Soccer FanHouse

Real Salt Lake Proves Its Worth

Brian Straus — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

SEATTLE - Major League Soccer's new champion lost more games than it won during an up-and-down regular season that featured a winless May, a winless September and just two victories on the road. In 240 minutes of play in the MLS Cup semifinal and final, it managed to score just one goal.

Yet Sunday night at Qwest Field, Real Salt Lake confidently proclaimed it was a deserving winner. And nobody really was arguing with them. Despite the unflattering statistics and the absence of the kind of star power that filled the Los Angeles Galaxy's somber locker room down the hall, RSL managed to convert the nonbelievers with an uncanny ability to dictate the flow of their playoff games regardless of the obstacles. Sunday night was the biggest test, and best example, of them all.

"Be confident. Be agressive. Be bold."

It takes those qualities to win when the breaks go against you, and RSL embraced the words written on the whiteboard in their locker room on Sunday. They overcame injury and illness to two key players, the ice-like artificial turf that complicated their efforts to possess the ball and a legion of doubters who either believed they couldn't win or felt they shouldn't have had the opportunity in the first place.

"What-ifs don't mean s**t. It's about doing it. People this year counted us out and said we shouldn't have made the playoffs. Well, you know what? F*** it. We did," midfielder Clint Mathis declared after RSL outlasted the Galaxy, 5-4 in the penalty kick shootout that followed their 1-1 draw. "It doesn't matter if you make the playoffs and you make eighth or first. I've said this a gazillion times. The way this league's set up, it's about getting in the playoffs and then if you start playing great soccer at that time, or good soccer, I think this team has been the better team in every game they've played. I honestly believe that."

Mathis had reason to crow. American soccer's prodigal son entered the final when at what seemed like a desperate stage for RSL. The game was choppy at first as the teams tried to calm their nerves and get used to the slick surface, but David Beckham changed things with a hard challenge on Salt Lake playmaker Javier Morales in the 17th minute. The Argentine tried to return and give it a go but couldn't manage, and five minutes later the architect of RSL's possession game was walking off the field in tears. Mathis came on, and by the time RSL had its bearings, it was halftime and Los Angeles had a 1-0 lead.

During the break, workhouse midfielder Will Johnson realized he could not continue because of a bout of food poisoning he developed on Saturday. Ned Grabavoy replaced him.

"The guys that came in, they know what to do. They know what the deal is," RSL captain Kyle Beckerman told FanHouse. Regarding Morales' exit, he said the team "just had to get on with it. I think maye with Javier out it took us a little bit to get our rhythm and to start creating some chances. But then as time went on we started getting it down."

In the 47th minute, Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley had a good chance on a break down the right side. The ensuing collision would result in the eventual departure of L.A. goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, although substitute Josh Saunders did well in relief. The minutes that followed revealed Salt Lake's character, intentions and ability. The field tilted their way, and Mathis was pulling the strings as adroitly has Morales ever did, while Beckerman and RSL's back four kept an increasingly ineffective Landon Donovan in check. In the 64th minute, RSL equalized on a play that involved about half the team and was finished on the left by Findley.

"They probably deserved to get a goal at some point," Donovan admitted.

Los Angeles was troubled further by Fabian Espindola, who entered the match in the 75th minute and tormented the favorites with his speed on the flanks. With Mathis and Beckerman controlling the middle, and Findley and Espindola demonstrating the ability to beat the Galaxy defenders one-on-one, it seemed just a matter of time before RSL got the goal it needed. The fact that it required 30 difficult minutes of overtime and seven rounds of penalties did not take away from that performance.

"If you're playing defense for 90 minutes and even for 120 minutes, it's going to wear on you. You can't play defense for that long and just try to counterattack. You have to try and play some possession and attack the team," Beckerman said. "It seemed like their game plan all night was just counterattack us and defend. It takes a toll on you."

While L.A.'s stars failed to connect, RSL's unsung players, led by the reserve Mathis (who should have been been given the MVP trophy that went to goalie Nick Rimando), controlled the ball and the game.

"These guys, they've all started games. This is the way we play. And after two years, guys realize this is how we play," Beckerman said. "It's always tough when somebody has to lose on PKs. I thought we were the better team all in all. I thought we were controlling the flow of the game. I think we deserved it. We felt we could win this game. We felt we were the better team than them, but the media didn't and that was great. I think that's the perfect situation to be in."

RSL dominated the overtime. Findley had a close-range shot blocked by a sliding Galaxy defender in the 3rd minute, and ran onto a perfect pass from Mathis in the 8th, only to fire wide. Mathis continued to create and saw a couple of his own bids snuffed out by desperate L.A. defenders. His clever through ball to Andy Williams in the final seconds was wasted when the Jamaican went down with a cramp.

"The chances we created, it was meant to happen. These guys worked their asses off. This is big time, just the fact that everybody counted us out. I think most of you guys know that I like to prove people wrong," Mathis said with a smile.

And so the "lottery" of penalty kicks really wasn't that at all. The team in the ascendancy, which had controlled the game at its most important junctures, emerged victorious. Rimando saved shots from experienced L.A. attackers Jovan Kirovski and Edson Buddle, Donovan suffered his jaw-dropping miss, while RSL defenders Chris Wingert and Robbie Russell dispatched their kicks with calm efficiency. It was as if this team knew something the rest of us didn't, and played with a swagger that nobody outside their locker room felt they had earned. But by the end, nobody was questioning RSL's right to be champion.

Beckham thought enough of their performance to walk down to their locker room to offer his congratulations. While the media, RSL family members and others waited for several minutes outside, the L.A. icon spoke with the victors. "I wouldn't expect that from anybody. For him to come in here and congratulate us, he's just a class act," Beckerman said.

Beckham must have developed some respect for what RSL knew all along.

"There is something gratifying about having an idea or a vision about how you want to put a team together and how you want them to play," Kreis said. "When that comes to fruition, and you get to look out there and see them do that, and be the better team in every game we've played since that last Dallas game away [a 3-0 loss on Sept. 26]. In my opinion, we've been the best team out there in every single game we've played, and played really, really good soccer."

"So now it's nice to say we are the best team in the league."

Real Salt Lake Proves Its Worth originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Real Salt Lake Tops Los Angeles Galaxy, Wins 2009 MLS Cup

FanHouse Newswire — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:04:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

SEATTLE (AP) -- Robbie Russell scored in the seventh round of penalty kicks and underdog, overlooked Real Salt Lake beat the star-studded Los Angeles Galaxy 5-4 on penalties for its first Major League Soccer championship.

Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando made two saves during penalties, and league MVP Landon Donovan missed badly over the crossbar giving RSL a chance in the extra rounds. After Rimando smothered Edson Buddle's shot, Russell beat backup Los Angeles keeper Josh Saunders into the lower left corner to set off a wild celebration.

Robbie Findley scored in the 64th minute to pull RSL even at 1 after Mike Magee gave Los Angeles the lead in the 41st minute off a perfect cross by Donovan.

It was the second straight shootout victory for Salt Lake, which beat Chicago 5-4 on penalties last week in the Eastern Conference championship.

Real Salt Lake Tops Los Angeles Galaxy, Wins 2009 MLS Cup originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Real Salt Lake Beats the Odds Again, Wins MLS Cup on Penalties

Brian Straus — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:02:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

SEATTLE -- Real Salt Lake's playmaker, Javier Morales, was lost in the 22nd minute, the victim of a hard tackle from David Beckham. Nineteen minutes later, Beckham and Landon Donovan combined to create a goal by midfielder Mike Magee that put the favored Los Angeles Galaxy ahead. It was hard to imagine then that there was any way the upstarts from Salt Lake City could find their way back into Sunday night's MLS Cup final.

But Morales' replacement, American soccer's prodigal son, Clint Mathis, and striker Robbie Findley led the way. Real Salt Lake has been beating the odds for more than a month now, qualifying for the postseason on the final weekend despite an 11-12-7 record and defeating two heavily-favored playoff opponents on the road. On Sunday they again made the impossible possible, tying the game at 1-1 on a second-half goal by Findley and riding goalie Nick Rimando and Donovan's stunning miss to a 5-4 win in the penalty kick shootout.

The final, played before 46,011 at Qwest Field, would be the sixth to go into overtime and just the second to proceed to the penalty kick tiebreaker. While the Galaxy had participated in five of those previous extra sessions, it was the five-year old franchise from Utah that seemed more composed. They were unlucky not to find the winner during those 30 minutes, and had the experience of the shootout win over Chicago in the Eastern Conference final to boost their confidence.

Beckham went first, sliding his shot low and to the left. Rimando and Los Angeles goalkeeper Josh Saunders, who replaced the injured Donovan Ricketts midway through the second half, traded saves in the third round. Then Donovan unleashed his shocker. Practically automatic on penalties throughout his career, he blasted his effort over the net and ripped his captain's armband off his arm on the way back to midfield.

"The penalty I hit like I hit any penalty. I made sure he was going the other way and I closed my body. I just put it in the air. Probably partially due to tired legs and not concentrating in that moment," Donovan said. He was 21 for 23 on penalty kicks in MLS play. Both failed attempts were saved.

RSL's Andy Williams, who'd been cramping at the end of overtime, missed his bid to win the match in the fifth round, but Rimando would bail out his team again. In the seventh round, he lunged left to snare Edson Buddle's weak shot. Defender Robbie Russel then converted and won a very unexpected title for Salt Lake.

It was not the sort of game one would have expected RSL to win. Instead it was a choppy, disjointed affair, one that was hard on spectators hoping for some attacking rhythm and players hoping to avoid a scrap. The ultra-slick Qwest Field turf produced plenty of loose balls and wayward traps, and players on both teams were more than willing to throw themselves into the fray with their season on the line. The first to go down was Morales, who was taken out by Beckham in the 17th minute and exited the field in tears a few moments later. Williams was there to put an arm around Morales as he left the field, and Mathis took his place.

It seemed at the time that Salt Lake's ability to play its quick possession game departed with Morales. Although the underdogs hadn't yet established any sort of flow with the Argentine on the field, losing him before the match was a half-hour old was a cruel blow.

The Galaxy took its first shot on goal shortly thereafter, and Rimando looked shaky bobbling Jovan Kirovski's bid. Although Los Angeles failed to dictate play, RSL was in disarray and the advantage tilted the Galaxy's way. Defender Omar Gonzalez put a toe to Beckham's 28th-minute corner kick, and Mike Magee sent a low shot from the left across the face of goal and wide in the 36th.

In the 41st minute, the Galaxy's stars struck.

Having drifted into the middle from his spot on the right flank, Beckham slid the ball to Donovan in the right channel. The captain took a couple of quick touches and whipped a perfect cross to the far post, where Mike Magee hammered it home. The Galaxy celebrated, and although Salt Lake created a bit of trouble in stoppage time, L.A. must have felt confident taking its lead into the locker room.

But the RSL that emerged from the break was a different team. Led by Mathis, who was an unpredictable thorn in L.A.'s side throughout, Salt Lake came close to leveling terms in the 47th minute on a Robbie Findley breakaway. The collision that ended the play was the beginning of the end for Ricketts. In the 64th, Salt Lake got the goal it deserved. Mathis and captain Kyle Beckerman moved the ball through midfield, finding forward Yura Movsisyan. His shot was blocked, but the ball squired out to an alert Findley, who finished.

"They did a good job of moving the ball and putting us under pressure," Donovan said. "In the end they probably deserved to get a goal at some point."

The likely deserved more. Suddenly the RSL possession game was back, and Fabian Espindola's entry in the 75th minute tilted the game even further toward the underdogs. Donovan and Beckham were dangerous in spurts but not consistently, and there was a growing sense that either Mathis, Findley or the speedy Espindola would end affairs before the tiebreaker was needed. Mathis had a few dangerous-looking shots blocked and Espindola hit the side-netting just before the end of regulation.

Both teams clearly were exhausted in overtime. L.A. coach Bruce Arena called it a "battle of attrition." But it was hard to deny, again, that RSL was the better team. It overcame significant adversity on Sunday and outplayed the Galaxy for much of the game. It found a way to overcome obstacles. And so MLS has a champion that suffered a losing regular season and won both the semi and final on penalties. But there likely won't be many people saying the new titlist is not a deserving one.

Real Salt Lake Beats the Odds Again, Wins MLS Cup on Penalties originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Real Salt Lake Seeks Upset Ending

Brian Straus — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:14:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

SEATTLE -- If David Beckham, Landon Donovan and the Los Angeles Galaxy are the focus of this Sunday's MLS Cup final (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET), then Real Salt Lake is the afterthought. The relatively anonymous, five-year-old club from the nation's 49th-most populous metro area could not be more different than the star-studded team whose presence forced organizers to release several thousand more tickets to fill the increased demand.

RSL has itself to blame for part of the collective yawn it's inspired. It finished the regular season 11-12-7, barely made the playoffs as the bottom seed and features players familiar to only the most devoted MLS observers. Yet there's a growing sense here this week that a Salt Lake triumph at Qwest Field wouldn't be that much of a shock, and that fielding the best players doesn't necessarily make you the better team.

The playmaker is an Argentine who was acquired from a club in Spain's third division. The midfield is anchored by the dreadlocked captain from the Washington, DC suburbs, a tireless 22-year-old Canadian and a paunchy Jamaican who's played for six MLS clubs. The go-to striker endured a two-month scoring drought during the regular season's stretch run. All of which should make the famous favorite from Hollywood a little nervous -- in the movies, the team of humble unknowns almost always wins in the end.

Real Salt Lake has messed with the script a couple of times already this fall and has made the most of its fortunate postseason berth. It swept the defending champion and top-seeded Columbus Crew in the two-game quarterfinal round, then went to Chicago last weekend and outlasted the favored Fire on penalty kicks. That result robbed us of a final that would have featured Mexican star Cuauhtehmoc Blanco and U.S. national team legend Brian McBride and was a somewhat shocking accomplishment for an RSL team that had won just two road games all year.

While many still are trying to figure out just who this team is, the Galaxy have taken notice.

"They've got six guys who can pull off pretty special plays in given moments, maybe seven guys," Landon Donovan said here. "When they get the ball and get moving and they're active and they have good rhythm, they're a very difficult team to beat."

And a few weeks ago, that finally started to happen. Considered a side that played pretty, if not always winning, soccer, RSL got in gear in mid-October and has gone 4-1-1 since. That streak was enough to land it in Sunday's final. The Argentine playmaker, Javier Morales, has engineered an attack that possesses the ball as well as any team in MLS. The striker, Robbie Findley, found his scoring touch just in time, and the captain, Kyle Beckerman, has inspired with his composure and grit. The buzz in Seattle is that RSL's momentum, crafty attackers and relatively even distribution of talent may be enough to beat the Galaxy.

But does a team that backed into the postseason losing more games than it won deserve to be a league champion? Would an RSL victory on Sunday serve only to end the best story in American soccer with an anticlimactic thud? Goalkeeper Nick Rimando said, "When you get to the playoffs, truth be told, records don't mean anything anymore. If you get there, you can do something."

Technically he's correct. RSL played by the rules and advanced. Yet at first glance there's something quite unsatisfying about a club with such a paltry resume playing for a title. Naturally, Salt Lake isn't apologizing for its presence here and predictably sees its Cup half-full.

"Our record definitely doesn't show what kind of team we have," RSL midfielder Clint Mathis told FanHouse. "At the end of the day, when the games got big and we needed to win, we played very well. It's just one more. We keep our fingers crossed and hopefully we play well in that one."

Coach Jason Kreis echoed those sentiments, telling FanHouse that, "I've known all along what my team is capable of. They've certainly shown it. In this season, if you look back at our games against the best opponents in the league, the teams we had a ton of respect for, we typically played very, very well and we had some phenomenal results this year, with some phenomenal soccer. So I know what my team is capable of, for sure."

Based upon its postseason performance, RSL deserves to be playing on Sunday. Based upon its full season, it does not deserve a championship. Even Kreis admitted that a victory would mean only "that we could show everybody we're moving in the right direction." But RSL's presence here is the price MLS pays for having a competitive league, and the possibility that an 11-12-7 team who had a good month might lift the Cup at Beckham and Donovan's expense is far more palatable than the predictable domination we see by a cartel of elite clubs in foreign competitions.

Thanks to the salary cap, MLS clubs are unable to win simply by outspending their rivals. As a result, there are almost no games during a given season where one team can be almost assured of victory, or where another can barely hope to compete. There is no Real Madrid-Xerez or Juventus-Catania. The playing field is level. Every MLS game is diffcult, and most are close.

In exchange for that parity -- that belief that any season could be your team's year or that any given game could produce any result -- we get clubs clustered together in the standings and the prospect of a side like Real Salt Lake sneaking into the playoffs and getting hot just in time. The alternative to an RSL championship is a league where the same two or three teams dominate each and every year. Kreis and company certainly don't have to apologize for reminding us that an unexpected or random result is better than knowing how the movie ends before the lights even dim. Even the favorites from Hollywood, who won their last MLS Cup with a 13-3-6 regular season record, would agree with that.

Real Salt Lake Seeks Upset Ending originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Supporters Sing, MLS Listens

Brian Straus — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

SEATTLE -- It's common knowledge that soccer fans are a bit of a different breed. They care less about comfort and more about spectacle. The sight of a whole section of supporters singing, waiving enormous flags and lighting flares would be shocking at Yankee Stadium or Heinz Field, yet it's expected at soccer venues around the world and is becoming relatively common in MLS. That passion also affects change -- executives know it's not a good idea to upset these people.

More so than any other American sports league, MLS has embraced that relationship. While fans elsewhere struggle with nonsense like the BCS, personal seat licenses and Daniel Snyder, MLS supporters have driven the league's evolution (speaking out against gimmicks like the shootout), have worked directly with clubs on ticketing and marketing and enjoy an annual audience with the commissioner that is unimaginable in any other league.

On Saturday morning at Qwest Field, MLS Commissioner Don Garber met with several hundred fans from around the country at the annual Supporters Summit. Garber and Seattle Sounders minority owner Drew Carey took questions from the floor for nearly an hour in a candid exchange that must be the only event of its kind in American professional sports.

Garber called it "my favorite event of MLS Cup weekend" and confirmed the importance of stadium atmosphere by confirming that the league is considering abandoning the championship game's neutral site format and is looking for ways to reward the higher-seeded team with home-field advantage for the final.

"We're thinking about moving the MLS Cup from a neutral site," Garber said, conceding there are "challenges with that." He said he met with the league's corporate partners earlier Saturday morning and highlighted their importance to the fans assembled at Qwest. "They need to have time to do all the marketing programs that justify all the rights fees that they pay us," he said.

In addition, with just a week to prepare for the final, arranging an event like the Summit would be nearly impossible as well. "How would you be able to get your hotel rooms, your plane flights in advance? How would you market it," Garber asked.

Nevertheless, the appeal of a home-field atmosphere at MLS Cup, combined with the opportunity to offer another reward for regular season excellence in a league that offers far too few, has important people talking. One solution might be to shift the normal MLS Cup week activities to the All-Star break. "I hope we can have an All-Star game that matters more to people, maybe we end up getting the top four clubs in the world and alternating them over a 10-year period," Garber said. "So our celebration and all of our activities can happen over the All-Star game."

The thought of an extended summer event, as opposed to the current wind and cold of Seattle, is appealing, although Garber (pictured, right, with Drew Carey) was careful to stress that there are myriad factors that go into even the smallest decisions and that fans must remain patient. He used the effort to get MLS players on the cover of the 'FIFA 10' video game as an example, citing the extended negotiations with Wal-Mart that were required to stock their shelves with a video game that featured Cuauhtemoc Blanco and his Best Buy-sponsored Chicago Fire jersey on its cover.

Many of the typical topics were discussed at the Summit: Improving the quality of play, expansion, adherence to the FIFA calendar, concessions, discounts and logistical support for organized fan groups, among others.

But it was the moments of improvisation, honesty and unscripted exchange that highlighted the unique nature of the event. Garber, when questioned about MLS officiating, said he felt "glee" when first seeing Thierry Henry's handball against Ireland because it proved refereeing controversy occurs at the highest levels and "not just in MLS." Carey, when responding to a New England fan's complaint that Gillette Stadium has no Revolution signage or branding like Qwest does for the Sounders, stepped forward and said, "I never liked Tom Brady. I never liked him. I hope the TV camera's are running. I never liked you, Tom!" Garber seemed shocked when a fan asked about the league's philanthropic initiatives: "Is this a plant?"

There was booing and grumbling at times, but there was dialogue, and there was the sense that Garber wasn't in spin mode. He was honest and forthcoming about the difficulties facing the league, where he thinks things can improve and why he has no interest in getting rid of the conference setup (he thinks winning a conference title is an important milestone for a team that should be preserved). And he faced the barrage with good humor and genuine appreciation for the role fans play in supporting the league. Fans may be frustrated with certain things about the league, but the fact that they can tell the commissioner to his face, get a reasonable answer and not get bullied by a bodyguard in the process demonstrates how much other American sports organizations can learn from MLS.

The Supporters Sing, MLS Listens originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donovan, Beckham: From Rivals to BFFs

Brian Straus — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:17:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

SEATTLE -- Landon Donovan's MLS goal of the year was remarkable on two levels. First, the curling volley was an incredible strike, with a beyond-the-post bend reminiscent of Roberto Carlos' famous free kick against France 12 years ago. Second, it was David Beckham who was the first to jump into Donovan's arms.

The feud and reconciliation between the league's two most recognizable players has been the story of the 2009 season, and there can be little question that the Los Angeles Galaxy would not be here for Sunday's MLS Cup final had the pair failed to resolve the differences that became public over the summer. Beckham's genuine excitement over Donovan's goal, and the club's run to the final, are clear indications that the two are on the same page. On Friday, FanHouse had the opportunity to ask them how they did it.

The backstory is well known at this point. The lost captaincy, the lost games, the behind-the-scenes machinations that resulted in the disastrous appointment of Ruud Gullit as coach, Beckham's last-to-arrive, first-to-leave habits, the loan to AC Milan and Donovan's public venting in Grant Wahl's book. It was enough to dissolve most locker rooms, and it gave coach Bruce Arena plenty to do during the offseason. But in the end it was up to two very successful athletes to swallow their pride a bit, get over perceived hurts and come together for the sake of the club. The results have been plain, and now the Galaxy is 90 minutes from history.

On Friday, Donovan and Beckham met with the media in Seattle, and FanHouse asked each player what they observed in the other that helped repair their relationship and bring the fractured Galaxy together:

DONOVAN: You guys don't see what goes on every day. You guys see what happens when the lights come on on Saturday nights. I think from that standpoint, you see how helpful David has been.

But what we see every day in the locker room, on the road when we travel, has been tremendous. When your most talented player or players are doing that on your team, then everyone else follows, and his work rate....

The other thing you don't see is this guy has been hurt of sick for probably the last seven games. [Beckham did not practice for a week following the Western Conference final because of a bone bruise in his right foot and was coughing throughout Friday's news conference.] You don't read about it and you don't hear it, but he gets on with it and he plays. That's helped our team a lot.

BECKHAM: I think what you see is what you get with Landon. He's an exceptional talent. You know he deserves the MVP.

But like Landon says, same about me. He's worked great throughout the week. He's a player that players respect. He's a player that players look at and look up to. I think that's important when you've got a captain like that and when you've got an MVP player in your team, you look to them for advice. You look to them for how they play on the field and how they conduct themselves, whether it's in the locker room, whether it's on the field or whether it's just out for dinner. He's a perfect example for that.

We've come together this season and it's not just about what me and Landon have done. We're here in the MLS Cup final because of the unity that we've got in the team. We've got good players throughout our team. We've got rookie of the year from last year, Sean Franklin, and rookie of the year this year with Omar [Gonzalez]. So we've got good players throughout our team that have performed well all the way through the team.

And also, with a manager like Bruce Arena, it's a good mix. It's worked well. But I can't speak any higher than I can for Landon, because he's been exceptional this season.

******

So yes, Beckham does know the names of his teammates, even the ones who are 10 years younger and earn 1 percent (literally) of what he makes. The improvement in the Galaxy, who were 5-3-9 when he returned to the team, made the transition easier as well.

"I saw a lot of the games while I was in Milan," Beckham said. "It was interesting to watch, because the results might not have been there, but I could see that there was a huge improvement to the other seasons that I played. That's why I was excited to come back. I knew there had been an improvement with the players that had been brought in, whether they were young players or whether they were experienced players.....I was excited to come back. Soon as I came back, my first training session, I could see straightaway there was an improvement. It was something I was excited about and I was proved right."

Donovan said the team "played well in parts" prior to Beckham's return, but that it "didn't have enough quality to make real plays going forward." He said, "David obviously brings that." But Beckham brought more, according to the American star -- the willingness to put past hurt behind him.

When asked what helped the Galaxy rise from a last-place team to the cusp of a championship, Donovan said a key was "David's reaction to everything that's gone on."

"Life is about choices," Donovan said. "He could have come in and chosen to be something different than he has been. He chose to be a man and [to] want this team to be successful. Without him, we're not where we are. We can cut it any way we want, but that's the reality of it and he's been tremendous."

Donovan, Beckham: From Rivals to BFFs originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beckham Demonstrates Commitment

Brian Straus — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

SEATTLE -- David Beckham continues to claim he's committed to both the Los Angeles Galaxy and Major League Soccer, and on Friday afternoon seemed to back that up with a promise to play in Sunday's MLS Cup final despite pain in his foot that will require pre-game injections, to return to the team following next summer's World Cup and even to involve himself in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the players and MLS owners.

Late Thursday, Beckham moved to alleviate concerns that followed the publication of a photo showing him wearing a protective boot on his right foot and promised he would play on Sunday. He took the week off and practiced Friday for the first time since the Galaxy defeated Houston in the Western Conference final on Nov. 13.

"Unfortunately, it's been frustrating because since the game, I haven't been able to train because bone bruising is pretty ... you have got be kind of careful with it not to get any kicks on it," he told the assembled media here at Qwest Field. "So it's been frustrating, but I'm sure it'll be fine for Sunday. Definitely be fine for Sunday. It's one of those things that you just have to get through. After five, ten minutes of the game, I'm sure I'll forget about it."

When asked if he'd require injections to handle the pain, the 34-year-old midfielder said, "Yeah, definitely."

"It's part of sports," he sad. "You know, if you want to be involved in certain games, then you have to make certain sacrifices. That's the way it is. But it'll be fine."

Beckham's desire to be involved in the World Cup has prompted him to negotiate another loan to AC Milan that will cause him to miss around the first four months of the 2010 MLS season. That move, along with the revelation that he could buy out the remainder of his five-year contract with the Galaxy following this season, left some to speculate that his American adventure may be ending. On Friday, Beckham reiterated his short- and long-term commitment to MLS.

"Yeah. Yeah," he said quickly when asked if he would return to Los Angeles following the World Cup. "I obviously hope to be involved in the World Cup and then I'll return for the rest of the season."

By then, there will have to be a new labor deal between the owners and players. With his $6.5 million annual salary, Beckham certainly doesn't have some of the grievances of many of his colleagues, some of whom make $20,000. He has little to gain by getting involved in what promises to be a pretty contentious battle over the league's future. But Friday, he said he "know[s] how players want things to be done" and "understand[s] what they want in life and in their careers."

"I think it's always important that I'm involved in certain things that are going on, meetings that are going on with the players union and decisions that are being made. Anything I can be involved in, of course I'll always step up for that."

Quite a change from a player who was accused of having little sympathy or generosity for his working-class teammates during his first two years in Los Angeles. Perhaps those feelings will continue if Beckham decides to exercise his right to own his own MLS franchise once he retires. He said he is looking forward to that as well.

"I love the game, so I want to be involved in the game in some way when I finish," he said. "Owning a franchise is something that's definitely possible and something that I'm really thinking about, and I think will happen eventually." He said soccer "can definitely grow and it can definitely get bigger," in the U.S., and that it is "something that I'm looking forward to being part of."

Beckham Demonstrates Commitment originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Decade Later, RSL's Clint Mathis Seeks Return to Glory

Brian Straus — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

SEATTLE - Remember Clint Mathis? He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2002 behind the headline "America's Best." He played in the World Cup that year sporting an awesome mohawk, and scored that critical (and technically impressive) goal against South Korea that kept the U.S. national team alive for a second round berth. He also scored five goals in one game for New York, conjured this Maradona-esque effort against Dallas and for a couple of years, thanks to his skill and ability to produce the spectacular, was considered a huge part of American soccer's future.

Then it all just unraveled. A knee injury, a row with his coach at Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga and a less-than-disciplined lifestyle reduced Mathis to an afterthought. He returned to MLS in 2005, played for four clubs in four anonymous years then went to Greece. Real Salt Lake brought him aboard 15 months ago and now, 10 years after playing in an MLS Cup final as a rising star for Los Angeles, his odyssey has returned him to American soccer's biggest stage.

Mathis started 24 games for Salt Lake during the regular season, tallying two goals and seven assists. He's still not the player he was at the beginning of the decade, but he blended well with RSL's possession-oriented midfield and continued to demonstrate his inclination for the highlight-reel goal. In the playoffs he's been coming on as a reserve as Andy Williams has solidified his spot in coach Jason Kreis' first 11.

But whether he starts on the field or on the bench on Sunday, he remains a compelling story -- a free spirit who may never tried to fit in and may never have fulfilled his potential, but who feels quite comfortable in his own skin. Following Friday's practice at Qwest Field, FanHouse caught up with Mathis to get his thoughts on his strange career and the prospect of winning his first title at 32 years of age.

FANHOUSE: After having endured some lean years in your career, what does it mean to be 90 minutes away from a title?

MATHIS: It's exciting. This is the one thing I've wanted out of my career that I don't have yet. So this is my second opportunity to capture that. It is important to me. Just want to go out there Sunday and whatever my role is in the team to play to the best of my ability. But at the end of the day it's more important to get the championship than anything else.

FANHOUSE: Looking back on 2001 and 2002, do you think some of the fame and expectations may have come too fast for you, that it all became a bit too much to handle?

MATHIS: I think I handled it well. This sport's a funny sport. Just like all of them, it's a business. People don't like certain things or the way people are. I think in America it's very hard for coaches and organizations to handle a little bit, whether it be attitude or personality. Soccer in the United States doesn't like that.

FANHOUSE: How would you describe your personality?

MATHIS: Obviously I'm very brutally honest. I think lot of people know that about me. And sometimes when you're honest you say things that people don't like to here. I'm sure I've definitely been that guy. I've said it to a million people. But the one thing you're going to get from me is being genuine. Whether it's good things sometimes or bad things sometimes, because I do care about people. I think it's only right to treat them with respect and be honest with them.

FANHOUSE: What is it that you like about Real Salt Lake, that's made you feel comfortable here?

MATHIS: I think they've done an excellent job of bringing in a great group of guys that will work for each other, that are good on and off the field. Very family oriented. That's the way I grew up. People that know me know that side of me, but the ones that don't really, think that's the other side of me. So be it. There's only a few people in this world that I really need to worry about what a real person I am, and the rest I won't know in a few years.

FANHOUSE: And as a player, do you still feel like you have something to prove?

MATHIS: If I'm going ot prove anything, I've want to prove it to myself, that I can still get out here and play. Whether the media always says, "Hey, this guy's washed up or not." There's a reason I'm still here and there's a reason I still play, and I think I go out there and show that for the most part. I think I've had a good season. A lot better than I have in the last few years, when people pretty much sold me up the river and said "He's done." But I'm here right now, and that's all that matters.

A Decade Later, RSL's Clint Mathis Seeks Return to Glory originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite Injuries, David Beckham Says He'll Play in MLS Cup

Randy Kim — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:53:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

It seemed to be a long shot that he would actually miss the match, but L.A. Galaxy star David Beckham has confirmed that, despite lingering injuries, he will play in Sunday's MLS Cup against Real Salt Lake.

Beckham was recently photographed wearing a protective boot while playing American football in the park with his children. The images sparked a bit of concern over whether he'd be healthy enough to play Sunday, but upon arriving in Seattle (seen above) for the MLS Cup, Beckham spoke to the Telegraph UK and said that he was going to play through some lingering injuries.

In the article, Beckham expressed complete confidence that he would play in Sunday's match. He then went on to talk about where he is from a health standpoint overall. From the Telegraph:

After a run out in Los Angeles yesterday before flying north, Beckham explained: "I haven't trained since the game the other day so it's been a bit of a worry," he said. "I had bad bone bruising. I have done a little running now, which is important. It was the first time I'd actually been able to wear trainers.

"It's a lot easier now. At my age you go into games and nothing is perfect. You always have a niggling injury of some sort."

In the article, Beckham also goes on to say that he never thought about walking away from the MLS and returning to Europe permanently, despite a strained relationship with teammate Landon Donovan.

Beckham has played 287 out of 300 total minutes of game action for the Galaxy in the playoffs, and delivered a highlight-worthy pass in the West semifinals that helped push Los Angeles through to the next round.

Despite Injuries, David Beckham Says He'll Play in MLS Cup originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donovan's MLS Resume Nearly Complete With MVP Nod

Brian Straus — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

SEATTLE -- Surely Landon Donovan is now just 90 minutes away from tying up just about every loose end remaining in his Major League Soccer career. He is the player of the decade, but before Thursday never had been named player of the year. Perhaps a victim of his own consistency, Donovan raised the bar in 2009. He brought his fractured team together and captained the club to first place in the Western Conference, tallying 12 goals and six assists.

It is slightly ironic, however, that Donovan was not here in Seattle to accept the award. The Galaxy were not scheduled to arrive until later in the day, meaning the player who has been the real face of American soccer for the past nine years was unavailable to smile for the cameras. It is something the league may have to get used to. Rumors of a winter transfer have been circulating for months, and if Los Angeles completes its climb from the basement to the MLS Cup penthouse on Sunday, Donovan certainly has nothing left to prove.

Maligned for his failure to stick with Bayer Leverkusen during two failed stints in the Bundesliga and for his impotent performance at the 2006 World Cup, Donovan never has been able to secure the respect usually afforded a player of his stature. He is the U.S. national team's all-time leading scorer, has won three MLS titles and three CONCACAF Gold Cups and has notched 113 MLS goals.

Yet his talent and constitution have been consistently questioned or derided, and the meltdown inside the Home Depot Center locker room that occurred as a result of last year's rift with David Beckham (and Donovan's comments in The Beckham Experiment), certainly didn't boost his reputation.

All of that, plus his separation from his wife, could have derailed a player many have accused of being soft. But not this year. With the Galaxy captaincy returned to him and trusted mentor Bruce Arena at the helm, Donovan entered this season with a renewed focus.

"I am in control of what I do, and before I thought different things determined how I would play or how I would respond or how I would act on the field," he told FanHouse three months ago. "I'm in control of that now, so, and knowing that I'm in control of it means I know what my ability is. I know what I'm capable of and I bring it every time."

Said Arena: "He's grown on the field as a player. He's a more mature consistent player, but his role off the field with this team has been perhaps even better, remarkable. The things he did to help build this team to have the right kind of team chemistry, to be a leader ... Landon was consistently here every day and taking the responsibility of a captain. He's been doing a fantastic job."

Donovan led the Galaxy to a 5-3-9 record before Beckham returned from his loan with AC Milan, netting six goals. His renewed bonds with the Englishman were quickly apparent, no more so than when Beckham leaped into Donovan's arms after his goal-of-the-year strike against New England on Aug. 8. Thursday he deservedly beat out FC Dallas striker Jeff Cunningham and New Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph for the MVP trophy. Should Los Angeles claim its third MLS Cup title with a win over Real Salt Lake on Sunday, Donovan's redemption will be complete and his status as the league's best ever player unquestioned.

Which raises the obvious question: Where does one go once all challenges have been conquered? Donovan dipped his toe back into the European waters at Bayern Munich over the winter and, after his performance at the Confederations Cup, shouldn't have much trouble attracting some continental attention. Clubs in France, Italy and Spain have been rumored to be interested. It will cost some money, but after everything that Donovan has given MLS, with the commitment he has shown to the league and American soccer, it would be almost cruel to keep him here against his wishes. He definitely has done enough.

His departure would be a challenge. Beckham is headed back to Italy over the winter and Cuauhtemoc Blanco has decided to leave Chicago for the Mexican second division. Now word has surfaced of a rift between the Columbus Crew and Guillermo Barros Schelotto, whose has been the best designated player in the program's short history and whose departure would be a significant blow to the league's on-field product. If Donovan goes too, that would constitute quite the talent (and name recognition) drain.

But he has earned his chance, and with the MVP award, has proven that his leadership skills have matched the technical. His final exam is Sunday.

Donovan's MLS Resume Nearly Complete With MVP Nod originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Beckham Dons Protective Boot, Still Expected to Play in MLS Cup

Randy Kim — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

Days before David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy are scheduled to take the pitch against Real Salt Lake in MLS Cup 2009, it appears the British star is taking precautions to address a foot injury.

As seen above, TMZ snapped some photos of Beckham while playing football with his kids on Wednesday. In the photos he is wearing a protective boot.

Yet although he's wearing the boot, it appears that Beckham will play in Sunday's championship.

TMZ reports:

TMZ has learned David is suffering from a "tender foot" -- a result of a "series of knocks" he took to the appendage after an MLS playoff match against Chivas USA earlier this month.

A rep from the L.A. Galaxy tells us the foot is already feeling better, and he's "practicing with the team today ahead of Sunday's MLS Cup"

During the Galaxy's West final win over the Houston Dynamo, Beckham played all 120 minutes and did not visibly appear to be hindered by any foot or ankle injuries. In the match before that, Beckham played through a lower back injury, but again, nothing appeared to be wrong with his right foot.

Based on the fact that Beckham has looked fit on the pitch lately -- as well as the fact that Sunday's match is for a title -- it seems likely that he would play. Yet Beckham is also set to return to Europe at the end of the MLS season to join AC Milan, so it would also make sense for him to approach any injuries with a high level of caution.

David Beckham Dons Protective Boot, Still Expected to Play in MLS Cup originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Real Salt Lake Crashes MLS Cup Party

Brian Straus — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:32:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

For those who think the MLS Cup playoffs are too brief, the four teams involved in this weekend's semifinals (along with Southern California Edison) did their best to draw them out as long as possible.

A few hours after the Los Angeles Galaxy outlasted Houston in an epic overtime game that felt like a best-of-7 series thanks to two blackouts, Real Salt Lake eliminated the Chicago Fire on Saturday night in a sudden-death penalty shootout that followed a 0-0 tie. RSL became the third eighth seed to advance to the title game and will meet the Galaxy next Sunday in Seattle in one of the unlikeliest championship pairings in the league's 14-year history.

The Galaxy's climb from worst to first and their rebound from the locker room drama that followed David Beckham's arrival and his subsequent feud with Landon Donovan are well documented. RSL attracted far less attention, lumbering along at a .500 pace and making the playoffs with a losing record only after D.C. United blew a stoppage-time lead in Kansas City on the final weekend of the regular season.

But Salt Lake upset the top-seeded Columbus Crew in the quarterfinals and clearly entered Saturday's Eastern Conference Final in Chicago full of confidence. Despite winning only two road games during the regular season, RSL demonstrated an interest in attacking from kickoff at Toyota Park. With Javier Morales assertively pulling the strings in midfield, RSL didn't look like a team that was just happy to be there.

But Chicago's defense held firm, and Brian McBride nearly gave the hosts the advantage when his header hit the crossbar in the 27th minute. The sides traded chances and a few body blows over the next 90-plus minutes, with Fire playmaker Cuauhtemoc Blanco largely neutralized in what may be his final game in MLS and Salt Lake strikers Yura Movsisyan and Robbie Findley showing flashes of danger but failing to capitalize.

It was heading to penalties scoreless, and the league's dream final featuring Beckham vs. Blanco hung in the balance. They say shootouts are a lottery, but RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando said he doesn't see it that way. He was in goal when D.C. United beat New England in the famous 2004 semifinal at RFK Stadium and saved spot kicks from Jay Heaps and Clint Dempsey.

"I was in this position before and I felt comfortable," he told Fox Soccer Channel, adding that he has a system for saving penalty kicks. "I can't tell that or else next time I go to PKs there will be trouble. But there's something that I stick to."

It worked. The first five rounds finished 4-4 after Morales shot high and Rimando made a diving save on John Thorrington. In sudden death, Rimando denied two more Fire players, leaping to his left to snuff out efforts from Logan Pause and Brandon Prideaux. In the seventh round, RSL reserve midfielder Ned Grabavoy, who grew up near Chicago, sent the underdogs to Seattle with a high shot that Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch put a hand to but could not keep out.

"He's a beast at PKs," RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said of Rimando.

Now Rimando will go for his second MLS title in a final that, on the surface, may be hard to sell. It's not two big markets. There's no Blanco or McBride and no Fire tradition, just a week of trying to explain to people how a four-year-old soccer team from Utah that's pretending to be patronized by the Spanish king is playing for a league championship despite having a losing regular-season record (11-12-7). These are questions worth asking.

But it shouldn't detract from the work that GM Garth Lagerwey and coach Jason Kreis have done in putting together a side that does play good soccer, even if it's not always winning soccer, and has players in Morales, Beckerman, Findley, Movsisyan and others that really are worth watching. Whether they can handle Landon Donovan and Beckham is another story, but RSL's performance in a very hostile Chicago environment on Saturday was courageous and one worth celebrating.

Real Salt Lake Crashes MLS Cup Party originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Galaxy Advance to MLS Cup Final

FanHouse Newswire — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

CARSON, Calif. -- Gregg Berhalter and Landon Donovan scored in overtime to put the Los Angeles Galaxy into MLS Cup final with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Friday night.

The Galaxy will play in its first MLS Cup final since 2005 on Nov. 22 in Seattle against the winner of Saturday's Eastern Conference final match between Chicago and Real Salt Lake.

Los Angeles will make its sixth MLS Cup final appearance since the league began in 1996. The Galaxy won championships in 2002 and 2005.

David Beckham's free kick set up Berhalter's goal in the 102nd minute. The Dynamo's Eddie Robinson tried to clear Omar Gonzalez's header off Beckham's free kick but Berhalter poked the ball into the net from 7 yards.

Donovan converted a penalty kick in the 109th minute to set the MLS record for career playoff scoring with 17 goals.

Houston's Ricardo Clark tripped Alan Gordon in the penalty area. After goalkeeper Pat Onstad dove to his left, Donovan scored his third goal in this year's playoffs.

The Dynamo's Brian Ching had the best chance to score during regulation. He headed a 7-yard line drive off Brian Mullan's right-wing cross but goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts used his right hand to deflect the ball off the crossbar.

Houston's Andrew Hainault scored on a header off Brad Davis's ensuing corner kick in the 80th minute but Luis Angel Landin's foul before Hainault's shot nullified the goal.

Play was suspended twice after the stadium lights went out because of power dips, a release from the Home Depot Center said. The game was stopped for a 18 minutes in each half.

The Dynamo's Wade Barrett made his first appearance since Aug. 30 when he started for Mike Chabala at left back. Chabala was suspended for receiving yellow cards in each of the two conference semifinal games against Seattle.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Galaxy Advance to MLS Cup Final originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Beckham Shows Solid Form in Galaxy Playoff Win

Randy Kim — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:32:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

He didn't net the game-winner, and he didn't even manage to play all 90 minutes, but global icon David Beckham still played a starring role in the Los Angeles Galaxy's 1-0 win over crosstown rivals Chivas USA on Sunday. With the victory, the Galaxy is now through to the Western Conference finals of the MLS Playoffs, keeping the team's championship hopes alive.

Beckham played with an assertive edge on offense for much of the match, showing his usual gift for fluid distribution and deft passing. The 34-year-old English national even came close to scoring in the first half on a solid strike from the top of the box that skipped just high of the crossbar.

Beckham also played with purpose on defense, as evidenced by his late challenge on a clear by Chivas defender Yamith Cuesta. While the tackle was ill-advised, if not worthy of a yellow card, it at least showed that Beckham took the pitch with a feisty edge on Sunday, and appeared to be playing with something to prove in L.A.'s own superclásico.

But the highlight of the match for Beckham came on his set-up of the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute. Beckham received a pass on the right side of the pitch near midfield and quickly one-timed a long, bending cross with pinpoint accuracy to a sprinting Landon Donovan. Donovan received the pass in stride and made a quick cross to teammate Mike Magee, who was fouled in the box. The foul led to a penalty kick, which Donovan slotted home, but the goal never would have happened had Beckham not delivered the beautiful cross. (Watch the highlight here.)

Beckham's game effort did not come without a toll, however, as he apparently suffered a lower back injury some time in the second half. This led to Beckham subbing off in the 77th minute, but not before he delivered another one of his patented dangerous crosses that led to another excellent, albeit empty, scoring opportunity for the Galaxy.

After the match, Beckham was asked about his back by ESPN, and he described it as, "Very sore. But the win helps."

Beckham was also asked about what an MLS Cup title would mean to the Galaxy. "It's another step forward," he said. "It's what we want to do for this franchise."

ESPN analyst John Harkes was also complimentary of Beckham's performance. "(He was) miles better," said Harkes after the match. "His service, his distribution, and his vision were there."

Beckham and the Galaxy will now host the Houston Dynamo on Friday in the West finals. Houston topped the Seattle Sounders on Sunday, 1-0.

The winner of the Galaxy-Dynamo match will play either the Chicago Fire or Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup on November 22 in Seattle. Chicago hosts Real Salt Lake in the East finals on Saturday at 8 PM ET.

David Beckham Shows Solid Form in Galaxy Playoff Win originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLS Playoffs: Preparing for the Quarterfinal Climax

Brian Straus — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:41:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

David Beckham will spend the spring in Milan and Tom Soehn preemptively dumped Kevin Payne and D.C. United. The timing on each announcement may have been a bit surprising, but the end result certainly was not. So with those issues out of the way, it's time to focus on the second legs of the MLS Cup quarterfinals, and what we learned last week that may have been a little less inevitable.

The most intriguing developments certainly occurred in Utah, where Real Salt Lake's 1-0 defeat of Columbus left the champion Crew with 90 minutes to save their season and raised serious questions about coach Robert Warzycha's sanity.

Columbus coach channels Steve Sampson:

We know you've probably worked hard to erase the memory, but try to recall the moment 11-and-a-half years ago when U.S. national team coach Steve Sampson started to believe that he had more to do with the side's success than the players on the field. He arbitrarily banished "Captain for Life" John Harkes, switched formations, introduced us to David Regis and set us up for a World Cup disaster.

Steve, meet Columbus coach Robert Warzycha. Questions surrounded Sigi Schmid's former assistant as the Crew stumbled to a 0-2-5 start. But Warzycha got his bearings and presided over an impressive turnaround that resulted in a second consecutive Supporters Shield and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.

But the Crew lost three of their final four league games, scoring just once, and the rookie coach panicked at the worst time. A two-leg, home-and-home series is too unforgiving and over too quickly to experiment, and yet Warzycha overthought things and decided last week's game in Salt Lake was the right time to bench 2008 MVP and championship addict Guillermo Barros Schelotto, his best player, and playoff veteran Alejandro Moreno. The result? A 1-0 defeat that leaves the champions desperate for goals in the Thursday rematch (8PM ET, ESPN2).

"It's going to be a different game," Warzycha told the team's website. "Usually at home we play much better. I need to see what he does in practice. I need to see how he can best help the team. It's not like he's somebody that has a title to play. It's based on performance. If the team needs him he is going to play."

Warzycha needs to get out of the way, put his best players on the field and let them win the game. Soccer is not a sport for micro-managing coaches, and Columbus now faces elimination because its coach is forgetting that. Schelotto still may be searching for his top form after missing some time with an injury. But he, not Warzycha, is the Crew's best asset.

Findley makes his case:

We argued last week that playoffs are great because they detemine who is able to master the moment and perform when the pressure is greatest. While Warzycha wet the bed, Salt Lake striker Robbie Findley continued his revival at the perfect time. He shook off a two-month slump and scored twice in RSL's playoff-clinching win over Colorado. Then his 88th-minute goal against the Crew not only staked his club to a 1-0 aggregate lead, but demonstrated the sort of hustle and nose for the goal that U.S. coach Bob Bradley lost when Charlie Davies was injured in last month's car accident.

We're not saying that Findley should be on the plane to South Africa, not even close, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to have another look at him in camp early next year (he was brought in for the early September games against El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago but didn't play.)

So does Shalrie Joseph:

People who watch the league and know the game already are well aware that New England Revolution midfielder is one of MLS's elite players, but hopefully his performance against favored Chicago in last Sunday's 2-1 win opened a few more eyes. The Revs, missing both Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston, gutted out an impressive result behind Joseph's tireless two-way play. Naturally, he scored the game-winner as well.

Considering the roster issues New England dealt with this year, it certainly wouldn't be a shame to see Joseph beat out Landon Donovan and Jeff Cunningham for the league's MVP award. It is a shame, however, that fewer than 8,000 fans showed up at Gillette Stadium to see it. Can anyone explain why on a mild fall day, with the Patriots enjoying their bye week, next to nobody came out to see a successful club play its biggest rival in the playoffs? Anyone?

If defense wins championships, the LA teams may be in trouble:

The 2-2 tie between the Galaxy and Chivas USA was fun to watch, but featured enough errors and misplays to make even the most die-hard MLS advocate wince. Goals were giftwrapped for both sides, and with home-field advantage nonexistent in this series, it seems that whomever is able to maintain their composure and limit mistakes will triumph in Sunday's second leg (7:30PM ET, ESPN2).

Grahame Jones, the long-time soccer writer for the Los Angeles Times, provided a good rundown of the first-leg follies.

On an unrelated note, it would be nice to see Beckham assert himself more in midfield on Sunday. He still hits the best ball around, but seems to be covering far less ground and passing from much further back than we're used to seeing. Is that tactical? Is he saving himself for later?

Houston-Seattle quickly has become one of the league's best rivalries:

Store-bought trophies with cheesy names don't produce a rivalry. Intense, meaningful games do, and the Dynamo and Sounders have produced a couple in only one season. The pair followed up their riveting U.S. Open Cup semifinal with a first-leg ruckus that proved that a soccer game doesn't have to have goals to be entertaining. The action was end-to-end, intense and featured close calls, controversy and Nate Jacqua's bloody, bandaged head. It was everything you could want out of a playoff game (well, except maybe a goal or two). And props to referee Ricardo Salazar for managing the game so well, and especially for not falling for Fredy Montero's theatrics after his early confrontation with Houston goalie Pat Onstad.

"I think it's becoming a great rivalry," Jaqua told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "We've had some good games with them. And I enjoy that type of physicality and battling back and forth for every ball. I think that's fun."

The atmosphere at Qwest Field certainly helps make any game seem like a big one, but Houston fans have been known to provide their own color as well. These clubs are well-coached, talented and play like everything is at stake before fans who feel the same way. They even dress in bright colors, rather than the plain, indistinguishable all-white pajamas that nearly every other team in the league insists on wearing. Houston-Seattle is what MLS soccer should look like, and the goals this series deserves should come Sunday (3PM ET, Telefutura.)

MLS Playoffs: Preparing for the Quarterfinal Climax originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Beckham to Rejoin Milan After Galaxy's Run Is Done

Michael Cardillo — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:46:00 EST

Filed under: MLS, Serie A (Italy)

The Hollywood paparazzi are going to have a little less fodder on the sidelines at Los Angeles Lakers games come January. Italian giants AC Milan have officially confirmed the long-rumored second loan of English midfielder David Beckham from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

While the official details of the loan haven't been released, this much seems to be known. Beckham will join Milan in January and finish out the 2009-10 Serie A season, before he hopes to join England's team at next June's World Cup. This means, as he did this season, Beckham would parachute back to the Galaxy in either late June, or more likely, early July.

Unlike last winter's Beckham loan, there is considerably less acrimony on both sides, which is somewhat of a surprise. When he returned from Italy during the current MLS season, he was booed, jeered and even had a confrontation with a venom-spewing fan during his first game at the Home Depot Center in a friendly, ironically, against AC Milan.

The ensuing release of "The Beckham Experiment" probably didn't help matters since it made even the most ardent Beckham fans call into question his level of commitment to the Galaxy, MLS and soccer in America.

However, instead of being rained down upon with garbage like a 1980s wrestling villain whenever he lined up for a corner kick, Beckham once again bounced back when his back was against the proverbial wall.

Though it's not on par with his freekick against Greece that punched England's ticket to the 2002 World Cup, three years after his bitter ejection after a red card against Argentina at the 1998 quarterfinals in France, Beckham once again proved -- at least some -- of the doubters wrong.

When he could have mailed it in and cruised through the MLS season before going back to Milan -- and potentially buying out the remaining years of his much ballyhooed five-year contract -- a strange thing happened on the way back to the San Siro: the Galaxy got good. Or, at least under coach Bruce Arena they got competitive, compared to the nine-car pile-up they resembled in his first two seasons, by winning the Western Conference, albeit with just a 12-6-12 record. (In another irony, Milan is nine points adrift of rival Inter in the Serie A table.)

As of this posting, the Galaxy are locked up 2-2 with city rival Chivas USA in the first round of the MLS playoffs. It probably helped, too, that after all the anti-Beckham fervor calmed down the media spotlight decreased significantly and he was just able to go about business as a soccer player and not worry about being soccer's savior in America. More importantly, he quietly put to bed any possible discord between he and Galaxy captain Landon Donovan, whose quotes in "The Beckham Experiment" painted the Englishman as a terrible, aloof and (gasp) cheap teammate.

Wouldn't it be typical Beckham fashion for him to ride off into the sunset as a conquering hero as the Galaxy capture their third MLS Cup? (Then again, considering MLS' snakebitten luck, Chivas will find a way to win this weekend's second-leg, thereby killing any potential media buzz the league might have attracted had Beckham & Co. found a way to advance.)

David Beckham to Rejoin Milan After Galaxy's Run Is Done originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consistent Columbus, Distracted Chicago Face Challenges in MLS East

Brian Straus — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

Leave it to deceptive diva Cuauhtemoc Blanco (right) to steal a bit of the spotlight from the Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo, who opened the MLS Cup playoffs Thursday night in an ill-tempered 0-0 game that, unfortunately, did not feature finishing worthy of the atmosphere or occasion.

As Seattle and Houston were battling at Qwest Field, news broke that the Fire's playmaker had abandoned his "hope" of another season in Chicago and opted instead to spend next spring with Veracruz, the third-placed club in Mexico's second division. The episode marks yet another hurdle for a Fire team that was the league's preseason favorite and will serve an additional subplot in its annual postseason confrontation with the New England Revolution. In the other Eastern Conference semi, the Columbus Crew will begin their title defense against hard-to-read Real Salt Lake. Here is a short preview:

No. 1 Columbus Crew (13-7-10) vs. No. 4 Real Salt Lake (11-12-7)

Schedule:
Saturday, Oct. 31: Columbus at Salt Lake, 6 PM ET
Thursday, Nov. 5: Salt Lake at Columbus, 8 PM ET (ESPN2)

Season Series:
April 2: at Salt Lake 4, Columbus 1
July 18: at Columbus 3, Salt Lake 1

Outlook:
This one shouldn't be close, right? In one corner, you've got the defending champion, the league MVP, a host of gifted attacking players, the team with the best record and the only MLS club to advance to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. In the other you have an inconsistent side that finished with a losing record, whose leading scorer went two months without a goal before connecting in the season finale and which clinched a playoff spot only because D.C. United blew a 90th-minute lead in Kansas City the same day.

Why bother even playing the games?

Because the MLS playoffs, especially under the current format that offers next to no advantage to the team with the better regular season record, are well known for producing shocking results. New York's stunner over the Houston Dynamo last fall was the most recent in a string of first-round upsets that claimed both top seeds in 2007 and one in 2006, 2005 and 2004. And with Salt Lake almost unbeatable in the thin air at Rio Tinto Stadium (9-1-5 this year, including the April rout of the Crew), it's conceivable that the humble team with the worst name in professional sports could head to Ohio with a lead.

Salt Lake's ability to steal a win in the opener will depend on whether Robbie Findley is back in form or whether is two-goal performance against the Colorado Rapids last weekend was just a tease. He finished the season with a very respectable 12 goals and 4 assists, but failed to find the net from late August until Saturday and wound up coming off the bench several times late in the season. The midfield depends on journeyman Andy Williams and occasional U.S. international Kyle Beckerman, who will be charged with shadowing Crew playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto. It's a tall task, especially with Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven providing Columbus with some of the best width in the league and several forwards capable of finishing.

The Pick:
Columbus is the league's best team, even if defender Chad Marshall is slowed by a knee injury. It's difficult to imagine a scenario under which Salt Lake could advance. The Crew will get the goals they need in the second leg, even if they lose this Saturday.

No. 2 Chicago Fire (11-7-12) vs. No. 3 New England Revolution (11-10-9)

Schedule:
Sunday, Nov. 1: Chicago at New England, 2 PM ET (Fox Soccer Channel)
Saturday, Nov. 7: New England at Chicago, 8:30 PM ET (Fox Soccer Channel)

Season Series:
May 9: at Chicago 1, New England 1
July 15: at New England 1, Chicago 2 (SuperLiga semifinal)
Oct. 17: at New England 0, Chicago 0

Outlook:
Chicago-New England arguably has become the league's best rivalry. That's what happens when teams meet in the playoffs four straight years and seven times in nine seasons. The Fire hold the all-time edge, 4-3, and any chance the Revolution have to level terms will depend on its ability to shut down Chicago and sneak a goal or two. With veterans Taylor Twellman (concussion) and Stever Ralston (knee) out, this is far from the same New England side that advanced to the MLS Cup final in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

But the Fire has problems of its own. The most talented team on paper when the season began, Chicago has had anything but a smooth ride. Injuries to forward Brian McBride and nearly the entire starting defense, Chris Rolfe's failure to emerge as a top-flight attacker, plus Bakary Soumare's sensational summer departure following a locker room bust-up with coach Denis Hamlett, left the team struggling to secure a playoff berth. The Oct. 22 win over Chivas USA, thanks to an own goal, was Chicago's first victory in seven games.

Then, of course, there's Blanco. The ultimate distraction. Already questionable with an injured hamstring, Blanco stole the headlines late Thursday when news of his departure to Veracruz broke. The deal apparently will keep him there until the World Cup. Fire technical director Frank Klopas said, "We respect his desire to continue playing in Mexico during the MLS offseason and continue preparing for the 2010 World Cup, which is a top priority for him. We will continue our dialogue with his agent regarding Blanco playing for the Fire in the second half of the 2010 season and beyond."

Perhaps Blanco's teammates will not take to kindly to the timing, nor to the implication that the Mexican second division offers better World Cup preparation than MLS. Either way, it's hard to find the silver lining to the news.

The Pick:
There's always an upset in the MLS playoffs, and we haven't picked one yet. If you're going to target a favorite, it makes sense to line up the one entering the postseason in poor form and facing a bit of turmoil. Seasons like the one Chicago has had, complete with quite a bit of fan frustration, normally don't end with titles. Revolution coach Steve Nicol is a master at grinding out results when it matters, and goalkeeper Matt Reis and midfielder Shalrie Joseph remain the best in MLS at what they do. The Revs will find a way.

Consistent Columbus, Distracted Chicago Face Challenges in MLS East originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLS West Features Marquee Matchups

Brian Straus — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

Four clubs separated by just three points in the standings, Seattle's raucous crowd, Houston's thirst for redemption, the league's only genuine derby and the first postseason appearance by David Beckham: They add up to produce the most compelling quarterfinal quartet in MLS history. The Western Conference playoffs begin Thursday night as Houston visits Seattle (10PM ET, ESPN2) in the first game of their two-game, total goals series. The Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA kick off their Southern California Superclasico on Sunday. Here is a short preview:

No. 2 Houston Dynamo (13-8-9) vs. No. 3 Seattle Sounders (12-7-11)

Schedule:

Thursday, Oct. 29: Houston at Seattle, 10PM ET
Sunday, Nov. 8: Seattle at Houston, 3PM ET

Season Series:

July 11: at Seattle 2, Houston 1
July 21: at Seattle 2, Houston 1 OT (U.S. Open Cup semifinal)
Aug. 23: at Houston 1, Seattle 1

Outlook:

A riveting U.S. Open semi that featured an 89th-minute equalizer, nine yellow cards and 40 fouls gave us a good indication that this series will be played with considerable intensity. The expansion Sounders exceeded all expectations this season, qualifying for the playoffs with relative ease, winning the Open Cup and setting the MLS attendance record. A packed Qwest Field should provide the perfect backdrop for ESPN2's cameras on Thursday night.

The Seattle story has been a feel-good constant throughout the league this year, but Houston has plenty of motivation as well. Favored to capture its third straight MLS Cup last season, the Dynamo pulled an epic choke job in the home leg of its series with the New York Red Bulls and was eliminated with a stunning 3-0 defeat. It's been a long road back to this point, and the departure of Dwayne DeRosario to Toronto FC means this Houston team has a much different look than its championship predecessors.

Seattle and Houston each gave up only 29 goals in regular season play, tieing for the top spot in MLS. The goalkeepers are well known -- the Sounders' Kasey Keller is a U.S. national team legend and the Dynamo's Pat Onstad is a two-time MLS goalkeeper of the year and three-time champion. The Dynamo's veteran back line has been hit hard by injuries this year, but it obviously has held up. A midfield featuring new national teamers Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden (6 goals, 4 assists) and the peaking Brad Davis (5g, 12a) remains one of the league's best. Seattle counters with playmaker/underwear model Freddie Ljungberg (2g, 9a) and attacks with speed thanks to Steve Zakuani (4g, 4a) and striker Fredy Montero (12 g, 7a). Both teams feature quality target men. Houston has Brian Ching (8g, 3a), and Seattle boasts Nate Jacqua (9g, 7a).

The Pick:

Seattle won its final three games and seemed to have shaken its home scoring woes in a 2-1 defeat of FC Dallas to close out the season. Houston has been somewhat inconsistent down the stretch as it dealt with injuries and a heavy CONCACAF Champions League schedule. However, it has players up and down its roster with playoff experience and should have the advantage in midfield. For once, MLS's scant first-round "home-field advantage" may come into play. It should be close, but assuming Clark and Luis Angel Landin are healthy, look for Houston to advance at home in overtime or on penalties.

No.1 Los Angeles Galaxy (12-6-12) vs. No. 4 Chivas USA (13-11-6)

Schedule:

Sunday, Nov. 1: Los Angeles at Chivas, 5 PM ET
Sunday, Nov. 8: Chivas at Los Angeles, 7:30 PM ET

Season Series:

April 11: at Los Angeles 0, Chivas 0
July 11: at Chivas 0, Los Angeles 1
Aug. 29: at Los Angeles 1, Chivas 0

Outlook:

For the first time since Chivas entered the league in 2005 there is a real battle for SoCal, and like any good rivalry around the world, the opposing clubs represent very different sides of Los Angeles. In one locker room you have the high-profile team featuring the two most recognizable faces in American soccer, David Beckham and Landon Donovan. The team name was picked to represent a city full of stars, some of whom occasionally appear at their games. Down the hall you have Chivas USA, a club that features the coat of arms of the city of Guadalajara on its badge and strives to appeal to the Latino fan and the soccer purist. There is no home field advantage, and the games are sure to be intense.

Bruce Arena's reshaping of the Galaxy has been remarkable, and should earn him MLS coach of the year honors. The club was so dysfunctional the past two seasons that Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl wrote a book about it. Now, it's a discplined outfit that seems to get along both on and off the field and, for the first time in years, has an interest in playing defense. L.A. yielded 36 goals in MLS play this season, compared to a ridiculous 62 in 2008. Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza and Sean Franklin are three of the most talented young defenders in the country.

The Galaxy have a considerable advantage on the attack. Chivas relies heavily on U.S. midfielder Sacha Kljestan (5g, 3a) to engineer the offense and has not received enough production out of Cuban striker Maykel Galindo (4g, 2a). Mexican import Eduardo Lillingston lead the Goats with eight goals this season. Chivas will have to rely on effort and graft to compensate, but should be plenty motivated by their opponent and the playoff atmosphere. Goalkeeper Zach Thornton has been reborn this season and posted 12 shutouts.

The Pick:

The two best players in this series will be wearing white, and if Chivas defensive midfielder Jesse Marsch is limited by his concussion, Beckham (2g, 3a) and Donovan (12g, 6a) will have even more room to move. Chivas peaked far too early, and this should be the Galaxy's series to win without too much difficulty.

MLS West Features Marquee Matchups originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLS Right to Stand by Its Playoffs

Brian Straus — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:55:00 EST

Filed under: MLS

Watching MLS Commissioner Don Garber try to answer questions about the league's competition format on Monday night's Fox Football Fone-in felt like watching an art teacher give painting lessons to the color blind.

To his credit, Garber maintained his composure as hosts Nick Webster and Eric Wynalda and a few inarticulate callers threw out terms like "single table" and "European calendar" without ever explaining what it was they were after. Every year at this time, MLS faces cliched criticism from "hard core" fans who insist "our" league should be just like those in Europe, without ever explaining how or why. The truth, however, is this (and Garber knows it): Playoffs are the fairest and most exciting way to determine a champion, and this year's MLS Cup tournament promises to be one of the most balanced in some time.

Although nobody on Fox Soccer Channel was able to present a coherent argument or actually define what "single table" means -- it seems to mean something different to everybody -- let's go ahead and assume it centers on a criticism of the use of playoffs. It could just as easily refer to an elimination of the parallel conference structure without dropping the playoff, but no "single table" advocate seems to want to clarify this. Garber apparently was anticipating the anti-playoff sentiment, however, and began his appearance Monday night by stressing that a playoff system allows MLS to avoid an anticlimactic conclusion.

"I'm just not quite getting it," Garber said of the movement against playoffs. "Columbus would have won 10 days before the end of the season. They would have been celebrating the championship at a game where they lost."

He continued: "I understand the heritage and tradition that people enjoy with a single table. But somebody would have to explain to me how that would be better than what we have now, because I'm not getting it."

The fact is, nobody can explain it. Those who argue against them do so simply because they think "European football" is so much more "authentic." Please. Playoffs are better, and the popularity of events like the World Cup, Champions League, Super Bowl, NCAA Tournament, World Series, etc. prove it. The increasing push for a college football playoff proves it. Europe's slow adoption of the system for promotion and in some cases, UEFA competition places, proves it. Sports is entertainment. Nearly all of our lingering sports memories center on playoff games. Legends are built when elimination is on the line.

Leagues in Europe that self-hating American soccer fans want so desperately to emulate don't have playoffs because that's their tradition. It's been like that forever. That's the only reason. It was easier to run a league that way in 1908. A "single table" isn't inherently better, and one could argue easily that failing to test teams and players in climactic games against comparable opponents that demand more both physically and mentally is a significant oversight. I have played in leagues that have playoffs and leagues that determine their champions through regular season record, and elimination games simply are played at a higher level. This is irrefutable.

Let's put it this way. If having each team play the other the same amount of times without ever testing them in an elimination situation is the fairest and most exciting way to determine a champion, then FIFA needs to remodel the World Cup. It could use its national team rankings to determine a division structure, and over the course of each four-year cycle each country would play the others home and away. When it's over, the gold trophy is handed to the team clinching the best record, whenever that occurs.

How exciting! Instead of the tedium of the World Cup finals and the uninteresting things that always happen there, we could simply watch Germany clinch the championship with a scoreless tie in Seoul or Helsinki at a game that's one of several dozen played on a given Wednesday night. I can't wait.

As Garber said on Monday, MLS was correct to abandon the regular-season shootout, overtime and the other gimmicks that actually changed the way the game was played on the field from the rest of the world. But the league also is right to use playoffs. The regular season tests a team's consistency. The postseason tests its ability to master the moment. That is how you determine a true champion, and the MLS Cup climax helps the nascent league attract fans and sponsors and gives it a moment in the spotlight.

"I think we need to be the best American soccer league that we can," Garber said. "Not just making a decision so we can satisfy some identity that's not going to really deliver value for our fans."

The myopic devotion to all things "European" must end. Soccer is the most popular sport there, but that's not because they run their leagues a certain way. It's cultural, and occurs despite the way they run their leagues, which are, for the most part, horribly predictable, boring and anticlimactic. A couple of the same dozen teams can afford the best players, and they're clear of the pretenders by Christmas year after year. There's no need for playoffs when a league is so noncompetitive. American soccer fans should consider this next time they demand changes in MLS.

The abbreviated MLS playoff format clearly needs to change, and that's something we'll explore in a later column. But for now, let's be glad we'll have the opportunity to see the best teams in American soccer face off against each other when everything is on the line for all.

MLS Right to Stand by Its Playoffs originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Endless Playoff Possibilities Promise Intriguing MLS Conclusion

Brian Straus — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:14:00 EST

Filed under: MLS, US Soccer

Maurice Edu made news not for playing, but for running across a couple of racist idiots in Glasgow. The Houston Dynamo lost to previously winless and goalless Isidro Metapan on Wednesday night and was eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions League. Oguchi Onyewu had surgery on his torn left patella tendon and will be out an estimated six months--50 percent longer than originally thought.

Thankfully, a lousy week for American soccer is about to get better. On Thursday night, the Chicago Fire will host Chivas USA (8PM ET, ESPN2) in the first of a half-dozen games that will impact the MLS playoff picture. The competition for postseason spots is unprecedented, with seven clubs vying for three berths on the final weekend. We'll save the criticism of the league's ridiculous playoff format for another time, and instead will enjoy the fact that with 14 relatively even-matched teams (and New York), MLS at last has produced a meaningful regular season.

None of the four quarterfinal matchups has been decided and the permutations are practically endless. Four teams (Los Angeles, Houston, Chivas and Seattle) still could finish atop the Western Conference, while Chicago could finish second in the East or miss out on the playoffs altogether. Chivas (13-9-6, 45 points) and Columbus (13-6-10, 49 points) are the only two clubs in contention for the Supporters Shield.

The current standings can be found here, and an admirable attempt by Goal.com to flesh out the various tiebreaking possibilities, some of which involve up to six teams, is here.

So, since there's little point to prognostication, let's take a look at the games and figure out which playoff matchups we think would continue the league's momentum into November and the MLS Cup final, scheduled for Nov. 22 in Seattle. Based on what's currently possible according to the standings and tiebreaker procedures, here's what we'd like to see:

Chivas and Chicago draw on Thursday. On Saturday, Toronto and D.C. United grab wins on the road against already-eliminated New York and Kansas City, while Real Salt Lake takes pleasure in ending rival Colorado's season at Rio Tinto. We'll root for draws in both the Seattle-Dallas and Los Angeles-San Jose games because it helps produce the most intriguing playoff matchups. Those are sealed on Sunday as Houston, sore over its Champions League elimination, beats a tired Chivas at the Home Depot Center to clinch top spot in the West and Columbus wins its second consecutive Supporters Shield with a victory over fading New England.

As a result (we think), American soccer fans will get four very intriguing playoff series.

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Columbus vs. No. 4 D.C. United

Perhaps a visit from the hated Black-and-Red will galvanize a Columbus fan base with so much potential. It would be great to see Crew Stadium full, and the chance to eliminate D.C. (which knocked out the Crew three times in the late 1990s) might generate some excitement. United veterans Ben Olsen and Jaime Moreno deserve another crack at the postseason, but a playoff appearance should not deter club owner Will Chang from instigating the philosophical changes now needed so badly at the capital club.

No. 2 Chicago vs. No. 3 Toronto FC

Toronto's first playoff appearance should generate considerable excitement north of the border, and the midfield matchup between the Reds' Dwayne DeRosario and Amado Guevara and the Fire's Cuahtemoc Blanco would be the postseason's most intriguing. Under the above scenario, Chicago will enter the series winless in seven matches, perhaps setting up MLS's preseason favorites for a first-round exit and a conference final between nascent rivals Columbus and Toronto.

Western Conference

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Seattle

The league's best team over the past four years, Houston was winless in three games against the expansion Sounders this season, including a riveting and ill-tempered U.S. Open Cup semifinal that was decided in overtime. This matchup also would feature two of the league's four best coaches (Bruce Arena and Steve Nicol have to be considered the others), and a couple of the most colorful crowds, while offering a must-see Ricardo Clark vs. Freddie Ljungberg showdown in the middle.

No. 2 Los Angeles vs. No. 3 Chivas USA

The two SoCal clubs finally are decent at the same time, and David Beckham deserves nothing less for his maiden MLS Cup effort than a genuine derby. Galaxy-Chivas games have produced some of the best atmosphere MLS has seen, and would be a fitting way to introduce new viewers, opting to check in for the Englishman's postseason debut, to the league. Anything that stokes some real rivalry in American soccer is a good thing.

Let the games begin.

Endless Playoff Possibilities Promise Intriguing MLS Conclusion originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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