Photo by ISIphotos.com
There were goals galore in Major League Soccer's Week Eight as we saw four games with four or more goals and a memorable 3-3 shootout between Toronto FC and D.C. United.
Not every defense was in a giving mood. Chivas USA and Houston continued to be the league's stingiest defenses in posting their own shutouts.
As for individual performances this week, Red Bulls striker Macoumba Kandji stole the show with his goal and two-assist effort in New York's rout of San Jose. The performance earned Kandji MLS player of the week honors in a match that earned three Red Bulls MLS Team of the Week honors.
Here are this week's MLS Best XI and Worst XI plays, performances, moments and scenes, as well as the SBI MLS Team of the Week. Enjoy:
MLS Week Eight Best XI
Mike Magee's late equalizer for LA vs. Real Salt Lake.
Paulo Nagamura's game-winner for Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake.
Dwayne DeRosario's brace, including his half-field run and blast.
Mac Kandji's virtuoso performance vs. San Jose.
Albert Celades' classy work in midfield in his first Red Bulls start.
Josh Wolff's streaking header goal vs. Columbus.
Matt Reis' last-second diving save to salvage New England's draw vs. Chicago.
Shalrie Joseph's inspired performance for New England.
Seattle's Sunday afternoon crowd at Qwest Field.
TFC fans marching with D.C. fans in support of a D.C. United stadium.
Philadelphia's new logo
MLS Week Eight Worst XI
James Riley's punch.
Referee Tim Weyland's less than stellar performance in the LA-Seattle match.
San Jose's first-half defending vs. New York.
Real Salt Lake's clock management vs. Los Angeles.
D.C. United's second-half defending vs. Toronto FC.
FC Dallas' anemic attack and one shot on goal vs. Houston.
Kansas City's marking on Eddie Gaven's game-winning goal.
Andy Greunebaum's whiff on Claudio Lopez's free kick goal.
Chicago's latest blown lead and tie.
The small crowds at Giants Stadium and Toyota Park.
Crew fans throwing things at KC midfielder Claudio Lopez, leading to a game delay.
SBI MLS Team of the Week (Week 8)
———-Dwayne DeRosario————–Mac Kandji————-
——————————-Mike Magee————————–
Emmanuel Ekpo———-Albert Celades———-Josh Wolff
——————————Shalrie Joseph———————–
–Kevin Goldthwaite—-Wilman Conde—–Shavar Thomas–
——————————Matt Reis————————
—————————-
Honorable Mentions: Pat Onstad, Frankie Hejduk, Geoff Cameron, Adrian Serioux, Nat Borchers, Rodney Wallace, Jorge Rojas, Paulo Nagamura, Robbie Rogers, Seth Stammler, Guillermo Barros Schelotto
————————-
Some final thoughts on this week's picks. I had a hard time leaving Jorge Rojas off the list, but midfield was loaded this week. Schelotto is another player who just missed the cut, as did Nagamura. Nice work by Matt Reis to go from goat one week, to hero the next.
What do you think of this week's selections? What player or play or performance is missing from the lists? Who should have made Team of the Week that didn't? Who's inclusion were you happy to see?
I’m guessing that when Chelsea comes to town in July, the 67,000+ fans that will be shoe-horned into the standing room only stadium will mostly be dressed in frighteningly lime green, and pulling for the sounders.
I’m talking about the big, corporate boards not the independent blogs. Steve (the guy who writes ProstAmerika) is actually a Scot who lives in Seattle. Great guy, and objective.
Yes, we are Chelsea fans aren’t we? Now I can see your argument, none of us were Seattle Sounders FC fans before this season. Wait…that’s because there was no Sounders FC before this season. Sure, most of us were USL Sounders fans, but that doesn’t really count does it? I’m surprised I didn’t pick up on that earlier. All I know is that our stadium has consistently sold out (with what I assume to be mostly fans from the Seattle area), so if that makes us Chelsea fans then so be it. I love the haters who can’t stand the fact that our expansion team is actually doing pretty well, and so obviously we’re all on the bandwagon and didn’t care about them before they started winning…wait, the opening match was sold out too. Now I’m all confused.
Seattle fans = Chelsea fans
I’ve been a Metro/Red Bulls fan since day 1. To say that Ives is a home boy is way out of the line. I can say the opposite, Ives and Mr. Shep Messing are two guys I respect for their knowledge about the game but sometimes they need to “get more local”. Have you heard the commentators on other teams telecasts? They’re all over their teams! Same with the local writers, who can throw a stone here and there but nothing major; Ives on the other hand says it like he sees it. And no, I’m not getting a free SBI Mafia T-shirt!
Love the passion these guys are showing though, but the Seattle guys need to chill out! I still believe they will fall apart come summer time.
josh — “To make myself clear. I am more then happy to see the sport thiriving in Seattle. It is great sight to see there games with so many supporters. I was simply pointing out how all of a sudden so many sounders fans were posting on this site.”
Yes, I don’t normally post here, but I have been reading Ives for some time. As someone else pointed out, in addition to the 29,000 pissed off fans at the game, I was one of the thousands of pissed off fans following the game on TV. (We also have some of the strongest TV numbers in the league). The game has been sold out for a month, I didn’t have the cash for Season Tix, and didn’t want to pay scalpers prices.
Obviously, we are going to post more when we see something we really hate (or really like for that matter).
The reason so few LA Galaxy fans are posting here is because they give their fans very little to get excited or worked up about.
I would have to agree with Josh that that would seem on par with other “home boards” I’ve seen. At least for RSL and Colorado. I haven’t ever read the boards though, just the articles. I’m not sure about the posters, but ProstAmerika is actually quite good as far as being unbiased.
@josh: Good point, and that’s a point I suppose I should have made. I have made the mistake of drifting over to some other team forums, and they are typically painful. On the flip side, some of my best friends are people I met on the PI’s Mariner board, so I suppose I’ve got that going for me. Maybe things will smooth out with the SoundersFC.com board, but I’m not terribly hopeful. I guess the point I was really trying to make is that generally you will find the better educated (sport-wise, anyway) on the national boards rather than the local ones.
And since when is Ives not a RB fan?
Sam: Have you ever read those boards? If not, be prepared for your lowest expectations to be fully realized and exceeded. There are good boards and bad boards, and the Sounders FC board is terrible, on par with the Seattle PI’s Mariner and Seahawk boards.
Knuckles “Oh, they’ve been around, just on different boards. If you want a truly horrific example of some of the sports fans around here, or simply want to lower your IQ, go to the SoundersFC.com boards (or the Seattle PI or Seattle Times), and then be thankful that hardly any of those people have ventured beyond those digital fences. Good god…”
It is pretty safe to say that most home base soccer boards have this problem. lol
I do read the site, I never have read Ives mention that he is not a Red Bulls fan. Could you direct me to the appropriate article Steve-O?
Can’t say I blame Ives for getting pissed at some of the name-calling here. anybody calling him a Red Bulls homer really doesn’t have a clue. when we suck he says so and when we’re good he says so. when our front office was a joke two years ago, he wrote about it. when we got to Cup last year, he wrote about that too.
And Sam, do you read this site? Ives isn’t a Red Bulls fan. never has been.
Ives, that was a very good call on your part commending the TFC fans for marching with the DCU fans in the stadium rally. They even brought a banner! Just very classy by the TFC gang.
At least this Seattle fan has been on the board before (So I guess I’m by default a moron because I am a Seattle fan according to most posters here, although I don’t care for coffee so maybe that’s why I’m not).
I think you got so many posts because overall (despite who you support) I think everyone can agree that it was a poorly officiated game. And when 29,000+ fans see a really poorly officiated game live, some of them might want to vent a little of their frustrations. I love the “Lower the IQ” comments though. Super classy.
Oh, they’ve been around, just on different boards. If you want a truly horrific example of some of the sports fans around here, or simply want to lower your IQ, go to the SoundersFC.com boards (or the Seattle PI or Seattle Times), and then be thankful that hardly any of those people have ventured beyond those digital fences. Good god…
Ives,
I was being sarcastic about the homer comment, I don’t think you’re a homer, I know you’ve written critical things about the Red Bulls multiple times. I don’t have anything against the Red Bulls either (well, other then Osorio, that guy just rubs me the wrong way). I just think when you label someone’s analysis as “impartial” because they’re a “card-carrying” fan, it really takes away from the discussion. I enjoy, and for the most part agree with your analysis (I do visit the site at least once an hour when I should be working). Even regarding the Red Bulls. As far as I know you are a fan of the Red Bulls aren’t you? Should that in some way invalidate your discussions and analysis of the Red Bulls? No, it shouldn’t. And just because someone is a “card-carrying” sounders fan, does it really invalidate the things they say based on a supposed “impartiality”. In fact, I think any blogs or even professional analysis out there needs to come with fanhood behind it. If it didn’t it wouldn’t be worth listening to, and we’d all be stuck with the morons like Olberman or Rome.
To make myself clear. I am more then happy to see the sport thiriving in Seattle. It is great sight to see there games with so many supporters. I was simply pointing out how all of a sudden so many sounders fans were posting on this site.
I find it…odd that any soccer fan of any sort would want to see the fanbase in Seattle die off. Hate the people on the boards all you want (although the vast majority of you are equally irritating), but the buzz in Seattle is only good for the sport and the league. It will treble when Vancouver and PDX enter the league. But instead I read little but pettiness and jealousy at the incredible scene that it is up here.
You’ll find this difficult to believe, most of you anyway, but Seattle knows soccer very, very well. We have the highest percentage of youth participation in the country, we have ridiculously large adult rec leagues, and there are very few people you will encounter in this city who don’t know the game. All of this lends itself to the Sounders being greeted in the way that they have. Yes, winning off the bat is a bonus, but the fans would still be there.
Hate the team, hate the individual fans, but at the very least appreciate the idea that this is very good for the sport and MLS in general.
all you tree-huggin,starbucks drinkin sounder fans really need to get over yourselves……..
Hey seattle bg 0-0 every game? Idk about that…I mean you did know that Galaxy have only scored one less goal this year then the sounders right? So I think that assumption is a little off. What planet am I from? Let me think….oh, the planet that had sounders fans come out of nowhere when they won their first game. I like to see all these “fans” here when they are not playing as well.
“I’ve never been so angry watching a game, and I wasn’t even in the stands”
the story of a Seattle’s fans life.
Somebody did make a good point,where did all these “sounder” fans start popping up nowhere near Seattle? maybe when they started winning? Its kind of sad to hear people say “I support two MLS teams” also.
you guys are all crazy! especially kpugs, hey im a crew fan, i go to crew games, and dont appreciate u callin us idiots! ur just jealous that ur team doesnt have a supporter section! no one seems to talk about the crazy fire fans that start fights everytime they come to cols.! o yea and what about all the tfc and fire fans in the past that have been arrested at crew stadium? yes i would agree there are a few ‘bad’ apples but tell me the last time u went to a sporting event and didnt see some get really into the game? i dont agree with throwing stuff at players but the taunting is great! thats what makes it fun! so please respect the good crew fans and not call all of us IDIOTS!!!
josh — “My favorite thing about the whole situation is how frustrated the sounders are whether is be sigi or freddie about how the galaxy play. I love it. The Galaxy play is so frustrating to play against that all oppossing teams can do is complain. Cannot wait when seatle comes to carson for the rematch. By the way, where did all these seatle fans come from? Can anyone say bandwagon?”
Seriously? While I admit that we find LA style of play frustrating, can anyone actually claim that it is fun to watch? If every team played like the Galaxy have been playing, the entire MLS season would end with 450 games tied 0-0.
And what planet are you from? Bandwagon? We sell out all of our games and have been supporting soccer here for 30+ years. In case you hadn’t noticed, we weren’t in the league last year, so yes, were are just showing up now to talk MLS.
USA, if you think someone calling me a homer is a valid “critique” then I don’t know what to tell you. It’s a weak name-call lobbed by people who can’t grasp the concept of a national writer covering their local team more. I don’t mind people disagreeing with me about things, I want there to be debates on things, but when the best some folks can do is to say “Oh, you’re a homer” it becomes a tired refrain, and it’s almost always from people who feel their own teams weren’t given enough credit for some random thing.
And I would point out that elsewhere, Sounders are in 2nd place in Fouls AGAINST (only RBNY has been fouled more) and are 12th in the league in fouls committed. We do *not* play dirty.
We are tied for the lead in Red cards at 3, but in an even handed discipline world, we would only have had the one (Keller’s hand ball outside the box).
I’m also a bit disappointed in Ives about this whole Riley Red Card thing.
Magee “neck grasping” followed by flop was every bit as “bad” as Riley’s “retaliation”. 2 yellows anyone?
And few would deny that a timely yellow on Berhalter’s stalling would have settled the entire matter immediately without the scrum.
And who was the bozo that claims LA wasn’t stalling because they were a man up? Even if you only whatched the part of the game with Sounders shorthanded, it would be obvious who was in control. Sounders controlled the ball and play for the entire rest of the game. LA was hanging on for dear life.
I don’t even care that much about the Jaqua incident at the end of the first. I do think it was a missed call, but I would much rather be playing for a win XI on XI.
I’ve never been so angry watching a game, and I wasn’t even in the stands.
i love following this blog and think it is the best of its kind, but ives is a huge homer and snaps out like a 9 year old when he is critiqued.
My favorite thing about the whole situation is how frustrated the sounders are whether is be sigi or freddie about how the galaxy play. I love it. The Galaxy play is so frustrating to play against that all oppossing teams can do is complain. Cannot wait when seatle comes to carson for the rematch. By the way, where did all these seatle fans come from? Can anyone say bandwagon?
It was intresting watching the stuff being thrown at lopez in columbus,I live in Southern California and I went to the US Mexico game in Columbus with some friends, and I did realize that some of the fans in Columbus did have very far right views, it was intresting….far from how its like in Cali
5K more whiners
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_soc_sounders_fc_seating.html
Wanted…..A manager for the Chicago Fire.
Qualification…Must know what to do with a deep and talented squad.
Opening coming very soon.
Benefits…
Discounted parking (usually 15 but now 10 ten dollars)
2o percent off discounted items
All you can eat hot dogs after the game of course.
and of course the best for last…several commercial spots with the number one Fire fan…Jim Buleshi.
I can see why Riley was given a red card but Magee’s grab was more violent then Riley’s little swing. He should have also been red carded. But then again I guess that’s what you get in this league for not flopping. Non calls like this will only encourage more players to flop.
“Lost in the red-card discussion is the fact that the ref ended play with the Sounders carrying play, with numbers, into the Gals end.
It was a total F-you from the ref, and in any other country, it would have lead to a pitch invasion.”
Thank you bud for bringing this up. I was furious at the time and in all the reading that I have done on this game not a single person has mentioned the way it ended. Total crap!!!!!
Some Crew fans are idiots (maybe “some” should be changed to “a few”). Fighting with West Ham fans in a friendly? Yelling out the “N” word at an opposing players? Throwing stuff at Lopez? They have this chip on their shoulders which has resulted in hooliganism for hooliganism’s sake. Face it, boys. TFC, DC, and Seattle fans are currently the class of the league. Acting like a-hole, wish-I-were-Elijah-Wood hooligans isn’t going to put you in their ranks.
And anyone who excuses their behavior knows as little about being a passionate soccer fan as these Crew fans do…
So what have we learned from all of this? Sounders fans are whiny. LA’s defense is much improved. Only thing the ref really got wrong was not carding Ljundberg for diving more than Carlos Ruiz.
Widget, I know it’s only New York, but it was still technically a win during LA’s 6-game undefeated streak.
It’s too bad the LA-Seattle game was on Telefutura, thus ensuring all the highlights online are from the Telefutura broadcast. The local Fox Sports West broadcast had a much better angle on Riley’s punch, only someone blinded by radioactive green would say that it wasn’t a red card offense.
Jon E,
Just watched it and I know that it could have been called a red and was. His hands are going up in front of his face, not out. That is my point. That call is not made most of the time. It wasn’t as blatent as you or Ives make it out to be. Could it be a red? Yes. Could have just as easily been a no call. I am not alone in this view. Sorry
Colin, a clarification: LA’s 6-game non-winning streak continues.
So far XBox pitch has been called Nintendo and Sega pitch…which is hilarious…truly clever. I’m shocked no one has used Atari or Calico Vision pitch yet, maybe I missed it. Truly a witty bunch 😉
Anyway, Sounders didn’t play well against LA’s 10 defenders. So a tie was a just result.
It’s sad the the Revs seemed to have become a 2-person team in the last few weeks. Good to have Reis back in form. Here’s hoping Shalrie can keep it up and the Revs will get healthy in the next few weeks. If it doesn’t happen, here’s to playing 10 men back in hopes of a draw and/or the cellar.
It all depends on where their hands are. His hands were protecting his face, not out…
Posted by: Terry | May 12, 2009 at 12:02 PM
I’m a big fan of Keller, but what you say is factually incorrect.
The video is here: http://web.mlsnet.com/sights/index.jsp?club=mls&year=2009&week=0412
Sounders vs. Wizards. The handball comes about one-quarter of the way into the highlights.
The replay clearly shows that Keller deliberately lifts his hand to the ball in order to deny a clear goal-scoring opportunity. That’s an automatic red card.
If you’re going to reproach Ives for not watching the crucial plays in question, at least try to dispute him on plays about which there can be reasonable argument.
I see the seattle cry babies are back in full force. Ives, you should have included ljungberg in the worst XI for flopping all over the sega genesis pitch, ronaldo style. Magee did have a great week, goal, assist , and baiting a foolish Sounder into a red.
Hey – I don’t sit in the Nordecke. My tickets are in 225 (Upper Deck).
As to the apology to Frankie – I meant if any of the frequent posters here complaining about his play wanted to apologize to him, they should. 🙂
Berhalter may have deserved a yellow, but Riley knocking him over as he goes for the ball was his first yellow, then swinging/punching/slapping/hitting at Magee was his second yellow, so buh bye either way. “Sunday was a travesty”? Really, travesty of what – justice, refereeing, a real pitch?
Brant (third comment),
I just want to say thank you for your comments. At least someone who reads this site has some brains. Furthermore, as a Crew Fan who doesn’t sit in the supporters (nordeck)section of Crew Stadium. Please stop, you are giving the rest of us a bad name. What you did to Blanco after his ACTING job was one thing but this weekend went to far. I mean, even Robbie Rogers was shushing you guys.
We were just speculating last week that Joseph could start (or challenge for the spot) in almost any position on any team in the league. Then he goes and shows us how it’s done up top. This guy is, hands-down, the best all-round player in the league.
There’s no excuse for Weyland’s performance but in the end the sounders also disapointed by making their situation worse. It was obvious pretty early on that A the ref was crap and B the ref wasn’t responsive to getting yelled at. Same goes for Riley, I’d say he should have gotten the same punishment as Magee, whether that’s a yellow or red is up for debate. but he’s got to avoid that situation to begin with.
I hope sounders fans just put this game behind us. I’d rather be talking about why Gordon was completely unmarked on that header than dwelling on a miserable ref who’s bad at his job.
Sean…
LA is my #2 team.. time to wipe
Here’s the clip
http://www.mlsnet.com/quickkicks/index.jsp?page=index&c=QuickKicks&p=501283&s=5018634&i=535735
Hey everyone. Go back to the clip of the Riley red. It is clearly a red and the announcers say so immediately when they see it in the replay. That is a red everywhere everyday. And to think that giving Berhalter a yellow would have calmed down the situation is just dumb. There was no time to do it before the scrum happened. Should he have gotten a yellow afterwards? Sure, but to think that the ref caused it is stupid. Do we all think the telefuturo announcers are pro galaxy. On a wider note, this speaks to the problems with Ives post on the Galaxy conspiracy. Now every time something bad happens to the other team it is because they are playing the Galaxy and we loose any semblance of rational discussion. Then again today does not seem to be the day for rationality.