There was lots of shuffling in MLS Week 23. No longer lustrous LA were bumped a step lower by dark horse FC Dallas after a 10-man Chicago bossed the Galaxy around for 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw. After losing the SuperLiga final 2-1 to Monarcas Morelia, the Revolution surprised everybody by beating Seattle Sounders 3-1. DC United lost twice to Columbus in one week, but that was no surprise to anybody. After triumphing in semis, Columbus and Seattle now will meet in the Open Cup finals at Qwest Field on October 5.
Kevin Hartman won MLS Player of the Month for August for leading Dallas to an undefeated record in August while posting two clean-sheets and allowing just two goals in four League games.
Omar Cummings earned MLS Player of the Week for a pair of goals in the Colorado Rapids' 3-0 victory over Chivas USA.
1. Real Salt Lake: (-) Real Salt Lake (12-4-7, 43 pts., +21 GD) once again proved they're setting the standard in MLS with their 1-0 result over NY Red Bulls. Fabian Espindola scored in just the 4th minute. This week RSL visit Seattle, who are looking to recover from an embarrassing 3-1 loss to New England.
2. Columbus Crew: (-) The Crew (13-5-5, 44 pts., +12 GD) had the dirty job of beating up DC United twice this week, first 2-1 in Open Cup and three days later 1-0 in League play. Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored the winning goal on both occasions. Hernandez scored for DC United, who soon suffered the indignity of putting Columbus level with an own goal. This Saturday, the Crew head to once-indomitable LA and ten minutes of David Beckham, who could motivate the Galaxy to keep the win at home.
3. FC Dallas: (+1) Dallas (10-2-10, 40 pts., +12 GD) beat Toronto 1-0 with a goal from Jeff Cunningham. This week, Dallas visit the Quakes where they will be challenged to stop new designated player Geovanni, who scored one goal and created another in his very first game.
4. LA Galaxy: (-1) The Galaxy (13-5-5, 44 pts., +16) only managed to equalize Chicago 1-1 in injury time after being toyed with by a ten-man Fire for 90 minutes. Omar Gonzalez brought LA level. This week, David Beckham is expected to play a few minutes as a substitute, but could bring the motivation to contain Eastern Conference leader Columbus.
5. New York Red Bulls: (-) New York (11-8-4, 37 pts., +3 GD) lost 1-0 to RSL in a quality game, but they still lost. This week the Bulls will extend themselves for a home win over the Rapids.
6. Seattle Sounders: (-) The Sounders (9-9-5, 32 pts., -3 GD) beat Chivas 3-1 in Open Cup on Wednesday, but on Saturday lost an undignified 3-1 to the Revolution in a combustible match at Gillette. Jacqua scored a brace and Montero also scored in the Wednesday Open Cup semis. At New England, Steve Zakuani put the visitors ahead, but then tempers flared and Seattle fell to pieces. The rave green team need to pull themselves together before they host MLS gold standard Real Salt Lake this Thursday.
7. Chicago Fire: (+1) The 10-man Fire (6-7-7, 25, -1 GD) dominated LA 1-1 with the goal coming from Collins John. This week Chicago host Toronto on Wednesday and visit the Union on Saturday and could come out with six additional points if they keep their current form.
8. Colorado Rapids: (+1) The Rapids (9-6-7, 34 pts., +7 GD) clobbered Chivas 3-0 with two goals from Omar Cummings and one from Conor Casey. Colorado will be challenged to walk away with points after visiting New York this weekend.
9. San Jose Earthquakes: (+2) The Quakes (9-7-5, 32 pts., +1) beat Houston 2-1 with a goal and an assist from new designated player Geovanni, who looks like a great fit. This Saturday he'll face a more competitive MLS team when they host FC Dallas.
10. Kansas City Wizards: (-) The Wizards (7-9-6, 27 pts., -2 GD) tied Philadelphia 1-1 on the road with a goal by Davy Arnoud. This week have a bye.
11. Toronto FC: (-4) Toronto (7-9-6, 27 pts., -4 GD) were shut out 1-0 by dark horse Dallas. TFC might see a worse result Wednesday when they visit Chicago who are hitting their stride, but should collect three points when DC United visit on Saturday.
12. Philadelphia Union: (+1) The Union (5-11-6, 21 pts., -12) beat CD Guadalajara 1-0 in a friendly with another goal by 18 year-old Jack McInerny and tied Kansas 1-1 with another goal by Sebastien Le Toux, his tenth of the season. Le Toux is now tied in third place with Fredy Montero as MLS top goalscorer, following Juan Pablo Angel with 12, who's hot on the heels of Edson Buddle with 13. The Union are likely to be defenseless against the visiting Fire this week.
13. New England Revolution: (+1) The Revolution (7-12-3, 24 pts. -12 GD) lost the SuperLiga final 2-1 to Monarcas Morelia, with Kevin Alston scoring his first career goal, but then turned around and beat the Sounders 3-1. Chris Tierney recorded his first career goal, Marko Perovic tallied his sixth MLS goal, and Kheli Dube got his first goal this season. This week the Revolution visit Chivas and the results depend on coach Steve Nicol's starting 11.
14. Houston Dynamo: (-2) Houston (6-12-5, 23 pts., -10 GD) lost 2-1 at home to San Jose with the lone goal headed in by Brad Davis. The Dynamo are in rough shape and have a bye week to figure it out.
15. Chivas USA: (-) Chivas (6-12-4, 22 pts., -6 GD) lost twice last week, first 3-1 to Seattle in Open Cup semis and then 3-0 to Colorado in League play. Padilla scored the lone goal in Open Cup. This week, Chivas host the Revolution, which is something of a gamble.
16. DC United: (-) DCU (4-16-3, 14 pts., -22 GD) lost twice to Columbus last week with Hernandez scoring their only goal in the 2-1 Open Cup semi loss. DC fired no shots at all in 1-0 regular season loss. This week they visit Toronto.
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Comments
I'm looking forward to the San Jose-FC Dallas match this Saturday. It should be a good one.
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