SuperLiga: Revs beat classless Atlante

JULY 30
Atlante 0-1 New England (Gillette Stadium)
Security was brought on the field at the conclusion of the New England Revolution's 1-0 over Mexican club Atlante to break up fights instigated by a completely classless Atlante team.

New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph headed home the only goal of the match in the 30th minute, but the second half was dominated by cheap shot after cheap shot by Atlante.

Frustrated by a superior team, Atlante resorted to cheap fouls late in the second half, and the two teams nearly came to blows after Shalrie Joseph went down from an apparent low blow. Referee Carlos Batres (read: asshat) completely lost control of the match, as he was unwilling to show anyone the door despite several oppotunities until the 87th minute when he gave Atlante's Luis Rey his walking papers.

After the whistle, the pushing a shoving began, and all hell broke loose when both Jay Heaps and Chris Albright were punched by Atlante players. On the replay it was clear that Heaps was punched by Atlante douchebag keeper Frederico Villar. But inexplicably Jay Heaps was shown a red card, but Villar was not. Also shown red cards were Atlante thug Alan Zamora and Luis Venegas.

Atlante should be barred from the tournament in the future for their dispicable antics. Since the tournament is put on by Soccer United Marketing, the marketing arm of MLS, it is impossible to sanction or suspend players; however, SUM should petition CONCACAF to have some kind of punishment for the Atlante players who threw punches.

But MLS fans can wave goodbye to Mexican clubs because it will be an all-MLS SuperLiga final, as New England will face the Houston Dynamo in the SuperLiga final, in a rematch of MLS Cup 2007.

SuperLiga: Dynamo win Group A, Chivas bounced

JULY 19
Houston 3-1 DC United (RFK Stadium)
United, playing without stars Jaime Moreno and Marcelo Gallardo, crash out of the SuperLiga, as they surrendered two goals in the first half and spent the second half playing ctach up. Ricardo Clark got the scoring going for the Dynamo with a nice near side glancing header off a Brad Davids corner. Ex-United defender got a measure of revenge against his old mates with the second goal. Francis Doe injected the home crowd with some life with a goal in the 76th minute, but Stuart Holden took the air out of their sales, adding a third for Houston in the 84th minute.

Houston clinches first place in Group A with the win, their group-winning, plus-five goal differential and Chivas' loss to Atlante.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlante 2-0 CD Guadalajara (2nd half) (BS Stadium)
In a repeat of the 2007 Apertura semifinals, Atlante defeated Chivas in the final game of Group A, knocking the goats out of the SuperLiga tournament. The 2007 Apertura champions will advance to the SuperLiga semifinals as the second-place team in the group.

SuperLiga: Mexi-wins

JULY 15
Atlante 3-2 DC United (RFK Stadium)
United's struggles in SuperLiga play continue, as Atlante's Luis Gabriel Rey scored a brace and Christian Bermudez added a third for the Mexican club. DC's Francis Doe equalized early, but with the score 1-1, Atlante pulled ahead with goals on either side of halftime. Luciano Emilio scored his first goal of the tournament, and United poured the pressure on. But the early hole United dug for themselves proved too deep and now the MLS side must hope for positive results in the final game against Houston.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CD Guadalajara 1-0 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
A 71st minute goal by Chivas' Omar Arellano, his second goal of the tournament, was the difference, as the Mexican giants remained undefeated in SuperLIga play. Without five of their starters, including midfielder Dwayne DeRosario who was sent off for an absolutely ridiculous red card in the match against Atlante, the Dynamo struggled to find their form offensively.

SuperLiga: Orange crush

JULY 12
Atlante 0-4 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
Houston shredded an ill-prepared Atlante for three goals in the first half and added one for good measure at the top of the second half. This one featured fine, handcrafted goals made in the USA by Dwayne DeRosario, a brace by Stuart Holden, and Brian Mullan. A perfect performance by the defending MLS Cup champs, marred by a stupid decision by referee Courtney Campbell to send off two players just because they breathed on each other after the whistle. The correct call would have been two yellows and to wave play on. Are these MLS refs? Where's Jason Kreis when we need him?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CD Guadalajara 2-1 DC United (RFK)
DC United's "sure thing" from the spot, Jaime Moreno, missed a game-tying penalty in the 78th minute and United fell to South of the Border rivals Chivas 2-1 in the first game of Group A play. Omar Riveron scored for Chivas Mexico in the 24th minute, and and Gonzalo Pineda made it 2-0 on the other side of halftime. But four minutes after Pineda's goal, Luciano Emilio pulled one back. Still, despite several chances United failed to equalize.