In a Western Conference showdown with significant potential playoff implications for both squads, the Seattle Sounders defeated the Colorado Rapids in front of a sellout crowd at Qwest Field. Capacity attendance has become second nature in Seattle, as Sunday’s match was the 26th consecutive sellout for the franchise.
Seattle’s Steve Zakuani scored two goals in the match to lead the Sounders into sixth place of the Western Conference standings. A winner of two consecutive matches, Seattle’s 22 points puts the team just one point behind the Rapids. Labeled a “team in turmoil” due to the swirling transfer winds of Freddie Ljungberg, the Emerald City squad has done an impressive job of banding together recently. The dependable leadership of decorated head coach Sigi Schmid is likely a significant factor in this cohesiveness.
Colorado has cooled down after a hot start to the season as the Rapids are currently in the midst of a six-match winless streak.
The match got off to a quick start as the host Sounders pressed early. A nice ball played into the Colorado box led to an unfortunate collision between forward Fredy Montero and Matt Pickens. Pickens took the worst of the challenge but was able to shake it off quickly.
Zakuani opened up the scoring in the eighth minute of the match, capitalizing on an unusual situation in the Rapids’ box in which four defenders outnumbered the two green-shirted attackers. Despite the disadvantage, Zakuani was able to fire a low rocket that struck the post and ricocheted off the outstretched Pickens’ back to find the netting.
The Rapids made short order of finding an equalizer, as Omar Cummings scored his fifth goal of the season literally just seconds later with an absolutely brilliant strike from the corner of the 18-yard box that hit near the top-corner of the net. Just like that, the score was level at one apiece.
Sanna Nyassi was found on a run down the right flank early in the 17th minute. The Seattle midfielder was able to penetrate deep into the box and attract Colorado pressure before playing a cross coolly in front of the goalmouth where teammate Zakuani slammed it in for his second goal of the evening.
Seattle pressed hard to increase its advantage in the late stages of the first half, but to no avail. The home side held a 2-1 lead as the teams returned to their respective locker rooms.
The Rapids had two great scoring opportunities in the 62nd minute but could not capitalize on either one. Casey Keller made a solid save on a clever flick and Cummings had a one-on-one chance that he ultimately launched well over the bar.
Both sides traded possession throughout the remainder of the match with Colorado putting forth a very game effort in its unfulfilled quest for a second equalizer.
Seattle’s next MLS match is a July 31 road date at San Jose while Colorado will host FC Dallas on the same day.
(Photo courtesy of www.goalseattle.com)
Emilio Renteria scored a goal and drew three yellow cards to lead the Columbus Crew to victory over the visiting Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening in central Ohio. The reigning (and back-to-back) MLS Supporters Shield winners dominated the play throughout much of the match en route to earning an important three points. Andy Iro scored the second goal of the match in the 84th minute via a left-footed volley off a set piece deep in the Houston end and Frenchman Leandre Griffit buried the visitors with a 90th-minute goal in his Major League Soccer debut.
William Hesmer earned his eighth shutout of the season in the win, with much credit due to a very solid defensive effort that only yielded one Dynamo shot on goal. On this Crew back line was Shaun Francis, a player making his league debut.
A Dynamo player found his name in the book almost immediately after the opening kickoff, as Mike Chabala took a yellow card in the second minute for sweeping the leg of Columbus’s Emilio Renteria. The Crew forward was making a run on the ball down the right flank when he was brought down.
Columbus dominated possession for much of the early going but was unable to generate any shots on target. Adam Moffatt made a tantalizing run towards goal in the 12th minute, knifing through multiple defenders before ultimately turning over the ball inside Houston box. Moments later, Guillermo Barros Schelotto juggled the ball on the left flank before playing in a lob to Renteria, who headed it a few feet over the bar.
Houston remained very stout on the defensive end early on, allowing the home side to control the possession while waiting for a counter-attack opportunity. The visitors had one of those chances come their way when Crew defender Danny O’Rourke turned the ball over twenty yards from his goal and took a yellow by dragging down a Dynamo forward. Brad Davis curled the ensuing free kick just over William Hesmer’s net seconds later.
A ghastly mistake by Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall led to Renteria tapping the ball in the net for his fourth goal of the year. A long cross from the Crew backline was flubbed by Hall, who seemingly couldn’t make up his mind between playing it with his feet outside the box or letting it travel into the area before snaring it. He chose the latter and misplayed it, allowing the Columbus forward a few dribbles before an easy tap-in.
Renteria drew another yellow card in the late stages of the first half, playing a fortunate bounce on the run before meeting the roadblock that was Bobby Boswell. Schelotto played a long free kick into the six-yard box where Crew defender—and MLS All-Star—Chad Marshall headed a shot off-target.
The beginning of the second half was primarily a midfield battle between the squads. In the 64th minute, Schelotto played a beautiful ball inside the six to teammate Robbie Rogers, who despite his improved play in the second half was unable to sneak it near post past Hall. To the Houston goalkeeper’s credit, he improved significantly from his costly first-half mistake.
Boswell took his second yellow of the match—and the red that accompanies it—in the 72nd minute for a harsh challenge from behind on the oft-mentioned Renteria.
Rogers drew a foul on the offensive left flank in the late stages of the match and the Crew capitalized immediately and emphatically. Schelotto played a beautiful ball into the box which Iro was able to punch in via a mid-air volley on his left foot in the 84th minute. This dagger was Iro’s third goal of the season and Schelotto’s sixth assist.
Griffit joined in on the action in the 90th minute, hammering in a rebound past the outstretched Hall to make it 3-0 in favor of the home side.
Houston’s next MLS match is a home date against the New York Red Bulls on July 31 while on that same evening Columbus will visit Chivas USA.
The Breakdown: Late Heroics by Donovan Earns Galaxy Draw with 'Quakes
Posted by Brett Compton
The San Jose Earthquakes increased their unbeaten streak to four matches on Thursday as they earned an exciting 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. The ‘Quakes leapt into a fourth-place tie in the Western Conference with Colorado while the Galaxy saw no change in its place atop the league table. The visitors were led by two players who scored their first goals of the season (Bobby Convey and Brandon McDonald) while the home side found the scoresheet via Edson Buddle’s league-leading 12th goal of the year and Landon Donovan’s third.
San Jose nearly withstood a furious late Los Angeles onslaught but Donovan was able to punch in a rebound to tie the match in the 90th minute, pulling the Galaxy level for the second time in the match. This goal was the 99th of Donovan’s MLS career.
Convey proved he was worthy of his recent MLS All-Star selection early on, finding the net in just the second minute of the match. A teasing ball to Cornell Glen at the top of the box led to the Trinidad and Tobago international firing a low shot at Donovan Ricketts. The Galaxy ‘keeper squirted a rebound out to the six-yard box where Convey was able to knock it home straight away for his first goal of the year. Before tonight’s match he had been quite the distributor, tallying eight assists in his squad’s first 14 matches.
San Jose kept applying the pressure early on, dominating much of the possession for the first nine minutes before Donovan found space and fired an effort on target from distance. Jon Busch—starting his fourth match of the season—was equal to the task and made the early save. Throughout the middle portion of the first half the host Galaxy was able to hold possession, leaving the Earthquakes to take their chances via the counterattack.
Busch and Alan Gordon combined for a massive collision in the 33rd minute, with Gordon taking the sour end of it by introducing his face to Busch’s knee. No foul play by either side and once the Galaxy forward was re-equipped with a bloodless jersey, he was back on the pitch.
Through 45 minutes of play the Galaxy led in shots (seven) and corners (three) but San Jose was able to maintain the only advantage that mattered as it took a 1-0 score line into the locker room. This halftime deficit was the first one faced by Los Angeles all season.
The second half got off to an exciting start as the Galaxy came down the field and immediately forced a tough call for the head official. Donovan played himself through past Ramiro Corrales and tumbled to the grass from contact. The official motioned the United States international to his feet instead of pointing to the penalty spot, much to the chagrin of the LA fans.
The 49th minute saw a terrific header from Edson Buddle find the frame before Convey was able to nod it right up into the crossbar, leading to a frenzied few moments in the San Jose box. Just minutes into the second half it was all Galaxy, though no one in the home whites could find the finishing touch.
Tempers flared on both sides in the 53rd when Bobby Burling earned a yellow for a tough challenge on Juninho, who was making a great run right up the middle.
Donovan played a beautiful ball to a streaking Todd Dunivant on the flank in the 59th minute. The Galaxy left back threaded a nice ball through the danger area which Buddle hit a bit sloppily off the crossbar and into the back of the net for the equalizer. Despite the messy finish, the goal was due to a tremendous amount of focus on Buddle’s part as he was able to lock onto the ball as it traveled through two players’ legs and eventually found his boot.
Just when it looked like Los Angeles may take over the match and tally a second goal, San Jose scored on a corner that was won against the run of play. Convey played in a nice ball which was hit on target, saved by Ricketts and then finished by Brandon McDonald.
The pressure kept mounting by Los Angeles until it finally yielded a dividend in the form of a Donovan goal in the 90th minute. A misplayed ball by Busch led to a scramble in the box that was punched in by the United States National Team’s all-time leader in appearances and goals.
San Jose’s next match is a home date against the Seattle Sounders on July 31 while the Galaxy will next see MLS action on August 1 when it hosts the Chicago Fire.
Massive day for the Red Bulls today as we will see Thierry Henry put on the White and Red kit for the very first time. He is expected to play the full 90 as is Macoumba Kandji, Carl Robinson, and Roy Miller with Chris Albright getting the nod as right-back. We'll be also seeing a New York trailist on stage who should get about 20 minutes in today. Coach Hans Backe labeled the 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder, as a“a rather unknown one." He is, however, an offensive midfielder, much like Juninho of the LA Galaxy, who'll probably end up getting on the scoresheet today.
When the USMNT bowed out to Ghana on June 27th in Rustenburg, many people criticized the USA defense for crucial errors that led to both Ghana goals. This is a very legitimate complaint, but keep in mind that this was the back line that was hailed "phenomenal" last year in the Confederations Cup against Spain and more recently in the match against Algeria. They made mistakes, but the defense should not take all the blame. The fact is that the USA strikers didn't get the job done. The partnership of Altidore and Findley just didn't work. You can argue that the USMNT scored 5 times in South Africa or 7 times if you count the 2 disallowed goals. But look back at who scored. Dempsey, Donovan, Bradley, and Edu. No strikers. The USA forward to score in the World Cup was Brian McBride in knockout stage of the 2002 World Cup against Mexico. I think it is safe to say this is a crisis. Just take a look at the USMNT rosters from the past 2 World Cups. The strikers in 2006 were McBride, Eddie Johnson, Josh Wolfe, and Brian Ching. Definitely not a attack that strikes fear in the opposition with the exception of McBride. EJ never really took his game to the next level, Wolfe didn't make an impact, and Ching just seems slow and ineffective. After the 2006 performance, change was imminent. Change was necessary.
