Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
Good luck trying to figure out the New York Red Bulls' problems.
With a full-strength starting 11 that featured two players who are each paid well more than Real Salt Lake's entire roster combined, the Red Bulls were outclassed by their visitors from Utah on Wednesday night, conceding three goals in the first 21 minutes before falling 3-1.
After the match, coach Hans Backe pointed to individual errors that cost his team, alluding to midfielder Teemu Tainio not marking a set piece closely enough on Salt Lake's first goal and centerback Tim Ream's shocking giveaway on the second.
"Unfortunately, perhaps two or three individual mistakes killed the game," Backe said. "If you give away goals like that, it's a long, long way."
Added forward Luke Rodgers: "It just seems that every time we make a mistake, we get punished. Everyone makes mistakes. It's a part of life. But we just seem to make them and get punished for them straightaway. We don't seem to make a mistake and get away with it.
Here are some more notes from around the Eastern Conference:
CHICAGO FIRE
After some struggles early in the campaign that saw him briefly lose his job to backup Jon Conway, goalkeeper Sean Johnson has bounced back to enjoy a solid sophomore campaign, posting six shutouts since regaining his the starting position in early May.
"The progression over last year to this year has gotten better, as a player and as a person," Johnson said to ESPN Chicago. "Mentally and physically, I've worked on my game, and I think it has been important for me to see different situations. Now I can kind of relate situations into my starting positions and things like that. I can only get better as I keep playing and get older."
COLUMBUS CREW
Defender Shaun Francis, sidelined most of the season with an array of injuries, has regained his starting job at left back despite the solid performance of Josh Gardner in his stead, and coach Robert Warzycha said this week that the arrangement is unlikely to change.
"[Gardner] did a very good job, but it's no secret that when I talked to Josh, Shaun was my first choice," Warzycha told MLSsoccer.com. "He's probably going to be playing behind him if [Francis] performs."
D.C. UNITED
United may have seen a crucial three points for its playoff aspirations slip away Wednesday as it let a two-goal lead over Chivas USA evaporate and settled for a 2-2 draw at home. But one positive storyline did emerge from the contest for D.C., as rookie centerback Ethan White, a Homegrown Player signing, scored his first professional goal early in the second half.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," White said. "I grew up watching D.C. United, and stepping up and scoring during my rookie year -- I wasn't expecting that. It's unbelievable, and I don't think I've ever been happier than celebrating that goal. But walking off the field, it's disappointing because we could have won that game."
HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Dynamo may be traveling for the return leg of this year's Texas derby Saturday after hosting FC Dallas for a 2-2 draw in May, but defender-midfielder Geoff Cameron thinks his side will feel right at home at Pizza Hut Park.
"I think maybe we could consider Dallas a home-field advantage," Cameron said. "It's just because we're both dealing with the heat and we're both so used to that, and the fact that we'll have a lot of fans that will come out there and support us."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The club's injury report lists centerback A.J. Soares as questionable and forward Rajko Lekic as out for this weekend's trip to Chicago after both players exited Friday's 3-0 loss in Portland with injuries.
Soares departed in the 58th minute with an adductor strain, and Lekic left the field in first-half stoppage time with an ankle sprain.
PHILADELPHIA UNION
Morgan Langley, a midfielder signed from the Harrisburg City Islanders last week, made his Union debut as an 80th-minute sub for Roger Torres during Saturday's 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew, and it's an experience the 22-year-old won't forget any time soon.
"I never expected to play right away," Langley said to PhiladelphiaUnion.com. "I was so excited to go in the game. It was a dream come true for me. I was so pumped up. To play in my very first game at PPL Park is an experience I'll always treasure. I hope it's just the start."
SPORTING KANSAS CITY
When striker Teal Bunbury was mired in a scoring slump that lasted much of the summer, the second-year player was assured he's not the first forward to go through such a dry spell by someone who knows a little something about scoring goals: his father, Canadian soccer great and former Kansas City forward Alex Bunbury.
TORONTO FC
With six goals in seven league contests, midseason signing Danny Koevermans seems to be adapting just fine to the rigors of a North American soccer schedule, even though the Dutchman does acknowledge that the travel can be wearisome.
"It is difficult," Koevermans told MLSsoccer.com. "You're not used to it. As a European player, the farthest you can go with a plane is maybe three hours and that's it."
