Two of leagues best teams face off at Pizza Hut Park.
MLS Week 10, Review: Portland Timbers Off To Impressive Start

Getty ImagesThe Timbers’ latest victory wasn’t exactly their most impressive, 1-0 over the Crew on which the lone goal probably should have been whistled dead for offsides. But credit them for continuing to find ways to get results at home. They’ve shown they can win shootouts -- their first two home games featured 11 goals -- and they’ve shown they can win low-scoring affairs -- each of their last three wins have been 1-0.
While it seems a little trite to suggest that the fans deserve much of the credit for this start, and coach John Spencer has made it clear that his players are the ones doing the real work, it does seem like the atmosphere has helped. The Timbers have yet to thoroughly dominate any of their home opponents, and have actually been out-possessed in all five of their home matches. Against the Crew, the Timbers were actually out shot (11-10), out possessed (53-47) and won only 47 percent of the aerial duels. None of those numbers mean the Timbers are actually being outplayed, but it does seem to suggest there’s some kind of unquantifiable element at play. That element might just be the people chanting, singing and waving flags.
Read Article >FC Dallas Vs. Real Salt Lake: Game Ends Scoreless After Long Delay
Both teams struggled to really get anything going in both halves. It was possibly due to the muggy weather in the area or the lack of quality attacking midfielders for both clubs.
With the draw Dallas moves back into second place in the Western Conference with 18 points. RSL moves into a three-way tie for third place with Portland and Seattle with 17 points.
Read Article >Colorado Rapids Vs. Toronto FC: Scoreless Draw A Fair Result
Of course, facing a Toronto FC team that has so far been one of the worst teams in MLS this season, you’d think the Rapids would be looking for more than a point. Yet it was TFC, which entered the match with just one road point, that had the better scoring chances.
Read Article >FC Dallas Vs. Real Salt Lake: Game Suspended Due To Weather
Colorado Rapids Vs. Toronto FC, Halftime: Score Tied 0-0
Outside of that shot, there really haven’t been too many scoring opportunities for either side. Each goalkeeper has only had to make one save and both teams have only taken three shots.
Read Article >FC Dallas Vs. Real Salt Lake: Scoreless After First 45 Minutes
Each side enter halftime with only one shot on goal a piece. Maybe the second half will open it up a little more for each side with some subs.
Read Article >FC Dallas Vs. Real Salt Lake: Lineups
Schellas Hyndman puts out the same starting eleven as he did in last weeks 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. Hyndman is hoping his newly formed 4-4-2 will continue to see success.
Read Article >San Jose Earthquakes Vs. New England Revolution: Quakes Win Second Straight
Portland Timbers Vs. Columbus Crew: Brunner’s Goal Good Enough For 1-0 Win
But the game wasn’t all Portland. The Timbers lacked any real chances on goal in the first half and for the majority of the second half they held the possession but weren’t creating many chances on goal. Alhassan may have had the most chances in the second half for the Timbers but he could never seem to get a ball on frame as he sent a couple shots high and wide.
Read Article >Portland Timbers Vs. Columbus Crew: Brunner Opens Second Half With Goal
The Crew are now playing like a frustrated club giving up more dangerous spots for the Timbers. Giving up such an early goal in the half can’t be a good sign for the visitors who looked very dangerous in the first half.
Read Article >Seattle Sounders Vs. Sporting Kansas City: Jeff Parke Adds To SKC’s Woes
Portland Timbers Vs. Columbus Crew: Halftime, Physical Half But Game Still 0-0
The Crew also had another decent chance by Heinemann early on in the match when he made a quick turn around Mamadou “Futty” Danso. The move around Danso was good but shot by Heinemann was not. Perkins made an easy save on that one.
Read Article >Seattle Sounders Vs. Sporting Kansas City: Scoreless At Halftime
After seven games on the road and five straight losses, it’s safe to say Sporting would be happing with just a point and so far they have been playing that way. They’ve been effective at disrupting much of what the Sounders wanted to do in the midfield and in their defensive third, but have not showed a lot of ambition in the run of play.
That said, when they have gone on the attack, they have been more effective at getting shots on goal as they lead the Sounders 3-0 in that department. None of those shots really looked very dangerous though.
Read Article >Portland Timbers Vs. Columbus Crew: Lineups
John Spencer and Robert Warzycha have their lineups set and really there aren’t any real shockers to discuss between either side tonight. Portland looks to be going with their big offensive guns with rookie Darlington Nagbe, Kenny Cooper and Jorge Perlaza out there. Columbus does mix things up with rookie Tom Heinemann getting a start.
Read Article >Houston Dynamo Vs. New York Red Bulls: Final, Mehdi Ballouchy’s Header Keeps NY Level 2-2
WIth the draw the two teams stay where they are at in the standings. New York remains in first in the Eastern conference with 16 points, while the Dynamo move up with 14 points.
Read Article >Philadelphia Union Vs. Chicago Fire: Carlos Ruiz’s Wondergoal Wins It For Union
Ruiz started the goal-scoring sequence when his free kick from about 35 yards out hit the wall. The ball came back out to Ruiz, who fired his shot on a volley that hit the underside of the crossbar and into the goal. It was Ruiz’s third goal of the season, but his first since April 16.
The ended a three-match winless streak for the Union, who had lost 2-0 last week. It was the first time the Union had scored as many as two goals in a match since Oct. 16, 2010. Michael Farfan had scored his first career goal on a shot from about 25 yards out.
Read Article >Philadelphia Union Vs. Chicago Fire: Carlos Ruiz Gives Union 2-1 Lead
Based on their season scoring output, that seemed to be a huge blow to the Union, who have scored a league-low six goals through their first nine matches. But Ruiz had different thoughts. The much criticized forward scored his third goal of the season, but his first since April 16.
Read Article >Houston Dynamo Vs. New York Red Bulls: Brad Davis Converts Penalty, Ties Score
If this is indeed a sign of Marquez showing his age, this could be a bad sign for the Red Bulls. Marquez is likely to have a busy summer as he has already been named to Mexico’s Gold Cup squad.
Read Article >Houston Dynamo Vs. New York Red Bulls: Dane Richards Strikes In 1st Minute
It was Richards’ second goal of the season. Coincidentally, his only other goal also came against the Dyanmo during their April 2 encounter. In that match, the Red Bulls settled for a 1-1 tie.
Read Article >Thierry Henry Out For Red Bulls Match At Dynamo
MLS Week 10 Preview, Picks: FC Dallas Streaks Into Showdown With Real Salt Lake
Last week: 7 of 12 correct predictions
We’ll have a full preview in a separate article. Pick: Chivas 2-1.
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