Outside90’s Daniel Fraiz-Martinez casts an eye over the winners and losers from the latest round of Major League Soccer.
‘Back to basics’ Timbers & Melano give a glimpse into the future
Friday night saw a reborn Portland Timbers side finally snap a four game winless streak, on the back of a rediscovered defensive solidity.
The Timbers, who in particular away from home had struggled to find a balanced approach, demonstrated a greater compactness in their ability to contain their opponents the Chicago Fire in a hard fought 1-0 victory.
Although the goal came from a Fanendo Adi scramble after good work from maestro Diego Valeri, the ability of Caleb Porter’s squad to soak up the opposition, and stretch the play with blistering pace contributed even more to the result. This no more so highlighted than by the teams newest designated player, young Argentine forward Lucas Melano.
The livewire former Belgrano and Lanus prospect did not score, but did, however, give a glimpse into how his skillset can help his side add a much needed variety to their play.
The win keeps the Timbers above the line in their play-off quest, seemingly set to continue their evolution with the aim of a consolidated push for post-season honours.
Pragmatic DC United take efficiency to a new level
The current DC United side can be accused of many things, but of late there can be no denying they are not shy of breaking records
Having only last week etched their name in MLS history books for being involved in the leagues highest ever goal scoring contest, Ben Olsen’s side took the polar opposite approach, by this week becoming the leagues first ever franchise to win a game with their only shot on target.
In an astonishing display of pragmatism, a Montreal Impact defensive miscue allowed Chris Rolfe to score the games only goal. The side from the nation’s capital promptly proceeded to show a display of ruthless efficiency to shut down the host side.
Truth being told, the performance owed much to DC’s one true standout player, goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
With a varied array of key saves, the highly touted American youngster withstood a barrage of chances (the Impact out-shooting DC 25 to one, a league high difference since 2010) on route to his side claiming a valuable three points in their quest to become the league’s Supporters Shield champions.
Written-off by many due to a distinct lack of ‘star quality’ and a penchant to continually concede early, the win is perhaps an even greater statement than the goal blitz of last week, as the resiliency demonstrated may well prove a prelude to further play-off success against the more fancied, DP packed MLS sides.
[interaction id=”55c8b4241e28de9a324d9fcd”]
The Whitecaps living up to MLS potential
Last July former Real Salt Lake (and current Seattle Sounders) General Manager Garth Lagerwey ominously predicted that the Vancouver Whitecaps would be “a team to be reckoned with now, and a team to be reckoned with in the future”.
In true Nostradamus fashion, the prediction once again came true in earnest as the Whitecaps steamrolled a disjointed Real Salt Lake side 4-0 at BC Place.
Surprisingly, however, they continue to fly under the radar as genuine Supporters Shield challengers. With Saturday’s win showcasing the teams many glowing virtues.
An exciting youthful side, with a strong MLS hardened spine, a potent combination of inventive scouting and astute Central and South American recruitment in the likes of Rivero, Techera, Morales and Co., have given the Whitecaps every chance of making the future now, and push for major honours in the 2015 MLS season.
The Gio Show – the Galaxy go Galactico on Dos Santos debut
Soccer Sunday bore witness to the LA Galaxy’s fifth consecutive home MLS victory, over long time rivals the Seattle Sounders.
But more than that, the fans at the StubHub Center on Sunday got a glimpse in to the ambitious “Galactico” style project that is being created over in sunny California.
For the first time since their mid-season acquisition spree, Bruce Arena was able to field all his much vaunted stars, with Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard joined by Mexican international Giovanni Dos Santos, and domestic prospects Gyassi Zardes and Sebastian Lletget in an excitingly potent Galaxy attacking XI.
However, the comfortable nature of the 3-1 win that saw Keane and Dos Santos, along with Zardes find the net, also perhaps provides a little insight to LA’s Achilles heel, with an anemic Sounders attack managing to pierce the host defence barely a minute in. Veteran goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, most recently a backup at Orlando City, looked far from convincing among an unprotected defensive backline that suffered throughout.
In truth, the star-studded LA Galaxy will likely have the fire power to outlast the majority of their MLS opposition. But their disastrous away form, and shaky defensive setup means the Galactico comparison is perhaps more apt than the stereotypical cliché usually banded around.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
