After Fox Soccer Channel’s groundbreaking MLS double-header to open the 2008 season last Saturday, ESPN quickly followed suit by providing another feast on Thursday night with vastly contrasting fortunes for two of the participants; New England Revolution and Los Angeles Galaxy.
As always, Galaxy provided the biggest story in Week One with their insipid performance at Colorado Rapids. The turnaround could not have been more complete as they dispatched San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 in front of a near capacity 27,000 crowd at Home Depot Center. However, further derision looked likely in the opening minutes when San Jose defender Ryan Cochrane, the first player picked by head coach Frank Yallop in selecting his new team from the expansion draft, appeared to head the Quakes in front only for the assistant referee to erroneously flag for offside.
Galaxy responded instantly with some lively attacking play resulting in chances for Alan Gordon and Ely Allen before David Beckham fired them into a ninth minute lead. The unfortunate Cochrane again found himself as the central figure, under-hitting a pass back which Landon Donovan seized upon before feeding Beckham in space at the right of the penalty box. The captain duly remained composed and slotted the ball under the advancing Joe Cannon, the Quakes ‘keeper who played for Galaxy under Yallop last season.
In a lively opening spell, both teams kept up a high tempo and pushed forward in numbers but it didn’t take long for San Jose’s major shortcoming to be exposed. As Maurice Johnston found out last year at Toronto FC, scoring goals can be a problem for a new team. With existing clubs permitted to protect ten players on their rosters, the expansion side is then allowed to select one unprotected player from any ten teams to form their initial pool. As expected, Yallop and John Doyle, the Quakes’ general manager, chose to build from a solid defensive base, adding to the squad through the college draft as well as other acquisitions and trades. Cochrane caused further concerns for Galaxy’s defence from another set-piece in the 22nd minute, but as the first half wore on their lack of potency in the final third allowed the home side to assume control.
What will be pleasing for Ruud Gullit, the Los Angeles manager, are not so much the infinitely improved performances of Beckham and Donovan but the contributions he received from much of the squad’s lesser lights. Gullit was forced into making changes to his starting line-up due to the suspension of Abel Xavier and injury to Carlos Ruiz. Alan Gordon assumed front man’s duties and offered an entirely different proposition in attack. Whereas Ruiz excels as a predatory, instinctive striker, Gordon proved effective in linking up with Beckham and Donovan as Galaxy produced some slick, inventive football. Against Colorado, much of Beckham’s distribution was speculative, launching 40 yard Hollywood passes with little end result. Here, his passing was short, specific, incisive and ultimately effective.
The trio combined to seal the game on 37 minutes. Two beautiful first time passes from Gordon and Beckham released Donovan, the third man running in the move. The American international burst past Cochrane before clipping a delightful chip over Cannon into the net.
Galaxy’s attack was ably assisted by midfielders Alvaro Pires, a 23 year old Brazilian plucked from Spartak Nalchik of the Russian Premier League, and Chris Klein, a veteran of ten MLS seasons. Pires should have added a third goal minutes before the interval, but contrived to head a Beckham free-kick wide from six yards. Mike Randolph (pictured in friendly action against Glasgow Rangers) also provided willing support with frequent raids into attacking positions from left-back.
In many ways, Randolph exemplifies today’s average American footballer. A local product, he enjoyed a successful debut season with Portland Timbers of the unrelated United Soccer League First Division before being signed by Galaxy last year. He possesses stunning speed and athleticism, combined with excellent technical skills and two-footedness which are the equal of many players in the world’s top leagues, but he frequently lets himself down due to his lack of tactical awareness and erratic decision-making. He received a sixth minute caution for a blatant jersey pull and was fortunate that Ronnie O’Brien, the Quakes’ Irish midfielder who so nearly beat Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King in Time Magazine’s “Person of the Century” poll in 1999, escaped his clutches a little over ten minutes later after a similar offense. Having avoided a second booking, Randolph went on to give an assured and impressive display.
San Jose offered little threat in the second half, but coach Yallop can still take some encouragement from his team’s first competitive fixture whereas Ruud Gullit will pleased and relieved in equal measures to have finally seen his team finally play to their potential after a dismal pre-season and opening fixture.
As all turned sweet for the Galaxy, Steve Nicol’s New England Revolution was left feeling sour in Chicago after their opening day destruction of Houston Dynamo, the reigning champions. Already trailing to Chad Barrett’s fourth minute opener, Nicol saw his side reduced to ten men two minutes later when Jeff Larentowicz was dismissed for a two-footed lunge. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chicago Fire’s Mexican superstar, took full advantage of the additional space as the Fire obliterated the Revs with a first half onslaught.
Tomasz Frankowski, the Polish international who had a recent spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers, marked his home debut with two goals and looks set to become a firm favourite in a city with a large Polish community. Blanco added to his season opener at Real Salt Lake by emphatically converting from the penalty spot as the Fire registered a 4-0 win. Since arriving in the Windy City last July, Blanco has transformed the fortunes of his team. His array of flicks, heels and dummies are to joy to behold, but his lack of pace emphasises how vital that attribute is in the modern game to truly make an impact at the very highest level.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday
Kansas City Wizards vs. Colorado Rapids
New York Red Bulls vs. Colombus Crew
D.C. United vs. Toronto FC
Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake
Sunday
Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas
As always, Galaxy provided the biggest story in Week One with their insipid performance at Colorado Rapids. The turnaround could not have been more complete as they dispatched San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 in front of a near capacity 27,000 crowd at Home Depot Center. However, further derision looked likely in the opening minutes when San Jose defender Ryan Cochrane, the first player picked by head coach Frank Yallop in selecting his new team from the expansion draft, appeared to head the Quakes in front only for the assistant referee to erroneously flag for offside.
Galaxy responded instantly with some lively attacking play resulting in chances for Alan Gordon and Ely Allen before David Beckham fired them into a ninth minute lead. The unfortunate Cochrane again found himself as the central figure, under-hitting a pass back which Landon Donovan seized upon before feeding Beckham in space at the right of the penalty box. The captain duly remained composed and slotted the ball under the advancing Joe Cannon, the Quakes ‘keeper who played for Galaxy under Yallop last season.
In a lively opening spell, both teams kept up a high tempo and pushed forward in numbers but it didn’t take long for San Jose’s major shortcoming to be exposed. As Maurice Johnston found out last year at Toronto FC, scoring goals can be a problem for a new team. With existing clubs permitted to protect ten players on their rosters, the expansion side is then allowed to select one unprotected player from any ten teams to form their initial pool. As expected, Yallop and John Doyle, the Quakes’ general manager, chose to build from a solid defensive base, adding to the squad through the college draft as well as other acquisitions and trades. Cochrane caused further concerns for Galaxy’s defence from another set-piece in the 22nd minute, but as the first half wore on their lack of potency in the final third allowed the home side to assume control.
What will be pleasing for Ruud Gullit, the Los Angeles manager, are not so much the infinitely improved performances of Beckham and Donovan but the contributions he received from much of the squad’s lesser lights. Gullit was forced into making changes to his starting line-up due to the suspension of Abel Xavier and injury to Carlos Ruiz. Alan Gordon assumed front man’s duties and offered an entirely different proposition in attack. Whereas Ruiz excels as a predatory, instinctive striker, Gordon proved effective in linking up with Beckham and Donovan as Galaxy produced some slick, inventive football. Against Colorado, much of Beckham’s distribution was speculative, launching 40 yard Hollywood passes with little end result. Here, his passing was short, specific, incisive and ultimately effective.
The trio combined to seal the game on 37 minutes. Two beautiful first time passes from Gordon and Beckham released Donovan, the third man running in the move. The American international burst past Cochrane before clipping a delightful chip over Cannon into the net.
Galaxy’s attack was ably assisted by midfielders Alvaro Pires, a 23 year old Brazilian plucked from Spartak Nalchik of the Russian Premier League, and Chris Klein, a veteran of ten MLS seasons. Pires should have added a third goal minutes before the interval, but contrived to head a Beckham free-kick wide from six yards. Mike Randolph (pictured in friendly action against Glasgow Rangers) also provided willing support with frequent raids into attacking positions from left-back.
In many ways, Randolph exemplifies today’s average American footballer. A local product, he enjoyed a successful debut season with Portland Timbers of the unrelated United Soccer League First Division before being signed by Galaxy last year. He possesses stunning speed and athleticism, combined with excellent technical skills and two-footedness which are the equal of many players in the world’s top leagues, but he frequently lets himself down due to his lack of tactical awareness and erratic decision-making. He received a sixth minute caution for a blatant jersey pull and was fortunate that Ronnie O’Brien, the Quakes’ Irish midfielder who so nearly beat Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King in Time Magazine’s “Person of the Century” poll in 1999, escaped his clutches a little over ten minutes later after a similar offense. Having avoided a second booking, Randolph went on to give an assured and impressive display.
San Jose offered little threat in the second half, but coach Yallop can still take some encouragement from his team’s first competitive fixture whereas Ruud Gullit will pleased and relieved in equal measures to have finally seen his team finally play to their potential after a dismal pre-season and opening fixture.
As all turned sweet for the Galaxy, Steve Nicol’s New England Revolution was left feeling sour in Chicago after their opening day destruction of Houston Dynamo, the reigning champions. Already trailing to Chad Barrett’s fourth minute opener, Nicol saw his side reduced to ten men two minutes later when Jeff Larentowicz was dismissed for a two-footed lunge. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chicago Fire’s Mexican superstar, took full advantage of the additional space as the Fire obliterated the Revs with a first half onslaught.
Tomasz Frankowski, the Polish international who had a recent spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers, marked his home debut with two goals and looks set to become a firm favourite in a city with a large Polish community. Blanco added to his season opener at Real Salt Lake by emphatically converting from the penalty spot as the Fire registered a 4-0 win. Since arriving in the Windy City last July, Blanco has transformed the fortunes of his team. His array of flicks, heels and dummies are to joy to behold, but his lack of pace emphasises how vital that attribute is in the modern game to truly make an impact at the very highest level.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday
Kansas City Wizards vs. Colorado Rapids
New York Red Bulls vs. Colombus Crew
D.C. United vs. Toronto FC
Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake
Sunday
Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas
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