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Goal.commentary: San Jose And Dallas Temporarily Restore MLS Parity
After struggling through the opening third of the season, the two bottom sides in MLS earned big wins in Round 11.
Jun 1, 2009 4:01:49 PM
By Seth Vertelney
Just when MLS might have had us convinced that parody was ending in 2009, it was abruptly restored in Round 11.
Though most teams are still mired mid-table, there were at least some clear-cut front runners and also-rans emerging from the beginning of the season. This week, though, the league's top two teams fell and its worst two teams each captured a rare three points.
True, league-leading Chivas U.S.A. lost on Thursday to Chicago, the league's second place team, but the Fire didn't handle prosperity very well. On Sunday, the Fire were stunned 3-0 at home by second-from-bottom F.C. Dallas for their first loss all season and the Hoops' first win since April 19.
San Jose, the only team below F.C. Dallas in the standings, hadn't won since March before a 2-1 home triumph over Real Salt Lake Saturday. The win also snapped a six-game losing streak. Any San Jose win seemed improbable, but this one made some sense considering they were home to RSL, who seem to experience some kind of Utah separation anxiety whenever they leave the Beehive State (home: 3-1-1, away 0-5-1).
Still, it was an unlikely pair of results for two teams that opposing sides had started to pencil in for three points. The Earthquakes in particular were in the midst of a truly awful two month run, posting a 0-3-2 mark in April before losing their first four matches in May.
It's hard to pinpoint one main reason why the Earthquakes have been so poor this year, but it would be wise to start with two: The Quakes haven't stopped anybody from scoring, and they haven't scored nearly enough themselves. Their -10 goal differential is good for last in MLS, as is their 22 goals allowed. Offseason signings Bobby Convey and Cam Weaver have not made much of an impact and the defense suffered without Jason Hernandez, who recently returned from a calf injury that had sidelined him all season.
Aside from Hernandez's recent return, the Earthquakes can also milk a bit of optimism out of new signing Cornell Glen's performance Saturday night. The well-traveled Trinidad and Tobago international created several chances and scored his first goal in his second game (and first start) with the club. Last year, San Jose was struggling mightily before midseason acquisition Darren Huckerby led them on a late-season charge which nearly earned them a playoff spot. Could the 28 year-old Glen provide a similar spark this year? Well, probably not. He has never really been able to stick in MLS and has been plying his trade in the Trinidadian league for the last two years. At the very least though, Glen should push for playing time and move some underachieving attackers further down the pecking order.
Despite the Quakes' first win in two months, the weekend's biggest surprise took place Sunday at Toyota Park. F.C. Dallas traveled to Chicago with a 0-4-1 away record and left with their first road victory after a 3-0 blindsiding of the league's only undefeated team. The Hoops hadn't posted a shutout all season and the Fire hadn't been shut out all season, so, naturally, both firsts took place on the same pitch Sunday afternoon. Chicago had played three days earlier and have also struggled to win at home this year, but the comprehensiveness of the beating was eye-opening.
Injuries have hit F.C. Dallas hard this year, as starting goalkeeper Dario Sala is just one of many key players who have been sidelined. They do appear to be righting the ship lately, if only gradually, and are now riding a season-best three game unbeaten streak. In order to make a real climb in the standings however, they will probably need to get more from offseason signing David Ferreira. Brought in to fill the midfield playmaker role, the diminutive Brazilian has just one assist and zero goals in 11 matches.
Looking ahead, F.C. Dallas and San Jose each have a golden opportunity this coming Sunday to earn their first win streaks of the season- due primarily to the fact that they face each other. A win for either side will surely start to instill some faith that they can pick up the pieces after a lost opening third of the season and make a run towards playoff contention.
Seth Vertelney is a regular contributor to Goal.com.
Just when MLS might have had us convinced that parody was ending in 2009, it was abruptly restored in Round 11.
Though most teams are still mired mid-table, there were at least some clear-cut front runners and also-rans emerging from the beginning of the season. This week, though, the league's top two teams fell and its worst two teams each captured a rare three points.
True, league-leading Chivas U.S.A. lost on Thursday to Chicago, the league's second place team, but the Fire didn't handle prosperity very well. On Sunday, the Fire were stunned 3-0 at home by second-from-bottom F.C. Dallas for their first loss all season and the Hoops' first win since April 19.
San Jose, the only team below F.C. Dallas in the standings, hadn't won since March before a 2-1 home triumph over Real Salt Lake Saturday. The win also snapped a six-game losing streak. Any San Jose win seemed improbable, but this one made some sense considering they were home to RSL, who seem to experience some kind of Utah separation anxiety whenever they leave the Beehive State (home: 3-1-1, away 0-5-1).
Still, it was an unlikely pair of results for two teams that opposing sides had started to pencil in for three points. The Earthquakes in particular were in the midst of a truly awful two month run, posting a 0-3-2 mark in April before losing their first four matches in May.
It's hard to pinpoint one main reason why the Earthquakes have been so poor this year, but it would be wise to start with two: The Quakes haven't stopped anybody from scoring, and they haven't scored nearly enough themselves. Their -10 goal differential is good for last in MLS, as is their 22 goals allowed. Offseason signings Bobby Convey and Cam Weaver have not made much of an impact and the defense suffered without Jason Hernandez, who recently returned from a calf injury that had sidelined him all season.
Aside from Hernandez's recent return, the Earthquakes can also milk a bit of optimism out of new signing Cornell Glen's performance Saturday night. The well-traveled Trinidad and Tobago international created several chances and scored his first goal in his second game (and first start) with the club. Last year, San Jose was struggling mightily before midseason acquisition Darren Huckerby led them on a late-season charge which nearly earned them a playoff spot. Could the 28 year-old Glen provide a similar spark this year? Well, probably not. He has never really been able to stick in MLS and has been plying his trade in the Trinidadian league for the last two years. At the very least though, Glen should push for playing time and move some underachieving attackers further down the pecking order.
Despite the Quakes' first win in two months, the weekend's biggest surprise took place Sunday at Toyota Park. F.C. Dallas traveled to Chicago with a 0-4-1 away record and left with their first road victory after a 3-0 blindsiding of the league's only undefeated team. The Hoops hadn't posted a shutout all season and the Fire hadn't been shut out all season, so, naturally, both firsts took place on the same pitch Sunday afternoon. Chicago had played three days earlier and have also struggled to win at home this year, but the comprehensiveness of the beating was eye-opening.
Injuries have hit F.C. Dallas hard this year, as starting goalkeeper Dario Sala is just one of many key players who have been sidelined. They do appear to be righting the ship lately, if only gradually, and are now riding a season-best three game unbeaten streak. In order to make a real climb in the standings however, they will probably need to get more from offseason signing David Ferreira. Brought in to fill the midfield playmaker role, the diminutive Brazilian has just one assist and zero goals in 11 matches.
Looking ahead, F.C. Dallas and San Jose each have a golden opportunity this coming Sunday to earn their first win streaks of the season- due primarily to the fact that they face each other. A win for either side will surely start to instill some faith that they can pick up the pieces after a lost opening third of the season and make a run towards playoff contention.
Seth Vertelney is a regular contributor to Goal.com.
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