Quite the weekend for sports, Yanks fans. Butler looks to complete their Cinderella story tonight on a high note against the Blue Devils of Duke for the 2010 Championship. The UConn women’s team won their 5739th straight came by a meager 20 points to advance to play Stanford for the title Tuesday night. The Sox – Yankees rivalry resumed, opening up this year’s season at Fenway, with the Evil Empire shaking their heads after blowing a late lead. Tiger Woods put on black pants today – more coverage and analysis to come later.
Oh hey, the MLS only scheduled five games this weekend. Way to keep up, Don Garber.
Nevertheless, the five games had their fair share of entertaining ups and downs.
Real Salt Lake has a few more kinks to work out than expected. The more I watch the replays, the more I’m convinced the official made the right call regarding Olave’s reckless tackles in the box. The second penalty call seemed somewhat of a hard pill to swallow, especially because it came only two minutes after the first one. However, Olave did make contact with Landin as he went to cut the ball across, regardless of his above average diving capabilities. More discipline in the back should help. Beckerman and Morales continued their play in high form, but Costa Rican legend Álvaro Saborío needs to be more of a force up front. In addition, if Espindola can keep his hands not wrapped around opposing player’s necks, I can see this being a good thing.
Chivas USA are just about flat out embarrassing bad. The offensive woes continued from last season, culminating in Maicon Santos lifting the ball over an empty net from six yards away. As Alexi Lalas put it, “It’s harder to do that than to actually put the ball in the back of the net.” Sacha Kljestan’s hat-trick performance against Sweden seems a million years ago. If not for Chivas’ nifty possession streaks in their defensive mid, the Galaxy would have netted at least two more.
I still stand by my statement last week declaring the Sounders as one of the best clubs in the league. Maybe I’m a little biased because I especially enjoy watching their style of play – long, deep crossing balls and speedy runs down the sideline mixed in with Alonso’s defensive midfield presence – but the goals will come. Blaise Nkufo will clearly make a difference up top when he arrives late this summer, but until then the Sounders must come up with offensive production.
Kenny Mansally established himself as a super sub this past Saturday, netting two quick goals late in the match to really put a damper on the folks at RFK Stadium. The young Gambian striker should be included in the starting XI for next week after his second Dempsey-like strike past keeper Troy Perkins.
Oh yes, the New York Red Bulls are really good.
Rankings
- LA Galaxy
- Columbus Crew
- New York Red Bulls
- Kansas City Wizards
- Seattle Sounders
- Real Salt Lake
- Houston Dynamo
- Chicago Fire
- Colorado Rapids
- New England Revolution
- FC Dallas
- Toronto FC
- DC United
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Philadelphia Union
- Chivas USA
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to state your case below.
Tim Patterson is a staff writer for The Yanks Are Coming. He can be reached at Tim@yanksarecoming.com.