Major League Soccer parity was further illustrated this week as every league match ended in a draw. The four teams involved in Superliga (New England, D.C. United, Houston and Chivas) are grateful beneficiaries having lost no ground, but the five fixtures played were anything but nauseating stalemates.
Los Angeles Galaxy’s visit to Giants Stadium in New Jersey marked a high point of last season’s campaign. Billed around the newly arrived David Beckham, a crowd of 66,237 witnessed New York Red Bulls clinch a memorable 5-4 victory. This weekend’s figure of 46,754 was the highest MLS attendance this season. As was the case in Washington D.C. three weeks ago though, thousands of customers appear to have been unimpressed by the hype.
If the additional 30,000 added to New York’s usual gate were focused on the Englishman they will have been disappointed by another marginal contribution, but there was much to admire elsewhere. Most notably, a master class in attacking midfield play provided by Galaxy’s Landon Donovan and Jorge Rojas, the Red Bulls’ debutant Venezuelan international.
Donovan dropped into a left sided role to accommodate Carlos Ruiz after his return from injury. Ruiz lined up in attack with Edson Buddle, but it was Donovan’s ability to run at New York’s three man defence which proved to be a staple feature.
The first exhibit came on 20 minutes. Donovan stretched the Red Bulls’ rearguard before sending Ruiz clear on Jon Conway’s goal with a precise pass. The goalkeeper reacted smartly to avert the danger. Five minutes later Donovan provided another example of his dribbling ability, drifting across the edge of the penalty area looking for an opening before eventually being crowded out.
After trading goals, Donovan almost restored a deserved lead for the visitors on 39 minutes. He arrived at the back post to meet Chris Klein’s deep cross with a thumping left foot volley that narrowly cleared the crossbar. At times it was difficult to remember Donovan is a naturally right-footed player, such was his quality on his weaker side.
Despite dominating for large spells, Galaxy needed to thank defender Troy Roberts for maintaining parity at the interval with an outstanding block to prevent Oscar Echeverry’s goal-bound shot from six yards. Roberts’ heroics were reminiscent of the last ditch challenges so often seen from the legendary Franco Baresi, team mate of Galaxy head coach Ruud Gullit during Milan’s era of dominance.
Ruiz had nodded Galaxy into a deserved lead on 29 minutes when poor defending by Jeff Parke allowed Buddle to skip to the by-line and cross for the Guatemalan to head into an empty net. Six minutes later, Dave van den Bergh drilled an excellent 25 yard shot into Steve Cronin’s bottom corner with his weaker right foot. The goal owed much to the craft of Rojas who released the Dutch international with a cute backheel flick.
Rojas grew in influence after the break as he displayed an uncanny awareness of the players around him that compares to Chicago’s Mexican superstar Cuauhtemoc Blanco. He had two glorious chances to mark his debut with a goal. On both occasions, van den Bergh was allowed the freedom of the left touchline to provide crosses, but Rojas somehow contrived to scoop his first attempt over the bar from seven yards with an exposed Cronin helpless. His second effort was on target, but there was insufficient power in his header to trouble the goalkeeper.
It was no surprise that New York took the lead on 71 minutes, and no surprise that the move developed down the left. Galaxy right back Chris Klein joined a promising attack that ended on the edge of New York’s penalty area. Klein could reasonably have expected some defensive cover, but with Beckham marooned on the touchline as a spectator and lacking any inclination to give chase, Rojas and Juan Pablo Angel sprung to life with the former Aston Villa striker racing past Greg Vanney before clipping a delightful finish over Cronin.
New York should have finished the game, but Ante Jazic cleared another Angel effort from his goal-line after more ingenuity from Rojas. Substitute John Wolyniec then had the goal at his mercy, but could not react quickly enough to steer Cronin’s palmed save from van den Bergh’s drive onto the open target.
The decisive contribution was left for Donovan as he provided a fortuitous equaliser two minutes into stoppage time. His inswinging cross from the left was too high for Buddle, but the ball sneaked inside Conway’s far post as the goalkeeper prepared for a headed attempt. The late excitement proved too much for the sanity of Fox Soccer Channel commentator and Galaxy cheerleader Max Bretos as he hailed Donovan’s “wonder goal”.
Galaxy could have stolen a dramatic win in the game’s final attack. Beckham’s cross eluded Alan Gordon but found its way to the far edge of the box where the onrushing Donovan lashed another perfectly executed left footed volley that smacked the base of Conway’s post.
A winner would have been harsh on New York after their second half display; a fact that was acknowledged by Ruud Gullit in his accurate post-match assessment. Galaxy dominated the first half, New York gained the ascendency in the second and should have sealed the victory before Donovan’s late goal earned a deserved share of the points.
Los Angeles Galaxy’s visit to Giants Stadium in New Jersey marked a high point of last season’s campaign. Billed around the newly arrived David Beckham, a crowd of 66,237 witnessed New York Red Bulls clinch a memorable 5-4 victory. This weekend’s figure of 46,754 was the highest MLS attendance this season. As was the case in Washington D.C. three weeks ago though, thousands of customers appear to have been unimpressed by the hype.
If the additional 30,000 added to New York’s usual gate were focused on the Englishman they will have been disappointed by another marginal contribution, but there was much to admire elsewhere. Most notably, a master class in attacking midfield play provided by Galaxy’s Landon Donovan and Jorge Rojas, the Red Bulls’ debutant Venezuelan international.
Donovan dropped into a left sided role to accommodate Carlos Ruiz after his return from injury. Ruiz lined up in attack with Edson Buddle, but it was Donovan’s ability to run at New York’s three man defence which proved to be a staple feature.
The first exhibit came on 20 minutes. Donovan stretched the Red Bulls’ rearguard before sending Ruiz clear on Jon Conway’s goal with a precise pass. The goalkeeper reacted smartly to avert the danger. Five minutes later Donovan provided another example of his dribbling ability, drifting across the edge of the penalty area looking for an opening before eventually being crowded out.
After trading goals, Donovan almost restored a deserved lead for the visitors on 39 minutes. He arrived at the back post to meet Chris Klein’s deep cross with a thumping left foot volley that narrowly cleared the crossbar. At times it was difficult to remember Donovan is a naturally right-footed player, such was his quality on his weaker side.
Despite dominating for large spells, Galaxy needed to thank defender Troy Roberts for maintaining parity at the interval with an outstanding block to prevent Oscar Echeverry’s goal-bound shot from six yards. Roberts’ heroics were reminiscent of the last ditch challenges so often seen from the legendary Franco Baresi, team mate of Galaxy head coach Ruud Gullit during Milan’s era of dominance.
Ruiz had nodded Galaxy into a deserved lead on 29 minutes when poor defending by Jeff Parke allowed Buddle to skip to the by-line and cross for the Guatemalan to head into an empty net. Six minutes later, Dave van den Bergh drilled an excellent 25 yard shot into Steve Cronin’s bottom corner with his weaker right foot. The goal owed much to the craft of Rojas who released the Dutch international with a cute backheel flick.
Rojas grew in influence after the break as he displayed an uncanny awareness of the players around him that compares to Chicago’s Mexican superstar Cuauhtemoc Blanco. He had two glorious chances to mark his debut with a goal. On both occasions, van den Bergh was allowed the freedom of the left touchline to provide crosses, but Rojas somehow contrived to scoop his first attempt over the bar from seven yards with an exposed Cronin helpless. His second effort was on target, but there was insufficient power in his header to trouble the goalkeeper.
It was no surprise that New York took the lead on 71 minutes, and no surprise that the move developed down the left. Galaxy right back Chris Klein joined a promising attack that ended on the edge of New York’s penalty area. Klein could reasonably have expected some defensive cover, but with Beckham marooned on the touchline as a spectator and lacking any inclination to give chase, Rojas and Juan Pablo Angel sprung to life with the former Aston Villa striker racing past Greg Vanney before clipping a delightful finish over Cronin.
New York should have finished the game, but Ante Jazic cleared another Angel effort from his goal-line after more ingenuity from Rojas. Substitute John Wolyniec then had the goal at his mercy, but could not react quickly enough to steer Cronin’s palmed save from van den Bergh’s drive onto the open target.
The decisive contribution was left for Donovan as he provided a fortuitous equaliser two minutes into stoppage time. His inswinging cross from the left was too high for Buddle, but the ball sneaked inside Conway’s far post as the goalkeeper prepared for a headed attempt. The late excitement proved too much for the sanity of Fox Soccer Channel commentator and Galaxy cheerleader Max Bretos as he hailed Donovan’s “wonder goal”.
Galaxy could have stolen a dramatic win in the game’s final attack. Beckham’s cross eluded Alan Gordon but found its way to the far edge of the box where the onrushing Donovan lashed another perfectly executed left footed volley that smacked the base of Conway’s post.
A winner would have been harsh on New York after their second half display; a fact that was acknowledged by Ruud Gullit in his accurate post-match assessment. Galaxy dominated the first half, New York gained the ascendency in the second and should have sealed the victory before Donovan’s late goal earned a deserved share of the points.
Week 17 Results
Columbus 3 Kansas City 3 (Josh Wolff marks MLS return with late KC leveller)
Toronto 0 San Jose 0 (Cannon penalty saves frustrates home fans)
New York 2 L.A. Galaxy 2
Dallas 2 Colorado 2 (Kenny Cooper demonstrates how to take a stutter-step penalty)
Chicago 0 Salt Lake 0 (RSL stays top of the West)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1) New England 33 points (played 17)
2) Columbus 28 (17)
3) Chicago 25 (16)
4) D.C. United 22 (15)
5) Toronto 22 (16)
6) Kansas City 21 (16)
7) New York 21 (17)
Western Conference
1) Salt Lake 24 (18)
2) L.A. Galaxy 23 (17)
3) Chivas 22 (16)
4) Colorado 21 (17)
5) Houston 20 (16)
6) Dallas 19 (17)
7) San Jose 14 (17)
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