(R) MLS Playoffs - Round One, Second Leg

DC United 0, Chicago 2 (HT)

CHI -- Chad Barrett 1 (Calen Carr 1) 31
CHI -- Chris Rolfe 2 (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 1) 33

Chicago leads 3-0 on aggregate (no away goal rule).

After a pair of clinical side-netting finishes, this one looks like
it's over. Surprising redemption for Barrett and Carr, who should get
a secondary assist on #2, as well.

P

DC United 2, Chicago 2 (HT)

CHI -- Chad Barrett 1 (Calen Carr 1) 31
CHI -- Chris Rolfe 2 (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 1) 33
DC -- Clyde Simms 1 (Rod Dyachenko 1, Christian Gomez 1) 69
DC -- Christian Gomez 1 (Rod Dyachenko 2) 74
Discipline:
DC -- Rod Dyachenko (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 94+

Chicago wins 3-2 on aggregate.

Wow ... seconds after the Fire missed an empty net, Christian Gomez
scored what would've been the equalizer, only to have it called back
for a subtle but correct handball.

Wow. Shame DC won't play any more this year.
P

PB <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
Fantastic match. Breathtaking to the bitter end...

On Nov 1, 8:50 pm, PB <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:


All three goals for Chicago were very similar, the result of cock-ups
in the middle of defense on balls near the top of the box. And all
three I swear hit the same spot in the net. Boswell was a mess
tonight.

Other thoughts:

* Emilio said in the paper today his ankle was killing him. Playing
the starters in that game against Columbus is really looking dumb at
this point.

* I thought Soehn's substitutions were more desperation than anything
else, but we did play better after the changes. Not sure why Addlery
got on instead of Kpene, though. The irony of course being that we
didn't create more than one chance for Emilio all night and as soon as
he comes off we create a ton for Addlery...who of course never had a
prayer of finishing any of them.

* Moreno is done. Grinds the offense to a halt, and is way too
selfish. Never a threat last night. I'm convinced one of the reasons
we do so badly against Chicago is that Armas and Brown are completely
in his head. They know that he will try to do it all against the
Fire and they'll let him try.

* Gomez is the man.

* Losing to the Fire sucks, but they know how to beat us.

On Nov 2, 6:33 am, JK <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

Both DC goals went right to that same spot, as well.

I thought yesterday's Fire goals were much tougher to defend than last
week's. DC handled Blanco well when he was in the midfield, but when
he stayed forward, their backline got pulled out of shape. On the
first two goals, Blanco's movement helped create space, and on the
third, his header went right to the perfect spot. When balls are
played in behind like that, Rolfe will always beat Vanney et al, and
Barrett usually will ... even though Facundo Error-Prone had his
problems, he would've matched up better.


That's probably true; especially after so many non-league games, DC's
stars could've used a break.


Certainly, in a game as frenetic as yesterday's, Moreno doesn't fit.
Speaking of Armas, he really does *not* look ready to retire.

P

Houston 4, Dallas 1 after extra time
Houston wins 4-2 on aggregate

DAL -- Carlos Ruiz 1 (Kenny Cooper 1, Bobby Rhine 1) 14
HOU -- Stuart Holden 1 (Brian Ching 1, Ryan Cochrane 1) 67
HOU -- Brian Ching 1 (Joseph Ngwenya 1, Dwayne De Rosario 1) 72
HOU -- Brian Ching 2 (Joseph Ngwenya 2) 97
HOU -- Brad Davis 1 (unassisted) 100
Discipline:
DAL -- Dario Sala (caution; Delaying a Restart) 24
HOU -- Richard Mulrooney (caution; Reckless Foul) 28
DAL -- Denilson (caution; Delaying a Restart) 39
HOU -- Eddie Robinson (caution; Pushing, Holding) 40
DAL -- Chris Gbandi (caution; Pushing, Holding) 44
DAL -- Arturo Alvarez (ejection; Violent Conduct) 47
DAL -- Adrian Serioux (caution; Reckless Foul) 78
HOU -- Pat Onstad (caution; Delaying a Restart) 98
DAL -- Drew Moor (caution; Reckless Foul) 99
HOU -- Dwayne De Rosario (caution; Dissent) 109
DAL -- Drew Moor (ejection; Second Caution) 119
DAL -- Pablo Ricchetti (caution; Dissent) 120

Good thing there's no away goal rule, because the Dynamo clearly
deserved to win. Now I'm pulling for KC to knock off Chivas in the
other western series, just because Houston would then host the
conference final ... and their fan support is great.

P

PB <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

Great game, enjoyed it despite the football lines.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

i.e., an apprently entirely intentional knee to the family jewels.



Yes, I thought Houston was the stronger for sure in this match and
overall. What an amazing turnout by the fans, especially given the
trouble MLS has had in the past with playoff attendance.

PB wrote:

Is he a dual national ? Because I see he was born in Scotland, and
Scotland doesn't have that many good 22 year old players.



He left the game two minutes later; injury, or
was he pulled because he was close to getting another card ?

Do you still have sentimental attachment to Houston from their San Jose
days anyway ?

On Nov 3, 12:37 pm, MH <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

Yes, he's a dual national and not yet cap-tied, although I expect that
he'll be on the US team in Olympic qualifying next March. As I recall,
he hasn't lived in Scotland since he was extremely young.


Arguably, both. Serioux's yellow was for a vicious foul against
Holden, shortly after the two of them had gone up for a high ball. The
earlier play had seemed innocuous, but Serioux twisted his ankle and
clearly took it personally. If the ref hadn't already sent off one
Dallas player, I suspect the card would've been red.


Yes, although I would ordinarily still prefer Chivas to beat KC.
They'd be a more entertaining opponent if they only had any home
support.

P

PB <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

Unfortunately, Chivas has been rendered pretty toothless after
losing their two best strikers. Pity, I was really pulling for
them this year.