- by Tyler Walter, writing from Richmond, VA
What I have come to notice at this point in the season is that between the top three MLS clubs and the bottom three MLS clubs, the whole field is level pegging. It’s a mucky, ugly, parity-ridden fiasco that will make the playoff hunt exciting for the few onlookers, and irritating for a majority of fans, mostly off their team’s inconsistency.
1. LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Last Week: 1
Result: W 1–0 @ CLB (L 0–1 vs. ALA in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: W-W-T-W-W
Likely resting starters ahead of their critical Champions League matchup, the reserve-led Galaxy took it to the Crew, and miraculously, came out on top. If that reveals the immense depth of the Galaxy, I’m not sure what does. The Shield looks set to remain in Los Angeles for another year.
2. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Last Week: 3
Result: W 3–1 @ VAN (L 0–1 vs. HER in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: W-W-L-W-W
If any team maintains a solid chance of stealing the Shield out of LA, it is the Sounders, who have already snagged the Cascadia Cup out of Vancouver, which is now southbound of the I-5 corridor as we speak. A pair of world-class goals from Fredy Montero set the atmosphere in Empire Fire, causing Sounders fans to clearly out-cheer Caps fans.
3. REAL SALT LAKE
Last Week: 2
Result: W 3–1 @ NY; L 1–4 @ DCU
Last Five: W-W-W-W-L
Jason Kries took a huge gamble playing a mix of starters and reserves against D.C. United, maybe in vague hope it could replicate the same way against New England. Well, as Ben Olsen indirectly said, he and the team might have felt insulted by that, and the scoreline shows: RSL was horrendously torn apart in the nation’s capital upon impressively routing the Black-and-Red’s Atlantic Cup rivals.
4. D.C. UNITED
Last Week: 8
Result: T 2–2 vs. CHV; W 4–1 vs. RSL
Last Five: L-W-L-T-W
The issues I would have addressed regarding closing out matches are largely diminished with D.C. United’s explosive victory over a mix A/B Salt Lake side that largely looked in awe at the incredible, wicked strikes by Dwayne De Rosario that just somehow found the net, with it scoring the fastest hat trick in MLS history. De Rosario is now the forefront leader in the Golden Boot race, and easily should be in the talks of an MVP candidate.
5. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Last Week: 7
Result: W 1–0 @ FCD
Last Five: L-L-T-W-W
Oddly taking the lead in the Eastern Conference, I honestly can only write off their late victory against Dallas as an outright fluke. Not to take any credit away with their ability to score, but let’s face it, had things gone in favor of Dallas in terms of their shots being slightly on frame, Houston would be hitting a brutal reality check.
6. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Last Week: 4
Result: T 1–1 vs. PHI
Last Five: L-T-W-L-T
Hm. Taking the lead, but relinquishing it and earning a draw. Does this sound familiar. If so, you are right! Kansas grabs the lead, and then lets it go, costing them a chance at holding their already tentative lead in the Eastern Conference.
7. FC DALLAS
Last Week: 5
Result: L 0–1 vs. HOU (L 0–2 vs. UNAM in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: L-W-L-L-L
Things could have not gotten any more unlucky for Dallas, as shot after shot, after shot continually smacked the frame of the goal. Unfortunately, it resulted in Dallas being on the wrong end of the scoreboard. Despite the misfortunes, the Hoops look to be in a keen posistion to earn an easy route through the wildcards and Eastern bracket. That might be their plan.
8. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Last Week: 6
Result: T 1–1 vs. SJ; L 0–2 @ NY
Last Five: W-T-W-T-L
Hosting San Jose and playing at New York, the Timbers looked destined to gather four points and hover in a good standing playoff position. Unfortunately, bad defensive communication and flat play in New York, likely from the cross-country trip; absolutely ruined their push for the playoffs. Still, this is MLS. It is a forgiving league.
9. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Last Week: 12
Result: T 1–1 @ SKC
Last Five: L-T-T-W-T
Earning a decisive, inter-conference road draw against Sporting, the Union find themselves two points shy of tops in the East, with two matches in hand. Additionally, the Union could gain some ground and separate themselves from the pack if they take full advantage of their budding rivals south on the I-95 corridor.
10. CHICAGO FIRE
Last Week: 13
Result: W 3-2 vs. NE
Last Five: W-W-L-W-W
Chicago is taking advantage of playing the league’s weaker clubs, and ascending in total points. However, given the fact that so many Eastern Conference bubble teams also grabbed victories, their chances to make a rather unanticipated playoff berth look further farfetched.
11. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Last Week: 14
Result: L 1–3 vs. RSL, W 2–0 vs. POR
Last Five: T-T-W-L-W
There is one simple solution of Hans Backe wants New York to not only qualify for the playoffs, but win the East. That is to bench Marquez. In their last two matches without the Mexican international, the Red Bulls have scored seven times, and have yet to concede a goal. Talk about coincidence! Also, my personal opinion, after Tim Ream arguably played his worst MLS match ever, Ream played possibly is best MLS match the following evening.
12. COLORADO RAPIDS
Last Week: 9
Result: T 1–1 vs. SJ (L 1–2 vs. RES in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: T-L-L-L-T
If you haven’t heard, the Rapids are tanking it in the Champions League, because they want to focus on a subordinate competition known as the MLS Cup Playoffs. If you ask me, they’re tanking it in the Champions League, because they are simply lacking this thing I call talent. And evidently, the “defending (playoff) champions” look to be in grave danger of missing out on the playoffs with this laughable form.
13. CHIVAS USA
Last Week: 15
Result: T 2–2 @ DCU; W 3–0 vs. TOR
Last Five: L-L-L-T-W
Quite honestly, when the Goats trailed 2–0 to D.C. United midway through the second, I would have never anticipated a rally to steal two points, culminating with a dominating 3–0 thrashing of Toronto. And who would have guess Juan Pablo Angel was the cog responsible for that?
14. TORONTO FC
Last Week: 10
Result: L 0–3 @ CHV (W 1–0 vs. TAU in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: L-T-W-W-L
Toronto probably punctured their final tire in trying to make the postseason chase. Not that that’s anything terribly unfamiliar with the Reds. The recent home form, their Trillium Cup title, and their serious threat of advancing past Group Stage in the Champions League should give the Red Patch Boys something to (finally) look forward to, for once, come next year.
15. COLUMBUS CREW
Last Week: 11
Result: L 0–1 vs. LA
Last Five: W-L-L-T-L
Against all odds, Columbus is benefitting undoubtedly from Eastern mediocrity. But, when one realizes that being the top of the East is like being upper-mid table, it shows. As it did when the Crew hosted a second-tier LA Galaxy side, and lost in ugly style. Will be awhile before we see a crowd like that again in Crew Stadium...
16. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Last Week: 18
Result: T 1–1 SJ; T 1–1 @ COL
Last Five: T-W-L-T-T
With the playoff hopes all but mathematically impossible, the ‘Quakes took it to the Rose City and the Mile High City to play spoils to two teams in the muck of the postseason chase.
17. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Last Week: 16
Result: L 2–3 @ CHI
Last Five: L-T-W-L-L
Poor Ryan Guy. The goalscorer of two goals very late in stoppage time, nearly allowed the Revs to heartbreak the Fire. Unfortunately the rally was just too little, and way too late, and well, the Revs tack on another loss. With it, the Revs will not be going to the playoffs for two straight seasons. First time since 1999.
18. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Last Week: 17
Result: L 1–3 vs. SEA
Last Five: L-W-T-L-L
The playoffs already out of sight, the ‘Caps hosted their Cascadian rivals in a match merely for pride and the ability to retain the Cascadia Cup. Neither of the two were accomplished in front of their fans. In fact the Sounders fans eclipsing the noise of Caps fans said it all: the disparity between the elite and non-elite is far larger than what would be liked. Now it’s just about playing for the supporters in the newly renovated BC Place.
