Outside90’s Daniel Fraiz-Martinez analyses the MLS’ Rivalry Week.
A David and Goliath classico provides some food for thought for MLS’ play-off-chasing sides
The opening MLS Rivalry Week contest of matchday 26 between San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy provided food for thought for the rest of MLS.
The ‘California Clásico’ was contested between the league’s form side versus the competition’s strongest team and was a highly significant encounter with respect to the potential post-season shakeup.
Somewhat tellingly, the form team and home side, San Jose, subdued the all-conquering LA Galaxy on route to a 1-0 victory courtesy of a first half Shea Salinas strike.
San Jose, who turned around a dismal July that saw them virtually discounted for play-off contention, continued their August sojourn with their fourth consecutive clean sheet helping them obtain their most prized recent scalp.
The Galaxy, whose misery was compounded by a sending off early in the second half for their Brazilian defender Leonardo, were largely nullified by the Quakes throughout. Their game plan may well be replicated by many a side come the post-season festivities against LA.
Wasteful Montreal lose more than just three points
Saturday’s ‘401 Derby’ proved to have much more at stake than a vital three points and bragging rights.
A clinical Toronto FC’s dismantling of local rivals Montreal Impact, on their way to a routine 2-1 victory, also accounted for the first MLS coaching casualty of the season. Montreal’s Frank Klopas was relieved of his duties and replaced by Mauro Biello, in an interim fashion at least.
Klopas, who had led the Impact to the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) final only months earlier, will be left to rue some inexplicably wasteful finishing from Johan Venegas and in particular Dominic Oduro.
Oduro managed to take one of his chances, but by then the strike simply reduced the arrears the Impact found themselves in after strikes from Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore.
Their usually reliable defensive stalwart Laurent Ciman unforgivably got himself sent off, culling any momentum and the possibility of a late comeback.
The defeat, which extends the team’s winless run against Toronto to six, does not quite leave the Impact completely out of the play-off picture. Impact have three games in hand due to their CCL run at the beginning of the campaign.
Mauro Biello’s first job will be to get both his designated players, Ignacio Piatti and Didier Drogba, fit and firing to have any chance of a successful job interview.
Sounders keep their play-off hopes alive as Cascadia rivalry showcases some worrying defensive frailties
In front of a packed 64,000 crowd at CenturyLink Field, Seattle Sounders bested their Cascadia rivals Portland to take a 2-1 victory, keeping their dangling play-off hopes alive.
Spurred by an early Obafemi Martins goal, the Sounders put themselves in control on the back of a typically clinically executed penalty by Brad Evans. Controversially, the goalkeeper was not shown a red card.
However, a second half goal by Jack Jewsbury ensured a tense finish with neither side managing to fully subdue their opponents. Portland’s strike force of Fanendo Adi and Lucas Melano were particularly guilty of failing to capitalise on the plethora of chances the kamikaze defending afforded both teams.
Seattle’s win and indeed, the Timbers’ defeat, keeps both sides in the play-off positions, fractionally ahead of San Jose.
Both sides will need to improve considerably defensively to stand any chance of securing their post-season qualification.
New York Red Bulls take Atlantic Cup… on their way to Eastern Conference supremacy?
The final MLS Rivalry week fixture saw New York Red Bulls claim an emphatic 3-0 victory over fierce rivals DC United on route to claiming their fourth Atlantic Cup in the last six years.
Although the Atlantic Cup is only an honorary trophy, the resounding manner of the Red Bulls’ win would lead many to assess that Jesse Marsch’s men are well placed to usurp their rivals at the top of the Eastern Conference.
United’s defeat sent shockwaves through the conference and handed manager Ben Olsen some concerns. The manager said he and his side were “100% worried” about their current predicament.
The Red Bulls, however, who, with the exception of a bizarre 3-2 midweek defeat at the hands of Chicago Fire, have been consistent and impressive throughout.
A well balanced, rotating squad makes the Red Bulls a considerable play-off dark horse.
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