Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston today at 1:30 pm brought to you by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute…..Twitter: Soccermattersgd
*Monday night Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis goes live at Lucky’s Pub downtown, drink specials, live radio and more!!!
* FIESTA SMART SOCCER TIPS WITH GLENN DAVIS …………FIESTA HOUSTON SOCCER UNSUNG HERO…….
SEATTLE TOPS UNION
Great to see Philadelphia finally get their first game under their belt and great to see that Seattle picked up where they left off with amazing support on a Thursday night.
Now looking at this lineup and roster before this game you knew it would be difficult for a youthful squad in front of 36,241. Additionally, nobody expected both of these teams to be hitting all cyclinders and nor would either coach want them to be at this point.
Union manager Peter Nowak fielded what may have been the youngest lineup in MLS history with names like Dave Myrie, Roger Torres, Danny Mwanga (number one draft choice) and brought on Amobi Okugo and Jack McInerney as second half subs. In Nowak type fashion this will be a team that is molded in his playing image. One that will hit, tackle and fight for sure.
On this night it was too many young players to ‘blood’ and it was evident as experience and familiarity with the league seemingly was the difference for Seattle who got goals from Brad Evans (12) and Fredy Montero(43).
Wet conditions also hindered the evening and the Union put themselves in a hole after Toni Stahl was ejected in minute 40 for a few reckless, college type tackles. Stahl was a midfielder in college at Uconn and will be tested to learn a new position and lets face it , his tackle from behind on Montero was not smart. One might have wondered why a veteran like Shavar Thomas did not get the start but he may have been carrying an injury?
The Union fought through it in the second half and will take that away as a confidence builder and Seattle will be disappointed that they could not produce a third goal and put this game away.
Philadelphia, the youngest team in the league will benefit from the return of Brazilian Fred and Shavar Thomas in the future.
Union manager Peter Nowak seemed focused on Seattle star Freddy Ljunberg.
“I think that if you play the game, you should play it fair and not whine about every foul,” said Nowak referring to Ljunberg. “He is a world class player that has played in a bunch of games, he is high caliber player, something like that is below his standards, but that’s just what I think, that’s just Peter Nowak’s thoughts…if he did that back in England with Arsenal and West Ham fans would be booing him.”
Philadelphia did look to impose itself physically on both Ljunberg and Montero and in fact Danny Califf got an early yellow card with a message sending foul early in the match. As for booing Ljunberg, I remember Houston fans really getting at him in last year’s playoffs. Seattle is a different team without Ljunberg as all could see in the second half.
Star men: Freddy Ljunberg, Osvaldo Alonso and Steve Zakuahani for Seattle
Philadelphia: Roger Torres
One game and we are off and running in MLS. And by the way, an average game looks a-lot better when there are 36,241 fans in the seats.
MLS Schedule: Today: Colorado vs. Chivas USA 9:30 Martin Vazquez debut as head coach for Chivas USA.
Saturday: Toronto FC vs. Columbus 3:00 Preki first game at Toronto FC and Dwayne DeRosario in action.
DYNAMO vs. FC Dallas 3:00 Dynamo without Cam Weaver and Lovel Palmer .
DC United vs. KC 6:3 Former KC coach Onalfo back against KC and Vermes…split was not a good one last year.
RSL vs. San Jose 8:00 MLS Cup champs in action before heading to Houston next Thursday.
NE vs. LA 10:00 Depleted Revs against Landon Donovan and new Brazilians…..
Chicago at New York New stadium, new challenge with Fire
Did you see the Seattle/Philly game last night? What impressions did you take away from the game and the broadcast of MLS? What thoughts do you have on the opening weekend in MLS?
Boca Jrs. defeated River Plate in a make-up of their rained out Argentine first division match from the weekend 2-0. Both remain off the pace in Argentina.
Danish Inspirations
Fiesta Mart
Houston Web Design
Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute
SportTalk 790
Zukowski, Bresenhan & Sinex, L.L.P.
Never thought I would set the DVR for an MLS game, but I did as I couldn\’t wait for the season to kickoff. Your assesment of the game was spot on. I hate the fact Seattle plays on that horrible turf, but such as life (and I prefer the 36K fans to nothing). Travelling to Dallas on Saturday, GO DYNAMO!!!!
I don’t know whether to agree with Nowak or not…
Yes, the Freddie and Freddie synchronized diving team was out in force last night… but Philly was making a lot of reckless, unneeded challenges. There were two or three knees to the back that were intended to send a message to them that this would be a rough game that were just dirty.
Then again, I also recall Ljundberg getting stripped of the ball just outside the box and falling to the ground like he’d been pushed – with no body contact. He rolled around until Steve Zakuwani fouled a Union player, then Freddie jumped up and started yelling at the ref for not calling a foul and giving a yellow card to the guy who didn’t foul him. That’s not OK in my book. He was fouled hard a few times, but he doesn’t respect the game.
Montero is the second coming of Carlos Ruiz, good poacher who’s more comfortable on the ground than on his feet and takes cheap shots when the ref isn’t looking. Good thing for him Rico’s in Germany! His goal was a very good job at staying onsides (and that was terrible by the defender to not push up on the offsides trap!) and a good job at getting his head to that ball… but his antics aren’t worth it.
Overall it was an ok game to watch with some nice passing and some terrible passing, with the impresive crowd in Seattle sounding great over TV (though the “let him die!” chants about an injured Union player were tasteless).
Now we get to watch the Dynamo dismember the FC Dallas defense! I can’t wait.
Alex,
Knowing that Montero and Ljunberg go to the ground easily one thinks as you mentioned you have to be smarter.
I didn’t pick up the “let him die’ chants……..
Thirty seconds in Alex on Califf? That worked 25 years ago!
Philly kind of got what they deserved based on actions.
Thanks for the post.
Glenn
The game was ok in patches but the crowd overshadowed the action on the field. Overall, it was a good start to the season.
Like I said in the blog. An average or below average game becomes bigger and better in the eyes of many based on 35,000 fans.
I thought they were chanting “let him die” but I told myself there’s no way that’s what they’re saying. Unbelievable.
Not a great match but glad the MLS is back. I thought McInerney provided a small spark in the waning minutes for the Union.