MLS 2018: More Barco Than Bite
- Thread starter Titans Bastard
- Start date
1-0 FT.
Not a terrible result considering that (a) NYRB didn't play that well, (b) they got jobbed by the referee, and (c) still only conceded because of a brutal mistake by Adams.
The lack of away goal is a concern, but Chivas just didn't look that good. If NYRB brings their A game to Red Bull Arena, they can do this.
Not a terrible result considering that (a) NYRB didn't play that well, (b) they got jobbed by the referee, and (c) still only conceded because of a brutal mistake by Adams.
The lack of away goal is a concern, but Chivas just didn't look that good. If NYRB brings their A game to Red Bull Arena, they can do this.
Another early red for a Revs opponent!
NE will make the playoffs if they are always playing against 10-man squads.
NE will make the playoffs if they are always playing against 10-man squads.
Revs up over Montreal 1-0 via a Bunbury goal. Not great defending from Cabrera.
Camera pans to a sign in the crowd: "Our Maple Syrup Is Better Than Yours"
Camera pans to a sign in the crowd: "Our Maple Syrup Is Better Than Yours"
Yep, I doubt the Revs will have an easier or more comfortable win all season. This one was locked up very early on.
Hoovering up easy points early in the season builds a decent margin for error later on.
The CCL semifinal second legs are back-to-back tonight, making it a huge day for the league. Toronto and NYRB both have legitimate chances of advancement, but it's always possible that it will all end in familiar disappointment.
NYRB vs. Chivas is up first. Chivas is taking this as seriously as possible; they are having a bad year in Mexico and I think the manager views this competition as a way to salvage the season. Chivas rested most of their squad over the weekend, although they will be without CB Jair Pereira, who was suspended by CONCACAF for this throat-grabbing antics in the first leg. NYRB is down 1-0, so realistically they'll need to win by two.
Toronto is going to Azteca with a 3-1 advantage, but it's going to be tough down there. TFC had the weekend off and were training in Pachuca by Thursday. America's manager Piojo Herrera has been all bluster and arrogance, which I think is a good thing for TFC. Herrera rolled out a bunch of starters over the weekend, so hopefully America will be a bit tired out. America may also be without playmaker Cecilio Domingue, who left with an injury against Necaxa, but there's some speculation his seemingly-injury-related withdrawal may have been gamesmanship.
NYRB vs. Chivas is up first. Chivas is taking this as seriously as possible; they are having a bad year in Mexico and I think the manager views this competition as a way to salvage the season. Chivas rested most of their squad over the weekend, although they will be without CB Jair Pereira, who was suspended by CONCACAF for this throat-grabbing antics in the first leg. NYRB is down 1-0, so realistically they'll need to win by two.
Toronto is going to Azteca with a 3-1 advantage, but it's going to be tough down there. TFC had the weekend off and were training in Pachuca by Thursday. America's manager Piojo Herrera has been all bluster and arrogance, which I think is a good thing for TFC. Herrera rolled out a bunch of starters over the weekend, so hopefully America will be a bit tired out. America may also be without playmaker Cecilio Domingue, who left with an injury against Necaxa, but there's some speculation his seemingly-injury-related withdrawal may have been gamesmanship.
Hmmm...
$6m man Kaku remains on the bench. Marsch has been integrating him rather slowly. I'm also a bit surprised to see Florian Valot get the nod over Marc Rzatkowski.
It's a huge moment for local kid Derrick Etienne, who is starting on the wing in place of Kaku. He has shown skill and promise, but hasn't found the production to match yet. He needs to bring it tonight.
The free English stream is here: https://www.go90.com/videos/9owratiFwCp
From all reports, there are going to be a LOT of Chivas fans at Red Bull Arena tonight.
From all reports, there are going to be a LOT of Chivas fans at Red Bull Arena tonight.
NY totally dominated that half, but didn't score. They were also denied a PK, again. I've seen this movie before.
Kaku time. He's on for Royer.
Chivas has been working their way back into the match. NY has to be careful here.
Chivas has been working their way back into the match. NY has to be careful here.
New CONCACAF thing I've never seen before: Chivas had their seven subs sprint in front of Lawrence to obstruct him from taking a quick throw.
God, this is torture. RBNY REALLY should have scored by now. Between this and the Toronto game, I am going to have a nervous breakdown by the end of the night.
It had CONCACAF-y moments, but it was more ThatsSoMetro / RBNY than anything else. It's a club that has historically choked in big moments in the MLS playoffs.
Speaking of CONCACAF-y things, there's a twist for the America-Toronto game. The ref is from Uzbekistan, part of some sort of AFC/CONCACAF exchange.
Huge goal for Jonathan Osorio. Toronto is now up 4-1 on aggregate and it is no longer possible for America to win on away goals.
Valdez gets a yellow after crashing into Bono. Two America defenders on yellows now, neither for fouls they needed to commit.
Credit to Toronto, they aren't parking the bus at all.
Not that Bradley has the necessary gears, but still.
Not that Bradley has the necessary gears, but still.
America's GK is taking a free kick at the edge of the box...
and it's into the wall. He's no Chilavert.
and it's into the wall. He's no Chilavert.
Dubious penalty for America, which is converted, ruining the shutout.
But it's the last event of the game. Another impressive achievement for Toronto FC, who handled America really well over two legs. This one wasn't even a butt-clencher like the Tigres series.
Chivas awaits. They haven't looked nearly as good as America or Tigres in this tournament, so that bodes well. The stench of MLS failure in key CCL spots doesn't easily dissipate, but Toronto really look like they are a cut above.
There's no break for the final (first leg next week) - let's hope at least some of the Altidore/Vazquez/Morrow/Mavinga crew can return from injury.
Bradley has been immense for Toronto in CCL, it must be said. Bono was the star tonight.
But it's the last event of the game. Another impressive achievement for Toronto FC, who handled America really well over two legs. This one wasn't even a butt-clencher like the Tigres series.
Chivas awaits. They haven't looked nearly as good as America or Tigres in this tournament, so that bodes well. The stench of MLS failure in key CCL spots doesn't easily dissipate, but Toronto really look like they are a cut above.
There's no break for the final (first leg next week) - let's hope at least some of the Altidore/Vazquez/Morrow/Mavinga crew can return from injury.
Bradley has been immense for Toronto in CCL, it must be said. Bono was the star tonight.
Also, penalty aside, this Uzbek ref was way better than most CONCACAF refs. He wasn't cowed by the home crowd.
We were so, so close to an all-MLS CCL final. After so many years of disappointment, that would have been weirdly anti-climactic, sort of like the 2004 WS sweep after the exorcism the demons in the ALCS.
It seems appropriate that Toronto will have to go through three Liga MX clubs in order to win.
We were so, so close to an all-MLS CCL final. After so many years of disappointment, that would have been weirdly anti-climactic, sort of like the 2004 WS sweep after the exorcism the demons in the ALCS.
It seems appropriate that Toronto will have to go through three Liga MX clubs in order to win.
A couple of youth notes:
- The Revs announced two youth initiatives today. The first is something they are calling "Regional Development Schools". I can't quite tell if these are one-off showcase events to try to dig up more talent, or some sort of consistent training. The second component is a "scholarship fund" whereby money is given to their youth partners when the Revs ultimately sign a player recruited from their youth partners to a professional deal. This sounds a lot like a backdoor around the ban on training compensation.
- FC Dallas signed Chris Richards, a 18 year old center back. I've heard a lot of good things about him. He didn't make the last U17 squad, but latecomers to the U17 scene miss out all too often - Weston McKennie was cut the cycle before. Richards is a recent recruit to FCD; he's originally from Alabama, but moved to a club in Houston until last summer.
All MLS games that aren't nationally televised by ESPN/FOX/Univision are switching from MLS Live to ESPN+ starting this weekend. Assuming there aren't tech issues, this is a good development - it's cheaper than MLS Live was last year, but comes with lots of extras.
The first leg of the Champions League final is tonight. Toronto was missing a bunch of starters in the SF, then lost Jozy inside 10 minutes of the second leg at Azteca. Jozy will probably be back. Chris Mavinga and Justin Morrow could return. Victor Vazquez probably won't.
Chivas has played clearly worse in this tournament than Tigres and America, so it would be tremendously disappointing if Toronto doesn't beat them. It's probably the first time ever that an MLS has entered into a knockout series against a Liga MX team as a favorite.
Chivas has played clearly worse in this tournament than Tigres and America, so it would be tremendously disappointing if Toronto doesn't beat them. It's probably the first time ever that an MLS has entered into a knockout series against a Liga MX team as a favorite.
Altidore and Mavinga are back in the lineup. Morrow is on the bench. No Vazquez. Mavinga's return pushes Zavaleta to the bench, rather than Van der Wiel to RWB and Auro to the bench.
Edit: whoops...
Edit: whoops...
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The Go90 stream (English language TV rights) is here:
https://www.go90.com/videos/5fowkIHZz9u
It's also on Univision Deportes, which could come in handy - the go90 stream did not fare well in the SF between Toronto and America.
https://www.go90.com/videos/5fowkIHZz9u
It's also on Univision Deportes, which could come in handy - the go90 stream did not fare well in the SF between Toronto and America.