By Kevin Koczwara
Last week the New England Revolution traded its captain Shalrie Joseph to Chivas USA. The midfielder hadn’t played for any other team since joining Major League Soccer and it was thought that he’d finish out his career in New England after signing a contract over the winter with the Revolution and became the team’s second Designated Player in team history. This of course was before the former captain’s relationship with the Revolution’s new coach Jay Heaps became “rocky”.
Both of these goals happened yesterday. And both of these goals are top-class stuff. Beckham’s played a bigger role i the context of the game, but Nguyen’s goals played a bigger role personally. Both are quality. Which do you prefer?
By Kevin Koczwara
There was a lot of talk of the Los Angeles Galaxy playing poorly against the New England Revolution and lost 3-1. It seemed like Arlo White and Kyle Martino, the announcers for the game on NBC Sports, believed that the Galaxy’s poor play was the only factor in the game. What the two announcers failed to acknowledge was that one team’s positive play and game plan can make its opponent look like a U-8 side all out of ideas.
Revolution coach Jay Heaps showed his tactical acumen against Los Angeles with a flawless game plan. Heaps noticed some weaknesses in the Galaxy team sheet and went after them.The major omission and weakness for Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles side was the injury to Landon Donovan, the team’s attacking focal point and creator in the attacking third.
By Ryan Fleming
The New York Red Bulls are in dire times. This statement could have been repeated countless times this season. Each time Hans Backe would have replied, ‘things will be alright and the team would get through it.’ Well, Mr. Backe, this is your last chance.
Ryan Guy takes a tumble in the Revolution's loss to the Seattle Sounders, 2-1, last weekend. The Revolution took a first half lead and squandered it, which has been the story of the team's 2011 season. (Courtesy Revolutionsoccer.net/Photo by Louis Walker)
By Kevin Koczwara
To say this season has been a disappointment for the New England Revolution, is an understatement. The Revs (5-14-12, 27 pts.) sit at the bottom of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference pig-pile. Only expansion side Vancouver Whitecaps have fewer points than the Revolution, with 22. But no team has been as frustrating as the Revolution.
By Ryan Fleming
There’s been a lot said already in the days that have passed since Robbie Keane’s move to LA Galaxy became official. There have been words of malice spewed at him from every angle.
Claims that the Ireland international has taken the easy way out, that he simply plays for money and not the love of the game, and has come to America where we are a “universe where football is nothing,” is a choice that Keane made simply for his benefit.
I say, obviously.
By Kevin Koczwara
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Los Angeles Galaxy cleared the ball off the line twice in stoppage time and saw a shot hit the crossbar with moments left in its 1-0 win over the New England Revolution. The Galaxy secured the win thanks to a goal in the 69th minute by Miguel Lopez from a David Beckham cross. The Revolution will feel it did enough to get at least a draw, even three points if the Revs could have finished the chances early.
“It was definitely frustrating to come away losing one-nil. First half, I thought we did great. We made some chances but never took them,” said Revolution manager Steve Nicol.
Major League Soccer needs to embrace and promote rivalries for the future of the league.
By Michael King
During the past two weekends of MLS action, we’ve seen the best of what the league offers in terms of rivalries. A match between Chivas USA and the Los Angles Galaxy on Saturday, as well as the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders last weekend, demonstrated the sport’s potential for creating consistently exciting matches between the same two teams.
These games featured an intensity and competitive flair that is not often felt in a typical regular season game. It’s not difficult to reason why ESPN chose these matches to feature in its ‘Game of the Week’ coverage. Clearly these matches were special for both the fans and players.
As Major League Soccer continues to expand and establish itself as a popular sports league, the development of such rivalries is critical to its growth.
The other major American sports thrive on their long-established rivalries through the associated increased media coverage and fan interest. It’s evident that interest peaks in baseball when the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees compete, especially in the playoffs.
Kenny Mansally and the rest of the Revolution fought hard in the pouring rain to earn a 1-1 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy. (Courtesy Revolutionsoccer.net)
By Cory Ritzau of Prost America
Before I get ahead of myself let me offer two simple words: 90 minutes. That’s all we got to see Sunday night.
As the prognosticators are out in full force offering the full implications of Sunday’s draw and what it means for the rest of the season, let’s take a step back and do something that usually doesn’t play well on blogs and message boards: remind ourselves that it was only 90 minutes. Not to mention 90 minutes in a torrential downpour with 25mph winds 3,000 miles from home.
Only time will tell if Sunday’s contest becomes a piece of a larger trend or if the conditions made it such that those 90 minutes will be seen more as an aberration as the season progresses. At first thought I tend to think it’s more the latter than the former.
But in examining New England Revolution’s opening match, there are a few early tendencies that I think will become part of their larger identity moving forward.
By Cory Ritzau of Prost America
CARSON, Calif. – The New England Revolution came into the Home Depot Center for their season opener and were fortunate to earn one point after a soggy, 1-1, tie with the Los Angeles Galaxy in Southern California. An early Sharlie Joseph goal could only be equalized by the hosts, as three separate times the Galaxy had apparent goals called back by the referee.
The season could not have started any better for the Revolution. New England got on the board in the 3rd minute with a Joseph header, taking an early 1-0 lead against the LA Galaxy.
After a giveaway by Leonardo in the early going, Zack Schilawski got tangled with the Galaxy defenders but did well enough to earn a corner. The ensuing corner by Marko Perovic was cleared back to his feet and his second cross found Joseph sliding behind the defense unmarked for an easy header to the back of the net.
