MLS Week 17 Review: Normal Service Will Be Restored Shortly

By: Daryl | July 29th, 2007

FC Dallas Carlos Ruiz Superliga
Week 17 was the last week of summer in MLS. The international friendlies done and dusted, there’s just the inaugural SuperLiga group games in the way of a return to the regular season. Hard to say too much about the SuperLiga because it’s not on any TV channels I can watch (though there are some video highlights here) but as inaugural tournaments go it seems like it could be a lot worse.

With Mexican clubs sort of in pre-season (technically they’re between seasons) and all the games being played in the US, the MLS clubs obviously have a huge advantage that dulls the shine of any victories. But victories are still victories, and will serve to enhance the reputation of MLS in Mexico. MLS teams may not win any fans, but there’s a huge opportunity to win some respect and they’ve done a good job of that so far. DC United, Galaxy and Houston have all won a game against Mexican opposition so far, and Dallas are unbeaten with two 1-1 draws.

The real test for both MLS teams and for the SuperLiga itself will come after the group games, when the semi-finals (8/14 and 8/15) and final (8/29) take place. How seriously will Mexican teams take it, and how well will MLS clubs show? Possibly the best thing that could happen to SuperLiga is a fit David Beckham. Imagine if Galaxy get to the semi-finals and Becks is fit to play? Interest in the fledgling tournament would increase massively. I’m genuinely pulling for the SuperLiga not just because it’s a great idea, but also because it could do wonders for domestic soccer. For example, imagine if the SuperLiga was a big deal and that winning the Lamar Hunt Open Cup secured qualification? That could solves all kinds of problems right there.

In the meantime, there were four regular season MLS games going on this weekend, so here are The Offside MLS Awards:

Best Free Kick By A Man Wearing Goggles: Jeff Larentowicz
It was 1-1 in the 81st minute between New England and Real Salt Lake, and the Revs won a questionable free-kick on the edge of RSL’s box. He doesn’t usually take free-kicks, but Larentowicz and his goggles grabbed the ball and struck a blow for four-eyes everywhere by absolutely leathering his free-kick Ronald Koeman style. No fancy swerving or bending, just a really really really hard shot that flew in to give the Revs a 2-1 win.

Latest Match Winner: Yura Movsisyan
Kerry Zavagnin scored a great goal for Kansas City Wizards in their 3-2 win over a feisty Chivas USA. From a fair old distance, Zavagnin’s left foot picked out the very upper 90 and swerved it in, but that wasn’t the match winner. That honor goes to Yura Movsisyan. In the 89th minute the KC striker cut in from the wing and bent another sweet shot past Brad Guzan and into the top corner.

Mismatch Of The Day The All New Chicago Fire vs The Husk of Toronto FC
Everything fell right for Chicago Fire and new coach Juan Carlos Osorio. Opponents Toronto FC were decimated by all kinds of injuries and Cuauhtemoc Blanco was in the right mood to make his DP debut. The Mexican created Fire’s first goal with a chipped through ball to Ivan Guererro that Fire blogger Tom calls “the best pass I’ve seen a Fire player make all season.” Blanco apparently had no problems adjusting to MLS, and looked the business as Fire took TFC apart 3-0.

Celebrating Tradition: New York Red Bulls
There was a lot of worry when the Red Bull brought the New York franchise. What about the history, the tradition of the Metrostars? Well, New York Red Bull are continuing the Metrostars proud tradition of not being as good as they should be. Is it just me? Or should NYRB – with Altidore, Angel, Reyna et al – be consistently good, as opposed to consistently inconsistent? On Thursday night they lost 2-0 to Chivas USA (goals courtesy of Ante Razov and Sacha Kljestan.) The New York team may be the most important in MLS in terms of where it’s based and attracting media attention, but the Red Bull takeover doesn’t look to have solves any of the old Metrostar problems yet. Seems a few big names doesn’t make a consistent team, and Bruce Arena needs to teach his boys how to defend.