What do we know through three weeks of the 2014 Major League Soccer campaign?
More than we did three weeks ago.
Yes, that’s a terrible cop out, but the ‘small sample size’ caveat needs to be applied to the first month of the season. Without it, anarchy reigns. We are a society with rules and regulations, people.
With that said, trends are emerging. Midfielders ran the show in Week 3. Bernardo Anor recorded his first MLS brace, powering Columbus past Philadelphia. The Crew are enjoying life under new boss Gregg Berhalter, but a big test awaits in Seattle against the Sounders.
Anor’s second of the game, just before the end of the first half, was a backbreaker of the beautiful variety.
Fabian Castillo and Mauro Diaz ran roughshod over Chivas USA, helping Dallas earn seven points from their first three games, good for the best mark in the lead. Michael Bradley was terrific for Toronto FC and Colorado’s Dillon Powers continues to build on last season's Rookie of the Year campaign.
Is this the year of the midfielder? Does the phrase “Year of the….” make you feel physically ill?
In any case, we’ve seen a renaissance at the position through three weeks, one that should continue based on the mix of talented veterans and on-the-cusp youngsters.
The headliner
On paper, they’re two of the best teams in MLS. On paper, they’ve got the players required to win championships.
But through three weeks, things haven’t gone to plan for the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake.
The Western Conference giants played to a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday after trading first half goals. Though there was no scoring in the second half, tempers frayed.
Alvaro Saborio, RSL’s goal scorer, was lucky to avoid red after a dangerous challenge on A.J. DeLaGarza in the 63rd minute.
“Trying to figure out how it's not a red card,” Landon Donovan told reporters after Saturday's game, according to MLSSoccer.com. “You see his leg and you see the intent and how nasty it that was. I'd be very surprised if there's not further action taken."
DeLaGarza was forced to leave the game nine minutes later.
“DeLaGarza's probably just got a contusion from a bad tackle,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “It was a bad tackle. I'm sure the league will be looking at that.”
Taking over for one of the best coaches in league history is never easy - just ask David Moyes - but that is the position Jeff Cassar finds himself in after Jason Kries accepted the challenge of building New York City FC from the ground up.
It hasn’t been a disastrous beginning for Cassar, RSL has taken five points from their first three games, but it’s the way they’ve been unable to hold onto leads that should be of immediate concern.
For the second consecutive week, the defending Western Conference champions couldn’t generate three points from an early lead.
Cassar will get a chance to right some early wrongs when he manages his second home game at Rio Tinto, against red-hot Toronto FC on Saturday.
Goal of the week
You have to imagine Robbie Keane is keeping a close eye on Jermain Defoe’s exploits in Toronto.
The Galaxy star’s goal 15 minutes after Real Salt Lake took the early lead was of the special variety.
