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MLS Ticker: Rivero out 2-3 months, Plata traded to RSL, and more

BY DARRELL LOVELL

The Colorado Rapids 3-1 presesaon loss to the Portland Timbers Tuesday proved costly with the club announcing that creative midfielder Martin Rivero will be lost for 2-to-3 months due to a fractured right foot.

The critical play came in the waning moments of the first half as Rivero was involved in an awkward challenge that, ultimately, will cost the midfielder a chunk of his 2013 season.

Rivero was one of the bright spots for the Rapids in 2012 as the club transitioned to a possession, knock-it-around type system under Oscar Pareja. Rivero started 30 games for the Rapids and led the club with eight assists.

Where the club will go to replace the creator will be the question that Pareja has to answer, but newcomer Kevin Harbottle could provide aid while Rivero works to get back in the lineup.

PLATA TRADED TO RSL

Joao Plata’s tumultuous time in Toronto is officially over. The diminutive fan-favorite was traded from the Reds Wednesday to Real Salt Lake for a second-round draft pick in 2015.

“While Plata is a player our fans enjoyed watching, he did not figure in our plans moving forward,” Payne said in a club statement. “It made sense for our club to move him for value as we can continue to build the team we want.”

Plata’s move from TFC seemed imminent after a loan deal with LDU Quito added to a strained relationship with the club. With the divorce final, the move adds a forward to RSL’s attack that can attack defenses and has produced at the MLS level to the tune of 10 goals and nine assists in 52 appearances.

GALAXY TO HOST XOLOS

Reigning MLS champion LA Galaxy annonced Wednesday that it will host Liga MX  champion Club Tijuana in a February 19 friendly at the Home Depot Center. The Xolos squad will be made up of reserves as the club will play it’s first Copa Libertadores match in Colombia against former Seattle Sounder Fredy Montero and Millonarios the same day. The two clubs clinched their respective titles in December with the Galaxy besting the Dynamo 3-1 and the Xolos beating Toluca 4-1 on aggregate.

DYNAMO STRIKE TV DEAL

The Houston Dynamo have a new television home, Comcast SportsNet Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, the club has struck a three-year deal with the network that includes all rights to all local games, 15-20 for 2013. Included in the deal is a weekly magazine show, pre and post-game shows and the agreement that CSN Houston will handle production for all games.

The downside of the deal is the CSN Houston is currently only available on Comcast cable and several small systems in the area. The network is not currently offered on DirecTV, Dish Network or AT&T U-verse.

MATTOCKS NETS HAT-TRICK

Darren Mattocks got his preseason off to a blazing start helping the Vancouver Whitecaps make light work of the New England Revolution in a 4-1 victory in Arizona. The ‘Caps striker netted a hat trick for the Canadian club in its first game of the preseason.

Also in Arizona, the San Jose Earthquakes downed the Dynamo, 2-0, on the back of a brace from trialist Alexandre Emerson.

Comments

  1. It will be interesting to see how Plata gets on at RSL. He was dynamic and entertaining for Toronto, and was easily their most impactful player during CCL and Concacaf Champs league competition while with the team. I had figured that with the new management team, he’d get another chance in Toronto. Could end up being a nice little steal for RSL. Certainly worth the second round pick.

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    • I liked Plata beginning in the combine. Fun to watch. I don’t know what happened in Toronto but we’ll see if RSL can get him on the field.

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      • Plata dominated that MLS combine two years ago… I couldn’t believe he fell as far as he did in the draft. Good move for RSL.

  2. Comcast SN is also the home of the Astros and Rockets. The bad news is that 40% of the city doesnt have access. Hopefully the Dynamo arent headed to be like the Astros and Rockets…

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    • I think it was a horrifyingly dumb cash grab. The Rockets have turned around this season but no one knows because few have CSN-Houston. The Astros, well, we might now want to see that, but in a few months you won’t even have the choice. But at least they are invested in the CSN outlet and have a pecuniary game to play out…..they hope they can force a substantial per viewer raise in fees from the old Fox deal. So that’s their little high stakes poker game.

      But the Dynamo aren’t a part owner of the station and are purposefully putting themselves in a potential lower-visibility situation. Maybe they think that another sports team on CSN will force the cable providers’ hands, but as I understood it CSN was asking for nearly a dollar more per subscriber than what the cable providers gave under the last deal. Stalemate material.

      And it’s worth pointing out that that extra per subscriber cost would likely be passed on in some percentage to the customer. In short, I’m supposed to openly advocate for the cable providers to pick them up so that the provider can turn around and charge me more. Yay!

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  3. I’m guessing the Galaxy draw more Mexican-American fans for that one game than Chivas Jr. draw for their whole preseason. Also, the Galaxy have more Mexican-American talent on their roster than their little brother, even without the blatantly discriminatory practice of only drafting the master race.

    Underperforming or not, TFC got robbed to only get a second round draft pick.
    Will this influence how much playing time Gil gets or are they at different positions?

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  4. So the Rapids will be without both Castrillon and Rivero? Didn’t Castrillon also get injured? How did that happen and how long is he out?

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    • both should be back around the same time. until then some young players; Serna, Brown, Akpan, Cascio and Harbottle are going to carry the team. Also Jamie Smith might resign soon.. not the best way to start the season.

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      • Jamie Smith got cut actually, which isn’t that big a deal considering dude hasn’t played regularly in like 2 seasons. Castrillion however is a big deal. He’s getting some bedroom eyes made at him from a couple of different South American clubs, and if he ends up going south we’ve got delpth issues developing.

        Akpan’s more of a striker really. He plays some decent balls in the middle and can give decent late match minutes as a mid, but his size and speed make him a better option up front.

        TONS of changes this offseason.. one of the most ambitous rebuildng projects I’ve seen out of this front office quite honestly. We’re excited out here on the front range, if for no other reason than seeing something other than SSDD

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