What I saw in the first legs of MLS playoffs

I love that mistakes are being punished like so much naughtiness at a Catholic boys school.

I’ll have more thorough reviews up later today at ESPN Soccernet and at MLSnet.com. For now, here’s a quick review, including a recap of a few killer mistakes:

Columbus vet Frankie Hejduk was snoozing momentarily and allowed too much room for Real Salt Lake’s Yura Movsisyan, who fed Robbie Findley for a big goal in the RSL-Columbus series. Still, it’s advantage Columbus, because the men of Utah really needed to take a two-goal lead, at least, into Thursday’s quick-turn return leg.

It’s advantage Galaxy in the In the L.A.-Chivas USA series. At least, according to the Galaxy it is. Team members say having “home field advantage” really matters in the Home Depot Center hallway series. (Chivas USA was the “home” team on Sunday; next week L.A. gets the designation and subsequent season-ticket holder boost.) I’m not sure I’m buying it, although ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas agrees with the sentiment. It sounds like a bunch of hooey to me, something the Galaxy players are saying to gain a wee psychological edge. And they might need one based on Sunday’s uninspired play.

It’s advantage New England in the series with Chicago. (Is it really an MLS post-season if these two don’t meet?) I said last week that New England goalkeeper Matt Reis, though still a valuable presence, just wasn’t having his best year. A few folks called me bat-shit crazy for such an assertion. Wonder what they were thinking when he left a cross in the worst possible place? Chris Rolfe deposited it for an early lead, as Chicago hammered the Revs early. Marco Pappa was damn near unstoppable, although he cooled off later. That young man can play on my team any day.

At the other end, Chicago was warned and alert about not conceding too many set pieces to New Enland. The Revs’ injury-depleted attack would surely be dependent on those chances, since they didn’t really have much else. Well, Fire defender C.J. Brown must have missed the memo. He gave up two free kicks in bad places. New England took advantage of one, and later scored off a corner kick. Now, the Revs’ take a one-goal lead in Chicago, where the Fire has been poor all year. Why? Dunno. They just are, and I like New England’s chances here.

Both teams were fairly cautious in the Seattle-Houston series, although a fantastic backdrop and enough good chances made Thursday’s scoreless draw worth watching. It’s clearly advantage Dynamo there as the series returns to tight little Robertson Stadium after a nine-day break.

Donovan Ricketts

Jamison Olave Jhon Kennedy Hurtado

Kevin Alston Chris Wingert

Chris Rolfe Ricardo Clark Shalrie Joseph Marco Pappa

Freddie Ljungberg

Maykel Galindo