The opening week of 2012 MLS action concludes with tonight's Portland-Philadelphia clash, and we have already had seen several outstanding team performances to start the year.
Whether it was Real Salt Lake's impressive win against LA, to Vancouver's outstanding victory against expansion side Montreal, there were some matches that had to leave fans excited about what lies ahead in 2012.
Which team impressed you the most in this weekend's MLS action? We don't just mean which team looked the strongest, but rather which team left you surprised and encouraged for the upcoming season?
Cast your vote here:
Who did you vote for? Was it RSL for their strong second-half showing vs. LA, or was it FC Dallas for outplaying the Red Bulls? How about Vancouver's fast attack, or did you prefer Colorado's comprehensive performance against Columbus.
Share your thoughts below.
To say they are the best team…fine. I might even agree with you. I think Seattle is better, but there are quite a few great teams.
To say SLC are head and shoulders above is just dumb.
I’m not sure where you’re getting that from. A 2-2 draw at home is not a good result for TFC.
The Timmbers
+1
#BeatSantos
Toronto FC > LA Galaxy … this coming from a Galaxy fan
That implies we actually care what your name means.
Estrada’s a Samurai?
+1
http://pain-machine.blogspot.com/2012/03/house-of-rising-sounders.html
you guys keep saying that its one game to will see what happens in Oct. In case youd did not see the title of the story it’s “Which team impressed the most in MLS Week 1?” and the pole Questiosn was,”Which MLS team impressed you the most in the opening weekend?”
“They are by far the best team in the League.”
Ha: a single game in the books and the overrating of RSL is already underway. Good to see some things don’t change.
LA impressed me the most. They dominated. If Magee had been successful in his bicycle kick attempt off of Beck’s pass, that wouldve been the goal of the century. LA was not defeated, RSL got lucky. I bet you dunces dont know what my name means w/out having to look it up.
For real, Garson are legit. Can’t wait to see Enzo, too. From what I saw of him in the preseason, he may take a bit longer to find his place and form for RSL, but the hype around him suggests that he can be a real contributor for the team this year, too. VERY excited to see how these young/new guys (incl. Steele, Tanaka, too) do this year.
The Sounders in CONCACAF quarters. 🙂
We get defensive when the internet hates on LA, but for what, really? RSL was the better team on the night, fair and square. If you want to ignore the fact LA played in Toronto three days before, that’s your prerogative. I’m sure RSL fans will recall last year when their team was competing in CCL and MLS, doing well in the former and sucking in the latter. MLS teams are inherently devoid of depth due to the salary cap. Arena (wrongfully) played basically the same lineup in both games. When we see a team sufficiently compete in two or three competitions simultaneously, then we’ll know we’ve arrived as a league. /end defense.
RSL did not impress me because I expected them to be in very fine form.
Dallas had a lot of question marks and they showed me something.
No Redbulls? lol
Where’s this whining about which you are incessantly whining?
What’s awesome is RSL managed to quietly add depth this year while getting younger. And what a find in Velasquez. Kreis and Lagerway continue to be the best in the league. This RSL team is more determined than ever to win in MLS this year and get into qualifying in CCL for 2013.
World class is debate able but yes he is a good defender. The first goal could have happened with or without Omar. But the ball shouldn’t have gotten that far after two fouls that resulted in the cross in the box.
But to base all this off one game is purely ridiculous. It is game one of the season not October.
Clarks right in that LA’s so top heavy that if Keane is unlucky or on assignment with Ireland (same goes for beckham, buddle and donovan with their respective NT’s) then you’re left with a handful of solid players like McGee and Sarvas and then after that it just drops off.
And Will Johnson.
you mean DEPRESSION. NY is just praying for the Cosmos to hit MLS.
Look everyone wants there team to be the best team, and they will say that. However, Ithink RSL has a good argument for this. Go position by position on the field, with every teams starters, and I bet you RSL has at least 8 of those players listed in the top 3, if not the top at their position in the league. What other team can say that? 2ND to that look at the depth? I believe you then find out who’s really the best team. It’s the first game of the year, so the only thing it tells me, is that LA is out of shape and/or the coach isn’t that great. RSL had the same scheduling problems (if not worse) in their CCL run.
A lot of people are forgetting that RSL was not close to being at full strength. Yeah, Morales and Saborio came in for the final 30 minutes, but RSL was still missing starters to end the game (including Borchers).
Week 1 is over?
None
We might be one game into this season but RSL has been one of the best teams for the past three seasons. They picked up right where they left off.
Name another side in MLS that plays as well from back to front as RSL. LA doesn’t they bypass the midfield constantly. Seatle might be close, maybe Dallas but RSL for my money is the best team in MLS.
Without Omar, who is world class and will soon leave, the Gals will be exposed over and over again this season at the back. I made no statement of past achievement, to restate, you rely upon three people and one isn’t going to be playing the regular season. Omar is that good that he raised the level of an otherwise just average backline and allowed them to pose as competent. The FO will be scrambling for CB cover and potentially GK cover when the summer window opens.
Bing!
The defense held up nice, though they left Angel unmarked on headers twice.
As for Watson, he would follow up a beautiful interception or dribble with a weak pass that was easily picked off.
I Wish Camargo hadn’t had so many issues with ICE this preseason and could have had more time to get in shape.
Also think Ching should have come out for Kandji 10 minutes sooner. Also wish Ching and Bruin hadn’t squandered breakaways on goal. Kudos to Dan Kennedy’s keeping, but they helped him a lot.
Dude, it’s only been one game! Also, if it were a “perfect world” the Galaxy still have the fire power as does New York but the world isn’t perfect. Houston has the best defense but is lacking in the midfield, especially on the right. Losing Brian Mullen really hurt, as did losing Dwayne DeRosario, Stewart Holden, Ricardo Clark, etc. Bottom line, Real Salt Lake is a great team but they are by no means the best team in MLS.
Len?
Yes an overrated team that won the supporter’s shield (the best record) two years in a row. That’s a whole lot overrated going on.
Houston played terrible but Chivas played worse. They were at home, they’re supposed to dictate the course of the game and they didn’t. Houston just out hustled them. Our guys need to step it up if they wanna beat the better teams. The attacking midfielder Je Vaugn Watson has terrible at trying to be a playmaker. His passes were either to soft, to hard, off target, passing behind our players, it was sad. I was expecting our high priced Brazilian, Luiz Camargo to play but he sat on the bench. Guess he’s still out of shape?
Agreed. Two fouls led to a fluky goal which took the air out of the team. You could see it on the field right after that. But so much is being taken from this one game. It is still a long season ahead who knows what will happen come October.
On another day RSL don’t hit a crossbar and a post against LA last year in the playoffs and LA wouldn’t be celebrating an MLS Cup. The amount of whining by Gals fans is nauseating, take your just desserts, you have an overrated team with an overrated manager that plays long ball. Blame the ref, the post, the travel all you want.. The fault lies in the fact that your team relies upon three people, one of whom is hurt the bulk of the season, instead of relying upon the entire 11. Thus the wages of the DP team.
If you’re the MLS Champion, you don’t squander a 1-0 lead in the 80th minute, you hold it down. Real Salt Lake scored 3 goals with roughly 10 minutes or so left. That’s ridiculous. The game is 90 minutes. Fitness is key. The Galaxy blew it. If a movie starts out great, has great stuff in the middle but falls flat on it’s face at the end it’s considered a bad movie. That’s how it works.
That’s a lot to say one game into the season…
No need to apologize to Goats fans, there aren’t any.
Salt Lake played really well. They are by far the best team in the League. LA is good but not a great team. They can counterattack better than anybody but as far as a complete team, RSL is head and shoulders above everyone else.
I was impressed that my Dynamo managed to steal 3 points and generally boss the game despite some of the laziest and least inspired attacking play I’ve seen in a while.
Maybe Chivas is just that bad (sorry Goats fans).
They couldn’t convert chances. On another day it’s 2-0 at half and game over.
Why weren’t my Columbus crew on that list?…. Oh right.
Am I the only one that thought LA played really well?
The Red Bulls left the strongest impression.
Kevin Stott for not knowing what a handball was
Toronto FC
i’m not bias!