ALPHA DOG
1. Red Bull NY (+1) - A second straight result that's just a bit flattering, but impressive nonetheless. Red Bull dominated the Fire in spurts, but really made those spurts count and were the beneficiaries of some terrible defending. If the Fire had some finishers on the field, the result would have been much closer since they were creating chances. Regardless, the Bulls are now the team to beat and the chief ugly mug on the three-headed Beast in the East.
PLAYOFF PACK
2. Kansas City Wizards (+1) - The results keep coming for the Wiz, who make up the second part of the Beast. EJ's renaissance continues with an impressive hattrick, beating Jay Heaps like the pathetic rented mule that he is and exposing the Rev's general lack of speed at the back. A tremendous away fightback from 2-0 down to the former top dogs boosts KC to the head of the Playoff Pack. Next week it's winner-take-all at Arrowhead as the Red Bulls come to town. Too bad nobody will be there to see it.
3. NE Revolution (-2) - Though they're still part of the three-headed Beast in the East, dropping 3 points at home in a seven goal thriller just isn't good enough to stay on top. Combined with last weeks' slightly fortunate victory away to Houston, the loss sees the Revs tumble two places off the top spot. Shipping four goals at home is always bad news - just ask DC, who were on the wrong end of 4 KC finishes at home as well. Maybe the Revs should have stayed on the road - they were getting results there.
4. Colorado Rapids (+1) - A win is a win, but a narrow 1-0 result at home to the lowly Galaxy, reduced to 10 men for the majority of the match, would not have resulted in a climb were it not for other results. The Rapids failed to convert or were stoned by former netminder Cannon for most of the match and nearly conceded a draw late. Off the pitch, 18k+ is a fantastic turnout - did they not get the message that Becks arrives in the summer? Kudos to the Rapids fans for turning out for their side, who are looking to make it a two-horse race in the West with Dallas. Next up is a tough away tilt against TFC at Fortress BMO.
5. FC Dallas (-1) - After a big climb last week, the Hoops drop off slightly on the back of an away loss to Goats Junior. A draw may have been a more fair result as they controlled the first half and were just about even in the second. They just didn't do as much with their chances as Chivas did and were punished late on the counter. Where's Ruiz when you need him? The Texas Derby against the struggling Dynamo is a potential landmine next weekend.
6. DC United (+1) - Another match, another 2-1 win. That makes it three in a row as DC continue to climb back into the playoff picture. The problem is that, while the Black-and-Red are scoring goals, they also haven't pitched a shutout this season, and were outshot two-to-one by the visiting Dynamo this week. Still, a win is a win, even if it's not a dominating performance. Gomito looks to be finding his form again, which is a huge boost to DC, and there were flashes of the team coming together on Saturday. Next week, they'll get a chance to build on recent results away to the struggling Galaxy, who may be without a handful of starters due to injuries and call-ups.
7. Chivas USA (+2) - The Goats continue to turn things around by following up last weeks derby draw with a victory over Western Conference leaders FC Dallas. A solid home win, even if there wasn't much to choose from between the teams. Chivas took their goals when the opportunities arose, but they still don't look terribly creative in attack and the back line looks vulnerable if you run at (or by) them at pace. A sub-10k attendance is not good news, though maybe the victory will start drawing the fans back to the Toolbox. A bye week probably doesn't come at the ideal time.
8. Houston Dynamo (-2) - The Dynamo continue last weeks' slide as the offensive woes continue. The chances are being created - the ball just won't seem to find the back of the net. This is a team playing some good stuff but not getting the results. Somebody is going to be on the end of a pasting when they get the goal-scoring boots back. The Texas Derby next week is as good of a time as any.
BUM-SNIFFING OMEGA MUTTS
9. LA Galaxy (-1) - After Martino's dismissal, it was always going to be a tough ask for LA to find points in Colorado. Cannon in net and the Rapids' spurning of chances nearly allowed them to nick a point at the death, but it was not to be. Next week sees improving DC coming to town and the Gals may be without a handful of players away on national team duty.
10. Toronto FC (+1) - TFC earn their first road point, twice coming back to equalize against the Crew. Adding Cunningham to the front line gives them another potent weapon to run alongside the hulking Dichio in the classic Little/Large pairing. Next weekend it's back to BMO as the high-flying Rapids pay TFC a visit in the Teams-With-New-Stadiums Derby. (A new team needs new rivals, eh?)
11. Chicago Fire (-1) - The sucking continues with a mauling by the Red Bulls and a goalless draw at home to bottom-feeders RSL. The Fire are desperate for Rolfe to return as they can create chances - it's the finishing that's the problem. Though they finally halted the winless stretch against RSL, that's three points they really should be picking up. Never the less, they earned enough points early in the season that if they can start finding results next week at home to the Crew, they'll be right back in the thick of the playoff picture.
12. Columbus Crew - More dropped points at home as the draw specialists continue to rack up the one-pointers. The Crew really need results at home against the bottom sides in order to have any pretensions at making a playoff run. Next week they get a visit from struggling Chicago. Will Herrón be fit to face his old club? Two goals in the first half against TFC before leaving with an injury suggest that he'll be the key to the Crew's future success. He'll have to be as they don't really have any other proven finishers.
13. Real Salt Lake - A point on the road and they certainly created chances, but they conceded quite a few as well. Rimando looks to be recovering from his early season nightmares and the clean sheet will boost confidence all along that rag-tag RSL back line. While any road points are a bonus, they're in danger of setting a record for futility unless they can start acquiring points in three-packs.
The Dynamo and Revs face significant falls on the backs of tough losses, while Chivas are the big climbers after beating top-o'-the-West Dallas. Next week sees some interesting games as the Wizards host the Red Bulls atop of the East, while the Crew and Fire duke it out on the bottom. Out west, the Texas Derby will give us a chance to see if Houston can finally snap their malaise and prove that a team with a negative goal differential really shouldn't be sitting atop the West.
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