Davy Arnaud scored Montreal Impact's first ever MLS goal

MONTREAL IMPACT 1-1 CHICAGO FIRE

A crowd of close to 60,000 saw Davy Arnaud score Montreal’s first ever MLS goal and earn them their first point in the competition.

After Patrick Nyarko had twice gone close for the fire in the opening 15 minutes, captain Arnaud arrived late in the box to head home an inch-perfect Sanna Nyassi cross just before the hour.

Dominic Oduro levelled things up when he turned in a hopeful ball into the six-yard box from Sebastian Grazzini and debutant goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi kept Frank Klopas’ side on level terms with a save from Nyassi at his near post.

Josh Gardner almost snatched a fairytale win for Jesse Marsch’s men in the fifth minute of stoppage time but his speculative 35-yard drive pinged back off the post with Tornaghi beaten.

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SEATTLE SOUNDERS 3-1 TORONTO FC

David Estrada announced himself to Seattle fans with a hat-trick in a routine win over Toronto FC

The opener came on 17 minutes after Milos Kocic spilled a low Alvaro Fernandez cross and the Mexican-born forward made space to fire low into the net.

He slotted home a second from another Fernandez pass early in the second half, and only a desperate saving tackle from Richard Eckersley prevented Sounders captain Mauro Rosales from making it three.

Ryan Johnson scored the pick of the goals for the visitors just after the hour mark, carrying the ball down the right before cutting inside and curling a sumptuous strike in off the far post from 25 yards

But any hope they had was extinguished a minute later as Estrada played a one-two with Fernandez and emphatically blasted a low shot in at the near post.

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FC DALLAS 1-1 PORTLAND TIMBERS

Panamanian striker Blas Lopez opened his Dallas account but it wasn’t enough to edge an even contest in Texas.

Perez reacted quickest when Troy Perkins could only parry a low driven effort from youngster Bryan Leyva, but only the width of a post prevented the Timbers from going into the break level after Lovel Palmer rose well to meet a curling Jack Jewsbury free-kick.

Nagbe, a half-time substitute for Jorge Perlaza, collecting an horrific Daniel Hernandez clearance to roll the ball past Kevin Hartman.

Kris Boyd scored in the opening-day win over Philadelphia and looked hungry for goals once more, forcing two strong saves from Hartman as the half wore on, but in the end the draw was fair to both sides.

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SPORTING KANSAS CITY 3-0 NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

An early red card for Stephen McCarthy set New England on the way to a heavy defeat, their second reversal of the campaign after falling to San Jose last week.

Centre-back McCarthy was the last man when he dragged back CJ Sapong but the forward was some distance from goal and Revs coach Jay Heaps may feel hard done by at the decision.

The man advantage allowed Sporting’s full-backs to get forward and Seth Sinovic did so to great effect for the opener, swinging in a deep cross which Kei Kamara fired back across goal for Graham Zusi to scramble in from on the deck.

Former Revs man Sinovic had a hand in the second as well, combining well with Bobby Convey to find Kamara, who fired home at the second attempt after Matt Reis blocked his first effort.

Sapong made it three from another Sinovic delivery, and should have added another but fired wide after rounding Reis, while Chance Myers’ late header smacked against the bar as the hosts completed a resounding victory.

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CHIVAS USA 0-1 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

Jay DeMerit’s first Vancouver goal was enough to earn Martin Rennie’s side back-to-back wins after the opening-day triumph over Montreal.

Joe Cannon was the busier of the two goalkeepers early on, twice denying Ryan Smith and athletically tipping over a Casey Townsend curler, but he was forced off injured late in the first half to give Brad Knighton his Whitecaps debut.

Chivas carried less of a threat going forward after the break, and when David Chiumiento swung in a 68^th-minute corner captain DeMerit was on hand to plant a diving header into the bottom corner and give his side their first ever away win in Major League Soccer.

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REAL SALT LAKE 2-0 NEW YORK RED BULLS

New York’s defensive frailties were on evidence for a second successive week, with Hans Backe’s side succumbing to RSL after falling to Dallas on matchday one.

Rookie goalkeeper Ryan Meara needed to be alert to deny Paulo Junior on 35 minutes, but was helpless shortly after as the Brazilian’s ball from deep put Fabian Espindola in the clear to drill between Meara’s legs for the opener.

Sebastian Velazquez, who scored as Jason Kreis’ side won in LA last week, helped create the second with a run which wasn’t picked up by the Red Bulls defence. Meara smothered Espindola’s effort but the ball dropped for Luis Gil to fire into the unguarded net.

Thierry Henry came closest to reviving the visitors’ hopes with an improvised bicycle kick which dropped just wide, before Meara prevented a third when his kick-save kept out a deflected Javi Morales cross.

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SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 0-1 HOUSTON DYNAMO

A moment of madness from Jon Busch handed a second successive away victory to Houston following their late triumph over Chivas USA in week one.

Chris Wondolowski threatened early, hitting the post from a near-impossible angle, before Busch gifted the Dynamo a penalty by clattering into Bryan Ching and Brad Davis scored from the spot.

A hectic minute’s play around the hour could have seen either team score. First Tally Hall kept out a powerful Wondolowski effort, then the visitors broke well and after Busch failed to claim a high ball Will Bruin’s low shot was deflected wide by the goalkeeper.

San Jose had their own claims for a penalty in stoppage time after Wondolowski’s free-kick hit the hand of Adam Moffat in the wall, but referee Chris Penso waved away the claims.

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LOS ANGELES GALAXY 3-1 DC UNITED (Sunday)

Robbie Keane struck twice as LA recovered well from an opening-day defeat against Real Salt Lake.

Dwayne De Rosario came close to catching out Josh Saunders from 50 yards while David Beckham twice threatened from range, but it was Keane who struck first on the stroke of half-time after Todd Dunivant’s unselfish header across goal gave him a simple tap-in.

The Irishman lashed home a second after determined work in midfield from Landon Donovan and Brazilian midfielder headed in number three from a Beckham cross five minutes from time.

However there was still time for Nick DeLeon to find a consolation, collecting a pass from Marcelo Saragosa and curling in off the far post.

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PHILADELPHIA UNION 1-2 COLORADO RAPIDS (Sunday)

Philadelphia were masters of their downfall for a second week running as they succumbed to a narrow defeat against 10-man Colorado.

Lionard Pajoy and Danny Mwanga both threatened in the first half before Zac MacMath handed the visitors a 56^th-minute lead when he dropped a cross at the feet of Jaime Castrillon who couldn’t help but score his first Rapids goal.

Jeff Larentowicz saw red for a late and dangerous tackle on Keon Daniel, but just after the hour rookie Tony Cascio capitalised on a slip from Chris Albright to race clear and slam home the visitors’ second.

Roger Torres was brought on as a sub for the hosts and his delivery was nodded home by Pajoy to halve the deficit, and Michael Farfan came close to an equaliser when his lob beat Matt Pickens but came back off the crossbar, but in the end Piotr Nowak’s side ran out of time.

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Hamdi Salihi will look to get among the goals for DC United

It’s almost as if it has never been away. Barely 100 days after the Beckham-Keane-Donovan axis gave Los Angeles Galaxy their first MLS Cup victory in six years, the new season is already upon us, complete with a new addition in the form of Montreal impact, new coaches in the form of Jay Heaps, Martin Rennie, Oscar Pareja and Jesse Marsch, and of course a whole host of new players.

Over the close season the ‘new player’ role was occupied by a number of MLS stars trying their luck with clubs overseas, or simply providing a glimpse of their talents in training sessions. Some (Robbie Keane and Thierry Henry) had more success than others (George John and Omar Gonzalez), while one – Tim Ream – even earned himself a permanent move abroad with Bolton Wanderers.

Now with the first kick of the 2012 campaign just days away, it is time to look at a few of those aiming to earn hero status in their first season Stateside.

1. KRIS BOYD

Back in 2001 (was it really that long ago?), a tricky Scottish striker by the name of John Spencer arrived in Major League Soccer following a successful career in England with Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.

There is no doubt he was approaching the twilight of his career, but the man from Glasgow proved to Colorado Rapids fans that he still had a few good years left in him, finding the net 14 times in each of his first two seasons before retiring in 2004. This year sees the cycle continue as Spencer, now coach of the Portland Timbers, has recruited another Scotsman in Kris Boyd to lead the line.

The all-time record goalscorer in the Scottish Premier League despite making less than 300 appearances, a couple of less-than-impressive stints in England and Turkey are unlikely to have dampened the 28-year-old’s enthusiasm or his clinical finishing.

After a year of frustration watching the misfiring Kenny Cooper labour towards eight league goals before departing for New York, if Boyd hits the ground running he can quickly become a favourite with the Timbers Army, and a debut strike in Sunday’s friendly against AIK suggests those in green and white have every reason to be excited.

2. HAMDI SALIHI

Considering the previous campaign’s pitiful return of 22 points, last season ought to be viewed positively by fans of DC United. That it won’t be is largely due to the late-season collapse which saw defensive frailties remain (understandable given the relative youth of the back four plus goalkeeper Bill Hamid) while the attacking threat of mid-season dissipated in a run of one point and six goals from the final six outings.

Much of that, some feel, may have been down to Ben Olsen’s refusal to give Charlie Davies more game-time, a decision touched upon by the player in a recent interview. The US international had held the mantle of top goalscorer for the early part of the year before being surpassed by Dwayne De Rosario both as regular starter and regular scorer, and faded badly, failing to score after September’s thrilling hat-trick against Chivas USA.

Whether this comes down to the loanee running out of steam after having missed a year through injury or whether a lack of managerial faith lead to his downfall remains a matter of debate, but all that is certain is that Davies returned to parent club Sochaux in the close-season and needed replacing. The man chosen by United to fulfil that role is Hamdi Salihi, a relatively unheralded (among the world’s elite at least) Albanian striker who has been tearing up trees in the Austrian league with Rapid Vienna, hitting 57 goals in just 95 appearances.

A clinical finisher, as his better than a goal every two games scoring record in Austria and his homeland demonstrate, adjusting to the demands of Major League Soccer ought not to be an issue for the 28-year-old. If he can form a quick understanding with De Rosario and potentially bring the best out of young winger Andy Najar following the Honduran’s difficult second season, then the jump into the playoff spots should be a formality.

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3. ATIBA HARRIS

Not a new signing per se, but after injury limited him to just five appearances for the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2011 he will certainly seem like one. A strong display in the season-opening demolition of Toronto FC and a second goal against Sporting Kansas City were a taste of things to come, but the St Kitts international never got the chance to push on.

With new midfield enforcer Barry Robson not due to arrive at BC Place until the summer, Harris may be required to begin the season in a deeper role behind the club’s wealth of attacking talent: Sebastien Le Toux has arrived from Philadelphia as an obvious partner for fellow Frenchman Eric Hassli, while the supporting cast of Camilo and Davide Chiumiento will look to play an active tole as they did in 2011.

What’s more, new coach Rennie will be expecting big things of young forwards Omar Salgado and Long Tan in their sophomore seasons with the club, all of which could leave Gershon Koffie as a rather isolated figure as the most natural holding midfielder in the Caps squad.

Harris may be required to sit a little deeper as the season kicks off, giving Koffie the confidence to develop his game and forming a link between midfield and attack which was lacking at times last year. Later in the campaign, though, as the squad inevitably becomes stretched, opportunities to contribute further forward may arise, and this could prove a fruitful season for Vancouver if they manage to get the best out of the former Dallas man.

150 career league goals make Anelka an asset to any club

Cast your mind back to the summer of 1997. A divisive Democrat was in the White House, a young and media-friendly Prime Minister had recently come to power in the UK, and an androgynous teen was troubling the charts with an infectious brand of pop music.

More than fourteen years later and only the names have changed: replace Clinton, Blair and Hanson with Obama, Cameron and Bieber and the story remains the same. And there is a similar theme with Abdul-Salam Bilal, or – as he was legally known in the 1990s – Nicolas Anelka.

It was actually in February 1997 that a young Anelka first arrived in London, the city which three months later would welcome Tony Blair’s Labour government with wide-eyed optimism.

A graduate of the prestigious Clairefontaine academy on the outskirts of the French capital, the lanky, nonchalant Versailles-born striker arrived at Arsenal with a nervous swagger and teenage moustache, and an aura which would soon come to reflect much of what the Gunners represented under the prolonged tutelage of then-relatively unknown Arsène Wenger.

Wenger’s £500,000 investment would soon turn into an effective £20m plus the twilight years of Davor Šuker as Anelka was shipped off to Real Madrid, but not before helping Arsenal to a famous league-and-cup double.

That was supposed to be the start of a world-beating career for the man who would several years later convert to Islam and change his name, and for all his off-field and international têtes-à-tête few can criticise his consistency at club level.

However this season, at the age of 32, Anelka has faced a genuine struggle for goals for the first time since those distant days in Madrid.

As with the earlier spell he lacks a manager prepared to put faith in him, something emphasised by André Villas-Boas’ recent proclamation that Anelka – along with Brazilian centre-back Alex – would be allowed to find a new club.

Over the course of his 15-year-career Anelka has played for eight clubs in four different countries, but he could soon be set to up those numbers to nine and five respectively following talks with MLS expansion side Montreal Impact – talks which head coach Jesse Marsch have been described as “very good.”

The willingness of the striker to pursue a new deal immediately rather than sitting out his Chelsea contract suggests his main priority is to keep playing regularly and prolong an already-impressive career as much as possible.

This also ought to have set off alarm bells in the heads of the Impact’s rivals, perhaps encouraging them to get on the phone right away.

Some might be concerned by the MLS adventures of another former Arsenal and France striker, but they shouldn’t be.

Thierry Henry has been associated to various degrees with some of the off-field problems experienced by the New York Red Bulls – albeit not as much as some other members of the squad – but that should not be used to disguise the positive goalscoring contribution he has made over the last 18 or so months.

If any club (not just Montreal) can get Anelka firing on all cylinders – or even a small fraction of his cylinders – and doing so within a system where he is free to enjoy his soccer and live comfortably, then the finishing instinct which showed its face so well in England, France and Turkey will surely show its face once more.

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Furthermore, as with his spells in Bolton and (to a slightly lesser extent) Manchester, an in-form Anelka can be all it takes to force nominally lesser players to up their game.

The outstanding issue, of course, is the unwanted ‘Le Sulk’ reputation which has harshly but at times justifiably overshadowed a fine career to date.

Major League Soccer is well set for hard-working forwards, while most clubs have at least one skilful foil for a target man. Too few, however, have the complete package – that is why even now Nicolas Anelka would be an asset to any team in the competition.

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]]> http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/mls-move-more-than-just-one-last-payday-for-nicolas-anelka/feed/ 0 http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/adriano-comparisons-will-worry-maicon-santos/ http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/adriano-comparisons-will-worry-maicon-santos/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:00:21 +0000 Tom Victor http://www.footymatters.com/?p=12378

Has Maicon Santos played his last game in an FC Dallas shirt?

When Maicon Santos arrived at FC Dallas in August in a trade for Eric Avila, it seemed like the perfect fit.

Struggling for a focal point up front after the fruitful Milton Rodriguez-David Ferreira partnership was destroyed by serious injury to the latter, Schellas Hyndman’s Dallas side had persisted with pretty much anyone they could find up front, including many who were not even close to being suited to lead the line such as utility man Jackson and talented-yet-lightweight winger Fabian Castillo.

Maicon, who had fulfilled the role at previous club Toronto FC with some aplomb, seemed right for a system where players consistently break from midfield to support a striker whose role is to link up play arguably more than merely finding the back of the net. As if to emphasise the reliance on goals from midfield, 26 of the club’s 42 goals last season came from midfielders.

Meanwhile, Avila’s exit was seen as a loss, but one which was not necessarily too disheartening. The 24-year-old had won a place in fans’ hearts with a super-sub display in 2010’s Western Conference Semifinal, coming off the bench to score the winner in the home leg against Real Salt Lake.

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However, he failed to fully build on last season’s promise and was marginalised somewhat by the emergence of youngster Ruben Luna and Brazilian newcomer Ricardo Villar, making just five starts in 2010 as a consequence.

Still, while Avila impressed enough north of the border to be protected by Toronto coach Aron Winter in the Expansion Draft, Maicon had no such luck, and his tenure in the hoops of FC Dallas could be brought to an end after just four months as the club declined their option on him. At the very least we will see a renegotiation on what one can only assume will be far less favourable terms than the $126,000 salary currently taken home by the Paracambi native.

A powerful yet erratic striker with a hammer of a left foot, Maicon instantly draws comparisons with fellow Brazilian Adriano. While not quite reaching the world-beating status of the former Serie A star, the 27-year-old has the same tendency to produce the unthinkable and spectacular in front of goal.

This was best shown during his 13 months in Toronto, where his strong partnership with Dwayne De Rosario added an aspect of entertainment to Nick Dasovic’s damage-limitation job in the second half of 2010.

Unfortunately his eye for the unexpected has also been realised in the spectacular and often unfathomable misses such as the one for Toronto against Chivas USA in April, surely leaving coaches tearing their hair out in frustration.

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When De Rosario left for New York in April a conveyor belt of strike-partners followed due to Winter’s persistence with 4-3-3, but at first this did not seem too much of an issue as Maicon both earned the club captaincy and came close to recognition in the MLS All Star XI over the summer.

However the all-too-frequent lack of a recognised crosser may have frustrated the striker, who began to shoot from increasingly ridiculous positions as the season drew on. While that strategy may be endearing at first, particularly if it results in a wonder-goal or two, eventually fans begin to look at shots-to-goals ratios and don’t enjoy what they see.

This was perhaps more of an issue in Toronto, a club which barely has the luxury to persist with one low-scoring striker, let alone the several to have graced the turf at BMO Field in 2011. To put things in perspective, while De Rosario and Koevermans scored 23 goals between them in just 35 starts (and a further four games from the bench) in the last two years, the countless other forwards to have turned out in the same time period found the net just 37 times in 139 starts and 63 substitute appearances.

However, while the relative urgency was less in Texas, this also made Maicon more dispensible, with less of an opportunity for him to play himself back into form. In that sense, his return of two goals from 12 appearances is hardly surprising, but at the same time the league’s financial structure – coupled with the turn of Ferreira in 2012 – may have convinced Hyndman that the club’s money would be better spent elsewhere.

When a similar fate befell Adriano at Inter, the solution was a (initially temporary) return to his homeland with Sao Paulo. It would certainly be a shame to see Maicon do the same, as his contribution to MLS over the last 18 months suggests he still has plenty to offer.

He just needs to find a club which can afford such a luxury player, and the concern for him will be that these kinds of club are becoming fewer and further between.

The signing of Davy Arnaud is a major coup

While plenty will happen between now and the time Montreal Impact first take to the field for an MLS match, the signings made in last week’s Expansion Draft (and the trades which have followed) should give Jesse Marsch’s team confidence ahead of their debut campaign in the competition.

Unlike previous expansion sides Vancouver and Portland, Montreal had the advantage of having a full crop of unprotected players to choose from in the draft without the fear that another new entrant might usurp some of the club’s plans.

Few of the additions made onlookers ask too many questions, although the recruitment of three left-backs initially raised some eyebrows (more on that later), but some of the new team-mates added to marquee signing Nelson Rivas stand out more than others.

Ignoring Brian Ching, whose future at the club (and indeed in professional soccer) remains somewhat in doubt after he threatened to retire if selected by Montreal, here are five of the players who can make a big difference as Marsch’s side look to become the first team since Seattle in 2009 to mark their debut season with playoff qualification.

ZAREK VALENTIN

Part of the all-conquering Akron Zips college outfit which also included Portland Timbers starlet Darlington Nagbe and DC United defenders Chris Korb and Perry Kitchen, Valentin was somewhat surprisingly left unprotected by Chivas USA after an impressive rookie season.

The 20-year-old made 25 appearances, the bulk of them at right-back, and coach Robin Fraser was optimistic to say the least in thinking he could survive the draft with Valentin’s registration intact. Seemingly seeing the error of his ways Fraser was quick to recruit another Impact signing, James Riley, within hours of the Canadian club completing their selections.

SANNA NYASSI

Gambian international Nyassi will hope he can settle down after his third trade in two years. Despite a strong 2010 campaign with Seattle he was left unprotected and snapped up by Vancouver but immediately sent on his way to Colorado. Somewhat surprisingly it took the flying winger several months to open his goalscoring account for the Rapids, but he did so in style with a hat-trick in July’s 4-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.

Unplayable when on form, he does have a tendency to go missing but is worth having in the squad for the moments of genius which fans will be hoping to see a lot more of in 2012.

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JUSTIN MAPP

One of those players who impresses more the closer you look at his game, Mapp was one of the unsung heroes of Philadelphia’s first ever run to the playoffs. He may not be the paciest player in the league, but always seems to be in plenty of space when he receives the ball, and almost always knows what to do when he gets it.

A level-headed player to boot, the 27-year-old brings a wealth of MLS experience which should prove crucial to the development of this young team, and his travails with another Expansion club in Pennsylvania will ensure he knows what to look out for when trying to bring the best out of a diverse and unfamiliar group of team mates.

JUSTIN BRAUN

Another player like Nyassi who can crop up with the occasional magnificent performance, another thing the former Chivas man has in common with his new team-mate is a 2011 hat-trick against New York. Braun’s came at the Red Bull Arena in May, and he followed it up with another treble in a 3-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo just two months later.

While 17 goals in two seasons should not be sniffed at, there is more to Braun’s game than mere firepower, and his strong hold-up play will give Marsch the option of playing him as a lone striker. What’s more, at 24 he is one for the future, yet recent campaigns demonstrate he has plenty to offer right now.

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DAVY ARNAUD

The most recent addition to Marsch’s squad, Arnaud’s arrival as part of a trade which sent Seth Sinovic back to Kansas answers the question ‘why did Montreal sign three left-backs?’

Former Sporting Kansas City club captain Arnaud had spent his whole career with the club, starting more than 200 games and completing close to 20,000 minutes in a Sporting Kansas City (or until 2011 Kansas City Wizards) shirt. While he started fewer than half of the side’s games last season and failed to find the net in MLS action, he still has plenty to give and could easily emulate the form of another former Kansas City man at an expansion side, Portland’s Jack Jewsbury.

Rising MLS stars like Ashtone Morgan could be crucial to Canada's development

In the last seven days a Canadian midfielder has scored in the Champions League, while one of his compatriots netted his third goal of the season in the English Premier League.

A third is first-choice goalkeeper for a club top of their Europa League group, while the quartet is completed by a 2008 Champions League winner.

The problem? None of the four has played a single competitive minute for the Canadian national side.

While there remains hope that Junior Hoilett and Dutch under-21 international Jonathan de Guzman might be talked round, Asmir Begovic and Owen Hargreaves are long gone, defecting to Bosnia and England respectively years ago, and the country’s soccer authorities are concerned about more slipping through the net.

This is one convenient excuse, although by no means the only reason, for Canada not qualifying for a single World Cup since their debut appearance in 1986.

While soccer is by no means the primary or even the secondary sport in the country, a population of more than 34 million ought to produce sufficient players of the calibre required. However, in recent years they have missed out on a World Cup berth to the likes of Costa Rica (population 4.6m), Jamaica (2.8m) and Trinidad and Tobago (1.2m), on the last three occasions not even qualifying for the six-team final-round qualifying group in the CONCACAF region.

With two of the nation’s better players – Dwayne De Rosario and Julian de Guzman – getting on in years, and with a relatively conquerable third-round group of Honduras, Cuba and Panama, 2014 could be the best shot at qualification or at least an improved showing for some time.

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Up until the start of the 2011 season both De Rosario and the elder de Guzman brother were plying their trade with Canada’s premier club side Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

Optimists believed a strong showing under new coach Aron Winter (or before him under Preki) could act as a catalyst for the national side to flourish, but after five years in the league the Reds are still looking for their first taste of the playoffs.

They have now been joined in the competition by the Vancouver Whitecaps and 2012 expansion side Montreal Impact, and while the former may have finished bottom of the pack in their debut season there is still room for optimism on the national stage ahead of the crunch stages of qualification for Brazil 2014.

After something of a slow start, Winter began to draw better performances from a relatively inexperienced squad towards the end of the campaign, with striker Danny Koevermans’ goals-per-90 minutes ratio the best in the league.

While the Dutchman is (along with de Guzman and Torsten Frings) one of the big names likely to attract crowds after the April departure of De Rosario, from an international perspective the performances of Terry Dunfield are not to be sniffed at.

One of the 11 players protected from being snapped up by Montreal in last night’s Expansion Draft, Dunfield has recovered from failing to break through at Manchester City to force his way into a starting berth through hard work and guile. In short, his development is something for others to aspire to.

Meanwhile, more big foreign names could be making their way to Montreal once the Expansion Draft dust has settled, but if coach Jesse Marsch manages to build a strong local core to accompany the likes of Nelson Rivas then it could do wonders for the national game. That said, one of the more high-profile Canadian squad-members, Ali Gerba, was overlooked ahead of the club’s MLS debut.

As far as the third Canadian MLS side is concerned, Dunfield’s departure left young winger Russell Teibert as the only player from the country to feature in the first team for Tom Soehn’s Whitecaps. However he, along with Toronto youngsters Ashtone Morgan and Matt Stinson, is the kind of player that national team coach Stephen Hart will surely be considering for the future.

The continued development of Canada’s growing MLS contingent can only be a good thing when it comes to persuading the next batch of upstarts to give their home country a chance, and that in turn ought to encourage coaches in Major League Soccer to give promising Canadians the kind of opportunity afforded the likes of Real Salt Lake midfielder Will Johnson.

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Johnson, along with De Rosario, de Guzman, Morgan, Nana Attakora and Ante Jazić, contributes to a strong MLS contingent in Hart’s team. When coupled with PSV’s Atiba Hutchinson and (hopefully) Hoilett and the younger de Guzman, things are beginning to look more positive.

The big names playing in Europe will help, but a solid infrastructure starts at home. With three Canadian clubs in Major League Soccer, now is the time to push on.

Landon Donovan celebrates his winning goal against Houston

Los Angeles Galaxy missed a host of chances in a dominant MLS Cup performance on home soil, but a solitary goal from captain Landon Donovan was enough to help Bruce Arena’s side to their first championship since 2005.

In the 72^nd minute of the game, and with extra-time beginning to enter the thoughts of both managers, Galaxy’s three Designated Players combined for the decisive moment.

Robbie Keane darted onto a David Beckham flick-on, escaped the unconvincing challenge of Bobby Boswell and slipped a well-weighted pass through for Donovan to prod into the far corner despite the best efforts of Tally Hall in the Dynamo goal.

It was Donovan’s first goal from open play since September 9, and helped cap the 4^th MLS triumph of the 29-year-old’s career.

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Before the game much of the discussion was about how Dominic Kinnear’s Houston side would replace league assist-leader Brad Davis, who missed out with a quad strain.

In the end Kinnear opted for the same combination with which his team finished the Eastern Conference Final, Jermaine Taylor lining up behind Corey Ashe in an attempt to nullify the threat of Donovan.

Bruce Arena had one key decision with regards to his starting line-up, and he opted to keep his midfield four the same as in the victory over Real Salt Lake while making a like-for-like swap up front, Adam Cristman replacing the injured Chad Barrett.

He may have begun to question that decision as Cristman missed a number of presentable chances early on, the first a free header from Beckham’s 12^th minute corner which he sent wide with the goal gaping.

Cristman has found the net just once in his 11 MLS appearances this season, and while three goals in other competitions demonstrate some form in front of goal, a lack of confidence seemed to show as he missed two further opportunities within the space of a minute. The first a mis-timed jump when rising to meet another Beckham delivery, and then taking too long to get a shot away following a through-ball from Keane.

Houston barely threatened in the first half, Danny Cruz’s tame 44^th minute shot the closest they came, and within a minute of that effort being gathered by Josh Saunders the ball was almost in the net at the other end. Indeed Galaxy could well have gone into the break ahead had Mike Magee – scorer of a playoff-high three goals – not blazed over from close range.

It was more of the same in the second half as Houston opted not to change things, and Keane ought to have given his team a 49^th minute lead but could only drag wide after an unfortunate Luiz Camargo deflection found the Irishman with just Hall to beat.

And the former Tottenham Hotspur striker came even closer 10 minutes later only for a marginal offside call to deny him a fifth Galaxy goal in just nine appearances.

That seemed to spark Dynamo into action, with Ashe firing into the side-netting and Moffat leading a powerful attack before heading wide on the stretch from the left-back’s whipped cross.

However, that was as good as it got for the men in orange, and within six minutes Donovan’s strike gave them an uphill task to win their third MLS Cup following victories in 2006 and 2007.

Indeed it could have been worse, only for Donovan to fire straight at Hall in the 79^th minute and Beckham’s injury time free-kick forcing a tip over from the Houston goalkeeper.

With Beckham’s contract due to run out and the Englishman seemingly set for a move away from Major League Soccer a clinching goal could have been the icing on the cake, but he will surely be happy with his first championship as a Galaxy player considering the frustration of 2009’s defeat to Real Salt Lake.

Houston did what they could to make a game of it but may justifiably claim they were hamstrung without the creativity of Davis, and in reality they cannot feel too hard done by after only managing one shot on target throughout the 90.

This was Galaxy’s day, and considering their dominance over the course of both regular season and playoffs it is tough to argue that the title did not go to the right team.

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]]> http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/mls-cup-donovan%e2%80%99s-goal-enough-for-dominant-galaxy/feed/ 0 http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/mls-cup-2011-the-key-battles/ http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/mls-cup-2011-the-key-battles/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:12:23 +0000 Tom Victor http://www.footymatters.com/?p=11941

Left-back Corey Ashe will be a key player for Houston Dynamo

Looking at the end-of-season standings some might have already marked down Sunday’s title battle between Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo as a non-contest.

The Californian side were unbeaten at home throughout the campaign as they romped towards the Supporters’ Shield, while Dominic Kinnear’s side only crept into second place in the east in the closing weeks of the regular season.

On top of that, the Galaxy have home-field advantage with the Home Depot Center having been chosen as the venue for the game long ago – something not to be knocked given the aforementioned unbeaten record.

Galaxy’s 41 points from 17 games is just eight fewer than the Dynamo recorded in twice as many outings, while Houston’s away total of 15 points does not bode well.

And just to add insult to injury, Brad Davis has been ruled out of the game after suffering a quad strain in the 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City after stretching to toe a loose ball away from opposing midfielder Graham Zusi.

League assist leader and MVP candidate Davis has been Houston’s best player, and his absence deprives Kinnear’s side of its main supply line as the club loses a great asset both from set pieces and open play.

But Bruce Arena’s men have been beaten before come crunch-time, most notably when Schellas Hyndman’s FC Dallas outplayed them in last season’s Western Conference final. It can be done, but there are certain battles which the club from Texas will need to get the better of.

Click here to view the embedded video.

1. LANDON DONOVAN v COREY ASHE

While one of the slightest players in the league at 5’5” and 154lbs, Ashe has belied his stature to play a crucial role in the Dynamo’s attacking and defensive success, while proving level-headed and driven when away from the pitch.

However, Galaxy captain Donovan, after a goal-heavy start to the season, has led his team just as effectively from his station out on the right. He may be pushed back up front in the absence of the injured Chad Barrett, but assuming Donovan starts on the wing then much of the flow of the game will depend on whether he is pushed back towards his own goal by Ashe or whether he manages to take advantage of the space behind the defender.

Click here to view the embedded video.

2. AJ DELAGARZA v BRIAN CHING

While Defender of the Year Omar Gonzalez has been the star of the Galaxy back-line, third-year prospect DeLaGarza has come on strong, particularly in the season’s closing months. However, he will receive a real test if – as is likely to be the case – he gets targeted by Brian Ching. The wily 33-year-old may have his best days behind him, but a number of performances this season have demonstrated that, if used properly, the US international remains a goal threat and a test for any centre-back.

Click here to view the embedded video.

3. JUNINHO v ADAM MOFFAT

Two of the league’s best strikers of the ball will face off against each other in the middle of the park on Saturday, and both have won over fans this season for more than their mere shooting prowess. Scottish midfielder Moffat has looked entirely at home after making the switch from Portland in mid-season and ultimately allowing Davis to slot into a freer role on the left, while Juninho has ousted Chris Birchall from the Galaxy midfield to record 30 starts, truly finding his feet in the second year of his loan spell from Sao Paulo.

In the battle between Moffat’s guile and deliberate movement and Juninho’s youthful energy, Houston will have to hope the man from Glasgow can tame his Brazilian opponent rather than being overrun by him as LA ramp up the pressure.

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]]> http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/mls-cup-2011-the-key-battles/feed/ 0 http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/the-footy-matters-mls-team-of-the-year/ http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/the-footy-matters-mls-team-of-the-year/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:24:07 +0000 Tom Victor http://www.footymatters.com/?p=11891

LA Galaxy centre-back and MLS Defender of the Year Omar Gonzalez

With Sunday’s MLS Cup final almost upon us, and with no fixtures to report back on this week, now seems the perfect time to select the team of the 2011 season in Major League Soccer.

In keeping with the current trend in the league, as excellently discussed by Kyle McCarthy here, this team will be lining up in a 4-4-2 formation. Let me know who you think should have made the XI.

GOALKEEPER – TALLY HALL (Houston Dynamo)

After Pat Onstad’s Houston swansong in 2010, it was left to Hall to step up to the plate in his first ever season as an automatic first pick. The 26-year-old has risen to the occasion, recovering from an early-season blunder against Colorado to prove a steady pair of hands behind an at times less-than-steady defence, while remaining capable of showing great reflexes and athleticism when called upon to do so.

To cap off a great season on a personal and club level, if Hall completes all 90 (or 120) minutes on Sunday he will have not missed a second all year.

Click here to view the embedded video.

RIGHT-BACK - CHANCE MYERS (Sporting Kansas City)

In what has at times proven to be a gung-ho attacking line-up, Sporting Kansas City’s full-backs have had to cover more ground than most. The boundless energy of the former first-round SuperDraft pick has seen him contribute time and time again to his side’s attacks, in the process developing a great rapport with ersatz right-winger Kei Kamara, while at the same time he has rarely been found wanting defensively.

His 27 starts (including three in the playoffs) is more than double his previous career total and proves that Myers is quickly becoming part of the furniture at club level.

CENTRE-BACK – OMAR GONZALEZ (Los Angeles Galaxy)

That Jürgen Klinsmann has not selected the 6’5” defender as a regular starter for the United States, nor included him in one of his squads, is one of life’s great mysteries. An assertive performer despite his tender age, while equally capable of using his physical assets when needed, the former Rookie of the Year would be a great loss at international level if he opts to defect to Mexico.

Nearly 8,000 minutes clocked up in three professional seasons show how valuable an asset the 23-year-old is to club (and hopefully country).

CENTRE-BACK – JAMISON OLAVE (Real Salt Lake)

Just edging out his club team-mate Nat Borchers, the Colombian is another for whom the lack of international recognition is baffling. Strong and composed on the ball and intelligent without it, Olave had a strong role to play as Jason Kreis’ side excelled both at home and on the continent. Named as the league’s defender of the year in 2010, he was not far away from defending his title.

LEFT-BACK – TODD DUNIVANT (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Despite not being the first name that many would associate with the MLS Cup finalists, Dunivant remains one of the first names on Bruce Arena’s teamsheet thanks to a year in which he has played an integral part in Galaxy’s dominance at both ends of the pitch. While he tends to fly under the radar, he is not one to let a lack of recognition affect his game.

RIGHT-MIDFIELD – MAURO ROSALES (Seattle Sounders)

Surely the best player in the world to be earning less than $50,000 per year, the Argentine arrived in Seattle with great pedigree but some question marks from Europe as to whether his passion for the game was what it used to be. He silenced doubters in his role as arguably the Sounders’ player of the season, and were it not for a late-season knee injury ruling him out of the playoffs then his club might well be involved in Sunday’s season finale.

CENTRAL-MIDFIELD – OZZIE ALONSO (Seattle Sounders)

An old head on 26-year-old shoulders, Cuban international Alonso has been the driving force in a perfectly balanced Sounders midfield. His input gives team-mates the freedom to break from midfield in much the same way as Nigel de Jong at Manchester City or Sergio Busquets for Spain and Barcelona, yet when he wants to Alonso can get forward himself, and he packs a bullet of a shot which he is not afraid to use.

The clinching goal in the US Open Cup Final showed that he is far more than just a defensive midfielder.

Click here to view the embedded video.

CENTRAL-MIDFIELD – BRAD DAVIS (Houston Dynamo)

Davis may be known to the casual viewer first and foremost as a dead ball specialist, but there is far more to his game than set pieces. Possessing a wand of a left foot, the erudite 30-year-old helped lead the Dynamo through a difficult early few months, particularly away from home, before proving an integral part of a squad which has come on strong at just the right time. With 16 assists (plus two in postseason), he will be difficult to replace if injury forces him to miss Sunday’s showpiece at the Home Depot Center.

LEFT-MIDFIELD – BREK SHEA (FC Dallas)

With David Ferreira ruled out for essentially the entire season, fans at Pizza Hut Park needed a new hero: step forward Brek Shea. We forgot this season that he is just 21, as the promise and raw talent shown in 2010 was converted into phenomenal consistency and stamina, plus an appetite for goals not seen in the past as he found the net 11 times, often in spectacular fashion.

Now an established part of Klinsmann’s national squad, an opportunity to train with Premier League Arsenal over the winter months is no less than he deserves.

Click here to view the embedded video.

FORWARD – CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI (San Jose Earthquakes)

Proving that last season’s Golden Boot haul of 18 goals was no fluke Wondo might well have repeated the feat with more support from his team-mates or even just a little more luck in the season-closer against FC Dallas. While not clicking into top gear until the relatively late age of 27 (he turned 28 earlier this year), he is making up for lost time and quickly establishing himself as one of the most complete forwards in the league.

FORWARD – DWAYNE DE ROSARIO (Toronto FC/New York Red Bulls/DC United)

Normally when a player has represented three clubs in one season you might have thought he had struggled to make his mark, or at the very least that it could be described as a transitional campaign. Not so for Dwayne De Rosario, who has justified himself in Toronto, New York and Washington DC regardless of the thoughts of fans or management.

Whether playing in an attacking midfield role or as more of an orthodox striker, the goals have flowed, often in twos or threes, including crucial strikes such as the 95^th minute equaliser in Portland which proved one of his last meaningful contributions to the Red Bulls’ season. A worthy Golden Boot winner and a worthy inclusion in this team.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Substitutes: Faryd Mondragón (Philadelphia Union); Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake); Carlos Valdés (Philadelphia Union); Jackson (FC Dallas); David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy); Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake); Dominic Oduro (Chicago Fire).

One year after MLS Cup glory, Gary Smith is looking for a new job

Since taking control of Arsenal, Stan Kroenke has had nothing but praise for the club’s manager Arsène Wenger, despite spells of less than impressive form.

In a rare interview with the British press earlier this year he described the Frenchman as “one of the game’s greats”, indicating that he had no intention of getting trigger-happy as has been the case with a number of his Premier League peers.

However, things are not quite as harmonious at Kroenke’s other club, the Colorado Rapids, where head coach Gary Smith has found himself looking for a new job despite bringing in more silverware than his counterpart in London during his 45-month tenure.

A week is regarded as a long time in soccer, and by that token a year is nigh on an eternity, but nevertheless one would not have expected Smith’s position would be under threat considering last season’s achievements.

Just 12 months ago the Englishman was preparing his Rapids side for the MLS Cup showdown against FC Dallas at Toronto’s BMO Field after sneaking into the seventh of eight playoff spots in the twilight of the campaign. Victories over Columbus Crew (on penalties) and San Jose Earthquakes (via a rare Kosuke Kimura goal) gave them a place in the final.

George John’s unfortunate own goal gifted Colorado victory and won Smith the first trophy of his career, and this season things seemed to be going as well as could be expected on the pitch.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Despite a number of injuries and the drastic loss of goalscoring form suffered by last season’s top marksman Omar Cummings, Smith’s side upped their points tally to 49 from last season’s 46 (albeit from four extra games) and improved their overall standing to sixth out of 18 teams, compared to seventh from the 16 who competed in 2010.

They even edged past Columbus once again in the play-in round of the postseason schedule, before injuries took their toll and a depleted side were no match for a full-strength Sporting Kansas City outfit. It was probably the most that anyone at the club could have expected.

If Smith’s departure was down to on-field matters then many would justifiably be up-in-arms over the decision, however, there is far more to it than that.

Unlike Wenger, who has had transfer fees available at every opportunity and been allowed to reinvest funds from the departure of key players in the close-season, Smith has not been afforded the same luxury.

Already effectively shorn of a first-team option due to the cruciate ligament injury sustained by Mac Kandji in last year’s MLS Cup Final, one look at the remainder of the roster for this season gives some idea of the threadbare nature of the squad.

Aside from Tyrone Marshall, none of the new additions have made more than 20 starts in the maroon and white and only two – Sanna Nyassi and Caleb Folan – have started more than 10.

It was almost certainly because of this that the impact of injuries was felt so dearly in the playoffs. The loss of Conor Casey – itself a major blow – was exacerbated when his back-up Folan sprained both ankle and knee following a heavy fall in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semi-final against Sporting Kansas City.

That there even was a like-for-like replacement is more than can be said of the cruciate injury suffered by Jamie Smith one game earlier against Columbus: while Wells Thompson is a hard worker and has big-game experience from the 2010 final, Smith’s absence alone forced the team into a different approach with his dead-ball precision and eye-of-the-needle passing removed from their arsenal.

Finally there is the defence, where a solid first-choice back-line was left horribly exposed once the regular partnership of Marvell Wynne and Drew Moor was broken up, with a red card to over-exerted replacement Marshall adding to the misery. The added absence of sometime defensive shield and regular heartbeat of the midfield Pablo Mastroeni was the salt in an already heavily-infected wound.

The second leg in Kansas City saw a back-line of one regular starter in Wynne, alongside a midfielder (Thompson) at right-back, a full-back (Scott Palguta) in the centre, and a left-back with only four regular-season starts in Miguel Comminges. You can guess the outcome.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Perhaps thinking last year’s success granted him at least some licence to voice his concerns, Smith has been publicly outspoken about the lack of investment in the squad.

Tensions with technical director Paul Bravo and general manager Jeff Plush clearly got to the Englishman, with transfer targets seemingly ignored and the balance of power resting unfairly with those behind the scenes if Smith is to be believed.

It seems that Smith has suffered where Wenger has benefited, namely in the sense that club owners often pull the strings in a far more hands-on manner in the European game. The vocal backing of Kroenke, even more extreme than that which Arsenal’s manager has received, may itself have been insufficient.

To their credit, however, the Rapids’ upper management are not wasting any time in their pursuit of Smith’s replacement. Primary target (and without doubt ideal candidate) John Spencer – a hero for his time in Colorado – seems unlikely to be allowed to leave the Portland Timbers after an impressive managerial debut, but the signs are there that a new man will be appointed sooner rather than later.

Whether that new man achieves glory as quickly as Smith remains to be seen, however, and it will be interesting to see if whoever comes in is permitted to grow the squad as they – rather than those upstairs – see fit.

Mike Magee celebrating his third goal in three games with Barrett, Keane and Beckham

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 3-1 REAL SALT LAKE (Western Conference Final)

Bruce Arena’s Galaxy side were given a run for their money by Real Salt Lake before pulling away in the second half.

The visitors were unlucky not to go ahead when Robbie Russell’s volley in a congested penalty area hit Josh Saunders in the midriff – either side of the goalkeeper and the ball would have gone in.

Instead it was the hosts who struck first blood after referee Jorge Gonzalez awarded them a soft penalty for Andy Williams’ shove on Omar Gonzalez - Landon Donovan slotting home the spot-kick.

RSL’s reply was instant, the returning Jamison Olave heading a Javi Morales corner goalward and Alvaro Saborio reacting quickly to divert the ball beyond Saunders and into the back of the net.

Both teams then went in search of a half-time lead and both struck the woodwork, first Robbie Keane firing against the near post from a Gonzalez knockdown and then, on the stroke of half-time, Kyle Beckerman’s 20-yard drive coming back off the inside of the post.

It would not be a Galaxy play-off game without a goal for Mike Magee, and sure enough the forward netted for the third time in post-season action when he flung himself at a devilish David Beckham delivery to head home.

Jason Kreis’ side almost found a quickfire leveller for a second time on the hour mark but while Fabian Espindola’s first touch to escape Sean Franklin was immaculate, the shot which followed cruelly bounced down and out off the underside of the crossbar.

That would prove a turning point as midway through the second period Keane tested the tired legs of Olave before cutting inside the Colombian and sliding a low shot out of the reach of Nick Rimando for the clinching third goal.

Click here to view the embedded video.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY 0-2 HOUSTON DYNAMO (Eastern Conference Final)

Houston stunned LiveStrong Sporting Park to move on to the MLS Cup Final, but they may be forced to face LA Galaxy without star-man Brad Davis after he hobbled off injured.

Calen Carr had a great chance to follow his strike in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semi-final when he was played through by Davis but the former Chicago striker went for height and Jimmy Nielsen managed to bat the ball away to safety.

League assist leader Davis then saw his afternoon come to an end when he overstretched trying to toe the ball away from Graham Zusi, and he will face a race against time to be fit for the showdown in California on Sunday week.

However, any fears that Dominic Kinnear’s side would struggle without his dead-ball prowess were dispelled in the 53^rd minute: Adam Moffat’s floated free-kick was met by Jermaine Taylor at the back post and, while Nielsen kept out the Jamaican’s effort, Andre Hainault was on hand to tap home his second goal of post-season.

Luiz Camargo missed a golden chance to double the lead seconds later, taking too long to get his shot away and allowing Matt Besler to make a crucial recovery challenge, and Besler almost made the Brazilian pay only for his goalbound shot to hit team-mate Kei Kamara.

With Peter Vermes’ side pushing for an equaliser the visitors hit them on the break three minutes from time, Camargo playing a brilliantly weighted pass from inside his own half for Carlo Costly to run through and slot home off the far post to send the Dynamo through.

Click here to view the embedded video.

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS:

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2-1 NEW YORK RED BULLS (Aggregate 3-1)

Mike Magee scored his second goal in as many games to send Bruce Arena’s side to the Western Conference Final.

New York had faced an uphill task going into the game but they began as well as they could have hoped as Luke Rodgers got goalside of Omar Gonzalez to collect a Thierry Henry pass and slot coolly past Josh Saunders.

The home side responded in kind with David Beckham firing over from range and Robbie Keane hitting the post from a tight angle, before Frank Rost was forced into a desperate double-save from Chris Birchall and Keane in the 38^th minute.

And they would not have to wait much longer for a goal, Magee rising unchallenged to head home Beckham’s corner and restore the Galaxy lead going into the break.

Rodgers continued to pose a threat after half-time and it needed a last-gasp interception from Landon Donovan to deny the Englishman after a quick break involving Henry and Dane Richards, and shortly after Rodgers put arguably the Red Bulls’ best chance into the side-netting after once again getting the better of Gonzalez.

Hans Backe will undoubtedly be frustrated with the avoidable nature of the game’s final goal, Roy Miller needlessly clattering into Beckham from behind and giving referee Hilario Grajeda no choice but to point to the spot. Donovan converted the penalty to wrap up what was ultimately a fairly comfortable progression.

Click here to view the embedded video.

HOUSTON DYNAMO 1-0 PHILADELPHIA UNION (Aggregate 3-1)

Brian Ching scored a captain’s goal to give Houston the perfect send-off in their last game at Robertson Stadium.

Danny Mwanga was the visitors likeliest scorer as they looked to spoil the party, but after his early sighter sailed over it was the home side who looked to seal the tie, with MVP candidate Brad Davis at the centre of most of their attacking play.

After heading home a free-kick from the winger in the first leg Andre Hainault almost repeated the trick only to nod just wide, while Davis went close three minutes before half-time with his weaker right foot.

Mwanga again found space for a shot as the interval approached, this time dragging wide of the near-post, and the youngster was left ruing that missed chance as Ching headed home another Davis delivery in first-half stoppage time to all but kill off the encounter.

Calen Carr could have wrapped things up nine minutes into the second period but was unable to beat Faryd Mondragon after showing great control to bring down a long ball from Tally Hall, but with the Union lacking a cutting edge in the final third the victory was Houston’s.

Click here to view the embedded video.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS 2-3 REAL SALT LAKE (Aggregate 2-3)

Real Salt Lake soaked up a barrage of pressure and managed to sneak through despite a two-goal defeat in the Pacific Northwest.

It had seemed as though Ned Grabavoy’s third goal in Utah could prove vital, but that did not stop the hosts going all out from the off and they nearly took a seventh-minute lead only for top scorer Fredy Montero to slice a volley wide at the back post.

Roger Levesque fired over on the turn and it required a remarkable diving headed clearance from Tony Beltran to deny Jeff Parke as Sigi Schmid’s side ramped up the pressure towards the end of the first period.

Montero thought he had opened the scoring in the 42^nd minute but he was penalised for a foul on RSL keeper Nick Rimando in the build-up, and the Colombian went close two more times before referee Jair Marrufo blew for half-time.

The Sounders finally got one goal back 10 minutes into the second period, as Beltran dragged Mike Fucito to the ground and Ozzie Alonso’s unconvincing penalty just about evaded Rimando.

Then on the hour mark, with several players bunched up on the edge of the visitors’ box, Montero showed great vision to pick out Lamar Neagle who fired a measured low shot into the far corner to set up a grandstand finish.

Alonso volleyed over from 15 yards but the elusive third goal would not come, and only a smart one-handed stop from Kasey Keller prevented Fabian Espindola from ending the contest, but the veteran’s heroics would be in vain as Jason Kreis’ side moved on to face LA Galaxy in the Conference final.

Click here to view the embedded video.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2-0 COLORADO RAPIDS (Aggregate 4-0)

Sporting Kansas City cruised into the Eastern Conference Final after a professional performance to see off reigning MLS Cup champions Colorado.

Teal Bunbury, who scored both goals in the first leg, looked to add to his personal tally early on after evading Wells Thompson but Matt Pickens was equal to his shot from a narrow angle.

However the game was over as a contest when Pickens came a long way to meet a Graham Zusi free-kick only to be beaten to the ball by Aurelien Collin who headed in the opener.

Peter Vermes’ side looked in little danger throughout the game, and Collin could have netted again from a Zusi corner but the French defender’s volley glanced away off the post.

Rookie f the Year contender CJ Sapong got more into the game as the visitors tired, and he forced another save from Pickens following a swift counter-attack led by Zusi.

And the 22-year-old clinched victory for the hosts 14 minutes from time, towering above Thompson to head another Zusi delivery into the top corner.

Click here to view the embedded video.

]]> http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/mls-play-offs-magee-strikes-again-as-galaxy-move-on-to-dynamo-showdown/feed/ 0 http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/all-good-things-must-come-to-an-end-kasey-keller-hangs-up-his-gloves-at-41/ http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/mls/all-good-things-must-come-to-an-end-kasey-keller-hangs-up-his-gloves-at-41/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:45:59 +0000 Tom Victor http://www.footymatters.com/?p=11666

In the 79^th minute of Seattle Sounders’ play-off match against Real Salt Lake on Tuesday night, Kasey Keller pulled off a fabulous one-on-one save from Fabian Espindola to keep his Seattle side in the game, if only for a little longer.

It would prove to be the last meaningful stop of his career as the Sounders bowed out 3-2 on aggregate, pulling down the curtain on the career of the 41-year-old goalkeeper.

His career has been one of glory, consistency and determination for the veteran who bows out with many still of the opinion that he can still do a job as a number one keeper in spite of his age.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Indeed while post-season glory has not been forthcoming, his final season at the top ends with his club lifting the US Open Cup for the third time, once for each of his three seasons in the Pacific Northwest.

When Keller began his professional career with English club Milwall in 1992, the concept of a soccer player having gone through the further education system – commonplace on the other side of the Atlantic – was still largely alien to UK audiences.

Here was a 22-year-old, coming into the game with zero club experience aside from a handful of games with a previous incarnation of the Portland Timbers while playing college soccer at the city’s university, yet he had travelled to the 1990 World Cup with a United States squad containing the likes of future MLS stars Tony Meola, Tab Ramos and Eric Wynalda.

In many ways he had a lot to prove to a set of fans known to rarely hold back with their opinions, but Keller was unfazed and quickly endeared himself to the Lions faithful, even winning the club’s Player of the Year award at the end of his first full season.

A United States international with more than a century of caps for his country, Keller will always hold a place in the hearts of English supporters for his spells with Millwall, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham, time and time again surprising onlookers with a tenacity which saw him elevated above more established names into a starting berth.

This was particularly true in north London, where Tottenham fans had almost got used to the idea of him playing second fiddle to Scotland international Neil Sullivan (himself still going strong now at the age of 41), only for Keller to earn his place between the sticks with his commanding presence and the level of agility and athleticism which few initially associated with someone as measured and methodical as the Olympia native.

However, perhaps his proudest moment in England came in 1997 when he was part of a Leicester side which defied the odds to lift the League Cup following an extra-time win over Middlesbrough in the final, having beaten Manchester United along the way.

Click here to view the embedded video.

When Keller’s European adventure ended in 2008 that was supposed to be that, but his return to his home state of Washington showed that he had plenty more to offer.

He was one of the marquee signings along with Freddie Ljungberg when Sigi Schmid’s Sounders became the 15^th team in Major League Soccer, and unlike similarly high-profile names such as Blaise Nkufo he has demonstrated both his popularity and staying power during his time at the club.

Keller’s experience has been invaluable in guiding a team comprising inexperienced upstarts and committed if limited journeymen to three successive cup victories and three successive play-off campaigns.

And as recently as last month he produced a remarkable quadruple-save against San Jose which had pundits once again convinced that he should postpone the decision to hang up his gloves.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For all the contribution of the club’s forward play, Keller and his well-marshalled back line have helped the club grind out the clean sheets (30 of them in three regular-season campaigns) and narrow victories just as crucial in terms of advancing to post-season.

Indeed it is fitting that Keller’s last game also marked the Sounders’ first ever win at this stage of the competition, with only a three-goal reverse in Utah preventing Schmid’s side from progressing.

Even in retirement, Kasey Keller has opened a new chapter in Seattle Sounders history.

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