2 thoughts on “MLS player ratings: Aug. 18-22”

1. Houston 4, Chicago 3
   Aug. 21, 2010

   Summary: The summaries won’t usually be so long, but this was a wild one …

   Houston dominated early and got their reward in the 31st when Sean Johnson, the rookie goalkeeper who has had a tremendous run for the Fire, came out for a corner kick and was undercut, spilling the ball and injuring himself in the process, leaving Brian Ching an easy poacher’s goal. The goal may have been unlucky for Chicago, but Houston’s statistical dominance in the first half was overwhelming. Chicago didn’t register a shot until the 37th minute.

   The end of the first half saw some nastiness, as Freddie Ljungberg flattened Danny Cruz with no call. Houston’s choice of enforcer was an odd one — Brian Ching retaliated a few seconds later with a foul that drew yellow.

   Houston took full control early in the second, with Richard Mulrooney tapping a free kick to the right corner of the box for Lovel Palmer to run on at full speed and drill it between Johnson and the near post. Chicago’s Calen Carr, putting together a streak out of nowhere, made it 2-1, but Ching restored the two-goal edge with a stunner — a bicycle kick to convert a rebound off a corner kick.

   A strange own goal gave the Fire a lifeline, with Ljungberg again acting as playmaker to spring Patrick Nyarko against Bobby Boswell, who somehow put the ball past his own keeper on a slow roller from 15 yards. Soon afterward, Carr missed a golden chance to equalize. But the goal gave Chicago some energy, and Wilman Conde made it 3-3 in the 81st on the Fire’s FIRST corner kick of the game. Third assist for Ljungberg.

   Then the Fire conceded their 11th corner kick of the game, left the far post open and left C.J. Brown one-on-one against Ching. 4-3.

   Conditions: Hot, on Robertson Stadium’s woeful pitch. Advantage Houston, especially considering that Chicago played Wednesday night.

   HOUSTON

   Two changes: Pat Onstad returned in place of Tally Hall, and Dominic Oduro replaced the ailing Corey Ashe. Geoff Cameron continued in central defense. Brian Mullan and Danny Cruz occasionally switched wings.

   4 Pat Onstad (GK): Could’ve played first half in a beach chair, which sometimes dulls a keeper’s reflexes.

   7 Richard Mulrooney (RB): Delivered plenty of excellent balls from free kicks, corner kicks and run of play.
   4 Bobby Boswell (CB): Beaten on Carr’s goal, then put one in his own net.
   6 Geoff Cameron (CB): Shot off crossbar early. Stopped Ljungberg cold as Fire DP tried to get something going. Got forward and had chance deflected to set up corner from which Ching scored.
   6 Andrew Hainault (LB): His side of the field was rather quiet.

   6 Danny Cruz (RM): Unhinged Fire defense on occasion.
   6 Anthony Obodai (DM): Effective cog in midfield that dominated first half.
   7 Lovel Palmer (CM): Nearly connected on early Mulrooney corner, then drilled game’s second goal off set piece.
   7 Brian Mullan (LM): Consistently active on wing and drifted to middle for powerful drive.

   6 Dominic Oduro (WF): Solid threat before being subbed out in 61st.
   9 Brian Ching (F, capt): One was lucky. One was a bicycle that would be goal of the week in any week that doesn’t also feature Rafa Marquez’s 30-yard bender.

   Subs:
   6 Mike Chabala (DM): Replaced Obadai in 49th and had a few good moments.
   5 Joseph Ngwenya (F): Quiet after replacing Oduro in 61st.
   6 Brad Davis (RM): Replaced Cruz in 80th and helped push offense forward after conceding third goal.

   CHICAGO

   Despite the short rest and hot conditions, the Fire used the same starting XI that played Wednesday, and the team came out flat. Nery Castillo and Marco Pappa switched wings on occasion.

   5 Sean Johnson (GK): Huge early save on powerful Mullan drive. Inexperience and bad luck led to spilled ball, injury and Houston goal. Nearly stopped second goal; mostly blameless on third and fourth.

   6 Dasan Robinson (RB): Solid before leaving with injury in 41st minute.
   4 C.J. Brown (CB): Coped well with Ching apart from the hat trick. Seriously.
   4 Wilman Conde (CB): Not as steady as usual. Picked up rash yellow card that puts him over the limit for a suspension. Atoned with first goal of the season, a header off Ljungberg’s corner.
   5 Gonzalo Segares (LB): Helped Fire possess the ball a bit.

   5 Marco Pappa (RM): Had a few incisive moments.
   5 Baggio Husidic (CM): Helped steady team in second half but must take some blame for midfield being overrun in first half.
   5 Logan Pause (CM): See Baggio Husidic.
   4 Nery Castillo (LM): Awful early giveaway set up Houston counter and set a tone for the night. Not yet fit; subbed out at halftime.

   8 Freddie Ljungberg (AM): Whatever offense Chicago had went through him. That includes the vital set-up work on all three goals.
   4 Brian McBride (F, capt): Not his night. Wayward touch killed off first sustained Fire possession in 20th. Subbed out in 60th.

   Subs:
   6 Steven Kinney (RB): Replaced injured Robinson and made a solid impression at both ends of the field.
   7 Calen Carr (LM): Replaced ineffective Castillo at halftime and made nifty run, trap and turn to score.
   7 Patrick Nyarko (F): Replaced ineffective McBride in 60th and pressured Boswell on own goal.

   Reply

2. D.C. United 2, Philadelphia 0
   Aug. 22, 2010

   Summary: Ben Olsen takes his first win as United coach as D.C. overwhelms in possession and gets two opportunistic strikes from Danny Allsopp.

   Conditions: Muggy. Sun for 30 minutes, heavy rain for 15, sun for 45.

   D.C. United: Jed Zayner made his first start for United, replacing Devon McTavish. Dejan Jakovic returned in place of Carey Talley, and Clyde Simms returned in place of Stephen King.

   6 Bill Hamid (GK): Solid early save on Le Toux. Some communication issues at the back.

   6 Jed Zayner (RB): Olsen was happy with his tendency to make smart passes from the back rather than bang the ball upfield or out of play.
   6 Dejan Jakovic (CB): Flirted with a card most of the game but wasn’t beaten.
   6 Julius James (CB): Coped well with Le Toux.
   7 Marc Burch (LB): Overlapping play with Quaranta provided an extra dimension to attack.

   7 Andy Najar (RM): Set up opening goal with cross misplayed by Califf to Allsopp. Also set up second goal.
   6 Clyde Simms (CM): Steady as usual.
   4 Branko Boskovic (CM): Free kicks especially lacking. Subbed out in second half.
   7 Santino Quaranta (LM): Very strong going forward throughout the game, though crosses didn’t find targets.

   8 Danny Allsopp (F): Gifted a golden chance, but given United’s finishing woes, the composed strikes shouldn’t be discounted.
   6 Pablo Hernandez (F): Lots of effort but not as much composure, but he earns a point for superbly dummying the ball to Allsopp on the second goal.

   Subs
   6 Stephen King (CM): Subbed for Boskovic.
   5 Kurt Morsink (CM): 78th-minute sub for Simms — answering Philly’s physical play?
   6 Jaime Moreno (F): 16th-year veteran came in late to help maintain possession and maybe add a goal to his career total. Accomplished the first — came close to the second one with nifty 20-yarder.

   Philadelphia: No changes in starting XI. Sebastien Le Toux was listed at midfield but drifted up into a sort-of 4-3-3 alongside Danny Mwanga and Alejandro Moreno in the first 15 minutes, and he stayed up front with Mwanga when Moreno departed and Justin Mapp came in at left mid. Philly may have played with a right mid, but whoever it was, he didn’t show up on the flank very often.

   6 Chris Seitz (GK): Good save to prevent Allsopp hat trick. Not really at fault on goals.

   4 Michael Orozco Fiscal (RB): Matador to onrushing Quaranta.
   5 Juan Diego Gonzalez (CB): Impressive in air.
   3 Danny Califf (CB): Misplay gave United opening goal.
   4 Jordan Harvey (LB): Had trouble closing down Najar.

   4 Eduardo Coudet (CM): Did nothing to establish meaningful possession.
   4 Stefani Miglioranzi (CM): See Coudet.
   4 Fred (AM): See Miglioranzi.

   6 Sebastien Le Toux (LM/F): The bright spot for the Union, doing what he could to create some offense.
   5 Danny Mwanga (F): A couple of flashes of inspiration, otherwise quiet.
   4 Alejandro Moreno (F): Fell in box after questionable contact, then left with injury.

   Subs
   6 Justin Mapp (LM): Entered early for Moreno and provided a bit of life.
   4 Kyle Nakazawa (CM): 60th-minute sub for Coudet.
   5 Nick Zimmerman (CM): Immediately upended by Zayner upon his entrance.

   Reply