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MLS Match Week Two: Your Running Commentary

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By IVES GALARCEP

The second week of the 2013 MLS season won’t include some of the league’s best teams as they are given the weekend off ahead of the CONCACAF Champions League, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some intriguing match-ups today.

D.C. United returns home after a season-opening loss to the Houston Dynamo, and they will take on a tough opponent in Real Salt Lake, that began the season with a big road win vs. San Jose.

Ryan Nelsen will manage his first home game today as Toronto FC play their home opener at Rogers Center against a strong Sporting KC side that will be looking to spoil the welcoming party.

One match that won’t be played today is the Colorado Rapids’ home opener vs. the Philadelphia Union. The match was originally scheduled for today, but heavy snow has forced the postponement of the match, which will now be played on Sunday.

Here is a rundown of today’s matches:

1:30pm- MLS Direct Kick- Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City

7pm- MLS Direct Kick- D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake

7:30pm- NBC Sports Network- Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution

7:30pm- MLS Direct Kick- Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Columbus Crew

10:30pm- MLS Direct Kick- Portland Timbers vs. Montreal Impact

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If you will be watching today’s MLS matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. So I live in Memphis. Which MLS team-based city should I convince my wife we should move to??? Take into consideration we’re a youngish couple (mid 20s) with a 3 week old daughter, as we are both in management in retail/sales. Plus I want to be able to play in a decent adult soccer league there too. Ok, go!

    Reply
    • well, i would go on about the pros and cons of living in dc, but since you said ‘MLS team-based city’, i’m not sure you wouldn’t have to just move again in a couple of years.

      Reply
      • texas, we have lots of jobs but our education system sucks. housing is good and really can’t go wrong with hous or dallas as mls destination.

    • Houston and Dallas are the closet to you I think, but I can’t really cheer for either of them. Move to a D.C. suburb, if you can stand the smell of politician. then enjoy the soccer : )

      Reply
      • Actually i lived in Columbia MD up until ’96 (first year of MLS) and supported DC on the tv (man those games were crazy back then! Golden goal anyone?) but after having lived away for so long I’ve lost any club affiliation and just support the league, certain players, and good storylines now. But I sure would love to have a team and call one my own and be involved in the supporter’s group etc. SKC has a brand spanking new stadium, but how’s the school systems for my youngun?

  2. come on new england, hold that result. and wasn’t that a penalty on Toja earlier? i could be wrong but looked like a tackle from behind but only saw it live and one replay.

    Reply
  3. I’ll take the home cooking, but that’s twice Nyarko has scissored a New England player while completely missing the ball and neither has been called a foul.

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  4. And I am firing up the fire Klopas bandwagon.

    If you’re interested, hop on. Our most experienced, top scoring, most in form attacking player is taken off for the 3rd option striker when we’re down a goal at home. No injury. No drop in form.

    Reply
  5. Great passing move by New England (Toja, Nguyen, and Rowe). Nice tackle by Berry to prevent Tojas shot but New England looks dangerous.

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  6. and ruiz looks spent. but d.c. looks great at RFK!!! woohoo! I’m not expecting much from ruiz for the season though. Getting dero back next week! Hope thorington isn’t out for the season.

    DC UNITED!!!!

    Reply
    • Pontius looks poised for a big year. Deleon looks poised for a possible sophomore slump. He’s got some rust on him. Maybe he’ll get the feel back. I hope DeRo looks sharp next week! and again, here’s hoping Thorington recovers soon, he will be out for a few weeks at least, but I hope it isn’t over for him.

      Reply
      • I’m the only one on here tonight talking DC V RSL?!

        Well, I guess I am curious to see how Porter does in his second game against one of the worst teams in the league.

      • Great to hear it! unfortunately my commute to RFK is a little longer than I’d like, approximately 15 hours, lol. Maybe next time : D

    • RSL got dominated in the middle of the park. Our defensive midfielders and centerbacks were incredibly strong. Korb looks to have improved so much he is emulating replacing najar. I’m not used to seeing 1. D.C. dominate the middle of the pitch or 2. RSL getting dominated there. But I sure like seeing it! and Pajoy, man that guy works hard. Good goal.

      Reply
      • I was at the game. Wasn’t the cleanest game but DC got the job done. It picked up in the second half. No one player stood for me but it was my first time seeing Gil play for RSL. He looks promising, comfortable with the ball, and was constantly moving around the park. Perhaps in the next few years he could develop into that creative midfielder the MNT needs.

      • I liked how, at least it appeared so on TV, D.C. bossed the midfield. I don’t mean by slick passing, I mean by hard nosed physical defense and closing down space. RSL couldn’t get on the ball, and then D.C. played hard counter attack offense. But I like how they seemed to dominate in the middle, that Olsen grit seems to finally come out. Did it seem that way at the game? Our centerbacks seemed really strong too!

  7. The fact that Sherjill McDonald is a DP should tell you everything you need to know about the Chicago Fire management.

    Shanking a wide open shot from the center of the 6 yard box. MONEY WELL SPENT!

    Reply
    • I think he’s looked good. He really likes to play out of the back but sometimes he’s trying to do too much. He’s an outside back so just keep it simple. He’s also been caught ball watching/ out of position a few times but its his first professional game so those things are both issues experience can fix. I’m pretty happy with him so far.

      Reply
  8. Fire fan here, but I have no idea how Berry was allowed back on the pitch. Blood is pouring down his lips and chin.

    And Klopas is acting like a child complaining about the official making Berry come off. Dude, his face is just dripping with blood. You can’t play like that. That’s a health concern for everyone.

    Reply
    • Speaking of looks. I would love to see Beckerman just once lose those dreads. I bet he’d be waaaaay quicker too.

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  9. just think how much talent that mls has lost this year.

    beckham

    dane richards (the most underrated soccer player in the world)

    freddy montero

    kei kamara

    brek shea

    roger espinoza

    landon donavan (i guess he is going to play at some point)

    Reply
    • I’m sad Najar is gone too.

      I’ve watched MLS since the beginning and at first I was a proponent of young, or just deserving, MLS players moving abroad to one, further their careers, and two help raise the profile of our burgeoning league. Now, however, I hope MLS can and will find ways (I mean monetarily mainly, but also with more exposure and better tv rights etc) to keep its best talent. No doubt the level has raised since ’96, but I’m excited for the day when MLS is the destination for players who want to play in a strong, healthy, challenging league and stay here!

      Reply
  10. I think KC needs to get Sapong back in the starting lineup. They need his energy from the start.

    Benny has been totally underwhelming thus far with them.

    Reply
    • interesting to call out Benny in that game to me. KC ‘s midfield played well together however missed a striker presence for much of the match so slumped hard in the final 3rd. The flat opening 20 minutes from the whole team doomed them today, and Besler had a gaffe on one Toronto goal. They miss Kamara

      Reply
  11. I do not understand what Sporting KC is trying to do. They seem intent on ignoring their superior ball skills in the middle of the field and choosing instead to play to TFC’s strength with long balls. I mean, really, you don’t think you can beat Califf on the ground?

    And I don’t understand getting cute with a free kick at the top of the box. Let’s see what they do with thier second free kick….

    Reply
  12. Turned it on twenty minutes late…to find TFC up by 2? Wow. Since then, KC has mostly dominated. This could be interesting if KC can get a goal.

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      • From Wikipedia:

        “Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby, Stockholm in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum, bassist Peter Olsson and drummer Tony Reno. Since its formation, Europe has released nine studio albums, three live albums, three compilations and nineteen videos”

        Probably best know for their song The Final Countdown.

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