Soccer update

[Snaxx]

For #ThrowbackThursday, five years ago this week:

[andrewjackson]

For #ThrowbackThursday, five years ago this week:

Very cool. I've had a beard for two years now so I barely recognized myself.

[Snaxx]

For #ThrowbackThursday, five years ago this week:

Very cool. I've had a beard for two years now so I barely recognized myself.

This conjures up an ES image of our seventh president in a Sawx jersey, but I need to enroll in the vision plan to see it.

[andrewjackson]

Here is a more recent picture. This was on the top of Mt. Iroquois in the Adirondacks last week. That was my sixth High Peak.

[Snaxx]

Here is a more recent picture. This was on the top of Mt. Iroquois in the Adirondacks last week. That was my sixth High Peak.

Cool. Although I don't climb the peaks, I've been in the area in the past, especially this time of year with the foliage.

[Bob78164]

Here is a more recent picture. This was on the top of Mt. Iroquois in the Adirondacks last week. That was my sixth High Peak.

So that's what soccer fans do for

Spoiler

kicks

. --Bob

[andrewjackson]

The 2013 MLS regular season is complete.

Final Standings:
The New York Red Bulls win the Supporters' Shield for having the best regular season record. That is their first major trophy in 18 years in the league.
My Houston Dynamo won on the final day and qualified for the playoffs for the 7th time in our 8 seasons in the league.
The top 5 in each conference make the playoffs.

East
1. NYR 34 g.p. 59 pts 17 w. 58 g. +17 g.d.
2. SKC 34 g.p. 58 pts 17 w. 47 g. +17 g.d.
3. NER 34 g.p. 51 pts 14 w. 49 g. +11 g.d.
4. HOU 34 g.p. 51 pts 14 w. 41 g. +0 g.d.
5. MON 34 g.p. 49 pts 14 w. 50 g. +1 g.d.
--------------------------
6. CHI 34 g.p. 49 pts 14 w. 47 g. -5 g.d.
7. PHI 34 g.p. 46 pts 12 w. 42 g. -2 g.d.
8. CLB 34 g.p. 41 pts 12 w. 42 g. -4 g.d.
9. TFC 34 g.p. 29 pts 6 w. 30 g. -17 g.d.
10. DCU 34 g.p. 16 pts 3 w. 22 g. -37 g.d.

West
1. POR 34 g.p. 57 pts 14 w. 54 g. +21 g.d.
2. RSL 34 g.p. 56 pts 16 w. 57 g. +16 g.d.
3. LAG 34 g.p. 53 pts 15 w. 53 g. +15 g.d.
4. SEA 34 g.p. 52 pts 15 w. 42 g. +0 g.d.
5. COR 34 g.p. 51 pts 14 w. 45 g. +7 g.d.
-------------------------
6. SJE 34 g.p. 51 pts 14 w. 35 g. -7 g.d.
7. VAN 34 g.p. 49 pts 13 w. 53 g. +8 g.d.
8. FCD 34 g.p. 44 pts 11 w. 48 g. -4 g.d.
9. CHV 34 g.p. 26 pts 6 w. 30 g. -37 g.d.

The schedule for the first week of the playoffs.
Home teams are first, times are EDT.

KNOCKOUT ROUND
Wednesday, October 30
(W4) Seattle Sounders v. (W5) Colorado Rapids 10:30 pm

Thursday, October 31
(E4) Houston Dynamo v. (E5) Montreal Impact 8:00 pm NBCSN

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS, LEG 1
Saturday November 2
(E3) New England Revolution v. (E2) Sporting Kansas City 8:00 pm
Seattle/Colorado winner v. (W1) Portland Timbers 10:00 pm NBCSN

Sunday, November 3
Houston/Montreal winner v. (E1) New York Red Bulls 3:30 pm NBC
(W3) Los Angeles Galaxy v. (W2) Real Salt Lake 9:00 pm ESPN

The Conference Semifinals will conclude on November 6-7. The winner is the team that scores the most goals in the two games.
The Conference Finals will be November 9-10 and 23-24. Same format.

The 2013 MLS Cup will be December 7 at the team with the most regular season points. Single game, winner take all.

[Snaxx]

Congrats to the Houston Dynamo on a convincing win vs. Montreal!

Next up!

The above is from about 15-20 minutes after the Supporters Shield win vs. Chicago.

Also, Seattle won in the west to set up a playoff vs. Cascadia Cup rivals Portland.

[Snaxx]

Tonight AJ's Dynamo come to NY, actually Red Bull Arena Harrison NJ, for the playoffs (Conference Semifinals, Leg 2) vs NY. I'll be at the stadium tonight.

[Snaxx]

Tonight AJ's Dynamo come to NY, actually Red Bull Arena Harrison NJ, for the playoffs (Conference Semifinals, Leg 2) vs NY. I'll be at the stadium tonight.

The small contingent from Texian Army went home happy as the Dynamo won in overtime on a goal by Omar Cummings that just crossed the line before Luis Robles the NY goalkeeper could swat it out. I had moved to that end and had a good view knowing it was a goal and thinking just for a moment maybe they (ref and assistant) missed it.

The Red Bulls had outscored the Dynamo in the three regular season meetings by a combined 9-1 margin but the Dynamo are a proven playoff team that made the MLS Cup finals the last two seasons often having to win on the road to do so. The past two years they stunned Kansas City in the playoffs and they will face KC yet again in the East finals this year which is now a home-and-home series finishing in KC on 11/23.

Red Bull NY still won the Supporters Shield (regular season champion) and qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions League and a chance to face top Mexican and Central American clubs next year.

Texian Army

Texian Army

Texian Army after Brad Davis goal off Ibrahim Sekagya error

Texian Army section gets hand from Dynamo

Red Bull Arena afterwards showing where Texian Army sat

[andrewjackson]

Tonight AJ's Dynamo come to NY, actually Red Bull Arena Harrison NJ, for the playoffs (Conference Semifinals, Leg 2) vs NY. I'll be at the stadium tonight.

I was there! It was an amazing night.

[andrewjackson]

Tonight AJ's Dynamo come to NY, actually Red Bull Arena Harrison NJ, for the playoffs (Conference Semifinals, Leg 2) vs NY. I'll be at the stadium tonight.

The small contingent from Texian Army went home happy as the Dynamo won in overtime on a goal by Omar Cummings that just crossed the line before Luis Robles the NY goalkeeper could swat it out. I had moved to that end and had a good view knowing it was a goal and thinking just for a moment maybe they (ref and assistant) missed it.

The Red Bulls had outscored the Dynamo in the three regular season meetings by a combined 9-1 margin but the Dynamo are a proven playoff team that made the MLS Cup finals the last two seasons often having to win on the road to do so. The past two years they stunned Kansas City in the playoffs and they will face KC yet again in the East finals this year which is now a home-and-home series finishing in KC on 11/23.

Red Bull NY still won the Supporters Shield (regular season champion) and qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions League and a chance to face top Mexican and Central American clubs next year.

Texian Army

Texian Army

Texian Army after Brad Davis goal off Ibrahim Sekagya error

Texian Army section gets hand from Dynamo

Red Bull Arena afterwards showing where Texian Army sat

Sorry for your loss. But we had a great time. Pretty amazing that we came from behind in both games of the series. On last Sunday the Red Bulls lead 2-0 at halftime but the Dynamo stormed back to get the tie. The last goal was in the 92nd minute of a 90 minute game. On Wednesday, we again trailed but scored twice again, the 2nd goal in overtime.

That's me standing with my back to the camera in the first couple of pictures. And I'm waving the flag in the other pictures. In the final picture they made us stay in the stadium until everyone else had left.

I'm off to Kansas City in a couple of weeks for our next road game.

[andrewjackson]

CONFERENCE FINALS, LEG 1
Saturday, November 9
EAST: Houston Dynamo v. Sporting Kansas City 2:30 pm et on NBC

Sunday, November 10
WEST: Real Salt Lake v. Portland Timbers 9:00 pm et on ESPN

The Conference Finals conclude with return legs on November 23-24.

The Dynamo are going for our third straight conference title for a total of five in eight years. We have been in the conference finals six times now but lost once to LA in 2009. As Snaxx said we are going for a third straight win over KC in the playoffs. It's going to be a tough, physical series. We need a win on Saturday at home to get off to a good start.

[Snaxx]

Orlando, FL, was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise to begin in 2015. This will make MLS larger, in terms of number of clubs, than any of the top European domestic leagues. I happened to be in the area this week so I went over there to look at the announcement and block party.

The minor-league Orlando City Soccer Lions will morph into the MLS franchise after playing in the USL-Pro league another season.

Orlando City is expected to begin MLS play in March 2015 in the Florida Citrus Bowl before moving into an $84 million downtown soccer-specific stadium sometime during the season. MLS sources confirmed the entry fee to be $70 million.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/201 ... -franchise


I did not get there early enough to get at the front of the long line and get inside the bar for the ceremony, but they made an announcement for those outside. I took a video:

[earendel]

Orlando, FL, was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise to begin in 2015. This will make MLS larger, in terms of number of clubs, than any of the top European domestic leagues. I happened to be in the area this week so I went over there to look at the announcement and block party.

I hear that Miami is trying to get a franchise - several Heat players have expressed interest in owning one.

[Snaxx]

Orlando, FL, was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise to begin in 2015. This will make MLS larger, in terms of number of clubs, than any of the top European domestic leagues. I happened to be in the area this week so I went over there to look at the announcement and block party.

I hear that Miami is trying to get a franchise - several Heat players have expressed interest in owning one.

Yes, with the backing of David Beckham. Commissioner Garber's suggestion of a pending rival downstate got a "nice" reaction from the Orlando crowd.

[SpacemanSpiff]

Orlando, FL, was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise to begin in 2015. This will make MLS larger, in terms of number of clubs, than any of the top European domestic leagues. I happened to be in the area this week so I went over there to look at the announcement and block party.

I hear that Miami is trying to get a franchise - several Heat players have expressed interest in owning one.

Yes, with the backing of David Beckham. Commissioner Garber's suggestion of a pending rival downstate got a "nice" reaction from the Orlando crowd.

They might have the owners lined up, but Miami's not a pro soccer town - some would say they aren't much of a pro sports town, period. Unless there's a championship involved (re: the Heat), the town basically ignores their sport teams.

They were usually among the worst in local support back in the old NASL days, between the Toros and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and their support with their team in the early MLS days doesn't change my opinion of that.

[andrewjackson]

CONFERENCE FINALS, LEG 2
Saturday, November 23
EAST: Sporting Kansas City v. Houston Dynamo 7:30 pm et on NBCSN
The first leg was 0-0 in Houston.

Sunday, November 24
WEST: Portland Timbers v. Real Salt Lake 9:00 pm et on ESPN
RSL won the first leg, 4-2.

The winners advance to the MLS Cup final on December 7 at the site of the team with the best regular season record. That means KC if they win or the West winner if Houston wins.


I'll be in KC for the game on Saturday.

[andrewjackson]

I hear that Miami is trying to get a franchise - several Heat players have expressed interest in owning one.

Yes, with the backing of David Beckham. Commissioner Garber's suggestion of a pending rival downstate got a "nice" reaction from the Orlando crowd.

They might have the owners lined up, but Miami's not a pro soccer town - some would say they aren't much of a pro sports town, period. Unless there's a championship involved (re: the Heat), the town basically ignores their sport teams.

They were usually among the worst in local support back in the old NASL days, between the Toros and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and their support with their team in the early MLS days doesn't change my opinion of that.

Congratulations to the fans in Orlando. Welcome to MLS.

We'll have to wait and see about the Miami team. They haven't been officially added to the league yet but it looks inevitable. MLS says they will be at 24 teams by 2020. It will be interesting to see who the other teams wind up being.

[andrewjackson]

CONFERENCE FINALS, LEG 2
Saturday, November 23
EAST: Sporting Kansas City 2-1 Houston Dynamo
Kansas City wins the series, 2-1, on total goals.

Sunday, November 24
WEST: Portland Timbers 0-1 Real Salt Lake
RSL wins the series, 5-2, on total goals.

Saturday, December 7
MLS Cup 2013
Sporting Kansas City v. Real Salt Lake 4:00 pm ESPN

Kansas City hosts the Cup final.


I was at the KC-HOU game on Saturday night. Very disappointing loss for the Dynamo. We were missing some key guys to injury but no excuses. KC beat us. Finally.
Wait 'til next year!
That was the coldest soccer game I have ever attended. Not sure of the exact temperature but it was down around 20F. Might have been in the teens by the end. It was 13F the next morning. Definitely colder than the USA game in Colorado back in March. Beers were icing up during the 2nd half.

[andrewjackson]

Saturday, December 7
MLS Cup 2013
Sporting Kansas City 1-1 (7-6) Real Salt Lake

Kansas City won the Cup. The game was tied after regulation and overtime so it went to penalty kicks. That went 10 rounds but KC finally won, 7-6.
It was very cold at the game which was played in Kansas City. The temperature was 20F at kickoff.

The 2014 MLS season kicks off on March 8.

And, of course, the big soccer event of 2014, the World Cup, starts on June 12.
Here are the groups for the first round of the tournament. The top two from each group advance to the round of 16.

Group A
Brazil
Croatia
Mexico
Cameroon

Group B
Spain
Netherlands
Chile
Australia

Group C
Colombia
Greece
Ivory Coast
Japan

Group D
Uruguay
Costa Rica
England
Italy

Group E
Switzerland
Ecuador
France
Honduras

Group F
Argentina
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Iran
Nigeria

Group G
Germany
Ghana
United States
Portugal

Group H
Belgium
Russia
Algeria
South Korea

[earendel]

Group G
Germany
Ghana
United States
Portugal

I've heard commentators calling this the "Group of Death" for the 2014 World Cup.

[andrewjackson]

Yes, with the backing of David Beckham. Commissioner Garber's suggestion of a pending rival downstate got a "nice" reaction from the Orlando crowd.

They might have the owners lined up, but Miami's not a pro soccer town - some would say they aren't much of a pro sports town, period. Unless there's a championship involved (re: the Heat), the town basically ignores their sport teams.

They were usually among the worst in local support back in the old NASL days, between the Toros and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and their support with their team in the early MLS days doesn't change my opinion of that.

Congratulations to the fans in Orlando. Welcome to MLS.

We'll have to wait and see about the Miami team. They haven't been officially added to the league yet but it looks inevitable. MLS says they will be at 24 teams by 2020. It will be interesting to see who the other teams wind up being.

It looks like the Miami MLS franchise will be announced on Wednesday. That will be team 22 in the league whenever they start playing. They are apparently trying to build a soccer stadium on Dodge Island near the cruise ship terminal and the Port of Miami. In other news the new team NYCFC which starts play in 2015 is inching closer to a stadium deal near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The other leading future expansion candidates are Atlanta, Minneapolis, and San Antonio. We'll see what happens.

The 2014 MLS season starts on March 8 this year. This is the 19th season of MLS.

I'll hopefully be going Back Home Again to Indiana in April to see the inaugural game of the Indy Eleven. That's a new team in the (reconstituted) NASL. Then NASL is effectively the 2nd division of US soccer, sort of like the minor leagues in other sports. There is no promotion/relegation like other soccer pyramids around the world so teams in that level can move up but not on sporting merit. Indianapolis got the franchise last year and had sold 7,000 season tickets before they ever played a game or even had a single player on the team. They'll be playing in the IUPUI soccer/track stadium in downtown Indy for now. It holds 11,000 so I'll have to be on the ball to get game tickets.

The (new) NASL:
Atlanta Silverbacks
Carolina RailHawks
FC Edmonton
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Indy Eleven
Minnesota United
New York Cosmos
Ottawa Fury
San Antonio Scorpions
Tampa Bay Rowdies
(coming in 2015: Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, Virginia Cavalry)

[andrewjackson]

The 19th MLS season kicks off this weekend! Teams play 34 regular season games. The regular season will conclude on the last weekend in October. The MLS Cup final will be in December.

Home teams are first, times are ET.
There is also local TV for the other games that are not on national networks.

Saturday, March 8
Seattle v. Kansas City 3:00 pm NBCSN
DC United v. Columbus 7:00 pm
Vancouver v. New York 7:30 pm
Houston v. New England 8:30 pm
Dallas v. Montreal 8:30 pm
Los Angeles v. Salt Lake 10:30 pm
Portland v. Philadelphia 10:30 pm

Sunday, March 9
Chivas USA v. Chicago 3:00 pm UniMas

The big recent league news was that Chivas USA was bought back by the league from its Mexican owner. They will be still be called Chivas USA for this season. The league hopes to sell the team by 2015 and the new owner will rename the team.

[andrewjackson]

Dynamo win! Dynamo win! 4-0 over New England. The season is off and running!

A couple of my friends and I made this big Dynamo colored Texas flag to use at the games this year. Saturday was the unveiling.