MLS Week 27: Shoot the TV Programmers

by user The Manly Ferry

It’s tough to call Week 27 the most exciting weekend of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) 2006 season; to begin, it’s heavy on inter-conference play, which means the famous “six-point” games are few and far between. Moreover, only one of the two intra-conference games holds promise for greatness: the “SuperClassico” match between Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy; that Chivas can formally knock their Home Depot Center co-tenants out of the playoffs only pours nitroglycerine on what already will be a game positively marinated in passion.

To top it all off, that’s not the lone televised game. Instead, a frankly disappointing (and tape-delayed) game on television sets the tone for a weekend in which I’m guessing too little will be decided.

Anyway, here are the usual resources: standings, injuries (sigh, a week old; I’ll update tomorrow, if something jumps out at me), and suspensions. Since I’m posting a day earlier than usual, MLS’s previews are not yet available. And, finally, the “form” record of each team include results from all competitions dating back to August 25, 2006.

Now, on to the match-ups:

Houston Dynamo v. DC United

TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 8:00 p.m. PST (tape-delayed)

Houston: Overall, 10-8-11, 41 pts.; Home, 7-3-4; Form, LTLLWTT

DC: Overall, 15-4-10, 55 pts.; Away, 6-3-6; Form, LTWLTTLW

The kindest thing one could say about the Dynamo’s recent form, which stoops toward pathetic, is that they played most those games on the road. After that, there’s only the mystery of why they’ve fallen apart so badly - though scoring only eight goals in seven games surely plays a part in this. Suffice to say, they’re playing like they’re off their meds. Clinching home-field advantage on the back of a 4-3 win could suggest DC has righted the ship, but only till one considers that win came, and those three goals were surrendered, to Red Bull New York. With no significant injuries or absences to either side, form and home-filed ought to decide this one...then again, there’s not much separation there either.

Prediction: DC UNITED WINS - why? Houston’s depression seems deeper.

Columbus Crew v. FC Dallas

Crew: Overall, 6-14-9, 27 pts.; Home, 3-6-6; Form: LWLLT

FC Dallas: Overall, 15-10-4, 49 pts.; Away, 4-7-3; Form: LWWTLLW

This one is pretty simple: FC Dallas needs to win this game away from home or face the home-and-home first-round of the playoffs under a cloud of doubt. Who better than Columbus to provide the psychological lift? While they’re at it, Dallas could bring the Crew "into the light" by finally knocking their playoff hopes for 2006 off life support. On paper and off, without any significant injuries, suspensions - anything - this is Dallas’ game to lose.

Prediction: FC DALLAS WINS - or I’ll lose my remaining faith in this damn team.

Red Bull New York v. Chicago Fire

Red Bull: Overall, 7-11-11, 32 pts.; Home, 6-3-5; Form, WTLLWLL

Chicago: Overall, 12-9-8, 44 pts.; Away, 4-6-4; Form: WTWWWLWWW

Holy crap. Including all competitions (which, technically, is a no-no) Chicago’s form shows 22 points earned from a possible 27. Based on the line-up they fielded in Wednesday’s night’s Open Cup final victory, the return of Ivan Guerrero and Nate Jaqua means they’ve got serious injuries in the way. Still, head coach Dave Sarachan would do well to rest some regular starters. The Fire can’t overtake DC for home-field and New England, the nearest team behind them in the Eastern Conference, remains five points behind them. They can afford to swallow a loss at this point. That assumes, though, that a loss is likely. There’s not a lot to impress with Red Bull, who have added only eight points in league play since the All-Star break - and that’s eight of a possible 27 points.

Prediction: If there’s justice in the world, the CHICAGO FIRE WINS, and keeps a patsy like Red Bull out of the post-season.

Kansas City Wizards v. Real Salt Lake

KC: Overall, 9-13-7, 34 pts.; Home, 6-4-4; Form, WTLWT

RSL: Overall, 10-13-6, 36 pts.; Away, 4-9-1; Form, LWLTWL

In easily the best of the intra-conference match-ups, one of these teams has the chance to join the ranks of the teams remotely deserving a post-season berth - though the emphasis here belongs squarely on the word “remotely.” Between Kansas City’s thin margin on home-field advantage and the worrisome absence of defender Nick Garcia through suspension, the Wizards will hope the "probable" attached to defender Jimmy Conrad and Davy Arnaud jumps to a "definite" by game time. As for RSL, for as much as they've done to crawl back into playoff contention, their recent form simply can't get them there - not while they’re still outside the playoff picture. The return from injury for midfielder Carey Talley counts as the best possible news for RSL, but it’s a wide-open question as to whether that will be enough.

Prediction: Because I want so badly to believe in the RSL miracle, I won’t pretend to be neutral - REAL SALT LAKE WINS.

New England Revolution v. Colorado Rapids

Revs: Overall, 9-8-12, 39 pts.; Home, 6-3-5; Form, WLWTWT

Rapids: Overall, 11-12-6, 39 points; Away, 2-9-3 (yes!!); Form, LLWLWTL

Happiness is hosting the road-wary Rapids when your team needs confidence more badly than points. While the “win and we’re in” article on the Revs’ website may be accurate, it glosses over the fact that this team has put their fans through Hell this season. In their defense, the last four games, which has seen the team pick up 8 of 12 points, inspires at least a modest dose of confidence. But they still need to get things done without Shalrie Joseph, who does a lot to hold Revolution together in general. Colorado, on the other hand, needs this game. The trapdoor out of the playoffs looms below them and a win, or even a draw, would do a lot to stomp on the fingers with which Real Salt Lake retains their post-season hopes. To top it all off, the continued absence of Terry Cooke and Alain Nkong puts tons of pressure on the once-incredible Clint Mathis to carry his team to the post-season (paging Mr. Mathis - it’s time for your close-up...)

Prediction: NEW ENGLAND WINS - badly as they need it, I can’t see the Rapids pulling this one off.

Los Angeles Galaxy v. Chivas USA

LA: Overall, 9-14-6, 33 pts.; “Home,” 4-6-4; Form, WLWWLTLL

Chivas: Overall, 10-7-12, 42 pts.; “Away,” 3-5-6; Form, WLTWTW

Without question, this is the game of the week. Under the circumstances, this would be the game of any week, which makes it shame - a damned shame - the league can’t compel Fox Soccer Channel to televise this game. For the record, I put “home” and “away” in quotes because this game will take place in both these teams’ shared facility, the Home Depot Center (HDC); and that joint will be rockin' (again, I can’t emphasize this enough, why can’t they show this game?!). The Galaxy’s past four games (which includes last night loss in the Open Cup final) confirms the end of LA’s scary post-All-Star Game winning streak; when it came time to play, this team folded. Chivas USA, on the other hand, incredibly, now stands tall as the league’s fourth best team and a virtual lock for the post-season. With both teams more or less healthy (in Juan Francisco Palencia, Chivas has the one significant and new absence) and both teams playing at home, the larger narrative of the season doesn’t’ really play into this one. LA, whether they believe a win here gets them into the post-season or not, has what’s left of their pride on the line; and Chivas has the memory of losing their first six games against Los Angeles to erase.

Prediction: DRAW - With everything on the line, MLS’s one, true derby plays to type.

Date

Thu 09/28/06, 3:12 pm EST