MLS Week 8: Galaxy And Red Bulls Play To Thrilling Draw

Every year, there’s this little dance that MLS does with player salary data. Whenever the signing of a player is officially announced, there’s a line in the release that says “Per MLS and club policy, terms were not disclosed.” Then around this time of year, the MLS Players Union releases their own list of salaries for just about every player. Sometimes the union’s data makes perfect sense. Other times, it can be a bit baffling. In any case, it ends up being the best we have to go on, so we do.

Well, that data came out over the weekend and I’ve been spending the better part of Sunday sifting through it and trying to make some sense of it. It’s always a bit dodgy trying to make too much out of individual player data -- since it’s not always clear whether the amount shown is how much they count against the salary cap or how much they are actually being paid -- but looked at as more of a snapshot, there’s some interesting stuff in there.

The rest of the half continued in thrilling fashion. Both teams opened up and looked to get forward whenever possible, which resulted in plenty of chances. Richards took a shot from distance and forced RIcketts into a strong save and Donovan twice had chances to score only to put the shot wide. It was one of the poorer starts for Donovan in some time as he missed chances and took several bad touches, but he made his mark in the 41st minute.

Donovan almost added to his total a few minutes later when Beckham slid a ball through to him and he was all alone on goal. He made it around Coundoul and had the goal to himself. Donovan kicked the ball slowly towards the goal, but TIm Ream was hustling back and in a full sprint slid and kicked the ball away with it on the goal line to save a goal.

The names Los Angeles and New York have plenty of cache in them alone and within MLS, the Galaxy and Red Bulls have plenty of stars so whenever the two teams square off, it is a big-time match for the league. Well, if MLS was looking for a match to show off they picked the right one because the first 45 minutes between the Galaxy and Red Bulls are about as entertaining as any 45 minutes you will see in soccer. The two teams have had great chances, fantastic passes, stunning saves and one of the more amazing defensive plays anyone will see in a match that cannot be described as anything else than thrilling. Luckily for those in attendance and tuning in on TV, with the match tied at 1-1 they are primed to see more of it in the second half.

After 45 minutes the two teams are right where they started. It’s all even, but it wasn’t for nothing. It was some of the most entertaining 45 minutes anyone could see and the second half could just be more of the same.

Plata, who went unselected in the most recent SuperDraft, was given his first MLS start and responded with his first MLS goal and assist. Plata had looked dangerous in previous appearances and had played well during TFC’s Nutrilite Canadian Championship semifinal against FC Edmonton.

The loss was the second straight for the Dynamo who entered the week on a six-match unbeaten run. They lost to the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at home on Wednesday.

While the Whitecaps will wonder “what if” after a strong finish and getting their best player in alone on goal, they will be happy with their point. The expansion team had yet to garner a point away from home all year and now finally have their first. Meanwhile, the Fire will be angry that they couldn’t get a goal or three in the first 60 minutes to put the match away for three points they probably should have grabbed.

The Revolution continued to push for a goal late and they almost got on the end of several crosses in the waning minutes, but none could be turned on goal. The home side had their way with the Rapids late on, but they were not rewarded and were forced to take their draw.

DC was also able to do well with their wing play tonight as the 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year Andy Najar was a handfull all night for Dallas. Once he was subbed out late in the game with a small injury, did the game settle down on his side of the pitch for United.

With the draw, both teams stay level on points with 11 on the year.

In some ways, Mondaini’s tackle was worse than Mullan’s. Unlike Mullan, there can be no reasonable argument made about whether or not Mondaini was attempting to win the ball. Not only did he come in from behind, but he didn’t even come from behind on the side of the ball. Mondaini’s foul was clearly of the cynical variety, meant to slow up play as RSL was building the attack just outside the penalty area.

Of course, that does not mean MLS will automatically consider it “worse.” Part of why Mullan’s foul received such a harsh punishment seems to have been the perceived retaliatory nature of it. Mullan’s foul was unquestionably more violent, even if it is the kind of foul players all over the world use to “send a message.” It would be hard to argue that Mondaini was attempting to send any kind of message with his foul.

Now, it will be interesting to see what the MLS disciplinary committee does as they have set a clear precedent with Mullan’s 10-game suspension.

RSL entered the match having not lost in their last 30 MLS matches at home, a streak that dates back to May 2009. In the early going, they’ve had the better of the play even before Boyens was sent off.

More to the point, the broadcast went reasonably well, which unfortunately, is actually saying something for FSC, who has earned a reputation for third-rate production quality. The Brotherly Game, SB Nation’s Philadelphia Union blog, actually came away reasonably impressed.

It’s more than a little sad that the broadcast is earning praise for simply failing to suck. But, when you’ve run the product into the ground as thoroughly as FSC has in the, “not sucking” is a huge improvement and right now, we should probably be happy with that.

Neither side played all that well though. Philadelphia sat back for much of the first half and part of the second and really allowed Portland to take the game to them. The little possession they saw they wasted their chances with it. But give plenty of credit to the Union defense as it could have easily been a two or maybe even a three goal game for the Timbers. Faryd Mondragon and his defense really did a good job of shutting down the Timbers attack. The back four for the Union also did a good job of cutting down passing lanes.

The Timbers only had a few chances even with the bulk of possession. Kenny Cooper never got enough touches on the ball tonight but his partner up top, Jorge Perlaza was a workhorse all night for the Timbers. His energy allowed the Timbers offense to keep pressure on the young Union back line.

The goal was Danso’s first career Major League Soccer goal.

The Timbers continue to prove how good they are on set pieces as they take the lead and get the crowd back on into the game a bit more. The Philadelphia Union defenders were all out of position and Danso was able to break free on the set piece.

The best possibly came at the end of the first half as Portland got a free kick outside the penalty area. Jewsbury hit a wonderful ball into the box where Eric Brunner got a head on it but it sailed over the crossbar. Brunner was wide open on the header and could have done better to hammer it home for the game’s first goal.