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Monday MLS Breakdown: Wacky Memorial Day Weekend
Burpo's horrific injury and Los Angeles' win in Columbus highlight wacky MLS weekend.
Jun 1, 2010 4:43:00 AM
By Kyle McCarthy
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – MLS sure knows how to celebrate a holiday weekend.
With the eyes of the soccer world increasingly focused on South Africa, the American top flight did its part to capture what attention it could by offering up a truly wacky slate of games in anticipation of Memorial Day.
How wacky?
- Twenty-seven goals in seven games, including three tallies from previously goal-shy D.C. United in its 3-2 home win over Chivas USA.
- Philadelphia captured its first-ever road win by continuing Houston's win one, lose one pattern with a 3-2 victory at Robertson Stadium.
- In that game, Union midfielder Shea Salinas scored a goal-of-the-season candidate by capping off a mazy run down the right wing and along the end line with a cheeky dink over Pat Onstad.
- Notorious road stumblers Toronto FC went to equally in-form San Jose and collected a 3-1 victory behind two second-half goals from halftime substitute and former Earthquake Dwayne De Rosario.
- Real Salt Lake rode goals from its two halftime subs to notch a 4-1 victory over flagging Kansas City and stretch its home unbeaten streak to 15 regular season matches.
- Colorado striker Conor Casey scored on a chip to provide the difference in a 1-0 victory over Seattle.
On a weekend filled with a host of peculiarities, two storylines emerged to sweep the vast majority of those interesting occurrences away from notoriety:
Burpo's horrifying injury mars important New England win
New England desperately needed a result heading into Saturday's 3-2 home win over New York. Without a win in seven matches and with a trip to Seattle looming as the last match before the World Cup intermission, the Revolution absolutely required three points on Saturday night as they faced a side that hadn't beaten them in their past 13 tries.
After assembling a 2-1 lead with midfield lynchpin Shalrie Joseph playing an integral part in the proceedings, Steve Nicol's side looked like it was on its way to victory. Then disaster struck after 34 minutes and shook the Revs to their core.
The sequence unfolded like countless other sequences in countless other matches. Joel Lindpere's ball over the top played Dane Richards in behind the New England back line. Revolution goalkeeper Preston Burpo rushed off his line to deal with the impending threat. The two players fairly challenged for the ball. The players clashed as the ball worked its way clear.
Except this clash ended sickeningly unlike those similar instances. As Burpo went to challenge for the ball, his right foot caught on the turf. Richards' subsequent challenge connected with Burpo's right leg and severely fractured it in the process. The incident left at least one Revolution player in tears and several others dazed as they tried to process the gory injury to their goalkeeper.
“It’s awful to see,” Revolution midfielder Chris Tierney said after the game. “It really rocked us.”
It did not, however, defeat them despite the impending doom swirling after an early second-half equalizer by Juan Pablo Angel. New York's two subsequent red cards – the comical second dismissal of Roy Miller prompted Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe to muse that a similar call in Italy would prompt an investigation – handed New England a numerical advantage and Joseph's second tantalizing service of the night supplied Zack Schilawski's match-winning header.
The late heroics provided the necessary three points, but occurred on a night where the result took a decided backseat to Burpo's devastating injury and the resulting Revolution response.
“I’m very proud,” Joseph said. “We tried to hold our heads up high and tried to keep battling. With the injury, a lot of people don’t want to watch and a lot of people can’t deal with it. We’ve got a young group on this team and for them to step up like that - for us to step up like that - and keep battling and keep playing shows this team has character and a lot of heart in every one of the guys on the team.”
Similar sentiments apply to Burpo, one of the few Revolution players to emerge with credit from a difficult start to the season. One day after his horrific injury, Burpo underwent successful reduction surgery on his fractured right fibula and tibia at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Potency separates Los Angeles from Columbus
Burpo's injury diverted some of the attention originally allotted to a rare top-of-the-table clash between the Eastern and Western Conference leaders.
Not even the most fervent critic could find much to pick apart about Columbus' performance in its much-anticipated clash with Los Angeles on Saturday night. The Crew bossed the game from start to finish and submitted its most complete performance of the season. Robert Warzycha's side cajoled, pressed and tested the Galaxy's defense for 90 minutes. Los Angeles countered occasionally with some menace, but most of the hard work occurred in the Galaxy's half of the field.
By every important statistical measure bar one, Columbus dominated. Twenty-one shots for the Crew, three for the Galaxy. Fifteen corner kicks for the home side, zero attempts for the visitors. Four shots on goal for the Eastern Conference leaders, three shots on goal for the Western Conference tabletoppers.
All of those statistical advantages didn't matter after two ruthless Galaxy counterattacks left the Crew wondering how they managed to play so well and lose 2-0.
“That was probably the most dominant game we've had since I've been here, except maybe that New England game a couple years ago (a 4-0 win in 2008),” Crew defender Andy Iro told the Columbus Dispatch. “From the second minute of the game we rocked it, but we didn't quite click. It happens.”
It happened because the Crew simply couldn't find its way through the resolute Galaxy back four. Donovan Ricketts made one stunning first-half save on Steven Lenhart to preserve the early lead carved out by Michael Stephens' well-taken volley and thanked the post for stopping Iro's second-half header, but he didn't have to pull several fine saves out of the top drawer to seal the three points.
Another robust shift by Gregg Berhalter and Omar Gonzalez thwarted most of Columbus' service from the wide areas, but the Crew squandered several gilt-edged chances in front of goal. The predatory nature of Stephens' early strike and Tristan Bowen's late dagger further underlined the home side's inefficiency in front of goal.
“We need to finish better,” Crew coach Robert Warzycha told reporters after the game.
This sort of profligacy won't fly in the CONCACAF Champions League and MLS Cup playoff matches Warzycha and the Crew want to win later in the campaign. Spotty finishing isn't a new problem in central Ohio, but Columbus hasn't enjoyed much success in adding a poacher to its deep and earnest striking corps. The most recent fix – high-priced Colombian striker Sergio Herrera – can't even find his way off the bench. Finding and introducing the right striker into this veteran squad won't be an easy task, but, as this disappointing loss reminded the Crew, it may prove ultimately necessary when the matches increase in importance.
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – MLS sure knows how to celebrate a holiday weekend.
With the eyes of the soccer world increasingly focused on South Africa, the American top flight did its part to capture what attention it could by offering up a truly wacky slate of games in anticipation of Memorial Day.
How wacky?
- Twenty-seven goals in seven games, including three tallies from previously goal-shy D.C. United in its 3-2 home win over Chivas USA.
- Philadelphia captured its first-ever road win by continuing Houston's win one, lose one pattern with a 3-2 victory at Robertson Stadium.
- In that game, Union midfielder Shea Salinas scored a goal-of-the-season candidate by capping off a mazy run down the right wing and along the end line with a cheeky dink over Pat Onstad.
- Notorious road stumblers Toronto FC went to equally in-form San Jose and collected a 3-1 victory behind two second-half goals from halftime substitute and former Earthquake Dwayne De Rosario.
- Real Salt Lake rode goals from its two halftime subs to notch a 4-1 victory over flagging Kansas City and stretch its home unbeaten streak to 15 regular season matches.
- Colorado striker Conor Casey scored on a chip to provide the difference in a 1-0 victory over Seattle.
On a weekend filled with a host of peculiarities, two storylines emerged to sweep the vast majority of those interesting occurrences away from notoriety:
Burpo's horrifying injury mars important New England win
New England desperately needed a result heading into Saturday's 3-2 home win over New York. Without a win in seven matches and with a trip to Seattle looming as the last match before the World Cup intermission, the Revolution absolutely required three points on Saturday night as they faced a side that hadn't beaten them in their past 13 tries.
After assembling a 2-1 lead with midfield lynchpin Shalrie Joseph playing an integral part in the proceedings, Steve Nicol's side looked like it was on its way to victory. Then disaster struck after 34 minutes and shook the Revs to their core.
The sequence unfolded like countless other sequences in countless other matches. Joel Lindpere's ball over the top played Dane Richards in behind the New England back line. Revolution goalkeeper Preston Burpo rushed off his line to deal with the impending threat. The two players fairly challenged for the ball. The players clashed as the ball worked its way clear.
Except this clash ended sickeningly unlike those similar instances. As Burpo went to challenge for the ball, his right foot caught on the turf. Richards' subsequent challenge connected with Burpo's right leg and severely fractured it in the process. The incident left at least one Revolution player in tears and several others dazed as they tried to process the gory injury to their goalkeeper.
“It’s awful to see,” Revolution midfielder Chris Tierney said after the game. “It really rocked us.”
It did not, however, defeat them despite the impending doom swirling after an early second-half equalizer by Juan Pablo Angel. New York's two subsequent red cards – the comical second dismissal of Roy Miller prompted Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe to muse that a similar call in Italy would prompt an investigation – handed New England a numerical advantage and Joseph's second tantalizing service of the night supplied Zack Schilawski's match-winning header.
The late heroics provided the necessary three points, but occurred on a night where the result took a decided backseat to Burpo's devastating injury and the resulting Revolution response.
“I’m very proud,” Joseph said. “We tried to hold our heads up high and tried to keep battling. With the injury, a lot of people don’t want to watch and a lot of people can’t deal with it. We’ve got a young group on this team and for them to step up like that - for us to step up like that - and keep battling and keep playing shows this team has character and a lot of heart in every one of the guys on the team.”
Similar sentiments apply to Burpo, one of the few Revolution players to emerge with credit from a difficult start to the season. One day after his horrific injury, Burpo underwent successful reduction surgery on his fractured right fibula and tibia at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Potency separates Los Angeles from Columbus
Burpo's injury diverted some of the attention originally allotted to a rare top-of-the-table clash between the Eastern and Western Conference leaders.
Not even the most fervent critic could find much to pick apart about Columbus' performance in its much-anticipated clash with Los Angeles on Saturday night. The Crew bossed the game from start to finish and submitted its most complete performance of the season. Robert Warzycha's side cajoled, pressed and tested the Galaxy's defense for 90 minutes. Los Angeles countered occasionally with some menace, but most of the hard work occurred in the Galaxy's half of the field.
By every important statistical measure bar one, Columbus dominated. Twenty-one shots for the Crew, three for the Galaxy. Fifteen corner kicks for the home side, zero attempts for the visitors. Four shots on goal for the Eastern Conference leaders, three shots on goal for the Western Conference tabletoppers.
All of those statistical advantages didn't matter after two ruthless Galaxy counterattacks left the Crew wondering how they managed to play so well and lose 2-0.
“That was probably the most dominant game we've had since I've been here, except maybe that New England game a couple years ago (a 4-0 win in 2008),” Crew defender Andy Iro told the Columbus Dispatch. “From the second minute of the game we rocked it, but we didn't quite click. It happens.”
It happened because the Crew simply couldn't find its way through the resolute Galaxy back four. Donovan Ricketts made one stunning first-half save on Steven Lenhart to preserve the early lead carved out by Michael Stephens' well-taken volley and thanked the post for stopping Iro's second-half header, but he didn't have to pull several fine saves out of the top drawer to seal the three points.
Another robust shift by Gregg Berhalter and Omar Gonzalez thwarted most of Columbus' service from the wide areas, but the Crew squandered several gilt-edged chances in front of goal. The predatory nature of Stephens' early strike and Tristan Bowen's late dagger further underlined the home side's inefficiency in front of goal.
“We need to finish better,” Crew coach Robert Warzycha told reporters after the game.
This sort of profligacy won't fly in the CONCACAF Champions League and MLS Cup playoff matches Warzycha and the Crew want to win later in the campaign. Spotty finishing isn't a new problem in central Ohio, but Columbus hasn't enjoyed much success in adding a poacher to its deep and earnest striking corps. The most recent fix – high-priced Colombian striker Sergio Herrera – can't even find his way off the bench. Finding and introducing the right striker into this veteran squad won't be an easy task, but, as this disappointing loss reminded the Crew, it may prove ultimately necessary when the matches increase in importance.
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page.
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