An unruly alliance of Belgians and USL Pro sides from Disney World conspired to beat up on the best of US soccer this week, while the Canadian teams sensibly sat it out to deal with their own Championship (Montreal beating Vancouver at the last). Mexico meanwhile surveyed all this chaos and asked for Chelis back. Which for those of us who grind through a barrel of feces for a living, meant there was one less person who understood. North America is a little more dull today without him in full employment. Hopefully Claudio Reyna is on the phone as we speak.
Still, we have another full weekend of MLS play before the international break fully kicks in, so let's get back to domestic matters. Toronto (aka not the Canadian champions) may have Danny Koevermans back soon, and from all acounts not a moment too soon. They play Philadelphia — who would like their "unstoppable Jack McInerney" storyline back, after it got derailed by Montreal (Canadian champions) last week.
The Impact resume their impressive, and now officially glittering campaign on the road at Open Cup holders Sporting KC, who, having seen what he just did to Colorado in midweek, have recalled Dom Dwyer from their USL Pro affiliate, Orlando City before the two meet in the next round. Talk about de-clawing... If the Rapids were hoping to ease themselves back into their otherwise impressive recent form, the sight of frontrunners Dallas arriving into town is not the most heartening news.
Vancouver (almost Canadian champions) could do with some heartening news, after their late sickening loss on away goals in midweek. They're traveling to the other side of the country in hope of getting it, where they'll face the always cheerful Red Bulls (must be all that sugar), who are still, barely, on a seven game unbeaten run.
The team that came within an injury time goal of ending that run, Columbus, are back in Ohio this week, where the faint scent of Weiss beer and chocolate still hangs in the air. They're hosting Houston, who are without Brad Davis, who's on international duty.
The Dynamo aren't the only team who've lost a key player to international duty of course. Seattle travel to the now officially rudderless Chivas without Eddie Johnson, while the Galaxy arrive in New England with no Omar Gonzalez, but with a very-definitely-not-on-international-duty Landon Donovan. They're also without Mike Magee of course, who settled right back into Chicago with an Open Cup goal and an assist on his debut. They face DC in the final game of the weekend. Nine men DC scraped through the 3rd round of the cup on penalties, after the game against Richmond finished 0-0 after extra time, prompting Ben Olsen to joke that his team were taking "baby steps" by actually scoring. Now if it had been Chelis in that situation, he'd have told us he was an ant and that the goal was blood disguised as jelly, or something. He was only with us for a moment, but he'll be missed...
With us every week — our regular band of fan reps and writers for every MLS side playing this weekend, giving their take on the big stories involving their teams. See what they have to say, have your say below, and join me for live coverage of the USA vs Germany on Sunday, and five things we learned on Monday morning.
All times are listed as ET
Toronto FC vs Philadelphia Union
Sat 6pm, BMO Field (TSN)
Duncan Fletcher, Waking the Red, Toronto:
Well it's a big week, full of distractions for TFC fans in desperate need of one. Canada played against Costa Rica on Tuesday in Edmonton, losing 1-0, with Jonathan Osorio making his national team debut. Then this weekend there's a big game to be excited about. What's being billed as 'The Rematch' as Canada's Women's team goes up against their USA counterparts for the first time since that Olympic semi final that left such a bad taste last year, Christine Sinclair hat trick, controversial six second call, injury time of extra time winner and all that. It'll be nice to be part of a sold out and excited crowd at BMO Field for the first time in a long time.
But you want me to write about TFC don't you? Uuuuughhh, fine. With a winless streak of 10 games and a losing streak of 5 games, the realistic glimmer of hope (as opposed to the rather ridiculous Carlos Tevez rumour that came out on Tuesday, seriously, it was reported TFC had made a $10m bid for him) on the horizon is the return of Dutch DP striker Danny Koevermans. Last season it was mainly his goals that turned the worst team in the world into a temporarily competent team. It'd be a huge ask for him to do it again this year, but he's set to make his debut on Saturday and well, that's pretty much all we've got really. Help us Danny, you're our only hope.
Dan Walsh, Philly Soccer Page, Philadelphia:
Philadelphia Union collapsed defensively and gave up five goals Saturday just days after trading away two of the their top six defenders. The Union's remaking of their roster continued as center back Bakary Soumare finally got his long-awaited trade to Chicago and midfielder/left back Gabriel Farfan went to Chivas USA in another deal. With center back Jeff Parke returning from injury, the Union back line looked as though they hadn't scouted Montreal's Marco Di Vaio, who is known for sitting on defenders' shoulders to make his runs. He had a hat trick by halftime, and Montreal scored five goals in a 5-3 win.
With the Union almost completely lacking any depth on the back line, the expectation is that another trade is imminent. Former Union captain Danny Califf has fallen out of favor in Toronto, and he may be the next exile of the Peter Nowak era to return under John Hackworth, who is on record saying he didn't agree with his predecessor's trade of Califf last year. (Ironically, Philadelphia will visit Toronto this weekend.) Meanwhile, talented midfielder Roger Torres is similarly on the outs in Philadelphia, not even making the 18 in the Union's 2-1 U.S. Open Cup win on Tuesday. Many think he will be the next Union player to leave.
Bottom line, the Union's season of transition continues as they continue their recovery from their disastrous 2012 season. The club is looking more and more like Hackworth's team as he approaches one year on the job.
New York Red Bulls vs Vancouver Whitecaps
Sat 7pm, Red Bull Arena
Tim Hall, author of "The view from 101" for First Touch, New York:
The New York Red Bulls continued their non-losing ways this week, with a chippy, hard-fought draw against Columbus followed up by a relatively smooth victory in the U.S. Open Cup against lower division Reading. While neither is a result destined to alter the balance of power in American soccer for years to come, points are points, and points in May are worth exactly as much as the ones in September. Get the base down now for what many people fear will be hard times in the summer heat, and if nothing else, back into the playoffs, where anything can happen.
Vancouver offers the opposition this week, and in MLS, that cross continent trip is never easy. This will be the last "regular XI" match for three weeks (the next Open Cup game is June 12th), so Mike Petke's men should be looking to go into their break with a win. Jamison Olave and Markus Holgersson are quickly becoming one of the top defensive tandems in the league, and they'll need to step up against some dangerous Whitecaps threats, namely former Red Bull Corey Hertzog, who is destined to score Saturday because that's so Metro.
Brenton Walters, @CapsOffside:
Ugh. Double-ugh.
The Vancouver Whitecaps lost the Canadian Championship, yet again. We call it the Voyageurs Cup. We lose the Voyageurs Cup. Every year. We drew with Montreal 2-2, but lost the cup competition on away goals. Because hey, why not. (Bitter? Yah, I'm bitter.) In the entire history of the competition we have not won. I don't even care to be accurate on exactly how many years that is now. Twelve? Eleven?
Oh well, on to more important things like some game on the weekend against a team. San Jose? Chicago? I can't remember. We'll probably play a similar line-up, and probably draw or lose by one goal. Or maybe we'll win because of a dubious penalty. RENNIE OUT!
Columbus Crew vs Houston Dynamo
Sat 7.30pm, Columbus Crew Stadium
Ben Hoelzel, Crew Union, Columbus Crew:
The Crew continue to baffle and buck expectations. They appear to play up or down to their opponent each week. This past week has highlighted just how Jekyll and Hyde this team has been. Last Sunday, the Crew were on the road to perhaps the hottest team in the league at the time, the New York Red Bulls. The Crew scored in the opening minutes and looked impressive throughout despite missing several regular starters. A defensive lapse in injury time that allowed for a game-tying goal was the only thing that stopped the Boys in Yellow from taking all three points.
A few days later, the Crew had a U.S. Open Cup game against a semi-pro side. Coach Warzycha played several starters including Eddie Gaven and Federico Higuain. But the Crew looked abysmal as they were lucky to eke out a 2-1 win at home.
An unpredictable team like this one can be a dangerous thing in the playoffs. But the Crew are currently one spot out of the post-season and will need to start winning more home matches if they plan on moving up. Houston is a strong team but they will be missing a few starters this weekend and they've struggled over the last couple games. If the right Crew team shows up, the Crew should net their second home victory.
Stephen Eastepp, Dynamo Theory, Houston:
Last week, Houston managed to get a solid point against Eastern Conference rival Sporting Kansas City. Considering the Dynamo's recent lineup shuffling, it was a pretty successful result in a tough place to win. Bobby Boswell missed time due to suspension and will still be out for another match, while Jermaine Taylor sat out with a shoulder injury. Eric Brunner and Ricardo Clark filled in admirably for Houston, proving once again their depth is pretty solid. With Brad Davis and Boniek Garcia scheduled to miss time with their respective national teams, they'll need to get a boost from some of their midfielder reserves also.
On Wednesday night, a reserve squad took out PDL side FC Tucson in the U.S. Open Cup, and the Dynamo will continue playing in America's oldest soccer tournament two weeks from now against instate rival FC Dallas. That opponent alone will make the USOC more interesting for Houston fans.
The men in orange are deep into a tough stretch of scheduling that sees them playing away from home more often than not and will now take their game to Columbus to face the Crew. Without starters like Boswell, Taylor, Garcia, and Davis, Houston will be relying on their depth players to pull out a result.
Sporting Kansas City vs Montreal Impact
Sat 8.30pm, Sporting Park
Malena Barajas, co-founder, Women United FC, Sporting Kansas City:
At home this Saturday, Sporting KC face newly crowned Canadian champions Montreal Impact. The Impact are two points behind Eastern Conference leader New York Red Bulls with four (four!) games in hand. SKC will be without Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, who are on international duty. Considering the momentum of the Impact, I hope SKC will look more like it did in the second half against the Dynamo last week after struggling to really warm up in the first. Looking forward to watching defender Chance Myers closely in this match. He's been playing confidently after being out a bit with an injury, and it will be interesting to compare his performance to that of, say, the current USMNT defenders.
After a break, SKC will indeed face USL Pro affiliate Orlando City SC in the fourth round of the US Open Cup. This would have been an exciting match had star loanee Dom Dwyer been on the pitch for Orlando City. It doesn't seem reasonable that Dwyer would not play, but he has been recalled from loan by Sporting.
Big news from a League perspective was the announcement of the MLS All-Star match competitor, Seria A side AS Roma. The match will be played at Sporting Park July 31, and the MLS All-Stars will be coached by SKC's Peter Vermes.
Sofiane Benzaza, Mount Royal Soccer, Montreal:
The drunken euphoria of victory has taken over the Montreal Impact after back to back wins. Taking care of business in a high-scoring affair, Marco Di Vaio scored a hat-trick against the Philadelphia Union within 30 minutes, displaying his scoring touch yet again. A 5-3 win for the Montreal Impact over the Philadelphia Union consolidated its position in the top 5 of the East in MLS. With games in hand and a healthier backline, the sun is shining on the Impact. In other random news, Patrice "Socrates" Bernier is for real: you have been warned Major League Soccer.
Travelling to Vancouver a day later, the Impact attempted to take the Voyageurs Cup back home (it had not happened since 2008). I shamefully predicted a 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps win at BC place but I was pleased to be proven wrong. All the hard work put in by the coaching staff, that has trickled down to the players, is paying its dividends. In a crazy game in which the Impact never took the lead, a 2-2 draw was enough to crown Montreal as the Canadian Champion and 1-year owner of the Voyageurs Cup. Marco Di Vaio did not score, Justin Mapp was electric and the Whitecaps could have won the game. But luck would help Hassoun Camara score the tying goal off a corner-kick, to seal the deal.
Colorado Rapids vs FC Dallas
Sat 9pm, Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Richard Bamber, Centennial 38 Supporters, Colorado Rapids:
Well last week we beat Chivas and given how they've been playing that was pretty much what was supposed to happen. It wasn't really a story until they sacked Chelis. Then the team went to Orlando for the Open Cup. The streaming was pretty terrible for the game, so I think most fans who tried to watch it have a pretty skewed perspective, but I will say that they took 75% of the staff down there, and it was a pretty decent line up of regulars, or regular competitors for places, so the loss was pretty disappointing.
It also gave further encouragement to the fans who think Stewart Ceus is not even a third string keeper. Our first choice keeper is about to come back, Clint Irwin's been putting in All Star performances, and Ceus...he's an athletic shot-stopper but yet again in the Open Cup game he came rushing out recklessly at a key moment. It's been a concern that goes back to the opening day when he did the same thing against Dallas and was scored against, and there've been mistakes in reserve games since, so this was maybe a last chance for him.
Competition's going to be pretty intense for places generally soon, as we've finally just about got past the injuries that were ravaging the squad. Calderon is the only person who didn't train this week and while he's a first XI player, he's the only long term absence right now, and that can only help consolidate the recent good form, even with a game against Dallas this weekend.
Gina Zippilli, The Inferno, Dallas:
There seems to be a bit of a bug going through FC Dallas in recent weeks, but unfortunately it's not a bug of the cold/flu variety. I say unfortunately because the injury bug seems to have returned. We weren't worried at first; George John gets injured by things so simple as a gust of wind, and the same can also be said for Andrew Jacobson. But then David Ferreira got hurt. And Matt Hedges picked up a hamstring strain. We thought we were done, but we were so wrong.
As the injury bug usually does, it saves the biggest blows for last. Saturday's game against San Jose was cruel as the joy of our win was diluted by losing Kenny Cooper to a possible concussion. One of the bright spots of that match was rookie Walker Zimmerman's first start. Zim fit right in and looked like a seasoned pro. So naturally, he left Tuesday's Open Cup game early with an injury of some sorts. When it rains, it pours.
The Colorado Rapids are a tricky opponent to analyze. We've never been embarrassed at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, but we all still have nightmares about that cold night at BMO Field in November of 2010. They are never an opponent to take lightly, especially in our new, yet ever so familiar fragile state. Injuries plus altitude lead me to believe that we will leave Denver with a draw.
Real Salt Lake vs San Jose Earthquakes
Sat 9.30pm, Rio Tinto Stadium
Denzel Eslinger, RSL Perspective:
For Real Salt Lake the month of June will be one of the most critical of the season, 4 MLS matches, 3 at home against Western Conference opponents, and then the US Open Cup matches. It starts with San Jose coming to Rio Tinto Stadium, and while RSL was able to beat the Earthquakes on their home turf on the opening weekend of the season, a lot has changed for both sides. Anything less than a convincing home win will be a disappointment after RSL struggled to a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire last weekend, injury issues still impact RSL up top as Alvaro Saborio returned last week only to suffer another injury (he should be ready to go at some level for the San Jose match) and Olmes Garcia is still day to day. That means we could see Devon Sandoval in the staring lineup and he has been special this year, having scored in the reserve league, for the first team and in US Open Cup, all within the first months with the team. RSL has given up late goals in 3 of their last 4 matches, they will need to be sharp on Saturday as the Quakes have scored 7 of their 13 goals this year in the final 15 minutes of matches. I say RSL picks up a 2-1 win at home in what should be a very entertaining match.
Robert Jonas, Center Line Soccer, San Jose:
Last weekend, for the sixth time in six attempts this season, the Earthquakes failed to win on the road in dropping a 0-1 decision at FC Dallas. Three days later, in their opening round match in the 100th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the Quakes again lost, this time to the third-division Charleston Battery, and again it was on the road. A glance ahead at the calendar shows the Earthquakes away from home for the next three league matches. Panic on the streets of San Jose? Well, after posting 9 wins and 3 draws away from Buck Shaw Stadium in 2012, the complete reversal of fortune in 2013 is alarming.
From the locker room to the coaches' office the message remains the same: Everything is okay and the team is sure to go on a strong run of form before it is too late. Heads nod southward with acknowledgment that the LA Galaxy started the 2012 season off slowly before regrouping and capturing MLS Cup. But have San Jose become too complacent in assuming that, like their heated rivals, they can overcome such a deficit of results? In a league where you only have to finish in the upper half of the table to have a chance at winning the championship the short answer is no.
And so, to quell the unease that is infecting the fanbase, the Quakes need to start turning words into wins. The striking trio of Chris Wondolowski, Steven Lenhart, and Alan Gordon, who together tallied 50 goals last season, must take their scoring chances well moving forward. Arresting their road woes is also paramount, and it starts this Saturday night at Real Salt Lake, a team San Jose has already lost to once this season after sweeping all three matches in 2012. To be certain, this year's Quakes are not going to repeat as Supporters' Shield champions, but they are talented enough to reach the playoffs.
Chivas USA vs Seattle Sounders
Sat 10.30pm, The StubHub Center
Alicia Ratterree, The Goat Parade, Chivas USA:
Chivas USA are going through the rollercoaster once again this week. Last weekend, they lost another league match, this time 2-0 to the Colorado Rapids, who dominated the entire game. That stretches Chivas' winless streak in MLS to seven games, and as you can imagine, fans are getting restless. However, they did manage to win a game Tuesday, when they beat the LA Blues 2-1 in the U.S. Open Cup. Chivas went down early, and it appeared another upset of an MLS team could be in the works, but goals by Carlos Alvarez and Dan Kennedy (yes, starting goalkeeper Dan Kennedy) gave the Goats the lead, and they were able to hang on. Considering it was their first competitive win in nearly two full months, it certainly helped to lift spirits.
On the other hand, news emerged this week that the organization is being sued by two former Academy coaches, on the basis of discrimination and wrongful termination, and if a jury agrees with the charges, it will put more than a black eye on the club. Given the many reports and rumors swirling around the club in recent weeks, it has been a time of uncertainty, but these charges carry significantly more weight (if proven, of course). Additionally, the team abruptly parted ways with coach Chelís late Wednesday night, leaving the on-field future of the team more uncertain than ever. Oh, and there's a game Saturday against the Seattle Sounders. It's just another week of ups and downs for Chivas USA.
Dave Clark, Sounder at Heart, Seattle:
When you were growing up you probably rode a teeter-totter at some point. It got rather boring. It was just up and then down. Some acrobats decided at some point to use more than one at a time and then it was more exciting. Big time circus stuff could happen.
In 2013 Seattle Sounders FC thought they would have this intriguing triple-teeter-totter system. Then the CCL ended. Then they lost in their first Open Cup match. And now they are back to that single teeter-totter again. It's also stuck in the down position after getting crushed by LA. It's really boring. In some ways angering.
There is this big thud. Seattle is as down as they've ever been (not really, it just feels that way). They are without two US National Teamers. One of their DPs earned a dumb Red. Best XI 2012 Osvaldo Alonso is recovering from an injury. The rest of the midfield played in the loss to Tampa Bay. So the Sounders will be exhausted and facing a team that just got its coach fired. It's a trap game on the bottom of a teeter-totter. So that's exciting?
New England Revolution vs LA Galaxy
Sun 4.30pm, Gillette Stadium (NBCSN)
Christopher Camille, Midnight Riders, author of NE tactics blog Soccer Theory:
Juan Agudelo, unstoppable Diego Fagundez, no heartbreaking US Open Cup loss to lower division sides, and a home match set to played within Boston's city limits, what the hell is going on here!?
The current Revs are unrecognizable from the team that scored twice in the first six games. They are currently .500 in the league, Diego Fagundez has scored three goals in his last three matches, and Juan Agudelo has two goals in his first two appearances with the club. With home games against the depleted LA Galaxy and struggling DC United the Revs have a great shot at extending their run. They even easily dispatched of the Rochester Rhinos in the 2013 US Open Cup in the same round that they suffered one of the worst collapses in MLS history at the hands of the Harrisburg City Islander in 2012.
The victory over the Rhinos has set up the Revs first ever match in the Boston city limits as they take on Red Bull New York at the Soldiers Field Road Soccer Stadium at Harvard University's athletic complex. Gillette Stadium is often maligned for it's complete lack of accessibility for those who live in the city and the sheer distance that separates it from major population centers. Finally, the club's supporters can hop on the T and get a beer in Harvard Square before crossing the Charles River and taking in a match.
Josie Becker, Editor, LAG Confidential, Los Angeles:
There's no bigger story for the LA Galaxy this week than Robbie Rogers making his MLS return after coming out and stepping away from the game. It was a momentous occasion at StubHub Center (nee: The Home Depot Center), and Rogers looked to continue his comeback tour with the midweek US Open Cup match.
What's important on the pitch with the Rogers for Mike Magee trade is why Bruce Arena pulled the trigger. Magee was LA's top scorer with six goals, but most of those were scored in March playing up top. Since then Magee had scored just one goal and had moved back into the midfield.
However, the Galaxy have never treated Magee like a full time starter in the midfield. He's seen Marcelo Sarvas, Christian Wilhelmsson, and this offseason Colin Clark all brought in these past two years with each pickup causing Magee to fight for his spot all over again. The desire was for a wide player who could use speed to stretch a defense and then distribute.
Marcelo Sarvas continues to work with Juninho in creating opportunities in the middle, but without David Beckham the Galaxy attack risked becoming one dimensional. Getting Robbie Rogers should give LA the attack up the flanks the Arena has desired. There will still be overlapping fullback runs, but hopefully no more Sean Franklin starts at wide mid.
Going into this match with New England without Robbie Keane or Omar Gonzalez, a draw would be a fine result.
Chicago Fire vs DC United
Sun 5pm, Toyota Park (UniMas)
Dan Martin, Whiskey Brothers Aught Five, Hot Time in Old Town, Chicago:
Most MLS-followers will be aware by now of the moves the Fire made in the past week or so. First it was the return of Baky Soumare in time to help with a 1-1 draw on the road against a very tough Salt Lake team. Just before that match word got out that Chicago had reached a deal with LA that sent Robbie Rogers to the Galaxy in exchange for Chicago-area native Mike Magee. This was a deal that had been fantasized and rumored for some time among Fire fans, but most never seriously believed it could happen – the leading scorer for the defending champs exchanged for a player who hadn't had a game in months? Not possible.
But here we are almost a week later and Magee has already made his debut for the Men in Red, scoring the first goal and assisting on the second in a 2-0 US Open Cup away win against the USL-PRO's Charlotte Eagles. Those who made the journey south are already singing the praises of the club's newest addition, though it remains clear that some personnel problems still exist within the squad. A Sunday meeting with DC United is next and excitement at the prospect of keeping momentum going against the cellar-dwellers is widely felt among Fire fans. If Magee and Chris Rolfe can find some real chemistry up front (and if someone in the midfield can step up to get them the ball consistently) this could be the start of a turnaround most fans have only dreamed of thus far.
Kim Kolb, Screaming Eagles:
Over the weekend, United dropped another game at home with Ben Olsen pulling the strings an another new lineup. This time, though he put Dwayne DeRosario on the bench in favor of Carlos Ruiz, causing DeRo to spout his displeasure of the decision in the post game interviews. By the end of the weekend, they apparently patched it up, but it could be something that lingers. The team's psyche has surely been tested and is fragile through this very rough patch. Mid-week, United traveled down to Richmond to take on the Kickers in a US Open Cup match. The good news is that in one game, United keepers picked up two clean sheets, the problem is that Richmond's keeper is Andrew Dykstra who is on loan from United. United did prevail on penalty kicks though and will face Philadelphia in two weeks. While not a convincing result, even this kind of result could prove to be something for the team to build on and learn from. United is on the road this week to take on Chicago, while the US National Team will occupy RFK to host Germany.
