MLS Week Five Review

For the second successive week, Landon Donovan provided evidence of his good and bad sides. Thankfully the former prevailed with Donovan netting a hat-trick as Los Angeles Galaxy romped to a 5-2 win in the year’s first Superclasico against Chivas USA.

Donovan made his first impact on the game in the eighth minute, seizing upon Chris Klein’s long pass and sidestepping Brad Guzan, the onrushing Chivas goalkeeper, to find himself facing an empty net. The referee, however, picked up Donovan’s sly use of his arm to punch the ball around Guzan. Donovan may have escaped punishment for his petulant goading of Houston’s Patrick Ianni last week, but this time he was rightly booked for his conniving act.

Chivas have struggled defensively this season and their failure to clear a David Beckham free-kick on 18 minutes saw them punished by Donovan’s first positive contribution. His neat first touch to control a loose ball shifted it to his left side and he lashed an instant half-volley beyond Guzan from 20 yards. Sacha Kljestan, the impressive Chivas midfielder, ensured parity at the interval with a wonderfully curled equaliser which will further enhance his burgeoning reputation, but Donovan scrambled Galaxy back in front on 58 minutes after good work down the left flank by Mike Randolph.

Donovan completed his feat on 77 minutes. Alan Gordon displayed excellent control and strength to set him up for another crisp left-foot finish from 20 yards – his eighth goal in four games. Gordon had only entered the field minutes earlier, and had already nudged Galaxy 3-2 ahead after Ante Razov had capitalised on typically slapstick defending by Abel Xavier. He finished the scoring on 84 minutes, pouncing on Donovan’s scuffed attempt at the end of a break from the halfway line.

Ruud Gullit, the Galaxy head coach, has made some key tactical moves since the opening day humiliation at Colorado to limit his team’s regularly self-inflicted wounds. Randolph has been pushed forward from full back into a left midfield role which suits his athleticism and skill and does not punish his occasional lapses to the same degree. Likewise Greg Vanney, culpable in the 3-2 defeat to Toronto in Week Three, has been pushed out to left-back as Gullit seeks to shore up the centre of defence. Xavier, however, continues to bungle around looking like a peroxide Jules Winnfield, the character portrayed by Samuel Jackson in Pulp Fiction. Despite the former Portuguese international inadvertently laying his vengeance upon his own team all too frequently, Gullit must be delighted with the contributions he is now receiving from his unheralded squad members.

By contrast, this defeat was the third in five games for Chivas who overtake their neighbours to lead the league in goals conceded. The highly rated Guzan, who saw a proposed move to Aston Villa in January collapse due to work permit issues, was badly at fault for two goals in their 4-3 loss at Columbus a fortnight ago. Another brace of errors on the third and fifth goals ultimately cost his side yesterday.

But what of The English Tourist? Beckham produced another largely anonymous performance, notable only for the compulsive hamstring feeling and ankle touching. At least the watching teenagers still seem amused. He was generously credited with an assist on the last goal which the match commentators were only too willing to hype up. I assume it is part of the mandate. Beckham was, as always, centre-stage in the post-match interviews where he declared that “every one of our players tonight was fighting”. Not quite every one, David.

In other action, the league’s final unbeaten record was lost as New England Revolution recorded a slender 1-0 win at FC Dallas. Steve Morrow, the Dallas head coach, will be unimpressed with the soft goal gifted to Khano Smith, but his team remains top of the Western Conference thanks to Chicago Fire’s 2-1 win over Colorado. John Thorrington, another former Manchester United trainee plying his trade in America, scored twice to give Chicago an unassailable lead. Tam McManus grabbed a late consolation, his first goal since arriving from Scotland.

Toronto caused the weekend’s biggest surprise, beating Eastern Conference leaders Kansas City 2-0 to win their third straight match for the first time in franchise history. Amado Guevara netted both goals, the second an exquisite free kick, as the Wizards tumbled to fourth place. Kansas are replaced as division leaders by Columbus Crew who edged out Houston Dynamo through Alejandro Moreno’s scrambled goal. The defending champions remain winless and their form must now be starting to concern the coaching team of Dominic Kinnear and John Spencer. Never the most expansive attacking side, Houston’s recent successes have been built upon a solid defensive foundation, the individual brilliance of midfielders Brad Davis and Dwayne De Rosario and the battering ram presence of Brian Ching up front. Ching has yet to get off the mark this season, the midfield duo is yet to find top form and uncharacteristic defensive frailties have blighted Dynamo’s first month. With home games against Chivas and Colorado up next, it is imperative that they get that elusive first win under their belt.

D.C. United have also struggled of late, none more so than in losing 4-0 at Real Salt Lake two weeks ago. Two contentious Jaime Moreno penalties put them on their way to a morale-boosting 4-1 win over the same opponents in front of over 23,000 in Washington, with Marcelo Gallardo sealing the win with a stunning volley which evoked memories of Marco Van Basten in his prime.

D.C. climbed briefly off the foot of the Eastern Conference until New York Red Bulls clambered back above them. Mike Magee and Jozy Altidore scored late goals in a 2-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday to complete the Week Five fixtures.

Week Five Results

Dallas 0 New England 1
Toronto 2 Kansas City 0
Columbus 1 Houston 0
D.C. United 4 Salt Lake 1
Chicago 2 Colorado 1
L.A. Galaxy 5 Chivas 2
New York 2 San Jose 0

Standings

Eastern Conference
1) Columbus 12 (played 5)
2) Chicago 10 (5)
3) New England 10 (6)
4) Kansas City 10 (6)
5) Toronto 9 (5)
6) New York 7 (4)
7) D.C. United 6 (5)

Western Conference
1) Dallas 8 (5)
2) L.A. Galaxy 7 (5)
3) Colorado 6 (5)
4) Salt Lake 4 (5)
5) Chivas 4 (5)
6) San Jose 3 (4)
7) Houston 3 (5)