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…)
It’s that time of night again. All the MLS games are over. If you’re on the East Coast, you’re idly surfing the Web in hopes of finding something better than going to bed. If you’re out on the Left Coast, you’re debating whether or not you’re off to do something social or if you’re going to join your East Coast brethren in dreamland.
But better than any of that? A look at all the best from the day that was in MLS. Yes, my friends, it’s time for some Saturday Superlatives.
Another Saturday of MLS action is behind us, and while the second night of Week 3 certainly provided some surprising results it didn’t provide the most scintillating day of American soccer in recent memory. All six matches featured at least one team that didn’t score. Couple that with Seattle’s clean sheet against the Dynamo on Friday, and you’ve got a lot of fans hoping that eventually we’ll see a back-and-forth high-scoring battle.
Of course, just because there weren’t an abundance of goals doesn’t mean there was a lack of intrigue or positive action. Take a look as we give you all the best from another fine MLS Saturday.
AS Roma 2 Genoa 1
This by far was Roma’s best performance of the season. Not only did they get a victory, but also the team simply was more dangerous in the attacking third of the pitch. The only disappointment was that captain Francesco Totti was still not able to find the back of the net, although he looked dangerous throughout the entire game. Both teams missed two big chances early to take the lead. Finally, Marco Borriello was able to score after a sliding shot when a Totti cross was deflected into his path. The second goal from Roma was after a beautiful build up from Borriello and Simone Perrotta andvwas finished with a sliding shot by Matteo Brighi. Genoa made the game interesting late with a goal by Gergely Rudolf after a perfect back heel pass from Luca Toni. In the end Roma was able to hold on and finally get out of the relegation zone.
Milan 1 Catania 1
Catania will be happy that they were able to steal points from Milan. The Sicilian team came out attacking and looked like they would be the first team to score and they were rewarded for their efforts. In the 27th Ciro Capuano scored the goal of the weekend for Catania with a cracking left-footed volley that stunned the Milan fans. Catania will be very disappointed that they could not score any more goals as they had six shots on goal compared to Milan’s one. Pipo Inzaghi made that one shot count scoring his 155-career goal tying him for 18th best in Serie A career goals. The goal came from a perfect low cross by Ronaldinho and Inzaghi scored the only way he knows how with a questions being asked of him offside. Milan was able to control the second half, but was unable to score. Their best chance in the second half was from an Andrea Pirlo cross that Zlatan Ibrahimovic was unable to finish. Milan looked like they missed the two Brazilians Pato and Robinho who were not included in the squad.
EPL — Six minutes in and the route was already on, courtesy of Nicolas Anelka. After Gary Caldwell earned a red for his takedown of Frank Lampard in the 31st minute, the ensuing penalty kick wrapped up the Blues’ title against 10-man Wigan. Chelsea fans had come all the way to the Bridge to see their boys hoist the Premier League trophy, so rather than kick the ball around for the remaining 60 minutes, Didier Drogba, Lampard, and Co. decided to help them enjoy the afternoon. Ashley Cole’s volley ended the scoring in the 90th minute after eight Chelsea goals found their way to the back of the net. Drogba didn’t find the net until the 63rd minute — a breathtaking goal in which the Ivorian saw his powerful bicycle blocked before getting to his feet, soaring over a defender, and sending a searing header past Wigan keeper Michael Pollitt — but then found his scoring touch, finishing with three on the day to raise his league tally to 29, sealing the Golden Boot.
The thoroughly dominating performance left no doubt as to who the deserving title winner was this year. Chelsea becomes the first team in Premier League history to win all six league matches against Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool, defeating each at home and away. Carlo Ancelotti can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that his job is safe at least until the first loss in next season’s campaign. The precocious Italian was more than a little excited to have brought the trophy back to West London, revealing that even he was getting caught up in the celebrations.
“Only ask me easy questions please because my levels of wine are high… I am so happy to win this title. I want to thank my owner Roman Abramovich, everyone who support me every day and most of all I want to thank my players. They work so hard every day, have maintained a good atmosphere as a team and we have deserved to win this title… We will celebrate with more wine now. It never happens that I get drunk so this is a special day! Hopefully it is the first of many titles for me at Chelsea.”
Manchester United made sure they took three points from Stoke’s visit to Old Trafford, but could only watch the scoreboard as Chelsea ran away with the game, and title.
In the only other meaningful games in the Premier League, Arsenal dominated a Fulham side clearly looking to their upcoming clash with Atletico Madrid in the Europa League Finals. Even that victory was, in the end, irrelevant, as Burnley beat Tottenham 4-2 to give their relegation-bound fans at Turf Moor one final Premier League celebration.
American Stuart Holden returned to action, coming on in the 66th minute of the Bolton’s 2-1 victory over Birmingham. While Holden is sure to be present in the US 30-man camp, his appearance should almost ensure his inclusion — barring injury — on the 23-man roster heading to South Africa.
La Liga — Barcelona and Real Madrid each won, which likely means Barca will earn their second consecutive La Liga title. Real destroyed Athletic Bilbao 5-1, while Barca were forced to sweat out a 3-2 victory at Sevilla after a comfortable lead was made all the more tenuous when Frederique Kanoute and Luis Fabiano scored within a two-minute period to make it a one goal difference. Next Sunday, the blaugrana host a Valladolid side that appears headed for relegation unless they can salvage a point or three from the league leaders. I think they can begin engraving the trophy for Pep Guardiola and his boys.
Seria A — Inter Milan and Roma each held on for one-goal victories. The wins keep Inter two points ahead of Roma, with relegation-bound Siena the final hurdle on the Scudetto. I feel like I may have said this before, but I think they can begin engraving the trophy…
Bundesliga — Bayern may have claimed the title last week, but for Americans Ricardo Clark and Steve Cherundolo, the final week still had importance. For Clark, who earned another start for Eintracht Frankfurt and played the full ninety, he showed Bob Bradley he is back to full fitness and competing at a high level. Of further importance, the former Houston Dynamo midfielder inked a new three-year contract with the German side after, apparently, proving himself in his limited appearances.
For Cherundolo, the pressure of relegation is finally over. The defender’s side beat relegation rivals VfL Bochum 3-0 to secure a place in the German top flight next year.
MLS — LA asserted once again that they are — and will be for the foreseeable future — the class of the MLS. In front of MLS’ most passionate fan base at Qwest Field, the Galaxy destroyed the Sounders 4-0 behind goals from Jovan Kirovski, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant, and Landon Donovan — who notched his first goal of the season and assisted on all three of his teammates goals.
With the Red Bulls getting crushed by San Jose and the Columbus Crew barely holding on against a middling Revolution team at home, it’s hard to argue any team in the league is even close to playing at the same level as the Galaxy. Of course, with a nine-point lead in the Western Conference, no other team IS close to them.
Houston sits second in the West following a 2-0 victory over a very flat Chivas side. The game was essentially decided after eight minutes, as Adrian Serioux’s header gave the visitors their two-goal cushion.
And a Happy Mother’s Day from the USA10Kit!
For Chelsea, Barcelona, and Internazionale, another weekend gone is another match closer to league titles. The three clubs maintained their current positions atop their respective leagues, each having taken three points. With one match left in the Premier League season, three in La Liga, and two in Seria A, the three title chasers, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Roma are running out of time.
Chelsea emerged from its toughest remaining task – away at Anfield – with the crucial victory. Now only Wigan stands in the way of the Blues’ first league title since the 2005-06 season, a deep sigh of relief for Carlo Ancelotti, and Roman Abramovich’s first peaceful night’s sleep in four years.
Chelsea struggled to find a rhythm early in the match, and almost fell behind after a brilliant strike from Aquilani skipped off the crossbar from 30 yeards. But in the 33rd minute, Drogba pounced on a poorly weighted backpass from Steven Gerrard, took a touch past Reina, and coolly gave the visitors the advantage. From there, Chelsea looked much more convincing, and Frank Lampard’s second half goal locked up the crucial win. Chelsea were undoubtedly aided by a conspicuously absent Fernando Torres and weary Liverpool legs following their 120 minute mid-week loss to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semifinals.
Manchester United followed serve hours later, with a beautiful shot from Nani the lone goal. Dimitar Berbatov did everything in his power to keep Sunderland in the game, failing to put away several excellent opportunities.
It is, quite obviously, Chelsea’s title to lose, and it’s near impossible to see Ancelotti’s men falling to Wigan for a second time this season with so much at stake. It’s nice, regardless, to see the season’s last week have some real meaning at the top of the table, especially with relegation battles long over.
Barcelona has a slightly tougher road to the title after rebounding from the mid-week’s misery to beat Villareal 4-1. The most recent Champions League eliminees have three games to go and a meager one-point lead over Real Madrid. Further, they must travel to fifth-place Sevilla on the penultimate match day. Real will have plenty to fear as well, knowing that they must, essentially, play perfectly and hope for help from Barcelona’s opponents. Still in the hunt after Cristiano Ronaldo’s heroics in their 3-2 last-minute win over Osasuna, Madrid heads to fourth-place Mallorca mid-week.
Inter Milan leave Rome 2-0 winners over Lazio. With two games left against teams from the bottom half of the Serie A table, the blue and black will likely take their fifth consecutive league crown.
Elsewhere in Europe, Bayern Munich sit comfortably at the top, three points and a sizeable goal differential ahead of Schalke with two matches left. Marseille, after tying Auxerre on Friday, have all but claimed their first French title in eighteen years.
On our side of the Atlantic, the MLS standings appear to be figuring itself out. The Galaxy, Red Bulls, and Crew have emerged, to date, as the clear class of the league. LA efficiently handled Philadelphia, while the Crew took a point from Qwest field. New York continued to pile on the misery for DC fans, leaving RFK Stadium 2-0 winners.
In what has become a weekly occurrence, the Galaxy’s Edson Buddle notched another brace as he continues his dream start. But while his form has been nothing short of amazing, LA owes its 5-0-1 start to its defense, which has allowed a paltry two goals through six games. Omar Gonzalez and Co. have been doing such a good job along the back line, Donovan Ricketts is barely noticeable. The Galaxy shot stopper has made – count them – 13 saves through six games, which for those short on math skills is an absurdly low average. Bouna Coundoul, whose Red Bulls have only allowed four goals, has still been forced to make 30 saves. As long as Landon Donovan sticks around after the World Cup, it’s difficult to see anyone else lifting the league trophy at season’s end.
We’ll begin with the Bundesliga, where Ricardo Clark finally made his debut for Eintracht Frankfurt, going the full 90 in his sides 3-3 tie with Mainz. Clark should get every opportunity to play in his team’s final two matches, as Frankfurt sit middle of the table with no worry of relegation and no hope of Europa. Likewise for Michael Bradley’s Monchengladbach, who drew with Bayern Munich. The 1-1 tie puts them comfortably out relegation danger and looking to next season’s campaign. Steve Cherundolo’s Hannover lost 3-0 to Leverkusen, deepening their relegation battle. The team will need results in both of their final two matches to avoid the drop.
Two weeks remain in the Barclay’s Premier League, but the annual intrigue associated with relegation battles has come and gone. Portsmouth, Burnley, and Hull will find themselves playing for promotion in the Championship next season. Hull remains mathematically alive, but faces an insurmountable goal differential. With their financial woes deepening, Jozy will likely be heading back to Spain or head to another Premiership team on loan. If he stays in the Premiership, I would hope Fulham take a look and the young American. Bobby Zamora’s excellent season may see him sold if the price is right, vacating a space for the powerful forward to play alongside fellow countryman Clint Dempsey. Obviously this is hopeful, but if Saturday’s sending-off in Hull’s must-win game showed anything, it’s that Altidore needs to be in a stable, structured, disciplined, and mature environment where the players respect their coach. Roy Hodgson and Fulham offer just that.
On the other side of the table, the league title and Champions/Europa League jostling continues in earnest, as the weekend’s fixtures did little to elucidate the final picture. Decisive victories for Chelsea and United mean they remain one point apart, while a Tottenham loss, Aston Villa and Liverpool wins, and a drab Manchester City tie put all within two points of each other for the final Champions League spot. The remaining schedule and list of fixtures would appear to favor Tottenham, who, like Manchester City, have a game in hand. The two face each other May 5 in what will likely be the most important game of their respective seasons.
Tottenham: Bolton (H), Manchester City (A), Burnley (A)
Aston Villa: Manchester City (A), Blackburn (H)
Manchester City: Aston Villa (H), Tottenham (H), West Ham (A)
Liverpool: Chelsea (H), Hull City (A)
Much like the top of the Premiership, the La Liga crown is still undecided. Real’s 2-1 win keeps them a point behind Barcelona, who dispatched of Xerex in a less than glamorous but efficient fashion behind goals from Suarez, Henry, and Ibrahimovic.
Inter Milan regained top of the ladder in Seria A as Roma fell 2-1 to Sampdoria. Goals by Milito, Muntari, and Chivu ensured a 3-1 win, and the nerazzurri sit two points clear.
In Major League Soccer, the New York Red Bulls stayed perfect at their new stadium, beating the Philadelphia Union thanks to a 67th minute Angel PK. Houston’s 2-0 loss to Chicago was magnified by the loss of Geoff Cameron, out for the season with a torn PCL. Dynamo options in the middle of the field are extremely slim with the loss of Cameron and the departures of Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark before the season. Columbus regained their winning form while sending RSL to another loss. The defending champs now sit seventh in the Western Conference despite lofty preseason expectations. Los Angeles and Edson Buddle couldn’t find the net against Kansas City but still managed to take a point from the Wizards as the two battled to a scoreless draw.
Conor Casey wrapped up the fourth weekend of MLS games with a brace from the penalty spot, leading Colorado to a 3-1 win over struggling Toronto FC Sunday. They now sit tied for second in the Western Conference with Houston, who enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Chivas. LA emerge from the weekend as the only perfect team in the league thanks to another brace by Edson Buddle. Start the Real Madrid and Manchester City whispers…or maybe just the USMNT call up rumors.
If the weekend’s European fixtures were supposed to begin clearing up title races, they certainly didn’t get the message.
Paul Scholes last gasp header saw United to a vital three points at the City of Manchester Stadium. The winner came after 93 minutes of goalless deadlock, sending City to another heartbreaking derby loss against United. The goal puts Scholes one off 150 in his United career, and undoubtedly rekindled nightmares of Michael Owens last minute winner the last time the two teams met.
To the Red Devils delight, Chelsea couldn’t hold serve. Gareth Bale’s strike made it a two-goal advantage for Spurs after Jermaine Defoe opened the scoring with a penalty following a John Terry handball – a refereeing decision that surely had Bolton fans shaking their heads after last weeks match. A clumsy set of tackles by the Blues’ captain dropped Chelsea to ten men, and despite the efforts of Roman Pavlyuchenko to avoid finding net and give Chelsea a chance, the match ended 2-1 with the league leaders holding onto a slim one-point advantage atop the league.
Arsenal, with yet another opportunity to get back in the title race, saw their hopes crushed by a catastrophic ten-minute display against Wigan. Up 2-0 with ten minutes to play, the Gunners conceded goals in the 80, 89, and 90th minute, and still sit 6 points off the pace.
With three games to play, my money is still on Chelsea, who, should they get through Stoke at the Bridge, face a Torres-less Liverpool (sidelined for six weeks after opting for knee surgery) and a Wigan side they should handle. Manchester United must get points against a Spurs side who, having seen off both Chelsea and Arsenal in the last two weeks, are swimming in confidence. Sunderland and Stoke round out their season.
Americans in the Premier League enjoyed a successful weekend. Clint Dempsey’s Fulham drew scoreless with Marcus Hanneman and Wolves, while Altidore came on in the 76th minute to help ensure Hull took a point from Birmingham at St. Andrews. Friedel kept Villa in good position for Europa League with a 2-1 win over Portsmouth. Everton and Tim Howard earned a tough 3-2 victory over Blackburn thanks to a 90th minute goal from Tim Cahill.
If anyone was questioning the intensity of Saturday’s top French League billing, look only to the three red cards shown in the dwindling minutes of the Lyon v Bordeaux match to see what the game meant to the two sides. The 2-2 tie, however, was not ideal for either side, who lost ground on both Marseille and Auxerre atop the table.
Barcelona’s scoreless (that’s not a typo) draw, which saw Danny Alves sent off, has injected life back into the La Liga title race. With Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Valencia, the blaugrana hold a slim one-point lead over Real with five games to play.
The Budesliga and Seria A both witnessed exciting matches but little movement atop the board. Goals by Ivica Olic, Thomas Müller, and a hat trick from Arjen Robben helped Bayern Munich maintain their two-point lead over Schalke, while Roma needed second half heroics from Mirko Vucinic to stay one point above Inter, who poured more misery on Juventus. If you haven’t seen Maicon’s strike to open the Inter scoring, do so. Now.
