MLS Week 11: Highlights, Notes, & Table

The highlights: (*my recommendations*)

* New York City@Portland*
This may be a turning point for NYC, getting points on the road against a quality opponent and building on a 3 game winning streak. Nagbe continues to create opportunities with his technical skills and passing abilities. There is a pretty back heel in this match and you have to love the hustle of McNamara. Villa and Adi are the leading scorers in MLS and both get a goal here. Second match of the week for the Timbers after also playing on Wednesday night.

Orlando City@Sporting Kansas City
All of SKC's leading offensive players (Dwyer, Feilhaber, Zusi, Davis) have been struggling with execution, confidence, and even luck. Here the team tries for the second time this week to grind out a win by bombarding the Lions in another great atmosphere at SKC.

Real Salt Lake@Houston
An uncharacteristic stale performance from RSL and I cannot decide if Torres is unlucky or ungood, perhaps the answer is both. Second match of the week for the busy Dynamo.

Seattle@FC Dallas
A great save by Frei, a killer PK by Diaz, a great pass by Dempsey gone to waste, brilliant control and finish by Barrios, and the end of Morris' four match goal streak are the takeaways from this match between two clubs trying to find their rhythm. Second match of the week for Dallas.

Colorado@Columbus
The Rapids are playing with confidence and consistency (unbeaten in 7 matches) against their second opponent of the week and this did not take long: the Crew miss the finishing skills of Kei Kamara.

* Vancouver@Toronto FC*
If you only watch one set of highlights then watch those of this thoroughly entertaining back and forth match between two good clubs in a great environment at the newly renovated BMO Field. You will see a masterful performance all over the pitch by Kekuta Manneh (who will be a USA citizen in September), a botched PK by Altidore, the tremendous skill of Giovinco (his touch and control are preeminent), and a great pounce by Bradley on an errant pass who then charges up the pitch like a runaway train before laying off a perfectly weighted pass to Giovinco. A busy week for the Whitecaps who took on two very good clubs and are finding their stride.

Chicago@New England
Kamara makes his on pitch presence felt in his first match for the Revolution, Nguyen with a fantastic goal, Rowe continues to impress, and the Fire continue to look for answers after a tough week against two opponents.

* Philadelphia@Montreal*
Drogba is still a killer, a tremendous set up impresses from Le Toux to Sapong, and Blake continues to build his reputation as the best young GK in MLS with this match between two good teams in a cold rain. Second match of the week for a hard working Union club.

New York Red Bulls@DC United
Kljestan continues to open holes in opposing defenses but the NYRB backline is still the worst in MLS.

* Chicago@Vancouver*
You should watch this to see: Whitecaps forward Kudo get absolutely destroyed by a charging Ousted and ending up with a broken jaw and split tongue, Igboananike show out for the Fire, but mostly for Blas Perez and his match winning bicycle goal as time winds down to rip the heart out of the Fire.

Houston@San Jose
There is a great atmosphere now in San Jose with their new ground and Houston has the capability to be quite dangerous in attack.

Sporting Kansas City@Colorado
Jones is not only a very talented player but also a very smart player, as you will see. A young Serna continues to develop into a good player and hits an impressive laser of a goal on this cold night in Colorado. SKC is struggling with execution and confidence.

Portland@FC Dallas
Key momentary lapses in defense cost the Timbers.

* LA Galaxy@Philadelphia*
An impeccable exchange of play between Keane, Dos Santos, and Rogers and a perfect setup from Gerrard to a cracking finish by Magee are examples of how the Galaxy can play some really beautiful soccer. A quality match with a Union club that continues to progress.


Here is your table.


Cheers