2007 MLS Week 3 Recap or How New York became the best team in MLS
Who would have ever thought three weeks into the season, New York would be the best team in the league and yet to allow a goal. Who knows if it will last, but for new fans of the Bulls must be feeling a little strange sitting on top of the MLS world. As far as stats, week three saw 16 goals (including Thursday's match) or 3.2 per game and an average attendance of 13,848. In addition, the difficulties of winning on the road continued as no visiting side got 3 points. Of the 18 games so far this season, road teams are 2-10-6. Here is the full recap:
Houston Dynamo 0-1 New York Red Bulls
I didn't think Clint Mathis would be a force in this one and sure enough I was right. However, I thought it would be due to forgettable play instead of a red carded in the 36th. This would have been a perfect place for the Bulls of years gone by to flop around, but they didn't. Their attack, which was dependant on Josmer Altidore, flourished against a baffled Houston back line. Ricardo Clark tried to settle things for the Dynamo, but was getting next to no help from Dwayne De Rosario who played his worst match in years (and not just because of his strange handball in the box). The Bulls denied Houston of any flow and more then earned this win.
Goal: NY: Josmer Altidore 60'
Kansas City Wizards 1-2 Chicago Fire
The score line does not tell the full story of this match as the Fire dominated the Wizards Saturday night. Wave after wave of attack in the first half should have netted them more then one, but Chicago could not finish. On the plus side, their defense was closing ever door KC even thought to look at. The Wizards did have a short spurt of life at the start of the second half thanks to Carlos Marinelli making his début, but it was not long lasting. By the hour mark, Chicago was back in the driver's seat thanks in large part to Calen Carr. The KC offense was brought back to terra firma this week but still managed to get a few good shots in. If goalkeeper Matt Pickens had been a little slower, Chicago would not have got full points.
Goals: KC: Carlos Marinelli (pk) 90'
CF: Chad Barrett 36', Chris Rolfe (pk) 73'
Real Salt Lake 0-4 Chivas USA
When you go down a goal after just 28-seconds, you know it is going to be a difficult night. Bad news for Real, difficult is too kind of a word for what happened to them on that pitch. Chivas ran the match will an iron fist. Again and again, the goats smashed the RSL backline into nothingness. Nick Rimando, who looked much improved last weekend, was again making odd decisions on goal and Ante Razov, Maykel Galindo and everyone else in a red and white jersey were there to make the most of it. As bad as this game was for Salt Lake, the worst part might be the injury to Andy Williams. He was the victim of a bad tackle by Sacha Kljestan and had to come out of the game with an injury to his right leg. If it ends up being as serious as it looked to be, Williams might be unavailable for a number of weeks. On a brighter note, congratulations to Razov for scoring his 100th MLS goal.
Goals: Chivas: Maykel Galindo 1', 9', Ante Razov 43', Matt Taylor 89'
Colorado Rapids 1-3 FC Dallas
Dallas cam out strong in the first half, but had trouble scoring thanks in large part to the Rapids great ability to take Carlos Ruiz out of the game. Still, FCD was able to make chances, but once they finished one of those chances, they relaxed and let the Rapids storm right back into it. The start of the second half saw much of the same as Dallas failed to play with any intensity, that is until coach Steve Morrow took Ruiz out of the match in the 68th, thus destroying the Rapids plans. Almost immediately, FCD was threatening and from that point on they controlled. By the way, if you want to watch two strikers having fun with a goalkeeper, watch the final goal. Cooper and Oduro actually had Bouna Coundoul sitting on the ground as they danced around him.
Goals: CR: Jovan Kirovski 34'
FCD: Ramon Nunez 29', 78', Dominic Oduro 93+'
Week three weekend play saw the wife go 3-1 with her predictions while I just stayed at 500 (2-2). On the season we are both tied at 6-12 (go .333 power).
Houston Dynamo 0-1 New York Red Bulls
I didn't think Clint Mathis would be a force in this one and sure enough I was right. However, I thought it would be due to forgettable play instead of a red carded in the 36th. This would have been a perfect place for the Bulls of years gone by to flop around, but they didn't. Their attack, which was dependant on Josmer Altidore, flourished against a baffled Houston back line. Ricardo Clark tried to settle things for the Dynamo, but was getting next to no help from Dwayne De Rosario who played his worst match in years (and not just because of his strange handball in the box). The Bulls denied Houston of any flow and more then earned this win.
Goal: NY: Josmer Altidore 60'
Kansas City Wizards 1-2 Chicago Fire
The score line does not tell the full story of this match as the Fire dominated the Wizards Saturday night. Wave after wave of attack in the first half should have netted them more then one, but Chicago could not finish. On the plus side, their defense was closing ever door KC even thought to look at. The Wizards did have a short spurt of life at the start of the second half thanks to Carlos Marinelli making his début, but it was not long lasting. By the hour mark, Chicago was back in the driver's seat thanks in large part to Calen Carr. The KC offense was brought back to terra firma this week but still managed to get a few good shots in. If goalkeeper Matt Pickens had been a little slower, Chicago would not have got full points.
Goals: KC: Carlos Marinelli (pk) 90'
CF: Chad Barrett 36', Chris Rolfe (pk) 73'
Real Salt Lake 0-4 Chivas USA
When you go down a goal after just 28-seconds, you know it is going to be a difficult night. Bad news for Real, difficult is too kind of a word for what happened to them on that pitch. Chivas ran the match will an iron fist. Again and again, the goats smashed the RSL backline into nothingness. Nick Rimando, who looked much improved last weekend, was again making odd decisions on goal and Ante Razov, Maykel Galindo and everyone else in a red and white jersey were there to make the most of it. As bad as this game was for Salt Lake, the worst part might be the injury to Andy Williams. He was the victim of a bad tackle by Sacha Kljestan and had to come out of the game with an injury to his right leg. If it ends up being as serious as it looked to be, Williams might be unavailable for a number of weeks. On a brighter note, congratulations to Razov for scoring his 100th MLS goal.
Goals: Chivas: Maykel Galindo 1', 9', Ante Razov 43', Matt Taylor 89'
Colorado Rapids 1-3 FC Dallas
Dallas cam out strong in the first half, but had trouble scoring thanks in large part to the Rapids great ability to take Carlos Ruiz out of the game. Still, FCD was able to make chances, but once they finished one of those chances, they relaxed and let the Rapids storm right back into it. The start of the second half saw much of the same as Dallas failed to play with any intensity, that is until coach Steve Morrow took Ruiz out of the match in the 68th, thus destroying the Rapids plans. Almost immediately, FCD was threatening and from that point on they controlled. By the way, if you want to watch two strikers having fun with a goalkeeper, watch the final goal. Cooper and Oduro actually had Bouna Coundoul sitting on the ground as they danced around him.
Goals: CR: Jovan Kirovski 34'
FCD: Ramon Nunez 29', 78', Dominic Oduro 93+'
Week three weekend play saw the wife go 3-1 with her predictions while I just stayed at 500 (2-2). On the season we are both tied at 6-12 (go .333 power).
Labels: 2007 MLS Recap, MLS
posted by Mike H at 10:23 AM
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