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MLS Week 15: Your Running Commentary

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By JUSTIN FERGUSON

Although the slate of MLS matches is short during this World Cup qualifying weekend, there are still some intriguing matchups on Saturday night.

The night kicks off with the red-hot New England Revolution taking on a struggling D.C. United squad in Foxboro. The Revs offense is on the rise during their current three-game winning streak, and their defense is always a threat to post a shutout. New England will enter Saturday night’s meeting with their Eastern Conference foes as clear favorites as DCU are currently in the middle of a club record 11-game winless skid.

After a bye week, a refreshed Portland Timbers squad heads into Chicago with its unbeaten road record on the line. The Fire ended a bad stretch last week with a win over D.C., and the newly acquired Mike Magee will look to stay hot with a third straight goal in as many appearances for his hometown club.

In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake will square off at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Galaxy, who will be without Omar Gonzalez and Robbie Keane once again, are coming off a 5-0 loss last Sunday to the Revolution. RSL will be looking for revenge from their earlier home loss to Los Angeles—will the Galaxy be able to bounce back in another tough road game?

Tonight’s MLS action will close in Seattle, the site of the upcoming USMNT World Cup Qualifier. Before the U.S. can take the field at CenturyLink Field, a short-handed Seattle Sounders squad will take the field against Cascadia Cup rivals Vancouver. The Sounders will be missing several key starters due to international duties or injuries, but the overruling of an Obafemi Martins red card will give the hosts a much-needed shot in the arm.

Here is a rundown of tonight’s schedule:

7:30 pm- New England Revolution vs. D.C. United

8:30 pm- Chicago Fire vs. Portland Timbers

9:30pm- Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles Galaxy

10:30pm- Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

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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.

Comments

  1. Seattle just got owned by the ref, that foul was CLEARLY in the box, instead they get a foul outside. Simply a terrible call

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  2. Crud. Looks like the big difference from switching keepers is that the late rip-your-heart-out-and-stomp-on-it goal came a little earlier.

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  3. Zardes and Villareal have massive, massive potential. At the moment, however, they don’t know how to play.

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  4. and now it’s Zardes up top. LD spent some time up there earlier too. lots of interchanging with Jose in that as well

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  5. Zardes playing the wide mid role with LD, and they have switched sides as well; he’s done ok so far, works hard, ver athletic, has some touch. he just looks like he’s going to do something whenever he touches the ball

    Galaxy midfield pressure and weakside help seems a srep off too often so far. RSL will score again if that isn’t addressed, like Stephenson’s great goal

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  6. It has gotten worse. The league should be ashamed of this officiating. And given how amazing Mike Magee looks for Chicago they should also be ashamed by the Rogers – Magee trade.

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    • The first time I was gonna let it go but I’m really not sure what you are whining about? Charra had one bad foul and was shown a yellow card? Not sure who all these other players who should be sent off are.

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      • Chara’s first tackle is a straight red. Period. He grabbed around a player’s neck and then while bringing him down swept his legs out the other way.

        It was extremely dangerous and not a soccer play.

      • Even if that’s so what other Portland players should be sent off as you originally stated? Might want to check out knowledge of hyperbole in addition to soccer.

      • The two studs exposed lunge late on Rolfe at the end of the first half was also red-worthy.

        Your timberfan is showing.

    • Oh, yeah, look who scored for Chicago again. Unless this was setting the Gs up to get Dos Santos, it makes the trade of Clint Mathis and two other guys for Luis Hernandez look fair.

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      • I was trying to think of a good example of how awful the trade was–and that is to say it was known prior–and that’s a good example.

  7. I’m watching this Chi-Por match and… um is this guy really an MLS official? How Portland isn’t at least 1 man down (Chara) is quite shocking and insulting to my knowledge of the game.

    Really pathetic showing by the referee.

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    • Looks good to me! The passing in the midfield has been great, Villareal can flat out ball. That shot off the crossbar was ridiculous!

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      • Zardes looked a bit lost. Lots of interchanging between Juninho, Mikey, Villarreal, Sarvas & Landon was creating turnovers. But, I think we settled into more of a rhythm at end of half. Certainly, having Landon closer to goal is always good.

  8. time for the Galaxy depth to show up or not.

    the players have contributed in the past, players like Meyer and Villareal, they need to step up tonight, Stephens, Cocharane and Zardes all getting the start tonight too. Jimenez goes to the bench, and Cudicini isn’t even in the 18 it looks like

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      • agreed on Cudicini…a disappointment so far for sure

        no Robbie, no Gonzo, no Magee…those are some holes to fill on top of the GK situation

  9. The Fire really need to think about putting Rolfe on to the flank opposite Nyarko and starting Macdonald back up top with Magee

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  10. Hamid once again making a great reflex save. This plus Ethan White making timely interceptions and clearances to thwart Revs attacking play are really the standouts for DCU tonite.

    With no ideas other than Porter’s runs down the left (ending in poor crosses) and pumping the ball up to Ruiz (who has to lay the ball back if he wins it), we got zilch so far (yes Pontius had a decent shot – really our only legit scoring opp).

    On another note, Farrell is a baller… Haven’t really seen him play much but can’t help thinking he’d be a solid winger.

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  11. the Revs are playing such beautiful football in the league right now.

    Im loving the growing trend of 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations.

    no doubt frank yallop is a great coach, but coaches who play boring football, quite honestly im glad their loosing their jobs

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