The defending MLS Cup champions will open defense of their second straight title while two rookie head coaches square off in a high-profile clash at what should be a raucous Jeld-Wen Field.
The LA Galaxy open today’s action by taking on the Chicago Fire (5pm). Caleb Porter and the Portland Timbers face off against Mike Petke and the New York Red Bulls in a clash of first-year pro head coaches. The nightcap of MLS action offers some good quality as well, with Western Conference powers San Jose and Real Salt Lake squaring off.
If you will be watching today’s MLS action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
Wondo missed so many good chances.
Saborio opens his account in the 71st minute.
Was Silvestre as big a disaster as the highlights would indicate?
I’d like to say yes, refer to comments above, but he really pulled it together in the second half.
Silvestre’s only been in the states since Thursday I believe and had a few sessions with the first team. The first in about 3 weeks. He’ll settle in fine. He needs to adjust to turf at JW. He’ll be fine and I think AJB will become a hell of a CB learning from him.
I think Lalas said it best when he referred to Silvestre getting a crash course lesson in the 1st half.
2nd half, he shaped up dramatically.
Agreed
Sylvestre means a lot to PDX this season.
Maybe more than we want
Wow, Petke has lots of work to do with this squad. The second half was the worst display of passivity and disinterestedness I can recall. Portland was active, aggressive and smart, while RBNY was sleepy and constantly trying for the cute/tricky/spectacular play instead of the smart play. (I’m talking about you, Henry and Juninho.) The formation (if you can even use the term) seemed to be a 4-6 — until the second half, until it morphed into a sort of 4-5-1 with Henry jogging about. If it were not for McCarty’s energy you could have mistaken the second half for an audition for “The Walking Dead.”
Henry was crap.
Wow, NYRB completely blew that game, but I will give Portland credit, they worked hard to comeback and had a good chance to win at the end.
Energy drinks lost on possession, shots, and shots on goal
Lucky to leave Portland with a point
Damn, being at that match was one of my all time best fan experiences. Plus, I had an Ives sighting after the game. 🙂
Post match interview:
Monica Lopez: What about Darlington Nagbe? Did you have words with him? What did you tell him your expectations are?
Caleb Porter: No, I just let Darlington Nagbe go. The less you talk to him, the better.
===
I know Porter has his skeptics and nay-sayers but it’s refreshing to hear a Manager, an American Manager, have this approach.
Quite frankly, I think more American talent would prosper with flair, if Managers took this approach. There’s developing, educating and Managing and then there’s match play.
Let them play.
To clarify, the reference to developing, educating and Managing was alluding to practice and then conversely letting them free in matches.
…..AND Nagbe didn’t even stop while being interviewed…continued going towards goal.
RB vs Timbers game was one of the best games I’ve ever seen. Timbers could be very exciting this year, and man did Nagbe look electric.
I don’t care what the soccer haters say. Ties can be exciting.
Alright, after watching this Portland/New Jersey match, we can officially kick off the MLS season.
Seeing Magee run rampant in the Bridgeview/Carson match wasn’t bad either.
I hate to be that guy who complains about refereeing, but I hate when a ref loses control of a game cause he’s inept.
Timbers really knocking the ball around in impressive fashion. Fun to watch. If they can improve their finishing and defensive organization they may be dangerous.
Organization on d to improve with a bit of time on the pitch
Sylvestre had a wake up call for the level of play in the mls
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/194711141.html?ref=twitter.com
Adu interview with Lalas. Sounds like what I expected–the Union did not want to honor his contract and tried to force his hand on a pay negotiation but Adu said no thanks and Philly is cutting off the nose to spite the face.
Worst… Missed penalty call… Ever?
I’m at the game right now. From here, the game has looked pretty even outside of those two godawful defensive mistakes. Definitely don’t feel like my Timbers are out of this one yet. Awesome atmosphere regardless.
Yes. Johnson might have a hat trick if he could hit the upper third.
how is juniho playing
He’s great on the ball. Not sure if he’s doing anything in terms of ball winning and backtracking, though. Timbers seem to be dominating the midfield.
This guy Valeri can play…. Diskarwho?
Props to Ives. He’s been touting Valeri for weeks.
Valeri had to deal with a tight midfield
No space at all
Great work… Mix who? Agreed
So it’s RSL 3 – POR 1
Haha. RSL says you’re welcome nyrb.
Twellman way off in his commentary. Olive was blanketed on that goal. Is TT always this full of BS or is this an anomaly? I can’t remember.
Dang autocorrect. Olave, not Olive. Regardless, it was a good ball, not poor marking that was the root cause of the goal. Great match though.
Always been like this.
He’s the John Harkes approach of rip everything that anyone does and be condescending.
Ugh. Had high hopes for him.
Yeah, it seems to be a distinctly American, ex-player commentator thing. I always get the feeling that they are overcompensating and trying to sound proper while trying to get people to think they know what they’re talking about.
Maybe he’s been hanging out with Lalas too much. Alexi is the king of sounding authoritative and condescending when he doesn’t know what the eff he’s talking about. At least the big red dork is entertaining, though. I wish I could say the same for TT.
At least you can look at his beard/mustache in amazement.
Twellman now occupies the Harkes/Balboa Chair of Repetitive and Pointless Announcing. His contribution last night consisted of saying “running the channels” a lot. “Knock the ball around” and “switch the point of attack” we’re retired by Professors Balboa and Harkes.
The Red Bulls are staked like pancakes.
Stacked*
Oh hey, another Porter team is getting trashed.
You know what? Not going to fault the Timbers CB for that at all.
Get a real field Portland.
If you don’t fault him I will
Sylvestre called to the table
I hope that clown who said he uses MLS as a sleep aid isn’t watching this Portland-RBNY game.
Fantastic goal by Portland. Exciting game.
Definitely. On replay I expected to be bashing a few defenders, but all you can do is applaud the effort on a goal like that.
That Portland goal was beautiful. Fun game
A few defensive miscues on each side, but otherwise a wonderful match to watch, ESP from a stylistic pov. Last year most teams packed it n against NYRB and played to counter which is probably the rit play, but it’s fun to watch a team go right at them.
63% possession
All second half
Uh that was some Messi magic right there.
Did I just see Tim Cahill tell the ref not to give a card to the Portland defender who took down Espindola? It looked like it. Then of course Espindola scores off horrible communication between Ricketts and Silvestri.
What was the Portland defender doing?!?!?!?!?
Hahahaha, that was hilarious.
If Espindola didn’t put that in the back of the net it should have been called as a backpass. Total Ricketts brainfart to try to pick it up.
Sylvester error #1
Out of 3
The backlash was a terrible idea, but the keeper can’t be moving to pick up that ball with his hands.
backpass
Briseno = Rafa Marquez jr. Red Card ASAP
Somebody explain the Timbers’ tifo to me.
Mortens salt
KNow your images
‘Rain or shine since 1975’ was the banner to the left of the tifo
Jack McBean on; early opportunity to say “F U” to Tab Ramos; pulls it just wide.
If you understand what Tab Ramos is doing and how they played today against mexico you would understand why McBean just dosen’t fit the system. He’s going to be great for Galaxy but hes not good at the tiki taka the USA are trying to play.
Say no to “tiki takka”
Yes to small midfielders and forward
Aka small ball
Poor Sean Johnson is getting the full Dan Kennedy Experience today….
word
Okay, who had “Mike Magee” hat trick in the pool?
I had him in my Fantasy league. 🙂
Knew galaxy were going to score just didnt know who it was going to be so i got Keane and Mcgee to cover my bases. Best 8M spent Fantasy.
Why didn’t I pick Magee for MLS fantasy soccer this week!
Magee again.
Maybe Robbie Keane was on to something.
Also, sweet picture of Henry up there. Didn’t know the Full Nelson was legal in MLS.
Now I see why Duka was dropped by Columbus. I already want him dropped.
Selfish little punk.
Mike Magee was invisible until that goal. Galaxy are still a very good team without Becks and LD
To me, that’s typical Mike Magee, isn’t it? He picks a spot and if he connects, it’s great. Otherwise he is not a guy that dominates games. At least that tens to be the case when I watch him.
Does anyone know who is on the Fire’s bench? Thanks
It’s on MLSsoccer .com. But to save you a few clicks: Sherjill MacDonald, Paolo Tornaghi , Dan Paladini, Michael Videira, Yazid Atouba, Alex, Wells Thompson
Thanks so much, also thanks for not being a jerk! I looked on mlssoccer but couldn’t find it. Thanks again
Everyone but Mike Magee, apparently.
Galaxy keep attacking, even without you know who and you know who…
Looks like the bunkering by the Fire has put everybody to sleep. Yawn.