By Paul Gardner Last time, you may recall, I was bitching about the sheer tedium of the playoff game between Colorado and Columbus. I asked the question: Does playoffsoccer have to be like this? Well, I got my answer, didn’t I ever. A resounding No! delivered and gift-wrapped by Dallas and Real Salt Lake on […]
columbus crew
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Dallas and Real Salt Lake light up the playoff scene
By Paul Gardner Last time, you may recall, I was bitching about the sheer tedium of the playoff game between Colorado and Columbus. I asked the question: Does playoffsoccer have to be like this? Well, I got my answer, didn’t I ever. A resounding No! delivered and gift-wrapped by Dallas and Real Salt Lake on […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Does playoff soccer have to be like this?
By Paul Gardner Watching Thursday night’s Colorado vs. Columbus game was not an easy experience. After all, this game really meant something –particularly for the Colorado Rapids. This was their chance, in the opening playoff game, to score a few goals, the theory being that they will need that cushion as they now have to […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mastroeni is Rapids' unlikely hero
[MLS] The Colorado Rapids, fifth in the Western Conference, beat the Eastern Conference runner-up Columbus Crew, 1-0, in the first leg of their conferencesemifinal series thanks to the unlikeliest of heroes. Pablo Mastroeni, who has scored only six goals in 286 regular-season games in his 13-year career and wasscoreless in 23 playoff games entering Thursday’s […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Colorado Rapids rate edge over Crew
[MLS] The first of the four MLS conference semifinal series begins Thursday (9 p.m., ESPN2/Deportes) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park with Colorado (12-8-10)hosting 2008 MLS Cup winner Columbus (14-8-8). Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney analyzes the matchup, position-by-position … GOALKEEPING. The Crew’s AndyGruenebaum has played only 24 games in his five MLS seasons and none in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
RSL wins group, Crew clinches
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] It was a big night for MLS clubs in the Concacaf Champions League. Real Salt Lake won Group A ahead of Cruz Azul when it beat theMexico City club, 3-1, while the Columbus Crew clinched a berth in the quarterfinals when Santos of Mexico crushed Municipal of Guatemala, 6-1. Real Salt Lake […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Eight teams vie for five berths
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Eight teams are fighting for the five berths that remain up for grabs going into this week’s final day of play in the ConcacafChampions League, evidence of the increasing parity in the regional competition. GROUP A. Only Group A is decided with Real Salt Lake hosting CruzAzul with first place at stake. […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Pondering the playoffs
By Ridge Mahoney One more week remains in the regular season, and unlike past years, no playoff spots hang in the balance. The eight teams are ordained, matchupsto be determined, and thoughts of revising the format yet again are being raised. The MLS playoff formula may not be “broken” as Real Salt Lake coach Jason […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying
“I was standing at the midfield line because we’d pushed everybody into the box. I looked over at the bench and gave them the ‘should I go?’ look and I think everybody was yelling ‘no.’ I saw onefinger pointing go and that was my permission, I felt.” — Columbus Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer, who scored […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Columbus goalkeeper scores late equalizer
[VIDEO PICK] Columbus Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer ventured far from his goal on Saturday and scored in stoppage time to earn the Crew a 2-2 tieat Toronto. Hesmer struck in the 92nd minute after a goalmouth scramble following a Crew corner kick. “I’ve never gone into the box before, it’s my first time ever,” Hemsertold […]