Well my picks were much better this week, but the trend of officials impacting matches continued, with red cards and PK's a plenty:
|
My Picks |
Actual Results |
|
New York 3 - DC United 0 |
New York 2 - DC United 0 |
|
FC Dallas 1 - New England 1 |
FC Dallas 1 - New England 1* |
|
Houston 2 - KC Wizards 1 |
Houston 3 - KC Wizards 0 |
|
Chicago 3 - Chivas 0 |
Chicago 1 - Chivas USA 1 |
|
Colorado 2 - San Jose 2 |
San Jose 1 - Colorado 0 |
|
Seattle 2 - Columbus 1 |
Seattle 1 - Columbus 1 |
|
LA Galaxy 3 - Philly 0 |
LA Galaxy 3 - Philly 1 |
|
Real Salt Lake 3 - Toronto FC 1 |
Real Salt Lake 2 - Toronto 1 |
So I was 5 of 8, with one dead on. Not bad as the home team got a result in 7 of 8 matches, showing again why wins and even draws on the road are so very difficult.
Power Rankings
16. DC United (-)
DC United are the first team in MLS history to not score a goal in their first 3 home matches, they have only scored two goals in 5 matches while giving up 13, no team has given up more goals. The look leaderless and face a good KC side that got beat by Houston and will be hungry to get back on the winning track on Wednesday. The upside is that DC will face the only other MLS team without a win FC Dallas on Saturday.
15. Philly Union (-)
It could have and it should have been worse, I think LA pulled their foot off the gas against Philly on Saturday after going up 3-0 in the first half. It is clear that there are some real issues in Philly as their defense continues to put Seitz in a position to fail, and his mistakes only compound a bad situation. Philly got another red card as Miglioranzi was sent off in stoppage time of the first half. They now get leave the hostile Home Depot Center for the elevation of Real Salt Lake's Rio Tinto Stadium, where Chris Seitz may be well known but should expect no mercy from his former team.
The rest of the power rankings after the jump:
14. FC Dallas (-)
If you can't beat a team when you have a two man advantage for 20 minutes, on top of the man advantage you had for 35 minutes, well you aren't going to move up the power rankings and it may be a long time before you get that first win of the season. You have to wonder what really happened in New England with 12 cards issued including a straight red. Anyhow FC Dallas now head to a midweek Texas showdown in Houston, and finish the week with DC United at home. Maybe they can find a way to get a win to go with their 4 draws.
13. New England (-1)
Are the wheels really coming off this badly in New England, I get the injury issues, I get the missing Joseph as your leader, but 7 cards including a straight red to Dube, and two yellows to Niouky, left them to struggle for survival against FC Dallas, now they will be shorthanded against Chivas on Wednesday and then they have to travel to Columbus on Saturday. Steve Nicol needs to find a way to get this team back under control or their downward spiral could get real ugly.
12. Chivas USA (-1)
I wanted to move Chivas up or keep them the same but this week it was win or move down as the action involved all 8 teams and while I didn't see this matchup, the numbers show a very offensive minded Chivas side with 14 shots and 5 on goal. They now go to New England for a Wednesday matchup and then home to face Houston, a couple of big results could move them up in a hurry.
11. Toronto FC (-3)
Toronto has two wins this year, one over a very bad Philly team on a PK and set piece goal by DeRo, then a win against a very tired Seattle side. They could only get a goal against RSL on a questionable handball call that gave them another PK goal. We will find out if their home wins are for real as they host Chicago on Saturday, but one thing is clear without DeRo in their lineup this team isn't very good.
10. Real Salt Lake (+3)
They did what they usually do at home, they dominated, they controlled well over 65% of the possession, had more shots, shots on goal, corners, and should have had two more goals had it not been for typical MLS officiating. With Philly coming into town on Saturday RSL is poised to take another step up the rankings.
9. Seattle (-2)
I watched about 60 minutes of their match against Columbus and they were clearly the better team, but they gave up a goal late in the first half and couldn't find a way past the Crew defense in the second half. They have played more matches than anyone and now have to face the red hot LA Galaxy in an early match on Saturday. Here is hoping they find a way to slow down Edson Buddle, which only KC has been able to do so far this year.
8. San Jose (+2)
Wins at home are important, wins against conference foes is even more important and San Jose did both to bounce back from last weekends loss to Chivas. Now they get to prove that they are a powerhouse at home as they face the top team in the East, the New York Red Bulls (who would have thunk it?). A win over New York would be huge and could put San Jose in the top 5.
7. Kansas City (-3)
After a big match at home against LA, they went to Houston and simply got thumped, so you have to wonder what is up with KC, are they for real or just getting lucky early in the season? Well they beat DC 4-0 to open the season and now head to RFK to try to get back on the winning track on Wednesday,
6. Colorado (-3)
A loss against San Jose brings their record to 3-2-1, now they face off against LA on Wednesday at Dick's and a loss could prove that the Rapids are more average than exceptional. I sitll think they are a very good team but they have to find a way to score other than the PK spot, I see Conor Casey's South Africa hopes slipping away as Edson Buddle establishes himself as a real threat, it will be interesting to see these two face off on Wednesday.
5. Chicago (+1)
Not sure how I moved Chicago up when they only could manage a draw against Chivas at home but as other teams dropped down this is where they landed and to be honest probably where they belong. The Fire get to head north now and face the Red's of Toronto at BMO field, where they are undefeated so far this year. This should be a great test for both teams.
4. Houston (+5)
Houston finds a way, they lose Clark and Holden, then Ching and Cameron, and it was Luis Angel Landin that stepped up with a goal and an a assist against KC, Oduro also stepped up with two assists but the 3-0 win is a bit deceiving as Houston did have a man advantage for 60 minutes. Hmm another Houston home match with interesting calls. Now they get to face Dallas on Wednesday before heading to LA to face Chivas on Saturday, two big conference matches this week could solidify Houston's position in the rankings.
3. Columbus (+2)
After a cheesy win last week the Crew headed to Qwest field, and once again they would get outplayed by their opponents but again they find a way to get a result, a 1-1 draw against the Sounders is a good result and Columbus remain one of two teams yet to be beaten in MLS. That trend should continue as they face a struggling New England side on Saturday.
2. New York (-)
Staying strong, as they continue to get wins. This time they are on the road and beat up on DC Untied, every teams favorite pastime this MLS season. Many people remain unconvinced that New York is really this good, but they have won at home, on the road, and only a loss to Chivas keeps them from being perfect. Next up are the San Jose Earthquakes, a team that has become a powerhouse at home after struggling in the first week of the MLS season, this might be one of the best matches of the weekend.
1. LA Galaxy (-)
Well beating up on Philly is as unimpressive as beating up on DC United to me, but a win is a win. Edson Buddle continues to be the offense for LA, as he has scored or had an a assist on every LA goal this year. Their defense remains tough having given up only two goals so far this year. However this week will be tough as they head to Colorado to play in front of what will surely be a small midweek crowd, and then off to Seattle to play in front of the largest crowds in MLS. If LA can remain undefeated, they will have a nice lead in the West as the World Cup callups loom large in their future.
Well that is it for week 6, I will be posting my match previews Tuesday for the 4 MLS midweek matches.
OFF MY SOAPBOX