Back at it after a week off. A fairly full schedule, and unlike last week, I was able to see at least some of the action.
Remember that these aren't recaps, but attempts to identify the one thing that most affected the match in question. Full recaps and video highlights are linked for your convenience. I've also added the attendance for those of you that are into that type of thing.
Here we go.
FC Dallas 2, Seattle Sounders 2
Recap - Goal.com
Highlights
Attendance: 8,512
The One Thing: The Penalty That Wasn't
A complete and utter gift of a point for FC Dallas, and a crushing blow for a Sounders team on the first leg of a long road trip. There's simply no way to convince me that the penalty was legit; it may have looked questionable in real time on television thanks to two Sounder players converging on the ball, but a referee should never call it from a much closer distance. That being said, Sounders fans obsessed just a little too much over the next few days; I guarantee you, Rave Green nation, that you'll be on the good end of more than a few terrible calls this season, and that this will all even out in the end. Such it the state of things in MLS.
New York Red Bulls 2, Philadelphia Union 1
Recap - Goal.com
Highlights
Attendance: 15,619
The One Thing: Orozco's Hand Ball
The Union aren't nearly as poor as I thought they might be, but they do seem to have a tendency to blow games with stupid decisions and boneheaded mistakes. Case in point on Saturday, when the Union were on their way to at least a point in the first edition of the Red Bulls-Union rivalry. Unfortunately, Michel Orozco arm flailed, the ball hit it, and Juan Pablo Angel buried the resulting penalty. The Union aren't exactly Keystone Kops-esque out there, showing flashes of quality on a fairly regular bases (insert obligatory Roger Torres love), but we have to just shake our heads at their self-destruction.
Columbus Crew 1, Real Salt Lake 0
Recap - Goal.com
Highlights
Attendance: 15,619
The One Thing: GBS From the Spot
From the look of things through the wonders of streaming video, this game was played in a monsoon, which might explain why the only goal came from a penalty. Real Salt Lake pushed hard for the equalizer, but Will Hesmer shut them down. The champs continue to underachieve; while beating Columbus on the road wasn't going to be easy, the game was obviously there for the taking with a one goal deficit for fifty-plus minutes. Credit to Columbus for making the penalty stand up, and three points is three points. On a side note, a nod also goes to the 14k+ Crew fans that should up in the terrible conditions.
New England 1, Colorado Rapids 2
Recap - Goal.com
Highlights
Attendance: 8,142
The One Thing: Mastroeni's Blast
Pablo Mastroeni doesn't score a lot of goals, so when he does, it's notable. Even more so when it's a 35-yard game winner on the road; Colorado and New England look to be middle of the pack teams (again), but when half the league makes the playoffs, middle of the pack can get you a chance at a title. The Revs continue to struggle without their dread-locked midfield anchor Shalrie Joseph; it's natural to wonder if Mastroeni gets the winner if the Grenadian was in the lineup. Nevertheless, give Colorado credit for winning in New England, where it's not always easy.
Chicago Fire 2, Houston Dynamo 0
Recap - Goal.com
Highlights
Attendance: 11,312
The One Thing: Cameron Goes Down
The loss of Geoff Cameron in the 28th minute changed this match, allowing Chicago to dominate midfielder and get forward on the suddenly toothless Dynamo; Husidic and Lowry got the goals for the Fire, but it was Houston's best player leaving with a knee injury that tilted the scales to the Fire. The match spiraled into a chippy affair that saw referee Ricardo Salazar eleven cards in total, including two yellows back-to-back for Danny Cruz and a straight red to Krzysztof Krol two minutes later. Houston, especially if Cameron is out for a significant amount of time, could be in serious trouble moving forward.
Kansas City Wizards 0, Los Angeles Galaxy 0
Recap - Goal.com
Highlights
Attendance: 10,045
The One Thing: Kamara's Miss of the Century
Poor Kei Kamara. He might never live down his unbelievable miss, one so ridiculous that The Sun highlighted it prominently on their website. The ball was there to be hit, Kamara whiffed, landed, and knocked the ball over the line with his hand. Give credit to the assistant referee, who made the correct call from the sideline; how he was able to process what happened while certainly being shocked that it had, I don't know. The Wizards, by all rights, should have handed LA their first loss of the season, and were the better side through much of the match. I'm guessing Peter Vermes and Kei Kamara both wish they had a time machine at their disposal right about now.
Chivas USA 3, San Jose Earthquakes 2
Recap - Goal.com
Highlights
Attendance: 14,389
The One Thing: Chijindu's Insurance Goal
When Chukwundi Chijindu broke away and beat Joe Cannon for Chivas USA's third goal, it looked to be just salt in the Earthquakes' wound; but it turned out to be the difference between three points and one when San Jose's Steve Beitashour rocketed home a second Quakes tally. This was a thoroughly entertaining match, though one that proves nothing about two sides difficult to assess; Chivas appears to have taken a step back under Martin Vasquez, an though San Jose is clearly better than in 2009, it's too early to tell if they'll be a playoff contender. The West is stacked, so if Chivas is going to have a chance at the post-season, these were three crucial home points they needed to hold onto.
Toronto FC 2, Seattle Sounders 0
Recap - Goal.com
Highlights
Attendance: 18,394
The One Thing: A Lucky Bounce
The tired legs of a spent Seattle squad, playing their second match in four days while on a long road trip, was likely a factor in their inability to put away chances. Still, Toronto did just enough to win, and in part thanks to a lucky bounce off of the referee that indirectly led Dwayne DeRosario's 58th minute goal. Stefan Frei saved the Reds' bacon on multiple occasions, the unusually quiet crowd at BMO finally had reason to cheer, and a disappointed Sounders squad came up empty handed in Canada. Life in MLS isn't fair, and sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
