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MLS Matchday 24: A Look Back

DavidBeckham 2 (ISIphotos.com)

                                                           Photo by ISIphotos.com

The past weekend in Major League Soccer action featured the continuation of some trends that MLS fans have grown accustomed to.

D.C. United still can't lose at Toyota Park, Columbus still can't win at Giants Stadium, Kansas City still can't score, Houston still can't win in August, Seattle still can't break out of its recent winless slump and New England still can't lose.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Galaxy keeps on racking up points, Chicago keeps on struggling to find consistency at home, Colorado keeps on alternating wins and losses and Real Salt Lake keeps on climbing back into the playoff race.

It was a great weekend for the New York Red Bulls, which managed to win its second match in eight days after needing five months to record its first two wins. The Red Bulls avoided the infamy of having the worst record in league history with the 1-0 win vs. Columbus, but will need one more win in its final six to avoid finishing tied for the fewest wins in league history (four).

Seattle dropped two more points at home in a draw to Toronto FC, and while the Sounders remain in third place in the West, they are now in danger of being passed by teams holding games in hand on them. In fact, if points-per-game were used to determine playoff positions (which is the league policy if the season were cut short for some reason), the Sounders would actually be in fifth place in the West behind Colorado and Chivas USA.

As for Houston, the Dynamo still holds first place in the West, but its once-large lead has dwindled and now Houston must avoid being passed up by the red-hot Galaxy, which sit two points back of Houston with a match in hand.

Speaking of teams on hot streaks, Real Salt Lake posted its second win of the week to catapult itself right back into the West race. Jason Kreis' men have quietly put together an eight-match unbeaten streak against Western Conference opponents since July (4-0-4).

Here is a rundown of the weekend's MLS results:

SATURDAY

Seattle Sounders 0, Toronto FC 0

New England Revolution 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1

D.C. United 1, Chicago Fire 0

Real Salt Lake 1, Kansas City Wizards 0

Los Angeles Galaxy 1, Chivas USA 0

SUNDAY

Colorado Rapids 1, Houston Dynamo 0

New York Red Bulls 1, Columbus Crew 0

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What did you think of the weekend's results? Impressed with New England's recent run? Think Real Salt Lake can keep its mini-streak going? Do you see the Red Bulls continuing the winning streak? Did LA cement itself as an MLS Cup contender with Saturday's win?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I will definitely try to make some more games this season and next.

    Posted by: David | August 31, 2009 at 10:12 AM

    Wonderful to hear! you are more than welcome at super family friendly Buck Shaw stadium @my Santa Clara University (Quakes games) and for a real treat, check out a Seattle game – best MLS stadium today! awesome crowd. nicest people.

    now this makes me wanna go to every MLS stadium in the country! woo hoo!

    Reply
  2. Jason, I thought it particularly cynical for Pablo to lay on the ground for several minutes after the foul as though he were injured and in pain.

    Davis’ foul came just minutes after Mastroeni’s foul and I think Davis was administering a little vigilante justice since the CR was so gutless in not awarding Pablo a red card.

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  3. Pablo’s elbow was worse than Davis’ foul, but they were both worthy of a red. Davis stuck a knee and his cleat into Ballouchy’s back and caught Mehdi’s head with his elbow. None of the individual hits were particularly hard but the combination of all of them while making no real attempt to play the ball was somewhat dirty.

    Pablo went head hunting and found Hainault though. Clearly intentionally hit him in the face with his elbow. I expect he’ll get another game (or maybe 2) on top of the suspension for yellow card accumulation. I wouldn’t be surprised if Davis gets an extra game as well.

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  4. Rory is correct about the first half of the Colo-Houston game, but the second half was even. Colo scored on a well driven corner that Baudet beat Kamara to. Rory, tell me truthfully – wasn’t Mastroeni’s elbow to Heinault’s chin in the second half worse than Davis’ foul? I have no idea why Pablo was not sent off.

    I believe Houston, Columbus, and DC are starting to show the strain of having to compete in multiple competitions at the same time. I hope the Dynamo can find some magic elixir to restore some pep to the players; they are really dragging right now. I’m sad to admit that LA and Seattle are better right now – but then of course neither LA or Seattle are playing in CONCACAF Champions League.

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  5. “There would be no discussion about the Sounders possibly missing the playoffs if they could bury the dozens of sitters they have failed to convert. It is frustrating to watch very attractive soccer up until about 6 yards and then it all goes downhill.”

    Jaqua

    Reply
  6. There would be no discussion about the Sounders possibly missing the playoffs if they could bury the dozens of sitters they have failed to convert. It is frustrating to watch very attractive soccer up until about 6 yards and then it all goes downhill.

    Reply
  7. Colorado dominated the Dynamo from start to finish. I was really suprised that Houstan couldn’t control the midfield nor could they get any good looks at the goal. Did Ching ever even touch the ball yesterday?

    That Colorado team is loaded with players from the back to back reserve league champions a couple years back, and I think it shows that the reserve league WILL BE MISSED by the MLS in the future. (Plus, wasn’t Ward, a starter in Chicago when he isn’t hurt, on that reserve team too).

    Reply
  8. Sorry if I missed this conversation in a separate posting but WTF was wrong with LD in the Galaxy-Chivas game. The first half, I thought it was the formation with LD being held back to help with the Bornstein/Klestjan combo that was WAY too much for De La Garza to handle. They at about 40 min. Arena changed the formation and LD moved to the middle but was still largely nonexistent. Flu remnants or off day?

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  9. DC traded Mapp to Chicago for Dema Kovalenko back in like 2003…I bet the Fire would trade Mapp for Dema tomorrow if they could.

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  10. No one will be happier when Red Bull park opens than The Crew.

    At least they didn’t give up a goal on a fluke 70-yard free kick by a debutante goalie this time.

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  11. Was at the Red Bulls game yesterday. My first MLS game. Really enojoyed it actually, despite the small crowd. Seems much more family friendly then other sports events I have been too. Lots of kids. Only one guy yelling out to the players and refs consistantly, because of course, he knows better than the pros. But no swearing or out of hand people. Really nice experience.

    Ref missed a handful of handballs by The Crew and some obvious fouls. Red Bulls were not dominate but mssing now under Williams so far are the glaring defensive mistakes that they were becoming know for. I will definitely try to make some more games this season and next.

    Reply

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