Bad day for MLS in US Open Cup

posted by kidpurple June 30, 2009

US Open CupSeveral MLS teams took place in the 3rd round of the US Open Cup today.  A few of those teams will play again in the 4th round – several will not.

Defending MLS Champions Columbus Crew went to OT and then to PKs against the always dangerous Rochester Rhinos.  The Rhinos came out on top in PKs at 5-3 to move on.

The Chicago Fire have been hot in MLS play – but they couldn’t keep it up against Wilmington Hammerheads.   The only goal of the game went to the Hammerheads in the first half.  Four time US Open Cup champions Chicago Fire can now focus on the MLS regular season.

Chivas USA was the third MLS side to fall to a lower division opponent.  They ran into the Charleston Battery and went home 3-1 losers.

Some MLS teams did advance out of this round.  DC United beat the Ocean City Barons 2-0 and The Kansas City Wizards snuck out of Minnesota with after winning 4-2 on PKs after a 3-3 draw.

A couple teams will still be in action on July 1st.  The Houston Dynamo will be playing at the Austin Aztecs while Seattle Sounders FC will be playing at their old USL rivals Portland Timbers.

Posted in MLS General, Portland Timbers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Seattle Sounders FC dominating all star voting

posted by kidpurple May 20, 2009

Fan voting is under way for this years MLS All Star Game.  Just like with other all star games sometimes the fans of one team can dominate the voting.  Luckily for everyone that is not on the Seattle Sounders FC roster the fans vote only count 25% of the final tally to determine the starting 11.  If that were not the case – as of today the All Star starting 11 would be made up of 8 Seattle Sounders FC players.

Kasey Keller, Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero, Osvaldo Alonso, Tyrone Marshall, Steve Zakuani and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado are the top 7 in the voting right now, while James Riley comes in at the 9th highest voting total.  Non-Seattle players currently in the top 11 are Columbus Crew defender Frankie Hejduk, TFC’s Dwayne De Rosario and LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan.

How would that be for a starting lineup?

The team that is 8 points ahead of anyone else in the league (Chivas USA) would not even be represented.  Certainly someone there must be worthy?  Would Brian McBride not make the starting 11?  How about Josh Wolff?

Maybe Seattle will get into gear and get a starting 11 fully represented by Seattle Sounders FC players.  That would be swell.  Would MLS realize then that fan voting for all stars is a bad idea?

What do you think?  Should fans still be able to get 25% of decision of who starts the all star game?

Posted in MLS General | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Who is the man?

posted by kidpurple May 16, 2009

These guys are on fire right now. Sorry if you think I’m excluding someone more deserving.

Josh Wolff

Josh Wolff

This 32 year old striker for the Kansas City Wizards struck Real Salt Lake for 2 goals today. This has Wolff right up near the top of the season scoring leaders.
Zach Thornton

Zach Thornton

Thornton started out as a backup keeper for Chivas USA. Just earlier tonight he beat Brad Guzan’s Chivas USA record for most consecutive shutout minutes – and he is still adding to it.

Both of these guys left Major League Soccer and eventually came back. Neither were too successful in Europe but they both seem to have a bright future in MLS.

Posted in MLS General | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)