- by Tyler Walter, writing from Fairfax, VA
To say week 22 of the 2011 Major League Soccer calendar is important, is frankly, quite an understatement. A string of CONCACAF Champions League matches kick off tonight through Thursday, and as most teams have 10 or fewer regular season matches remaining, the postseason race will really begin to heat up, as well as the Supporters’ Shield race. And, remember the U.S. Open Cup? Just two weeks away, preparation for that match looms in the not-too-distant future.
1. LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Last Week: 1
Result: BYE
Last Five: W-W-W-L-W
Having a week off, the Galaxy should be well rested for this evening’s CONCACAF Champions League showdown. And they will need every advantage needed, as they certainly are in the toughest CCL group in the tournament. But given their form, their depth, and only league play to focus on, not to mention the addition of Robbie Keane, the Galaxy should be able to earn a berth into the Championship Round.
2. FC DALLAS
Last Week: 4
Result: T 2-2 @ PHI
Last Five: W-T-W-L-T
I don’t see the late squandering of a lead to Philadelphia in PPL Park to completely throw of Dallas. This squad looks more anxious to put emphasis on the Champions League, and hopefully the start things off on an exceptional note. As I’ve stated numerous times before, this squad looks poised to earn more than just a point on Mexican soil.
3. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Last Week: 2
Result: T 0-0 vs. CHV
Last Five: W-W-L-W-T
A test for emphasis. Like their Western Conference opponents down South, the Sounders have four major events in their sight: the Shield, the MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup and starting tomorrow, the Champions League. And frankly, no team feels the most pressure to excel and raise their standards in all competitions. Advancing further in the playoffs, completing a three-peat in the Open Cup, moving themselves past Group Stage play, and of course, vying for the Supporters Shield win LA and Dallas. They have their right to feel being robbed two points to Chivas, but if the Shield loses emphasis, they can afford such results in league play for the time being.
4. COLUMBUS CREW
Last Week: 5
Result: W 3-1 vs. NE
Last Five: L-W-W-L-W
The Crew capitalized tremendously against a feeble New England side and further expanded their Conference lead to the point that they would still maintain their top posistion, even if Sporting and D.C. win their matches on hand against Columbus. A certain mentality to fight back was also exhibited following New England’s somewhat shocking opener. Granted, clubs have been renowned to rally against the Revs on multiple occasions.
5. COLORADO RAPIDS
Last Week: 6
Result: W 2-1 @ SJ
Last Five: W-T-W-W-W
Major League Soccer, your defending champions are back, and in their best form since March-April. And there is no better time than prior to the CONCACAF Champions League and the playoff race to get red hot. Hm, funny. It reminds me of this time last year–minus the Champions League. Their gritty, come-from-behind play and total team effort. It may be flustering to witness at times, but it is often the only way to win the crapshoot playoffs and perform in tournaments.
6. REAL SALT LAKE
Last Week: 3
Result: L 0-1 @ TOR
Last Five: W-L-L-W-L
While the loss at Toronto will widely been seen as a fluke, the fact of the matter is their ability to finish. Salt Lake has maintained their ability to exceptionally pass the ball down the field, but once they hit the penalty box, they seemingly slam on the brakes. However, given the fact that all the other top Western Conference clubs will be congested with the U.S. Open Cup and the Champions League, Salt Lake will have to take this to their advantage. Perhaps if they do so and finish in front of the net, they can find themselves in a automatic Western Conference berth in the playoffs and knocking on the door for the Shield and trip back to the Champions League.
7. D.C. UNITED
Last Week: T-9
Result: W 4-0 vs. VAN
Last Five: T-L-W-T-W
While Chris Pontius may have heard MLS Player of the Week, it really has to go to Joe Willis. He might have been busy for most of the evening in United’s thrashing of the Whitecaps, but in a tense moment before halftime, four consecutive saves of getting up and off the ground possibly saved United from flustering home results. Afterall, it was their first win at home since they played Vancouver’s Cascadian rivals last May. And with it, United are in a joint tie for third place in the East, but with two matches on hand.
They keep up the chemistry with Pontius and De Rosario, United looks poised to vye with Columbus for the Eastern Conference regular season crown.
8. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Last Week: 8
Result: W 2-1 vs. POR
Last Five: W-T-W-T-W
Earning a critical win off of two early goals, one being wicked strike from Brian Ching, the Dynamo look to be entering a stiff battle with D.C. for positioning. Oddly enough, thanks to the dwindling form of Philadelphia and the obvious underachieving of New York, the two may just vie for the final automatic playoff berth in the East. But before you know it, these two will be back at it vying for the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup. Solid futures ahead for them after an epoch of dank times.
9. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Last Week: 7
Result: T 2-2 vs. FCD
Last Five: W-W-L-T-T
For me, I was not expected Freddy Adu to be so quickly integrated into the starting lineup. I mean, yes, I was expecting him to become and eventual starter, but in a certain fashion. That fashion was to become in the Union XI culminated a chain of being a “super sub”. Fact is, that process may not come, and well, who knows what it will bring. Adu had a somewhat good evening, but it will take time really foresee his impact on the club, although it allows Le Toux to have more freedom roaming the field. If so, Adu will assume more of a role player duty.
10. CHIVAS USA
Last Week: T-9
Result: T 0-0 @ SEA
Last Five: T-W-L-W-T
At the tail end, Chivas dodged a huge bullet, and earned an immensely important road point to keep in tact in the wildcard race. Rumor has it that Angel will be crossing the hallway to join Chivas, which can play as a well-played marketing gimmick in the manufactured L.A. Derby, hence Angel can provide an offensive boost.
11. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Last Week: T-9
Result: BYE
Last Five: T-T-W-T-L
Sporting had a week off, and hopefully they went over the practice of finishing off matches. They meet up with an opponent that’s far too familiar with that fate, Portland.
12. TORONTO FC
Last Week: 14
Result: W 1-0 vs. RSL
Last Five: L-L-T-T-W
This win by Toronto has to be a rather large flop, that likely should have been a repeat of their horrendous outing at home to Philly. Plata, by the way, is finally some proof that MLSE knows what they’re sometimes doing. However, this win will probably go down as a brief moment a joy and some ascending to their highest power ranking posistion all season.
13. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Last Week: 13
Result: T 2-2 vs. CHI
Last Five: T-L-T-L-T
Tying at home and losing on the road is not exactly the form a team with postseason ambitions should have. But due to the virtue of playing far more matches, they still remain in an automatic playoff posistion, in spite of the fact of failing to win more than three matches in the past four months. ESPN has claimed that if New York fails to even qualify for the playoffs it will be the largest flop in American soccer history. And how flustering does it have to be, certain star players, such as Henry are producing, but a miscommunication and an under-confident back line have caused so many points to lose the Red Bulls’ grip.
14. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Last Week: 12
Result: L 1-2 @ HOU
Last Five: W-L-T-W-T
Another road match, and result that leads to outright frustration. Needless to say, for the MLS newcomers, they are making a solid statement in their season back in the top tier of American soccer. However, in the midst of their form, they just shot themselves in the foot in the wildcard race, while D.C., Chivas and Houston further distanced themselves to a four point lead over the Timbers.
15. CHICAGO FIRE
Last Week: 17
Result: T 2-2 @ NY
Last Five: T-T-L-L-T
Before the season began, seeing Chicago draw at New York might have been one hell of an achievement. What I considered polar teams in the Eastern Conference has turned out to be teams playing on the same level of play. Chicago suffered a case of deserving to win their match, but somehow ended up drawing for probably the tenth-straight time. I partially joke about that, as this side will go down in history for the most ties in a single season. The fact they’ve only won twice this season isn’t convincing.
16. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Last Week: 15
Result: L 1-3 @ CLB
Last Five: W-T-T-L-L
Welp, that quick little burst of points has completely evaporated. And the Revs have returned to the state of getting the early go-ahead goal and watching themselves trip over their own shoes and dig themselves into giant holes. The verdict this time? Columbus. However, let’s face it: when this season is over, the blame wont be pointed at Nicol or his roster, but on the Kraft family.
17. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Last Week: 16
Result: L 1-2 vs. COL
Last Five: T-T-L-L-T
In five days, I start my freshmen year in college. My high school prom was well over two months ago, and feels far longer than that. That was the last time the ‘Quakes won a competitive match.
18. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Last Week: 18
Result: L 0-4 @ DC
Last Five: L-L-T-L-L
Against D.C., once DeMerit was taken out, the team outright collapsed. Vancouver looked like a bunch of school kids lost on a soccer field. Failing miserably to connect on passes, and far too often resulting in bad giveaways and easy goals. Not all of the heat should be put on the defense, but on the midfield and on goalkeeper Jay Nolly. Nolly allowed in two goals that should have been saves, and the midfield simply could not orchestrate any flow. In fact, I think United scored more goals on the Whitecaps than the ‘Caps had shots on goal.
