MLS NEWS

Talented Dallas presents challenge for RSL

United hopes to shake road woes

WASHINGTON -- D.C. United's weekend road trip to take on Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Saturday represents something of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object -- statistically speaking, at least.

United have never lost to the Red-and-White in the club's four years of existence, and have enjoyed plenty of success at the stadium where they captured their fourth MLS Cup in 2004, having gone undefeated in their last seven league visits to southern California.

But lately the Black-and-Red have been woeful away from home, and must go back to September of last year to recall their most recent road win.

"I don't know," said midfielder Clyde Simms. "For some reason we haven't brought the energy. I think that's the difference in the home games compared to the away games. I don't know why we haven't been able to bring that same energy on the road, but we have to treat those games the same, obviously."

D.C. have surrendered a whopping 11 goals through five away games in all competitions in 2008, adding up to an ugly 0-4-1 road record.

"That's something that we need to correct, the mentality to go out and fight and scrap for points on the road," said general manager Dave Kasper. "It's now about collectively doing all the little things necessary on the field, fighting for each other...Those are all things that can easily be fixed, with the right mentality of the players. So we're all aware of it and we're working to correct that."

Goalkeeper Zach Wells is particularly eager to stop the rot and with center back Gonzalo Peralta's availability in doubt due to his wife's advanced pregnancy, he might need to produce a strong performance on his return to the area where he grew up.

"I think it's just a subconscious thing, maybe a mentality thing," said Wells of his team's poor road form. "We come out and have a good week of practice and then we don't show the results on the field. It's kind of bizarre -- we're out here hacking each other and getting after each other (at practice), then we get on the field and it's not really the same bite. It's a little frustrating. I think we're getting the right information, we just need to execute now."

Talk out of the United camp suggests that the squad may return to the 4-4-2 formation to bolster the back line, and even with the team stuck in a 190-minute-plus scoreless streak, striker Jaime Moreno suggests that defensive rigidity will take first priority at this point.

"Definitely we've got to improve, and like Tommy said, we've got to keep the zero in the back," said D.C.'s veteran captain. "That's our main goal right now, to keep the zero in our net and we're going to be working and also going forward and trying to create some chances."

Chivas USA won the Western Conference last year and challenged United for the Supporters' Shield right up until the final weeks of the campaign. But the Red-and-White have hit hard times of their own this season, and are presently one of only two MLS teams with fewer points than D.C. It would seem to set the stage for a desperate encounter on Saturday night.

"We're fighting for your lives, especially with this type of record that we have so far. We just have to battle for one another and make sure that another teammate knows that I've got his back and he's got mine," said United defender Bryan Namoff. "You see frustration beginning to build a little bit throughout teammates and the coaching staff. That's why I think we're really concentrating on going back to the basics, and in order to do that we need to concentrate on just working hard for one another."

Chivas' starting lineup has been hammered by injuries -- United's attack will surely look to test Bobby Burling and Eric Ebert, the two youngsters likely to start on the Chivas defensive flanks -- but one clear threat remains in the form of Sacha Kljestan, an attack-minded midfielder capable of popping up in dangerous spots all over the field. D.C. will be eyeing him closely, while looking for ways to exploit his aggression at the other end of the field, though with United's own struggles, Namoff readily admits that this week's preparations have been more inwardly focused.

"[Kljestan's] got the type of freedom to roam around in search of the ball and if we can win balls in good areas, especially in their own half of the field, I think we can try to play to that area where he might be out of position," said the veteran right back. "There's several ways to counter this team but right now we're almost throwing [those] type of different tactics out the window, instead just trying to outcompete and outplay them."

United head coach Tom Soehn cuts short any detailed discussion of Chivas as well.

"Whatever. I'm not worried about them, I'm worried about us, making sure that we're in the right frame of mind to win ball games," he said.

D.C. United unable to find spark against Rapids

Commitment to defense fueling Fire

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Cochrane recovering from grisly collision

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- When San Jose Earthquakes defender Ryan Cochrane thinks back to the head injury he sustained two weeks ago during a U.S. Open Cup match, it qualifies as something of an out-of-body experience. His only memories of the incident are from watching it on video and the eyewitness accounts of others.

Given the horrific nature of his collision with teammate Jay Ayres, that probably qualifies as a blessing. Just 11 minutes into the Open Cup play-in game against Real Salt Lake, Ayres headed a ball straight up in the air, and when both players attacked the ball to complete the clearance, a head-to-head collision ensued. Manager Frank Yallop shakes his head and remembers "it was an awful sound. It shook our guys up, to be honest."

Ayres got the worst of it by far, suffering multiple fractures to his left cheekbone. He underwent successful surgery for late last week, and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

Not that Cochrane got off easy either. In addition to being knocked unconscious, he received a cut that took 21 stitches to close. Yet unlike his teammate, the Santa Clara University product now looks set to return to the field.

To make sure Cochrane is fully recovered, the Quakes medical staff has made him undergo numerous mental acuity tests that measure memory and speed of reaction. Raising the stakes was the fact that Cochrane suffered a concussion last year as well, when he clashed heads with Chicago defender Bakary Soumare. It's a regimen that Cochrane isn't that fond of.

"It's a lot of stupid stuff," said Cochrane with a chuckle. "But Bruce [Morgan, the Quakes' trainer], he's going to make me do it."

While watching from the sidelines, Cochrane has been like a caged animal, unable to sit still as the rest of his teammates were put through their paces in practice. But he also admits that it took a while for the fog to lift, making the decision to rest him a prudent one.

"The first couple of days I had some headaches," said Cochrane. "But besides that, I feel good. I just want to get a little bit more fit this week before [Saturday's] game comes up."

Cochrane made enough of a recovery last week to make the substitutes' bench for San Jose's 3-2 loss to Columbus. It gave him a close-up view of a match that the Quakes appeared set to win, before a late meltdown saw them get torched for three goals.

"I think mainly in the second half, we sat back too much, and I think we stopped playing our game and stopped attacking [Columbus]," said Cochrane. "It opened up some spaces for them to go forward."

But now Cochrane feels ready to retake the field this Saturday against New England, and help his team eliminate some of the peaks and valleys that were so evident against the Crew.

"We've got to find some consistency," said Cochrane. "I think we played well against Dallas and didn't come out with a result. I think we could have gotten a result last game, and we didn't. It's just kind of been up and down. And we just need to be more confident. I think that's one thing that is lacking: Can we close out leads, or can we close out games? I think those are things that will develop over time."

If the Quakes can make progress on that front against the Revs, you can bet it will stick in Cochrane's memory.

Quakes’ offense awakens in loss

Dynamo breathe easy after first win

HOUSTON -- It was the kind of night the Houston Dynamo have been waiting for all year.

With more than a month of their second consecutive title defense already gone, the team has spent much of 2008 defending every action, having to explain time and time again why the points aren't coming.

Now, for the first time since winning the MLS Cup last November, they won't have to talk about what could have been or what should have been.

A 2-1 win against the Colorado Rapids in the books, the Dynamo celebrated with loud music in the locker room and enough positive chatter to make up for six weeks of frustration.

Forward Brian Ching and midfielder Dwayne De Rosario each made their mark on the win with their first goals of the season. Coincidentally, both players scored the 45th goals of their MLS careers and did so with a little bit of luck.

Found was the same luck that proved so evasive until the team finally put an end to their longest winless streak since moving to south Texas before the 2006 season.

"I am really happy tonight," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "The result was deserved, especially with all the hard work the guys have been putting in. I think you saw in the first half, especially, we came out with a great attitude and got the goal."

That goal belonged to Ching, who nearly scored in Week 2 against FC Dallas, but replays correctly showed that it was an own goal.

Saturday, Ching was perhaps the recipient of some of that aforementioned luck. Stuart Holden sent a long ball out of midfield and Ching raced toward it as Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul came off his line. But Coundoul missed on his effort to clear the ball, Ching slipped around and rolled the ball into a now empty net in the 43rd minute.

"Yeah, luck was just going my way tonight," Ching said. "Stewie (Holden) made a great play to get on the end of that ball, to put me through; he really anticipated that a little bit.

"And I don't know what the goalie was doing there, but I am just happy he did what he did and that the ball landed there for me being wide open. I couldn't miss that one."

Pat Onstad and the Dynamo defense had their hands full with Christian Gomez and Omar Cummings all night.

But they held their own, until Gomez found Cummings with a perfect pass in the 68th minute. Cummings, who had two really good chances foiled earlier in the match, got around a tiring Eddie Robinson and beat Dynamo 'keeper Pat Onstad.

"We knew Cummings was really fast, but I think the bigger player to take care of was Christian Gomez," said Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell. "Rico (Ricardo Clark) did a really good job with him and the one time he did get a little bit of space, they scored a goal.

"That is just the kind of player Christian is. He is just really good at serving guys the ball and it really helps if they are fast. I thought we did pretty well on his tonight."

But the Rapids goal shook the Dynamo to life -- and once again, they used a spot of good luck to score their first game-winning goal of the season.

A throw-in bounced in the box and the Dynamo were awarded a penalty kick by referee Tim Weyland after Colorado's Ugo Ihemelu was ruled to have played the ball with his hand in the box. De Rosario didn't miss, sending Coundoul the wrong way with the kick.

"It's a good feeling," De Rosario said. "It's not the way you want it to come out, giving up a goal in the second half. In all fairness, I think we did well with the way we kept composed after they scored.

"A team with our record would typically let our heads down and come out with a tie. We kept creating chances, and we got a little break our way that we worked for. I got a shot, and I'm glad I buried it."

And so are the rest of his teammates. The proverbial monkey off their back, the team can now begin preparing for a Chicago Fire team that has proved as good as anyone in MLS this season with a new goal -- start a winning streak.

"I am happy with the win, happy for the guys, because I know all the hard work they have been putting into getting us there," Kinnear added. "And it was really nice to see Dwayne and Brian get on the scoresheet as well.

"Overall it was a great night. A really great night."

Dynamo on unlucky side of draw

Revs embrace return to normalcy

Revs searching for consistency

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Seven games into the season, the New England Revolution's record shows three wins, three defeats and a draw. At no point have the Revs managed to put together even a two-game streak of the same result, be it a victory, loss or tie.

That trend, believes coach Steve Nicol, is directly related to the Revs' inability thus far to field their first-choice starting XI. Thus, with key men ready to return this weekend at Chivas USA, the hope within Gillette Stadium is that a period of greater consistency is imminent.

Before the first quarter of the regular season is complete, New England has already used 18 different players in game action, just one man fewer than Nicol gave playing time to during the entire 2007 campaign.

This year's 19th man is one that, injury aside, would have been a certainty on every team sheet. Indeed, with minutes to go until kickoff in the season opener against Houston, Taylor Twellman was in the starting lineup, only for a knee injury to sideline him for that and the next six games. Almost two months later, the club's all-time leading goalscorer is finally ready to return, to the relief of his coach.

"He's a proven goalscorer," said Nicol. "I don't think it any secret that we'd love to have him back so we'll see what happens. He gives (opposing) teams something to think about."

With just one goal scored in the last four games, following a return of seven in their first three, it's clear that the return of Twellman cannot come soon enough for the Revolution. Nicol admits that a lack of experience has been a contributing factor to the recent ineffectiveness of Adam Cristman and Kenny Mansally, the first-choice front two in Twellman's absence.

Of course, strikers thrive on service and a further factor in the New England goal drought has been the dislocated shoulder that was suffered by the all-time assists leader in MLS, Steve Ralston. The Revolution captain made his return as a second-half substitute in last Saturday's defeat to Chicago, the result of which Nicol said was an instant improvement in his side's play.

"You could see the difference when he came on. He can keep the ball, can play the through ball, he takes up good positions to give and receive it and good positions when we lose it," said the Revolution boss. "He's just a quality player."

Although he says that winning every game is always the aim, Nicol admitted that the problems he has had with team selection this season make the Revs' current position "half-decent."

"I guess it shows the character we have on the team more than anything else. I would like to think that we have done as well as any other team could have done under the circumstances."

Now, though, with key men returning to action, greater consistency is important if New England is to challenge for their sixth consecutive postseason berth. After watching his side slump to its second heavy defeat against Eastern Conference rival Chicago in their last game, Nicol is calling for a more focused effort at Chivas on Sunday.

"We made mistakes and if you make mistakes, sometimes you get punished and sometimes you get away with it," Nicol said. "We got punished last week on three occasions. To be able to put your finger on why goals happen is obviously a big help. If you're not sure then that makes things a lot harder. We certainly know the reason for the breakdowns and we have to stop it happening."

A midday kickoff on the West Coast is sure to further test the resolve of a Revolution side that has faced a number of challenges already this season. With more and more of his stalwarts returning, Nicol is quietly confident that a successful run of form is on the horizon.

Ralston hasn’t missed a beat

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Angel delivers first goal, win for NY

CARSON, Calif. -- Juan Pablo Angel's first goal of the season erased a Los Angeles Galaxy equalizer scored just one minute before and led the New York Red Bulls to a 2-1 victory Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.

Danleigh Borman scored his first professional goal in the 21st minute to give the Red Bulls the lead at the half. But Alan Gordon pulled the Galaxy level in the 77th minute, before Angel latched onto a Dane Richards pass and rounded L.A. goalkeeper Steve Cronin before firing the ball high into the goal for the game-winner.

Despite worries that the Red Bulls would travel without their teenage superstar, Jozy Altidore traveled with and started for the club against the Galaxy. Altidore was effective early on as he created space for himself and his teammates among the Galaxy's backline. Altidore nearly scored in the first quarter hour but Galaxy rookie Brandon McDonald stopped a potential goal when he knocked a ball away from Altidore after the Red Bulls standout scurried past the Galaxy defense.

Borman put the Red Bulls ahead in the 21st minute. Angel headed on a Hunter Freeman throw-in and Jozy Altidore collected the ball. Altidore slammed a shot on goal but Cronin was in position to block the shot. The ball bounced out to Borman, though, who was unmarked and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net.

The goal was Borman's first career MLS tally. The South African is not necessarily known for his offensive prowess. During his four years with the University of Rhode Island, Borman scored seven goals.

Although the Galaxy tried to break down the Red Bulls' defense from the right side, the visitors did well to stand their ground. In the third minute, Gordon found the back of the net with a glancing header from the right flank that he nestled inside the far side netting, but the flag was up for offside.

Galaxy forwards did not have much space inside the penalty area and Landon Donovan was kept under wraps. Donovan had one near-chance in the first 45 minutes but a late run into the box produced nothing.

The Red Bulls conceded three corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the second half but none of the three led to anything. Red Bulls defenders easily cleared away the first two while the third ball lofted over nearly everyone inside the penalty area.

Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio went to the bench for the first time in the 58th minute, when he called on Carlos Mendes. The defender replaced Borman on the field and added bulk to the New York backline.

The Red Bulls did not have much offense in the first quarter hour, however. It wasn't until Angel's 62nd-minute shot that the club tested Cronin. Angel controlled the ball inside the penalty area and ripped a shot on goal. However, Angel fired from a difficult angel and Cronin made the save.

Dave van den Bergh was the recipient of a hard challenge by Beckham in the 67th minute. As van den Bergh looked to pass the ball out of the Red Bulls' defensive third, Beckham upended the Dutchman. Beckham was booked for the foul.

Red Bulls defender Kevin Goldthwaite was booked in the 75th minute after he knocked Donovan down from behind some 40 yards out. On the ensuing set piece, Beckham sent the ball into the penalty area but Luke Sassano cleared the ball out of danger.

The Galaxy equalized in the 77th minute when Randolph found Gordon inside the penalty area. In between a pair of Red Bulls defenders, Gordon trapped the ball with his back to goal, turned and slipped a ball past Jon Conway and into the back of the net.

On the next trip into Galaxy territory, though, the Red Bulls regained the lead. Richards sped past McDonald and placed the ball on the left side of the penalty area. Angel ran onto the ball, faked around a charging Cronin and powered his shot high into the back of the net over a sliding Galaxy defender.

Minutes later, Osorio replaced Richards with John Wolyniec.

Conway kept the Red Bulls ahead in the 84th minute when he turned Randolph away with a diving save. Randolph held the ball with space on the left side of the penalty area. Conway charged towards the Galaxy midfielder and was ready for Randolph's shot. He parried the ball away and helped maintain the lead. The save was Conway's third of the match and guaranteed the Red Bulls would leave with the full three points.

Magee bails out shorthanded Bulls

Red Bulls’ quick answer dooms LA

Red Bulls hope injury woes subside

Galaxy looking for scoring balance

Fire again find the magic at RFK

Rookie impresses amid Galaxy stars

Hoops struggling to regain form

Talented Dallas presents challenge for RSL

SALT LAKE CITY -- The challenge is much stiffer for Real Salt Lake as they look to claim their second home victory -- and second victory overall -- when they take on FC Dallas Saturday evening at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Instead of dealing with a star player or two, RSL must figure out how to contain a team bursting at the seams with talent.

FC Dallas have not claimed the top spot in the Western Conference by accident. The Hoops weaved together a four-game unbeaten streak to open the season behind the accurate scoring of forward Kenny Cooper and deadly playmaking from midfielders Juan Toja and Andre Rocha.

"It's a team full of players that know their role," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "They're tactically very smart players, tactically very gifted players. There's some players that like to run at you. They got a guy that can score goals. They got the complete package."

If RSL hopes to return that complete package to sender, it seems like the club has caught Dallas at the perfect time.

FC Dallas has not scored a goal in its last two games -- a loss to New England and a draw to San Jose. Scoring at home has not been a problem for Real. They have hit for eight goals in three MLS matches and another four in a U.S. Open Cup qualifier.

RSL has no doubt it can get off to a quick start against FC Dallas. Salt Lake found a way to put two goals on the Galaxy before the match was 20 minutes old last week.

The key, according Kyle Beckerman, is not slacking off if things don't turn into a blowout right away.

He noted there was a little bit of mental deflation for some of the players when Los Angeles rallied behind a pair of incredible goals before the end of the first half. They half expected the game to be over before halftime and could not regroup when it didn't happen.

Beckerman said RSL needs to learn to play with small leads as well as big leads.

"We just needed to be a little bit smarter and just be more patient and let the goals come," Beckerman said. "That's what we're going to try to do [against FC Dalla] is come out aggressive, try and get a goal in the first 15-20 minutes and then go from there."

For Kreis, RSL has not been as successful at home at it should be because of the team's failure to manage a game through 90 minutes. It's something that comes through experience, he says, but it's also a process RSL needs to master if they hope to rise up the MLS ladder.

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando said that it was basically the five-minute stretch where David Beckham took over which undid RSL against the Galaxy. Real did not press enough on defense, he said, and it put Los Angeles back in the game.

"At home, we always feel like we should win," Rimando said. "Going 2-0 up, no team should ever come back and tie you -- especially at home."

RSL will be a little shorthanded this weekend with Nate Sturgis still recovering from a hamstring strain and Ian Joy battling worsening ankle bone spurs. The bone spurs have become serious enough to merit Joy's left leg being placed in a walking cast. The whole situation has been frustrating for the defender who had hoped to be at 100 percent long before now.

"Every time he thinks he's taking a step forward, he takes two steps back," Kreis said of Joy's ankle problems.

Also absent from the RSL squad will be one-time captain Carey Talley, who was traded Frriday afternoon to Chivas USA for a conditional second-round selection in either the 2010 or 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

Kreis will not be on the sidelines as well, as he serves out one-game suspension for publicly criticizing MLS officials earlier this week.

Champions League format unveiled

While the UEFA Champions League final is still a week away, Major League Soccer fans can begin daydreaming about their own team's Champions League glory, as CONCACAF unveiled on Wednesday the qualification format for the inaugural 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League.

The CONCACAF Champions League will be comprised of 24 teams from each of the governing body's regions. Four Major League Soccer teams, four from Mexico, two from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama and one each from Canada, Belize and Nicaragua will join three Caribbean teams in the draw, which will be announced June 11.

Major League Soccer's representatives are based on last year's results. As MLS Cup champions, the Houston Dynamo are the top United States qualifier. Next is the MLS regular season champions, which was D.C. United, followed by the MLS Cup runner-up -- the New England Revolution -- as well as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion.

Since the Revs captured the U.S. Open Cup last year, the first title in club history, and already qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League as MLS Cup runners-up, the team with the second highest regular-season point total, Chivas USA, is the fourth qualifier.

There could still be a fifth MLS team in the tournament proper -- Toronto FC. The Reds will take on Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps -- both USL First Division (second tier) teams -- in a round-robin qualifying tournament beginning later this month.

Houston and D.C. most recently competed in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, both teams losing in the semifinals. Those two MLS teams, along with six others, will be seeded directly in the Group Stage, while the remaining 16 will be paired in home-and-away match-ups in the Preliminary Stage beginning August 26-28 and concluding Sept. 2-4.

The Group Stage will feature four groups of four teams each that will compete in a round-robin system during six match dates from September 16 to October 30. The top two clubs from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, with home and away legs played in February 2009.

The aggregate winners will meet in the semifinals, with home-and-away matches to be played in March and April. The CONCACAF Champions League final will also be a home-and-away aggregate series, which will be played in late April 2009.

The CONCACAF Champions League winner will represent the region in the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup.

2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League field • USA (4 teams): Houston Dynamo (2007 Major League Soccer champion); D.C. United (2007 Major League Soccer regular-season winner); New England Revolution (2007 MLS Cup runner-up); Chivas USA (2007 MLS regular season runner-up)
• MEXICO (4 teams): Atlante FC (2007 Torneo Apertura champion); Pumas UNAM (2007 Torneo Apertura Runner-up); 2 teams to be determined (2008 Torneo Clausura champion and runner-up)
• COSTA RICA (2 teams): Deportivo Saprissa (Torneo Invierno winner); 1 team to be determined (Torneo Verano winner, or second place team in Torneo Verano if same champion for both Invierno and Verano)
• EL SALVADOR (2 teams): CD Luis Angel Firpo (Liga Mayor Apertura winner); 1 team to be determined (Torneo Clausura winner, or second place team in Torneo Clausura if same champion for both Apertura and Clausura)
• GUATEMALA (2 teams): Deportivo Jalapa (Torneo Apertura winner); 1 team to be determined (Torneo Clausura winner, or second place team in Torneo Clausura if same champion for both Apertura and Clausura)
• HONDURAS (2 teams): CD Marathon (Torneo Apertura 2007 winner); 1 team to be determined (Torneo Clausura winner, or second place team in Torneo Clausura if same champion for both Apertura and Clausura)
• PANAMA (2 teams): San Francisco FC (ANAPROF Apertura winner); 1 team to be determined (Torneo Clausura winner, or second place team in Torneo Clausura if same champion for both Apertura and Clausura)
• BELIZE (1 team): Hankook Verdes (2007-08 BPFL/RFG Insurance Cup Champions)
• NICARAGUA (1 team): to be determined; winner of playoff between Apertura winner (Real Estelí FC) and winner of Clausura.
• CANADA (1 team): Winner of three-way qualifying series between Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps.
• CARIBBEAN (3 teams): Harbour View FC (Jamaica); Joe Public FC (Trinidad & Tobago); winner of playoff between Puerto Rico Islanders and San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad & Tobago)

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Hoops hoping to reignite attack

FRISCO, Texas -- It's no great surprise around MLS that FC Dallas has greatly improved defensively. In their first six games, the Western Conference co-leaders have allowed just five goals, the third-least on the circuit. But while the Hoops have been solid in the back, in their last two games, their attack has sputtered as they have failed to find the back of the net.

But head coach Steve Morrow isn't worried as his side heads to the Wasatch Front to face Real Salt Lake at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday night.

"It's no real concern," Morrow said. "I think all teams will go through that at some point during the season. We scored quite a few goals at the beginning of the season, so we've got enough of an offensive core in the team to start scoring again. We have worked a lot on that in practice this week -- our play in the final third of the field, getting more shots on goal and crosses into the box."

If the Hoops are ripe for an offensive explosion, it could very well come at the expense of RSL, who has allowed 11 goals so far, the third-highest total in MLS.

"I think going in there, we have to be ready to attack them, test their back four and test them defensively as a team," Morrow said. "We certainly want to get at them and get on the scoring sheet again."

Last week, FCD traveled to San Jose and left the Bay Area with one point thanks to a scoreless draw with the Earthquakes. But forward Kenny Cooper, who leads the Hoops with four goals, knows he and his teammates must be more dangerous in the final third.

"We know that you have to score goals to win games," he said. "Defensively, we've been excellent and have only given up one goal in the last four games. Dario (Sala) has been incredible and the entire backline has been great. Hopefully we can continue with that and score some goals this weekend."

With regular starting defender Adrian Serioux unable to go last week because of a dead leg, Morrow inserted 19-year-old Anthony Wallace in his place on the left of the back three and the Generation adidas player performed well. But Serioux was able to make it through training on Thursday and Friday and should be able to return to the starting 11 this weekend.

History also dictates that the Hoops should do well this weekend. All-time, FCD is 8-2-1 against RSL. Their only two losses in the series came in Salt Lake with the most recent one coming on Sept. 16, 2006, when they fell 3-2.

Saturday's match could be FCD's last on the artificial surface at Rice-Eccles as RSL's new stadium in neighboring Sandy should be open by the time the Hoops return on Oct. 18.

"We're really disappointed that we won't be able to play there again," Morrow joked. "Hopefully, their stadium opens up later in the year and is ready for when we go back there."

Defender Drew Moor agreed.

"I like going to Salt Lake City because it's a great city but I hate playing on that turf," he said. "I don't like that stuff because it's not good for bodies and stuff. But it's the same for both teams. You've just got to stay focused for 90 minutes and not worry about the turf too much. We've gone there and had success in the past. We're going to go in, look to get three points and then come home for a few weeks."

RSL also comes off a disappointing result a week ago. Goals by Fabian Espindola and Kenny Deuchar in the opening 18 minutes gave them a 2-0 lead against the LA Galaxy before David Beckham drew the match level on his own with goals in the 36th and 40th minute as the sides finished in a 2-2 deadlock.

Despite that result, Morrow knows that RSL has plenty of options going forward.

"(Kyle) Beckerman playing on the left and cutting inside has been quite dangerous," he said. "That's something that we've got to be aware of. (Kenny) Deuchar is a threat up top who is decent in the air and (Fabian) Espindola has scored some goals as well. They certainly have a few players that we need to keep an eye on but I think it's more important for us to focus on what we need to do."

Moor is also well aware of what Beckerman, Deuchar and Espindola have meant to RSL so far this season. This trio has accounted for six of their eight goals this year.

"They have plenty of players who can create chances and put the ball in the back of the net," Moor said. "Beckerman is picking out passes and when he has time and space, Espindola is scoring goals. They're definitely a dangerous team and there is some physicality up front with Deuchar, who is a big kid. We've just got to keep an eye on them and lock it down."

While Cooper has four goals for the Hoops and strike partner Arturo Alvarez has a pair of tallies and one assist, the production of 2007 all-star midfielder Juan Toja (one goal, one assist) has been somewhat disappointing and a bit perplexing.

The Colombian international had a goal in FCD's season-opening tie with Chivas USA on March 30 and an assist the following week in another draw at Houston but hasn't been heard from since.

"I don't think he's played his best so far and I think he'll be the first one to tell you that," Morrow said. "I think that he's not quite reached 100 percent fitness. We're trying to get him 90 minutes but have no concerns with him. I know he'll come back to his best soon, start to produce again and show the good form that he had last season."

Defensive emphasis paying off for FCD

Wheldon steps out of car, onto field

Yallop not ready to make changes

Galaxy looking for scoring balance

Quakes’ offense awakens in loss

RSL won’t take play-in game lightly

Rout of RSL may turn corner for D.C.

Davis: Changes may loom in Houston

Earthquakes look to peak again

Dynamo thrilled to have Onstad back

Commitment to defense fueling Fire

Five-a-side: Managerial shelf lives

Red Bulls' quick answer dooms LA

CARSON, Calif. -- There's a cardinal rule in soccer: The most dangerous times in a game for a team to concede a goal are the first five minutes of the half, the last five minutes of the half, and five minutes after a goal is scored. The Los Angeles Galaxy fell victim to that rule Saturday night, giving up the game-winning goal to the New York Red Bulls just seconds after they had pulled level.

The Galaxy went into the locker room down a goal after Danleigh Borman cleaned up a rebound in the box in the 21st minute. They fought their way back into the game and clearly dominated the offensive pressure, but couldn't make the final breakdown of the Red Bulls defense.

Then, in the 77th minute, Alan Gordon knotted the game at 1-1. Yet with the crowd still celebrating, Dane Richards and Juan Pablo Angel combined for what proved to be the game-winning goal immediately off the restart.

It's been an ominous theme for Los Angeles in the early part of the season. Toronto FC's Jeff Cunningham scored in the waning moments a few weeks back to steal a win for the Canadian side. Against Chivas USA, the Galaxy gave away a game-tying goal just three minutes after taking the lead. The Galaxy eventually went on to win that game, but a pattern was starting to develop.

Saturday 2-1 defeat at The Home Depot Center was the third time this season that Los Angeles has lost concentration, and perhaps a lesson will be learned.

"When you finally break through to get that goal and gain the momentum, to give one up so quickly shows that we're a bit naïve," said Chris Klein. "We know what's in this locker room and when you don't see that come together, especially in the sport of soccer, (giving up goals) can happen. When it starts to happen one, two, three times, you start to see a trend. We don't want that to happen."

The frustration was clearly demonstrated on the face of Galaxy head coach Ruud Gullit after the game. Gullit was one of the greatest players of his generation, so he could see the play develop that resulted in the game-losing goal, but couldn't do much to stop it.

"If you get the goal then you must talk with each other and say 'Don't take that risk, stay tight, make the team a little closer to each other,'" said Gullit. "I'm on the sidelines saying use your head, and it doesn't happen. That is very frustrating and it's a pity because you fought so well and used a lot of energy (to get back into the game)."

Los Angeles has lacked that mental awareness for a full 90 minutes all season long. Los Angeles had a number of young players in the lineup, which can attribute to some of the lax play. The Galaxy have grown accustomed to their star players bailing them out of difficult situations, and that has come back to bite the team, especially against New York.

"Sometimes in a game, I don't know what it is, we switch off. We think we can win only on talent and that's not true," said Gullit. "We have to work hard every week. We have to stick to our game plan."

Another troubling sign is the Galaxy's inability to maintain their home-field advantage. So far, the Galaxy have played five home games and are 2-2-1 in those matches. In MLS, it has been proven vital to pick up as many points as possible at home in order to be successful over the course of a full season.

"We know that any team that has done well in this league has played well at home," said Klein. "We have to establish ourselves as one of those teams."

As is the case all over the world in soccer, one mental breakdown can often times spell the difference between success and failure. Saturday night, one short lapse of concentration in a moment of celebration cost the Galaxy a critical point -- and for the Galaxy the hope is that those mental errors can be corrected quickly.

Rookie impresses amid Galaxy stars

Galaxy looking for scoring balance

Yallop not ready to make changes

First XI: E-mail lessons

I've never written a "mailbag" column because I just feel it would be the same old, same old kind of "mailbag" column and because, well, most of the e-mails I receive are not questions (unless people questioning my intelligence counts) but comments. Anyway, this week, I'd like to give you a First XI of things I've learned from my e-mail during more than eight years of writing this column for MLSnet.com. Here we go:

11. I'm the luckiest man on earth.
I cannot tell you how many times since I opened up my e-mail account to receive thoughts and opinions from MLS fans that I've won various lotteries and/or found out I'm entitled to millions upon millions of dollars that are being held in banks around the world. I guess I'm just a lucky guy, and I'll guess it's tied to being a loyal MLS fan.

10. I'm anti every team but one.
I like one MLS team, Chivas USA, and that's because I've known Jesse Marsch since before he started shaving and because Claudio Suarez was the best man in my wedding (OK, that's a lie). Anyway, I have an incredible bias against every team in the league that doesn't wear vertical red and white stripes. In fact, when I wrote a First XI about the New England-New York "rivalry" a few weeks back, it was nothing more than a chance to slam two teams. Go back and read between the lines. I do not like either team, it's clear.

9. People like to call soccer "football."
This goes back to a little column I wrote a few weeks ago, when I learned that the Seattle team would be called the Seattle Sounders FC. I wondered aloud why we don't call our clubs "SC" since, ya know, most Americans call soccer ... "soccer." Well, I learned from a lot of folks, probably more than have ever filled my e-mail box (not counting heiresses to African money and accountants from the Irish lottery), that we should all be calling soccer "football." I mean, we should all be calling football "football." And we should not be calling football "football" either. Got it?

8. I'm an idiot.
This is kind of tied to the item above. Basically, I'm nothing more than a forgetful, anti-New York/New England/Chicago/Colorado/Columbus/D.C./Dallas/Houston/Kansas City/Los Angeles (Galaxy)/Salt Lake/San Jose/Toronto/Seattle/Philly loser. Really, every time I do a list, I leave out the most obvious things. Now, granted, leaving Jose Burciaga Jr. off a First XI of best left-footed players in the league when he was scoring one bomb after another was pretty bad, but trust me when I tell you, I'm an idiot on a weekly basis. And, it's not only the fans who think that ... it's the GMs, coaches and players.

7. I've been around a long time.
A few weeks ago, the mention of the name Darren Sawatzky led to many e-mails from fans who'd never heard of Darren Sawatzky. This made me think, at first, "are you kidding me? You've never heard of Darren Sawatzky." Then later, "well, Darren Sawatzky hasn't played in MLS since the '90s and, it's 2008, and there are a lot of MLS fans who may have never seen Sawatzky's blond mane flowing in the New England breeze." And that made me wonder if Sawatzky, like Fabio, kept his signature look.

6. I get answers.
Wanna bet I get an e-mail this week from someone who either: a) works with Darren Sawatzky; b) hangs with Darren Sawatzky; c) plays in an "adult league" with Darren Sawatzky; or d) is married to Darren Sawatzky. Seriously, all I have to do in First XI is type, for example, "Shawn Medved," and my Blackberry begins to buzz. Very cool.

5. Toronto has the best fans in the league.
Do not say anything negative about the soccer -- err, football -- fans in Toronto. They take it personally, even from a columnist who's clearly anti-Toronto. These fans of TFC (sorry about the Topeka Fried Chicken joke, really) are without a doubt the best fans in MLS, bar none, well, except for those vastly underrated fans (should I be calling them "supporters?" Because that seems to get me in hot water, too) in Kansas City and Colorado, who have accused me in years past of unfair treatment. By the way, did you know that the Colorado Rapids won the MLS Western Conference title in 1997?

4. At least one player reads First XI.
I won't mention any names here, but there's a guy out there who's scored a bunch of MLS goals who was disappointed in where I placed him and his assist-man on my all-time list of tandems. Oh yeah, and he didn't have much nice to say about a certain MLS newcomer who's married to a former pop star. But I'll keep it at that. I will, however, mention that Diego Gutierrez set me straight last year when I left him off my list of all-time best Colombian players in MLS history. It's good to be kept honest.

3. People go straight to the list.
I write this cute little thing at the top of this column that I like to call an "intro." As much as I like the "intro" it seems a lot of readers just skip to the numbered things. How else to explain, for example, when I wrote a list of the best players in MLS who played 10 or more years in the league, I get inundated with e-mails from people who wonder how I could be so stupid as to leave Carlos Valderrama, Peter Nowak and Marco Etcheverry off the list. Oh well, I'll chalk it up to the raw excitement readers (and players, coaches and GMs) must feel when it comes to reading First XI, and wanting to get right.

3. Soccer fans are sensitive.
Well, except for those thick-skinned football supporters up in Toronto, the rest of you Major League Football fans are really sensitive to jokes pertaining to your clubs. Really, you all should learn from the supporters of Chivas USA, the only team in MLS that I do not loathe with every ounce of my being. Lighten up.

2. Columbus fans lead the league.
In the eight-plus years I've been writing a column for MLSnet.com, the leader, hands-down, in e-mails sent to First XI are the fans of the Columbus Crew. Perhaps I should amend that. There's one fan from the Crew who, I believe, has e-mailed me every week for eight-plus seasons. ... But I'm going to assume this guy's a team player and wants club credit.

1. I'm the luckiest man on earth.
And this has nothing to do with all the cash that's being held for me, but simply because when I'm sitting in front of the TV on a Saturday night, or clicking around on MLSnet.com on Monday morning, watching all the goals and highlights and my wife asks me to take out the garbage, I can say, "Honey, I'm working!"

Monday, May 12, 2008

Commitment to defense fueling Fire

The Chicago Fire are off to their to their best start in team history, wining five of their first seven games, losing only one and drawing the other. Their seemingly impenetrable defense has given up just three goals in those seven games, one of which was an own goal against Toronto FC, and surrendered only one goal in four road games.

The Fire handled slumping D.C. United in a 2-0 victory Thursday night, squandering just a few quality opportunities against the defending Supporter's Shield winners on a wet field at RFK Stadium.

To a man, they speak consistently about the team philosophy and commitment to defending that starts from the front and has been stopping abruptly at the back for most teams.

"It's our team mentality," said Chicago coach Denis Hamlett. "We work hard in training and guys are competitors. It's not just the back five (including the goalkeeper), it starts with our forwards who are working hard and chasing and making the plays. When you see the commitment by the whole group, it is satisfying when you can see that."

Terms like "commitment" and "team" were the common threads shared among Fire players in the jubilant locker room, with all of them always mentioning teammates specifically by name.

"It's simple -- it's a team effort defending," echoed goalkeeper Jon Busch. "From the front to the back, guys are busting their tales to get back. Chad Barrett has been unbelievable this year; his work ethic, chasing guys around. The outside middies, Justin Mapp on one side and Chris Rolfe on the other, these guys are unbelievable going forward, but they are putting the dirty work in coming back. From the front to the back, it's a total team commitment to defending and that's why we are going on the road and getting three points."

"We have a very workmanlike team," said former United defender Brandon Prideaux. "Guys really put their work in and you can see it every game. Guys are busting their butts to get back and it starts up top, then through the midfield and us guys in the back just clean it up. We have been defending really well as a team and that has been the key to our success.

"We've got 11 guys that are committed and are willing to make that extra run for each other and willing to track back and stay with their runners, willing to do the dirty work per se, and that's what it takes to win. We are a tough team to beat when we everyone is committed to defending."

"We got 11 guys on the field and an entire bench that puts it all out there," Logan Pause added. "We are a very competitive group; hard working group, an honest, simple team. It starts up top with our forwards and it trickles back. You see guys like Chad Barrett, Cuauhtemoc (Blanco), Justin Mapp, Chris Rolfe that do all of the dirty running and the guys in the back have been doing a phenomenal job and obviously Jon Busch in goal."

"We are all committed to the same cause," continued Rolfe. "We bring a lot of our guys back and even the guys up top, Chad and Cuauhtemoc, working as the first line of defense. We are all committed to working hard and playing that way."

Hamlett has used a five-midfielder formation for the last two matches, dropping Rolfe deeper into the midfield for an extra layer of defending, giving the Fire the diversity to attack from different angles while leaving Barrett to roam alone up front.

That tactic was successfully employed by Hamlett's predecessor, Juan Carlos Osorio, a year ago when the Fire dusted United in their first-round MLS Cup playoff series 3-2 on aggregate after taking a 1-0 lead at home in the first leg.

In recent years, the Fire have been the league's most successful team against United, especially at RFK Stadium. Chicago has lost only one of its last eight games to United, including the playoffs and U.S Open Cup competitions. United's 3-1 win at home on June 16, 2007 was their last win against the Fire and was the last game for then Fire coach Dave Sarachan, who was subsequently replaced by Osorio.

"We know whenever we play D.C. its going to be a good game because we respect them and what they have done throughout the history of the league," said Hamlett, who grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and played his collegiate soccer at George Mason. "They have good players, so we always look forward to coming here. They have a great crowd and our guys get up for the game."

"It's the mentality we bring here," added Rolfe. "When we come here we know it's going to be a tough game and we prepare for it. It's a good feeling when we get here; we know we are in for a game, we know we are going to have to compete and we like that."

"In this league you gotta come to play every week," Busch said. "You gotta bring the intensity. Nobody is that much better than anyone else where you can just show up and win a game, especially coming in here to D.C. They are always intense and they play well at home. We had to match their intensity and get through the first 15, 20 minutes of each half and then it (the game) can settle down and we can play a little bit and we are bringing that and that's because everyone is committed to this team."

Quakes' offense awakens in loss

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- In the run-up to Saturday's match against the Columbus Crew, the question being posed was "Can the San Jose Earthquakes score?" And while the Quakes were twice able to answer that query in the affirmative, holding a late lead proved beyond their collective reach, as the visitors bagged three late goals in a 10-minute span to claim a 3-2 victory.

It was a result that left the Earthquakes shaking their collective heads, especially given how sound defensively the team had been in the season's opening weeks. Manager Frank Yallop characterized the effort as "disappointing," although the words of Quakes defender James Riley were a better reflection of the San Jose's mood afterwards.

"Unbelievably frustrating," said Riley. "We definitely let it get away. We scored two goals at home, and we pride ourselves on our defense. That's why we're kicking ourselves in the face right now."

While the Crew did plenty to test the Quakes defense throughout the match, the home side had looked composed enough through the game's first 70 minutes to think that they would make Ramiro Corrales' first-half goal stand up.

But it was then that the Crew's attack kicked into overdrive. The introduction of Nigerian under-23 international Emmanuel Ekpo gave the Crew some fresh legs, and all of a sudden Columbus was slicing through the San Jose defense with ease.

The warning signs were evident in the 71st minute when both Ezra Hendrickson and Brad Evans went close, only to be denied by Quakes 'keeper Joe Cannon. But rather than clinch a San Jose victory, the saves were rendered to footnote status as Robbie Rogers scored twice in an eight-minute span beginning in the 73rd minute, both times on solo breakaways. Brad Evans than scored what proved to be a priceless insurance tally on a similar play in the 83rd minute, as Ryan Johnson's goal four minutes later pulled the Quakes back within a goal.

Such breakdowns late in a match might lead one to think that fatigue was the root cause of the Quakes' demise. But defender Nick Garcia said the problems had more to do with their heads than with their legs.

"I think we fell asleep," said Garcia. "I think we were a little inattentive in relationship to where the ball was and where our men were. They jumped on the opportunity, but I think it was our shortcoming of not anticipating the second balls."

That lack of anticipation gave the Crew increased time and space in the middle of the park, and when those commodities are given to the likes of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, there can be only one outcome.

Of course, it wasn't just the defense that was hanging their heads. In the 63rd minute, midfielder Ronnie O'Brien had a glorious chance to pad the Quakes' lead when Kei Kamara's flick-on put the Irishman clean through on goal. But O'Brien's attempted chip went just wide.

"I should have made it 2-0 and I didn't," lamented O'Brien. "Then the ball breaks in midfield, one quick pass, they're in behind us and we're 2-1 down. But you just can't give up goals like that. I think we gave up three soft goals. You can't win games doing that."

San Jose now has the task of trying to get well on the road next week against New England. Given their struggles at home, getting a result seems unlikely, although the Quakes' lone win this season did come on the road against Colorado. Despite the enormity of the challenge, and perhaps in an effort to dull the pain of Saturday's defeat, San Jose already has their sights set on the Revs.

"We're not going to sit back in our rocking chairs and say, 'We should have done better, we're going to sulk for the week, and hope we do well against New England,'" said Garcia. "We're thinking about New England right now and that's the way we have to approach it."

Defensive emphasis paying off for FCD

Stoic Moreno providing Crew big lift

Earthquakes look to peak again

Vaughn bides time before return

CARSON, Calif. -- After battling to overcome lingering ankle and hamstring injuries, Chivas USA defender Lawson Vaughn said he thought he had done well to overcome his health issues before Saturday's game in Houston.

Now, Vaughn is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines, and he has his defensive mentality and Dwayne De Rosario to thank for that.

In the ninth minute of Saturday's match at Houston, Vaughn went up to try and clear a cross out of the penalty area. Instead, he met De Rosario's boot as the Dynamo's star midfielder slammed Vaughn's face with vicious force.

De Rosario broke Vaughn's nose -- "completely shattered" it, said Vaughn -- and the third-year right back has had two surgeries to correct the nose since and has been ruled out for 4-6 weeks.

"I really felt like I was starting to turn the corner leading up to the Houston game and I started to feel really good," Vaughn said. "Now I'm kind of bummed because I got another setback with this broken nose."

Unlike teammate Claudio Suarez, who broke his own nose on April 11, Vaughn did not have the option to postpone surgery and play with a broken nose. Initially, doctors told Vaughn that more tests would need to be done upon his return to Los Angeles. Once he saw a doctor, Vaughn was operated upon fairly quickly.

In fact, the injury will probably remain in his doctor's mind.

"He told me ... that there was not one piece of bone up there so it was completely shattered," Vaughn said. "What he told my girlfriend was that the impact was pretty intense. One of the worst ones he could remember was that of a man being kicked by a horse in the face. He said it was along that kind of impact."

On Thursday, he was operated for the second time after follow-up exams revealed the necessity for a second procedure.

Still, despite the initial shock of having broken his nose and the subsequent operations and being ruled out for at least a month, Vaughn is not exactly second-guessing his decision to clear the ball.

"For me as a defender, it's kind of like what do you do? Do you shy away and let them have a free look at goal and possibly a goal with a bike or do you put your head in there and just stop the play right away? I just wanted to stop the play right away. I didn't want to give him the chance to score," Vaughn said.

It's a defensive philosophy he said he picked up from playing with a pair of experienced central defenders.

"I've played with ... Claudio (Suarez) and Carlos Llamosa, who was another great defender, the past couple of years," Vaughn said. "The way they play is just do whatever you have to, use any part of your body to stop the other team from scoring. That's rubbed off on me for sure."

If any positives came from the incident, it's that Vaughn did not suffer a concussion. Vaughn said he remembers the play with vivid detail.

"It was coming down our left side and they had a cross in the box. I knew De Rosario was there. I don't know if he knew I was there," he recalled. "The ball was six feet in the air so I'm going up for a header to clear it, not expecting to meet a cleat six feet in the air."

De Rosario, who was booked for the play, landed a violent blow on Vaughn's nose. Not only did De Rosario shatter Vaughn's nose, he also tore open a gash that required 32 stitches to close.

Vaughn tried to keep his composure after the initial impact.

"I remember going up for the header. I remember hitting the ground and rolling over. I never blacked out at all," Vaughn said. "I remember looking down at my hand and seeing it was all red and going 'I broke my nose. I broke my nose.'"

With blood streaming down his face, Vaughn left the field and was immediately replaced by Chris Pozniak. Despite the severity of the injury, Vaughn said he was not in a lot of anguish.

"Surprisingly there wasn't much pain," he said. "It was just very uncomfortable because I couldn't breathe through my nose and I was freaking out about that. I was more freaked out than I had broken my nose than I was about the pain."

Typically, a broken nose might be treated by straightening the bone or cartilage in the nose. A doctor attempted that with Vaughn once in the locker room.

"It was kind of funny because he was telling me 'It's going to hurt for like three seconds after.' He reset it three times because I kept moving it. There wasn't really that much pain actually," Vaughn said.

Once Vaughn recovers from his nasal fracture, only time will reveal how long-lasting the injury is. Mentally, though, Vaughn figures he might have a small obstacle he said he would readily overcome. After all, he said he is not about to change his style of play.

"Psychologically I may want to wear a mask the first couple of games just to make sure but I don't think I'm going to be too scared to go for challenges, for headers or what not," Vaughn said. "I think I may wear a mask initially just for protection but I don't think I'm going to wear it for a long period of time, if it's up to me."

Dynamo on unlucky side of draw

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Real avoid nightmare finish

SALT LAKE CITY -- For a few tense moments, Real Salt Lake looked like it might relive its stoppage time nightmares against FC Dallas.

It was Dallas who came into Rice-Eccles Stadium a year ago and forced a 2-2 tie after scoring a goal in the 92nd minute. On Saturday night, the setting seemed eerily similar. RSL clung to a 2-1 lead and spent most of the time added on facing down a barrage of Hoops players in the box trying to punch in one last goal.

"Dallas came at us," midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "They brought everything at us. They pushed numbers and they were coming for the draw."

History did not repeat itself in 2008. RSL held onto its lead and took away a 2-1 victory, claiming three points for only the second time this season.

Beckerman produced the go-ahead goal in the 73rd minute. He corralled a lob from fellow midfielder Andy Williams and poked the ball past FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala. Once Beckerman started his run through the center of the FCD defense, he knew Williams would be able to find him for the easy goal.

"Andy, that's what he does," Beckerman said. "He can put in that final pass for anybody. That's what he does and I knew it was coming. So I made the run and he put it on a plate for me and luckily I put it in."

RSL struck first in the 25th minute after cashing in on a defensive lapse by Dallas. Following a long pass downfield, Sala tried to clear the ball out, but his attempt instead ricocheted off Andre Rocha and then Drew Moor in rapid succession.

Javier Morales had no trouble corralling the bouncing ball when it fell to him and he threaded it between Moor and Rocha into the empty goal for a 1-0 RSL lead.

But Kenny Cooper answered for the Hoops in the 56th minute. Andre Rocha lofted the ball down along the right sideline and Cooper beat Borchers in a footrace to the ball.

In one swift motion, Cooper turned and fired. With Rimando stationed at the near post, the ball sailed over him, off the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the back of the net.

Aside from that one spectacular goal, however, Cooper could not find his rhythm against RSL.

"We made the players aware of who the dangerous players for Dallas were and I thought they did a pretty good job of being aware of those guys," RSL coach Jason Kreis said.

RSL opened the game with an atypical 3-5-2 formation, sliding Beltran and Chris Wingert from the backline to wide midfield roles. Kreis said the team did it as a way to prepare for a similar formation they expected to see from Dallas.

When Dallas threw a different look at RSL, going with a 3-4-3, the club made adjustments on the fly, subbing in veteran midfielders Andy Williams and Kenny Cutler to better match the personnel the Hoops put on the field.

Even with a victory, Kreis felt far from satisfied. He considered it to be a lesser effort for the RSL side in a lot of ways because they did not manage the tempo or control possession for long stretches.

"Honestly, I think that's probably one of the worst games we've played this season in my opinion," Kreis said. "In some ways, maybe that's a good thing because maybe we need to learn how to win ugly. I would say tonight was case in point for that. We won ugly."

RSL will take ugly wins, especially when Dallas seemed so close to conjuring up another tie in added time like it did so effectively in 2007.

Ricardinho, who came on as a 77th-minute substitute, somehow found acres of space in front of the RSL goal and fired a shot, which looked to be a gateway to another tie. But Nat Borchers blocked his shot attempt and the ball bounced harmlessly out of bounds.

It was not the only shot Dallas tried to force in during those last desperate minutes but, fortunately, no others got any closer.

"They were pumping some balls in the box and they happened to fall to guys," Wingert said. "We got to do a little better job of staying with our man. But, at the same time, we did a good job of blocking shots and clearing balls.

Hoops struggling to regain form

RSL won’t take play-in game lightly

Defensive emphasis paying off for FCD

Davis: What’s gotten into the Crew?

Hoops struggling to regain form

SALT LAKE CITY -- Opening the season with a four-game unbeaten streak was enough to thrust FC Dallas to the top of the Western Conference. However, since that fantastic start, the Hoops have gone without a win in their last three after dropping a 2-1 result on the road to Real Salt on Saturday.

Before making the trip to the Wasatch Front, Dallas had been held scoreless in their last two outings, losing 1-0 to the New England Revolution at home and then tying the Earthquakes 0-0 in San Jose.

It was apparent that the lack of goals was on head coach Steve Morrow's mind as he lined his team up with three forwards, a tactic not used since Dallas played Chivas three games ago. That was the last time the Hoops were able gain a win and it was also the last time they were able to score.

The problems for FCD started in the 28th minute when goalkeeper Dario Sala sent an attempted clearance off of two of his defenders, Andre Rocha and Drew Moor, before it fell at the feet of Salt Lake's Javier Morales. The RSL midfielder only needed to push the ball between the confused FCD defenders to give Salt Lake the lead.

"It's a difficult place to come and play but we got ourselves back into the game after not playing too well in the first half," said Morrow. "We were 1-0 down, on a very scrappy and unlucky goal that could have been prevented, and we got ourselves back into the game."

Dallas might not have been able to get the win against Salt Lake, but they were able to break their scoreless stretch. In the 56th minute Kenny Cooper ran on to a bouncing ball sent into space by Andre Rocha. Just before reaching the end line Cooper sent an impossible blast from hardly an angle that knocked off the underside of the crossbar. It was the lone bright spot on an otherwise disappointing night.

When asked about his goal, Cooper instantly deflected all praise to Rocha for providing him the service.

"Andre Rocha played me a great ball through, it's the second time he's done it this year," said Cooper. "(The other) against Houston he played me a great through ball. I've been real fortunate so far this year, I've been getting some great service."

Although Cooper's equalizer energized his team Morrow felt that they didn't seize the opportunity to take the game to RSL from that point. Missing that opportunity to really turn the game around is what Morrow feels cost FCD the game.

"We should have pushed forward from there and didn't," said Morrow. "We still had our chances to tie the game towards the end and didn't. It's a frustrating loss -- a disappointing one. But, the team will pick themselves up and get ready for the next one."

Cooper echoed the sentiments of his coach. Although they have experienced a series of unfortunate results, all they can do is prepare for the next game.

"Obviously it's not the result that we wanted," said Cooper. "Credit to them, defensively we've been great all year. Dario (Sala)'s been excellent, and the back three. I feel like we were a little unlucky on the first goal. But, we'll stay positive and we have a big game coming up next week against the Galaxy."

FC Dallas captain Duilio Davino says that his team is not satisfied, and there is only one way to get out of the rut that they are current stuck in -- work hard.

"We let too many points get away from us, and we really need to work hard for next weekend's game," said Davino. "Working is how you get the team back after a game like this; working is the only way to do it. We have a long week and it's not necessary that we speak a lot, it's that we work a lot for it."

Dynamo earn first victory of 2008

HOUSTON -- Dwayne De Rosario and Brian Ching scored their first goals of the season Saturday night, and the Houston Dynamo are finally in the win column after a 2-1 victory against the Colorado Rapids Saturday night at Robertson Stadium.

Ching gave Houston a 1-0 lead late in the first half, and after Omar Cummings pulled the Rapids level midway through the second, De Rosario converted from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, giving the defending champions their first victory in seven matches on the season.

De Rosario's decisive goal, the 45th of his career, came after referee Tim Weyland ruled Colorado defender Ugo Ihemelu played the ball with his arm in the penalty area. A throw-in came in from the left and bounced in the area, and Ihemelu raised his arm in an apparent attempt to chest the ball down.

After a brief pause, Weyland pointed the spot, also showing Ihemelu a yellow card for the intentional handball. With a longing crowd behind him, De Rosario buried the shot just inside the near post and delivered the victory for the Dynamo.

Pat Onstad made five saves in goal for the Dynamo, who nevertheless remained unbeaten at home and are now part of an amazing statistic that proved true once again Saturday night. MLS teams are now 34-0-7 when scoring the first goal of the game.

The Rapids have now lost three of four games overall after winning two of their first three matches to start the season.

The Dynamo had their share of good chances early on, but failed to test Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. Ching had good opportunities in both the 18th and 27th minutes when he found some room, but both times his shots were too high.

On the latter chance, he was sent in alone on goal, but as Coundoul came flying out to close down the angle, Ching scuffed his chip shot just over the crossbar.

Colorado had a good look in the 28th minute when Cummings got through the Houston defense, but center back Bobby Boswell recovered nicely for the Dynamo and forced Cummings to the outside.

Six minutes later, Cummings had another good look from about 25 yards out, but his shot stayed low and Onstad dove to his left to make the easy save.

But the Dynamo got the break they were looking for in the 43rd minute when Stuart Holden again sent Ching in all alone behind the Colorado defense. This time Coundoul was first to reach the ball -- but it slipped past him as he tried to clear it away.

Ching raced past Coundoul and had only to roll the ball into the unguarded net for his first goal on the year, ending the team's scoreless streak at 234 minutes. Only Kansas City had a longer streak without scoring a goal this season when they went 255 scoreless minutes.

After the halftime break, Cummings had a great look in the 67th minute, but Boswell hustled and caught up with the Colorado striker just outside the goal area and forced a weak shot.

But the Rapids had their revenge a minute later when Cummings, who had chance after chance all night, finally got through the Houston defense and blistered a rolling shot into the far corner of the net for the tying goal.

Eddie Robinson, playing his first match after serving a three-game suspension, was the victim this time. He could not contain Cummings, who took a perfect pass from Christian Gomez outside his right foot and beat Onstad with a great shot for his second goal of the season.

After De Rosario gave the Dynamo the late lead, the Rapids nearly pulled out a miraculous tie. Colin Clark had the best chance to even the match in stoppage time when he fired a shot from just inside the box. But Onstad saw it all the way, making the save and preserving the win for the hosts.