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| MLS: it's rivalry week, so expect sparks to fly in Portland | MLS: it's rivalry week, so expect sparks to fly in Portland |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Rivalry week | Rivalry week |
| It’s officially ‘Rivalry week’ in Major League Soccer – brought to you in conjunction with a European lager and a host of press conferences. And while it is easy for Eurosnobs to mock the league’s determination to manufacture ‘derby’ matches for all its young teams (giving them rather grandiose titles and hyping them as much as it can) there is some logic to putting these fixtures together over a week and attempting to enhance the impact of what is one of soccer’s most passion-creating elements. | It’s officially ‘Rivalry week’ in Major League Soccer – brought to you in conjunction with a European lager and a host of press conferences. And while it is easy for Eurosnobs to mock the league’s determination to manufacture ‘derby’ matches for all its young teams (giving them rather grandiose titles and hyping them as much as it can) there is some logic to putting these fixtures together over a week and attempting to enhance the impact of what is one of soccer’s most passion-creating elements. |
| The summer months of soccer in North America are always a little crowded and this year is a particularly tough one for MLS, with the Women’s World Cup in full swing and the Concacaf Gold Cup around the corner, along with the usual slew of high-profile international friendlies coming later in July in August. Given the competition, MLS needs to shout to make itself heard above all the noise – and nothing raising the decibels more than a derby game. So why not stick them all together in one week and make a big song and dance out of it? | The summer months of soccer in North America are always a little crowded and this year is a particularly tough one for MLS, with the Women’s World Cup in full swing and the Concacaf Gold Cup around the corner, along with the usual slew of high-profile international friendlies coming later in July in August. Given the competition, MLS needs to shout to make itself heard above all the noise – and nothing raising the decibels more than a derby game. So why not stick them all together in one week and make a big song and dance out of it? |
| The week got under way on Wednesday with Toronto FC’s 3-1 win in the all-Canadian clash with Montreal, which was perfectly timed on a night off for the Women’s World Cup following the completion of the second round. Canadian fans have been used to getting soccer on a nightly basis for the past fortnight and so MLS sneaked itself nicely into the schedule. With the women’s quarter-finals played over Friday and Saturday night, it is no surprise that MLS has put it’s two biggest derbies on the empty Sunday night slot. Now the games just need to live up to the billing … | The week got under way on Wednesday with Toronto FC’s 3-1 win in the all-Canadian clash with Montreal, which was perfectly timed on a night off for the Women’s World Cup following the completion of the second round. Canadian fans have been used to getting soccer on a nightly basis for the past fortnight and so MLS sneaked itself nicely into the schedule. With the women’s quarter-finals played over Friday and Saturday night, it is no surprise that MLS has put it’s two biggest derbies on the empty Sunday night slot. Now the games just need to live up to the billing … |
| New York, New York – so good they played it thrice | New York, New York – so good they played it thrice |
| The first ‘Hudson river derby’ was played in May, with the Red Bulls winning at home 2-1 thanks to a brace from Bradley Wright-Phillips. Now comes the return game at Yankee Stadium and the chance of revenge for Jason Kreis’s team. The opening derby came at a tricky time for the new club, still finding its feet, but things have improved after a shaky start with City on a three-game winning streak. The latest win was particularly impressive – a 2-0 victory over Toronto with David Villa scoring twice. The upturn in form has coincided with the introduction of on-loan Manchester City defender Shay Facey in the centre of defence and, after an outstanding display against Toronto, the 20-year-old has this week had his loan deal extended until the end of the MLS season. This time it is the Red Bulls who have been struggling for form, their win in midweek against Real Salt Lake ended a run of four straight losses. | The first ‘Hudson river derby’ was played in May, with the Red Bulls winning at home 2-1 thanks to a brace from Bradley Wright-Phillips. Now comes the return game at Yankee Stadium and the chance of revenge for Jason Kreis’s team. The opening derby came at a tricky time for the new club, still finding its feet, but things have improved after a shaky start with City on a three-game winning streak. The latest win was particularly impressive – a 2-0 victory over Toronto with David Villa scoring twice. The upturn in form has coincided with the introduction of on-loan Manchester City defender Shay Facey in the centre of defence and, after an outstanding display against Toronto, the 20-year-old has this week had his loan deal extended until the end of the MLS season. This time it is the Red Bulls who have been struggling for form, their win in midweek against Real Salt Lake ended a run of four straight losses. |
| Should NYCFC triumph, those clever chaps at MLS head office have ensured there will be a decider with a third derby scheduled for August 9 at Red Bull Arena. Who knows, perhaps by that time, Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard will be lining up in midfield for the team in sky blue. | Should NYCFC triumph, those clever chaps at MLS head office have ensured there will be a decider with a third derby scheduled for August 9 at Red Bull Arena. Who knows, perhaps by that time, Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard will be lining up in midfield for the team in sky blue. |
| Familiarity breeds Cascadian contempt | Familiarity breeds Cascadian contempt |
| Of course, making teams play each other frequently can also create that ‘grudge match’ factor that often adds even more spice to a derby game. When it comes to Portland v Seattle, the addition of a US Open Cup tie ensured the two teams from Cascadia will face each other four times this season. It only took the second meeting though for the sparks to fly - the Timbers won 3-1 in overtime in a game which saw three Seattle players sent off and the team end the game with just seven men on the field after Obafemi Martins was injured. | Of course, making teams play each other frequently can also create that ‘grudge match’ factor that often adds even more spice to a derby game. When it comes to Portland v Seattle, the addition of a US Open Cup tie ensured the two teams from Cascadia will face each other four times this season. It only took the second meeting though for the sparks to fly - the Timbers won 3-1 in overtime in a game which saw three Seattle players sent off and the team end the game with just seven men on the field after Obafemi Martins was injured. |
| One of the consequences of that wild night is that Clint Dempsey will miss this derby due to suspension for his bizarre protest of ripping up the referee’s notebook. His Nigerian strike partner Martins is out for around a month after picking up a right adductor strain and combative Cuban midfielder Osvaldo Alsonso is missing with a hamstring. With such key players absent and with the Timbers having home advantage at a packed Providence Park, Portland probably start this derby as favourites – although they will need to get over Wednesday’s 5-0 thrashing from the LA Galaxy. | One of the consequences of that wild night is that Clint Dempsey will miss this derby due to suspension for his bizarre protest of ripping up the referee’s notebook. His Nigerian strike partner Martins is out for around a month after picking up a right adductor strain and combative Cuban midfielder Osvaldo Alsonso is missing with a hamstring. With such key players absent and with the Timbers having home advantage at a packed Providence Park, Portland probably start this derby as favourites – although they will need to get over Wednesday’s 5-0 thrashing from the LA Galaxy. |
| The California clasico | The California clasico |
| Now that Chivas USA have gone they way of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the Miami Fusion, there is no longer any debate over which is the ‘real derby’ for the league’s most successful club, LA Galaxy. The games between the Galaxy and their northern California rivals San Jose have included some of the best in the history of the league, including what many consider the most exciting MLS game of all time: the Earthquakes’ amazing comeback from four goals down on aggregate to win the 2003 Western Conference semifinal. Interest is high enough for this game to be switched from the Quakes’ new Avaya stadium to the larger Stanford University stadium. The Galaxy go into the game in cracking form, though, having put five past Portland on Wednesday with Bruce Arena’s team finally starting to click. | Now that Chivas USA have gone they way of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the Miami Fusion, there is no longer any debate over which is the ‘real derby’ for the league’s most successful club, LA Galaxy. The games between the Galaxy and their northern California rivals San Jose have included some of the best in the history of the league, including what many consider the most exciting MLS game of all time: the Earthquakes’ amazing comeback from four goals down on aggregate to win the 2003 Western Conference semifinal. Interest is high enough for this game to be switched from the Quakes’ new Avaya stadium to the larger Stanford University stadium. The Galaxy go into the game in cracking form, though, having put five past Portland on Wednesday with Bruce Arena’s team finally starting to click. |
| The big three ride for Toronto | |
| The problem with the Gold Cup is that it takes a good number of internationals from Concacaf nations away from their club duties in the middle of the MLS season, and Toronto FC will feel the impact of that more than most with captain and midfield general Michael Bradley and big-money centre-forward Jozy Altidore both heading off at the start of July to team up with Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S squad. It is a pity for Toronto because, along with Italian Sebastian Giovinco, their expensive trio of designated players are really hitting their stride – all three scored in the win over Montreal on Wednesday. | The problem with the Gold Cup is that it takes a good number of internationals from Concacaf nations away from their club duties in the middle of the MLS season, and Toronto FC will feel the impact of that more than most with captain and midfield general Michael Bradley and big-money centre-forward Jozy Altidore both heading off at the start of July to team up with Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S squad. It is a pity for Toronto because, along with Italian Sebastian Giovinco, their expensive trio of designated players are really hitting their stride – all three scored in the win over Montreal on Wednesday. |
| DC United lead the Eastern Conference, with a 10-point gap over New England, but they have played five more games than Toronto and lost at home to the Canadians in June, when Giovinco scored both goals in a 2-1 win. | DC United lead the Eastern Conference, with a 10-point gap over New England, but they have played five more games than Toronto and lost at home to the Canadians in June, when Giovinco scored both goals in a 2-1 win. |
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