Soccer update

[Snaxx]

Trade news that would interest me as well as AJ: A former Houston Dynamo star is coming to NY and will play against Houston tomorrow night.

(Red Bulls press release) HARRISON, NJ (April 1, 2011) – Red Bull New York announced today that it has acquired five-time MLS Best XI midfielder and four-time MLS Cup winner Dwayne De Rosario from Toronto FC. In exchange, Toronto FC received midfielder Tony Tchani, midfielder/defender Danleigh Borman and New York's natural first round 2012 MLS SuperDraft selection.

De Rosario will travel to New York Friday night and will be available for selection for the Red Bulls’ MLS regular season match at Red Bull Arena Saturday against the Houston Dynamo at 7:30 PM

[andrewjackson]

Trade news that would interest me as well as AJ: A former Houston Dynamo star is coming to NY and will play against Houston tomorrow night.

(Red Bulls press release) HARRISON, NJ (April 1, 2011) – Red Bull New York announced today that it has acquired five-time MLS Best XI midfielder and four-time MLS Cup winner Dwayne De Rosario from Toronto FC. In exchange, Toronto FC received midfielder Tony Tchani, midfielder/defender Danleigh Borman and New York's natural first round 2012 MLS SuperDraft selection.

De Rosario will travel to New York Friday night and will be available for selection for the Red Bulls’ MLS regular season match at Red Bull Arena Saturday against the Houston Dynamo at 7:30 PM

Houston was also apparently trying to trade to get DeRosario back but got beat out by NY. DeRo looked pretty good in the half that he played. I was pleased with the overall result of the game.

Now the Dynamo come home for a couple of games and, hopefully, a couple of wins against Vancouver and New England.

[andrewjackson]

The 2011 MLS regular season has ended. The L.A. Galaxy won the Supporter's Shield for having the best regular season record.
The playoffs start on Wednesday with the single elimination Wildcard Round. The winners are then seeded into the Eastern and Western Conference playoffs.

Wildcard round
WC #1 FC Dallas v. WC #4 NY Red Bulls
WC #2 Colorado Rapids v. WC #3 Columbus Crew

Eastern Conference
#1 Sporting Kansas City v. best Wildcard winner
#2 Houston Dynamo v. #3 Philadelphia Union

Western Conference
#1 LA Galaxy v. worst Wildcard winner
#2 Seattle Sounders v. #3 Real Salt Lake

The MLS Cup championship game is November 20.

[andrewjackson]

The 2nd legs of the MLS conference semifinals are beginning tonight.
Home team is listed first. Times are EDT.
The series are won with the most total goals over the two games. There is no away goal rule. If a series ends up tied after the 2nd game there is overtime and possibly a shootout to determine who advances.

Wednesday, November 2
EASTERN CONFERENCE: Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids 8 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel
KC won the first leg, 2-0
WESTERN CONFERENCE: Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake 10 p.m. ESPN2
RSL won the first leg, 3-0

Thursday, November 3
EASTERN CONFERENCE: Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Houston won the first leg, 2-1
WESTERN CONFERENCE: LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls 11 p.m. ESPN2
The Galaxy won the first leg, 1-0

The Conference finals are a single game at the higher seed this Sunday.

Very exciting here in Houston. The Dynamo put on a rush at the end of the season going 4-0-2 to end the season and then won at Philly last Sunday in the first playoff game ever at PPL Park.

I was at the Philly-Houston game but not without some difficulty. My flight to Philly was supposed to be at 6:15 am from Houston on Sunday which would get me into Philly in plenty of time for the 5 pm EDT game. But on Saturday night we got word that the flight was cancelled due to an aircraft maintenance problem. The airline offered to book us on another flight but it didn't arrive until 6 pm. Too late for us. We scrambled but could not find another flight that would get us there in time for the game on Sunday. At lot of that was due to the snowstorm on the East Coast on Saturday.

So it looked like our group was out of luck until we found a flight leaving from Dallas on Sunday morning that would get us there on time. So four of us drove the 4+ hours to the Dallas airport late on Saturday night and then caught the flight from there. And made it to the game. And got to see a Dynamo win!

[Snaxx]

The conference final results today:

Kansas City 0 - HOUSTON 2 (wonder if AJ made another road trip)
LOS ANGELES 3 - Salt Lake 1

So it will be LA vs Houston.

[ulysses5019]

The conference final results today:

Kansas City 0 - HOUSTON 2 (wonder if AJ made another road trip)
LOS ANGELES 3 - Salt Lake 1

So it will be LA vs Houston.

At the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA in a couple of weeks.

[andrewjackson]

The conference final results today:

Kansas City 0 - HOUSTON 2 (wonder if AJ made another road trip)
LOS ANGELES 3 - Salt Lake 1

So it will be LA vs Houston.

I did make another road trip. Didn't even mess with planes this time. A buddy and I drove the 12 hours to Kansas City. We left at midnight on Saturday, got to KC around 11 am (thanks to the time change), slept for 2 hours, and then went to the stadium. And saw the Dynamo pull off an amazing win!

And then drove the 12 hours back to Houston during the day on Monday. I was in my car way, way too much over the last couple of days.

Now on to Los Angeles. Just bought my plane ticket to get out there for the Cup on November 20.

This will be the 3rd Cup win for whichever teams wins. That will be the 2nd most behind DC United's 4. For the Dynamo, if we win, it will be our 3rd Cup in our 6 years of existence.

This win also gets Houston back into the CONCACAF Champions League next year. That's the competition among the top club teams from across North American, Central America and the Caribbean. It will be great to have some international competition in our new downtown stadium next summer (and hopefully into the fall.).

Dale, dale, dale Dynamo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Snaxx]

AJ, I forwarded your report to my father who is a big soccer fan and in fact asked me if you went to the Dynamo road matches. We went to one MLS Cup final, way back in 1997 in DC. I went with my sister to the first one in 1996 in the pouring rain. Enjoy LA! CCL with the extra fixtures will be a challenge. It seemed to wear down FCD and Colorado this year.

[andrewjackson]

The Dynamo lost. LAG 1-0 HOU for the MLS Cup. LA was definitely the better team. Houston gave it a good try but just couldn't get much of an offensive attack going. We still sang and jumped up and down for 90 minutes in support. We had a couple of thousand Houston fans make the trip. It wound up breaking the attendance record for the Home Depot Center. Capacity is 27,000 and there were over 30,000 for the Cup.

Still a great end of the year run for the Dynamo. We were in 12th place overall in August and we made the championship game. Not bad.

Next year's MLS season is going to have some changes. Montreal enters the league making 19 teams. Apparently Houston will stay in the Eastern Conference which will have 10 teams while the West has 9. The league has decided to go back to an unbalanced schedule meaning teams will play teams in the other conference only once while playing intra-conference opponents more often to get to a 34 game schedule. That means there might only be one Houston v. FC Dallas game. That's too bad.

They are also changing the MLS Cup away from a pre-determined site to now being hosted by the higher seed. Should make for a more exciting environment for the final like this year's which turned out to be a home game for Los Angeles. Not sure how fair it will be but we'll see. For the record, teams have played 3 of the previous 16 MLS Cup finals at home and the home team's record is 2-1.

The 2012 MLS season will start in early March.

[andrewjackson]

AJ, I forwarded your report to my father who is a big soccer fan and in fact asked me if you went to the Dynamo road matches. We went to one MLS Cup final, way back in 1997 in DC. I went with my sister to the first one in 1996 in the pouring rain. Enjoy LA! CCL with the extra fixtures will be a challenge. It seemed to wear down FCD and Colorado this year.

Sunday was my 4th MLS Cup. Three times with the Dynamo and I also went to the 2008 final when Columbus beat NY. Much more fun when the Dynamo are playing. We were wet and depressed on Sunday evening but I'm still glad I was there.

Yeah, we'll have to see how the Dynamo survive the Champions' League. LAG did break the streak. They are the first CCL team to ever go ahead and also win the MLS Cup in the same season as the group play. The extra games do seem to take a lot of the team. Back in 2008 Houston played in the CCC, SuperLiga, and Champions league. We were completely worn down by time for the MLS Playoffs that year. 2012 should be easier than that.

[andrewjackson]

2012 will also be the start of 2014 World Cup qualifying for the USA. The top two teams from each of these groups will advance to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying in 2013. Canada made it out of the 1st group stage and will also be trying to advance to the Hex in 2013.

Group A
USA
Jamaica
Guatemala
Antigua & Barbuda

Group B
Mexico
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guyana

Group C
Honduras
Cuba
Panama
Canada

USA matches are:
June 8 vs Antigua
June 12 at Guatemala
Sept 7 at Jamaica
Sept 11 vs Jamaica
Oct 12 at Antigua
Oct 16 vs Guatemala

[andrewjackson]

The 2012 MLS season is almost upon us. Pre-season is underway and the regular season gets started on March 10.

The big news this year is that the Montreal Impact join the league bringing the total to 19 teams and the new Dynamo stadium opens! The naming rights were sold to a Spanish controlled bank so it will be known as BBVA Compass Stadium. Our first home game will not be until May 12 when the stadium is completed.

You can watch the final parts of construction on a webcam inside the stadium. Today they are installing seats and starting to put down the grass field.

http://www.houstondynamo.com/stadium/webcam

This what the outside looked like a couple of weeks ago. This is from the parking garage where I live next door.



And a shot from inside the stadium that shows how close it is to downtown:

[andrewjackson]

The 2012 MLS season is about to start. And the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. The CCL is a tournament for the best club teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The group stage of the tournament was last fall and the first legs of the home-and-home total goal series start this week. The winners advance to the semifinals at the end of March. MLS teams are involved in two of the series.

Home teams are listed first. Times are Eastern.

Wednesday, March 7
CCL: Toronto FC v. LA Galaxy 8:00 pm Fox Soccer Channel/TeleFutura
CCL: Seattle Sounders v. Santos Laguna (MEX) 10:00 pm FSC/TeleF

Saturday, March 10
Colorado Rapids v. Columbus Crew 6:00 pm
Vancouver Whitecaps v. Montreal Impact 6:00 pm
D.C. United v. Sporting KC 7:30 pm
San Jose Earthquakes v. New England Revolution 10:30 pm
LA Galaxy v. Real Salt Lake 10:30 pm

Sunday, March 11
FC Dallas v. New York Red Bulls 3:00 pm NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus)
Chivas USA v. Houston Dynamo 7:00 pm Galavision

Monday, March 12
Portland Timbers v. Philadelphia Union 9:30 pm ESPN2/ESPN Deportes

The Chicago Fire do not play. All of these game should have some sort of TV coverage in the local markets. I've just noted the national TV broadcasts. You should check out a game this week. The Portland game on Monday should be a good one and I'll be curiously watching the FCD/NY game on Sunday to see how the NBC Sports Network covers MLS. They are showing a lot of MLS games this year and people are optimistic that they can raise the profile higher.

[Snaxx]

BBVA Compass Stadium opens in two days and AJ will certainly be there.

Meanwhile I was at their last road game before the home opener since they were in the NY area (Harrison New Jersey).

Red Bull NY supporters rub it in

[silverscreenselect]

Sadly, the dreams of bringing the World Cup back to Belmopan where it could be filled with virility enhancers came to an end in November. Belize finished second in its group to Guatemala (which swept all six matches), outperforming St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Unfortunately, only the winning Guats moved on to the next round, where they will be in a pool with the United States and Jamaica (which got byes) and Antigua and Barbuda. The top two teams in that pool will compete in the finals with the top two teams in each of the other two pools.

[Snaxx]

BBVA Compass Stadium opens in two days and AJ will certainly be there.

Congrats to the Dynamo who won their first home game 1-0 vs DC United. Brad Davis, a Dynamo veteran from the beginning, scored the only goal with a shot from outside the penalty area in the second half. Dwayne De Rosario, part of Houston's two-time MLS Cup champs, played for DC.

[andrewjackson]

Sorry, I've been busy lately.

Yes, we had our new stadium opener on Saturday. I'm still hoarse.

Crazy, crazy day!

[andrewjackson]

New York (Snaxx's team) is about to invade BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston for the first time this Friday. It should be a great game. NY is currently 1 point ahead of Houston in the Eastern Conference standings. Houston is riding a 4 game winning streak and has not lost in our last 7 games. In those 7 games Houston has out-scored opponents 13-2 so we are clicking on both ends of the field. In addition, the Dynamo have yet to lose a home game in the new stadium going 7-0-3 so far this year. In fact, we have not lost at home since June of 2011. That's 18 straight regular season home games without a loss and 19 in a row if you count the playoffs.

The two teams will meet again next Friday in Harrison, NJ where the Red Bulls are also 7-0-3 this year.

[Snaxx]

New York (Snaxx's team) is about to invade BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston for the first time this Friday. It should be a great game. NY is currently 1 point ahead of Houston in the Eastern Conference standings. Houston is riding a 4 game winning streak and has not lost in our last 7 games. In those 7 games Houston has out-scored opponents 13-2 so we are clicking on both ends of the field. In addition, the Dynamo have yet to lose a home game in the new stadium going 7-0-3 so far this year. In fact, we have not lost at home since June of 2011. That's 18 straight regular season home games without a loss and 19 in a row if you count the playoffs.

The two teams will meet again next Friday in Harrison, NJ where the Red Bulls are also 7-0-3 this year.

Dynamo scored in the second minute and went on to win 2-0. I'll be in Harrison NJ next week.

[andrewjackson]

New York (Snaxx's team) is about to invade BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston for the first time this Friday. It should be a great game. NY is currently 1 point ahead of Houston in the Eastern Conference standings. Houston is riding a 4 game winning streak and has not lost in our last 7 games. In those 7 games Houston has out-scored opponents 13-2 so we are clicking on both ends of the field. In addition, the Dynamo have yet to lose a home game in the new stadium going 7-0-3 so far this year. In fact, we have not lost at home since June of 2011. That's 18 straight regular season home games without a loss and 19 in a row if you count the playoffs.

The two teams will meet again next Friday in Harrison, NJ where the Red Bulls are also 7-0-3 this year.

Dynamo scored in the second minute and went on to win 2-0. I'll be in Harrison NJ next week.

I hope you don't have too good a time.

Great game by the Dynamo last Friday but it's going to be tough to do it again in Harrison. Houston has never won a game at New York at either stadium. We are 0-4-4 all-time. Unfortunately I'll be backpacking in Yellowstone on Friday night so I may not know the result for a few days.

[Snaxx]

AJ has cause to be happy again either in chilly Chicago or Houston as the Dynamo doused the Chicago Fire tonight in the wild-card or play-in round of the MLS playoffs. They go on to a home-and-home series with Sporting Kansas City. This will include their first home playoff game at BBVA Compass Stadium. The other Eastern playoff matchup is a bitter rivalry since the league's beginning in 1996: New York Red Bulls (in those days known as the MetroStars) vs DC United.

[andrewjackson]

Sorry. I haven't been around much.

I was not able to make the road trip to Chicago for the playoff game but it was a great victory for the Dynamo. And we followed that up with a 2-0 win over KC at home on Sunday. I will be traveling up to Kansas City for the 2nd leg on Wednesday. We'll see what we can do with a 2 goal lead.


Good luck to Snaxx's Red Bulls. At least this week. By Saturday I may be singing a different tune. If Houston and New York both advance they'll face each other in a home-and-away series the next two weekends. The first game would be in Houston on Saturday. Our home undefeated streak is now at 29 games in all competitions. I made a banner to celebrate that for our playoff game on Sunday. I also made the "Gotta Have That Cup" and the "MINE" banner on the wall in the back but I'm most proud of the Undefeated!

[Snaxx]

Good luck to Snaxx's Red Bulls. At least this week. By Saturday I may be singing a different tune. If Houston and New York both advance they'll face each other in a home-and-away series the next two weekends. The first game would be in Houston on Saturday.

Thanks. I notice I have to call my dad and apologize for some misinformation I gave him. I said with confidence that the conference finals were one game on the weekend of the 17th. It was that way in past years. The nor'easter and snow may keep me from making the trip to NJ tomorrow, but I would be there if they make it to the conference finals.

[Snaxx]

I was not able to make the road trip to Chicago for the playoff game but it was a great victory for the Dynamo. And we followed that up with a 2-0 win over KC at home on Sunday. I will be traveling up to Kansas City for the 2nd leg on Wednesday. We'll see what we can do with a 2 goal lead.

Congrats to the Dynamo for doing their share, although it was very close. Kansas City had most of the chances and got back one of the goals in the second half. However it ended 2-1 aggregate in favor of Houston. In the end, Will Bruin's goal on Sunday that gave Houston the 2-goal edge stood as the difference.

Meanwhile, Red Bull NY vs DC United is postponed to tomorrow for the snowstorm, after several unsuccessful attempts to clear the field. DC United funded 11 busloads of fans for the 200-mile trip to Harrison NJ and there were about 700 visiting fans. Team members went up into the crowd to show their appreciation. Suggestions were raised to put them up in a hotel, but Superstorm Sandy has limited hotel space. Last I heard was the teams funding bus and tickets for anyone wanting to come back.

[Snaxx]

Well like Southwest Airlines flyers are free to move about the country, I'm free to root for AJ's Dynamo if I wish to do so, since they will be facing DC United. One of the good guys on the Red Bull team, Kenny Cooper, had to re-take a successful penalty because two teammates stepped into the area (like with a basketball foul shot). Of course he missed the second time and it stayed tied. Then notorious bad-guy Rafa Marquez got red-carded for a second cautionable offense and finally DC rookie Nick DeLeon scored the winner. So the busloads of DC faithful who took two round trips to NY as a result of a poorly-handled weather cancellation go home happy in the end.

So it is another year without a cup in the NY area (founded 1996) and now the Red Bull organization must share some of the area's attention as the New York Cosmos return next year as a minor league organization, aiming for Major League Soccer in 2-3 years. Today the Cosmos hired former MetroStars/Red Bull executive Erik Stover as their chief operating officer. Given the woes in Harrison NJ and the brand-name status of the Cosmos, Red Bull could be in trouble. I figure on a Red Bull housecleaning starting with Marquez on the next flight to Guadalajara (Club Atlas), coach Hans Backe getting sacked, and another weak link Roy Miller getting cut.