Week 12 Notes

[djwalker]

WEEK 12 NOTES:




Danny Califf is back in the lineup for Los Angeles this week. He got burned on the first Metrostars goal, but having said that, most of LA’s defense this year has consisted of scoring in bunches and having Kevin Hartman in goal, so this is can only be a good thing in the long run.



It was a much maligned young American player who got the ball rolling for Metrostars today, though; Kenny Arena (yes, he is related) scored his first MLS goal, while essentially being mugged by Califf. Good stepping-up for Arena on a team that was missing nine players from their normal roster today.



Another young American futurestar headed in the winner at the 90 minute mark: Mike Magee. So Bob Bradley got a good scrappy win today from the youngest lineup ever put on the field in MLS history.



DC’s first goal this weekend was their first in 272 minutes. Ouch. I’m not sure what Peter Nowak said to them this week in training, but they came out playing as if their lives depended on it today against Columbus.



Alecko Eskandarian’s goal in the 33rd minute of that match showed why he deserves to start over Freddy Adu right now. The ability to play intelligently off the ball, and, for now, more efficient finishing. His second goal was just beautiful.



New England are turning into the Badluck Schleprock of MLS. Beat to death by injuries to begin with, they had two goals snatched from them in the second half against Kansas City. One by the linesman, and one by the post. They finally found a late lifeline in the irrepressible Clint Dempsey.



Dempsey’s goal set up a barnburner of a final 15 minutes in a game that hadn’t been all that exciting up until then. Matt Taylor finished his brace in injury time to put New England away. Taylor’s two goals for the Wizards were his first as a pro, by the way. Not a bad start for the rookie from UCLA.



Chris Henderson became the all-time leading scorer in Rapids history recently, and this week he becomes the all-time leader in minutes played for the club, overtaking Marcelo Balboa. Congratulations to one of my favorite players.



Kyle Beckerman is a hugely talented player, but has been an underperformer in MLS. I’d like to see him live up to his potential and become a star.



Colorado picked up Joey Digiamarino this week. Digi, who has been with the team for before, was waived by Metrostars earlier in the season.



Chicago, tied with Metrostars for the Decimation award, missing Armas, Beasley, Joseph, Williams, and Selolwane, still almost pulled off a miracle win against San Jose, thanks to up-and-coming futurestar Nate Jaqua. Nate scored Chicago’s first goal, but the Fire were doused (sorry) after Razov was stoned on the potential winning PK by Pat Onstad. The PK call was verrrrry questionable in any event; Jeff Agoos was so upset he got two yellows for dissent in the space of a minute and was sent off. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.



Notice I said Jaqua’s was Chicago’s first goal in a 1-1 game. The Fire’s second came when poor Evan Whitfield scored an own goal to keep the Quakes in the match.



Oh yeah, San Jose were missing some kid named Donavan. He’s like, German of something, I think; you hardly ever hear anything about him.



You understand of course, that only a year ago, Ronnie O’Brien nearly had his legged snapped off, right? Ok, keep that in mind next time you see him play, as he jets past any defender he chooses with impunity.



Memo to Dave Sarachan: enjoy, no, savor the WCQ game against Grenada. Your fortnight of darkness is over.

[babytiger2001]

[b]

[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Notice I said Jaqua’s was Chicago’s first goal in a 1-1 game. The Fire’s second came when poor Evan Whitfield scored an own goal to keep the Quakes in the match.


Actually, Brian Ching was credited with the goal, officially (http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=06192004_SJCHI).

[b]

[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Oh yeah, San Jose were missing some kid named Donavan. He’s like, German of something, I think; you hardly ever hear anything about him.


I've said it on other threads on the USA fora, so I might as well say it here, too... Landon Donovan, whiel on international duty for the USA, will rise to the ocassion and score one goal, maybe more, against Grenada on Sunday (Monday here). Mark my words on that...

Also, one other tidbit to add... Jason Kreis has tied Roy Lassiter's league record for goals scored (http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20040619&content_id=5947&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp) in Dallas' 1-1 draw against Colorado. No mean feat, that...

[djwalker]

Actually, Brian Ching was credited with the goal, officially (http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=06192004_SJCHI).


That was a little home cookin' by the scorer, not wanting to hang one the hometown player, methinks.


Also, one other tidbit to add... Jason Kreis has tied Roy Lassiter's league record for goals scored (http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20040619&content_id=5947&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp) in Dallas' 1-1 draw against Colorado. No mean feat, that...
It was classic Jason too. A sublime chip over Joe Cannon's head. He rules. I'm actually glad he's getting snubbed by the Nats; it means we don't have to do without him during qualifying.

[10 fan]

I thought Kreis was offside on that goal, just like he was offside for his goal last week.

[Chicago1871]

Great work, as usual, DJ. My quick thoughts.

The "Ching" goal was more Ching than Whitfield. It looked to me, from the 6th row in SF, that Whitfield was trying some sort of acrobatic header to deflect it away that failed. Even if he hadn't gotten a piece of it, I doubt Ring could have saved it.

The first time Razov went down in the box: dive.
The second time: it was a PK.
The third time: dive.

Each time there was contact, but the first and third times he was looking for a call. The second time he was fouled, no question in my mind. The PK call was, I think, either a makeup for the second time, or just the ref saying to himself, "Ok, he's gotten taken down three times in the box and at least 1 of them had to be a real foul..." :)

See my sig for my viewpoint on the result of the PK. God it was sad...[inner monologu]no, don't start, you'll never stop. you spent the whole ride home talking about it with your brother.[/inner monologue]

[djwalker]

I thought Kreis was offside on that goal, just like he was offside for his goal last week.
Huh. I wish now I hadn't deleted the game from Tivo; it never even occurred to me he might be offside on that play.

That said, we're due a couple gifts from the refs in this league, so I'll take it.

[djwalker]

Great work, as usual, DJ. My quick thoughts.

The "Ching" goal was more Ching than Whitfield. It looked to me, from the 6th row in SF, that Whitfield was trying some sort of acrobatic header to deflect it away that failed. Even if he hadn't gotten a piece of it, I doubt Ring could have saved it.

The first time Razov went down in the box: dive.
The second time: it was a PK.
The third time: dive.

Each time there was contact, but the first and third times he was looking for a call. The second time he was fouled, no question in my mind. The PK call was, I think, either a makeup for the second time, or just the ref saying to himself, "Ok, he's gotten taken down three times in the box and at least 1 of them had to be a real foul..." :)

See my sig for my viewpoint on the result of the PK. God it was sad...[inner monologu]no, don't start, you'll never stop. you spent the whole ride home talking about it with your brother.[/inner monologue]
Eric Wynalda would be proud.

Onstad didn't even guess correctly and he saved that thing.

Memo to Ante: It's "Bend it Like Beckham" not "Blow it like Beckham".

Still, If I'm Dave Sarachan, I have to be pretty happy with the last two weeks, not in terms of points taken, but in terms of being in two games they might well have gotten blown out in. Same with Bob Bradley. I'd be pretty encouraged with the depth of my team if I were them (was them? were them?).

[djwalker]

I've said it on other threads on the USA fora, so I might as well say it here, too... Landon Donovan, whiel on international duty for the USA, will rise to the ocassion and score one goal, maybe more, against Grenada on Sunday (Monday here). Mark my words on that...


Good call, BT. Can you do the same kinda pyschic phenomena with oh, say, the stock market?

[babytiger2001]

Good call, BT. Can you do the same kinda pyschic phenomena with oh, say, the stock market?

If I could, I'd be buying a TattsLotto ticket for the midweek draw.

I just think that Landon, in addition to being the kind of player who can dictate a match on his own talents and merits, was due to score at least one goal for his country. He hadn't scored since January in a USA shirt.

And thank goodness the one goal he scored pretty much wrapped up the tie, in a psychological sense.

[Chicago1871]

All I want to know is what is Damarcus Beasley drinking these days? (just wish it could translate to his Fire games)

[Jabinho]

All I want to know is what is Damarcus Beasley drinking these days? (just wish it could translate to his Fire games)
Johnny Walker.. He got it from Jonny Walker.

[Revolt]

I Tivo-ed the Quakes goal a number of times & wanted to get the official line on what constitutes an own-goal. The goal was definately off Whitfield - but it was one of those bang-bang plays where Whitfield really didn't have time to react. Like an unintentional hand ball.

[FlashMan]

I Tivo-ed the Quakes goal a number of times & wanted to get the official line on what constitutes an own-goal. The goal was definately off Whitfield - but it was one of those bang-bang plays where Whitfield really didn't have time to react. Like an unintentional hand ball.

remember the kirovski goal a few weeks back where jolley kicked it in while sliding on the end line trying to keep it out? ridge mahoney said that since the ball was DEFINITELY goign in on its own that in the end it was the right call to give the goal to kirovski, as the official scorer had done (despite what stone and wynalda had to say about it). according to ridge, that was the correct call. i don't know the rule regarding this situation myself but i'm passing on this information for information's sake.

[ElJefe]

I thought Kreis was offside on that goal, just like he was offside for his goal last week.
He was onside last week.

[ElJefe]

He was onside last week.
And this week.