Busy Week O' Soccer

"They'll Be All Smiles After Next Wednesday As Well"

This real job thing is seriously getting in the way of my blogging. Something must be done. Are there any potential sponsors with deep pockets who can pay Walsh and I enough to make this our full-time job? Didn't think so...

Let's get crackin' on this weekend's events in the sports world.

1. MLS Playoffs -

A. Real surprise (get it???) of the 1st round goes to Salt Lake's defeat of the defending champion Columbus Crew. Columbus looked like they were ready to put the series away in game 2, but Real's game-tying goal right before the half totally switched momentum, and hats off to Kreis and company for finishing it off in the 2nd half.

B. Chicago comes roaring back to win game 2 over a depleted New England squad to advance 2-1. After Chicago got the 1st goal, it seemed like a matter of time before they got the series-clincher. The Fire were so dominant at one point that my wife, who isn't much of a sports fan, said "It looks like the Red team can score whenever they want." 2 minutes later, goal...series over.

C. Houston beats the sentimental league favorite in Seattle. The Sounders played attacking soccer for the most part, but 0 goals in 2 games won't cut it. I thought Houston played okay, but they seem like a fatigued club. Maybe all of the extra games this season have taken their toll.

D. Galaxy beats Chivas in the derby. Great series; it's what most were hoping for. Attacking soccer, solid play, and the league's best player (Donovan, not Beckham) wins the series on a penalty in game 2. I liked the graphic they showed right before the kick, when they pointed out he went lower right on his previous 10 kicks. I'm thinking goalkeeper Zach Thornton was aware of that also, as that's where he dove. However, Donovan pulled the ol' switcheroo and goes down the middle.

2. - Conference Finals

A. Chicago has too much talent and motivation to lose at home to an inferior Real Salt Lake opponent. Blanco looks more and more like the 2nd best player in the league, but nipping at Donovan's heels. Looks like Dennis Hamlett's job is safe for a while longer.

Chicago 2 - Real Salt Lake 0

B. This should be a pretty close game. The Galaxy will attack and Houston will absorb and try to counter. L.A. just needs to relax and not get frustrated by the Dynamo's strategy, or they'll give up a silly goal and have to chase the game. They're not very good at that. L.A. scores on a set piece from Beckham and gives MLS their dream Final - 2 of the 3 biggest tv markets in the country participating in MLS Cup.

L.A. 1 - Houston 0

3. FC Fredericksburg Gunners - Ceased operations recently. Readers of this site know I was in with this group at the beginning 3 years ago before my real job forced me to leave. Good group and a good organization that just couldn't get things off the ground in the area. They did bring some quality soccer to the area for both men and women, and I wish the folks the best as they move on to other jobs within the soccer community.


4. USL - So I was talking with a pro coach this morning about the possibility of a breakaway league when the news comes out less than 2 hours later that it's happening. Several USL1 teams have formed their own league, including Miami FC, who draw under 300 per game. How the heck is that going to work? Rumor has it that Sunil Gulati told the potential league that if they got 8 teams, he would back it as a sanctioned-FIFA league. So does this mean what's left of USL1 and USL2 combine? I hope so. Would make for a solid league and parity, and a couple of the weaker organizations would drop out. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the annual USL meetings next weekend in Tampa. I'll see what else I can find out and let you know.


5. U.S. Friendlies - So has Edgar Castillo been blackballed before even stepping onto the training field for the U.S.? He twittered last week that he was called into camp for the 2 upcoming games in Europe, but then when the roster was released, he was nowhere to be found. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything, but couldn't Bradley have at least given him a warning? First Torres, now Castillo...maybe some of these players who can choose to play for the U.S. or Mexico will begin looking south of the border again if U.S. Soccer is going to treat its players this way...nothing like poisoning a group of potential players before they even think about playing for the U.S., huh?


6. World Cup Qualifying - It's the last week of games to decide the 9 remaining spots for South Africa. I've got 1 or 2 surprising picks. Let's go with:


France over Ireland
Ukraine over Greece
Russia over Slovenia
Portugal over Bosnia
New Zealand over Bahrain
Tunisia and Algeria advance

2 upset specials:

Cameroon loses or draws at Morocco Saturday, which will let Gabon advance after they beat Togo.

Costa Rica will get 2 goals at home against a Uruguay squad that will have trouble coping in the Cauldron, and then somehow hang on in Montevideo during the return leg next Wednesday and be the 4th CONCACAF team in the Cup.

There you have it. Lots of predictions, which means lots of wrong answers. We'll see how I did next week.

As always, thanks for reading!