Domestic weekend wrap: Real Madrid’s win, MLS high points and more
• In Major League Soccer, Conor Casey and Omar Cummings had fantastic nights in the 4-0 win over fading Chivas USA. But you can see that from reading the box scores. What you won't see is that Columbus Crew center back Chad Marshall and Real Salt Lake center back Jamison Olave had big nights, too, cops on the beat along their back lines. Marshall looks to be brimming with confidence at the moment, coming off a string of heady nights in the Gold Cup, which were rewarded with a call-up by Bob Bradley for this week's match at Azteca.
- Ronaldo didn't do much, but he did play Sunday in Washington, D.C.
• This was the reporting gem of the weekend, from the game's best domestic reporter, Steven Goff of the Washington Post: "No matter how hot it gets, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka are contractually obligated to play at least 45 minutes, game organizers said." I find that fascinating.
• San Jose Earthquakes boss Frank Yallop may have just moved forward on the list I posted last week of managers in employment distress. I know it's killing the man … and I know he's doing all he can. He'll be back in MLS, I believe. But I just don’t see how it can keep going like this at Buck Shaw, where they were beaten soundly by visiting Columbus. (And the Crew is still without two of its best three players, reigning league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto and ageless U.S. international Frankie Hejduk.
• If you're counting, RSL coach Jason Kreis has now missed six games due to disciplinary foibles. He watched Saturday's contest at home against Seattle from a radio booth.
• Just 60 seconds into Real Madrid's friendly outside Washington, D.C. United midfielder Fred ran over Real left back Royston Drenthe. Referee Baldomero Toledo waved play on, of course. And I'm thinking, "It took just 60 seconds to show the world how inept U.S. refereeing can be." By the way, after Drenthe popped up and gave Toledo the classic "WTF?" shoulder shrug, the Madrid man ran back and clobbered Fred as the United midfielder touched the ball. And with that, Drenthe demonstrated the jeopardy of poor match management: that players take justice into their own hands.
• Hasn't it been nice watching goalkeepers from these classy sides such as Real Madrid and Barcelona distribute to defenders, instead of the crap-shoot that is the big thumping punt up field? Then again, the defenders and midfielders on the end of said throws and rolls from goalkeepers are a little better on the ball than their hard-trying MLS counterparts.
• Oddest site of the MLS weekend was watching San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon take his sweet time early in the second half of a then-scoreless contest against Columbus. San Jose is desperate for points, right? And playing in the Bay Area, right? So, uh, what gives?
• Landon Donovan's seeing-eyed first-time volley against New England was the goal of the weekend. "Landon’s score was probably the goal of the season,’’ Revolution assistant coach Paul Mariner said. "You’ve got to applaud him. Reis had no chance.’’ It wasn't … the goal of the season, that is. But it was a pretty damn sweet shot.
• The U.S. players bound for Mexico should all be in Miami by tomorrow morning (where the Yanks are gathering initially). They'll train there before heading south of the border Tuesday. U.S. manager Bob Bradley will have a national media teleconference Monday that I'll be in on.
• Something is going sideways in Houston Dynamo-land. Last week the Orange nearly blew a four-goal lead. At home. Imagine that. Sunday, in the MLS Round 21 finale, the Dynamo got bailed by a soft penalty kick, as Stuart Holden converted an 83rd minute spot shot earned by Corey Ashe. Still, the Dynamo blew a two-goal lead at the break in this one, as Chicago scored twice right after intermission. Obviously, there are lots of things at work when something stunning like this happens. But one of the issues is simply down to Julius James, who is now starting in the middle alongside
Bobby Boswell at center back. James just isn't doing very well right now, and Kinnear needs Geoff Cameron -- who has started out wide in midfield the last two times out at Robertson -- back alongside Boswell.
• More on Round 21 of MLS here, on my weekly roundup of tactics and trends.
• Finally, you don't look so well. Be sure to start coughing and sniffling a bit tomorrow at the office, setting up that moment Wednesday when you announce that you just can't get it done today, and you've got to go home and get some rest. Probably just before 3 p.m. CT ... if you know what I'm sayin'.
Your pal Steve is looking out for you.
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