The Week That Was - August 26th

Here are the updated standings:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3qPRqJFXHoRajB3cWJmRWlGYnc/edit

Toronto FC

So that’s what a game between the two last place teams in the Eastern Conference looks like, two defensive errors lead to the two goals of the game in a 1-1 draw.  On the first, Dwayne De Rosario scored a beautiful goal from 30 yards out, to take his MLS career total to 103 goals.  But just seconds before Jonathan Osorio had a perfect opportunity to take the ball away but instead was a pylon.  Osorio was later subbed off in the 34^th minute after aggravating an ankle injury suffered during training this week.  Nelson’s lineup decision have to come into question when he is starting players prone to an injury and players that haven’t had the best past few weeks.  Specifically, Ashtone Morgan who has not had the best outings lately, and we recently brought in Left Back Jonas Elmer who was said to compete with him for a starting job.  Why bring in players that are supposedly going to compete for starting positions and when the current starting player opens up an opportunity, through their own bad play, but doesn’t give them the start?  

TFC’s goal came in the 60^th minute when Reggie Lambe attempted a pass but was cleared right back to him and was able to continue his run and cross it into the 18-yard box, where for the first there were 3 TFC players ready to receive the ball and Bobby Convey slotted it into the bottom left corner.  DC almost took the lead back when former Red, Luis Silva’s side volley attempt almost found the back of the net if it were not for another great save by Joe Bendik. TFC had one last chance through Robert Earnshaw in the 82^nd minute when his right footed curling shot almost nestled into the far post bottom corner but it came to nothing like so much effort in this world, and with that the game came to an eventual end.  

Movers of the Week

With Seattle moving up into the playoff places each Western Conference playoff bound team moved 7 points closer to clinching. But Real Salt Lake was the biggest winner through a draw and a win this past week moving 11 points closer to clinching. Chivas USA was had the biggest drop in the West getting 4 points closer to being eliminated from playoff contention through a loss and the 5^th place points moving up 1.  In the East, most playoff bound teams moved further away from clinching because of Houston dropping out of the playoff spots, but Montreal was able to get 1 point closer to clinching.  Columbus had the biggest drop of 3 points getting that much closer to playoff elimination.  DC United, Chivas USA, and Toronto FC continue to be the only teams 20 points or less till elimination with 6, 12, 13 respectively but Columbus Crew and San Jose Earthquakes are knocking on the door with 21, and 22.

Predictions

Last Week

FC Dallas @ Chivas USA	FCD Win	Correct FCD Win 3-1
Real Salt Lake @ Portland Timbers	POR Win	Wrong Draw 3-3
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire	Draw	Wrong CHI Win 1-0
Houston Dynamo @ Montreal Impact	MTL Win	Correct MTL Win 5-0
Toronto FC @ DC United	TFC Win	Wrong Draw 1-1
San Jose @ FC Dallas	SJ Win	Wrong Draw 2-2
LA Galaxy @ Vancouver Whitecaps	VAN Win	Wrong LA Win 1-0
Columbus Crew @ Real Salt Lake	RSL Win	Correct RSL Win 4-0
New York Red Bulls @ Chivas USA	NY Win	Wrong CHV Win 3-2
Philadelphia Union @ New England Revolution	NE Win	Correct NE Win 5-1
Portland Timbers @ Seattle Sounders	SEA Win	Correct SEA Win 1-0

Last Week’s Prediction Record	5-6
All Time Record	21-26

This Week

New England Revolution @ Toronto FC	TFC Win
Portland Timbers @ Real Salt Lake	RSL Win
Seattle Sounders @ Columbus Crew	SEA Win
Montreal Impact @ Philadelphia Union	MTL Win
DC United @ New York Red Bulls	NY Win
Colorado Rapids @ Sporting Kansas City	SKC Win
San Jose Earthquakes @ LA Galaxy	LA Win
Houston Dynamo @ Chicago Fire	Draw
Chivas USA @ Vancouver Whitecaps	VAN Win