A pair of key conference clashes provide a special Sunday night treat for MLS fans as the LA Galaxy play host to red-hot FC Dallas (7pm, NBC Sports), and Sporting Kansas City put first place in the East on the line against the New York Red Bulls (9pm, ESPN2).
FC Dallas are charging fast up the Western Conference standings, winners of three straight to move within five points of Vancouver for the fifth and final playoff spot in the West. David Ferreira has been in outstanding form lately and will look to cause problems for a tough LA defense. The Galaxy will be without Landon Doovan, who is still recovering from a hamstring strain.
In the nightcap, Sporting KC looks to make it a 4-0 month of August with a win against a Red Bulls side that can move into first place with a victory. Thierry Henry is missing the match after the recent birth of his son, but New York will still feature Tim Cahill, Sebastien LeToux and Kenny Cooper.
If you will be watching tonight's matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
Agreed. Twellman was, dare I say, decent tonight. I hope he keeps this trend up.
True, but he’s actually criticizing players and making reasonable tactical comments. Usually, he’s only a small step above John harkes.
Still needs to work on the banter with broadcast partner thing.
What’s with this disturbing trend from Taylor Twellman? He keeps making sense tonight….
I laughed at your comment as I weep for the consequences of this move. Our little Hans can help himself.
Two elbows from Collin, 1 yellow card. About what I’d expect.
Also, the Red Bulls apparently give up the same kind of goal regardless of who plays at left back for them. Half expecting Roy Miller to be blamed.
Would like to know Backe’s thoughts on Conde at left back over the obvious– moving Pearce.
So Thierry Henry just had a son born in NY. Jurgen better get a move on and cap him already. The kid’s already 3 days old.
Having seen the officials in the CCL matches this week I can’t say MLS officials are worse, but they certainly do seem to be find a way to wreck at least one match every week.
Instead of GOTW and SOTW, perhaps MLS could conduct a Horrible Call of the Week?
Glad folks noticed that Dunivant should have hit the showers 10 minutes in…it won’t be a consolation prize for a now (mostly) healthy team hitting the links early this year. Dudar got sent off for the same foul in midfield last week!
Actually, that’s none of the four CURRENT starting defenders. Gregg Berhalter got at least two red cards in games he started for the Galaxy.
That’s no reds for the four players on the current starting back line. Starting defenders for LA have definitely received reds. Berhalter got at least two reds (both DOGSO) while playing for the Galaxy. One of them was in the first half-hour of the game.
Whine whine whine. You would have lost anyway so shut up.
And on to the KC-NY game, where Hans Backe is already outcoaching himself. Pearce at CB and Conde at LB?!
Pathetic.
Player that should have been ejected 10 minutes into the game scores while a FC Dallas player was down injured from a Galaxy tackle.
What a great statistic. No starting Galaxy defender has ever been red carded in MLS. Ever.
He’s a terror with the ball at his feel, but is inconsistent and often doesn’t play cerebrally. He’s a natural lefty with speed to burn though so he may fit in well as a winger in the 4-3-3 we are basing our senior team and entire youth development system on.
Exactly. Maturity and mental composure.
Er…speaking on Shea getting his ankle trapped by Saunders there.
That looked like it could have been really bad. Like “See you in 2013.” bad. Glad he bounced back in pretty quick.
Saunders took him out and he landed weird.
Can’t watch the game live but saw that Castillo got injured. How did it happen?
It doesn’t matter what minute it was in.
The referee gets no discretion in that call. It’s a straight red, period. He can’t be lenient, he has no leeway.
First minute or last minute doesn’t matter.
That is right up there with the old I have called one Pk I can’t call a second
It was 10 minutes in and sadly that’s what seemed to affect the decision to me.
Arlo on the mark again, should have been a red. Not shocked by the stat no reds ever for the starting back line. I am stunned the galaxy would receive special treatment.
No straight red on that foul… way to go MLS officiating.
Freaking awful officiating. I am so freaking finished with MLS officials.
That’s a straight red card. Period. You can’t give a freaking yellow, that’s not even an option by the laws of the game. Goddam*t why is the refereeing so bad. Learn the freaking rules.
Not sure many people have ever doubted his ability. The majority of the doubts this year have been over his maturity.
Brek Shea tonight, I know some people doubt his ability but Brek could end up being the next face of the USMNT. He has the upside every coach wishes for.