Some News for Thu Sep 23, 2010

STARTERS

The answer to the first question below is: Edson Buddle. I was surprised by that.

dN

And the answer to the second question below is: Flapjacks. That is just for you BThrow.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE

The action rolls on with Round 4!

dN

Yet another MLS debacle in Mexico City!! Seattle was up 0-2 at Monterrey after the 70th minute, and then like a brutal bolt of lightning it was all over and Monterrey had a 3-2 lead! Insane! How does this keep happening??? The Sounders are pointless after 4 games. By that I mean they have no points.

Salt Lake got a big comeback win in Panama to take control of their group!

dN

Round Four
Matches & Scores:
-Tue Sep 21
Columbus Crew 1-0 Santos Laguna - CC goal by Andres Mendoza.
Cruz Azul 0-0 Toronto FC
-Wed Sep 22
Monterrey 3-2 Seattle Sounders - Mon goals by Aldo De Nigris, Humberto Suazo & Luis Perez. SS goals by S Perez (OG) & Michael Fucito.
Arabe Unido 2-3 Real Salt Lake - AU goals by Williams Aguilar & Mario Angulo(PK). RSL goals by Will Johnson(2) & Alvaro Saborio.
Marathon 2-1 Saprissa - - Mar goals by Mario Berrios & Esteban Sirias(OG). Sap goal by Jairo Arrieta.
FAS 0-0 Puerto Rico Islanders
-Thu Sep 23
Joe Public v Municipal
Olimpia v Toluca

dN

The Seattle Times on the Sounders fold-job in Monterrey.
-By the way, did you notice the American football lines on the field in Monterrey?

James Edward of the Deseret News on RSL's big comeback win down in Panama. (Sing it with me!)

The Salt Lake Tribune with a wire service match report.

dN

GROUP STANDINGS (4 rounds played):
Group A
9 Real Salt Lake (USA) (+4)
7 Cruz Azul (Mexico) (+6)
4 Toronto (Canada) (-3)
3 Arabe Unido (Panama) (-7)
Group B
9 Columbus Crew (USA) (+4)
7 Santos Laguna (Mexico) (+3)
2 Municipal (Guatemala) (-1) (3 rounds played)
1 Joe Public (Trinidad & Tobago) (-6) (3 rounds played)
Group C
12 Monterrey (Mexico) (+6)
6 Saprissa (Costa Rica) (+3)
6 Marathon (Honduras) (-4)
0 Seattle Sounders (USA) (-6)
Group D
7 Toluca (Mexico) (+4) (3 rounds played)
5 Puerto Rico Islanders (Puerto Rico) (+3)
4 Olimpia (Honduras) (-2) (3 rounds played)
2 FAS (El Salvador) (-5)

FACT OF THE DAY

Forwards that Toronto FC has given up on:
-Edson Buddle
-Conor Casey
-Jeff Cunningham
-Ali Gerba

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Some really cool images from the Chicago Fire and supporters Section 8 of a great Fire mural in a Chicago neighborhood.















Many more photos of the mural here.

MLS WEEK 26

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Sep 22
Kansas City Wizards 4-3 Houston Dynamo - KCW goals by Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury, Adrian Serioux(OG) & Josh Wolff. HD goals by Cam Weaver, Dominic Oduro & Adrian Serioux.
Venue: CommunityAmerica Ballpark - Kansas City KS
Attendance: 9,679
FC Dallas 2-2 New England Revolution - FCD goals by David Ferreira(PK) & Jeff Cunningham. NER goals by Shalrie Joseph & Iljia Stolica.
Venue: Pizza Hut Park - Frisco TX
Attendance: 7,468
-Fri Sep 24
Los Angeles Galaxy v New York Red Bulls - 10:00pm Central on ESPN2
Venue: The Home Depot Center - Carson CA
-Sat Sep 25
Philadelphia Union v CD Chivas USA - 3:00pm Central on Telefutura
Venue: PPL Park - Chester PA
Toronto FC v San Jose Earthquakes - 3:00pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: BMO Field - Toronto ON
DC United v Houston Dynamo - 6:30pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: RFK Stadium - Washington DC
New England Revolution v Columbus Crew - 7:30pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Gillette Stadium - Foxborough MA
Kansas City Wizards v FC Dallas - 7:00pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: CommunityAmerica Ballpark - Kansas City KS
Chicago Fire SC v Seattle Sounders FC - 7:00pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Toyota Park - Bridgeview IL
Real Salt Lake v Colorado Rapids - 9:00pm Central on FSC/FSE
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium - Sandy UT

MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS

General News

Jeff Carlisle of ESPN Soccernet with his usual quality work, writes about LA v NY, Chis Wondolowski, Kei Kamara and Jay DeMerit.

Michael Lewis writing for the US Players Assoc hopes that with an expanded number of teams in MLS next season we won't see an expanded number of teams in the playoffs. 8 is the right number.

Andrew Keh of the New York Times on the evolution and impact of the "Beckham Rule."

CHICAGO FIRE

Orrin Schwarz of the Daily Herald gives some advice to new Fire president Julian Posada.

FC DALLAS

Dallas could have won the game last night but David Ferreira misses on a penalty kick earlier in the game, before converting another one later.

HOUSTON DYNAMO

I am sure that more insane screaming could be heard coming from the Dynamo lockerroom last night. They had a 3-1 lead at home and managed to lose 3-4 deep (6+ minutes) into second half stoppage time.

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS

Huge huge huge huge win for KC last night. Wow. They are 3 points out of the last playoff spot with a game in hand over Seattle.

MLS OFFENSE STAT LEADERS

The All-Time goal scoring leader is seemingly about to change hands, probably this season:
132 Jaime Moreno - DC United
130 Jeff Cunningham - FC Dallas

dN

Question: Who is the #8 All-Time goalscorer at 87?
Hint: He is currently playing for his 4th MLS team.
See answer above in Starters section.
I know, pretty tricky doing it like that.

MY THOUGHTS

We have seen as many if not more goalkeeper bloopers this season in MLS then I can ever remember. Pat Onstad of Houston added a classic to the reel last night (video clip).

USSF DIVISION 2

NSC makes the Playoffs! NSC makes the Playoffs! NSC makes the Playoffs!

Thank you Miami! The Blues beat St Louis 4-2 last night and vaulted my NSC Minnesota Stars into a playoff place. Now the only thing left to settle is seeding!

As a matter of fact all 8 playoff teams are now known. See the standings below for details.

dN

Final Matches & Scores of the Regular Season:
-Wed Sep 22
Miami FC Blues 4-2 AC St Louis
-Fri Sep 24
FC Tampa Bay v NSC Minnesota Stars
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Montreal Impact
-Sat Sep 25
Miami FC Blues v Rochester Rhinos
Crystal Palace Baltimore v Portland Timbers
Carolina RailHawks v Puerto Rico Islanders
Austin Aztex v AC St Louis
-Fri Oct 1
Carolina RailHawks v Austin Aztex
FC Tampa Bay v Crystal Palace Baltimore
-Sat Oc 2
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Portland Timbers
AC St Louis v Rochester Rhinos
Miami FC Blues v Puerto Rico Islanders
-Sun Oct 3
Montreal Impact v Austin Aztex

dN

Standings (As of Wed Sep 22):
IN-51 Rochester - 28 played
IN-50 Austin - 27 played
IN-45 Portland - 28 played
IN-44 Vancouver - 28 played
IN-41 Carolina - 28 played
IN-37 Montreal - 28 played
IN-37 Minnesota - 29 played
IN-36 Puerto Rico - 28 played
- - - - - - - - -
OUT-29 St Louis - 28 played (35)
OUT-29 Tampa Bay - 28 played (35)
OUT-29 Miami - 28 played (35)
OUT-24 Baltimore - 28 played (30)

dN

Pro-Rated Standings based on Points Per Game:
1.85 Austin
1.82 Rochester
1.61 Portland
1.57 Vancouver
1.46 Carolina
1.29 Puerto Rico
1.28 Minnesota
1.26 Montreal
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
OUT OF PLAY OFF SPOTS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1.07 Tampa Bay
1.04 St Louis
1.04 Miami
0.86 Baltimore

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Clemente Lisi of the US Soccer Players Assoc does a Q & A with Alejandro Bedoya.

dN

Game Action: (only those that played are listed)

DENMARK - Landspokal (League Cup)
Benny Feilhaber - Aarhus - not only did they win 6-3 at home over Skive (yes, Skive), with Benny scoring 3 of those goals!
Michael Parkhurst - Nordjaelland - Thu Sep 23 - Won 0-1 at Hjorring.

ENDERS

I think I might just start calling the team from Kansas the City Wizards. Try it out, "Jimmy Conrad comes forward for the corner kick. Its well placed by Ryan Smith just above the 6 yard box. Rising above the pack is Conrad to head it home at the back post. 1 nothing City Wizards." It has a great feel to it.