The 23rd week of the MLS season started Thursday with Colorado defeating FC Dallas on Mike Petke's first goal of the season. Here is the rest of the schedule, which features several interesting match ups: Saturday, September 6 Chivas USA at Toronto FC Toronto, which recently sold their best player (Maurice Edu) to Rangers, will be down eight men due to international call ups. The only remaining regulars with TFC will be defender Marco Velez, speedy winger Johann Smith, and forwards Chad Barrett and Danny Dichio. One to watch for in Toronto's red will be Abdus Ibrahim. The 17-year-old rookie has a goal to his credit this season, but has impressed in his seven appearances. For Chivas, Sacha Kljestan is in Cuba and Maykel Galindo is questionable with a sports hernia. Despite a normally strong home crowd for Toronto, I think Chivas should take this one as no club has the depth to miss 8 players and expect to win. Red Bull New York at Chicago Fire (on Fox Soccer Channel) The story here is return of Juan Carlos Osorio to Chicago. Osorio ditched Chicago for greener pastures during the off-season after Bruce Arena's left Red Bull. Two of the best forwards MLS has to offer will be on display in this match. Chicago's new signing, Brian McBride has played three matches and has a goal and an assist to his credit. New York's Juan Pablo Angel has scored 8 goals this season while missing seven games due to injury. NYRB are playing well and haven't lost since July 10th. Chicago is without Chautemoc Blanco who has been called in the Mexican national team. Despite missing Blanco, look for a highly motivated Chicago to take this match. DC United at San Jose Earthquakes San Jose isn't the awful expansion team that started the season and DC United isn't likely to field the talent that they did on Wednesday in the US Open Cup final. The Quakes haven't lost since July 5th and should feel good facing a United side without Jaime Moreno and Luciano Emillio. According to the MLS match preview, Fred is also out with a hamstring injury. For those who watched the US Open Cup final, that is clearly something that happened between Wednesday and today. DC United struggle greatly on the road, so I can see San Jose winning this, or at least getting point. Real Salt Lake at LA Galaxy A Galaxy side without David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and Eddie Lewis is a side not worth watching. Fortunately for the Gals, RSL have a woeful 1-8-1 record on the road and Robbie Findley might not be available due to injury. With Edson Buddle in attack, the Gals could steal a goal and that will be what they need to pick up a win. New England Revolution at Columbus Crew MLS Game of the Week. Sunday, September 7 Kansas City Wizards at Houston Dynamo Houston will be playing without key players in Brian Ching, DeWayne DeRosario, and Pat Onstad. Kansas City will need to take advantage of what the Dynamo will be lacking in attack. Unfortunately for the Wizards, they could be the first team to have a defender (Jimmy Conrad) lead the team in goals. New additions Abe Thompson and Herculez Gomez could help change that sitution, but I don't see them helping immediately. Houston should take a point or win it.
Saturday, September 6 - Results Chivas USA at Toronto FC 3-1 Toronto featured three defenders on one day contracts. I'm serious. Rick Titus was with the Italia Shooters of the vaunted Canadian Soccer League, Diaz Kambere was with the USL's Vancouver Whitecaps, and Tim Regan was with Toronto FC's scouting department. I couldn't make that up. Somehow, TFC did manage to score the first goal as Tyler Roselund hit in the 30th. Clearly, that was about it for Toronto as Chivas picked up goals in the 41st (Daniel Paladini, 1), 58th (Jonathan Bornstein, 1), and 96th (Ante Razov, 5). Alecko Eskandarian and Marco Velez was both given straight reds in first half stoppage time for a mid air collision when the ref ruled that neither man was making an attempt at the ball. While Velez is from the hotbed of football that is Puerto Rico, he was Toronto's only remaining defender with recent MLS experience. Red Bull New York at Chicago Fire 0-1 Stephen King, the MLS rookie, not the author, scored the lone goal in the 36th. Red Bull coach Juan Carlos Osorio did receive an expected chilly reception from the fans of the team he ditched. Despite the close scoreline, the Fire did deserve the victory as they had 14 shots to New York's 4. However, the Fire only got 6 on goal. DC United at San Jose Earthquakes 1-2 The international phenomenon that is Darren Huckerby was at it again with a goal and an assist as the Quakes continued their hot streak since the Norwich legend joined the expansion team. Arturo Alvarez struck first in the 18th. Alvarez's fourth goal of the season was also Huckerby's fourth assist. Huckerby scored his fourth goal of the season in the 62nd. Just to point out the impact that Huckerby has had on the Quakes, in seven matches, Huckerby has four goals and four assists. In 20 matches, that other English legend, David Beckham has five goals and eight assists. New England Revolution at Columbus Crew 0-4 MLS Match of the Week. As a Revolution fan...this match sucked. You can check out the Match of the Week thread for more info. Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored the first goal in the 40th and assisted the next two. Andy Iro scored on a corner in the 45th, and Jason Garey hit in the 67th and 90th. The Revolution also were on the pitch, but that's about the highlight of their performance.
