MLS Week Four Review

Three weeks in and the only predictable element of this season’s Major League Soccer campaign has been its sheer unpredictability. Week Four did nothing to buck the trend, both from a results perspective and from the behaviour of one of the league’s supposed leading lights, Landon Donovan.

The weekend action started on Thursday night with D.C. United, surprisingly alongside Toronto at the foot of the Eastern Conference, seeking to kick-start their season at home to Columbus Crew. Sadly for the home fans, their side’s stuttering start continues as Columbus ran out deserved 2-1 winners. Luciano Emilio, D.C.’s Brazilian striker who picked up last year’s Golden Boot and MVP awards, has still to rediscover his sharpness and accuracy in front of goal as United toiled to convert their numerous chances. The result sent Columbus, without a play-off appearance since 2004, to the Eastern Conference summit for at least 48 hours.

New England Revolution missed their opportunity to topple Columbus by drawing 1-1 at New York Red Bulls. Steve Nicol will be pleased with a battling away point for his team after Mauricio Castro, the Honduran international midfielder, was dismissed for a foolishly petulant kick at Red Bulls defender Kevin Goldthwaite. Thankfully for Nicol, Revolution benefitted from a soft foul shortly afterwards when Adam Cristman, still standing in for the injured Taylor Twellman, appeared to lose his footing at the edge of the penalty area. Charitable defending aided Jeff Larentowicz who drilled a low shot under the wall and into the bottom corner which looked to be covered by Jon Conway, the Red Bulls goalkeeper.

With Canada’s harsh winter drawing to a close, Toronto finally got their home opener out of the way with a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake in front of a boisterous sell-out crowd at BMO Field. These two teams finished bottom of their conferences last season, but have thus far shown renewed spirit and ability which should see both camps at least competing for this year’s play-offs. Laurent Robert, newly arrived from Derby County, scored the only goal with a deflected free kick. Rohan Ricketts, the former Tottenham midfielder, made his debut to add to Toronto’s growing contingent of ex-Premiership players.

Chicago Fire entered the weekend as arguably the most impressive team to date, topping the table with two wins and a draw. Kansas City travelled to the Windy City for their first away fixture level on points with the Fire, but having played an additional game. The visitors took a fourth minute lead when Jack Jewsbury seized upon an inviting pass from Claudio Lopez to round Jon Busch, the Chicago goalkeeper, and finish smartly. Despite the ensuing Fire pressure, orchestrated as always by Cuauhtemoc Blanco, the Wizards held out to finish the weekend ahead of Columbus at the top of the Eastern Conference.

The surprises continued out West with San Jose Earthquakes gaining their first points by beating Colorado Rapids, leaders before the match, 2-0 in Denver. Ronnie O’Brien gave the Earthquakes a deserved advantage shortly before half-time before Kei Kamara sealed the win on the hour mark after fine work by Ned Grabavoy. The goal was fitting for Kamara, the towering Sierra Leone-born forward, who suffered the passing of his brother during the week.

FC Dallas remain the only unbeaten team after a 2-0 win on the road at misfiring Chivas USA. Kenny Cooper, a former Manchester United trainee, gave them a fifth minute lead which they held until substitute Abe Thompson netted the decisive goal ten minutes from the end.

So finally to Home Depot Center and the antics of Mr Donovan, a man held in seemingly equal regard as the most talented American player of his generation and the most over-rated. Despite dominating the first half, Houston Dynamo had only a solitary Brad Davis goal to show for their efforts. Ruud Gullit, the Galaxy head coach, spruced his team up at the interval and the changes brought immediate dividends with some early pressure in the second period.

On 61 minutes, Donovan made his first unsavoury contribution to the evening’s events. Chasing a long pass which was sailing harmlessly into the hands of Tony Caig, the Dynamo goalkeeper, defender Patrick Ianni made certain that Donovan would not reach the ball by blocking the forward’s run with a shoulder challenge. Donovan, supposedly a professional athlete weighing some 160lbs, crashed to the turf and required a few minutes of treatment for what seemed little more than an innocuous bump. It appeared to be little more than a crass attempt to win a free kick and earn a booking for a fellow professional to which the referee took no notice.

Minutes later, Donovan dived in front of Ianni to head home an equaliser from David Beckham’s cross. Not content with the goal, Donovan stooped over the prostrate Ianni to goad him. It was a classless, disgusting act which should have earned the Los Angeles forward a yellow card. Indeed, he would have garnered little sympathy if Ianni had responded with a right hook.

Dynamo retook the lead through Franco Caraccio on 78 minutes and will feel extremely disappointed not to have held on for three points. Donovan netted a scarcely deserved second equaliser on 84 minutes from another Beckham cross after the Englishman had eluded Wade Barrett, the Dynamo captain, far too easily.

The 2-2 draw sees Houston, the back-to-back defending champions, as the only side without a win after four rounds: another scenario which would have seemed improbable a few short weeks ago.

Week Four Results

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

Standings

Eastern Conference

1. Kansas City 10 points (5 games)
2. Columbus 9 (4)
3. Chicago 7 (4)
4. New England 7 (5)
5. Toronto 6 (4)
6. New York 4 (3)
7. D.C. United 3 (4)

Western Conference

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