MLS Playoffs Conference Semis Triple Header Gamethread
by Dave Clark on Oct 30, 2011 11:30 AM PDT
in Major League Soccer: News & Analysis
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On a drippy, grey Sunday soccer fans get a triple header of games to enjoy. Match action starts with season #10 and wild card winners New York Red Bulls hosting the Supporters Shield winning Los Angeles Galaxy out in the suburbs of Metropolis. At Noon Pacific on ESPN2 this game has the marquee names of David Beckham and Thierry Henry, but a few of the DPs may be limited due to injury. LA without Landon Donovan or Robbie Keane are merely good. Can RBNY play as good as their best XI talent on paper indicates they are? Or is the somehow overlooked defense going to bring a draw or win back to the West Coast? Writers here picked LA 5 out of 7 times.
The next game heads down the coast to another suburban soccer stadium. Chester, PA hosts the Philadelphia Union and Houston Dynamo at 2PM Pacific on ESPN2. These two sides play patient and plodding at times, but the styles (or lack thereof) get them results. After Seattle-Salt Lake this is the other Conference Semi between evenly matched teams. We know too well how that worked Saturday. Staff picked Houston 5 out of 7 times.
Sunday wraps up with 4:30PM Pacific game on FoxSoccer. Wild Card winning Colorado Rapids host charging Sporting Kansas City's 4-3-3. Peter Vermes' side is not just the best in a weak East, but a team that is willing to ride its offense into the promised land. Dealing with higher elevation the Sporks are rested and have plenty of attacking options with either Teal Bunbury (9 goals) or C.J. Sapong (5 goals) coming off the bench. Word is that Gary Smith will be on the bench tonight. Staff picked KC 5 out of 7 times.
This is your MLS Conference Semis Leg One Gamethread
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According to Twitter
Both Keane and Donovan are starting.
#LAGalaxy Lineup vs @NewYorkRedBulls: Saunders; Dunivant, Gonzalez, DeLaGarza, Franklin; Juninho, Beckham, Magee, Donovan; Barrett, Keane
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First Half Thoughts
While I think that Prus is likely the best ref in MLS, he really didn’t do well on several plays in the first half, most to the benefit of the LAG.
1. the “foul” on Keane that led to the free kick and LA’s first goal. He didn’t immediately call a foul, nor did he signal advantage. Only when Keane started screaming at him and LA lost the ball did he pull it back.
2. the kick out by Rafa. Prus was standing right there and must have seen it. nothing called.
3. shoulder barge by Omar Gonzalez on Luke Rodgers. close call, but Omar get him in the back of the shoulder.
I expect LA to bunker and counter in the second half. We’ll see if NYRB can break them down or not.
Potential Suspensions?
If both Marquez and Juninho were suspended for the return leg, I would guess that would be a huge advantage for NYRB.
Probably not
Who do they have backing Marquez up? He hasn’t been playing very wel but NYRB is so depth wise that they probably wouldn’t take that trade if offered.
Dax McCarty?
I think they initially were looking at him to start in the midfield when they traded DeRo for him.
the sounders playoff curse
Even effects former players. Le Toux scores in a losing cause, and right now Tyronne Marshall earned a red card and Nyassi has a yellow card and down 2-0 to KC.
by python6114 on Oct 30, 2011 6:10 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
They both weren't on the Rapids last year... they were on the Sounders
Nyassi went through the most recent expansion draft. I believe Marshall was picked up in the re-entry draft by Colorado.
by majora999 on Oct 31, 2011 7:18 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
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