Soccer Buzz

For you Premiership fans, I will get to the English game.

However, I have to comment on MLS, especially the undisputed game of the week: New York’s 5-4 victory over Los Angeles.

Over 66,000 fans packed into Giants Stadium.  Sure, most were drawn to see Becks, but Beckham received just as many boos as he did cheers.  And, I don’t think the Red Bulls or the league could have dreamed of a better game to put on for all of these fans.

Hopefully, you didn’t tune into the game a little late since it means you missed three goals.  I suppose when you see three goals in the opening eight minutes, you know you better watch all 90.  Even when Jozy Altidore scored in the 70th minute to give New York a 4-2 lead, I knew I needed to keep watching, and of course, Landon Donovan (you know, the other star that plays for the Galaxy), scored on the ensuing Galaxy kickoff.  Then David Beckham, who already provided assists on Carlos Pavon’s first two goals for LA, delivers a corner kick in the 82nd minute towards Kyle Veris.  Veris’ header hit the post, but Edson Buddle bundled home the rebound to equalize at 4-4.

Even then, I knew another goal was coming, and lo and behold Juan Pablo Angel pounced on a rebound from a Clint Mathis shot, and the former Aston Villa forward bounced the ball in off LA goalie Joe Cannon to round out the scoring, although at the time, I still thought we could be in for another goal.

As for why 9 goals were scored in this game, it is pretty simple.  New York has been porous defensively ever since early June when Eddie Johnson scorched them for a hat trick.  The Galaxy, while never possessing a truly stout defense, had several injuries along the back line, and things only got worse when Ante Jazic, a natural left back forced to play in the middle, had to leave the game in the first half.  At the same time, the Red Bulls had Angel, Altidore, and Mathis while LA had Beckham, Donovan, and Pavon.

Now for the other games:

Chivas 2, Toronto 0

Chivas, despite a singular playmaker, continues to put together good results while Toronto continues its scoreless streak.   At 552 consecutive scoreless minutes, they are perilously close to breaking the record for futility set of 557 by Real Salt Lake in 2005, which also happened to be Salt Lake’s inaugural season.

Chicago Fire 2, Real Salt Lake 0

Beckham may be getting the marquee signing this season in MLS, but Cuauhtemoc Blanco is a surprisingly close second.  Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake saw a large number of Club America jerseys (Blanco’s former team), and the fans of the Mexico City club were brought to their feet when Blanco unleashed a spectacular half-volley to score his first MLS goal.  He later provided the assist to Paulo Wanchope, who also scored his first MLS goal.

Houston Dynamo 1, FC Dallas 0

Houston had to shrug off consecutive losses to Salt Lake and Colorado in league play, followed by a heartbreaking loss to Pachuca on penalties (by the way, what was Joseph Ngwenya thinking on that penalty?).  However, they were able to gather themselves and beat their cross-state rivals to solidify their spot at the top of the Western Conference.  Dallas really needs Juan Toja, suffering from a high ankle sprain, back in the starting eleven if they want to be a serious title threat, but as I know from experience, high-ankle sprains are a very tricky injury.

DC United 2, Columbus Crew 0

DC continues to pick up points in the Eastern Conference, and Columbus, who looked like they were capable of making a charge after early season struggles, may be starting to fade again.

New England Revolution 1, Kansas City Wizards 0

Speaking of teams that are fading, the Wizards looked awful in this loss Sunday night.  Earlier this season, Kansas City was probably the most exciting team in the league with their relentless attacking spirit, their excellent passing, and their excellent movement off the ball.  However in consecutive losses to New England, they have looked completely impotent.  Johnson has played poorly, but he also isn’t getting support from midfield with the under-performing Carlos Marinelli one of the biggest disappointments.   Meanwhile, New England bounces back from a terrible 3-0 loss to Colorado on Thursday to stay on top in the East.