- by Tyler Walter, writing from Richmond, VA
The postseason race is on, and no one is safe in the East! Unless you’re New England or Toronto, your team has a fair shot at making the playoffs. Unfortunately, with the Seattle and Columbus match, there’s an extremely probable chance that a Western Conference wildcard seed marches through the Eastern Conference like the past two years. Or Lamar Neagle just had an incredible day.
1. LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Last Week: 1
Result: Match @ NY ppd.
Last Five: W-W-L-W-W
The silver lining out of Hurricane Irene has to be Bruce Arena being able to start several role players in the Galaxy’s Champions League lineup. The stability in the midfield helped the Galaxy win that critical, even-sided match. Still, I had my doubts about New York being able to defeat Los Angeles in the Network Derby. Yes, that’s my label for it.
2. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Last Week: 2
Result: W 6-2 vs. CLB
Last Five: L-W-T-W-W
All it took was one goal to infuse Lamar Neagle into a rampant goal-scoring menace. And with his hat trick, Neagle earned a well-deserved, Player of the Week honor. Additionally, we were reminded that the Western Conference completely outclasses the Eastern Conference. The Sounders continue to reveal their attacking depth, which will come in handy against a fellow top-heavy side, FC Dallas.
3. FC DALLAS
Last Week: 4
Result: W 3-2 @ SKC
Last Five: T-W-L-W-W
While on the topic of team depth, if any other team can rival Seattle with it, it’s FC Dallas. Sure there were a few mishaps against Sporting Kansas City without George John, but hey, they basically beat Toronto twice in Toronto during Champions League play, and with the gritty workhorse named Brek Shea, the two goals were negated...literally within minutes. John’s return can be a massive boost for Dallas, while U.S. Soccer’s heart will skip a beat, in the worry Seattle may get eliminated by Dallas.
4. COLUMBUS CREW
Last Week: 3
Result: L 2-6 @ SEA
Last Five: W-L-W-W-L
Julius James’ absence was slightly felt by the Crew’s back line. If by slight, a team that simply leaked in goals before conceding one of the softest own goals. Still, Crew fans can admire Jeff Cunningham’s enduring chase to become the MLS all-time leading goalscorer finally concluded. Unfortunately, chains of defensive miscommunication completely punctured all glee associated with the milestone. Columbus easily have the works to make the Eastern Conference finals, but let’s face it. There’s quite some benchmarks to meet if they want to be a contender once again for the Cup and Shield.
5. REAL SALT LAKE
Last Week: 7
Result: W 1-0 @ CHV
Last Five: L-W-L-L-W
Rather unexpected, but Alvaro Saborio’s clean, crisp shot against Chivas USA proved to be the fundamental match-winning goal. And with a man down and some luck, the Royals will graciously take all three points. Question is how much it will cost them against Philly without Borchers.
6. COLORADO RAPIDS
Last Week: 5
Result: L 0-2 @ CHI
Last Five: W-W-W-T-L
Off to a solid Champions League start, the Rapids, actually, are in better stomping ground than their cross-mountain rivals, Real Salt Lake, were this time last year. Granted, the Rapids’ did not travel to Mexico for match two, but in spite of playing a mixture of starters and reserves, getting the home win and away draw in Champions League are basics to advance to the Championship Round.
7. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Last Week: 6
Result: L 0-1 @ VAN
Last Five: T-W-T-W-L
Their pace to reach the apex of the Eastern Conference was, unexpectedly halted by league minnows, Vancouver. Given that they still, yes still, have yet to win a match on the road, this may be problematic should the Orange Crush earn a lower wild-card seed in the playoffs, or simply a wildcard seed altogether.
8. CHIVAS USA
Last Week: 9
Result: L 0-1 vs. RSL
Last Five: L-W-T-L-L
A tough stretch of away fixtures this month culminated with a dicey performance against heavy underachievers, Real Salt Lake. Really, other than Angel’s wicked volley that punched the crossbar, there was few chances to pull an equalizer, further hurting postseason ambitions.
9. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Last Week: 8
Result: L 2-3 vs. FCD
Last Five: T-L-W-W-L
A dream start for Sporting ended in a ugly contrasting nightmare. Immediately following a double up on their lead, it’s subsequently slashed in half. But then, once it seems the Wizards have the win in the bag, a wave of attack upon attack causes a heartbreaking defeat, leaving Sporting stuck in a mucky mess of almost every Eastern team in playoff contention.
10. D.C. UNITED
Last Week: 10
Result: Match vs. POR ppd.
Last Five: W-T-W-T-L
Even if this upstart United side is claiming to be hungry for a win, a week-and-a-half break from all competitions might be what the Black-and-Red need to capitalize on their conference’s shortcomings and wheel their way into the top positions in the East.
11. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Last Week: 9
Result: Match vs. NE ppd.
Last Five: W-L-T-T-L
...
12. CHICAGO FIRE
Last Week: 13
Result: W 2-0 vs. COL
Last Five: L-T-T-W-W
...
13. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Last Week: 14
Result: Match @ DC ppd.
Last Five: T-W-T-W-L
While this might be a nice breather for Portland, their going to once again have to travel out to Washington, and likely in the midst of a wild playoff race. To be totally sincere, I’m skeptic about the certain type of form the Timbers would be in by then.
14. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Last Week: 15
Result: T 2-2 @ NE
Last Five: L-T-L-T-T
New York’s layoff of matches, in part due to the weather, will likely be the final opportune chance to turn their season around and prove they are a deserving heavyweight in the league, or at least in the Eastern Conference. Technically, if you count matches with no games in hand for any club, the Red Bulls are now outside of playoff contention, which, ironically, was no where near expectations. Shield hopes, and maybe even Eastern Conference title hopes are gone, and the only way this side can redeem themselves is regularly win the final matches and hope the a hot streak boils through November. Or else the Big Apple will demand Soler and Backe fly back to Scandinavia.
15. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Last Week: 16
Result: Match @ PHI ppd.
Last Five: L-L-T-L-T
An off week thanks to the weather...I don’t think it would have done much of a difference. At this point it’s safe to say the Revs will, for the first time in franchise history, fail to consecutively qualify for the playoffs. Thing is, every MLS team has their weaker days, and it simply took New England this long for it the inevitable to come. Good news is, a rise in youth prospects, might turn their fortunes around the subsequent year.
16. TORONTO FC
Last Week: 14
Result: T 1-1 vs. SJ
Last Five: T-T-W-L-T
Nearly holding on for their second win in three matches, Toronto got a taste of Chicago. Mind the joke, as Chicago has managed to earn more than a point in their last two games. Anyways, Champions League looks, iffy with their blown second chance against Dallas, which is likely going to cause a rough battle against UNAM Pumas for the second place spot in their group. Think it’s safe to say with their result against Western minnows San Jose, their postseason ambitions have, yet again, failed.
17. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Last Week: 17
Result: T 1-1 @ TOR
Last Five: L-T-L-L-T
A late gasp equalizer from the returning wondrous Wondolowski has given the ‘Quakes some life on the road, but this team has gone two-and-a-half months without a victory.
18. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Last Week: 18
Result: W 1-0 vs. HOU
Last Five: T-L-L-L-W
Possibly nothing more than a mere three points to add to their lowly sum, or just a tentative moral booster, the Caps take the role of the spoiler. Similar to D.C. last season, the Caps, thanks to Salinas, managed to find the right side of the result in what was a simply open game.
