The 2011 MLS individual award nominees have been announced. While Columbus is unfortunately absent from the list, here are the nominees, as well as our selections for the awards (in bolded text).
Rookie of the Year
Michael Farfan (Philadelphia Union)
Perry Kitchen (D.C. United)
C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City)
--C.J. Sapong came on strong with a goal in his first two minutes as a professional, and has contributed as a legitimate scoring threat for Sporting Kansas City down the stretch. His timely additions to a dangerous Kansas City team will likely be rewarded with some individual hardware.
Defender of the Year
Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake)
--Omar Gonzalez was the foundations of the Los Angeles defense, which was head-and-shoulders above every other team's defense this year. It makes sense for the award to go to the best player on the best defense.
Coach of the Year
Bruce Arena (LA Galaxy)
Sigi Schmid (Seattle Sounders FC)
Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City)
--When Vermes took over a struggling Kansas City side after the firing of Curt Onalfo, no one anticipated such a successful turnaround so quickly. He found a way to get his team over the hump of a bad run early in the season and made Kansas City one of the best teams in the second half of the season, eventually becoming the top Eastern Conference team in the regular season.
Comeback Player of the Year
David Beckham (LA Galaxy)
Charlie Davies (D.C. United)
Dominic Oduro (Chicago Fire)
--When Oduro was traded to the Fire for similarly struggling Calen Carr, the career of the speedy Ghanaian seemed all but over. The change of scenery ignited Oduro, who finally found a finishing touch to go with his physical tools and ended the season with 12 goals for a suddenly resurgent-looking Chicago squad.
Goalkeeper of the Year
Kevin Hartman (FC Dallas)
Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
Faryd Mondragon (Philadelphia Union)
--Faryd Mondragon was tasked with making a young team strong in defense and his calming veteran presence did exactly that, as he helped usher the Union further into their transition from a team filled with potential to a complete competitor. No other goalkeeper did more with less in front of him on the season.
Newcomer of the Year
Eric Hassli (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)
Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC)
--Though the hot-blooded Europeans Rodgers and Hassli had their share of flashy highlights on the season (including Hassli's goal of the year, which may well be one of the best in MLS history), Mauro Rosales' production for Seattle was miles above all other MLS newcomers. Rosales could well have been in the MVP conversation, so he should take the top newcomer award in a walk.
Most Valuable Player
Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo)
Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
--Brad Davis was the catalyst of the offense of the defensively strong Houston Dynamo on an almost unprecedented level. Houston had the look of a rebuilding team at the start of the season, but Davis' magical left foot, complete with a league-leading 16 assists, carried the Dynamo to the Eastern Conference final. Unfortunately, he was injured in the game, so we'll all get a chance to see how much they'll miss him against the heavily-favored LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup final.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
2011 MLS Cup Playoff Predictions
Now that this year's playoff field is set, the path to the 2011 MLS Cup is made clearer. However, many of the matchups this year look very balanced, which could open up a lot of possibilities for the field. Here are our picks for the playoffs.
Play-in Round
Columbus over Colorado
-Though neither team ended the season on a high note, the Crew have a chance to surprise the defending champion Rapids, who have looked flat and uninspired for most of the season's second half. Look for a tight game in which one bounce decides the winner.
New York over Dallas
-While Dallas was a substantially better side over the course of the season, it's been shown many times that the most important factor in MLS playoffs can be momentum. New York, whose talent level and payroll suggest that they should have finished much higher in the standings, had a solid finish to the end of their season. Dallas, on the other hand, seems to have left their best soccer behind them, as fatigue seems to have taken its toll on young star Brek Shea and others. New York's stars, led by Thierry Henry, seem to have at least one big win in them.
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
Kansas City over Columbus
-While Columbus may have a chance to steal a play-in round upset over Colorado, it will have a much tougher time besting Kansas City, who play tremendously well at home and are one of the hottest teams in MLS right now. If the Crew defense can play to its potential, this could be a tight series, but Kansas City's firepower will likely prove too much to handle for the faltering Crew.
Philadelphia over Houston
-This looks like one of the more evenly-matched series of the playoffs, with little separating these teams. Philadelphia's impressive attacking depth, led by Sebastien Le Toux, may well be the difference in this matchup. Philadelphia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon will be tested by Houston's set-piece prowess, but he's shown throughout the season that he's up to the task.
Western Conference
Los Angeles over New York
-Though it will be a star-studded affair between the two most expensive teams in MLS, this has the look of the most lopsided series in the playoffs. New York underachieved its way into the playoffs, but unless they're suddenly able to put together the team rapport they've been lacking all season, they should be handled easily by an Galaxy team that has outclassed most of their opponents this season.
Seattle over Real Salt Lake
-In another tight battle, the second and third best teams in the regular season will face off for a chance to face the Galaxy in the conference final. These teams share more similarities than differences, with huge home field advantages, sustained success and a seemingly endless array of attacking talent among the most notable. This series could very well be a candidate to go into extra time, though we give the slight nod to Seattle, who have improved every year and seem poised for a breakthrough.
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia over Kansas City
-Like the common theme of most of this year's playoff matchups, little seems to separate these squads. However, we see Kansas City's good-not-great defense having trouble containing a Philadelphia offense with a diverse number of young, intriguing options. It's unclear who of Freddy Adu, Roger Torres, Danny Mwanga and others is likeliest to step up, but a grinding Philadelphia squad seems poised and built to win a hard-fought series like this one.
Western Conference
Los Angeles over Seattle
-In what might be the marquee game of the playoffs, look for Los Angeles to have an edge over Seattle. While both of these teams boast a veritable laundry list of attacking talent and solid goalkeeping, the Galaxy's advantage lies within their defense. Defender of the Year frontrunner Omar Gonzalez and the rest of the Los Angeles defense have made both of LA's goalies look impressive all season, and they seem more equipped to handle Seattle's firepower than the opposite. This game could be wide open, but it seems likely that Los Angeles will make one more key stop than Seattle
MLS Cup
Los Angeles over Philadelphia
-It's not always that the season's top team carries its success all the way through the playoffs, but Los Angeles is far and away the most dominant team MLS has seen since the Crew pulled the league and cup double in 2008. The Galaxy have an absolute embarrassment of riches all over the field, featuring Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Juninho, Omar Gonzalez and MLS' top two statistical goalkeepers. Under Bruce Arena, the Galaxy have faced postseason disappointment over the last two seasons, but all signs point to them finally getting over the hump this year. Without disrespect to Philadelphia, it simply doesn't look like any team will be able to beat Los Angeles this year, and they should comfortably overtake the Union to claim their third MLS Cup title.
Play-in Round
Columbus over Colorado
-Though neither team ended the season on a high note, the Crew have a chance to surprise the defending champion Rapids, who have looked flat and uninspired for most of the season's second half. Look for a tight game in which one bounce decides the winner.
New York over Dallas
-While Dallas was a substantially better side over the course of the season, it's been shown many times that the most important factor in MLS playoffs can be momentum. New York, whose talent level and payroll suggest that they should have finished much higher in the standings, had a solid finish to the end of their season. Dallas, on the other hand, seems to have left their best soccer behind them, as fatigue seems to have taken its toll on young star Brek Shea and others. New York's stars, led by Thierry Henry, seem to have at least one big win in them.
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
Kansas City over Columbus
-While Columbus may have a chance to steal a play-in round upset over Colorado, it will have a much tougher time besting Kansas City, who play tremendously well at home and are one of the hottest teams in MLS right now. If the Crew defense can play to its potential, this could be a tight series, but Kansas City's firepower will likely prove too much to handle for the faltering Crew.
Philadelphia over Houston
-This looks like one of the more evenly-matched series of the playoffs, with little separating these teams. Philadelphia's impressive attacking depth, led by Sebastien Le Toux, may well be the difference in this matchup. Philadelphia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon will be tested by Houston's set-piece prowess, but he's shown throughout the season that he's up to the task.
Western Conference
Los Angeles over New York
-Though it will be a star-studded affair between the two most expensive teams in MLS, this has the look of the most lopsided series in the playoffs. New York underachieved its way into the playoffs, but unless they're suddenly able to put together the team rapport they've been lacking all season, they should be handled easily by an Galaxy team that has outclassed most of their opponents this season.
Seattle over Real Salt Lake
-In another tight battle, the second and third best teams in the regular season will face off for a chance to face the Galaxy in the conference final. These teams share more similarities than differences, with huge home field advantages, sustained success and a seemingly endless array of attacking talent among the most notable. This series could very well be a candidate to go into extra time, though we give the slight nod to Seattle, who have improved every year and seem poised for a breakthrough.
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia over Kansas City
-Like the common theme of most of this year's playoff matchups, little seems to separate these squads. However, we see Kansas City's good-not-great defense having trouble containing a Philadelphia offense with a diverse number of young, intriguing options. It's unclear who of Freddy Adu, Roger Torres, Danny Mwanga and others is likeliest to step up, but a grinding Philadelphia squad seems poised and built to win a hard-fought series like this one.
Western Conference
Los Angeles over Seattle
-In what might be the marquee game of the playoffs, look for Los Angeles to have an edge over Seattle. While both of these teams boast a veritable laundry list of attacking talent and solid goalkeeping, the Galaxy's advantage lies within their defense. Defender of the Year frontrunner Omar Gonzalez and the rest of the Los Angeles defense have made both of LA's goalies look impressive all season, and they seem more equipped to handle Seattle's firepower than the opposite. This game could be wide open, but it seems likely that Los Angeles will make one more key stop than Seattle
MLS Cup
Los Angeles over Philadelphia
-It's not always that the season's top team carries its success all the way through the playoffs, but Los Angeles is far and away the most dominant team MLS has seen since the Crew pulled the league and cup double in 2008. The Galaxy have an absolute embarrassment of riches all over the field, featuring Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Juninho, Omar Gonzalez and MLS' top two statistical goalkeepers. Under Bruce Arena, the Galaxy have faced postseason disappointment over the last two seasons, but all signs point to them finally getting over the hump this year. Without disrespect to Philadelphia, it simply doesn't look like any team will be able to beat Los Angeles this year, and they should comfortably overtake the Union to claim their third MLS Cup title.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Match Recap: Crew at Sporting Kansas City
In 2005, California rock band Green Day scored a major hit with their song "Wake Me Up When September Ends." After taking their third straight loss and fifth in six games, the Columbus Crew may agree with that line of thinking.
Sporting Kansas City pushed the Crew to 0-for-September with an electric 2-1 victory on their home turf. A penalty kick from Kei Kamara and a Julius James own goal were enough for Sporting to overcome a first-half Emilio Renteria strike as the Crew fell to third place in the Eastern Conference, 3 points behind new leaders Kansas City.
Defensive miscues were the thorn in the Crew's side on the night, as Chad Marshall's foul on rookie CJ Sapong turned into a penalty kick for KC and Julius James' mistimed header ended up burying the Crew.
Kansas City, a team that's been tough to beat at home, seemed to feed off of the welcoming atmosphere at Livestrong Sporting Park, driving more chances on the evening than the Crew. William Hesmer and his backline were busy on the night, as Kansas City put 5 shots on goal and had 6 corner kicks. Like many of their home contests, Kansas City held a noticeable advantage in possession, as well.
Despite pressure from the home side, the Crew put together a handful of chances. Renteria's temporary equalizer, his seventh tally of the season, owed itself to an incisive through ball by Robbie Rogers. The Crew's leading goal-scorer Andres Mendoza had chances early and late, but Kansas City's Danish goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was equal to his uninspired finishes.
Now in 3rd place after the intra-conference clash, the Crew barely remain in a position to automatically qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, with strong challenges from Houston, Philadelphia and Kansas City. Their next match comes Sunday, in which they'll welcome D.C. United to Crew Stadium. United have spent the better part of the year in the Eastern Conference cellar, but have come on strong lately due to heady play from mid-season acquisition Dwayne De Rosario.
Sporting Kansas City pushed the Crew to 0-for-September with an electric 2-1 victory on their home turf. A penalty kick from Kei Kamara and a Julius James own goal were enough for Sporting to overcome a first-half Emilio Renteria strike as the Crew fell to third place in the Eastern Conference, 3 points behind new leaders Kansas City.
Defensive miscues were the thorn in the Crew's side on the night, as Chad Marshall's foul on rookie CJ Sapong turned into a penalty kick for KC and Julius James' mistimed header ended up burying the Crew.
Kansas City, a team that's been tough to beat at home, seemed to feed off of the welcoming atmosphere at Livestrong Sporting Park, driving more chances on the evening than the Crew. William Hesmer and his backline were busy on the night, as Kansas City put 5 shots on goal and had 6 corner kicks. Like many of their home contests, Kansas City held a noticeable advantage in possession, as well.
Despite pressure from the home side, the Crew put together a handful of chances. Renteria's temporary equalizer, his seventh tally of the season, owed itself to an incisive through ball by Robbie Rogers. The Crew's leading goal-scorer Andres Mendoza had chances early and late, but Kansas City's Danish goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was equal to his uninspired finishes.
Now in 3rd place after the intra-conference clash, the Crew barely remain in a position to automatically qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, with strong challenges from Houston, Philadelphia and Kansas City. Their next match comes Sunday, in which they'll welcome D.C. United to Crew Stadium. United have spent the better part of the year in the Eastern Conference cellar, but have come on strong lately due to heady play from mid-season acquisition Dwayne De Rosario.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Matchday Preview: Crew at Sporting Kansas City
It's do or die time for the Columbus Crew as they travel to Livestrong Sporting Park for the first time to face Sporting Kansas City in a battle of the teams tied for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Columbus (11-11-8, T-2nd East) plays Kansas City (10-9-11, T-2nd East) in an immensely important matchup as they try to win for the first time since mid-August. The game starts at 8:30 (7:30 Central) and will be broadcast locally on ONN as well as 610 AM and in Spanish on 103.1 FM.
-What's at Stake
Level on points with 4 more matches to play each, this game is of utmost importance to both teams. If there is a winner, the victorious club will slide into first place in the East as both clubs sit a single point behind leader Houston. If neither team cashes in on three points, both teams will step into a three-way tie with Houston for first, muddying an already tight Eastern conference race. With Philadelphia sitting one point below both teams with a game in hand, a loser of this game would be in serious danger of dropping out of one of the three automatic playoff spots out of the East.
-Matchup History
These teams last met in April, with the Crew taking a 1-0 home victory on the strength of a 2nd-minute Robbie Rogers goal. Columbus leads the all-time series to the tune of 20-17-5.
-The State of the Crew
The Crew have lost 4 of their last 5 and have been outscored an incredible 14-6 over that stretch. They're coming off a 1-0 home loss to a shorthanded Los Angeles Galaxy side that featured a stoppage-time winner. The Crew have been missing starting forward Emilio Renteria to injury but he is expected to start tonight.
-The State of Sporting KC
Kansas City has been the picture of mediocrity over their past six matches, going 2-2-2. However, in a down year for the Eastern Conference, such a record is good enough to keep them in the mix for a top spot. Their most recent result was a 1-1 home draw with fellow East battlers Philadelphia in which they seemed to get the better of chances but had to settle for a point. Like the Crew, their record is noticeably better at home than on the road.
-The Outlook
The Crew have been backsliding fiercely over the last month, but they seem to be learning a little bit from their continued losses, very nearly coming away with a point (or more) from Saturday's game against LA. The short turnaround from an emotionally crushing loss would seem to work against them, but the Crew have done pretty well this season (3-2-1) in weekday games. The states of both teams suggest a draw may be in the offing, but how the Crew respond to their sudden position of desperation could give either team the advantage.
-Other Games to Watch
Aside from 3 CONCACAF Champions League matches, the only other MLS game tonight features surging Chicago on the road against Real Salt Lake. The game is unlikely to have a direct impact on the Crew's season, though if Chicago keeps winning and Columbus keeps losing, they could be a dark horse challenger for a wild-card playoff spot with the Crew. A loss by Chicago, however, would all but eliminate them from playoff contention.
Columbus (11-11-8, T-2nd East) plays Kansas City (10-9-11, T-2nd East) in an immensely important matchup as they try to win for the first time since mid-August. The game starts at 8:30 (7:30 Central) and will be broadcast locally on ONN as well as 610 AM and in Spanish on 103.1 FM.
-What's at Stake
Level on points with 4 more matches to play each, this game is of utmost importance to both teams. If there is a winner, the victorious club will slide into first place in the East as both clubs sit a single point behind leader Houston. If neither team cashes in on three points, both teams will step into a three-way tie with Houston for first, muddying an already tight Eastern conference race. With Philadelphia sitting one point below both teams with a game in hand, a loser of this game would be in serious danger of dropping out of one of the three automatic playoff spots out of the East.
-Matchup History
These teams last met in April, with the Crew taking a 1-0 home victory on the strength of a 2nd-minute Robbie Rogers goal. Columbus leads the all-time series to the tune of 20-17-5.
-The State of the Crew
The Crew have lost 4 of their last 5 and have been outscored an incredible 14-6 over that stretch. They're coming off a 1-0 home loss to a shorthanded Los Angeles Galaxy side that featured a stoppage-time winner. The Crew have been missing starting forward Emilio Renteria to injury but he is expected to start tonight.
-The State of Sporting KC
Kansas City has been the picture of mediocrity over their past six matches, going 2-2-2. However, in a down year for the Eastern Conference, such a record is good enough to keep them in the mix for a top spot. Their most recent result was a 1-1 home draw with fellow East battlers Philadelphia in which they seemed to get the better of chances but had to settle for a point. Like the Crew, their record is noticeably better at home than on the road.
-The Outlook
The Crew have been backsliding fiercely over the last month, but they seem to be learning a little bit from their continued losses, very nearly coming away with a point (or more) from Saturday's game against LA. The short turnaround from an emotionally crushing loss would seem to work against them, but the Crew have done pretty well this season (3-2-1) in weekday games. The states of both teams suggest a draw may be in the offing, but how the Crew respond to their sudden position of desperation could give either team the advantage.
-Other Games to Watch
Aside from 3 CONCACAF Champions League matches, the only other MLS game tonight features surging Chicago on the road against Real Salt Lake. The game is unlikely to have a direct impact on the Crew's season, though if Chicago keeps winning and Columbus keeps losing, they could be a dark horse challenger for a wild-card playoff spot with the Crew. A loss by Chicago, however, would all but eliminate them from playoff contention.
Monday, September 26, 2011
What We Learned: Crew vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
1. Execution, not personnel, is the issue
Having lost 4 of their last 5, the Crew are at a loss for how to turn things around. Saturday's game against the Galaxy proved that the Crew have enough talent to be playing better than they have been. Andres Mendoza, Robbie Rogers and Emilio Renteria all created dangerous chances as the game wore on, but the Crew struggled with their finishing. Those three attackers, combined with the solid play of Emmanuel Ekpo and Chad Marshall, looked to be just a step away from giving the Crew a major advantage over LA. If they can regain some of their rhythm from earlier in the season, the Crew should be able to right the ship
2. The Crew need a full game from Andres Mendoza and Emilio Renteria
Mendoza and Renteria have combined for 17 of the Crew's 35 goals on the season. When nearly half of a team's offensive output comes from one dynamic duo, it becomes necessary for those two to step it up in crunch time. If the Crew are going to hang on to a playoff spot in the last few weeks of the season, they'll need Renteria and Mendoza (both scoreless in the run of play in 3 straight) to carry the offensive load. Renteria has been suffering from injury, but his play in 25 minutes against Los Angeles suggested that he's ready to go - something the Crew desperately need in the homestretch.
3. There's no such thing as easy points this late in the season
It looked as if the Crew might catch a break on Saturday by facing an LA side that had to field reserves due to CONCACAF Champions League fatigue, but the Galaxy matched their intensity throughout and came away with all 3 points at the end. Whether the motivation is simply to improve a clinched playoff position (like the Galaxy), to save face at the end of a disappointing season (like one of the Crew's final opponents, New England) or to fight with a rival for a spot at the dance (like 3 of the Crew's next 4 foes, Kansas City, DC, and Chicago), no one is backing down at the season's close. This Crew team has to come out more focused than they did on Saturday if they hope to hang on to their playoff spot. It might help them to realize that the other team won't just let them impose their will.
4. Now we can see how this group will work with their back to the wall
The Crew, by all metrics, have had a tremendous amount of success over the past 4 seasons. They've made the playoffs the last 3 seasons, won 2 Supporter's Shields and of course, took their first MLS Cup. This season, despite something of a roster overhaul (parting ways with Guillermo Barros Schelotto, of course) has looked like much of the same up until now, where the Crew have to look at the very real possibility of missing out on the playoffs.
Over the last two seasons, the Crew were criticized for a perceived complacency and not showing up in the clutch by making early postseason exits. This group hasn't yet been in a position to fight for their playoff lives until now. Can the sting of getting upset in the playoffs the last two years be enough to motivate Columbus or will they prove the naysayers right by folding when the going gets tough? The Crew are able to control their destiny, so we stand to learn a lot about the makeup of this team over the next four weeks.
Having lost 4 of their last 5, the Crew are at a loss for how to turn things around. Saturday's game against the Galaxy proved that the Crew have enough talent to be playing better than they have been. Andres Mendoza, Robbie Rogers and Emilio Renteria all created dangerous chances as the game wore on, but the Crew struggled with their finishing. Those three attackers, combined with the solid play of Emmanuel Ekpo and Chad Marshall, looked to be just a step away from giving the Crew a major advantage over LA. If they can regain some of their rhythm from earlier in the season, the Crew should be able to right the ship
2. The Crew need a full game from Andres Mendoza and Emilio Renteria
Mendoza and Renteria have combined for 17 of the Crew's 35 goals on the season. When nearly half of a team's offensive output comes from one dynamic duo, it becomes necessary for those two to step it up in crunch time. If the Crew are going to hang on to a playoff spot in the last few weeks of the season, they'll need Renteria and Mendoza (both scoreless in the run of play in 3 straight) to carry the offensive load. Renteria has been suffering from injury, but his play in 25 minutes against Los Angeles suggested that he's ready to go - something the Crew desperately need in the homestretch.
3. There's no such thing as easy points this late in the season
It looked as if the Crew might catch a break on Saturday by facing an LA side that had to field reserves due to CONCACAF Champions League fatigue, but the Galaxy matched their intensity throughout and came away with all 3 points at the end. Whether the motivation is simply to improve a clinched playoff position (like the Galaxy), to save face at the end of a disappointing season (like one of the Crew's final opponents, New England) or to fight with a rival for a spot at the dance (like 3 of the Crew's next 4 foes, Kansas City, DC, and Chicago), no one is backing down at the season's close. This Crew team has to come out more focused than they did on Saturday if they hope to hang on to their playoff spot. It might help them to realize that the other team won't just let them impose their will.
4. Now we can see how this group will work with their back to the wall
The Crew, by all metrics, have had a tremendous amount of success over the past 4 seasons. They've made the playoffs the last 3 seasons, won 2 Supporter's Shields and of course, took their first MLS Cup. This season, despite something of a roster overhaul (parting ways with Guillermo Barros Schelotto, of course) has looked like much of the same up until now, where the Crew have to look at the very real possibility of missing out on the playoffs.
Over the last two seasons, the Crew were criticized for a perceived complacency and not showing up in the clutch by making early postseason exits. This group hasn't yet been in a position to fight for their playoff lives until now. Can the sting of getting upset in the playoffs the last two years be enough to motivate Columbus or will they prove the naysayers right by folding when the going gets tough? The Crew are able to control their destiny, so we stand to learn a lot about the makeup of this team over the next four weeks.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Match Recap: Crew vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
The good news for the Crew is that they located their offensive intensity that had gone missing recently. The bad news is that it wasn't enough to make the difference against a short-handed Los Angeles side.
The Crew fell 1-0 to the league-leading Galaxy, who found a stoppage-time strike from the foot of Chad Barrett despite fielding a reserve-heavy side. Weary from a thick slate of midweek CONCACAF Champions League matches, the Galaxy rested stars David Beckham and Robbie Keane, as well as defending MLS Goalkeeper of the year Donovan Ricketts. However, it wasn't enough for the Crew to take advantage of, as backup goalie Josh Saunders put up an astounding clean sheet with four saves.
It was Saunders who proved to be the biggest roadblock to the Columbus attack, as he made impressive stops in the final ten minutes as the Crew pressed for a late winner. Andres Mendoza and Robbie Rogers both had one-on-one chances foiled by the Puerto Rico international, while Mendoza and Emilio Renteria had tight-angle shots turned away as well.
The Crew's closest chance, however, was saved not by Saunders but by Michael Stephens, as Chad Marshall's early second-half header was barely cleared off the line by the young midfielder. While the captain has tallied 13 career goals for the Crew, it would have been his first of the season.
Despite their shorthanded lineup, the Galaxy kept a reasonable amount of pressure on the Crew backline during the game. Striker Adam Cristman was active early on, testing William Hesmer with a pair of powerful shots in the first half. Hesmer proved equal to the Galaxy offense until second-half stoppage time, when fresh substitute Barrett volleyed home the rebound from Hesmer's parry of a Landon Donovan blast. The preliminary strike was the first contribution of Donovan's night, as his clogged schedule limited him to a cameo appearance off the bench in the second half.
The loss extended the Crew's winless streak to 5 games, and Columbus has now lost 4 of the last 5. With the loss and Houston's road triumph against FC Dallas, the Crew are now tied for second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Dynamo.
The Crew's next match comes on Wednesday with the other team tied for second place, Sporting Kansas City, as Columbus makes their first trip to the brand-new Livestrong Sporting Park. With the two sides battling for top position, the midweek match could shape the rest of the season in the Eastern Conference and heavily impact the MLS Cup playoff picture.
The Crew fell 1-0 to the league-leading Galaxy, who found a stoppage-time strike from the foot of Chad Barrett despite fielding a reserve-heavy side. Weary from a thick slate of midweek CONCACAF Champions League matches, the Galaxy rested stars David Beckham and Robbie Keane, as well as defending MLS Goalkeeper of the year Donovan Ricketts. However, it wasn't enough for the Crew to take advantage of, as backup goalie Josh Saunders put up an astounding clean sheet with four saves.
It was Saunders who proved to be the biggest roadblock to the Columbus attack, as he made impressive stops in the final ten minutes as the Crew pressed for a late winner. Andres Mendoza and Robbie Rogers both had one-on-one chances foiled by the Puerto Rico international, while Mendoza and Emilio Renteria had tight-angle shots turned away as well.
The Crew's closest chance, however, was saved not by Saunders but by Michael Stephens, as Chad Marshall's early second-half header was barely cleared off the line by the young midfielder. While the captain has tallied 13 career goals for the Crew, it would have been his first of the season.
Despite their shorthanded lineup, the Galaxy kept a reasonable amount of pressure on the Crew backline during the game. Striker Adam Cristman was active early on, testing William Hesmer with a pair of powerful shots in the first half. Hesmer proved equal to the Galaxy offense until second-half stoppage time, when fresh substitute Barrett volleyed home the rebound from Hesmer's parry of a Landon Donovan blast. The preliminary strike was the first contribution of Donovan's night, as his clogged schedule limited him to a cameo appearance off the bench in the second half.
The loss extended the Crew's winless streak to 5 games, and Columbus has now lost 4 of the last 5. With the loss and Houston's road triumph against FC Dallas, the Crew are now tied for second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Dynamo.
The Crew's next match comes on Wednesday with the other team tied for second place, Sporting Kansas City, as Columbus makes their first trip to the brand-new Livestrong Sporting Park. With the two sides battling for top position, the midweek match could shape the rest of the season in the Eastern Conference and heavily impact the MLS Cup playoff picture.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Matchday Preview: Crew vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
A week after losing traction in the race to win the Eastern Conference, the Columbus crew welcome the top team in MLS to Crew Stadium in an attempt to maintain their spot in the standings.
Columbus (11-10-8, T-1st Eastern Conference) hosts Los Angeles (16-3-10, 1st West/Overall) in hopes of snapping a four-game winless skid. The game starts at 7:30 and will be broadcast locally on ONN as well as 106.7 FM and in Spanish on 103.1 FM.
-What's at Stake
The Crew need to start picking up points to stay ahead of hard-charging Kansas City and Philadelphia. While they've been at the top of the Eastern Conference for the better part of the season, they'll need to break out of their funk to ensure they'll even have a spot at the dance. Los Angeles, however, sitting 7 points clear of Seattle (the next best team in MLS), has already clinched their spot in the playoffs. They're well on their way to winning their second straight Supporter's Shield.
-Matchup History
In these teams' other meeting of the season, the Crew fell 1-0 to the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on the strength of Sean Franklin's first career goal. The career matchup is tilted in the favor of Columbus to the tune of 15-12-8. They've been two of the most successful teams over the last few years, combining to win the last three Supporter's Shields.
-The State of the Crew
The Crew are winless in their last 4, with three of those being losses. Their most recent match was a 1-0 road loss to Philadelphia, in which the offense didn't look especially threatening. Captain Chad Marshall is recovering from a hip injury that caused him to miss the last match.
-The State of the Galaxy
Los Angeles has won 2 straight and 4 of 5 in MLS play, but fatigue from midweek Concacaf Champions League games may be catching up with them, as they played to a 1-0 loss against Alajuelense in Costa Rica. They will be missing star midfielder David Beckham.
-The Outlook
Los Angeles has outplayed most of their opponents this year, and a skidding Crew will need to play very well to flip the script. They have, however, had an entire week of rest while LA is dealing with a short turnaround. Columbus would do well to attack the tired legs of Los Angeles early on, as they've had trouble scoring in normal circumstances lately. If Los Angeles is able to deal with the lack of rest, the Crew will have their hands full and will probably be happy with a draw.
-Other Games to Watch
With prime rivals Kansas City and Philadelphia idle after playing last night, the day's most important other game for the Eastern Conference features 4th-place Houston on the road against FC Dallas. A Houston loss would give the Crew a little more breathing room in hopes of clinching a playoff spot.
Columbus (11-10-8, T-1st Eastern Conference) hosts Los Angeles (16-3-10, 1st West/Overall) in hopes of snapping a four-game winless skid. The game starts at 7:30 and will be broadcast locally on ONN as well as 106.7 FM and in Spanish on 103.1 FM.
-What's at Stake
The Crew need to start picking up points to stay ahead of hard-charging Kansas City and Philadelphia. While they've been at the top of the Eastern Conference for the better part of the season, they'll need to break out of their funk to ensure they'll even have a spot at the dance. Los Angeles, however, sitting 7 points clear of Seattle (the next best team in MLS), has already clinched their spot in the playoffs. They're well on their way to winning their second straight Supporter's Shield.
-Matchup History
In these teams' other meeting of the season, the Crew fell 1-0 to the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on the strength of Sean Franklin's first career goal. The career matchup is tilted in the favor of Columbus to the tune of 15-12-8. They've been two of the most successful teams over the last few years, combining to win the last three Supporter's Shields.
-The State of the Crew
The Crew are winless in their last 4, with three of those being losses. Their most recent match was a 1-0 road loss to Philadelphia, in which the offense didn't look especially threatening. Captain Chad Marshall is recovering from a hip injury that caused him to miss the last match.
-The State of the Galaxy
Los Angeles has won 2 straight and 4 of 5 in MLS play, but fatigue from midweek Concacaf Champions League games may be catching up with them, as they played to a 1-0 loss against Alajuelense in Costa Rica. They will be missing star midfielder David Beckham.
-The Outlook
Los Angeles has outplayed most of their opponents this year, and a skidding Crew will need to play very well to flip the script. They have, however, had an entire week of rest while LA is dealing with a short turnaround. Columbus would do well to attack the tired legs of Los Angeles early on, as they've had trouble scoring in normal circumstances lately. If Los Angeles is able to deal with the lack of rest, the Crew will have their hands full and will probably be happy with a draw.
-Other Games to Watch
With prime rivals Kansas City and Philadelphia idle after playing last night, the day's most important other game for the Eastern Conference features 4th-place Houston on the road against FC Dallas. A Houston loss would give the Crew a little more breathing room in hopes of clinching a playoff spot.
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