The Second Season Arrives:
The final week of regular-season matches has come and gone. Playoff spots are secured, final conference standings are set, and the Supporter’s Shield has been claimed by a new heir. It was an eventful end to the season, one that saw several MLS MVP contenders move ahead of the pack and a new Golden Boot winner crowned. With a regular season that had no shortage of drama, it’s hard to believe there are still six more weeks to go until one team raises the MLS Cup.
But the road to the December 7 showdown goes through knock-out games and playoff matches. First up is FC Dallas and the Vancouver Whitecaps, who will face off this Wednesday, followed by the New York Red Bulls against Sporting Kansas City on Thursday. The winner’s of each game will advance to the next round of the playoffs, to face the Seattle Sounders and D.C. United, respectively. In the meantime, Real Salt Lake and the L.A. Galaxy are set for their Western Conference home-and-away matchups, as are the Columbus Crew and the New England Revolution.
Highs and Lows:
The Sounders reign has begun: For the first time in their franchise history, the Seattle Sounders finished the season atop the league and clinched the coveted Supporter’s Shield. They did so with a convincing 2-0 win over L.A. Galaxy, thanks to a brace from midfielder Marco Pappa. The Sounders ended their stellar season 20-10-4 and a full 3 points ahead of second place L.A.
BWP and the case for the golden boot: He may not sit alone in the record books but he’s certainly in good company. New York’s Bradley Wright-Phillips turned up the heat during his side’s final regular season game against Kansas City on Sunday, scoring both goals for the Red Bulls and notching his 26th and 27th goals of the season and tying the single season record set by Roy Lassiter (1996) and Chris Wondolowski (2012). The Red Bulls will be hoping Wright-Phillips continues his hot streak in the post-season, especially with Thierry Henry still struggling with Achilles’ injuries.
Farewell, Chivas: The MLS said goodbye to the team also known as “LA 2” this weekend, as the season came to an end for Chivas USA. In a letter to supporters, MLS Commissioner Don Garber explained that, after 10 years in the league, Chivas ceased operations as of October 27. The news was announced several weeks ago – but discussions about what such a move means for the league are still swirling. Does the league’s ability to pivot and shake off less- successful franchises speak to its growth over the past decade? Can there be another L.A. franchise to compete with the Galaxy powerhouse, both on the field and off? Commissioner Garber laid out his plans to build a new franchise (complete with a new stadium) in Southern California – but more specific details won’t come until later this week, when the formal announcement will be made.
The curious case of Doneil Henry: File under “things you don’t hear very often” – Toronto FC was at the center of a hot discussion this week in MLS. It was revealed that defender Doneil Henry, who came through the TFC Academy, was actually sold to “a club in Cyprus” earlier in the year. Yes, “a club in Cyprus” was as specific as TFC management would get – and there’s more. Despite his sale to said club, Henry has been on loan at TFC throughout 2014, where the club expects him to remain on loan through 2015. Needless to say, this revelation has a lot of people wondering just what the heck Toronto was thinking. At halftime during the SKCvNY matchup on ESPN2 this weekend, commentator Taylor Twellman politely referred to the loan arrangement as “shenanigans” but former USMNT player Alexi Lalas was less diplomatic on air, saying of TFC, “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do something” — before pointedly adding, “This isn’t major league, this is minor league – this is bush league.” Strong words from one of most prominent voices in MLS.
(image courtesy of AP)
