Soccer FanHouse

Brush Up Your Spanish: SuperLiga Kicks Off This Saturday

David J. Warner — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, MLS

The second edition of the North American SuperLiga, which pits four top MLS clubs against four top Mexican clubs, kicks off on Saturday, and we are reminded once again that this made-for-TV event is made for Spanish-language TV only. Telefutura is once again the only American TV network carrying SuperLiga matches nationally. This is in spite of the fact that three MLS clubs made it through to the knockout stage last season, even though Pachuca won the million-dollar prize.

You would think Fox Soccer Channel might want to jump in on SuperLiga to get people psyched up for the CONCACAF Champions League, which the fledgling network will air starting in August, but it seems they would rather show more Barca TV this summer. We might get English announcers on MLSLive.tv, but possibly not until the knockout stages, as was the case last year.

You can find a full preview of SuperLiga here.

Brush Up Your Spanish: SuperLiga Kicks Off This Saturday originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crystal Palace Headlines Open Cup Upsets

David J. Warner — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:40:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Seattle, Washington, DC, Soccer, Baltimore, Kansas City, MLS, US Soccer

Crystal Palace supporters still suffering from the loss of that Premier League promotion playoff last May might be taking a little solace in their American counterparts today.

USL Second Division side Crystal Palace Baltimore upset an uninspired New York Red Bulls side, 2-0, last night in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup. The win prompted many sports fans in Baltimore to say, "Wait, we have a soccer team here?"

Indeed, the club was founded in 2006, 101 years after Crystal Palace FC was founded in London, and it serves as a player development wing for the Coca-Cola Championship club. Clearly, player development is going pretty well there, though as Ives Galarcep notes, too many Red Bulls just didn't come to play last night.

Two other USL clubs pulled off upsets, as USL-1 leaders the Charleston Battery defeated MLS Cup holders the Houston Dynamo on penalty kicks, while the Seattle Sounders topped Chivas USA, 2-0. Other USL clubs didn't get away so easily. The Kansas City Wizards came back from a 2-0 deficit to topple the Carolina Railhawks, 4-2, in extra time, and FC Dallas scored a 2-1 comeback win against Miami FC. D.C. United, the Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution also cruised to victory over USL clubs.

The U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals are scheduled for next Tuesday.

Crystal Palace Headlines Open Cup Upsets originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. Open Cup Teams Pay to Play at Home

David J. Warner — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Seattle, Washington, DC, Soccer, Kansas City, MLS, US Soccer

The 3rd round of the U.S. Open Cup kicks off tomorrow, and if you're looking for the MLS clubs that are taking this tournament seriously this year, just look for which clubs are playing at home.

Unlike England's FA Cup, where the home team is determined by random draw, MLS and USL clubs place bids with the U.S. Soccer Federation to host games, and the highest bidder plays at home. If you look at the schedule for tomorrow's games, you'll notice that the New England Revolution, the Chicago Fire, D.C. United and FC Dallas are all playing at home.

By contrast, the Houston Dynamo travel to South Carolina to face USL-1 leaders the Charleston Battery, and the New York Red Bulls head to Maryland to face USL-2 side Crystal Palace Baltimore. Perhaps Houston and New York aren't quite as interested in the CONCACAF Champions League bid that comes with winning the Open Cup.

D.C. United, however, suddenly seems much more interested in the Open Cup than they were last year.

D.C. hasn't won the Open Cup since 1996 and fielded a reserve side that lost to the USL-2 Harrisburg City Islanders last year. This time around, though, D.C. opens at home against the Rochester Rhinos. In fact, if you look at the D.C. United schedule, you'll notice a two-week gap between yesterday's 4-1 win over the L.A. Galaxy and the first SuperLiga match on Saturday, July 12 -- a gap into which they could fit the 3rd-round (July 1) and 4th-round (July 8) U.S. Open Cup ties.

D.C. has always put extra emphasis on playing internationally. Perhaps the club sees winning four games in the Open Cup as an easier path to the CONCACAF Champions League than winning the MLS Supporters Shield, which they've won the last two years. They are coming into form just in time for an Open Cup run, too.

New England, meanwhile, seems intent on winning every trophy they can get their hands on. The Revs, who won the Open Cup last season, are also the points leader in the MLS standings and a favorite to win the Supporters Shield, which also comes with a Champions League bid. The Chicago Fire, Open Cup winners in 2006, also bid high to get a home match this week.

On the other hand, the Kansas City Wizards seem even less interested than Houston and New York. They face the Carolina Railhawks in Cary, NC, tomorrow night, and Wizards coach Curt Onalfo told reporters he expects to start only a few regulars for that game.

If the Railhawks win that game, they should cheer hard for Chivas USA. According to Railhawks managing partner Chris Economides, the Seattle Sounders outbid Carolina for the quarterfinal match. So if the Railhawks beat the Wizards and the Sounders beat Chivas USA, that quarterfinal would be played in Seattle. A potential Railhawks v. Chivas quarterfinal, however, would be played in North Carolina. The Railhawks and the Sounders both upset MLS clubs on their way to the semifinals last season.

Of course, this begs the question -- if the USL Sounders win the Open Cup in 2008, would the MLS Sounders take their place in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2009?

U.S. Open Cup Teams Pay to Play at Home originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why MLS Teams Are Doomed to Failure in the CONCACAF Champions League

David J. Warner — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:52:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Washington, DC, Soccer, MLS, Soccer Posts

Luciano Emilio shouldn't miss from that close.

Last night, during the first half of the second leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal against Pachuca, the D.C. United striker got the ball four, maybe five feet in front of goal. He aimed for the opposite corner, and the ball went all the way across the face of goal without going in. It was one of many missed opportunities that caused D.C. to lose 3-2 on aggregate and be ousted from the Champions Cup.

It was a better performance than the Houston Dynamo put on in Costa Rica, though. With La Ultra Morada in full voice behind them, Deportivo Saprissa outran and outhustled the Dynamo and eventually leveled them, 3-0, to advance to the Champions Cup final.

This was the second year in a row that D.C. and Houston bombed out of this competition in the semifinals. Get used to it, Major League Soccer fans. When the new CONCACAF Champions League begins, your clubs will be doomed in the knockout stages, and it's all because of the MLS schedule.

The MLS season runs from April to November. It does so mostly out of necessity. If the MLS calendar adjusted to the calendar of the European club season, we'd have soccer in cities Toronto, Boston and Chicago in January, which isn't feasible. (The Russian Premier League is a spring-summer league for the same reason.) Plus, MLS would be forced to compete with the NFL, the NBA, the NHL and NCAA sports for eyeballs, and it would lose that battle regularly. MLS has visibility during the summer because there's not nearly as much on the American sports calendar at that time.

That spring-summer schedule, however, makes MLS clubs ill-prepared for CONCACAF competitions. We saw this last night, as D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo appeared to be just out of training camp and still rough around the edges, while Pachuca and Saprissa were in mid-season form -- because they were in mid-season. They had spent more time on the pitch together and were ready to perform, while their MLS counterparts clearly were not.

This won't change when the new Champions League begins next August. Sure, all four MLS clubs in the competition might make it through the autumn group stage, but what happens when they reach the knockout stage, which starts in late February? MLS training camps are just starting to open then, while the Mexican and Central American seasons will be well under way. What will prevent unprepared MLS clubs from losing on foreign soil and bombing out in the semifinals year after year?

The only international competition where MLS clubs really have a shot is SuperLiga -- a made-for-TV summer tournament that pits four in-form MLS teams against four Mexican clubs still in training camp. The winner gets $1 million, sure, but the competition itself really counts for nothing on the international stage. For all intents and purposes, it's merely an opportunity for a few MLS players to put themselves in the shop window before the European summer transfer market closes.

That may be all the CONCACAF Champions League will be, too. We talk about how the U.S. men's national team is headed in the right direction, but it's clearly not rubbing off on American club competitions. As CONCACAF tries to look more and more like UEFA, MLS clubs (and fans) need to do some soul-searching and start asking how important this new Champions League really is to them. I have a feeling that last night's performances by D.C. and Houston gave us the answer.

Why MLS Teams Are Doomed to Failure in the CONCACAF Champions League originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLS Sides Have It All to Do Tonight in Champions Cup Semifinals

David J. Warner — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Washington, DC, Soccer, MLS, Soccer Posts

If either D.C. United or the Houston Dynamo want to be the first MLS club to be crowned champions of CONCACAF since 2000, they need to serve up their best performances yet tonight in the 2nd leg of the Champions Cup semifinals.

D.C. United left Mexico last week with a two-goal deficit against defending Champions Cup winners Pachuca, and they have to make up that deficit tonight at RFK Stadium. Home field advantage has been kind to D.C. as of late. The club won its last two matches at RFK by a combined score of 9-1. However, those wins came against Harbour View and Toronto FC. Pachuca should be more formidable opposition.

Meanwhile, the Dynamo must do something all MLS clubs have struggled to do in recent years -- win outside of American soil. They travel to San Jose, Costa Rica, to face Deportivo Saprissa. The Purple Dragons left Houston with a 0-0 draw, which was exactly the result they wanted. A simple home win tonight will put them in the final.

Both CONCACAF Champions Cup matches will air tonight on Fox Soccer Channel, starting at 7:30 PM.

MLS Sides Have It All to Do Tonight in Champions Cup Semifinals originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DeRosario, Ashe Lead Houston Dynamo to Champions Cup Semifinals

David J. Warner — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:40:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Soccer, MLS, Soccer Posts

It took the Houston Dynamo about 135 minutes to break through against Guatemalan champs Municipal, but by the time the smoke -- and the streamers from the Texian Army -- had cleared, Dwayne DeRosario had a brace, and the Dynamo had a 3-1 victory and a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.

Much of the credit for this win, though, goes to Corey Ashe, the former Tar Heel whose pure speed down the left flank gave Municipal fits all night. Ashe set up scoring opportunities for his teammates most of the evening and drew the penalty that led to DeRosario's second goal. It was a crap call, that penalty, and Municipal players hemmed and hawed about it (and everything else) most of the night, but the Dynamo weren't about to turn it down.

The defending MLS Cup champions join D.C. United in the Champions Cup semifinals. They will face the winner of tomorrow night's Deportivo Saprissa v. Atlante match in Costa Rica. Atlante has a 2-1 lead after the first leg in Mexico last week.

DeRosario, Ashe Lead Houston Dynamo to Champions Cup Semifinals originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dynamo Divested to De La Hoya

Irishoutsider — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:04:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Soccer, MLS

Shadowy sports conglomerate, AEG, is reported to be selling its interest in the Houston Dynamo to famous boxer and failed reality host Oscar De La Hoya. The Dynamo are winners of back to back MLS Championships and 4 out of the last 7 for those still counting in San Jose. Details of the plan have not been fully disclosed, but early estimates have De La Hoya and Golden Boy's Gabriel Brener each taking a 25% stake in the team with AEG controlling the remaining 50%. It is still unclear how the team would operate under the new ownership structure.

If we had to wager a guess, AEG would still have a say in many of the front office decisions, but not necessarily the final word. Instead, they will focus their energies on constructing, owning, and operating a new soccer stadium in Houston. Meanwhile, the move places them one step closer to being able to divert all of their soccer affections on their crown jewel Super Team, the LA Galaxy. This line of thinking, and the jealous disgust that accompanies it, should come as no surprise to the dozen of you reading this site regularly.

(HT: Houston Chronicle)

Dynamo Divested to De La Hoya originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two People Shot Outside Reliant Stadium After USA-Mexico Friendly

David J. Warner — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:40:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Soccer

We like to joke about how any soccer match between the U.S. and Mexican national teams could hardly qualify as a "friendly." Still, you never like to see any part of the game turn quite this ugly.

Houston police are investigating the shootings of two people outside Reliant Stadium.

More than 70,000 fans were on hand Wednesday to watch the U.S. and Mexico spar in a soccer match that ended with a 2-2 tie. The shootings happened after the game. One witness reported seeing emgergency medical personnel and police gathered on near the west entrance of the stadium.

Details are still scant at this point, but let's hope that the victims are okay and that this didn't have anything to do with the game itself. The last thing we need is to foster the notion that it's not safe to go to a soccer match in America. Just because Italy won the World Cup doesn't mean we should start emulating their fans -- especially since they only have knives and we have guns.

UPDATE (2:10 PM): The Houston Chronicle has more info here.

(H/T: Sports by Brooks)

Two People Shot Outside Reliant Stadium After USA-Mexico Friendly originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scrap That, MLS. Figo Doesn't Know You.

Irishoutsider — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:20:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Los Angeles, International Soccer, MLS

In an altogether unsurprising turn of events, Luis Figo, familiar to Portuguese fans the world around in religious idol form, will not be signing a contract with any MLS team. The midfielder had been linked earlier in the week to a 2-year contract with AEG, owners of LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo, but the player has personally debunked those rumors according to today's Setanta Sports. In fact, he has never even HEARD of AEG. While they aren't exactly well known to even most American fans, still, Ouch, Luis, that hurts just a little. Those quotes about "heading to the states for retirement" also sting, but it comes with the territory.

Figo, currently recovering from a broken leg, is restating his commitment to his current team, Inter Milan. Inter is in the pole position to win the Scudetto, leading Serie A 7 points clear of second-place AS Roma. Inter has drawn Liverpool for the Champions League Round of 16 in February, and is linked to adding fellow Portuguese midfielder Maniche from Atletico Madrid. Figo thinks he's in a good place with Inter Milan, and we'd have to agree. However, we will continue to fan the flames of wild speculation every chance we get.

Scrap That, MLS. Figo Doesn't Know You. originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Figo Linked to MLS, Beckham-esque Rule Bending Inevitable

Irishoutsider — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Los Angeles, Soccer, International Soccer, MLS

While most fans of the American game insist that their Major League Soccer is better than a "retirement league" for aging international stars, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) would like to fight that notion with every headline than can buy. The owners of both the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo franchises, AEG has now been reported to be adding Inter Milan midfielder and Portuguese folk hero Luis Figo to one of their rosters. Goal.com links the 35-year-old to a two-year deal with AEG worth roughly 3.5M a year.

If we can call a spade a spade here, if Figo joins the Dynamo we will eat our hat. The odds of Beckham getting his former Real Madrid teammate to join him in LA are ridiculously high, and its pretty fair to speculate that MLS will find some way to let LA keep Figo without arranging for another Designated Player slot. Then again, Houston could always trade their unused roster spot to LA , ie themselves, for a 3rd round pick and a cooler of Gatorade. Dynamo fans would be encouraged to light more than smoke bombs if they get the lemon-lime flavored end of that deal.

Figo Linked to MLS, Beckham-esque Rule Bending Inevitable originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pan-Pacific Championship to Feature Third-Worst Team in MLS

David J. Warner — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS

We took a serious look at Major League Soccer's inevitable labor woes earlier today. Now we're just going to mock them.

Why? Because MLS has this nasty habit of promoting itself to be something more than it is -- a third-tier domestic soccer league in a country where casual soccer fans would rather watch leagues in England, Italy and Spain. All those blustery press releases about manufactured competitions won't change that -- especially not this press release:

Major League Soccer (USA), the J.League (Japan) and the Hyundai A-League (Australia) today announced an unprecedented and innovative partnership in the creation of a new international soccer tournament to be hosted in Honolulu, Hawaii: the Pan-Pacific Championship (PPC), which will crown the top club from the Asian and North American soccer confederations.

Right. First off, how do you crown the "top club" from these confederations without inviting CONCACAF Champions Cup winner Pachuca or AFC Champions League winner Urawa Reds and their crazy fans? Second, while inviting MLS Cup winners the Houston Dynamo makes sense, inviting the L.A. Galaxy as "SuperLiga finalists" is a joke. The Galaxy were the third-worst team in MLS. They are champions of hype and nothing else.

Let's call this event what it is -- a series of utterly meaningless friendlies that only exists to lure Japanese and Australian soccer fans to Hawaii to ogle David Beckham. I get that MLS has to recoup his huge contract, and Honolulu in February doesn't suck, but "Pan-Pacific Championship?" Who are they kidding?

(H/T: Pitch Invasion)

Pan-Pacific Championship to Feature Third-Worst Team in MLS originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLS Cup 2007: Dynamo 2 - Revolution 1

Irishoutsider — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Houston, Soccer

This isn't getting any easier for the New England Revolution. For the third consecutive year, and fourth under coach Steve Nicol, they failed to win an MLS Cup final. A talented roster with quality players at every position, the Revs just haven't seemed to have that rare quality only seen in champions. Without that spark, that luck, or that fate, whatever you want to call it, they only draw comparisons to perennial bridesmaids rather than a storied dynasty. Their history more resembles that of the Buffalo Bills than their "brother club," the New England Patriots. The franchise having boasted such national team standouts as Clint Dempsey, Steve Ralston, and Taylor Twellman over the years only compounds their frustration.

As for the Houston Dynamo, they have become only the second MLS team to win back to back titles. Not since DC United won the '96 and '97 titles has any team even had the chance to repeat. While United lead the league with four MLS championships, only circumstance prevents the Dynamo from claiming the same supremacy. Had the league not "wiped the slate" when the club moved from San Jose to Houston in 2006, the Earthquakes' 2001 and 2003 MLS Cups would make four stars in seven seasons, a feat similar to DC's early dominance.

Dwayne DeRosario has been a part of all four championship seasons, and his performance in the final showed more of his trademark initiative. Known for stepping up in big games, his game-winning header in the 74th minute was just another addition to his career highlight reel, including knocking home the winner in last year's MLS All-Star Game vs. Chelsea. Setting up Houston's deadly attack with his strength and touch, DeRosario's presence kept even New England's overloaded midfield on notice for most of the match. While helped out by strong performances by teammates Nate Jaqua and Michael Ngwenya, the veteran's aggressive, physical play combined with a solid winner earned him the game's MVP award.

Overall, the final was of a similar quality, a match up of two complete teams highlighting the rising MLS talent level. While neither team has a true "name" player in the "Designated Player" sense of the word, both rosters were full of players complementing each club's contrasting style of play. Both are physical teams, but the Revolution focused on an aggressive English style reminiscent of Steve Nicol's days at Liverpool. Their offense centered on strong midfield possession and an emphasis on sending balls in to strikers Twellman and Noonan. The Dynamo instead focused on a more wide-open style, with quick passes and slashing runs from the wings. The differences in styles, quick back and forth, and tough, physical play made it an exciting match from start to finish.

Previously on Fanhouse:
Houston Dynamo Wins MLS Cup, Nobody Outside of RFK Stadium Sees It
Live Blog: MLS Cup 2007

MLS Cup 2007: Dynamo 2 - Revolution 1 originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Houston Dynamo Wins MLS Cup, Nobody Outside of RFK Stadium Sees It Happen

David J. Warner — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:23:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Houston, Soccer, MLS

So I got to a sports bar a little after noon today and waited for the day's NFL games to begin. One TV was showing the MLS Cup Final, Major League Soccer's championship game, between the Houston Dynamo and the New England Revolution. Supporters from both clubs were at RFK Stadium making lots of noise. It looked like a pretty entertaining game with a great atmosphere

Then at 1:00 PM sharp, every TV automatically switched to one of the 10 NFL games kicking off at that time. Nobody in the bar would really get a chance to notice that atmosphere -- nor would they see the two goals the Dynamo scored in the second half to win the game and keep the Revolution, who won the U.S. Open Cup last month, from taking the double.

This strikes me as something of a scheduling gaffe. I understand that MLS wants to give club supporters an opportunity to travel to the game and enjoy their afternoon, but how does this league expect to attract American sports fans to its product -- and the kind of stadium atmosphere only soccer fans can produce -- if it schedules its championship at a time that virtually guarantees that only hardcore fans are paying attention?

How many people in America got to see Dwayne De Rosario's game winner in the 74th minute, which gave the Dynamo a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish? How many people got to see all the fans from both teams celebrating goals and chanting for their sides? Chances are that number will prove to be very, very low -- much lower than it would have been if the game were held on, say, a Saturday night, which would have given club supporters enough time to get to Washington and would not have competed with quite as many interesting college football games.

Not that this seems to matter all that much to MLS commissioner Don Garber. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Garber talked a lot about how great an investment property MLS clubs have become, and how the league is approaching profitability. He even threw this gem out there.

Profitability is directly correlated to player salaries. As we continue to see more positive development on revenue side we have been investing more and more into our player pool. MLS could be profitable today if spent less money on players.

Some MLS players make about $30,000 a year, which is the league minimum. The league's collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of 2009. Enjoy the next two seasons, MLS fans, because if Garber doesn't think players should clock more than 30 large a season, a labor strike is inevitable, and the talent is going to scatter to the four corners of the globe. How good will your investments be then, Mr. Garber?

Houston Dynamo Wins MLS Cup, Nobody Outside of RFK Stadium Sees It Happen originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live Blog: MLS Cup 2007

Eric McErlain — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Houston, Washington, DC, Soccer, MLS

The Wi-Fi might be spotty, but FanHouse has managed to elbow it's way inside the press box here at MLS Cup 2007. We're just minutes away from kickoff, and I'll do my best to liveblog the festivities to you -- as long as our Internet access holds out.

A quick survey of some of my buddies here are predicting a slim New England victory over the defending champion Houston Dynamo. The difference here, they tell me, is the absence of Ricardo Clarke from the Houston lineup. According to my friends, containing Nate Jacqua gets a whole lot easier without Clarke to worry about.

Pre-Game: On the Metro on my way to the game here in D.C., it didn't look much different than any other Sunday in Washington. It wasn't until we were only about four stops away from RFK Stadium on the Orange Line that I started to see Soccer fans. And while you'd think it would be easier for the folks from New England to make their way to D.C., I saw an awful lot of Houston orange outside the stadium on my way in.

KICKOFF -- 12:21 p.m. -- The Screaming Eagles, a D.C. United supporters group, is in midseason form, singing along as if this was just another United home match. Then again, it's hard not to see a massive shock of orange right behind them.

4:00: New England's Matt Reis has to turn away a pair of shots a point blank range, the first real threat of the match.

6:00: A cross from the right wing fails to find Taylor Twellman in the Houston box.

9:15: Pat Noonan again crosses into the box, but he can't find Twellman.

11:45: Houston's Wade Barret launches a kick from midfield, but it's waaay long. Goal kick to New England.

As some of you no doubt can tell, I'm having a tough time getting a handle on this match so far. It's been physical to be sure, but neither team has really moved to take control.

13:55: Chants of "Boring, Boring" arise from the Houston supporters on the field level as a couple of New England defenders play catch just behind the midfield stripe.

14:30: Jacqua taken down in the box by Avery John, but there is no call.

16:30 Jacqua cross for Dwayne DeRosario from the Houston left wing is long.

17:48: More "D.C. United" chants from the "neutral" crowd.

19:00: Twellman tries to get away with putting his arm around Brian Mullan's head. The ref disagrees.

20th Minute: GOOOOOAL (Twellman from Ralston and Joseph): Steve Ralston is deep on the right wing and he serves the ball into the box for Twellman who heads it past Pat Onstad. 1-0, New England!

22:00: DeRosario puts a left-footed strike over the bar.

23:31: Khano Smith loops the ball into the Houston box, by it's cleared out.

24:10 Smith taken down hard on the right wing, no call.

24: 41: Free kick Houston, Reis punches the ball out of the box.

25:15: DeRosario loops a cross into the box, but it's long.

27:13: Ralston taken down on the left wing, free kick. It's along the ground, Houston clears.

32:00 Khano Smith intercepts a pass at midfiled and flies down the left wing, knifing into the Houston defense, He crosses to Twellman, but he can't get enough mustard on it to get it past Onstad.

33:30: More "D.C. United" chants from midfield.

33:52: Houston Corner. Reis punches the ball over the bar, but he was interfered with, so we have a goal kick.

36:50: Ralston sends a great cross into the box to Noonan, but his header is wide right.

38:10: Houston Corner, but John heads it out of danger.

39:10 Brad Davis sends a screamer into the box, Joseph Ngwenya gets his head on it, but it deflects to the right of the post.

40:30: Davis gets loose on the left wing for Houston, but nobody is in the box to receive his pass.

We've got 1 minute of stoppage time added to the first half.

45:00: Ralston crosses to Noonan who puts a shot right on Onstad.

We're at the half. While there wasn't much excitement, there was plenty of physical play early that both teams were able to counter with some deft one-touch passing. Overall, however, New England is having a much easier time on the attack -- for the most part New England's Matt Reis hasn't been seriously challenged. The one player who has been a revelation for New England has to be Khano Smith, who has been pushing the ball up on the left wing more than effectively and creating scoring chances. I saw Smith play three time here in D.C. this year, and I can't recall him ever looking as effective as he is today.

SECOND HALF

54:30 DeRosario comes screaming down the Houston left wing and sends a great cross into the box. After it bounces around for a few secodns, Criag Waibel gives the ball a right-footed strike and sends it wide.

56:25: FREE KICK NEW ENGLAND. Yellow card to Barret. DeRosario heads free kick out of danger.

ATTENDANCE: 39,859.

58:30: Ralston breaks free on the New England right wing and knifes into the box before sending a great pass to Noonan. His left-footed volley goes over the bar. Outside of Twellman's goal, it's the most exciting play of the game so far.

60:45: GOAL (Ngwenya from DeRosario). There's some sloppy play down low as DeRosario crosses the ball into the box. Ngwenya whiffs on his first attempt, but the second finds the back of the net. We're tied 1-1.

63:30 Smith takes the ball in deep on the left wing and gets taken down in the box by Waibel, On the way back up the field, Smith head butted Waibel, sending him to the turf. How that earned Smith a yellow card but not a red, I'll never know.

66:30: Twellman takes a shot from the top of the box, but it's wide right. Goal kick Houston.

72:00 DeRosario gets free in the New England box, but his strike is right on Reis.

72:50: Ralston sends another dangerous cross into the box looking for Twellman, but the ball skitters away.

73:35: GOAL (DeRosario from Davis and Waibel ) After getting a great pass from Davis, DeRosario heads it from the top of the box past a diving Reis. 2-1, Houston.

76:45: Jay Heaps finds Noonan with a pass that he strikes wide.

77th minute substitution: New England -- Andy Dorman for Steve Ralston. An odd choice. Before that last goal, Ralston had clearly been the best player on the field for New England. I even had him penciled in for MVP before Houston came back and scored.

80th minute substitution: Houston -- Stewart Holden for Joseph Ngwenya -- the kind of change you make when you want to protect a lead.

82:00: Noonan left-footed strike from top of the box. Onstad makes the save.

86:13: New England corner. Jeff Larentowicz gets his head on the ball, but Onstad makes the save.

89:10: Smith taken down just outside the box. Dorman to take the free kick from the left wing. Onstad in perfect position to make the save.

STOPPAGE TIME: I could have sworn Joseph just slapped Davis at midfield. The ref didn't see anything.

And that's it, we're final: 2-1 Houston. You're Honda MVP is Dwayne DeRosario, and I'm happy to say I voted for him. See you next season.

Live Blog: MLS Cup 2007 originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ricardo Clark Goes Off the Deep End

David J. Warner — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, Houston, Soccer, MLS

I know Ricardo Clark of the Houston Dynamo was upset over FC Dallas' Carlos Ruiz going over top of him to prevent a goal, but players have to remember that it's always the retaliation that gets caught -- especially when this is the retaliation:

As you might expect, Clark was suspended by MLS for nine games and issued a $10,000 fine. That's reportedly about 5% of his salary, so imagine Terrell Owens getting fined $400,000. On the other hand, I'm not sure even T.O. would go quite as ballistic on a guy as Clark did here.

(H/T: With Leather)

Ricardo Clark Goes Off the Deep End originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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