TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 27)

GOALKEEPER

W. Hesmer (CLB)

DEFENDERS

M. Wynne (TFC), C. Marshall (CLB), P. Ianni (HOU)

MIDFIELDERS

S. Victorine (CHV), R. Rogers (CLB), J. Morales (RSL)

FORWARDS

C. Rolfe (CHI), C. Casey (COL), Y. Movsisyan (RSL), D. Huckerby

MLS Saturday & Sunday (Week 27)

Saturday
Houston 1-1 Toronto FC (BMO Field)
How can you score two goals and still draw? A rare goal from defender Marvell Wynne saved a point at home against Houston, as Hunter Freeman knocked an own goal for the visitors.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Columbus 1-0 New England (Gillette Stadium)
The power in the East may have shifted a bit to the west, as Columbus continues their good form, picking up a road win thanks to Chad Marshall's fourth of the season.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado 5-4 New York (Giants Stadium)
An old-fashioned NISL-like shootout, with seven goals in the first half. Omar Cummings goal in the third minute was quickly answered by New York's Mike Magee. Conor Casey put the Rapids back on top, only to see a Juan Pablo Angel PK and a Dane Richards strike put New York up 3-2. Then, defender Mike Petke equalized in the 43rd and Casey converted a PK of Colorado's own. New York's Matthew Mbuta equalized again for the home side before Casey completed his hattrick with the winner in the 90th minute. Whew.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Salt Lake 3-2 San Jose (BS Stadium)
Yura Movsisyan sandwhiched two of his own between a Darren Huckerby brace, leaving the two sides deadlocked till the 59th minute, when RSL's Javier Morales emerged as the hero.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Kansas City 1-2 Chivas USA (HDC)
Alecko Eskandarian and Sasha Victorine supplied the two goals for Chivas USa, who made the lead hold up despite a 70th minute bicycle kick from Josh Wolff.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday
DC United 0-3 Dallas FC (PHP)
The three-headed monster of Andre Rocha, Jeff Cunningham and Kenny Cooper kept DC United in the dumps. United are winless since taking the Open Cup title.

MLS Thursday: Fire bombed (Week 27)

Los Angeles 1-3 Chicago Fire (CAB)
Chicago fires two second-half volleys past Los Angeles and that's all she wrote. Chicago's Chris Rolfe and the Galaxy's Eddie Lewis exchanged goals in the first half before Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored the winner in the 57th and Rolfe added another two minutes later.

----------------------------------------------------------------

TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 26)

GOALKEEPER

D. Kennedy (CHV)

DEFENDERS

F. Hejduk (CLB), C. Talley (CHV), C. Gibbs (COL)

MIDFIELDERS

C. Klein (LA), T. Cooke (COL), A. Rocha (DAL), R. Espinoza (KC)

FORWARDS

L. Donovan (LA), J. Cunningham (DAL), K. Mansally (NE)

MLS Saturday & Sunday (Week 26)

SATURDAY
Toronto 0-2 Kansas City (CAB)
A Jack Jewsbury PK and a 79th minute from substitute Kevin Souter (his first of the year) -- could it get worse for Toronto? Only if Vancouver is given a team and then they're not even a novelty anymore.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Chivas USA 1-0 Salt Lake (RES)
MLS journeyman Alecko Eskandarian scored the lone goal of the match, and RSL go winless in their last three matches.

----------------------------------------------------------------
New England 1-1 Colorado (DSG Park)
Colorado's Colin Clarke and New England's Kenny Mansally traded goals on either side of the half, as the Rapids and Revs split the points.

----------------------------------------------------------------
DC United 2-5 Los Angeles (HDC)
When even the star player who was fouled said you made a bad call, it's time to get a new job. With Los Angeles up 3-2, referee Terry Vaughn sent off defender Marc Burch for an ill-timed slide tackle on David Beckham. The controversial call overshadowed a terrific outing by Landon Donovan who scored a hattrick and added an assist. Alan Gordon and Peter Vagenas rounded out the scoring for the Galaxy, while DC's Devon McTavish and Thabiso Khumalo each scored their first goals of the season. Watch the goals here, but everyone really wants to see "the foul" so here:

----------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY
FC Dallas 4-1 Chicago (Toyota Park)
There's no telling who will show up for FC Dallas in any given match, but this time they came to played, as Jeff cunningham scored two goals and Aaron Pitchkolan and Bruno Guarda added two more before Brian McBride scored a conciliation goal for the suddenly sorry Fire who have only four wins in their last 10 matches.

MLS Thursday: Crew Dudes (Week 26)

Sept. 12
New York 1-3 Columbus (Crew Stadium)
It was the unlikely hero Frankie "Heydude" Hejduk who led a come-from-behind charge, after Columbus surrendered a beautiful first-half free-kick to the Red Bulls Juan Pablo Angel. After Heydude's equally magnificent equalizer 20 minutes later, Robbie Rogers put the Crew ahead in the second-half with another nice striker from distance and Hejduk set-up Eddie Gaven for the Crew's third of the night. Also in this match, Kevin Goldthwaite losthw his mindthw and gothw himsthwelf thwown outhw.

Heydude's goal


Fines on thway for Goldthwaite

TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 25)

GOALKEEPER

J. Conway (NY)

DEFENDERS

J. Larentowicz (NE), G. Padula (CLB), J. Conrad (KC)

MIDFIELDERS

S. Ralston (NE), A. Guevara (TFC), T. Cooke (COL), A Rocha (DAL)

FORWARDS

T. Twellman (NE), D. Arnaud (KC), K. Cooper (DAL)

MLS Sunday: Rapid return (Week 25)

Chicago 0-2 Colorado (DSG Park)
Chicago keeper Jon Busch put one in his own net and Colorado forward Omar Cummings scored the second, as the Rapids scored back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------

MLS Saturday (Week 25)

Columbus 1-1 Toronto FC (BMO Field)
Pat Noonan's first goal since returning to MLS from Europe helped the Crew secure a point in Toronto. Carl Robinson's sixth minute goal put the Reds on top until Noonan's equalizer in the 40th minute. Both goals were rather impressive, but since the Crew's goal was broadcast on a tiny screen so the local station could broadcast a weather report, I'll show you Robinson's one-timer.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles 0-2 Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium)
Goals by Josh Wolff and Davy Arnaud, just two minutes part (67th and 69th minutes), couldn't make up for the terrible NFL-lined pitch that this game was played on. I couldn't tell if it was a hand ball or a Hail Mary. Yuck. And double yuck for Los Angeles. All those changes and they look like the same ol' terrible Galaxy. The best thing about this game was the box score which features this gem: KC -- Josh Wolff (caution; Shirt Removal) 67.

----------------------------------------------------------------
FC Dallas 2-2 DC United (RFK Stadium)
Andre Rocha score his second goal of the season and saved a draw for FC Dallas against United, who had jumped out to a 2-1 lead on goals by Jaime Moreno and Santino Quaranta. The assist on Moreno's goal went to new addition, Thabiso Khumalo. Kenny Cooper scored the opening goal of the match in the ninth minute and demonstrated why Bob Bradley must call him up.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Salt Lake 1-2 New York (Giants Stadium)
Juan Pablo Angel and Dave van den Bergh each scored a goal in the second-half to bring the Red Bulls back from a 1-0 deficit in the first half, courtesy of Yura Movsisyan.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Houston 1-1 San Jose (BSS)
The point-split theme continued in the nightcap with Houston saving a draw at San Jose. Ronnie O'Brien put the home team up 1-0 in the 50th, and then Brian Ching, fresh from his national team duty, provided the equalizer in the 71st minute. But an 85th-minute ejection of Eddie Robinson for a second caution made things interesting.

MLS Thursday: Revs' mojo returns (Week 25)

Sept. 12
Chivas USA 0-4 New England (PHP)
New England spanks Chivas, as Steve Ralston marked his return from injury with a goal and two assists and Taylor Twellman scored his sixth of the year. Chivas was Kljestan-less which might sound like a good thing but it isn't a serious medical condition.

U.S. breeze past Soca Warriors

The U.S. blew past Trinidad & Tobago like a Carnival Cruise, winning their third straight World Cup qualifier 3-0 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., and taking a commanding lead in Group 1 of CONCACAF qualifying.

Even Bradley's harshest critics (myself included) have to admit that his coaching on set pieces has been excellent, as evidenced by the U.S.'s first goal in just the 10th minute. With a free kick on the right wing on the edge of the final third, Landon Donovan delivered a long, search ball into the mixer and an unmarked Michael Bradley stuck a boot out and redirected it into goal only 10 minutes into the match.

The U.S. doubled their lead in the 19th minute when DaMarcus Beasley slotted a through ball past the backline to a charging Dempsey who calmly fired a low shot inside the left post. It was Duece's second goal in consecutive games.

This game made it obvious that Ching isn't talented enough to collect and turn. Most of his success is a result of crossing service to his head or garbage clean-up on rebounds. He nearly cost the U.S. its second goal with an ill-timed offside run, but the referee ruled that he was uninvolved in the play. Later, Ching missed an absolute gimmie, squandering a terrific pass by Donovan.

And speaking of garbage put-backs, that is how Ching got on the scorer's sheet in the 57th minute to make it U.S 3, T&T 0. A scrum in the box, and Oguchi Onyewu's initial header eventually falls to Ching. Speaking of garbage (ouch), EdJo made an appearance in the match, proving that rumors of his Cuban defection weren't true. But maybe they should have been, as the former Wizards forward missed three put-backs from close-range in the final 10 minutes.

TYH's Patriot of the Pitch©: Michael Bradley

MATCH REPORT

TEAM	1st half	2nd half	Final
USA	2	1	3
T&T	0	0	0

Scoring:
Bradley (Donovan) 10.
Dempsey (Beasley) 19.

Ching (Onyewu) 57.

Lineups:
USA: Howard; Cherundolo, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Pearce; Dempsey (Lewis 78), Kljestan, Bradley (Clark 68), Donovan, Beasley; Ching (Johnson 67).

T&T: Phillip; Edwards, Telesford, Thomas, Gray, Hislop; Leon, Edwards, Theobald (Wolfe 46), Daniel; Glen.

Misconduct Summary:

T&T: Edwards (caution) 57.

USA: Cherundolo (caution) 59.

T&T: Leon (caution) 60.

STATS	USA	T&T
Shots	11	6
Shots OG	6	2
Saves	1	3
Corners	4	5
Fouls	9	12
Offside	9	1

TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 24)

GOALKEEPER

Z. Thornton (CHV)

DEFENDERS

M. Petke (COL), D. Gutierrez (CHI), A. Iro (CLB)

MIDFIELDERS

G.B. Schelotto (CLB), S. King (CHI), S. Holden (HOU), B. Davis (HOU)

FORWARDS

N. Jaqua (HOU), A. Razov (CHV), D. Huckerby (SJ)

MLS Sunday: Dynamo do it (Week 24)

Kansas City 1-3 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
Brad Davis' first half strike plus Nate Jaqua's second-half brace equals a ol' fashioned KC whooping. Davy Arnaud added a conciliation goal that didn't take any of the sting out of the embarrassment.
----------------------------------------------------------------

MLS Saturday (Week 24)

Chivas USA 3-1 Toronto FC (BMO Field)
Ante Razov set up two goals and scored the third, as Chivas USA surged past Toronto in a match that saw a bizarre double ejection of Alecko Eskandarian (TFC) and Mario Velez (CHV) in first-half injury time. Velez and Eskandarian collided midair collision and ref Kevin Stott gave both straight reds. The loss of Velez, however, clearly hurt Toronto more than Esky's absence for Chivas.
----------------------------------------------------------------
New England 0-4 Columbus (Crew Stadium)
Since winning the SuperLiga, the Revs can't seem to get back on track. Meanwhile, the Crew are looking like the team to beat, as Guillermo Barros Schelotto's two assists and a goal put down the Revolution. Second-half sub Jason Garey picked up a brace and Andy Iro rounded out the lopsided contest.
----------------------------------------------------------------
New York 0-1 Chicago (Toyota Park)
Stephen King was "It," as his 36th minute goal decided the match in favor of the home team, handing New York their first loss since July 10 and putting Chicago in second place overall.

----------------------------------------------------------------
DC United 1-2 San Jose (BS Stadium)
Arturo Alvarez continues to make FC Dallas look stupid for trading him (and Bob Bradley for not calling him up), as he scores his sixth of the year for San Jose. Darren Huckerby added another in the second half. DC's Santino Quaranta cut the deficit in the 76th minute, but United could not find the equalizer.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Real Salt Lake 2-2 Los Angeles (HDC)
With Becks on international duty, bookend goals by Bryan Jordan and Edson Buddle gave the Galaxy a point at home against RSL. Salt Lake's Yura Movsisyan and Will Johnson scored on either side of halftime.

U.S. smoke Cubans, 1-0

In a soggy match, the U.S. dominated possession in a 1-0 win over Cuba in 2010 World Cup qualifying Saturday in Havana. It was an historic meeting, as the last time he U.S. travelled to Cuba, Harry S Truman was president.

Clint Dempsey's goal, the only one of the contest, came in the 40th minute came after a fortuitous deflection off a Cuban defender fell to Brian Ching who passed back to Dempsey. 'The Deuce' lined up a low, right footer that found the back of the net to make it 1-0 to the U.S.

Was it me or was DaMarcus Beasley terrible tonight? He missed passes, was called offside a lot and blew a sure goal with a terrible shot on an open net. It can't all be blamed on his boots (which he changed on field 10 minutes into the second half). What's up with The Beez? He was not himself.

The U.S. should have won this handily, but a road win is a road win and I guess we should be thankful.

TYH's Patriot of the Pitch©: Clint Dempsey

MATCH REPORT

TEAM	1st half	2nd half	Final
USA	1	0	1
CUB	0	0	0

Scoring:
USA – Dempsey (Ching) 40.

Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 15-Heath Pearce, 3-Carlos Bocanegra-capt., 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 2-Frankie Hejduk; 17-DaMarcus Beasley, 12-Michael Bradley, 13-Maurice Edu, 8-Clint Dempsey (16-Sacha Kljestan, 77); 10-Landon Donovan, 11-Brian Ching

CUB: 12-Odelin Molina; 2-Silvio Miñoso, 3-Yeniel Marquez, 5-Jorge Luis Clavelo-capt.; 11-Jensee Muñoz (9-Alain Cervantes, 46), 13-Carlos Domingo, 14-Jaine Colome (17-Pedro Faife, 52), 16-Reysander Fernandez; 18-Heviel Cordovez, 7-Luis Villegas, 10-Roberto Linares (15-Leonel Duarte, 67)

Misconduct Summary:
CUB - Villegas (caution) 27.

USA - Bradley (caution) 37

USA - Hejduk 50.

CUB - Clavelo 71.

STATS	USA	CUB
Shots	6	8
Shots OG	2	3
Saves	3	1
Corners	3	3
Fouls	15	6
Offside	2	0

MLS Thursday: Rapids burn Dallas (Week 24)

Sept. 4
Colorado 1-0 FC Dallas (PHP)
Ten-year veteran Mike Petke scored for the visitors, as the Colorado Rapids defeated FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park. It was only the Rapids second away win in 12 matches. Meanwhile, FC Dallas continues their downward spiral, with just two wins in their last 10 matches.

Open Cup: United are champions again!

DC United has won the 2008 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the oldest soccer tournament in North America, forthe second time in club history, defeating USL.1's Charleston Battery 2-1 in the Final on Wednesday night at RFK Stadium.

United's Luciano Emilio scored just four minutes into the contest, but the plucky Battery fired back a salvo of their own, as former MLSer Ian Fuller scored the equalizer six minutes later. But it would be Brazilian midfielder Fred who would hand United the trophy in the 50th minute.

DC first lifted the trophy 12 years ago in MLS's inaugural season and went on to win the MLS Cup that year. In fact, in those 12 years, the US Open Cup winning club has made it to the MLS Cup final eight times (but has only won the double three times).

CCL: Revs, Chivas bounced in prelims

In a sign that the club competition calendar may be reaching critical mass, both MLS clubs -- New England and Chivas USA -- were knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round.

Using mostly reserve and substitute players due to the amount of matches each club has had to play over the past month, New England lost the home leg to T&T's Joe Public an embarrassing 4-0 and were booted by a 6-1 aggregate score. Chivas USA, meanwhile, could manage only a 1-1 draw in their home leg against Tauro FC of Panama, and were eliminated with an aggregate of 3-1.

Joe Public and Tauro FC advance into the first round of the CCL where MLS clubs where 2007 Cup winners Houston and 2007 Supporters' Shield winners DC United will represent the U.S.

Mönchen-not-so-glad-bach?

After reports that Monaco, Everton, Middlesbrough and Hamburg were duking it out for the right to sign U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley, it was the unlikely Mönchenbach who won out.

"We are confident that there will be no problems with the medical, and that the deal will be rubber stamped this afternoon," the German club's press officer Micheal Lessenich told Yanks Abroad on Monday.

The move could be an ego boosting one for Bradley, as American keeper Kasey Keller is a beloved figure for 'Gladbach and the fans will surely welcome another Yank with open arms. But professionally, Germany can be a black hole for American players. They don't garner any respect from the club managers, it seems, and they often find themselves struggling to get on the field or mired in the reserves. There are exceptions of course, like Keller and Steve Cherundola who have made a name for themselves in Deutchland, but for every Cherundola their are fifty Kamani Hills.

TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 23)

GOALKEEPER

J. Conway (NY)

DEFENDERS

D. McTavish (DC), K. Goldthwaite (NY), M. Harrington (KC)

MIDFIELDERS

S. Joseph (NE), J. Morales (RSL), S. Kljestan (CHV), A. Alvarez (SJ)

FORWARDS

F. Espindola (RSL), L. Donovan (LA), D. Huckerby (SJ)