This is a truly odd 2-0 game. Seems like the result was a foregone conclusion an hour ago, but the score suggests Minnesota has a chance still.
Despite all the wackiness in Atlanta, I think Vancouver moving to the top of the west with games in hand is the story of the day.
And Dave Dir kept his job for another two and a half seasons after the Burn blown out 8-1 at the Cotton Bowl by the Galaxy in June 1998.
Technically not the most lop-sided away victory in league history since Chicago won 7-0 at Arrowhead in 2001, but a good one nonetheless. That had to have been in the Gansler era, yeah?
It's the single worst result, but they've had plenty of other, not record breaking disappointments and shortcomings.
Last week was weird. Really weird. From red cards given via video review, to red cards inexplicably NOT given via video review, to red cards taken away via video review, just about everything strange happened that could. Except for Orlando going down to 9 men. That was perfectly normal. Here's how we look for week 28. 2017 Stats: 302 (of 374) games, 3.64 Y/g, 70 R All-Time: 5005 games, 3.43 Y/g, 1280 R Wednesday, September 13 Atlanta United FC vs New England Revolution R: Baldomero TOLEDO - 240 games, 3.49 Y/g, 87 R 2017: 17 g, 4.24 Y/g, 8 R ATL: FIRST GAME NE: 31 g, 3.81 Y/g, 14 R ATL: FIRST GAME NE: 10 W - 14 D - 7 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: NONE Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Minnesota United FC R: David GANTAR - 50 games, 2.58 Y/g, 21 R 2017: 5 g, 3.20 Y/g, 3 R VAN: 6 g, 2.83 Y/g, 2 R MIN: FIRST GAME VAN: 3 W - 1 D - 2 L MIN: FIRST GAME Previous matching or reverse fixtures: NONE Saturday, September 16 Atlanta United FC vs Orlando City SC R: Jair MARRUFO - 220 games, 2.80 Y/g, 41 R 2017: 10 g, 2.60 Y/g, 2 R ATL: 1 g, 3.00 Y/g, 0 R ORL: 4 g, 2.25 Y/g, 1 R ATL: 0 W - 0 D - 1 L ORL: 3 W - 0 D - 1 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: NONE Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Columbus Crew SC R: Silviu PETRESCU - 134 games, 3.70 Y/g, 19 R 2017: 12 g, 4.08 Y/g, 1 R VAN: 10 g, 3.80 Y/g, 0 R CLB: 13 g, 3.54 Y/g, 3 R VAN: 1 W - 6 D - 3 L CLB: 3 W - 4 D - 6 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: NONE Montreal Impact vs Minnesota United FC R: Ted UNKEL - 51 games, 4.06 Y/g, 21 R 2017: 8 g, 3.25 Y/g, 5 R MTL: 6 g, 4.50 Y/g, 3 R MIN: 2 g, 1.50 Y/g, 2 R MTL: 1 W - 3 D - 2 L MIN: 1 W - 0 D - 1 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: NONE FC Dallas vs Seattle Sounders FC R: Hilario GRAJEDA - 153 games, 3.44 Y/g, 24 R 2017: 14 g, 3.79 Y/g, 1 R DAL: 20 g, 3.45 Y/g, 7 R SEA: 19 g, 3.68 Y/g, 1 R DAL: 11 W - 5 D - 4 L SEA: 7 W - 4 D - 8 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: 11/6/2016 DAL 2 - 1 SEA (Playoffs) Chicago Fire vs D.C. United R: Ismail ELFATH - 98 games, 3.20 Y/g, 25 R 2017: 16 g, 3.38 Y/g, 7 R CHI: 6 g, 2.50 Y/g, 3 R DC: 8 g, 2.75 Y/g, 2 R CHI: 2 W - 1 D - 3 L DC: 5 W - 1 D - 2 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: 8/22/2012 DC 4 - 2 CHI Sporting Kansas City vs New England Revolution R: Jorge GONZALEZ - 146 games, 3.57 Y/g, 45 R 2017: 11 g, 5.00 Y/g, 4 R SKC: 20 g, 3.60 Y/g, 6 R NE: 17 g, 3.24 Y/g, 1 R SKC: 7 W - 7 D - 6 L NE: 4 W - 4 D - 9 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: 7/29/2006 KC 1 - 1 NE Colorado Rapids vs New York City FC R: Chris PENSO - 119 games, 3.67 Y/g, 34 R 2017: 21 g, 4.14 Y/g, 3 R COL: 11 g, 2.91 Y/g, 3 R NYC: 6 g, 3.50 Y/g, 0 R COL: 5 W - 4 D - 2 L NYC: 3 W - 1 D - 2 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: NONE Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers R: Robert SIBIGA - 42 games, 3.60 Y/g, 8 R 2017: 20 g, 4.00 Y/g, 3 R RSL: 4 g, 4.00 Y/g, 2 R POR: 2 g, 4.00 Y/g, 0 R RSL: 2 W - 1 D - 1 L POR: 1 W - 1 D - 0 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: NONE Los Angeles Galaxy vs Toronto FC R: Kevin STOTT - 311 games, 3.08 Y/g, 74 R 2017: 17 g, 2.12 Y/g, 3 R LA: 67 g, 3.16 Y/g, 7 R TOR: 18 g, 2.72 Y/g, 5 R LA: 34 W - 15 D - 18 L TOR: 4 W - 5 D - 9 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: 9/19/2009 LA 2 - 0 TOR San Jose Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo R: Alan KELLY - 80 games, 3.39 Y/g, 14 R 2017: 20 g, 3.65 Y/g, 2 R SJ: 8 g, 2.75 Y/g, 0 R HOU: 3 g, 3.33 Y/g, 1 R SJ: 2 W - 3 D - 3 L HOU: 0 W - 2 D - 1 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: 7/31/2016 HOU 1 - 1 SJ Sunday, September 17 Red Bull New York vs Philadelphia Union R: Jose Carlos RIVERO - 85 games, 3.94 Y/g, 23 R 2017: 17 g, 4.41 Y/g, 6 R NY: 6 g, 4.50 Y/g, 1 R PHI: 11 g, 3.73 Y/g, 3 R NY: 1 W - 2 D - 3 L PHI: 5 W - 1 D - 5 L Previous matching or reverse fixtures: 10/1/2016 NY 3 - 2 PHI *All team stats include playoff games
Updated "PPG" rankings and overall records, including playoffs and counting all shootouts as draws. Includes tonight's two games. Code: Pl. TM - "PPG" ( W- D- L) 1. ATL - 1.615 ( 12- 6- 8)** 2. SEA - 1.604 (145- 75- 98) 3. LAG - 1.600 (346-181-235) 4. NYC - 1.439 ( 40- 21- 37)* 5. CHI - 1.436 (264-170-236) 6. HOU - 1.421 (154-122-135) 7. DCU - 1.413 (289-173-274) 8. CLB - 1.409 (286-175-272) 9. DAL - 1.407 (285-175-272) 10. SKC - 1.403 (280-191-264) 11. POR - 1.395 ( 88- 75- 80) 12. NYR - 1.375 (281-169-286) 13. SJE - 1.354 (233-184-235) 14. RSL - 1.353 (160-114-165) 15. NER - 1.319 (262-181-290) 16. VAN - 1.315 ( 82- 63- 90)* 17. MTL - 1.306 ( 74- 47- 85)* 18. MIA - 1.288 ( 48- 26- 58)* 18. TBM - 1.288 ( 74- 33- 91)* 20. COL - 1.284 (255-170-303) 21. ORL - 1.240 ( 30- 29- 37)* 22. TOR - 1.217 (113- 98-148) 23. PHI - 1.174 ( 79- 74-112)* 24. CHV - 1.104 ( 94- 80-154)* 25. MIN - 0.963 ( 7- 5- 15)** *Zero MLS Cup appearances **First year team
I actually disagree. NE should feel humiliated. I watched the first 15 or so minutes with just short of horror at the tactics of NE. Pure MLS 1.0, with constant hacking and late tackles. It was like that DCU game versus Toronto a couple of years ago, where they hacked Giovinco into oblivion, though this was much less subtle. NE should be ashamed. Clearly a directive from the coach. Frankly, Heaps should get a fine from MLS before NE fires him (of course they won't).
Being a first year coach provides you a lot of leeway, for Heaps though I think its definitely a desk clearing situation. I'd say Burns should go as well but we are talking about the Kraft's and there level of attention towards the Revs borders on criminal.
But the context was they should feel humiliated because of the scoreline, not the tactics. You could argue they certainly got what they deserved.
They gave up 5 goals after playing 9 v 11. They gave up 1 after playing 10 v 11. They gave up 1 after playing 11 v 11. Their backline was essentially on a yellow or red by the third goal. Atlanta took advantage.
One thing I've learned this season is that Josef Martinez can score from whatever angle he feels like, and damn the odds.
He's helluva a lot more dangerous than Nikolic. Can score in multiple ways. Might be up for Golden Boot race if not for his injury mid season.
He's only 6 behind Villa and he has two games in hand. If he has a hat trick in those games they will be even.
Darren Eales is a) having a blast and b) one smart mofo. The rumor is that he structured JM's original loan from Torino with a set (relatively low priced) option to buy. After a handful of games this spring, option was exercised.
As I understand it its a league rule (possibly unwritten) that every loan into MLS include an option to buy, though the price on that option is up to negotiation so credit to ATL for getting a low one.
That used to be true, but I don't think it is anymore. https://www.metro.us/new-york/red-b...ng-through-mls-rulebook/zsJphi---03ivUxVflpYs "As a part of MLS rules, each team is allowed two players on loan with no option to buy, meaning that it is a loan and only a loan and that the player will return back to the original club at the end of the deal."
Goals per 90 mins: Josef Martinez: 1.24 David Villa: 0.79 Granted, we'll never know where Martinez would really be if he hadn't missed 13 games due to injury. But its pretty amazing to have such a huge margin over the league's top goal-scorer. That said, although Martinez deserves a ton of credit for his success, the rest of the team does a great job of creating chances for him.