MLS Playoffs: Dynamo Deny D.C.’s Destiny Discussion

BBVA Compass Stadium, Nov. 11, Houston Dynamo 3, D.C. United 1Even before D.C. United had fully secured its improbable ticket to Houston and the Eastern Conference Finals, the soft whispers of destiny started to circulate. They had dodged so many bullets in their series with the New York Red Bulls, how could it not? Never mind that D.C. launched its share of those bullets in circular firing-squad fashion. Still, Ben Olsen’s roaming band of Black and Red youngsters survived. The Houston Dynamo came into these conference finals also hinting at a little destiny of their own. They were not supposed to beat Chicago or Kansas City. Suddenly, they were hosting a battered and depleted side in the first leg of a series that would determine which team goes on to the MLS Cup. The Dynamo has yet to lose at BBVA Compass Stadium. D.C. had never won in the state of Texas. Also, there were questions of United fatigue from drama, travel and a short turnaround from Thursday night’s game in New York. Still, D.C. seemed to have that destiny thing working for it. Early in the first half, United Coach Ben Olsen could be forgiven for finally giving in ...

Should the New York Red Bulls Make Mike Petke the New Head Coach?

It’s unlikely that Mike Petke is the leading candidate for the New York Red Bulls head coaching position.It’s not impossible; he was just named interim head coach with the team not renewing Hans Backe’s contract. But history tells us the organization will go with the bigger, flashier, more expensive name, both with players and the coaching staff.While Backe was still the head coach, names like GaryMcAllister and Harry Redknapp have been rumored by various sources to be considered the team’s head coach in 2013.But maybe Petke, a legend to the Red Bull/MetroStars faithful, might not be a bad choice after all.The trend in Major League Soccer is to hire former, recently retired players as new head coaches. Jason Kreis, Ben Olsen, Jay Heaps and Robin Fraser have all been hired as head coaches in the league since Kreis’ appointment at Real Salt Lake in 2007.Olsen has brought D.C. United to the semifinals in his second full season as coach, and Kreis has won an MLS Cup championship.The New England Revolution ownership was heavily criticized for the Heaps hire, mainly because of his lack of coaching experience.Petke, however, just finished his second season as one of the team’s assistant coaches, both ...

MLS Cup Playoffs 2012: Player to Watch from Each Team in Conference Finals

The MLS Cup is down to four teams, and each of the conference finalists will need excellent individual performances from their top players in order to come out on top. The Los Angeles Galaxy will take on the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference championship while the Houston Dynamo will face D.C. United in the Eastern Conference championship.  As reigning champions, the Galaxy will be mentally ready for the pressure that comes at this late stage of the tournament. Houston and D.C. also have multiple titles as franchises, leaving Seattle as the only remaining team to never lift the trophy. Here are the players each team will count on as they make a final surge towards glory.   Los Angeles Galaxy: Landon Donovan There are a few big names on the Galaxy’s roster, but Donovan does more on the field for his team than his fellow stars.  He is still a potent goal scorer and has hit the back of the net 10 times this season, placing him second on the team behind Robbie Keane. But Donovan is even more dangerous as a distributor, and his 15 assists is the highest total in the MLS.  Without Donovan effectively orchestrating the ...

MLS Playoffs 2012: Preview and Predictions for Houston Dynamo vs. DC United

The MLS Eastern Conference Final will pit two of the most celebrated teams in league history against each other in the playoffs for the first time. With six of the 16 MLS Cups between them, the Houston Dynamo and DC United are on the verge of adding another star to their iconic crests.They now stand in each other's way. After a five-year hiatus from the playoffs, the most storied franchise in MLS history is back. DC is relevant once more. Against all odds, United’s resilient style of soccer has carried them to this point. No other team in MLS has faced and preserved through more adversity than DC. Left for dead after the injury to reigning MVP Dwayne De Rosario (knee), United are now unbeaten in their last nine matches (6-0-3). It has not been the most beautiful soccer ever played, but it has been the most effective. They are not looking for style points. They are looking for wins and have clearly assumed the identity of their head coach Ben Olsen.  Bill Hamid’s red card in the semifinal match versus New York will force him to sit out the first leg of the series with an automatic suspension. Joe ...

MLS Cup Playoffs: Breaking Down the Final Four

The MLS Cup Playoffs are now down to the final four. The D.C. United will take on the Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Seattle Sounders will take on the Los Angeles Galaxy in the West.What can we expect from these two matchups? Read on to find out. D.C. United vs. Houston DynamoThe United are coming off an improbable victory against the Red Bulls, while Houston went past Kansas City to get to this game.Houston has issues with speedy players, but lucky for the Dynamo, the United don't have too many of those. Oscar Boniek Garcia is a creative midfielder and Will Bruin is the leading scorer in the playoffs.For the United, they feature a lot of talent, led by midfielder Nick DeLeon, who scored the series winner against the Red Bulls. They are down to their backup goalie, Joe Willis, but he has played admirably.The United will need Dwayne De Rosario to come back from a leg injury to have a chance, but he's in a race against the clock. If he can come back and be effective, the United will have a good shot. If not, Houston will take this easily.Look for Houston to advance to ...

MLS Playoffs 2012: The Only Thing $13.8 Million Buys You Is an Early Exit

$13.8 million, that is the combined salaries of Thierry Henry ($5.6 million), Rafa Márquez ($4.6 million) and Tim Cahill ($3.6 million).  The New York Red Bulls are home to three of the four highest-paid players in MLS, and the only thing the franchise has to show for it is a bunch of Red Bulls gear circulating around Mexico and a half-empty stadium. No trophies. No championships. Just a miserably faithful fanbase. In recent years, the Red Bulls have adopted the prototypical New York blueprint when it comes to building a championship team—throw a bunch of money at stuff and hope it sticks. In the last decade, the New York Yankees have approximately spent a combined $1.94 billion in payroll for one World Series title.  The New York Knicks spent $63.4 million last year to celebrate their only playoff victory like an NBA championship. They would be obliterated and eliminated by the Miami Heat just three days later. The 2012 Red Bulls are just the latest installment of spending big to come up small in the definitive moments of the season. Their league-high $16.7 million payroll could not even produce a single goal in the playoffs. (Unless you are willing to ...

MLS Playoffs Wrap-Up

Major League Soccer’s semifinal round of playoff action is now in the books. Perhaps most surprising is that the No. 1 seeds in both the Eastern and Western Conferences were eliminated and are headed home. For those teams that survived, the MLS Playoffs now head into the conference finals matchups, which will begin on Sunday.Let's take a look at the action from the semifinal round of games.Begin Slideshow

MLS Playoffs 2012: The New York Red Bulls Take Losing to Another Level

They sure do know how to break your heart, don’t they? The New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 defeat at the hands of DC United ended another disappointing season for New York. The Red Bulls didn't just lose 2-1 on the aggregate, they lost in the same heartbreaking fashion their fans have been subjected to for 17 years.  Kenny Cooper’s penalty kick in the 72nd minute put New York up 1-0. They would have the lead and a man advantage for the the final 20 minutes of the match following a costly red-card foul by United keeper Bill Hamid. That is, until referee Mark Geiger reminded New Yorkers everywhere what it is like to be a Red Bulls fan. Cooper’s stutter-step penalty kick was disallowed due to the encroachment of Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill, who found themselves well inside the box before the kick was taken. By the letter of the law, Geiger made the correct call. With a combined $8.5 million salary and years of international experience between them, Cahill and Henry should have been aware of Geiger’s propensity to involve himself in a match. The question is: Why did New York’s big-name talents not toe the line and trust ...

Los Angeles Galaxy: How the San Jose Earthquakes Were Finally Beaten

The San Jose Earthquakes' magical season finally ended on Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated them 3-1 in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals.The "Quakes" brought a 1-0 advantage with them to Buckshaw Stadium after stunning the Galaxy with a stoppage time goal from a set piece in the first leg of the series. That lead was not enough for the Supporters' Shield winners. Not even their seemingly magical tendency to find ways to score late in games could help them.Before the Galaxy take on the Seattle Sounders on Sunday in the Western Conference Finals, let's take a look at how Los Angeles defeated the Earthquakes.Begin Slideshow

MLS Playoffs: DC United Advances in Fitting Second Leg to First’s Fiasco

United's Nick DeLeon scored the game's only goal on a through ball in the 88th minute of the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals between D.C. United and New York Red Bulls.With the win at New York's Red Bull Arena, D.C. United will go on to face Houston in the conference finals.The thing about that goal is D.C. had been trying to work through balls all night. However, the Red Bulls had their offsides trap working to perfection. New York had caught United runners six times prior to the 88th minute.For Ben Olsen's Black and Red, the seventh was a charm, as Robbie Russell found DeLeon unshackled from the tyranny of line judges.This was a playoff series for the books. It featured pretty much everything imaginable, and that was just the first leg. The second picked up where the first left off, especially considering it was supposed to be played Wednesday night.After toggling the schedule because of Hurricane Sandy, MLS made a last-minute decision to postpone the second leg 24 hours because of Nor'Easter Athena. That second storm was dumping snow on the field faster than grounds crews could shovel it off. MLS Commissoner Don Garber issued a written apology for the turn of events.The ...