November 4, 2009 MLS THIS WEEK A look at the upcoming games
Eastern Conference Semifinals - Game 2
Thursday, November 5
Real Salt Lake at Columbus Crew, 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, Deportes)
The defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew must overcome a one-goal deficit when they return home for the second leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against Real Salt Lake.
RSL’s Robbie Findley, who scored the only goal of Saturday's first leg at Rio Tinto Stadium in the 88th minute, has been a Crew-killer this season. He scored the first hat trick in RSL history in a 4-1 win vs. Columbus on April 2. However, all of those goals came in Utah; Real Salt Lake must now get a result on the road, where they were 2-11-2 during the regular season, scoring just nine goals.
The Crew have been in an offensive slump since well before the end of the regular season, and must break it if they hope to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship. Including the semifinal series opener, Columbus has been shut out in four of their last five games. Crew head coach Robert Warzycha chose not to play his usual starting forward pair of Guillermo Barros Schelotto (12 goals, 3 assists) and Alejandro Moreno (4 goals, 1 assist) against RSL last weekend, instead going with Steven Lenhart and Emilio Renteria.
“We didn’t score any goals the last five games when they were on the field, so I felt like maybe we should go with a different combination," Warzycha said. When the Crew and Real met in Columbus on July 18, Lenhart scored once and Jason Garey, a second-half substitute in Saturday's first leg, scored twice in a 3-1 Columbus win.
Saturday, November 7
New England Revolution at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m. ET (FSC, FSE)
If the New England Revolution are to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship for the seventh time in eight seasons, they will have to do something they've never done in the MLS Cup Playoffs -- get at least a draw in Chicago. The Revolution, who qualified for the postseason in the very last game of the 2009 season, overcame an early deficit with a pair of goals from set pieces for a 2-1 victory Sunday in their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against the Fire.
It's the fifth consecutive year, and eighth time in MLS history, the two clubs have met in the postseason. The Fire have dominated the series on their home turf, winning all six home playoff matches and outscoring New England 15-2. The Revs haven't scored a postseason goal in Chicago since 2002. The Revolution’s win on Sunday ran their home playoff record against Chicago to 6-0-1. It also snapped a seven-game Revolution winless streak against the Fire. The Revs’ last win in the series was Nov. 8, 2007 in the Eastern Conference Championship.
"They did what they were supposed to do," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. "They're the home team. We came here and we made a good push. We went for a win and we made some chances. Now it's our turn to go home and take care of business."
In the first leg, Shalrie Joseph again showed why he's in the running for the Volkswagen Most Valuable Player. He started in his usual central midfield role, then moved to forward in the second half and scored the late game-winner -- remarkably, his first goal in 20 career postseason games. With the Revolution needing to protect their slim lead in the second leg, look for Joseph to once again anchor the midfield.
Western Conference Semifinals - Game 2
Sunday, November 8
Seattle Sounders FC at Houston Dynamo, 3 p.m. ET (TeleFutura)
The semifinal series record crowd of 35,807 at Qwest Field for the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal Series between Seattle Sounders FC and the Houston Dynamo wasn't sure whether to cheer or cry after last Thursday's scoreless first leg. On the one hand, Sounders FC went toe-to-toe with a two-time champion in the club's first-ever MLS Cup Playoff game; on the other, they now need to win at Robertson Stadium if they are to reach the Western Conference Championship.
The Dynamo have not defeated Sounders FC this year. Seattle was victorious in a League game and an Open Cup semifinal at home, and the teams played to a 1-1 draw Aug. 23 in Houston. The Dynamo are in a familiar position. A year ago, coming off back-to-back MLS Cup triumphs, Houston earned a 1-1 draw in New York in the first leg of their conference semifinal series. The Red Bulls then exploded for a 3-0 win in Houston on their way to the MLS Cup Final.
“We did the same thing last year and we didn’t win. If you depend on playing and winning at home then you’re looking at something that might not happen," said Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear.
Both teams hope to regain key players from injury. Sounders FC defender Tyrone Marshall, a vital piece of the defense that tied the Dynamo for the League's best, was a late scratch from Game 1 with a knee injury, but might be ready for Sunday. Dynamo forward Luis Angel Landin, also slowed by a knee injury, was limited to substitute duty in Game 1, but could see more time in the decisive second game.
Chivas USA at Los Angeles Galaxy, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, Deportes)
The Home Depot Center décor will turn from red and white to blue and gold for the second leg of the playoff SuperClasico between the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA. The first playoff meeting between the clubs ended in a wild 2-2 draw Sunday, boiling the series down to one elimination match. In three League meetings this season, Chivas did not score a goal. The teams played to a scoreless draw in the first meeting, then the Galaxy took a pair of 1-0 victories.
Chivas has not defeated the Galaxy since Sept. 13, 2007, a winless streak of seven games in all competitions (including four ties).
Maykel Galindo's impact on the second leg -- especially considering how he energized Chivas USA in Game 1 – could be a key. After two frustrating, injury-hobbled and short playoff campaigns with the Red and White, the Cuban expatriate is healthy for the first time in his postseason career.
"That's the real Galindo that we know from a couple years ago. We encourage him every day in training, we encourage him to show that he still has it and I know he still has it. Now it is the time for him to bring it on," said Chivas head coach Preki.
If Chivas USA win, it will be the first time in club history they have advanced past the conference semifinal stage. The Galaxy are making their first appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs since 2005 -- when they won the club’s second MLS Cup title -- and they are now a win away from hosting to the Western Conference Championship.
"If you told us before the year that we would have one game, a real home game against Chivas USA to advance to the conference finals, we'd take that in a heartbeat," said Landon Donovan.
