Photo by ISIphotos.com
Without making anybody's head hurt like an episode of Lost, Josh Wolff sure does look like the 2002 version of himself.
Showing the speed and finishing ability that made him a national team fixture earlier this decade, Wolff has emerged as a goal-scoring force once again and his two goals on Saturday helped the Kansas City Wizards climb up the East standings.
Wolff's performance was just one of several impressive ones this past weekend. While there were ties aplenty, we still had our share of great finishes, amazing goals and moments to make MLS fans feel good about the league.
Here is a rundown of the best and worst XI moments, plays, performances and images from MLS Week Nine, as well as the MLS Team of the Week:
MLS Week Nine Best XI
D.C. United's two-goal comeback.
Santino Quaranta's long-range equalizer.
John Wolyniec's stunning 88th-minute equalizer.
Eddie Lewis' Birthday equalizer.
The Telefutura announcer's impromptu rendition of 'Happy Birthday to You'.
Josh Wolff's brace.
Andres Rocha's volley finish.
FC Dallas managing a tie in a match most expect them to lose badly.
Jon Conway's impressive performance after getting back into the lineup.
The Chicago Fire fans that made the trip to BMO Field.
Alex Prus' officiating in the LA-Columbus match.
MLS Week Nine Worst XI
Jorge Rojas' "inadvertent" elbow.
Rojas getting into a shouting match and taking forever to leave the field AFTER the red card.
Tony Sanneh's costly turnover.
Toronto FC's finishing.
The blown offside call on Maykel Galindo's goal (close, but still missed).
Ugo Ihemelu's clumsy penalty-drawing challenge.
Louis Crayton's failure to get to the cross leading to Chivas USA's first goal.
Houston's inability to put away a 10-man Red Bulls squad.
Conor Casey losing his cool and being benched in order to avoid a red card.
The crowd of 8,247 at Pizza Hut Park for FC Dallas-Seattle.
Five ties in seven MLS matches.
SBI MLS Team of the Week (Week 9)
———–Chris Rolfe—————–Josh Wolff——-
——————Guillermo Barros Schelotto———
Colin Clark——————————-Santino Quaranta
————————Jack Jewsbury——————–
Wilman Conde——————————–Tim Ward
——Jhon Kennedy Hurtado—— Bobby Boswell——–
————————–Jon Conway————————
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Honorable Mentions: Kevin Hartman, Dejan Jackovic, Pablo Richetti, Kevin Goldthwaite, Emmanuel Osei, Andres Rocha, Brian McBride, John Wolyniec.
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Some more thoughts on Week Nine:
It wasn't the worst week for referees in my opinion (linesmen might be another story).
I always thought this would be a down year for New England, but things are looking a bit bleak in Revs land. Yes, they still have injuries and expect players to return, but the way the top of the East looks this year I'm not sure New England will be there in the end.
I'm feeling much better about including Tim Ward in my list of potential U.S. national team first-timers after he did so well against Dwayne DeRosario last weekend. I can't say the same for my Sean Franklin pick.
Alfredo Pacheco has gone from playing great his first two games to playing erratically and making costly defensive mistakes. He needs to step his game up if the Red Bulls are to climb out of the East cellar.
This week's Team of the Week wasn't as tough to pick as some other weeks.
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?
Share your thoughts below.
“I’ll agree that Dallas needs to be moved also. But not just the team, the whole city. It ruins the reputation of a great state. :-)”
That’s why the stadium (and my house) is in Frisco. 🙂
Like someone else here said – no team with a stadium that can at least break even is going anywhere. FCD’s business plan leans heavily on concerts, so they are going nowhere. Frisco is one of the fastest growing cities in Texas, so give the team a few years and the right mix of people will pile in every week.
I’ll agree that Dallas needs to be moved also. But not just the team, the whole city. It ruins the reputation of a great state. 🙂
Jon – “Was Wolff’s first goal onsides or offsides (looked offsides to me but it was close )fine it counted as a goal”
he was on the half line when the ball was kicked, impossible to be offide and he was even with the defender reguardless (check the MLSNET highlights, 2 views of it)… Espindolas was offside, the replay showed it, by about a step, correct call… RSL fans seem to be complaining and reaching for excuses this week, just get over it, the cleary better team on that day won
I agree with the linesman comment. In the RSL v. KC match, the same linesman who ruled (correctly) that Wolff was onsides for his goal, ruled that Espindola was offsides (incorrectly) for his goal.
They were both very close calls, but you would expect consistency with giving the benefit of the doubt when it is that close to the attacker.
“Conway had one great save and one lucky one, but he still looks shaky out there.”
not only did conway save a goal, he saved himself from bum of the week. he watched the ball as it slowly rolled into the penalty box, past him, and out, when it was petke (i think) who touched it last, not a houston player. then as houston’s setting up for the corner, he has the audacity to laugh (his face was on the jumbotron) like it was no big deal. he’s lucky he made that crazy save or i’d be calling for his head, and danny in goal. dumbass.
Once and for all-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFNVnpUbicU
Goto 2:49 and watch please. The ball is played while he is clearly onsides. Sorry Seattle, blame your RB, not the linesman.
Would have to agree about the linesmen, the equalizer in the Seattle – Dallas match was pretty blatantly offside.
FC Dallas needs to move out of Frisco, and move back to Dallas where they will attract MORE FANS!
Props to the TFC FO and security for making the game as trouble free as can be.
Plain and simple, the Revs need a striker right now. Mansally and Dube can complement someone who’s good, but without either a target striker to balance the attack with their speed (plus Nyassi and Wells) or a very good striker (Twellman), they’re not getting it done. Though hopefully as the injuries subside, the team will get enough routine going that things will flow again.
Tim
If you go over someone’s house and have their soup, do you throw a hissy fit because said host likes onion in his or her soup? I bet not. So what’s with the name calling and hissy fit you’re directing at Ives for calling out Houston for their lack of finishing?
This is Ives’ house and the Worst/Best XI is his soup. Disagree all you want but don’t stoop down to name calling. Just have the soup.
And Tim, riddle me this…how do you explain NYRB’s thrashing of Houston 3-0 last season *AT* Houston or the 0-0 against NYRB *AT* Houston and just plain not finishing against 10 men? Cut the crap and just take it like a man.
Ward – agreed. Rolfe – agreed.
The difference in Chicago’s right flank from last year to this is light years. Ward is athletic, quick and fast, unlike Prideaux, and can actually move convincingly into offense. Prideaux with the ball at 25 – 30 yards away from the opposing goal is not threatening at all; Ward is capable of testing a keeper from that distance and I don’t think it will be long before we see him put one in.
Lets throw in another horrible performance by an AR this last week..RSL v KC!!! Was Wolff’s first goal onsides or offsides (looked offsides to me but it was close )fine it counted as a goal…but that same AR on an even closer offsides call (Espindola) in the second half raises his flag. Espindola was much more onsides than Wolff and yet his goal was disallowed. That AR is the exact problem with MLS officiating INCONSITANT. Wolff was deemed onsides (questionable at best ) fine, but late in the match to deem Espindola offsides (when he was much easier to distinguish as being onsides) is pathetic and the reason fans continue to complain and walk away from MLS matches unimpressed. Espindolas volley goal was pure class that was unjustly taken away by an AR who was way out of his league.
NM- inadvertent…. arm was at his side