MLS Table Update as of 7/6/10

 - Past week's results:

• Toronto 1-1 Houston - A fairly slow match at BMO until the 62nd minute when a double red card left a 10-on-10 affair. Two goals off headers coming from a corner, Toronto extended their undefeated streak to 7 and continues to pick up critical points at home. Showing the signs of a true playoff club. 
• Real Salt Lake 5-0 New England - A true Portugal/North Korea reenactment. Four different goal scorers led the way for RSL who out shot the Revolution 24 to 4. Even more impressive was the 18 to 1 difference in shots on goal. RSL are the main competition to LA this season. New England's fourth loss in their last five matches will only get harder with a home match against the Galaxy up next. 
• Columbus 2-1 Chicago - Columbus wanted a tighter score line so they decided to score a 3rd on the night, in their own goal. Both teams looked dangerous and had chances but the Crew are able to put theirs away, which is why they are the top of the East year in and year out. Nyarko seems to have the skills for a breakout player in the MLS but is missing that final touch a few times. 
• Dallas 1-0 Kansas City - A PK was the difference on the night and not much to comment on for these two clubs at the moment. 
• Chivas USA 1-1 Philadelphia - Philadelphia have truly stepped into Seattle's role as the new, exciting brand of soccer to watch this season. Good young players paired with guys tossed aside from their squads in the off-season, while maybe not quite a playoff team yet, Philly are building a good foundation and already have one of the better home environments. 
• Colorado 1-1 New York - Juan Pablo Angel knocked in his 9th goal of the season (2nd best in the MLS) to save a point for the Red Bulls. New York continues to take steps forward as a quality side and have 10 points in their last 4 games. The Rapids are quietly sitting 3rd in the West and could end up being last year's RSL. 
• LA Galaxy 3-1 Seattle - A strong defense, good counter attack and skilled players were the recipe for 3 points on Sunday night, much like the rest of the season for LA. Adding Landon and Edson back into this side make them almost unbeatable with Ricketts in goal. It will be interesting to see if Donovan moves in the transfer window and what LA does when Beckham is healthy. Seattle has now lost 4 out of the last 5 - what is happening here?

 - Current MLS Table:

• East: Who would have guessed nearly half way through the 2010 season the New York Red Bulls would have more than double the points than half of the Eastern conference? Despite the draw NY remains in 2nd at 25 points just behind Columbus (27). Toronto (19) sits just ahead of Chicago (17) in the final playoff spot. I don't expect any of the bottom 4 in the east (Kansas City, Philly, New England, and DC) to make a 2nd half run into the playoffs due to injuries and a talent gap. 
• West: Can we just go ahead and hold the semi-finals this season to see the LA and RSL re-match? The US national players Donovan/Buddle and Findley return in stride to the Galaxy (36) and Real (27), respectively, to help continue their impressive runs. The middle of the West still seems a week-by-week affair as teams continue to impress and falter in consecutive matches. Toward's the bottom of the table, Seattle have already lost more games this year - 8 - than all of their inaugural 2009 season. 

Thoughts? 

MLS Table Update as of 6/28/10

 - Past week's results:

• Real Salt Lake 0-0 San Jose: First game back from the World Cup break and both teams had plenty of chances with 8 shots on goal, each. Real Salt Lake were missing two of their game breakers - Beckerman & Findley - but failed to close the gap with the Galaxy. 
• Columbus 2-0 DC United: Controversially goals don't just occur in South Africa as we saw with Schelotto's hand ball before the first goal. However, Columbus outplayed DC on the night and pick up the expected three points. 
• Toronto 0-0 LA Galaxy: The MLS leaders hit the road to Toronto to follow up their first loss of the season - even though it was a few weeks back. The Galaxy did not seem to find their flow after the WC break and might need a bit of new talent infused into the side. LA has to hope they are able to hold on to Donovan after his well-covered World Cup campaign. 
• Houston 2-2 Colorado: While the stat line finished in a draw the match was clearly the Dynamo's. Case in point the Rapids only had 1 shot on goal all night - on target by Conner Casey - and they got an assist with an own goal. It was a good performance for the Dynamo after a 4-1 drubbing by the Galaxy. 
• Kansas City 0-3 New York Red Bulls: Angel knocked in a brace to help the Red Bulls continue their great 2010 campaign. With the WC over for France and news that Henry is out at Barcelona expect the transfer rumors to reach an all time high. At this point I think most will admit that New York looks like a genuine playoff team. 
• Chivas USA 1-2 FC Dallas: A PK and an own goal doomed Chivas to another defeat - their 9th on the season out of 13 matches. Missing Kljestan and Bornstein isn't helping, but this squad as a whole is lacking the quality to compete week in and week out. After a great WC performance their might be a few bids in for Jonathan Bornstein. 
• Philadelphia 3-1 Seattle: Taking a note from Seattle's book from last season the Union put forth a great match in their new stadium's home opener. Three goals on the night and a saved penalty in front of a 20,000+ crowd is a great boost for fan base. Seattle however continue to falter after a great inaugural season. 
• New England 0-1 Chicago: The Fire extended their unbeaten streak to 5 matches behind a Marco Pappa goal. During the break the Revolution announced that Taylor Twellman is out with injury for another season and it looks as though this year is beginning to slip away. 

 - Current MLS Table

• East:  As expected Columbus (24) are the class of the East - proving it with another victory this weekend - but New York (24) is keeping pace. I think most expected New York to just be on a hot start and was waiting for them to fall back to their 2009 form. Tier two in the East is Toronto (18) and Chicago (17) who are sitting at the edge of the playoffs, but clearly have the talent to compete with anyone in the MLS. Then we have the bottom half of the East (I think I see Chivas in here somewhere) - Kansas City (12), New England (11), Philadelphia (10), and DC (10) - and each of these teams struggle to put forth a consistent effort. 
• West: LA sits atop of the West division at 33 points and 9 points ahead of Real Salt Lake and an impressive +18 goal differential. The middle of the pack stays close Colorado (21), Dallas (18), San Jose (18), and Houston (17). I think besides the two clear leaders the biggest story has to be how Seattle (15) and Chivas USA (10) have failed to live up to their high expectations coming off of 2009. Another note to show LA's dominance so far - they are 15 points clear of the last playoff team. 

MLS Table Update as on 6/1/10

- Past week's results:

• Chicago 1-1 Dallas: Chicago hosted the 1-1 tie on Thursday night, before hosting AC Milan over the weekend. The Fire looked far more impressive in the weekend friendly and went winless for the entire month of May. 
• Columbus 0-2 LA: In the big match-up of the weekend the Crew got their two US national team players back - Marshall and Rogers - and still couldn't slow the Galaxy's impressive season. Donovan and Buddle were both selected to the World Cup squad, however LA's new young stars (Stephens and Bowen) seem to be doing just fine. Just imagine when Donovan, Buddle and Beckham get back. 
• DC United 3-2 Chivas USA: DC earned is second victory of the season after 10 matches. The game was decided as a result of PK given in favor of DC after Chivas goalkeeper, Zach Thornton,  made contact with DC's Quaranta and was given a red card. Regardless United will take three points any way they can get them. 
• New England 3-2 New York: Shalrie Joseph returned to the Revolution's line-up to help left them to their third win of the season. However the match was marred by a collision in the 34th minute which left New England's starting keeper, Burpo, with a broken leg and out for the year. 
• Houston 2-3 Philadelphia: The Union earned their most impressive road win to date in the young franchise's history. Battled back from 2-1 down to get a 90th minute winner from rookie Danny Mwanga.
• Colorado 1-0 Seattle: Conner Casey's goal was the difference as Seattle continues to struggle to find last year's form. Hosting New England and DC in their next two games, the Sounders seem poised to straighten the ship in front of their amazing home crowds. 
• Real Salt Lake 4-1 Kansas City: They may have gotten off to a slow start, but RSL are starting to look like the 2009 champions in a 4-1 beating of the Kansas City Wizards. RSL won all five of their matches in May, out-scoring their opponents 14-4. 
• San Jose 1-3 Toronto: Dwayne De Rosario stepped into the super-sub role knocking in two goals in the second half to lead Toronto FC to the victory. De Rosario nows sits in 2nd place on the MLS goal leader board with 8, behind Edson Buddle. 

- Current MLS Table:

• East: Despite their loss the Columbus Crew remain the top of the East with 20 points and a game in hand over second place Toronto (16). DC's (6) and Philadelphia's (7) wins over the weekend brings the bottom half of the East closer together with Kansas City (8) and Chicago (10). 
• West: Real Salt Lake has 19 points and a game in hand over LA, but the Galaxy (29) are still the cream of the crop in the MLS this year - undefeated in their first 11 matches. LA has done in 11 weeks  what it took them last year to do in 20 weeks. After the top two the west is broken into two packs with Houston, San Jose and Colorado in the middle, all at 16 points. With Dallas (12), Seattle (12) and Chivas (10) struggling to find the correct form at the bottom of the table.