ASN: NYCFC Wins, FC Dallas Dominates, 4 Groups Choke

Jack Harrison made his presence felt in NYCFC’s 2-0 win over the New York Crimson Bulls, whereas FC Dallas placed on a scary-good efficiency in opposition to Orlando. In the meantime, 4 groups really dropped the ball.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
July 06, 2016
12:30 PM

SHARE THIS STORY

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER was again in full swing for the July 4th weekend—and it was just like the league had by no means left. Robbie Keane and David Villa scored, Nigel de Jong earned a pink card, FC Dallas was dominant, Columbus conceded one other painful late aim, and the typical introduced attendance was a really respectable 21,743.

Whereas the acquainted storylines returned, there was loads of new developments too. Tim Howard performed his first MLS recreation since 2003; New York Metropolis’s Jack Harrison demonstrated as soon as once more that he’s a really thrilling teenage rookie who was completely worthy of the highest draft selection; Crew ahead Ola Kamara is maybe the most well liked participant within the league with seven objectives in simply 609 minutes of motion; and Seattle is now one of the vital boring groups within the league.

Listed here are my 5 ideas from the weekend.

Harrison lifts NYCFC to Derby Win

Coming into the weekend, the New York Crimson Bulls’ 7-0 humiliation of New York Metropolis in Could was on everybody’s thoughts. Early on this recreation, nevertheless, it was clear issues had been going to be very totally different as New York Metropolis FC scored within the eighth minute to ascertain a lead after which locked down the win with one other aim within the 66th minute.

All three of New York Metropolis’s designated gamers are lastly enjoying effectively however the emergence of rookie Jack Harrison and the expansion of Tommy MacNamara has meant simply has a lot.

Harrison, 19, particularly seems to be like a possible gem. He missed a lot of the first half of the season with a hip damage however he’s now match. He scored the primary aim after which assisted to Villa for the second in a Man of the Match efficiency.

 “He does a good job for us and obviously he’s been doing it well in the final third,” McNamara mentioned. “He has the ability to get in behind defenses but also to get underneath them and run at them. He is difficult to deal with and it makes other teams stay honest which helps the entire team out.”

What’s intriguing about Harrison is that he’s so harmful within the open subject, he can end, and he has a watch to make a harmful cross. Taking part in alongside prime veterans, the sky is the restrict.

In the meantime, Combine Diskerud is nowhere to be discovered.

Workforce of the week: FC Dallas

The most effective efficiency in MLS this weekend got here from FC Dallas which totally outplayed Orlando Metropolis in a 4-0 rout on Monday night time. The win prolonged FC Dallas’ unbeaten streak at dwelling to fifteen video games.

“It was a really full efficiency,” FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja mentioned. “The hassle for 90-plus minutes was unimaginable. Respect for the opponent on a regular basis. We created a variety of conditions to attain, which was a spotlight of the sport. On the similar time, we had self-discipline from everyone, decisively, even when main the sport by three or 4, we had been disciplined, and for me, it reveals a variety of respect for the sport and respect for what we wished.

“A complete performance, I would say.”

It is onerous to argue in any other case as Dallas merely fired on all cylinders. When it does that, it ought to be the perfect group in MLS. The Los Angeles Galaxy even have some superb gamers however when it’s on-form, Dallas is youthful, extra disciplined, and extra full.

Along with having attackers like Fabian Castillo, Maxi Urruti, and Mauro Diaz—who had been all distinctive in opposition to Orlando—it additionally has a younger midfield core of Kellyn Acosta and Carlos Gruezo. When the American central protection tandem of Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman chimes in with objectives, it is plain to see that FC Dallas is a power on this league.

Columbus continues to wrestle late

Probably the most underachieving group in MLS this yr by far is the Columbus Crew. On Sunday it misplaced to Sporting Kansas Metropolis 3-2 and now has the second-worst document in MLS. Provided that Gregg Berhalter’s group is the reigning Japanese Convention champions, it is fairly a reversal of fortune for the Ohio membership.

What is especially dangerous is that Crew retains conceding late objectives. Along with this weekend’s letdown, Berhalter’s group blew a 4-1 lead in a draw in opposition to Montreal, misplaced to Seattle 1-0 on a really late aim from Jordan Morris, misplaced the opening recreation to Portland on Fanendo Adi’s 79th-minute winner, and drew FC Dallas 1-1 after conceding a late equalizer.

In opposition to SKC the membership was diminished to 10 gamers however fought again to equalize the sport at 2-2. Then, in stoppage time, Matt Besler (who got here on in its place) headed dwelling a winner after a defensive breakdown.

There are lots of the reason why Columbus is having a foul yr however its failure on the finish of video games recommend the group lacks focus.

Howard posts clear sheet in MLS return

The final time Tim Howard performed in MLS, he was a prime keeper for the Metrostars who had caught the attention of Manchester United. Now he comes again as a senior statesman who had been the US’ beginning keeper for the final two World Cups.

He additionally joins a Colorado group that has been doing very effectively with out him—particularly defensively the place its 11 objectives conceded this yr is greatest within the league by a large margin.

In opposition to Portland Howard posted the shutout and did effectively to disclaim Darren Mattocks within the 54th minute. His hardest save got here 11 minutes later when he denied Lucas Melano. 

Howard, surprisingly, has rather a lot to show. In contrast to most different designated gamers of his caliber, he isn’t actually wanted. He has to come back in to switch a gentle Zac MacMath and proceed what the membership has been doing. Additionally, he has to justify that his huge wage wouldn’t be higher spent elsewhere (like goal-scoring choices) and that he might help the group draw larger crowds.

Up to now, so good.

4 Groups choke

Columbus could squander late objectives, however it isn’t the one group that straight-up choked this weekend.

Philadelphia traveled to Texas to face an uninspired Houston Dynamo group on Friday. The Union had been sitting atop the Japanese Convention and a mere draw would have saved it there. As an alternative, it coughed up a free kick within the fifth minute of stoppage time which Cristian Maidana buried with class.

In the meantime, Actual Salt Lake was up 1-0 in opposition to D.C. United in stoppage time and a win would have moved it nearer to Colorado for second place. As an alternative, it let Jared Jeffrey equalize on a nook kick for his second MLS profession aim (and first since 2013).

San Jose followers may also be questioning what went flawed this weekend. In the course of a heated playoff race, any and all factors are essential. At any time when going through a league-worst group like Chicago, hungry groups have to win. As an alternative, San Jose fell to a Chicago group that has gained simply three out of 15 video games this season. A win would have put San Jose into the playoff image, now it’s in eighth place.

“We didn’t play good, simple as that,” San Jose coach Dominic Kinnear mentioned. “We just kept giving the ball away; it wasn’t like we were under a tremendous amount of pressure. We just didn’t play good.”

The largest chokers of the weekend, nevertheless, was the New England Revolution which really had a 2-0 lead on a Didier Drogba-less Montreal squad. Influence attacker Michael Salazar scored within the fortieth and forty eighth minutes to equalize and Ignacio Piatti buried the winner from the penalty spot within the 54th minute for a 3-2 win. A win would have put New England in fifth place however now it’s in eighth.