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MLS Match Week 1: SBI Live Commentary

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The 2014 MLS season kicks off today, with seven matches from coast to coast.

Sporting Kansas City will begin defense of their MLS Cup title with a visit to CenturyLink Field to take on the new-look Seattle Sounders (3pm ET).

The evening’s slate features some exciting clashes, with the Los Angeles Galaxy playing host to Real Salt Lake, the team that eliminated them from the 2013 playoffs. In Portland, the Timbers take on an improved Philadelphia Union side.

SBI will be providing live commentary on today’s action so please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today’s commentary is after the jump):

 

Comments

  1. Shades of the infamous ref couliby in the RSL LA game most especially by the linesman. RSL should have won 2 nil. That first goal being waived off was straight couliby style reffing. Then the penalty at the end was pathetic. Keane may have decided to kick it rimando on purpose because he knew it was a piss poor call. Of course I’m kidding but it was awesome to see rimando block keanes penalty. RSL out to prove all the naysayers wrong.

    Jordan Allen getting a look at the end and was pretty smooth with the ball. And who would have thought Aaron maund would look so good against LA. Great and a most deserved win by RSL.

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  2. as a long suffering red bulls fan…. can we please poach Vancouver’s front office? they’re the new South American signings look incredible. I know Morales is a dp so didn’t take too much sitting savvy to find a La Liga regular, but the two Uruguayans – Fernandez and Mesqueda (sic) – arel tremendous and young. Vancouver looks legit Tiebert, Mattocks, damn.

    I don’t know Morales’ dp wages but something tells me they’re about 1/10th of someone like cahill. and nothing against Cahill but why can’t we sign a 500k/yr attacking midfielder? every dp pickup doesn’t have to be an established brand name ( Henry, Marquez, Cahill).

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    • Turns out a few of these replacement refs are elite european guys–champions league officials.

      It’s a shocking difference actually. Look at the scoring too! Can’t be a coincidence.

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  3. Two quality goals by Bruin early. Bad defending on the first and lazy giveaway on the second, but that doesn’t change the fact Bruin finished twice with aplomb.

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  4. Parkhurst was easily the MOTM for me. You can see why he was scooped up by a Bundesliga club. Class above most of the field tonight.

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  5. And that was a pretty clear stomp on Arrieta’s thigh. Second suspension coming?

    DC United is an absolute travesty right now. Joking aside, this is probably the worst, most undisciplined team in the history of modern American professional soccer. And then they added Eddie Johnson.

    Sorry, United fans.

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  6. I’m getting my resume prepped with soccer-related activities. There’s going to be an MLS coaching spot open after tonight and as evidenced, they’re just pulling people off the street!

    Crossing my fingers.

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  7. Really hope Okoli gets some PT this year, he had a couple nice moves and crosses during his limited time on the pitch. Dempsey looked fairly good today I thought, better than last year at least.

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  8. Omg chad hits the winner 🙂 lol

    By the way, sounders r loaded with forwards and have a weak defense.

    Sounders need a type of Bruce arena or some intelligent soccer head to manage this team, too much talent and zero tactics.

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  9. I really grow tired of Feilhaber. He whines incessantly. He has never lost the ball without being fouled. I probably just need to ignore him, but every time I see him play, I see the spoiled brat at the local high school. He has great touch and vision, but appears as if he has never matured as a professional. Forgive my rant… its over.

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  10. Sounders game. Last few seconds: Seattle had 3 players run into the box and a cross was sent and the result was a goal. Get people in the box with the ball and more goals will happen. That is the best time to send in a cross (with numbers in the box). Otherwise, go right down the middle and get numbers in the box. The method of passing or dribbling is not required: only the ball into the penalty area with forwards and midfielders getting into the penalty area. I hope to see a MLS wide phenomenon with getting into the penalty area with numbers and the ball. It will quickly turn into a awesome league.

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  11. HAHAHAHA OMFG I CANT BELIEVE IT. Sporting kc has to absolutely HATE the sounders. I seriously cant believe it. Thats 5 stoppage time winners vs KC in the past 3 years. Seriously look it up.

    Fucito 3 years ago.

    Someone on a corner the next year.

    2 goals in stoppage time the next year i think rosales

    Traeore with a goal last year

    And now today. Crazy

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    • Refs can’t “go on lockout.” They were locked out by MLS. Refs can go on a strike, but they can’t lock anyone out. LOL.

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      • I get it, but it’s dumb because the refs didn’t choose to be locked out. Your joke implies the refs should’ve thought twice about being locked out because one ref who officiated one game in Germany five months ago is “better.”

        Waaah waaaaaaaaah.

      • Actually they kind of did bc they could have accepted the terms of mls. This is a two way street and both want different things. They did choose to not agree terms yet knowing a lockout would happen so yes the refs and mls both went on lockout

      • No, that’s how the world works. You’re effectively saying MLS can extort whatever they want.

        MLS/PRO was lowballing the referees on the contract situation.

        It is the PRSA’s absolute right to negotiate in their best interest–per US law.

        MLS/PRO chose instead to essentially end all of their jobs than compromise on the offers.

        So no, they kind of didn’t cause a lockout. They negotiated within the law. MLS/PRO chose to take the ball and go home.

    • The referee Alan Kelly had a decent game (his assistants weren’t great though) and that’s expected because he’s an Elite European Referee. You mentioned “Replacements” plural, well he’s one referee. A lot of the other refs couldn’t make it into the MLS yet or have been kicked out for failing fitness tests. You might just end up eating your words by the end of the day man.

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      • Apparently the MLS hired him in 2013, interesting….. Maybe they did it so they have a “big game ref.”

      • He was hired to help train MLS refs, not to ref games himself. From what I saw today, I hope the MLS refs listen and learn.

    • Why even make a comment like that? We’re all here because we love MLS and have been waiting for months to enjoy it again. We don’t want to read through your negative commentary. You are free to leave.

      Also…I watched the crystal palace-southampton game this mornning, as well as the Cardiff win. I don’t think this is much worse, especially considering it’s the first game of the season.

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    • and when it’s wet, like most times, it’s worse, like today. the field is a joke, even Sigi talks about its state these days. No bias, just reality…that field sucks for soccer

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  12. Too many bad passes. Too many fouls. Too much rain. Too many long balls. Overall the referee has been the best part of this game.

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  13. Whole lots of fouls so far in this game. KC has been extremely lucky with some big calls, they should have had a penalty called against them and Collin could easily have seen a second yellow. Both teams created chances, Seattle would have a goal if Cooper had hit a wide open Neagle.

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    • Know Martino made a big deal on that but the pull happened as Sapong was going down and the ref was shielded by Evans body. Definitely a penalty but one that the official needs the lineman to tell him it wasn’t just a coming together.

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      • You are correct, from where the ref was (he was in the right spot) there is no way he could see the shirt pull. The AR should have been the one to make that call honestly.

      • He wasn’t ruled offside, play continued for like 30 seconds and eventually went out for a goal kick, not sure why the announcers said he was ruled off, he wasn’t

      • you’re right, not ruled offsides. the AR raised his flag but once KC won possession the ref seemed to play on, bang bang

        I have the volume muted

  14. This guy is a uefa champions league ref?

    That explains Collins and Cooper actually being punished for their nonsense.

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    • Collin is the most yellow carded player in the MLS wasn’t he? So what did this guy do that was any different than what MLS referees do? He gave the yellow and ignored a potential second yellow. Looks like he’ll fit right in.

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  15. TAP IT OVER TO NEAGLE FOR AN EASY GOAL!!! Was that cooper? Already making a bad impression. Theres nothing i hate more than a player who is selfish or doesnt have the ability to loom up i. The box and make a simple pass for a tap in goal.

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      • It’s not just you.

        Yedlin gives off the appearance that he’s a good player but he’s poor tactically and very naive in his positioning. He’s done well in space to get crosses into the box but that’s not very encouraging since any professional player should be expected to deliver a good cross when he has time and space to look up.

  16. Who has better atmosphere, sounders or seahawks?

    Will sounders ever get their soccer stadium, before a new nba arena with hockey because if miami and nycfc can get a stadium, why not sounders.

    By the way, MLS should doing the star bangle banner and just do.it for MLS cup. Its not like england, italy or even mexico play.their national anthem. MLS get it.right.

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    • Who cares what other countries do? This is America and I damn well love doing the national anthem before sporting events.

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    • Why would the Sounders build a stadium? They already have one of the best atmospheres and have a stadium in a great location. It’s not perfect, but you could argue they have the best stadium situation in MLS. It’s a nice stadium that they come close to filling and is within walking distance of downtown. If only there was a little less rain so they’d use real grass.

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      • I believe they play rent free as well, since the owner owns the Seahawks and has the lease thru them.

    • Also, the name of the song is the “Star Spangled Banner”. The banner is spangled with stars. There are no bangles in the song, or the flag. Though I bet the Bangles would do a great job on the national anthem.

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