Posts written by Jon

United States

Saturday Superlatives: It’s a Nguyen-Nguyen Situation

After a two-week break, which I know was two weeks too long to bear, it’s time for the triumphant return of Saturday Superlatives. In case you’ve already forgotten, this is the feature in which we highlight all the best from any and all Saturday action.

Six games today. Here’s the best from May 12:

Best Goal: Lee Nguyen, New England Revolution, 4-1 72′

I mean, are you kidding me? The Vietnamese-American midfielder was waved by the Whitecaps in preseason and apparently didn’t take the chance to exact some revenge on his (kind of) former team lightly. He followed up his first MLS goal with this stunner, an audacious attempt off a throw-in that seems to have eyes for the net.

Perhaps even more entertaining than the goal is Caps keeper Joe Cannon’s look of disgust after this, the fourth and final goal, crosses the line. (more…)

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What We're Watching

Channel Surfing: Your MLS Viewing Guide for the Weekend

Here’s a quick look at what you’ll want to have your eyes on as Week 10 of MLS action gets started Saturday.

Must See

You’re going to want to watch the Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United, 4:30E, NBCSN.

When a MLS team gets a new stadium it’s a lot like when a buddy gets married. Some fans are perfectly content with what they already have, others might not have quite as pretty a partner but they’re still settled, and then there will be the outright envious who are single and would love to take the lucky guy’s place. But no matter what role you’re in, you want to see it because at the end of the day you’re happy for the guy. And you don’t even have to suit up for this one. (more…)

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United States

Power of 10: Streaking Sounders on Top

Time for another edition of the ever-popular USA10Kit power rankings. If you’re just joining us, our extra fun gimmick is that we rank 10 teams because that’s the number that’s in the name of the blog.

We have a new leader this week, though it shouldn’t come as too much of a shock if you’ve been watching closely.

1- Seattle Sounders – Five straight wins mean the Sounders are our new leaders. Fredy Montero seems to be fully back, they’ve only allowed three goals all season and even an injury to regular goalkeeper Michael Gspurning can’t seem to slow the club.

2- San Jose Earthquakes – The Quakes suffered their first loss in weeks on Saturday, but Wondolowski and crew stay in the number two slot. Why? They’ve earned it with their consistent play and really should’ve pulled out a draw before some stoppage time heroics did them in on the road.

3- Sporting Kansas City – It’s not panic time yet for Sporting Kansas City, but a loss to the expansion Montreal Impact is certainly enough to knock them from their perch.

4- Vancouver Whitecaps – The Whitecaps picked up a big win over the weekend and have a golden opportunity to vault themselves to the top of the heap with a victory against New England this weekend and a defeat of current leaders Seattle next weekend.

5- Real Salt Lake – What to make of Real Salt Lake? Who knows? They’ve been trudging along lately, barely beating two bottom feeders and drawing a Chicago Fire side who they probably should’ve beat. Still, they’ve managed to stay near the top of the conference.

6-New York Red Bulls – No Henry, no problem for the Red Bulls who were able to put together a strong enough attack to vex the LA Galaxy defense. It’s their third win in a row, and, with Kansas City’s struggles, they’re in striking distance of the Eastern Conference lead.

7- DC United – Nothing cures a loss like a league match with Toronto FC. Coach Ben Olsen was forced to play a strange lineup in the Great White North because of injuries to key players, but the patchwork back line had no problems and the midfield, which is looking increasingly deep, had a strong showing as usual. Beat some better teams and they’ll be on the way up again.

8- Colorado Rapids– The Rapids had a little help from both their opposition and the official as they drubbed a FC Dallas squad that was reduced to nine men for the majority of the 2-0 result. Their offense was firing on all cylinders and playing in a way that’s sure to put a smile on Oscar Pareja’s face if it continues. The defense? It wasn’t exactly tested.

9-LA Galaxy – One step forward, two steps back. Maybe it’s just stubbornness on my part, but I keep expecting the Galaxy to go on a huge winning streak and be the team they were projected to be. But they just don’t seem to be able to stop other teams from scoring more goals than them, and that’s kind of a major problem.

10- Chicago Fire– A win and a draw is good enough to qualify as a hot streak for the Fire who could make some moves in the Eastern Conference.

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MLS

An Arbitrary Number of Thoughts: Panic time in Kansas City? And More!

You know those blogs, the ones that give you three observations or five things we learned or the best XI thoughts. But sometimes that number isn’t enough. Other times it’s too many. So, here’s an arbitrary number of MLS thoughts:

EVERYBODY PANIC!: Sporting Kansas City, up until three weeks ago, looked to be far and away the best team in MLS. Now, they’ve lost two in a row – both to opponents nowhere near the top of the table. I mean, not only are the Impact an expansion team, they weren’t even playing their strongest lineup. So after these losses it’s time to panic in KCK, right? Of course not. Teams might think they have a blueprint on how to beat Sporting, crank up the pressure, clog those wings and make your shots count.

It’s almost like some teams’ strategy against Barcelona. You know they’re going to pass you to death and you suspect they’re more talented than you are, but put some effort into it, play a high pressure game and come away with at least a point. (more…)

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MLS

Power of 10: Playing it Safe Edition

This week because of various circumstances the much-awaited 10Kit power rankings are arriving for you just in times for Saturday’s games. Part of the reason is that with a handful of midweek matches this week, I didn’t want to look like a fool had I, say, vaulted DC United to the top slot only to have them lose 5-3 or something. No, I wasn’t really going to do that, but you get the point.

1- Sporting Kansas City – On a bye week, the leaders didn’t do anything to lose their top spot. In fact, the break might’ve come at a great time. Seth Sinovic, part of SKC’s consistent back line, will miss this weekend’s game with a hand injury and the time off let his replacement work in.

2- San Jose Earthquakes – Their big victory over the league’s other surprise team, DC United, further cemented the Quakes’ spot as on of the best squads in MLS at this, albeit early, point of the season.

3- Real Salt Lake – Narrow wins over lesser competition have raised some red flags and indicated RSL might be at the top of the second group rather than in the bottom of the first.

4- Seattle Sounders– The Sounders will employ a backup goalkeeper in their attempt to continue their rise up the standings and power rankings in what could be a thoroughly enjoyable national TV match with Philadelphia.

5- Vancouver Whitecaps – The Caps continue to quietly play solid matches – they’re looking to extend a two-game winning streak when the highly ranked Earthquakes visit. Vancouver doesn’t have many attacking options, but when their defense plays with the fervor they’ve displayed, it often only takes one.

6-DC United– With their eight-game unbeaten streak snapped, United will seek to start a new streak against league-worst Toronto. Don’t be surprised if they climb a few spots next week.

7- New York Red Bulls – The big question will be whether the Red Bulls can stay in the top 10 without the services of Thierry Henry. In the Eastern Conference pictures, they’ll have time to recover once he gets back, but some wins without him would certainly be welcome in the Big Apple.

8- FC Dallas– Dallas was so close to getting some away points last weekend, but it seems like one step forward and two steps back. Already dealing with yet another injury in the midfield by losing Bobby Warshaw because of a foot fracture, Brek Shea is also an injury worry.

9-LA Galaxy – When their team is at full strength, they’re starting to gel and looking like the team that were the odds-on favorites to win the league when everyone made their preseason picks. When they’re missing three of their most important parts? They looks like a struggling team who will be lucky to make the postseason. We’re supposed to see the former this weekend.

10- Colorado Rapids– Will anyone ever want to stay in the 10 spot?

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South of the Border

Santos Hope To Break Curse of Superlider As Liguilla Kicks Off

One of the beauties of a playoff system in sports is that chance that anything can happen. No matter how powerful a team may appear before a match or tie, there is always the chance that the underdog will turn everything on its head and

Many think of that underdog spirit as something uniquely American, but it certainly seems to have permeated the country’s Southern border in recent years.

One of the most intriguing storylines entering the start of the Mexican Liguila, an eight-team playoff to decide the champion of the tournament, is Santos Laguna looking the shake the curse of the superlider. The superlider, or the points leader after the regular season and one would assume the squad that is typically the favorite to win it all, has failed to make it out of the quaterfinal round the past five consecutive tries. The last team that finished first in the regular season that has gone on to win the silverware is Pachuca in the 2007 Clausura.

In addition to having the most points (four points clear of runner-up Monterrey) at season’s close, Santos also had the most goals of the campaign, helped by five league goals from American striker Herculez Gomez. Gomez and Los Guerreros will do their best to ward off the curse that has befallen previous leaders as they take on Jaguares. (more…)

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United States

The Power of Ten: Everybody’s a Loser Now Edition

1- Sporting Kansas City – Sporting Kansas City doesn’t drop just because they were given their first loss of the season on the weekend. If anything, SKC proved that while it’s possible to defend them, you still have to hope the defense beats itself.
2- San Jose Earthquakes – As Western Conference leaders, the Earthquakes continue to answer any questions about their legitimacy as a contender in the affirmative. They continue to defend well and are potent enough from both set pieces and open play to get goals.
3- Real Salt Lake – Rough loss this weekend, but losing in the last few minutes with only nine men left on the pitch isn’t enough to knock RSL out of the top three. A third-straight loss, however, most certainly would send them tumbling.
4- DC United – The boys in black get a big bump after a big victory against New York Red Bulls. Coach Ben Olsen has United firing on all cylinders with a mix of old – Chris Pontius, Dwayne De Rosario – and new – Nick DeLeon, Danny Cruz.
5- Vancouver Whitecaps – Vancouver’s defense continues to look really solid. As Sporting KC has shown, if you can’t
6-Seattle Sounders – The Sounders had the week off, but with their impending schedule could run off some wins and prove they belong in with the big boys.
7- New York Red Bulls – A pathetic performance at a rainy RFK knocks the Red Bulls down a few slots. This team has shown some Jekyll and Hyde characteristics. Right now it’s the Hyde side that’s showing and who knows if Red Bull is the potion needed.
8- Portland Timbers – A victory over the number one team is enough to vault the Timbers into our rankings. It wasn’t the prettiest way to get a result, but if this is the one that rights the ship, we’ll see them climb.
9-LA Galaxy – Perhaps they’re just a bit tardy for the run we all figured they’d start making, but it’s still early in the season. Many forgot all about the Galaxy as quickly as they had anointed them 2012 champs. The truth, as of right now, lies in between.
10- FC Dallas – Dallas can’t get a break. As soon as one player gets back from rehabbing an injury, another key component goes down.

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MLS, Weekend Review

Saturday Superlatives

Each week we take you through the best of the day in Major League Soccer. Some weeks it’s tough to find material truly worthy of being a superlative. This is not one of those weeks. While it wasn’t the highest scoring weekend we’ve had so far this season, it was a day full of wacky and whimsical moments. Just the kind of day we like.

Here’s the best from April 21: (more…)

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United States

Saturday Superlatives: Things Don’t Fall Apart

It seems the past few weeks our Saturday Superlatives feature has focused on the unpredictable nature of MLS and how topsy-turvy everything was. In contrast, this week solidified much of what we already believed. This is including, but not limited to, our belief that Sporting Kansas City is the league’s best team, that New York can score goals, that San Jose is apparently legitimately going to be a contender, the Los Angeles Galaxy aren’t as horrible a team as they’ve portrayed themselves to be and Toronto FC are, indeed, as bad as they’ve seemed.

Keeping all those things in mind, here is all the best from a day that didn’t really surprise us…too much: (more…)

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