MLS Preseason Update

The Desert Friendlies

The Desert Friendlies conclude today as the PDL's FC Tucson square off with the Portland Timbers.  The DF's have been lively so far as several MLS contenders continue to fine-tune their squads.  Portland seem to be a step ahead of the competition, and it looks as though former EPL defensive back Mikael Silvestre has earned a spot in the Timbers Army.  In one of the early fixtures, FC Tucson gave Open Cup Champions Sporting KC a good run for their money, while giving the home fans something to cheer about as well.  With some outstanding in-goal heroics, Tucson are off to a bright start in 2013.  Enjoy the highlights from that encounter:

Cooper trains with FCD in Cancun

Cooper Returns to FC Dallas
In a surprising move this week, the New York Red Bulls traded striker Kenny Cooper to FC Dallas for allocation money and a draft selection.  The former Hoops man had an outstanding season with New York scoring 18 goals and recording several assists. 
 A Dallas native, Cooper began his professional career with FCD.  Having played in Europe with 1860 Munich and Plymouth Argyle, the forward returned to the States joining the Portland Timbers in their inaugural MLS season.  After signing with the Red Bulls, Cooper enjoyed his most productive run since leaving Texas.  No doubt, the locals will be happy about his homecoming, and with the combination of recently acquired Eric Hassli, the two could quickly form the most lethal strike force in the league.

(photo credit: FC Tucson facebook, FCD facebook)

Open Cup Update: Fourth Round Recap

Another exhilarating installment in this year's Open Cup drama saw half of the fourth round fixtures finish in extra time, and three of the eight games were decided by late penalties.  At this stage in the tournament, there were some predictable results but a record three lower division teams (all USLPRO) have made it into the quarterfinals.  Here are the latest results from the Cup:

Chivas USA 2-1 Carolina Railhawks
The Railhawks were brought to earth in heartbreaking fashion, losing the match to a penalty decision deep into stoppage time.  This game was strangely similar to Carolina's encounter with the Galaxy last week.  The Goats held nothing back, fielding a strong first team and the result was a goal in the 31st.  The Railhawks looked more confident after the break and after an impressive attacking burst found their equalizer with eleven minutes in regulation.  It seemed overtime was in the cards, but a handball decision was called in favor of the Chivas and Juan Pablo Angel buried the PK to end the fixture in stunning fashion.

The Chivas will host the advancing Charlotte Eagles June 26th at the Home Depot Center.

Charlotte Eagles 2-1 San Antonio Scorpions

                       (Final after Extra Time)

The Eagles are officially 'Kings of Texas' after routing three different opponents in their Open Cup tour of the Lone Star State, as Charlotte continue their impressive run in the tournament.  Their latest victims, the NASL's San Antonio Scorpions, were finally beaten with a penalty kick at the end of extra time.  Charlotte asserted their dominance early, making the most of their chances and netting in the 28th  minute.  However, a flagging Scorpions unit clawed their way back into the match, scoring a goal with a quarter hour left on the clock.  San Antonio had chances in extra time, but a handball in the box brought things to a bitter end for the hosts.  

The Eagles have conjured their best cup run to date, defeating the El Paso Patriots, FC Dallas, and now the Scorpions.  The win earns Charlotte a draw with Chivas USA at the HDC.  Interestingly enough, their second best OC performance, in 2005, was a win at El Paso and then an hotly contested 3-2 overtime loss to the Chivas.  

New York Red Bulls 1-3 Harrisburg City Islanders
                       (Final after Extra Time)
Harrisburg scored early in the 13th minute against the run of play.  However, it was New York who bossed the match, owning nearly every minute of regulation.  A heavy spell of pressure after the restart gave the Red Bulls a goal in the 59th.  The game proceeded to extra time and Harrisburg found the net almost immediately in the 94th.  The Islanders were then subjected to a New York onslaught but held on and even bagged one more goal just before extra time ended.

Harrisburg move on to face the Philadelphia Union in the Quarterfinals.  Oddly enough, the Islanders will have a chance to feel out their opponent in an exhibition match with their MLS affiliate on June 12 before their Open Cup date two weeks later.

Philadelphia Union 2-1 DC United
                       (Final after Extra Time)
In a lively tangle between the two Eastern Conference foes, Philly got the better of United but needed extra time to do so.  Both teams scored in first half stoppage time, the Union notching the first goal and DC responding hardly a minute later.  The match was a scrappy one and there were send-offs for each side in the extra period.  But more importantly, there was a Philadelphia goal that came just after that extra time started.

Dayton Dutch Lions 2-1 Michigan Bucks
                       (Final after Extra Time)
For a team with little to no league success, the Dayton Dutch Lions are making Open Cup history.  Coming off a massive win against the Columbus Crew, the Lions advanced with a dramatic victory, visiting the PDL's Michigan Bucks.  Unfortunately for the Bucks, it will be remembered as a match they "could have won", as they dominated play but failed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities.  Dayton struck first in the 13th and the teams continued to exchange shots in minor skirmishes.  Michigan leveled the game just after half time, but could not find the game winner.  Despite an audacious surge by the Bucks in extra time, they conceded a penalty and Dayton's Joel DeLass stamped the Lions ticket to the next round.

The Dutch Lions will challenge Sporting KC at LiveStrong Park in the Quarterfinals.

Colorado Rapids 0-2 Sporting Kansas City
Sporting were the beneficiaries of a Colorado own goal in the 29th minute.  A free quick took a turn off the keeper, then the post, then keeper again on its way into the net.  A CJ Sapong header put the game beyond doubt in the 79th minute.

Cal FC 0-5 Seattle Sounders
Crushing the dreams of the would-be Cinderella Cal FC, the Sounders thrashed their opponents with a torrent of five goals in a twenty minute span.  To their credit, the visitors kept Seattle at bay for the entirety of the first half, but the floodgates were opened shortly after the break.  As in the Silverback's fixture, Alonso led the way, scoring from the spot in the 50th.  Freddy Montero delivered a brace and Andy Rose found the net again in the 65th minute.  Combining once more with Caskey, Alsonso bookended the scoring with a brace of his own, thus completing Cal's epic Open Cup run.

Minnesota Stars FC 0-1 San Jose Earthquakes
It took them eighty-five minutes to do so, but the Quakes finally managed to unlock a stubborn Minnesota defense.  Still relishing the footballing lesson they delivered to RSL a week before, the Stars engaged San Jose with confidence.  They opted to play defensively, coming out of their shell on incisive counterattack runs.  And although the Stars did shine, Lenhart's late goal was just enough to sink the NASL squad.

The Empire Strikes Back, Charleston 0-3 New York

Historically, New York has had a pretty rough time winning in Charleston, particularly in the Open Cup.  Unfortunately for the Battery, history was not on our side in last night's loss to the Red Bulls.  Despite the score-line, our boys put on a good show and made the Bulls earn their spot in the next round.  And although we may have had to fight a tropical storm to get home, for my brother and I, it was well worth the trip.

A crowd of over 3500 awaited kickoff and there were many a Gunners jersey in the stands.  And while King Henry himself failed to make an appearance, there was plenty of great football just the same.  In the opening stages, Charleston were chomping at the bit, fighting hard, controlling possession and creating opportunities.  The first of these came in the seventh minute when Charleston cracked the backline and took a swing at goal.  The shot was off target but the boys were making their presence felt on the pitch.  More Battery pressure and more buildup followed.  The Red Bulls simply couldn't get the ball away from Charleston and were forced to defend.

With New York's first real chance came the first goal of the game.  A pacy counterattack let the Bulls get men down the field and cross in to MLS's leading goalscorer, Kenny Cooper.  Before Tuesday's match, I had no idea how big Cooper was.  This dude is like a bull stuffed into a soccer jersey with shoulders as wide as a doorframe.  Needless to say, Cooper edged off two Battery defenders and with his back toward the goal ripped a shot into the lower left side of the net.  It was against the run of play, but at fourteen minutes New York had their goal and were content for the moment.

A surprised Battery responded admirably and continued to pester and wear down the Red Bulls defense.  We were winning set pieces and forcing good saves from NY's Ryan Meara.  Charleston's best efforts on goal came around the half hour mark with a pair of corner kicks.  Patterson swung one in from the right, and after some brief confusion was narrowly scrambled away for another corner.  Pushing up from the back, Captain Colin Falvey received the next kick from Jose Cuevas.  There was a collective gasp in the East bleachers as the onlookers watched the header pierce the melee and descend on the net.  At the last possible moment, Meara managed to scratch the ball, by a fingertip at best, and send it just over the bar.

That's one way to stop John Wilson...

In the forty-first minute, Dax McCarty made good use of a short corner and assisted Heath Pearce to his first goal for the club from the Empire State.  Of course, the traveling fans, presumably those that populate the South Ward at Red Bull Arena, were already singing but redoubled their efforts after taking a two goal lead.  Charleston were deflated and had little to show for their hard work going into the break.


Refusing to abdicate, the Battery manned the trenches and dug in for the second half.  Charleston had several more good chances from set pieces and New York gave John Wilson all kinds of space to make runs down the left flank.  But as the game wore on, fatigue set in and Charleston were unable to find the net.  The duel was all but finished in the seventy-first as Connor Lade laced a fine strike from the edge of the box, placing the ball in the upper right corner of the net.  Coach Anhaeuser threw everything forward after the goal, subbing Mueller and bringing on Kelly, opting for a 3-4-3 formation. His tactics took effect, but Charleston could never perfect the final through ball.  As the clock wound down, the rains came up and the crowd was amused by some major league misfires as the Red Bulls embarrassed themselves by playing a little too fancy.  Brock Duckworth recored several fine saves, one in particular requiring great acrobatics.  In the end, an essentially first-string Red Bulls side proved too hot to handle, and advance to the next round of the cup.

Here are some of my lasting impressions from the game:

-Kenny Cooper is a monster.  Seriously, this guy is huge...with his control and sheer brute force, its no wonder this guy is topping the charts in Major League Soccer.

-Brock Duckworth is one incredible GK.  He pulled off some pretty fantastic saves against perhaps the most dynamic offense in the country.  Lets hope he gets a contract extension!!

-The Red Bulls are a club worth supporting.  While they had a few hot-shot moments and dramatic fouls, their players (and fans) for the most part were very respectful and brought something special to the match.

Its always disappointing to get knocked out of the cup, but with the way our boys played and considering the opposition, the Charleston Battery left little to be desired.  It was a wild night in the Cup's other fixtures with upsets aplenty.  Look for a third round recap in the next few days.

With no time to dwell on what could have been, the Battery hit the road taking on Pittsburgh Thursday night, and Dayton on Saturday.  Heads up boys!  Time to climb the table remind our league foes what we're famous for!!

UP THE BATTERY!

Black, Yellow, and Blues, Charleston 1-0 Los Angeles

After several days off, the Charleston Battery returned to action with a 1-0 win over the LA Blues Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium.  A crowd of 4,344 (one of the best this season) was on hand to cheer the boys to victory.  Captain Colin Falvey scored the game winner after a quarter hour of play as the Battery move into third place with a pair of games in hand in the USLPRO standings.

Navion Boyd had the first real chance of the game in the eighth minute, splitting the defense and driving a shot over the bar.  But the Charleston faithful would wait only six minutes for the deciding moment of the match.  Jose Cuevas cued up a free kick from around forty yards and sent a tremendous curling ball into the box.  Battery skipper Colin Falvey latched onto the service and headed his shot to the upper right corner of the net, past the reach of the Blues netminder.  On the half hour, Amadou Sanyang nearly doubled Charleston's lead, but he nodded a shot just over the crossbar.  At the break, Falvey's goal was enough to keep the hosts in front.

Donatelli giving the Blues 'what for'

The ball was up for grabs in the second half and possession was hotly contested between the two sides.  Resultantly, the attacking flair had somewhat diminished.  However, the miserly Charleston defense afforded their strikers a few good looks at goal, one of them coming in the sixty-eighth minute from Navion Boyd.  Ryan Ritcher came on for Boyd ten minutes later as Charleston tried to spark initiative late in the game.  The switch worked as Sallieu Bundu managed a deadly shot inside the eighteen as Charleston continued to mount pressure.  In stoppage time, Ritcher posted another close range effort that just missed the mark.  In the end, the one goal proved to be enough as Andrew Dykstra recorded yet another clean sheet in a game where Charleston's defense stole the show.

Here's a nice piece with a personal note on Falvey's goal from The Post & Courier.

Another good outing for the boys, notching a league win on the eve of their historic Open Cup fixture with the New York Red Bulls.  Charleston are in the thick of it now, with three games next week and two of them on the road.  Forgetting the Open Cup match for a moment, the Battery's upcoming three game road swing will be a critical test of their mettle in terms of league competition.  They are eight points behind league leaders Orlando City, but have played only seven to City's nine.  With wins in Pittsburgh and Dayton, Charleston could overtake the Lions by beating them when they visit Orlando the second week in June.

That being said, the we can no longer forget Charleston's appointment with Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls Tuesday night!!  It has all the makings of a classic cup tie and all I can say is:

 SEE YOU AT THE 'BAUD!!!!!

Open Cup Comeback, Charleston 2-1 Reading United AC

With an exciting second-half comeback, the Charleston Battery booked their passage to next round of the US Open Cup and have earned the right to host the New York Red Bulls.  Although certainly the underdog, Reading United proved a stern test for Charleston, making the most of their trip to Blackbaud.

Charleston took the initiative from kickoff and earned a series of corner kicks.  Withstanding the pressure, Reading responded with several drives of their own and soon began to control the momentum in the first half.  Both sides were content to feel each other out, but the conservative play left things scoreless at the break.

Reading picked up where they left off, continuing to press after the restart.  After winning a corner, the visitors took the lead in the sixty-fourth minute as United defender Olutolani Ibikunle nodded in the first goal of the match.  After a nervous pause, the Battery responded as Dane Kelly leveled the game with a strong goal from outside the box.  Entering the game just moments earlier, Navion Boyd assisted the goal in the sixty-ninth and the comeback was on.  Nicki Patterson entered the game after the strike and within ten minutes had a goal of his own.  As the Reading defense tried to plug the holes, Patterson was brought down a good thirty yards from goal.  Taking the kick himself, the Scotsman tucked a brilliant shot smack in the corner of the net, and even if Reading's keeper had had arms six feet long, he still would've had no chance against such an incredible goal!!  With ten minutes to play, Charleston quickly shut things down, smothering possibilities for an equalizer.  And at the final whistle, our boys had the satisfaction of knowing they would be hosting the hottest team in the Major League Soccer in only one week's time.

Charleston fielded Brock Duckworth in goal against Reading United.  Duckworth was with Wilmington last season but has signed with the Battery from the Myrtle Beach Mutiny.  He will likely feature in Tuesday's match against New York as Andrew Dykstra is cup-tied to DC United.  The good news is that Dykstra's loan has been extended and he is available for selection in regular season play.

And speaking of regular season play...with all the hype surrounding the Red Bulls and the Open Cup, it might be easy to forget about Saturday's match against the LA Blues.  The Blues are fielding a much altered lineup from last season, perhaps most notably former FC Dallas striker, Maykel Galindo.  LA earned a 1-1 draw in Orlando Thursday night, and thats no small accomplishment.  The Blues face Charleston at Blackbaud Saturday, the second game in their east coast swing.  While the Battery may have a few tired legs from Tuesday's cup tie, if we're lucky, we'll look a bit more rested than LA.  The Blues threw everything at Orlando and probably deserved all three points.  It should be another great opportunity for Charleston to collect some points and maybe even rest a few of the boys before Tuesday's tangle with New York!!

Up the Battery!!!

Bring on the Bulls!!!

In case you've been living under a rock, the Battery are through to the next round and will host Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls Tuesday night in the third round of the US Open Cup!!

The second round of the Open Cup was even more exciting than the first.  Most USL squads have advanced to the next round to face MLS opposition, but there were a handful of upsets and some convincing blowouts as well.  Here are all the results from Tuesday night's USOC action:

Harrisburg City Islanders 2-1 Long Island Rough Riders

The Islanders advance to host the New England Revolution in the next round.

Charleston Battery 2-1 Reading United AC

With a dramatic comeback, Charleston bested Reading and go on to host the New York Red Bulls!!  (Don't worry, full match report to follow)

Rochester Rhinos 3-0 Brooklyn Italians

Blanking one of the tournament's historic teams, the Rhinos will battle the Union in Philly.

Agean Hawks 0-4 Richmond Kickers

The Kickers progress to face in-state rivals DC United after a complete performance against the Hawks.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0-1 Michigan Bucks

One goal was enough oust the Hounds; Michigan host the Chicago Fire in the next round.

Chicago Fire PDL 1-2 Dayton Dutch Lions

The Lions quenched the Fire to earn a draw with their MLS neighbors the Columbus Crew.

Jacksonville United FC 0-3 Tampa Bay Rowdies

The Rowdies move on to challenge the Colorado Rapids.

Orlando City 7-0 KC Athletics

While City thrashed KCA, they'll have their hands full when they take on Sporting at Livestrong Park.

San Antonio Scorpions 2-0 Laredo Heat SC

Winning a Lone Star Derby, the Scorpions advance to host the Houston Dynamo.

El Paso Patriots 0-1 Charlotte Eagles

An own goal gifted the Eagles with a trip to FC Dallas in the next round. 

Des Moines Menace 0-2 Minnesota Stars

The Stars travel to the Rio Tinto to challenge Real Salt Lake in round three.

Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 7-2 Fresno Fuego

The Strikers doused Fresno, but will have to face the in-form Quakes at San Jose next.

Los Angeles Blues 1-3 Ventura County Fusion

Bouncing their local rivals, Ventura County progress to host Chivas USA.

Carolina Railhawks 6-0 PSA Elite

The Railhawks destroyed their opposition, and the LA Galaxy will likely get the same treatment when they come to town.

Also, check out this article on the Railhawks decision to host rather than sell out to LA:

Winning the Open Cup

Georgia Revolution 0-1 Atlanta Silverbacks

The Apes pulled out a win, but victory should be a touch more elusive at CenturyLink Field against the Seattle Sounders.  

Wilmington Hammerheads 0-4 Cal FC

The underdogs embarrassed the Hammerheads at home and could earn a premium scalp, traveling north to take on the Timbers.

For the full USOC Bracket visit theCup.us.

A mouthwatering lineup to be sure!!  And if thats not exciting enough for you, in the latest Battery press release, Charleston announced its plans to host English Championship side Nottingham Forrest in an exhibition in late July!!  Look for more info on Forrest in the next few posts.  

As you may have noticed in the game against Reading, Charleston featured a new keeper in goal.  Brock Duckworth of the Myrtle Beach Mutiny has signed on with the Battery may take the reigns for the next several matches.  We've actually signed another keeper as well, a local high school talent in the Battery's Development Academy.  Read more about them both here.

Finally, be sure to stop in at No Quarter to get their take on recent events:  Reading, Blues, Red Bulls and more

What a week!

The Open Cup is Here!

source: theCup.us

Its that time of year again!  America's oldest and most storied soccer tournament, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, is underway!!

The Seattle Sounders will look to defend their historic title, having won the tournament three years in a row.  But in an ever-changing game, and with the largest field of competitors to date, who will lift the cup this time around??

The first round of play, mostly comprised of amateur and development teams, finished late tuesday evening.  There have already been a few surprise results, most notably, the PDL powerhouse Kitsap Pumas were beaten 3-1 by Cal FC.

The complete results can be found here in the full bracket:  2012 USOC Bracket

USLPRO and NASL teams enter the competition in the second round and the stage is set for some lively fixtures!  The Charleston Battery have drawn Premier Development League side Reading United AC.  Reading earned their first Open Cup win Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over the Greek Americans.

Look familiar??

The MLS teams have now been entered into the bracket so things start to get very exciting!  Should the Battery progress in their home match against Reading, they will go on to host the New York Red Bulls!!

Now first things first, we need to win Tuesday, but it sure is a thrilling prospect to think Blackbaud could play host to the legendary Thierry Henry and his New York outfit.  With a week to rest up for the match, the Battery should be ready for their first Open Cup tie and we've got the quality this season to make a deep run in the Cup.

The folks at the Battery have said they plan to broadcast Tuesday's match live via UNation, pending USL approval.

Stay tuned for news and results, and as always,  UP THE BATTERY!!

MLS FirstKick 2012

Major League Soccer is in full swing after an exciting weekend of season openers.  MLS FirstKick boasted a number of feisty match-ups with a few surprising results.  If you missed any of the games, here's a brief recap of the opening day action.


LA Galaxy 1-3 Real Salt Lake
Perhaps the biggest talking point from the weekend was RSL's 3-1 upset of the LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center.  Reigning MLS champs and undefeated at home last season, with the return of Edson Buddle, LA are heavy favorites to bring home the crown again this year.  However, Real Salt Lake raised some eyebrows and some questions of the Galaxy's title credentials.  Making a big statement by taking all three points from the HDC in week one, it looks like RSL are a good bit stronger than most would have predicted.  RSL's GK Nick Rimando had an outstanding game and at times looked as if he were playing in a cup final.  With all four goals coming in the last twenty minutes, this was a cracker; just the type of game you look for at the start of a new season.
FC Dallas 2-1 NY Red Bulls
Another surprising result, the Hoops avenged last season's wildcard playoff loss with a confident display at FC Dallas Stadium.  From the first whistle, Dallas was all over the pitch and took only eleven minutes to find the net.  New York's defense was atrocious and honestly never gave the Red Bulls a fighting chance.  The atmosphere in Dallas was electric as the sell-out crowd of almost 21,000 harried the already struggling Red Bulls with chants and vuvuzelas.  Panamanian striker Blas Perez shined for the hosts on the afternoon assisting both goals with the second coming at sixty one minutes.  Kenny Cooper came on for NY, scoring a consolation goal late in the game.  It was strange to see him in a Red Bulls kit, but he still managed to extend his record of goals scored on the Dallas home pitch.  This was a very strong showing by FC Dallas, and an equally poor outing for their opposites.  New York have a long way to go if they plan on accomplishing something this year.  

Demerit "impacts" Montreal's Nyassi

Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 Montreal Impact
A rivalry now stretching almost two decades, this was the match that began the 2012 MLS season.  The Whitecap's 2011 inaugural season was less than a resounding success, but the expansion side were finally putting together the pieces at the end of last year.  With an offense boosted by the likes of Sebastian Le Toux, the Caps showed this year's newbies how its done.  Le Toux punished the Impact for an early defensive foible and scored three minutes into the game...welcome to the big leagues Montreal!  The Impact were able to hold their own, but simply failed to make the most of their chances.  Vancouver again found the net nine minutes into the second half, and the visitors simply could not rally.  The vocal crowd at BC place were happy with their second consecutive opening day win.
San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 New England Revolution
The first match for these two sides ended along the same lines as did last season for the pair.  Chris Wondolowski, the Quake's goal-scoring hero opened his 2012 account after fifteen minutes, capitalizing on a Revs defensive error.  Despite showing fight in the dying moments of the game, this retooled New England squad were not up to snuff.
DC United 0-1 Sporting KC
CJ Sapong spoiled DC's home opener with a goal that could not have come any later.  Sporting controlled the match and looked like scoring all night.  Opting for the dramatic finish, a Zusi corner supplied the right cross and KC strolled out of United's stomping grounds with all three points.
Colorado Rapids 2-0 Columbus Crew
The fans at DSG Park were treated to a dejavu of last season's wildcard playoff match.  The Rapids showed up ready to play, scoring late in both halves to put Columbus to the sword.  The hosts provided a confident game whereas the Crew essentially failed to assert themselves.  There's a growing rivalry between these two and this year the Rapids have already taken the upper hand.
Chivas USA 0-1 Houston
Another stoppage time winner, Houston were finally able to break the spell, winning on opening day.  In an otherwise unimpressive match, the Dynamo struck two minutes into stoppage time, leaving the Home Depot Center and the hapless Goats with nothing to cheer about.
Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union
The Timbers host the Union Monday night.  It should be a fair fight, but the interesting thing will be to see how each club's new acquisitions fit with their established styles.  Should be a good match.

Look for more MLS updates throughout the season, as well as player profiles, and Open Cup specials.  As always, thanks for the reading The Beautiful Game!!

Its Time for the MLS CUP!!

Well, the playoffs are over and Sunday night the LA Galaxy will host the Houston Dynamo at the Home Depot Center for the MLS Cup Final.  The International break has only added to the anticipation of the big game.  In an earlier post, I recapped the wild card playoff matches and the 1st leg conference semifinals.  If you're wondering how things progressed, we'll catch you up to speed:

Sporting KC 2-0 Colorado Rapids

Predictably, Sporting saw off a depleted Rapids side in a sloppy affair before a rain-drenched sellout crowd at Livestrong Park.  Both goals came from Zusi freekicks, about half way through the first and second periods.  A strong performance by the hosts, and a repeat of the first leg.

Seattle Sounders 2-0 Real Salt Lake

Alonso ignites the Emerald City

In a thrilling second leg victory, the Sounders battled ferociously to overturn the deficit from the previous leg.  Two second half goals frenzied Centurylink field however, the Emerald City was unable to produce the needed miracle.  Both goals came from former Charleston Battery players as Osvaldo Alsonso converted a penalty kick in the 56th, and Lamar Neagle netted the second six minutes later.  A valiant effort, but not enough to continue Seattle's postseason dreams.

Houston Dynamo 1-0 Philadelphia Union

The Dynamo finished off the Union in a game that was anything but spectacular.  Brian Ching, the perennial Dynamo hero, netted the only goal deep into first half stoppage time.  Philly made at triple substituion at 66 minutes and it sparked an immediate offensive threat.  The visitors however, were unable to turn the tide.  The Union can be proud of an excellent second season and notching an incredible finish as a newer expansion franchise.

LA Galaxy 2-1 NY Red Bulls

The Red Bulls struck first in the fourth minute, looking to make history as the first visiting team to leave the HDC victorious.  The game was a tense, back and forth match, with everything to play for despite LA's advantage.  The Galaxy leveled the score as Mike Magee headed home a deadly Beckham corner kick.  New York would have more opportunities in the second half, but a penalty decision and Donovan goal iced the game in the 75th.  A great series between the two MLS giants, the aggregate ending 3-1.

The Conference Championships:

Sporting KC 0-2 Houston Dynamo

Sporting boasted a record 20,839 fans for this playoff fixture.  The hosts came out guns blazing and nearly scored in the second minute.  The Dynamo suffered a critical blow as MLS MVP candidate Brad Davis was seriously injured and taken off in the 35th minute.  Sporting took advantage and bullied their guests till the break.  The second half was very different from the first and the Dynamo scored from some set piece pinball at 53 minutes.  KC was grasping at straws and had several good opportunities, not to mention an appeal for a PK.  However, the result was no longer in doubt when Carlo Costly seized on a through ball, making use of the post as he ended Sporting's successful season, three minutes from time.

LA Galaxy 3-1 Real Salt Lake

This game was expected to be quite lively and both teams delivered.  RSL took the pitch with something to prove and dominated the opening quarter hour.  A slackened pace allowed LA to take back momentum and a 21st minute Donovan PK shifted the pendulum in their favor.  The claret and cobalt responded quickly, as Saborio level less than two minutes later.  Robbie Keane nearly edged LA ahead but instead hit the post before firing wide moments later.  RSL had some good chances in the closing stages of the first half as Beckerman rattled the upright just before the break.  Right away the Galaxy had two near goals, but the RSL defense was able to cope.  However, the visitors soon caved to the pressure as David Beckham and Mike Magee combined to score for the third time in three matches.  The pair are in unstoppable form at present.  Nearly leveling immediately, RSL's Espindola clanged off the bar and it seemed Real could hit every part of the goal except the net.  As RSL pressed to equalize, they exposed their defense and Robbie Keane was quick to punish the error.  The game was all but finished as he found the net on a counterattack in the 68th minute.  The visitors rallied and forced some excellent saves from Josh Sauders, but the damage was already done.

...and so that brings us to Sunday!  The LA Galaxy face Houston at the Home Depot Center!!  The match will be broadcast at 9:00pm and is airing on ESPN, Galavision, and TSN 2.  The Galaxy are the heavy favorites and will expect to preserve their unbeaten record at home this year.  The LA threat will come from several angles as the Beckham/Magee show searches for a memorable Season Finale.  Also, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan will surely test the Dynamo's defense.  LA's defense on the other hand has proved to be nearly unbreakable, and the resolution of the home crowd will only bolster their performance.  Houston have their work cut out for them, and with great form finishing the season and some unlikely playoff results under their belt, they are certainly capable of an upset even without star Brad Davis.  It looks to be an exciting match however you slice it, and I'll be sure to follow up with the postgame report next week!  Enjoy!!

MLS Madness: Playoff Update!

If the regular season was any indication of what to expect this year in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the weekend's games proved to be even crazier and more unpredictable than most pundits and fans would have guessed.  If you missed any of the action, we'll catch you up to speed.

The Wildcards:

FC Dallas 0-2 New York Red Bulls
In a cagey, high-tempo matchup in Dallas, the Red Bulls eliminated the Hoops as Joel Lindpere hit the deciding goal from close range.  Thierry Henry iced the cake with another seven minutes into stoppage time.

Colorado Rapids 1-0 Columbus Crew
The Rapids were able to ride Omar Cummings' goal to victory as they put forth a solid defensive performance against Columbus, delivering the Crew's ticket home two years running.

Down to Business:

Real Salt Lake 3-0 Seattle Sounders

Wow...definitely a result that no one predicted!  RSL looked a completely different side that was winless in the last month and a half of the regular season.  And Seattle were uncharacteristically taken apart in their visit to the Rio Tinto.  With goals just before and just after the break, and another just before the final whistle, the Sounders, arguably the most versatile and talented side in the league, will have their hands full crawling out from under such a deficit.  However, if it can be done, Seattle would be the team to do it, as they boast broken records for attendance and goals scored in their home matches this year.  The second leg of this one should be a cracker!

New York Red Bulls 0-1 Los Angeles Galaxy
Certainly the most high-profile matchup so far, the game itself did not disappoint, and there were postgame fireworks to boot!  Galaxy wonder-boy Mike Magee, nudged his side ahead with only a quarter hour gone.  Frustration is a mild term for the emotions experienced by the Red Bulls for it seemed they were simply not supposed to score.  The Galaxy's  Josh Saunders worked miracles between the sticks and singlehandedly preserved LA's lead.  In a furious melee after the final whistle, Rafa Marquez and Juninho were both shown red cards for inciting a hockey-style brawl.  It may prove well for the Red Bulls because Marquez's season long dramatic tirades and antics are more befitting to a third division benchwarmer than a top flight player, not to mention the Mexico National Team captain.  New York will have to make history by winning at the Home Depot Center, but this replay will also be a VERY exciting match.

"Oh, we're just getting warmed up!"

Philadelphia Union 1-2 Houston Dynamo
The Union played host in their first ever playoff match as the Dynamo played spoiler in their first ever win over Philly.  The action was all in the first half, Houston netted seven minutes on and Sebastian LeToux retaliated two minutes later.  The Dynamo completed the win with another goal in the 30th.  The teams will finish the appointment at Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Colorado Rapids 0-2  Sporting Kansas City
Teal Bunbury's brace saw off the Rapids at DSG Park, and the home side was hit heavily by injuries.  An already spread thin Rapids squad will be hard pressed to overturn the scoreline when they travel to Livestrong Park to face an increasing dominant Sporting at home.

MLS Cup Playoffs Underway!! FCD 0-2 NYRB

Last night, in an action-packed wildcard playoff match, the New York Red Bulls traveled to Pizza Hut Park to face FC Dallas in the first postseason game of the 2011 MLS season.  New York just notched their playoff berth with a win over Philly in their final regular season game last week.  Dallas on the other hand were gasping for air after their unimpressive slide in recent weeks.  Either way, both sides had been good enough to make it and both sides looked hungry for a win.

The home town crowd did their part in lifting the Hoops and the first half hour was all FCD.  Dallas had several chances to go in front but the finishing was missing from their play.  New York finally switched on and were clearly happy to have their resident legend Thierry Henry back in the lineup.  Big shots and feverish pace characterized the first half but neither team could shake their opponent.

Lethal Lindpere

The second half proved more exciting than the first and Dallas looked to score by means of a set piece but free kick missed the target by inches.  So many shots in this game would be tortuous to witness as a fan in the stands.  Often when the ball slams into the side netting, without the perspective of instant replay, you're convinced you've got a goal.  This playoff fixture was filled with such attempts, serving to ratchet up the intensity of the crowd's participation.  FCD surrendered the ball cheaply in the 61st minute and Joel Lindpere, NY's clutch man, rifled a shot almost immediately.  The effort was stuffed but Red Bull's Dane Richards collected the rebound and passed to Ballouchy who dangerously slid the ball into the box.  Lindpere would not be stifled twice and easily converted the goal from close range.  Dallas nearly netted an equalizer moments later, but New York's defense was able to hang tough.  With ten minutes left in the game, the Red Bull's had a player sent off for a dangerous challenge and FCD took advantage of the red card.  Try as they might, Dallas could not find the leveler and seven minutes into stoppage time, it was Thierry Henry who put the match to bed.  Seizing on a long ball, the Frenchman strode goalwards and assaulted a threadbare Hoops defense.  His initial shot was blocked, but the front man's quickness allowed him to easily tap in the rebound and effectively silence Pizza Hut Park.

Wildman & Co take on Rapids

The good news is that this is just the beginning!!!  New York play host to the LA Galaxy Sunday (Oct 30th)in the first of a two leg aggregate series.  Tonight in another HUGE wild card showdown, the Columbus Crew face defending MLS Cup Champs the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The healthy Columbus side boasts some terrifying offensive options including our own former Charleston Battery forward Tommy Heinemann.  The game can be viewed via mlssoccer.com for FREE!  Look for another spectacular matchup and don't forget the MLS Cup final in Nov 20th!

Arsenal Preseason Part 2, Emirates Cup & Eusibio Cup

Arsenal 2-2 Boca Juniors

There was a buzzing atmosphere at Emirates and a hint of Argentinean flair.  Boca legend Riquelme was on the pitch and the North London faithful were ready for a spectacle.  The match was an interesting blend of international styles and the new Arsenal squad was beginning to gel.  Continuing to impress his new club, Gervinho lifted an inspired cross to Robin van Persie.  With half an hour gone, the Dutchman did what he does best: put the ball in the net.  The Gunners were chomping at the bit and a before a minute of the second half had passed, Arsenal had scored again.  Ramsey benefited from a good 'play on' decision from the official and slammed home another preseason goal.  Arsenal were in the driver's seat but some sloppy defending coughed up a goal in the 68th minute.  More of the same allowed another Boca strike three minutes later and the two goal lead had suddenly evaporated.  Arsenal began the fight but the Boca Juniors finished it, the two sides settling for a draw.

Goals:  29 van Persie, 46 Ramsey, 68 Viatri, 71 Mouche

Arshavin sizes up a corner kick at Emirates

Arsenal 1-1 New York Red Bulls

Since the day the fixture was set, Arsenal fans young and old had been anticipating this game.  It was finally time for Thierry Henry's return to the home of Arsenal Football Club.  It was vintage Arsenal but of course vintage Henry, lighting up North London the way only he can.  The hosts struck first and it was van Persie in the 42nd minute with a picture perfect headed goal.  It seemed enough to secure the Emirates Cup and despite his best efforts, the former Arsenal skipper and his new side, the New York Red Bulls, were unable to find the scoresheet.  With only six minutes to play in regulation, Henry instigated trouble in the final third and the Arsenal defense conceded an own goal.  The Frenchman and his MLS companions lifted the trophy, having beaten PSG the day before.  The tournament aside, those in attendance were thrilled to have witnessed the legend's emotional return to the club he served so well.

Goals:  42 van Persie, 84 (og) Bartley

Benfica 2-1 Arsenal FC
Although billed as a friendly, the match immediately seemed anything but.  The Portuguese hosts were out for blood and sought to honor the football legend whose name (and presence) graced the cup.  Coming off a slow start, Van Persie led the Gunners to a lead in the 33rd minute with a deadly strike fed by the likes of Gael Clichy.  The goal would be a late birthday present for the Arsenal man turning 28.  Significant changes were made by both teams at the break, Benfica gaining an edge with more experience on the field.  That experience would produce a goal four minutes from the restart and the game winning goal on the hour.  Arsenal were disappointed to have tarnished an unbeaten preseason, but now must focus on the task at hand as they prepare to face Newcastle United at St. James in under a week's time.