Write On Sports LLC - "Major League Soccer: <br>Week 1 Previews" by Jeff Bull

Major League Soccer:
Week 1 Previews

2007-04-03 13:53:56 | By: Jeff Bull

After what feels like an interminable wait, Major League Soccer (MLS) kicks off its 12th season on Saturday, April 7th. The marquee event of the opening weekend comes when league powerhouse DC United visits the Rockies to inaugurate the Colorado Rapids’ brand-spankin’ new soccer-specific stadium, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. That game will air nationally on ABC at 12 noon PST, but there are plenty of other games this weekend. Also on tap for this week are the second legs of the semifinal series in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup.

Details on who plays whom appears below, along with dates, times, and TV information for any games being broadcast nationally; I’ll also chuck in some players to keep an eye, though the reasons could be good or bad (though only for the all-MLS games; I don’t know enough about Mexican soccer to help there). For the rest of the games, check your local listings if you live in an MLS market.

CD Chivas de Guadalajara v. DC United
April 3, 2007, 6:30 p.m. PST (Fox Soccer Channel)

DC United sputtered at home and carries only a 1-1 draw into the high-altitude and boisterous atmosphere of Chivas’ home ground, Estadio Jalisco. This one should be one of the best games of the week, featuring as it does two of the most powerful and popular clubs in the respective countries.

CF Pachuca v. Houston Dynamo
April 5, 2007, 6:30 p.m. PST (Fox Soccer Channel)

If there was a contest for the game played at the highest altitude, this one takes that prize: Pachuca’s home ground, Estadio Hildago, sits at nearly 8,000 suffocating feet above sea level. Houston’s 2-0 win in the first leg of the semifinals gives them as much of an edge as they could hope for, but they’ll still have their work cut out in reaching the final - especially after spending the previous weeks training at sea level.

If either Houston or DC wins the Champions’ Cup, they’ll qualify for the next World Club Cup where they’ll play the world’s best clubs (think FC Barcelona). Just reaching the final would qualify them for the Copa Sudamerica, South America’s second club competition beneath the Copa Libertadores. There’s plenty for both clubs to play for, so let’s hope for an all-MLS final.

Turning now to the MLS regular season match-ups, with home team listed first:

Colorado Rapids v. DC United
April 7, 2007; 12:30 p.m. PST (ABC)

Players to watch: Colorado - Nicolas Hernandez, Terry Cooke, Roberto Brown; DC United - Christian Gomez, Luciano Emilio, Bobby Boswell

While Colorado hopes to christen their stadium with a winning vibe, DC United looks to continue its steady dominance of MLS’s regular season. Fatigue could play a factor for DC with this game coming a few days after what will likely be a grueling encounter in Mexico. In their favor, though, this will be Colorado’s first meaningful game of 2007, which should make DC the sharper of the two teams.

Real Salt Lake v. FC Dallas
April 7, 2007; 3:00 p.m. PST

Players to watch: Real Salt Lake - Freddy Adu, Jeff Cunningham, Chris Klein; FC Dallas - Ramon Nunez, Juan Carlos Toja, Carlos Ruiz

These are two teams eager to wash the bad taste left by the 2006 season out of their mouths: Real Salt Lake for missing the playoffs altogether and FC Dallas for crashing out early after winning the Western Conference. Both teams made major changes in the off-season, with Adu’s arrival in Salt Lake standing out as one the key stories of the MLS season.

Columbus Crew v. Red Bull New York
April 7, 2007; 4:00 p.m. PST

Players to watch: Columbus - Ricardo Virtuoso, Eddie Gaven, whomever starts in goal; Red Bull - Claudio Reyna, Josmer Altidore, Clint Mathis

Sadly, these two clubs share long histories of mediocrity - Red Bull, especially, always plays below expectations. Both clubs reloaded quite a bit for 2007, though Red Bull made the more high-profile moves. Counting out Columbus, who showed late-season signs of maturing in 2006, could cost Red Bull dearly.

Chicago Fire v. New England Revolution
April 7, 2007; 5:30 p.m. PST

Players to watch: Chicago - Justin Mapp, Ivan Guerrero, Dasan Robinson; New England - Taylor Twellman, Shalrie Joseph, Adam Cristman

These two share one of the great rivalries in MLS’s Eastern Conference, not least with New England ousting Chicago from the playoffs in 2006. Expect this game bo be more hard-fought and close than pretty.

Chivas USA v. Toronto FC
April 7, 2007; 7:00 p.m. PST (Fox Soccer Channel)

Players to watch: Chivas - Amado Guevara, Ante Razov, Claudio Suarez; Toronto FC - Ronnie O’Brien, Edson Buddle, Richard Mulrooney

Chivas USA, a third-year MLS club, gets first crack at this year’s expansion club. Canada’s only MLS club drafted pretty smart, but they’ll be facing a Chivas team that was the Cinderella-story of last season. If Toronto can’t disrupt them, Chivas can play pretty soccer. Another thing to watch: the coaches for these teams - Mo Johnston for Toronto and former U.S. national team player, Preki, for Chivas - don’t have a lot in the way of experience.

Houston Dynamo v. Los Angeles Galaxy
April 8, 2007; 4:00 p.m. PST (Telefutura)

Players to watch: Houston - Dwayne DeRosario, Brian Ching, Brad Davis; Los Angeles - Landon Donovan, Nate Jaqua, Tyrone Marshall (if you’re looking for David Beckham, he won’t show till later this summer)

In all honesty, this one should make for interesting viewing - and not just because Houston are the defending MLS Cup holders. LA will operate under tight scrutiny this year and how they hold up under the spotlight could play a serious role in how the sport is viewed in this country and on a number of levels. If there’s a team in MLS likely to nail them, it’s Houston; in the opener, though, they’ll be seriously fatigued, which makes a shaky start to their title defense seem likely.

Comments

Jeff Bull commented,
For your records, DC United lost last night's game, and the semifinal series, to CD Chivas de Guadalajara by 2-1. And it was a heart-breaker.
April 4, 2007 12:24 p.m.

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