- Keith Hickey

A few days ago, this year's TFC head coach/techinical director/suicide watch subject Aron Winter decided that the media would no longer be given access to his team's locker room after matches, saying:

"I believe that (the dressing room) is a sacred place and a safe place for the players and that is why I have chosen not to open the locker room. I understand there may be an adjustment period with some journalists but it is an important change in keeping with my program of changing the culture of Toronto FC both on and off the field."

Because we all know that Toronto's problems are caused by an intrusive press and not constant rapid personnel turnover, poor senior management, and hyper-inflated expectation.

This past winter, five MLS teams hired coaches.

For the second time this year, one of them was fired.

For the second time this year, it was one with previous MLS experience.

Curt Onalfo and Preki have a trend in common. Their teams have progressively gotten worse. This leads me to this question; is MLS player talent passing MLS coaching and front office talent?

In 2007, Onalfo led KC to a fifth place finish in the East with 40 points; in 2008, a fourth place finish (42); in 2009, a sixth place finish (33). In 2010, he was fired when DC was in 8th place on pace for a mere 20 points.

Similarly, in 2007, Preki, using a team largely put together by Bob Bradley, led Chivas to finish first with in the west with 53 points. In 2008, they finished second (43). In 2009, they finished fourth (45). In 2010, Toronto was on pace for 35 points.

If the trend stopped there, it wouldn’t be much of a trend, but looking at current list of MLS coaches, a couple of other names stick out; Frank Yallop and Steve Nicol.

Yallop won two MLS Cups with San Jose in their first incarnation, but in two seasons with the Galaxy and now three with the new Earthquakes has yet to secure better than fifth place in the West.

Nicol’s success in New England is well documented, but trend of the Revolution since the advent of the Designated Player Rule doesn’t look that much different than that of Preki.

Looking back at video from MLS matches four years ago, the difference in playing level compared to today’s matches is clear. The competitive balance in MLS ensures a certain level of equality. So, teams or managers that have been on down trends while the league as a whole has been on an uptrend likely have institutional questions. But, it is not a question of designated players, as RSL and Columbus have both proven effective without them, while teams like DC and Toronto have struggled with them. It is not a question of being on the frugal side, as a resurgent Dallas is now showing. It is primarily a question of effectively culling talent from a growing foreign and domestic talent pool and implementing game plans to be competitive.

Some MLS organizations have navigated these new waters well, while some have severe leaks, or have capsized completely. To me, the initial hirings of Onalfo and Preki were inconsistent with where the league is going. As much as anything, their firings are a sign that the league is growing faster than the management and coaching.

MLS teams head back into CONCACF Champions League play tonight and tomorrow with three return leg matches. Both Seattle and Toronto take one goal leads into their away games and have reasonable shots at advancement. Meanwhile, LA is in Puerto Rico looking to salvage a bit of pride after their thumping at the hands of the Islanders last week. Dan Barkley is here to give us his thoughts on the three games.

by Dan Barkley

Motagua v. Toronto FC

Time: Tuesday, August 3, 8pm EST.

Location: Estadio Nacional, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Media: FSC/GolTV

First round: Toronto 1-0


Toronto holds a tenuous advantage heading into the second leg. They looked the better team, but they certainly did not dominate the first game, as Motagua generated some good scoring chances near the end. Motagua drew very big crowds in their last CCL appearance, with 35,000 sellouts in both their qualifying championship game with Saprissa and their first round game against Pachuca. It is hard to say if Toronto will draw that big of a crowd, but the atmosphere should be impressive either way. This will likely spell more trouble for Toronto, a team that is in a bad stretch and does not play well on the road, picking up only one win and four points from eight away matches this season in MLS. Also, with their grip on a playoff spot looking weaker than last week, what squad will Preki play? The good news is with their first leg victory, one goal should get them advanced, as good as their defense has been after the disastrous start to the season.



Metapan v. Sounders

Time: Tuesday, August 3, 10pm EST.

Location: Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador

Media: FSC

First Round: Seattle 1-0


I was impressed with the Sounders first round performance, they outclassed Metapan and should have come out with a big victory, but only came away with Montero's Jabulani goal. They did out shoot Metapan 15-2 and dominate possession, with Metapan playing a very, very physical game. Everything in this match seems to play in Seattle's favor, they have been in great form recently as well as playing well in cup competitions recently, the home field advantage will not be a prevalent as it may seem. Metapan's home stadium was deemed too small, so they are playing a couple hours away in the capital, where they do not seem to have a large fan base. No game in Central America should be taken lightly, but Seattle looks to be a great position to advance.



Puerto Rico Islanders v. Galaxy

Time: Wednesday, August 4, 8pm EST.

Location: Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Media: FSC

First Round: Islanders 4-1


Jason already wrote up something on the first round debacle, so I'll leave it at a haiku;

To advance, you need four,
dear Galaxy; but at least
save face with a win

CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round, First Leg.

Time: Tuesday, July 27, 8pm EST.

Location: BMO Field, Toronto

Media: FSC/ Streamed at torontofc.ca


The first of two MLS teams beginning their CCL campaigns Tuesday, Toronto, takes on C.D. Motagua. Motagua is the third team to qualify from Honduras for this year's CCL, and have been the third best side in Honduras for the past few years, behind Marathón and cross town rivals Olimpia. Their most recent showings in the CCL (and the previous incarnations, the CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Giants' Cup) include three previous appearances this decade. In 2001, they went out in the first round of Giants Cup, and in 2003 they went out to the Galaxy in the first round. In 2008, they first made a very impressive run in the Central American Cup winning seven out of eight games and drawing the other, to become the top seed out of Central America. They then lost to Pachuca, going out 1-0 on aggregate, but they did draw 35,000+ fans to their home leg. This does not seem to be an isolated event, and we will touch on the atmosphere in Honduras's capital city more when we preview the second leg.


It would be impossible to talk about Motagua's roster without mentioning Amado Guevara's return to Toronto. The former MLS most valuable player played the 2008 and 2009 seasons with Toronto FC, so I am interested to see how he is received by the home crowd. Preki seems to have something against Guevara, but as far as I remember he was popular among the fans. Along with Guevara, both starting fullbacks for the national side are wtih Motagua, Sergio Mendoza and Emilio Izaguirre. They spent most of the World Cup being torched by Spain and Chile before sitting in their last game; it is hard to hold that against them as Chile proved to have one of the most dynamic attacks in the tournament, and Spain had just come off their embarrassing defeat to Switzerland. Motagua striker Georgie Welcome came on as a substitute in all three games, and played well against Spain, though Spain had let up with a 2-0 lead when he entered.


Toronto has one previous appearance in the CCL, crashing out against Puerto Rico Islanders last year in the prelims. They sit in position for the first playoff berth in their history and have played very well at home. Recent home form has taken a dip, however, as they've given away some points with late goals conceded to Dallas and Philadelphia.


Honduran sides have done well in the past couple Champions' Leagues, with Marathón making the quarterfinals each of the past two seasons. However, Motagua does not seem to be on that level. While Toronto had an awful start to the season, they've certainly improved since, and I think they will handle this game at home. We also can't forget that they are only in their preseason, and Toronto is probably just reaching their peak form. The second leg will be more interesting, if the Motagua fans can create that hostile environment; along with the long travel, that will be a dangerous game for the Reds.

Philly v. New York: It started at the SuperDraft

The strength and growth of MLS over the course of the next two seasons will be built solidly upon two geographic pods; with the Northeastern corridor filling up and opening two stadiums, and the Northwest set to come online in full force in 2011, America's soccer identity will come more from rivalry than ever before.


It starts this season, with Red Bull Arena giving hope that New York will have a vibrant stadium atmosphere coupled with the addition of Philadelphia to the league. Philly, in each and every sport, is the city the rest of the Northeast loves to hate. DC United is an immediate natural rival. New York is a step beyond, and the Union-Red Bull clashes in 2010 should be rife with the usual vitriol and aided by a significant away-support element. It will matter little how good either team actually is, and though the matches won't be traditional local derbies, they'll be on par with anything the league has seen to this point.

Red Bull Arena changes things

Philadelphia lives to hate New York, and New York isn't too fond of Philly; like death and taxes it's a certainty, and you can bet that dynamic will manifest itself, perhaps even more explosively (but let's hope not too explosively) in the culture of soccer.


Down the road in DC, the fans are bristling for a shot at the newcomers. United's tradition is a proud one, and though their fortunes have taken a downward turn the last few years, you can bet that La Barra Brava and the other United die-hards are anxious to show the upstarts how it's done. Union-United matches will have almost as much heat as the New York-Philly showdowns, and should swell attendance in the Washington home version. Hundreds (if not more) Sons of Ben in DC to cheer on their boys while the Barra and Screaming Eagles throb with the passionate energy they always bring sounds like a goose bump inducing event if there ever was one. Mark your calendars.


Though DC, Philly, and New York will form a triumvirate of rivalry unmatched until 2011, New England and Toronto will add their own elements to this geographical collection of clubs. The Toronto fans travel, New England is within spitting distance, and the league will benefit from the proximity of two brand new stadiums to passionate fan bases around the region. A confluence of events makes the Northeast, with the potential for New York to take a major step forward in attention in the media capital of the country, a major factor in Major League Soccer's continued development.

United's support set the standard

In 2011, we'll get to see how the Sounders-Timbers rivalry, with the bonus of Vancouver's involvement thrown-in, translates to the bigger stage of MLS. If 2010 proves to be as successful as it can be, then the addition of the Cascadia dynamic will only heighten the excitement, depth of passion, and expanding level of attention the league will have leveraged through the Northeast in 2010.


If MLS is to draw more television viewers to their product, they need full stadiums, loud crowds, and intense, playoff-style atmospheres. No matter the quality of play, a soccer match is always more intriguing on television if it is accompanied by those factors. There's no reason to believe that 2010 won't be a new high-water mark for games of that caliber, with 2011 ready to amplify the gain.

After today's announcement that Chris Cummins will not return to Toronto, two of Major League Soccer's highest profile franchises are without head coaches. Red Bull, denizens of North America's biggest market and with a new stadium on the way, and Toronto, with their rabid fan base and consistent sellouts, failed to make the playoffs (both spectacularly, though the latter's last day heartbreaking loss to the former leaves the question of which was worse up to debate); with crucial decisions to be made on the coaching front, are both of these teams primed to make big splashes?


Both clubs ended their seasons with interim managers; Chris Cummins in Toronto might have held on until next year had the Reds not fell on their faces so dramatically, and Richie Williams in New York was unlikely remain in the top job no matter how the remainder of the season played out. With the off-season underway, the watch begins for how the two clubs will fill their vacancies; one needs to appease their angry supporters while the other needs to bring attention to themselves after a poorly-played and poorly-attended season.


New York Red Bulls

The focus for the Red Bulls moved away from the field almost immediately as soon as the final whistle sounded against Toronto. Those fans committed to and emotionally invested in the team are as excited for the opening of Red Bull Arena as anyone, though they naturally want to see the product on the pitch get much, much better for 2010. Rumors of Thierry Henry joining New York after the World Cup are nice, but they do little to ease fears that the Red Bulls will head into their new facility with another weak squad. The excitement that a new stadium brings will only carry so far, and so it's incumbent upon the club's Austrian overlords to make a splash. Whether they decide to do that via player signings or through a big name head coach (or both) doesn't really matter; the important thing, from a ticket-selling standpoint, is to push the interest level as high as possible.


The club was recently linked with former Chelsea man Avram Grant, and while the Israeli's resume isn't overly impressive outside of his time with the Blues, he would have been a massive managerial name on this side of the pond. With Grant moving on to Portsmouth, New York is back in the market for a manager, and I doubt it would surprise anyone if they used the hiring as equal parts football-move and PR-fodder. It is New York, after all, and if the club decides to throw a little of its corporate cash around, there's no reason to believe that they couldn't lure a big name.


Who the Red Bulls might target is a mystery; do a search for the club in Google News, and you'll be inundated with stories about Henry's potential signing. Finding a competent head coach should be a higher priority, and I'm still not convinced that the Henry rumors have legs.


Former Italian National Team and Napoli manager Roberto Donadoni, who played with New York during their early Metrostars days, is available, and could be top of the list.


Toronto FC

Toronto doesn't need to sell tickets. Their fans are passionate and vocal, and in light of failing to make the playoffs in their third year, increasingly frustrated. MLSE, the club's owners, have to be feeling the heat; it's more than just bloggers and message boards, with some of the city's biggest media outlets weighing in with scathing pieces that "enough is enough". Outgoing interim manager Chris Cummins alluded to broke promises on the part of the club, something that only fans the flames of dissatisfaction among the rank and file.


So in which direction does TFC head? The club finds itself at a crossroads, caught between being Canada's biggest club, dealing with all that entails (including snapping up almost every big Canadian name available), and residing squarely in the bottom half of Major League Soccer.


Splashy moves during the off-season guarantee you nothing, of course, and Toronto might be better served to take a pragmatic approach in their coaching search, even if it means choosing someone who won't send the supporters into rapturous hysterics. Who would send TFC fans into those hysterics is a mystery to me; while certain segments would surely fall over backwards if someone like, say, Sven-Goran Eriksson was hired, the more thoughtful of the bunch might see such a move as a pandering attempt to quiet the mob and a sure portent of ultimate disaster. As the Ruud Gullit experiment in LA proved, it takes a special "name" foreign coach to deal with the complexities and irregularities of the MLS system, and the chances aren't good Sven would be one of those guys.


Not that I'm suggesting Eriksson would seriously consider MLS or that MLSE would seriously consider Eriksson, I'm simply using the Swede as an example.


Perhaps more relevant than my idle speculation that Toronto might look to make a splash is the question of whether or not they should.


New York appear the more obvious of the two to go the big name route, though I think it's conceivable Toronto ends up with a head coach absolutely no one expected; do you see either club making a splash, and if so, who should they bring in?

Off the Pitch Week in Review is a new weekly feature on Match Fit USA, intended as a timeline-style roundup on events surrounding American soccer that have occurred everywhere but the field in the last five days. Following the events of the week in other areas, be they business, marketing, stadiums, etc., is relatively simple if you dive head first into newsreaders and aggregators; but not everyone has the time and patience for those things, and there are sometimes occasions when our memories fail us and we lose track of what actually happened and when.

I can't promise this feature will always be comprehensive, but I'll certainly do my best. Also, there will be no gossip or rumors, just verified happenings. If you think I missed something, feel free to let me know in the comments or shoot an email to matchfitusa@gmail.com.


Monday, September 28th

-Soccer United Marketing Partners with Degree


Tuesday, September 29th

-Red Bull Season Ticket Holders Select New Seats

-Philadelphia Union partners with area youth academy

-Mexico pulls out of running for 2018 or 2022 World Cups

-FIFA Issues Statement on USA-Honduras



Wednesday, September 30th

-Toronto City Council Approves Grass for BMO



Thursday, October 1st

-Disney CEO Joins US World Cup Bid

-Site Lists Bars Showing USA-Honduras



If I missed something important, feel free to point it out in the comments.

By now you've probably heard the news that Toronto FC has signed Canadian international Julian de Guzman as their first Designated Player. The signing makes sense for many reasons, not the least of which the fact that he's just a very, very, good player.

I don't have a problem with Toronto working within the system as it exists and bringing in what amounts to a national soccer hero; but I've turned completely on the DP rule, and JDG's signing is just another indication to me that the league has it all wrong.

I wrote a column for MLS Daily on the subject of de Guzman to Toronto and the DP rule in general when he was first being wooed a few months back; it's still relevant, has become timely again (for the most part), and so I present it to you here.

Toronto FC has sauntered up to the vault, inserted their key, opened the door, wheeled in a cart, loaded it up with gobs of cash, and slammed it right into the available arms of one Julian de Guzman.

The Canadian international is the team's first Designated Player target, a hometown boy with European experience, quality to spare, and a marketable name to sell to TFC's football mad fan base. $7 million over two years (the assumption is that it's USD) is the rumored offer, and it would make the midfielder the second highest paid player in MLS, behind only you-know-who.

I'm not a TFC fan, and I certainly don't speak for any, but I have a few reservations.

Whether de Guzman accepts the lucrative deal isn't really what concerns me. TFC would certainly be better off with him in the fold, and his class is undeniable. There's no reasonable soccer fan that would lament their team doing what the Reds are doing. But as a fan of MLS the enterprise first and foremost, and as someone who roots for the league's ultimate success over all else, I have to wonder: Is this the path that MLS clubs should really be taking to relevancy?

Toronto FC must really, really want de Guzman. MLSE's massive offer is said to dwarf any he might receive in Europe, and there's an obvious reason for that; simply put, it will take that kind of cash to lure a player in his prime away from the brighter lights of the continent to the much weaker MLS. TFC should be applauded on the one hand for doing what it might take to bring a player of solid pedigree and who lacks the "over the hill" tag into a league with none of the cache of Europe's top competitions. Yet, and this isn't about the dollars involved, or MLSE's bottom line, I get the feeling that this type of move is exactly what MLS clubs should try to avoid as they push on into a future that includes the "Beckham Rule".

I'm not really a "slow and steady growth" kind of guy. I'm as impatient as the next fan, and I'm desperate for MLS to raise the salary cap significantly so clubs have more ammunition to go after better players. But, and even though it may seem counter-intuitive, the DP rule runs counter to my hopes for the league; the larger the disparity between the top paid guys and the squad players, the more inconsistent quality will be and the more frustrating it will be for those high-talent stars who do make the leap. If you're a giant fish in a tiny pond, you tend to get bored and disillusioned rather quickly; the recent hubbub over David Beckham's time with the LA Galaxy and his "lack of commitment" is exactly the type of problem that the league faces whenever the DP rule is utilized to lure players like de Guzman here.

I'm all for more money being spent. I just want it to be spent across the board, even-handed, and on a number of players that can actually make a marked difference. It's not always enough to throw money at a problem; it's often necessary to be discerning with that money, to make sure to focus it in a way that doesn't do more harm than good. Julian de Guzman deserves whatever he can get and MLSE has the right to spend whatever they choose in whatever way the rules allow. But it's hard for me to ignore what the offer represents, what it might mean for the development of MLS, and how high-profile signings like de Guzman could ultimately restrict the growth of the league.

I know, I'm probably judging de Guzman prematurely and unfairly. He could very well be happy ending up at BMO Field, doing his best to push TFC towards glory, and aiding in raising the profile of his club even further than it's already gone. Faultless too is TFC, for whom the Designated Player rule is something to be exploited; with a talented player of de Guzman's background (i.e., Canadian) available, money to burn, and a fan base desperate for a big splash move, it would be folly of them not to explore the possibility of obtaining his services. He's the Golden Goose, there for the taking, the player that might possibly put them over the top while instilling civic pride in the local populace at the same time.

But what MLS needs is a solid group of mid-level talents, not one or two guys for whom MLS is a step down. For every de Guzman, there's twenty bench players, barely scraping by on wages many of us would scoff at, doing their best to live out their footballing dreams while lining up alongside guys who could buy and sell them fifty times over. It's this disparity that I find distressing, and what TFC's offer to de Guzman thrusts into my MLS observer's consciousness. The league's long term future will be built on the median level of its talent, not on splashy contracts given to players that would certainly be plying their trade elsewhere if the money was equal. The rules, as they currently exist, hold the league back from true respectability rather than pushing them forward as those that set them obviously believe.

De Guzman. Right for Toronto FC, wrong for Major League Soccer. Rather, it's what de Guzman represents that's wrong for the league, and you'd be hard pressed to convince me otherwise.

Sorry about posting old content if you've already read it; it's Friday, and I'm being lazy.

The Puerto Rico Islanders and DC United will advance to the group stages of the CONCACAF Champions League after prevailing in their preliminary series last night.

Puerto Rico, semifinalists in last year's competition, took down MLS side and Canadian champion Toronto FC 1-0 on aggregate; last week's goal at BMO Field was enough to see them through when neither side could score in Bayamon. Puerto Rico absorbed pressure from Toronto, who though in possession much of the night, was unable to break down the Islanders defense. The Islanders had a few chances of their own that would have put away the Reds, but couldn't convert. With TFC pressing, Islanders keeper Bill Gaudette came up big on multiple occasions and pushed his club into the next round of the Champions League.

USL takes another scalp off of MLS.

The Islanders will now go into a group with Columbus Crew, Saprissa of Costa Rica, and, barring a massive miracle, Cruz Azul of Mexico. It will be tough for Puerto Rico to repeat their 2008-2009 success in that group, which is supremely difficult from top to bottom.

DC United managed to squeak out a penalty kicks victory of CD Luis Angel Firpo in El Salvador, becoming the first MLS side from the preliminary round to qualify for the group stage. New York Red Bulls have an opportunity to join them if they can beat W. Connection tonight in New Jersey. United's battle with Firpo was exactly that, a battle, with rough play and heavy challenges all over the field. After Firpo went up a goal, it appeared that another MLS team would fail down south, and that MLS would be o-2 on the night; but Christian Gomez put in a wonderful free kick to bring the game level, and the fight was on once again. After neither side could finish during the thirty minute extra time period, it was down to PKs. A miss on Firpo's fourth was the difference, as United put in every one they took.

United needed to get through this series for the good of MLS; another failing, and the inability of MLS clubs to compete in this tournament would have become the hot topic once again. While DC's victory doesn't sweep the league's trouble under the rug, it does give MLS another club with a reasonable chance to proceed deep in the tournament. United will now head to group play with Toluca of Mexico, Marathon of Honduras, and the winner of the preliminary series between San Francisco of Panama and San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad & Tobago.

Credit the Islanders for getting through their MLS competition; while I doubt they are capable of another run equal to last year's, they clearly have a nose for international success. Puerto Rico is the best-equipped team to beat "better" competition, with a deep and relatively talented squad. With no other USL side in the competition, it's up to the Islanders to carry that banner into the CCL proper this time around. TFC's task was always going to be a tough one, and they did themselves no favors allowing a goal at home. When put to scoring in Puerto Rico, who did not "park the bus" quite as much as some thought they would, they simply weren't up to the task.

As for DC, they did what they needed to do, though it wasn't pretty. Tom Soehn put out a reserve-heavy side in the series home leg, a tactic that backfired when the best DC could do was a score draw. With the away goal rule in play, United had to score to give themselves a chance; after Firpo went up a goal, the pressure became even more intense. With most of this regular starters on the field and a full compliment of subs available, Soehn found himself staring down the barrel of an early tournament exit. Thanks to a Gomez free kick, a little luck (keeping Firpo out when they really shouldn't have been able to), and solid penalty taking, United got out of El Salvador the victor. Of the three MLS clubs in the prelims, United is generally regarded as the best all around team; it was important for them to make the grow stages for the reputation of MLS.

One more night of preliminary round matches go down tonight, after which the full field for the group stage will be set. Will MLS have a fourth club in the mix?

If you're looking to join in on some conversation today while you watch MLS, the USMNT, or anything else for that matter, here's a quick overview of where I'll be.

Right now I'm headed to the 24th Minute for a TFC-Galaxy live blog to be hosted by Andrew Bucholtz. Come join in the discussion, as we see if LA is capable of anything other than a draw.

During the USA-Honduras match, I'll be sharing my thoughts via Twitter; feel free to shoot me an @ reply with your own observations. My Twitter name is matchfitusa, or you can visit my page there directly by clicking the link.

Should be an interesting rest of the day for American soccer.

It's Wednesday, and while I normally despise Wednesday, at least I have something to look forward to tonight. There's soccer flying all over the place, and it's got me a little giddy.

It actually starts during the workday, when Chelsea and Barcelona finish their UEFA Champions League semi-final across the pond. I'll be doing my best to slyly watch/listen to that match (I'm trying to train my brain to filter out Tommy Smyth), and I'm praying for something that will help my get through the tail end of what's sure to be another hellish workday.

It's not until this evening that the good stuff, and the stuff that I can give my full attention too, happens, and I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to having something to watch in the middle of a dreary week.

Watching more than one game at a time is a supremely difficult task, but one I wholeheartedly enjoy taking on. Tonight is one of those nights that makes me glad I live in the digital age. A brief break down of tonight's action and my plan of attack:

Wizards v. United

This one gets the star treatment, the number one spot on the HDTV. Not only because it's the game I have the most interest in (top of the East on the line and all that), but because it's the only one of tonight's matches that is available to me on television. I haven't checked yet, but I'm hoping this one will be in HD. Since I've writing about the game, I might as well make a pick; I'll be interested to see how Tom Soehn and Curt Onalfo juggle their lineups as each club has a quick turnaround to a Saturday match.

Wizards 1 DC United 2

Real Salt Lake v. LA Galaxy

I may just check in on this match occasionally; I'm not sure it's going to warrant more of my attention than an occasional peek. Besides, my laptop is only so big, and I'd rather not have to switch back and forth. Galaxy got their first win on Saturday, but they still mostly stink in my estimation. RSL is coming of a huge league win and a poor USCO qualifying loss, though we all know the Cup result means naught. Conventional wisdom would have RSL winning at home, but I have a weird feeling that this one is going to go all nutso on us. Just for the hell of it:

RSL 3 LA Galaxy 3

Toronto FC v. Vancouver Whitecaps

It's not league match, it's not American, and it's part of a domestic cup competition that includes only three teams; yet, for some reason, this match might intrigue me more than either of the others. Although I expect it would be hotly contested anyway, the Voyageur's Cup has now taken on a new level of intensity because the winner now gets a CONCACAF Champions League spot. While Vancouver may not have their strongest side in recent times due to building towards 2011, this should still be a cracking match with the usual BMO Field atmosphere. I have absolutely no idea where, but I'm assuming I'll be able to find a internet feed of the game somewhere.

I've only seen Vancouver play once this year, but I'll go ahead and hazard a guess at the result anyway.

TFC 2 Vancouver 1

So there you have it. A fantastic Wednesday night on tap at MFUSA House, the promise of which I hope will get me through the work day.

Which game are you most looking forward to? Predictions are always encouraged, especially by biased Whitecaps fans, since riled-up TFC fans are always entertaining.

On a chilly night BMO Field, Toronto FC defeated league leaders Chivas USA 1-0 to earn their first home win of the young MLS season.

Chivas USA had the better of early play, including a close-call chance for Alecko Eskandarian in the opening minutes. The striker was unable to get on the end of a low cross, however, and an offside flag negated his efforts completely. Unfortunately for the Goats, the inability to take advantage of that early push would prove fatal.

Toronto took back the game almost immediately, and appeared to have a legitimate claim for a penalty in the 17th minute when Danny Dichio had his legs swept out from underneath him in the corner of the box. No call was made, and the home standing Reds continued on with their push for goal.

Toronto would get the breakthrough in the 36th minute, when a poor clearance attempt by Chivas' fell perfectly to the head of striker Danny Dichio. Dichio's flick caught Amado Guevara perfectly in stride, and after fighting off two defenders, the former MLS MVP calmly hit the ball past Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton. Toronto was off and running at home, a lead in their pocket heading into the closing minutes of the first half.

Danny Dichio followed up his excellent offensive efforts with a poorly timed tackle in the 38th minute, which earned him the games first card. The color was yellow, though the tackle was rash enough that it could have easily earned a straight red.

The half had a bit more to offer, with Toronto's Chad Barrett getting through the Chivas defense in the 45th minute. The mercurial striker's low hit shot was not enough to beat Thornton, however, and Chivas remained only a goal down going to the second half.

The second half opened with neither team asserting themselves, though Toronto eventually settled things enough to gain the majority of possession. Action remained at premium until the 57th minute, when Chivas' Eskandarian earned a yellow card for a rash tackle. Eskandarian was taken off shortly thereafter, as Chivas manager Preki inserted Michel Lahmoud, a clear sign of frustration with his anemic attack.

TFC began to assert themselves after the first fifteen minutes, finding ample room on the wings through runs by outside backs Wynne and Brennan. Chivas looked listless, never truly threatening a solid Toronto back line. Strong play from Adrian Serioux led the Reds defense, and Chivas found it difficult to penetrate. Attempting to play through midfield, the Goats were stymied by an interchanging TFC formation that enabled the Canadian club to keep constant pressure on the ball.

The last fifteen minutes saw the leaders pull back, as Chivas searched for the equalizer. Frustration boiled over in the 79th minute when Chivas midfielder Sacha Kljestan earned the third card of the match, a yellow for rough play. Toronto dropped more men behind the ball, throwing up a defensive wall in front of the visitors. Pablo Nagamura created created Chivas' best late chance, a run to the end line that ultimately ended with a weak shot that TFC keeper Stephan Frei handled easily.

A final salvo from Chivas came to naught when veteran midfielder Jesse Marsch hit a long shot high and wide. More strong work from Adrian Serioux closed out the match, frustrating the Goats once again.

The referee blew the final whistle, and Toronto FC's first home victory of the season was in the book. The win vaults Toronto to second place in the Eastern Conference on eight points, while Chivas remains on thirteen, still four points clear of second place Seattle out west.

Scoring:
TOR -- Amado Guevara 3 (unassisted) 36

Discipline:
TOR -- Danny Dichio (caution; Reckless Tackle) 38
CHV -- Alecko Eskandarian (caution; Reckless Tackle) 57
CHV -- Sacha Kljestan (caution; Reckless Foul) 79

MFUSA's Man of the Match: Amado Guevara

This was my first attempt at a fairly straight match report; seeing as it's my first, please feel free to critique the quality. I have many more thoughts on this match that I may espouse later, specifically on the differences between TFC's attack with DeRosario and without DeRosario (and the problems it may cause if TFC continues to play well until he comes back).

Wednesday night soccer anyone?

Chivas USA travels to BMO Field tonight, to take on a reeling TFC club in front what is sure to be the customary rowdy Canadian crowd (no mid-week attendance excuses for the Reds).

The game is not being televised, so I'll be watching via the magic of the internet. As Chivas is the early season pacesetter and TFC is, well, TFC (a.k.a. intriguing because people up there really care), I've decided to preview the match. I'll also be attempting my first true match report after the game, so look for that as well.

On to the preview after the jump.

Chivas USA comes into tonight's match riding high, leading the Western Conference and the Supporters Shield standings by an enormous early-season buffer of four points. Manager Preki has seemingly worked magic in the early weeks, getting strong performances out of lineups that are far from first choice. Injuries have kept out several players Chivas expects major contributions from, chief among them Ante Razov and Maykel Galindo. Neither has made an appearance yet in 2009, a fact which only serves to make more impressive the Goats fast start. Leaning on Sacha Kjlestan, Jesse March and a strong defense, Chivas has proven they have a recipe that works regardless of the crucial players missing.

Toronto has underwhelmed to this point, and after a disappointing (and controversial) loss to previously winless FC Dallas last week, the Reds will look to turn around their fortunes against the league leaders. That effort will be made all the more difficult by the absence of midfield maestro Dwayne DeRosario, who will miss tonight's match with a hamstring injury. The bulk of the creative responsibilities will then fall to former MLS MVP Amado Guevara, a fact that may actually help Toronto: To this point in 2009, DeRosario and Guevara have yet to find an understanding while playing together, and Toronto's attack has suffered for it.

Typically, road teams struggle in MLS, regardless of support; Chivas might normally be expected to sit back, absorb Toronto's pressure, and attempt to catch the Reds out through counterattacks. However, both Chivas head man Preki as well as Toronto boss John Carver could mix things up; the former because his team is riding a wave of confidence and the latter because a home victory is imperative to stop the bleeding. Without DeRosario pushing the attack, a slightly more defensive posture might carry the day for Toronto. Chivas will likely attack as the situation dictates, though it's unlikely they'll commit too much forward regardless of their recent form.

Tonight's is a crucial match for both side: Toronto desperately needs a home win to kick start their season, while Chivas needs to consolidate their early season success with a road win in a hostile environment. More than likely these competing elements will cancel each other out. It might be an ugly, if still entertaining, match at BMO Field.

Match Fit USA Prediction:

Toronto FC 1, Chivas USA 1

Just a vibe, but I think we're going to see a red card in tonight's match. I don't know which side, and I don't know if it will be a straight red or for a second yellow: it's just a gut feeling.