Previewing The Playoffs: Conference Finals Edition
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 10:05 AM PST
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Today's conference finals see a battered Real Salt Lake team visit the unbeaten at home Los Angeles Galaxy while the stalwart Houston Dynamo will have to see off the dynamic attack of Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Park. In each of the last two years the winner of the MLS Cup has been the lowest ranked team in the playoffs. This year, with the new playoff format, all of the wildcard teams have been eliminated and only seeded teams remain.
Houston Dynamo at Sporting Kansas City
2:30 pm, Fox Soccer Channel
The Dynamo were not a popular pick to advance against the Philadelphia Union, but the hottest team in Major League Soccer coming into the playoffs stayed on form and ground out two hard fought games to advance into the conference finals. While the Dynamo looked challenged every step of the way against the Union, Sporting blew past the Colorado Rapids displaying the rapier attack and stingy defense that earned them the first place berth in the eastern conference. With Mexican international Omar Bravo set to return from injury, either as a starter or a substitute, the Sporting Kansas City attack will get a further boost in today's match.
Predictions: Sporting Kansas City 2 - Houston Dynamo 0 with goals by Teal Bunbury and Chance Myers.
Real Salt Lake at Los Angeles Galaxy
6:00 pm, ESPN
Real Salt Lake missed their usual centerback pairing of Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers against the Seattle Sounders. Without the two holding down the back RSL had difficulty passing the ball out of the back and linking up with their midfield to create possession. One or both might return, but it will be a game time decision according to manager Jason Kreis. Los Angeles, on the other hand, have a healthy squad that have looked destined to win the cup for much of the year. The Galaxy will want to continue that look as the host RSL at the Home Depot Center, where LA were undefeated this season.
Predictions: Los Angeles Galaxy 1 - Real Salt Lake 0 with the lone goal by Robbie Keane.
Tune in and drop by this thread to chat about the games with your fellow Timbers fans.
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You've got to admire the group of Houston fans crammed into the corner.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
great energy to the match,
don’t know if both teams can keep it up. Houston is very physical, as we learned a few weeks ago…
And KC really? the horrible chant on keeper kicks?!? Stay classy.
Hah, THAT chant.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 3:09 PM PST up reply actions
I hate that chant
Absolutely the worst chant and I spend my days around High Schoolers…..
Whoever started it needs to be taken to Canada and left there.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
Espinoza would be downright good...
if he actually had a left foot.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
Best match of the playoffs
At least for me. Back and forth game with both teams fighting for it.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
I don't think that we are talkig about the same chance, but the answer works either way.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 3:52 PM PST up reply actions
Wow,
not pretty, but effective.
Dynamo Theory was besides itself when Brad Davis went down. Bet they are feeling good now.
Yeah
Seems like the Ref is letting a lot go.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
I would say he has reffed a good game,
but SKC definitely has more to complain about in terms of the way that the game has been called.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 4:18 PM PST up reply actions
I agree
He did ref a good game.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
Yeah, perfectly placed none the less.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 4:24 PM PST up reply actions
When did someone set off a smoke bomb?
Was that the Houston fans?
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
MLS got saved they moved Houston East this year.
Woulda been a Colorado of last season and RSL before that.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
And there it is.
Houston shut down SKC start to (pretty much) finish and took advantage to grab two scrappy goals.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
I'll be back in an hour and a half for RSL/LA.
Come on back then!
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 4:34 PM PST up reply actions
Man of the Match
Cory Ashe. Totally.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 4:38 PM PST up reply actions
Fox soccer just had their top 5 goals
Nagbe was not on the list. Chimento (spelling), Zusi, Moffat in the last game of the year, Juan Agudelo and the Hassli….. Weak sauce and this is why I am happy Fox is not showing games next year.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
I was just thinking the same thing.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 5:00 PM PST up reply actions
I think that we have already seen
more consecutive possession from RSL than from either team last game.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
He was so surprised too
Almost like, “what I have the ball?!?!”
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
Terrible Defending
That was a wide open header.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
I think the deal for MLS games
IS that they cap it at 20,000ish. No Upper deck….
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
I said it last game, and I think it holds true again tonight
Schuler is not very good at soccer.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
RSL
looks like the better team right now
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
Omar Gonzalez unmarked on the back post...
Not great defending.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
Despite what the announcers are saying
that seemed like a clear penalty to me.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 6:42 PM PST up reply actions
Me too
I thought the slight bump threw off an open header and therefore deserved the PK
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
Yet
People complain about Artificial Grass at JW
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
He does like the curler.
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
by Andrew Wheeler on Nov 6, 2011 7:01 PM PST up reply actions
John Harkes: where witty comments go to die.
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
I Loathe
And I me Loathe John Harkes…..
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
He is fast.
Fast as heck.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 7:04 PM PST up reply actions
Omar Gonzalez
is having a much better game than he did in either match against New York
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
Six inches in a different direction and we'd have an amazing game.
For either team!
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
They are being way too lax in defending Beckham
I mean, come on, it’s not like he’s going to dribble around you. Challenge him!
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
Yes.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 7:54 PM PST up reply actions
Also, Gil is pretty good for a highschooler.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 8:01 PM PST up reply actions
Espindola's tired.
You gotta do better than that against a keeper with a bad back.
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
Robbie Keane, David Beckham, and Landon Donovan on Nick Rimando and Chris Schuler
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Nov 6, 2011 8:09 PM PST up reply actions
RSL in CCL
But they have to get through to group stage on a play-in now.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
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