so i saw like 11k as the official attendance somewhere? seemed like a bit more to me but whatev. what i did notice was that a TON of the people there had FCD gear on...was it the 50% off sale or do people just not show up for most of the games? either way it was cool PS: Dax is my hero. What a warrior out there yesterday and that run through MF where he shrugged off 2-3 tackles is exactly what a confident Dax is all about. PSS: I have been critical of DH in the past, but he was a beast yesterday when beating the crap out of any RSL MF who came near the center of the park, seemed to know his range limitations and played within them, and made simple distribution instead of going for the HR ball. For me, his best game of the season.
We've won playoff GAMES but not SERIES. We beat Colorado at home in Game 1 of 2002 and then away in Game 1 of 2006. Beat Houston at home in Game 1 of 2007. We just need to play smart next game and get a result to finally get this damn monkey off the back.
Don't understand why Jackson was in the middle and Loyd on the right. Loyd played there early in the year and then never again while Jackson was there the last game. Loyd kept Espindola onside on his goal and the two were switched shortly after and the defense was better after that. No one had John being injured so any word on what it was? Anyway those are quibbles and the team slowly took over the game after that and in the second half they started looking like the team that was so hard to beat. Quick movement. Intricate movement. Physical play and the comeback against a team that almost never loses when behind. Does SH go defensive with Jackson at right mid in the next game or go for it with Shea? Will he have a full arsenal to choose from minus the unlucky Harris or will Pearce, John and now Rodriguez be on the injured list?
I'm not even sure that's a yellow card on Harris, let alone a straight red. There was no swinging movement of the elbow and he had his eyes on the ball the whole time - his elbow doesn't even appear to connect with Johnson's head, it's just kind of on his shoulder. Horrible decision from a referee looking to even things up, whatever it takes.
The most encouraging thing for me was the way we simply worked hard and possessed the ball WITHOUT THE LEAD. Our boys are coming back together and peaking again. Love it- It was clear that we deserved the equalizer, the winning goal was beautiful, and we may get the WC Championship at home if Seattle knocks off the Galaxy.
Oops. I was thinking home games and forgot the Houston one. We lost to Colo in 02,05,06 right? Also was 02 a best of 3 series or something. I recall losing at the CB to flame out at the death somehow. Let's cash in all those misery chips next game anyway. Got a closet full of them.
Yeah!!! Yes, we can!! Let's go out there and come home with a tie or even a win to face LA or Seattle to the West Title, and then the Cup! Lets go FCD!!!
I rarely rant about the officiating, and over the entirety of the game I didn't have any other huge gripes. But the red on Atiba was a horrendous and transparent make-up red card. It was well sold, on my first view it looked bad, but in retrospect I realize that I think it happened pretty close to a TV mic and therefore the fake squeals of pain were clearly audible. But on the replay it was clear that I don't think there was an infraction of any kind, let alone a card. Atiba jumped higher, his arm was there as he's not able to detach it and move it to a safer location. There was no motion to move the arm at all, and if there was any contact at all it was precious little. I'm actually upset that we'll miss Atiba. Us minus Atiba verus them minus Javi is obviously to our advantage if you look at it that way. But Atiba is a fighter and sometimes that's what the playoffs require.
Avi is da man! I love his nose for the goal. Never afraid to strike the ball, and he has wicked skills.
A quick history lesson (off the top of my head) of Dallas playoffs in the 21st century... 2000: NY (best of 3, when MLS actually did the playoffs correctly on a single table format and keeping conferences) @ NY: L 2-1 @ Dallas: L 2-1 2001: Chicago ("First to 5 pts.") @ Chicago: L 3-1 (??? a little fuzzy) @ Dallas: T 1-1 @ Chicago: L 3-0 (or some other horrid scoreline) 2002: Colorado [Nightmare 2 of 4] ("First to 5 pts.") @ Dallas: W 4-2 @ Colorado: L 1-0 @ Dallas: T 1-1 [L "mini-game" 1-0 via Golden Goal] 2005: Colorado [Nightmare 3 of 4] (2 Game, Aggregate series) @ Colorado: T 0-0 @ Dallas: T 2-2 [L via PKs] 2006: Colorado [Nightmare 4 of 4] (2 Game, Aggregate series) @ Colorado: W 2-1 @ Dallas: L 3-2 (AET) [L via PKs] 2007: Houston (2 Game, Aggregate series) @ Dallas: W 1-0 @ Houston: L 4-1 (AET) 2010: Salt Lake @ Dallas: W 2-1 @ Salt Lake: ??? My question with these red cards (around the world) is what is someone suppose to do with their arms when they jump? Who can jump for a ball with their arms taped to their side like some kind of fish-man? Harris was clearly looking at the ball and it's a shame that refs don't have the balls to not feel like they have to even the game up. Pathetic and we get f ucked on another call, 2 weeks in a row. That being said, love that little ninny bitch Morales will miss next game and all we lose is a bone-head.
2000 was the first year of the ridiculous first-to-five system. I remember this clearly because in New York we were in OT, headed for a tie, and I was thinking, "Well, this means that there'll be a Game 3." All of a sudden, that jackass Valencia got the winning goal for the Metros. It was so obviously a makeup call. Atiba wasn't swinging his arms around and he didn't have his arm bent and his elbow sticking out. If that's a red card, then there should be three or four red cards a game.
Yea, but they started with Jackson in the middle with Loyd on the right, before changing about 20 minutes in.
My bad. All remember from that year/season was Mathis continuing to put it in our ass every chance he got. Then he came back in 2006 with Colorado as a fat slob and did it again for old times sake. Piece of redneck shit.
The red was a terrible call by a ref who turned a blind eye the whole game to most contact. The good news is Harris plays a role that has depth to it, and we won't be crippled by it. Still sucks to lose a player though, I wish the league had some balls and reviewed things like this and would overturn suspensions when warranted. I think Morales is going to be much tougher for RSL to replace. I don't think they can start their offense without him, so it will be interesting to see who steps in for him and how their tactics shift, probably a lot of looking to Beckerman to control tempo and get the wings more involved than he typically does. The defense still looks out of sync, but hopefully another week of practicing as a unit can get some of the cohesion back. Should be a fun second leg
Not during the goal, or before it. I thought it wasn't the best idea when I saw the lineup on the pitch, and I was proven right after only 8 minutes. The defense solidified once Schellas switched them. Right on.
Brek's insertion into the game was needed (and not because I pick on Atiba quite a bit). RSL took on a defensive posture when the game went 1-1 with two banks of four, and although Chavez tried to attack on the FCD right on occasion, Atiba wasn't putting enough pressure on the other flank to irritate the defense and give the rest of the midfield more room to attack. When Brek came in to the game, his pace on the left put enough fear in the Lake defense to stretch it and Ferreira, Dax, and Avi were able to exploit exposed spaces in the center of midfield. I hope Brek and Chavez can do the same for FCD in the Tinto on Saturday.
Here is a quote on the player position switch. "But after around 25 minutes in, FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman made a tactical decision to switch right back Zach Loyd and center back Jackson Goncalves. It was a move that paid big dividends the rest of the night." http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/fcd-expect-dogfight-return-leg-rio-tinto
If you watch the post game interview with Kyle on MLSnet.com he mentions about going back to RSL to play the second leg that it has "nice grass." Seriously? I am not going to defend the football lines and a SSS being used for a freaking HS football field because I think everyone can admit it's bush league. But Kyle you are a pro, don't use the grass as an excuse why you are down a goal going into the next Saturday's game. +1 As Antoine Dodson would say, "Well obviously..."
I'm beyond frustrated over almost all MLS games ref'd by USSF referees. I figure that if you can't beat them, join them. Atiba simply needs to make his challenges in the first half. You can break someone's leg or give them a concussion. It isn't until things go to hell and the cart is wildly rolling down hill that USSF ref's start throwing out cards like Halloween candy. I saw at least two clear PK's, (one for each team.) Ferreira was getting hammered without receiving any calls until he started raising knees and cleats to protect himself from the fouls. If you were to break Rimando's ribs or tear Espindola's ACL in the first 10 minutes, you'd get a free pass. Those are the MLS rules. Use them to your advantage until the league decides to clean up its act.