Author Archives: Ridge Mahoney

[MLS PREDICTIONS] Among the teams seeking their first victory of the season is the beleaguered Los Angeles Galaxy, whose game against the San Jose Earthquakes was set in Oakland to accommodate a Beckham crowd, which instead must settle for a postgame firework show. 2008 runner-up New York looks for its first win when it hosts Real Salt Lake. Houston tries to end a four-game winless streak when it hosts Colorado. Also hosting is winless FC Dallas, which welcomes Toronto. The league’s top team so far, Chivas USA, hosts Seattle, which lost for the first time last week. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we fared last week …

[MLS] A Canadian who has been playing in the Czech Republic may seem a strange source to shore up the back line of a top MLS team, but that’s the path defender Andrew Hainault has taken to Houston.

[MLS PREDICTIONS] The expansion Seattle Sounders FC should make it four wins in four games, but will their shutout streak continue? The first SuperClasico pits unbeaten and untied Chivas USA against the struggling Galaxy at the HDC. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we fared last week …

[MLS] The start of the season doesn’t end the process of altering and adjusting MLS rosters.  In New York, master tinkerer Juan Carlos Osorio will probably unveil one new player this weekend when the Red Bulls host Houston and might give another his first start, with another signing still awaiting the receipt of his international transfer certificate at MLS offices.

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Even in defeat, Puerto Rico put its mark on the Concacaf Champions League competition. The USL-1 Islanders succumbed to Cruz Azul Tuesday night on penalty kicks after being on the verge of moving into the final.

[TEAM OF THE WEEK] Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake) and Conor Casey (Colorado), who both scored hat tricks, head Soccer America’s MLS Team of the Week for Week 3.

The Houston Dynamo could have believed its lousy fortune had run out. But instead of getting the breaks, the Dynamo is getting beat early in 2009, adding to a recent history of poor starts in MLS.

[REF WATCH] Not often does an MLS team incur an early red card and still go on to win, but by doing so last weekend, the Chicago Fire added another entry to the on-going debate of whether red-card procedures should be changed.

[MLS] By beating Colorado, 2-1, Sunday at Home Depot Center, Chivas USA matched expansion Seattle atop the overall MLS standings at 3-0. The Sounders won their first away test Saturday, beating Toronto FC, 2-0, at BMO Field. They return home next week to play Kansas City and so perhaps only a road game on the grass – at Home Depot Center against Chivas USA April 18 as luck would have it – can expose the upstart.

[MLS PREDICTIONS] What will happen when the high-flying Sounders play their first road game? For all the predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we fared last week …

[MLS] With ties in its first two games, one at home and one on the road, one could give defending champion Columbus some benefit of the doubt.  But after a 4-1 thrashing inflicted by Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium Thursday, there may be some cause for doubting the Crew’s ability to defend that title.

[USA-TRINIDAD & TOBAGO] Along with praise for hat-trick hero Jozy Altidore and three-assist man Landon Donovan, credit is due is all around for a spirited, determined cast of U.S. players who took command early and rarely let their grip slip while beating Trinidad & Tobago, 3-0, Wednesday in Nashville.

[USA-TRINIDAD & TOBAGO REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and comments on their performance in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago.

[TEAM OF THE WEEK] Several first-year players, including Seattle stars Oswaldo Alvarez and Fredy Montero and New England rookie Darrius Barnes, had big games. For Soccer America’s MLS Team of the Week for Week 2 …

[PREDICTIONS] It’s hard to imagine the defending champion to be winless after three games yet RSL will be pumped up for its home opener and so will the fans. Still, the Crew’s experience will carve out a point.