MLS Week 4 Review: Who needs David Beckham anyway?

By: Daryl | April 29th, 2007

Donovan in the Super Clasico It’s very easy to be cynical about the MLS Super Clasico. It’s only a couple seasons old, it was billed as a Super Clasico before Chivas USA and LA Galaxy ever even met, and the results have been very one sided so far (now 8-1-1 in Galaxy’s favour.) That it’s the “Honda” Super Clasico isn’t helping any either.

But this rivalry actually has a lot going for it. You got the stadium sharing issue, so it’s a battle on home turf. You got the USA vs Mexico aspect, and not many local derbies can say that. Plus you got Chivas getting better year on year. You can tell they’re desperate to improve their record vs the Galaxy, and you know it’s going to happen sooner or later.

I watched last night’s game as a neutral and enjoyed it. Preki seemed to get his starting line up wrong and Galaxy went two up pretty fast. Landon Donovan was wide awake to poach the first after some comedy Chivas defending and soon after that he put Kevin Harmes through for the second. But Chivas came out fighting in the second half and once Claudio Suarez pulled one back it was anyone’s game. Turned out that anyone was Cobi Jones. He replaced Kyle Martino in he 66th minute and finished the game off 12 minutes later, firing home after a great Donovan run and cross. So, 3-1 to Galaxy but good 2nd half effort from Chivas. Click here for highlights (you’ll need Windows Media Player).

Here are the weekly Offside MLS awards:

Turned up for work: Landon Donovan
He gets a lot of stick, and he often deserves it, but when he’s on his game he looks unstoppable. He dominated the (cough, Honda, cough) Super Clasico. Scored the first, assisted the second and put the third on a football shaped plate for Cobi Jones. Honourable mention to Joe Cannon too.

Must have overslept: Amado Guevara
Chivas needed their playmaker on his game too. He wasn’t, and Preki didn’t look too happy with the Honduran when he finally subbed him off. Guevera rounded off his evening by getting red carded from the bench for shoving an assistant referee after Jones’ goal.

Best Canadian franchise: Toronto FC
First home game for Toronto and the fans put on a good show. But the team are still without a win. Or a goal. After watching Carl Robinson struggle through a few seasons for my beloved Wolves not so long ago, I don’t imagine he’s helping the cause.

Least popular man in Canada: Eddie Johnson
Kansas City Wizards and Toronto faced off twice in Week 4. Eddie Johnson scored in KC’s 3-0 win on Wednesday, then scored the only goal in Toronto’s first home game on Saturday. Canadians won’t agree, but it’s good to see him back on form.

Looking good: New York Red Bull
Bruce Arena has done an amazing job turning NYRB around. With Juan Pablo Angel incoming and Jozy Altidore getting older every day (or at least I assume so) things should get even better as the season goes on. They got a 1-0 win at Dallas thanks to a cracking Hunter Freeman goal.

Not looking good: DC United
They didn’t win the championship, but DC United were easily the best team in Major League Soccer last year. What have they done to themselves? Adu was just starting to come good and they got rid. Eskandarian was always good and they got rid. Now Tom Soehn’s men are oh and three after losing 1-0 to Columbus Crew, with only Toronto keeping them off the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Are they really still unbeaten after four weeks? Columbus Crew
Yes they are. They’ve tied 3 and won 1, but that still counts as unbeaten. The other unbeaten teams are New York and Chicago Fire, who beat champions Houston 1-0 with a Chris Rolfe goal.

Should have gone to the World Cup: Taylor Twellman
Yes he should, and he scored again in the Revs 1-0 win over Dallas.