nets and missed both. KC, a team that really has not been very inspiring this year, but the pass from Josh Wolff to a spiriting Chris Klein in the 47th was amazing. Wolff just snuck past the Revs backline and had an easy time against Matt Reis. New England did not give up and just a minute later when Taylor Twellman curled a shot into the box and Shalrie Joseph headed it home. However, KC remained strong. They connect some good runs including the game winner in the 74th. Jose Burciaga booted one to Josh Wolff who held it for a moment and then quick passed it to Scott Sealy. Sealy drew the keeper out and then placed it home handing New England their first defeat at home this year.
Chicago vs. DC United
DC dominated this game the first 80 minutes going up 3-0 on goals by Brian Carroll, Dema Kovalenko and Jamie Moreno (pk). But then Chicago started whipping it up a bit. Lubos Reiter put a shot from a corner kick scramble into the net in the 83rd and just 5 minutes later; Ivan Guerrero kicked one across the box to Chris Rolfe who put it past goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Chicago could smell blood and kept attacking. In extra time they tried to relive the second goal, but Rimando was waiting this time. And the game ended. This was 15 minutes of really exciting soccer.
FC Dallas vs. MetroStars
Dallas did it again. They jumped to an early lead then collapsed in the second half. This time Carlos Ruiz started things off for Dallas (and the new Pizza Hut Park) by scoring in the 31st and 34th minutes. Dallas was looking like the team of a month or so ago. Then came the second half. Where was Dallas? The MetroStar's Youri Djorkaeff made FC's backline look like wet toilet paper. He punch home goals in the 47th and 53rd. From that point on it was a "run-out-the-clock" kind of experience. So what is up with Dallas? Seven of the last 11 goals scored against them have come in the second half (the number is even worse if you throw out the three goals Salt Lake scored on them in their July 23rd slaughter in Utah). Ever since they lost late to New England on the 16th of July, this team has looked weak. They just don't seem to be able to play a full 90 minutes. If they don't do something quick, they might just end up in third place in a division they should be leading (lucky for them, team number three is LA).
Colorado vs. Los Angeles
Go Jeff Cunningham go! This game got off to a roaring start when Colorado's own Jaff Cunningham put his side up in just the 7th minute. Jean-Philippe Peguero added another in the 30th minute, but it didn't much matter because LA never really threatened. So this leaves LA with only one win in their last 10 matches and only 5 points ahead of Colorado. A bad time for LA fans to be sure.
San Jose vs. Columbus
The hottest team in soccer, San Jose, continued their fabulous run as Dwayne DeRosario and Brad Davis both scored to give their side the win and sole ownership of first place in the Western Conference. Columbus, who was the second hottest team going into the All-Star break, did try to make it interesting late in the second half when Chris Henderson took Kyle Martino's pass and bashed it into goal. However, the Crew was just not enough for the Quakes.
So how did I do, let's take a look
My Guesses vs. Final Scores
Game (my guess) Final score
Real Salt Lake - Chivas (2-2) 2-1
New England - KC (2-0) 1-2
Chicago - DC (1-2) 2-3
FC Dallas - MetroStars (3-1) 2-2
Colorado - LA (0-1) 2-0
San Jose - Columbus (1-1) 2-1
Total so far this season: 3-11 (oh that is just sad)
posted by Mike H at 2:15 PM
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