Soccer By Ives

RSL left feeling the sting of missed opportunities

BY JONATHAN VERA

CARSON, Calif.-- The last time Real Salt Lake and the Galaxy competed for a trophy, it was the 2009 MLS Cup FInal and RSL took the championship. History did not repeat itself on Sunday as this time they lost to the Galaxy on Sunday in a Western Conference final filled with missed opportunities.

"We both created a bunch of chances and they were able to convert two more than we did," explained Captain Kyle Beckerman. "We created the chances and there were a number of saves that Saunders made. It just wasn't our night."

For the most part, RSL was out-muscled and out-played for much of the match, particularly in the second half, with a handful of promising moments, and it was those moments, and knowing RSL had chances on Sunday that sting the most for the losing side.

"When you're home you have that little bit more confidence and you have an extra back or two joining in the numbers, there's options there," said RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis. "But tonight, it's tough to say that when we hit the bar twice in that match. Either one of those go in and it could have been a different night."

"Was it a night we didn't attack well enough?" asked Kreis. "Maybe, but we had chances to score and level the game."

Galaxy roll past RSL to clinch place in MLS Cup Final

BY ADAM SERRANO

The Los Angeles Galaxy continued their steady push towards the MLS Cup as they advanced to the league championship with a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake at the Home Depot Center on Sunday night. 

The victory put the Galaxy in their second final in three years where they will take on the Houston Dynamo on their home field on November 20th. One win away from their ultimate goal, the Supporters Shield winners understand that despite a fine season, there is plenty of work to be done. 

"We haven’t achieved what we want yet but we’ve taken all the right steps," said Landon Donovan. "We’re real proud of the effort the guys put in all week. It’s a really tough week and our guys did a great job and I thought we were really excellent."

Dynamo beat Sporting KC to book MLS Cup trip

By GARRETT DAVEY

When Brad Davis was carried off the field late in the first half of Sunday's Eastern Conference Final, it felt like the Houston Dynamo's chances of going to the MLS Cup Final were being carried off with him.

The Dynamo didn't see it that way, and instead of folding without their team MVP (and arguably the MLS MVP), Houston stood strong defensively and capitalized on two second-half chances to knock off Sporting Kansas City.

Goals from Andre Hainault and Carlo Costly, coupled with some outstanding team defending, helped Houston post a 2-0 victory at LiveStrong Sporting Park on Sunday.

“I’m happy for the guys first and foremost,” Houston coach Dom Kinnear said. “I think three months ago a lot of people didn’t really take us seriously, and this is definitely a big statement to everyone that did that things can happen when things go well for you.”

Kinnear did a masterful job adjusting his squad after losing Davis to injury. Every move he made paid off, from inserting defender Jermaine Taylor, to bringing on Costly as a second-half sub to help put the match out of reach.

MLS Western Conference Final: Match Night Commentary

The two strongest teams in MLS over the past three seasons square off tonight for a chance to play in the 2011 MLS Cup Final as the Los Angeles Galaxy take on Real Salt Lake at Home Depot Center (9pm, ESPN).

The Galaxy come in as Supporters Shields winners and the favorites against an RSL side that struggled late in the regular season, but showed against Seattle in the playoffs that they were back to the form that helped them reach the CONCACAF Champions League Final last spring.

If Real Salt Lake are going to beat the Galaxy, they will need to do so without starting centerback Nat Borchers, who will miss his second straight match with a leg injury. The good news for RSL is Jamison Olave has recovered from his own injury to return to the starting lineup and start alongside Chris Schuler in central defense.

SBI will be providing commentary on tonight's match so please feel free to follow along with the action tonight. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):

MLS Eastern Conference Final: Match Day Commentary

 


Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo will be playing for the first place in the 2011 MLS Cup Final today as they square off at LiveStrong Sporting Park in the Eastern Conference Final (5:30pm, Fox Soccer Channel).

Sporting KC comes in as the No. 1 seed and will look to continue their stellar home form against a tough Houston side that has rattled off an eight-match unbeaten streak since dropping a 3-0 decision in their last visit to face Sporting KC.

On one side you have a Sporting KC side with a loaded attack and solid defense. On the other, you have a Houston squad with a stingy defense and an offense that can burn opponents on set pieces.

Here is my Fox Soccer preview on today's East Final, which details the match-ups to watch and the keys to victory for both teams.

SBI will be providing live commentary on today's match so please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):

MLS West final notes: Keane finding form, RSL waits on CB tandem & more

Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

By ADAM SERRANO

Robbie Keane seems healthy and ready to contribute for the Los Angeles Galaxy's run to MLS Cup. Now all he needs to do is find the back of the net. 

Keane was appearing in just his second match since an adductor strain cost him the last three weeks of the season as well as a number of important matches for club and country. However, against the Red Bulls on Thursday night, Keane was a constant threat to score, and on another night might have come away with two goals.

In the 19th minute, he was denied by Red Bulls goalkeeper Frank Rost from close range. Then in the 38th, he cut down the right side only to be denied by the left post. With a number of important matches on the horizon for the Galaxy and Ireland, Keane belives that he is finally rounding into form after his injury. 

"I had a couple of chances, hit the post with one and the keeper made a good save on the other," said Keane. "There's been two games in four games for me after three weeks of being back, it's just nice to be back, and every minute is going to help me." 

MLS East final notes: Bravo's injury status, final CCL berth on the line & more

Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

Sporting Kansas City's attack has proven to be just fine without Designated Player Omar Bravo, and the club may have to maintain its level of play without him for Sunday's MLS Eastern Conference final against the Houston Dynamo.

Bravo has a groin strain that has prevented him from playing this postseason, and Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said that his status for Sunday's match is still very much in question.

"He's at a little bit of the same place that he's been over the last week," Vermes said. "He can do certain things well with no pain, but there's a few other things he has pain. He trained today at 70-to-80 percent. Hopefully tomorrow we'll see that his reaction from training is good, and then we'll see."

Teal Bunbury, Kei Kamara and C.J. Sapong have more than made up for Bravo's absence and figure to be called upon again as the Mexican striker works his way back to full fitness.

Here are a few more notes from SKC and Houston ahead of Sunday's final:

Tainio injury halts Red Bulls' quick start in season-ending loss to Galaxy

By JONATHAN VERA

CARSON, Calif. – The Western Conference final second leg between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls certainly lived up to its much-anticipated hype. Aggression was high, tempers flared and drama unfolded after a quick start by the Red Bulls, but in the end, New York took the long plane ride home broken and defeated.

Luke Rodgers set the tone early on. Immediately after scoring a shock goal in the fourth minute, he was booked after taking down David Beckham right after the restart. The mercurial New York striker soon after turned 20,000 fans against him after smashing a ball that was clearly heading out of bounds into the stands. The jeers only fueled him even more.

"We had a great start. You can't ask for anything more," Rodgers said. "We needed a goal, we came here, we got the goal, we were on top and then we concede a goal on the set piece just before half time. Whenever a team scores before halftime it gives them a massive lift, and that's what killed us."

However, it's not as simple as Rodgers makes it out to be. Much of what derailed New York's early success surrounded a 16th-minute injury to central midfielder Teemu Tainio that forced him out of the match.

Who will advance to the MLS Cup final?

Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

By Sunday's end, the MLS playoff field will be narrowed down to two clubs.

No wild card teams remain in the postseason picture after the overall top seed Los Angeles Galaxy disposed of the New York Red Bulls Thursday night. As a result, the Galaxy and Real Salt Lake will renew their rivalry in the Western Conference final (9 p.m., ESPN), a rematch of the 2009 MLS Cup title game. The top-seeded Galaxy will host Sunday's match between two teams with plenty of history with each other and whose last meeting ended with David Beckham and RSL coach Jason Kreis getting into a postgame argument.

Over in the Eastern Conference, the top two seeds, Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo, held serve after their first-leg victories to advance to a conference final that pits two in-form teams against each other (5:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel). SKC hasn't lost in seven matches against MLS competition, while Houston hasn't lost in eight. The Dynamo's last loss was a 3-0 defeat at the hands of SKC on Sept. 10 at the scene of Sunday's final, Livestrong Sporting Park.

Which teams do you see winning those matchups and advancing to the MLS Cup final? Cast your vote after the jump:

Beckham shines as Galaxy eliminate Red Bulls to reach Western Conference Final

BY ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif. -- David Beckham has enjoyed his finest season in MLS and on Thursday in the Los Angeles Galaxy's most important game of the season, Beckham led his team to Conference Final. 

Dealing with back spasms that nearly forced him out of the game in the first half, the Galaxy's midfielder sparked Los Angeles' rally as the Galaxy defeated the New York Red Bulls 2-1 advancing to the Western Conference Final against Real Salt Lake 3-1 on aggregate. Helping set up both goals on the night, there was no question of Beckham's influence on the result. 

"His effort was great tonight," said head coach Bruce Arena. "He's a player with an unbelievable desire to win and I think when we went down a goal, David helped pick up the team and his energy in the second half and earning that penalty kick was all David. I think that he was an inspiration to our team." 

Dynamo finish off Union to reach Eastern Conference final

By JOEY SAMUEL

Coming into the second leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal clash with the Philadelphia Union, the Houston Dynamo knew all they needed to do to advance was to keep a clean sheet.

They did that and more Thursday night, as Brian Ching got on the end of yet another Brad Davis free kick and the Dynamo defended brilliantly to seal a 1-0 win and a spot in the Eastern Conference final.

In the team's final game at Robertson Stadium before moving to a brand-new facility next year, the Dynamo shut down a Union team that came out with numerous attacking options to begin the game. Jack McInerney, Sebastien Le Toux, Veljko Paunovic, and Danny Mwanga all started for Philadelphia in yet another new-look formation.

While the Union came out strong, Houston took Philly's early momentum away with strong defensive play led by Defender of the Year candidate Geoff Cameron. The Union were unable to find an early equalizer that would have given them momentum.

Instead, it was Houston who broke the deadlock with the last play of the first half when Brad Davis sent in a perfect cross from a free kick during added time. Brian Ching rose above the Union defense and headed it past goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon to give the Dynamo a massive aggregate lead at the half, which would prove too much to handle in the end.

"That's what you aim for," Ching said. "It was a great performance from the guys tonight, another shutout. Hopefully we can continue playing well and make it to the final."

MLS Playoffs: Galaxy vs. Red Bulls (Match Night Commentary)

 

 

The Supporters Shield-winning LA Galaxy will try to move a step closer to the MLS Cup Final with a win (or draw) at Home Depot Center against the New York Red Bulls tonight (11pm, ESPN2) in their Western Conference semifinal second leg.

The Red Bulls have other plans, trying to continue a surprising run from last team in the playoffs to MLS Cup Final.

The Galaxy posted a 1-0 victory in the first leg at Red Bull Arena, but the Red Bulls definitely pushed LA to the brink, creating several quality chances that forced Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders into some truly stunning saves.

There will be some lineup changes from the first leg after the post-game scuffle in the first leg led to suspensions for Rafa Marquez and Juninho. The return from suspension of Red Bulls right back Jan Gunnar Solli should also play a factor tonight.

SBi will be providing commentary on tonight's match, so please feel free to follow the match here. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):

MLS Playoffs: Union vs. Dynamo (Match Night Commentary)

 

The Houston Dynamo play their final match at Robertson Stadium before moving to their new stadium in 2012, and if they want to christen that new stadium with an MLS Cup trophy, they will need to hold off the Philadelphia Union in their Eastern Conference semifinal second leg (8:30pm, ESPN2).

The Dynamo hold a one-goal edge on a Union squad that has won in both their previous trips to Houston. The opening goal will be important tonight, with Houston needing to put the pressure on the visitors like they did in the first half of the first leg.

The Union will to build on their strong second half from the first leg as Peter Nowak tries to find the right lineup combination to send his squad through to the Eastern Conference Final against Sporting Kansas City.

SBI will be providing live commentary on tonight's match so please feel free to follow the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):

Galaxy look to use experience to advance past New York

BY ADAM SERRANO

Throughout the last three years, the Los Angeles Galaxy have experience in dealing with the pressures of important games and in order to bypass the New York Red Bulls on Thursday (11pm EST, ESPN2), they will need all the cunning at their disposal. 

With a 1-0 aggregate advantage after their win last Sunday at Red Bull Arena, the Galaxy are faced with a decision. Either push forward in hopes of ending the series quickly or try and hold against a motivated Red Bulls team that needs a goal to take the match to extra time. Looking to advance to the Western Conference Final against Real Salt Lake, it's the past that the Galaxy hopes to use to get a result. 

"We have good experience in this situation,” Landon Donovan told reporters on Wednesday. “We were in the exact same position last year, where we beat Seattle away, and then we came home. I think a lot of teams in that situation might have a tendency to sit back and guard the goal, but we wanted to come out and be aggressive, and we got at them early and ended the game quickly.

"In an ideal world, we could do that, but, certainly, it's a different year and a different opponent, and it's going to be tough."

Real Salt Lake holds off furious Seattle rally to reach West Final

By JASON MITCHELL

SEATTLE, WA – The Seattle Sounders pressed hard for more than 90 minutes Wednesday night, but injuries, a gritty effort from a Real Salt Lake side that was also shorthanded, and a 3-0 aggregate hole proved too much to overcome.

Real Salt Lake watched that three-goal cushion fade quickly to one-goal cushion, but RSL fought off a furious late-game charge by the Sounders, who dominated possession and created countless chances, but never could find a third goal and instead settled for a 2-0 second-leg victory that meant an RSL series victory.

The series win sends Real Salt Lake to the Western Conference Final, where they will face either the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday at Home Depot Center or the New York Red Bulls at Rio Tinto Stadium on Monday.

"Four days ago we're just completely dominant and tonight we're back on our heels and being dominated," Kreis said. "In the span of four days, sometimes that can be difficult to figure out but our guys battled through and believed in each other and kept at it and kept their nose down through some very, very difficult play, difficult decisions by the referee and a difficult atmosphere. 

"But we move on and we'll look for a better performance in the next round."

Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake: Match Night Commentary

 

The task is an extremely difficult one, but not an impossible one for the highest-scoring team in MLS.

The Seattle Sounders must find a way to erase a three-goal deficit in tonight's Western Conference semifinal second leg against Real Salt Lake after suffering a 3-0 loss in the first leg (10pm, ESPN2). The tasks sounds impossible, but with RSL missing starting centerbacks Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave tonight, the Sounders certainly have a chance.

Seattle isn't completely healthy either, with Mauro Rosales set to miss the match after also missing the first leg with a knee injury.

SBI will be providing live commentary on tonight's match so please feel free to follow the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):