AP Photo/Orlin Wagner
The Western Conference in the MLS is quickly becoming a tale of two cities. In the north, the streaking San Jose Earthquakes kept their unbeaten streak up (nine games) with a draw against division-leading Houston and now sit at 29 points – just one point out of third and two out of second. While the Quakes gave up the equalizer and could have risen even higher, they’re certainly not slowing down whatsoever and continue to be the best story of the season’s second half.
Their buddies down in L.A., however, are quickly becoming a nightmarish disaster that grows more perplexing with each game. The Galaxy have made player personnel changes, fired both a GM and a manager, and hired one of the most high-profile U.S. coaches. The early returns? 0-2-2, including a 2-0 loss to Kansas City on Saturday that leaves them in dead-last in the West. At 6-10-8, it’s really just a statement on the West’s mediocrity that they even have a chance at the playoffs at all. And we can’t stress it enough – no David Beckham and Landon Donovan in the playoffs again = HUGE DOWNER for the league as a whole as they try to spike their TV ratings and popularity.
With only six games left to get into third place in the West, the Galaxy are getting to the point where some type of result is needed from each of these fixtures.
It will be interesting to see if the East’s domination in the regular season will extend to the MLS Cup. Thursday gave us another comparison, as second-place New England smashed third-place Chivas USA 4-0 on national TV, although two of the scores came in stoppage time.
Comments
Way to go with the Charles Dickens reference. Absorbing English culture, no less.
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