One week in the books and there's already a power struggle atop the rankings? That's what happens when the defending champs go down on their home turf. And it seems like the same old story with the Eastern Conference, with a two-horse race pulling their weight in the top 6.
Only MLS regular-season games reflected on schedule. All times are Eastern.
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<strong>1</strong> |
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<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/saltlake_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>Quite a statement game against the boys from Tinseltown, akin to the 4-1 drubbing RSL dropped on the Galaxy early last year. The difference is that the youngsters – particularly Sebastian Velasquez and Chris Schuler – showed that they have what it takes to hang.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat LA, 3-1</li><li><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-la-vs-rsl" target="_blank">WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-la-v-rsl/recap" target="_blank">FULL MATCHCENTER</a></strong></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. New York (10 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>2</strong> |
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<strong>1</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/losangeles_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>Can we retroactively award the 2011 MLS MVP to Omar Gonzalez? The team that neutrals grumbled about for winning too many 1-0 games has come out in their first two of 2012 having conceded five goals. It's only week two, but they need to get the defense right – and quick.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost to Real Salt Lake, 3-1</li><li><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-la-vs-rsl" target="_blank">WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-la-v-rsl/recap" target="_blank">FULL MATCHCENTER</a></strong></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday vs D.C. United (4 pm ET, Galavision)</li></ul> |
<strong>3</strong> |
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<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" height="62" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" width="62"> |
<p>Posting a victory against one of Mexico’s very best in your first competitive match since November? That’s top class stuff from the Sounders. Regardless of the CCL result against Santos on Wednesday, there’s no question they’re among the league’s best.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Bye</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Toronto (10 pm ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
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<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.png" width="55"> |
<p>Peter Vermes said all the right things after the 1-0 win over D.C. United, but at least a few members of the Power Rankings Politburo think he’s probably relieved to have a spot open for C.J. Sapong now that Teal Bunbury is with the Olympic team. Sapong showed he’s the more complete player right now.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat D.C. United, 1-0</li><li><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/10/highlights-dc-vs-skc" target="_blank">WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-dc-v-kc/recap" target="_blank">FULL MATCHCENTER</a></strong></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. New England (8:30 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>5</strong> |
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<strong>11</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dallas_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>Seventy minutes of comprehensive dominance followed by 20 minutes of holding on for dear life. That’s probably not the way that Schellas Hyndman drew it up, but it was good enough for three points against New York. They’ll need to be more clinical to stay with the West's heavies, though.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat New York, 2-1</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-dal-vs-ny" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-11-dal-v-ny/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Portland (8:30 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>6</strong> |
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<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/houston_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>Sure, they needed another clutch goal from defender Andre Hainault, and many fans will worry about the poor finishing from Brian Ching and Will Bruin. But we’re choosing to focus on the outside-of-the-boot, 40-yard through ball Geoff Cameron hit. There won’t be a better pass in MLS all year.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat Chivas USA, 1-0</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-chv-vs-hou" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-11-chv-v-hou/highlights" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at San Jose (5 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>7</strong> |
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<strong>6</strong> |
<img alt="" height="58" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/vancouver_150.png" width="40"> |
<p>Should a team be penalized – and drop a spot – simply because its victory came against a debuting expansion side? Probably not, but that's how it goes. Besides, although Sebastien Le Toux and the 'Caps showed their attacking flair, they were actually outshot and outplayed for long stretches.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat Montreal, 2-0</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-chv-vs-hou" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-van-v-mtl/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Chivas USA (10:30 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>8</strong> |
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<strong>8</strong> |
<img alt="" height="50" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/portland_150.png" width="50"> |
<p>Kris Boyd did what Kris Boyd does, and JELD-WEN Field exploded. But what really made the fans come alive on Monday night were the exploits of Kalif Alhassan down that right flank, where he absolutely dismantled poor Porfirio López. </p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat Philadelphia, 3-1</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/13/highlights-por-vs-phi" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-12-por-v-phi/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at FC Dallas (8:30 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>9</strong> |
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<strong>7</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sanjose_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>The good news is that Wondo picked up where he left off, getting a game-winner. And that the Quakes held onto a 1-0 win, a scoreline they didn’t land even once in 2011. But shouldn’t this team have buried a few more goals against the Revs? </p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat New England, 1-0</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-sj-vs-ne" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-sj-v-ne/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Houston (5 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>10</strong> |
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<strong>12</strong> |
<img alt="" height="64" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/colorado_150.png" width="64"> |
<p>The learning curve for the 4-3-3 didn’t look too steep on Saturday as the Rapids forced turnovers, created space in the inside channels, and generally ran the Crew ragged for 90 minutes. Getting Conor Casey back next month will only help, as will the midfield reinforcements from South America.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat Columbus, 2-0</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/10/highlights-col-vs-clb" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-col-v-clb/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday at Philadelphia (4 pm, NBC Sports)</li></ul> |
<strong>11</strong> |
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<strong>10</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chicago_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>The Fire still sit idle while everyone else has played at least one competitive match, and best bet is they’re itching for a chance to kick the ball in anger. Everything is there for the Fire to be top-three in the East – and perhaps even more if Patrick Nyarko can find a pair of boots with some goals in them.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Bye</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Montreal (2 pm, TSN)</li></ul> |
<strong>12</strong> |
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<strong>9</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>The fans and coaches would do well to focus on the last 20 minutes of the loss to FCD, figure out what worked and go with that. To our eyes, it was letting Thierry Henry be a playmaker. It’ll take some tinkering, but that’s always the case in New York.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at FC Dallas, 2-1</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-dal-vs-ny" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-11-dal-v-ny/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Real Salt Lake (10 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>13</strong> |
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<strong>14</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/toronto_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>That 2-2 draw in the first leg of the CCL quarters against the Galaxy showed both the good and the bad for TFC. Yes, they can score against anybody. Yes, they can play some beautiful, expressive soccer with the ball. But without it, and on set pieces, they still struggle. And if Torsten Frings gets hurt...</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Bye</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Seattle (10 pm ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>14</strong> |
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<strong>16</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dc_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>They had no answers for KC’s athleticism on the flanks and drive in the midfield, and now they’re losing their starting d-mid for a few weeks. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the East is so weak United can afford to take a month to get all their ducks in a row. </p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost to Sporting KC, 1-0</li><li><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/10/highlights-dc-vs-skc" target="_blank">WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-dc-v-kc/recap" target="_blank">FULL MATCHCENTER</a></strong></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday at LA (4 pm ET, Galavision)</li></ul> |
<strong>15</strong> |
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<strong>13</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/philadelphia_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>The Union are a work in progress, which is simply what has to happen when you ship out more than a dozen players in the offseason. They didn’t test Troy Perkins much at all, and were porous defensively. An inauspicious start to the post-Le Toux and -Mondragón era.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Portland, 3-1</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/13/highlights-por-vs-phi" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-12-por-v-phi/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday vs. Colorado (4 pm, NBC Sports)</li></ul> |
<strong>16</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<strong>15</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/columbus_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>In 2011 they were lousy before Rich Balchan was slotted in at d-mid. Then they were very, very good. Then Rich Balchan got hurt, and they became lousy again. He’s still hurt, and judging by last week loss, the Crew still have no permanent replacement for him. </p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Colorado, 2-0</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/10/highlights-col-vs-clb" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-col-v-clb/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Bye</li></ul> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newengland_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>The 2011 Revs would have been 3-0 down by halftime in last Saturday’s game against San Jose. Instead they gamely hung in there at 1-0, and were just a late Benny Feilhaber blast away from sneaking out with a point. This midfield is really, really good – now they need a finisher.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at San Jose, 1-0</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-sj-vs-ne" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-sj-v-ne/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Sporting KC (8:30 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>18</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>18</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chivas_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>The good news is that Dan Kennedy was spectacular in the goal. The bad news is that even with Kennedy at his spectacular best, the Goats still found a way to drop all three points at home.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost to Houston, 1-0</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-chv-vs-hou" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-11-chv-v-hou/highlights" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs, Vancouver (10:30 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li></ul> |
<strong>19</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>19</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imapact-logo-3.png" style="width: 52px; height: 60px;"> |
<p>There have certainly been worse ways to start your MLS tenure than the 2-0 result they dropped at Vancouver. Obviously Jesse Marsch will have some words with Tyson Wahl and Matteo Ferrari this week, but that’s the thing: The goals came via individual breakdowns, not team cock-ups. Totally manageable.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Vancouver, 2-0</li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/11/highlights-chv-vs-hou" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH HIGHLIGHTS</strong></a></li><li><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-10-van-v-mtl/recap" target="_blank"><strong>FULL MATCHCENTER</strong></a></li><li><strong>First Game: </strong>Saturday vs. Chicago (2 pm, TSN)</li></ul> |
