Good Friday, to all.
Here's a confession. I did not see a minute of the United States vs. Jamaica game on Tuesday. It's not that I didn't want to watch, I just forgot. In a way, it's appropriate, because I find that I'm becoming an American soccer snob.
Now, for years I've blasted Euro snobs. You know, those guys (they are Americans) who talk a good game about the Premiership and Serie A, who wait in line outside pubs to see the FA Cup final, but couldn't name a dozen American players and would not be caught dead watching an MLS game.
I've always prided myself on being a guy who likes all kinds of soccer, but lately I find myself getting bored by the competition the U.S. faces in CONCACAF. Basically, if it's not Mexico or Costa Rica at Saprissa, I just expect the games to be too easy for the U.S. And this is coming from a guy who, four years ago, started warning American soccer fans that the day was coming in the not-too-distant future when the U.S. would not qualify out of CONCACAF and would be on the outside looking in for a World Cup. I never said the U.S. would not qualify for Germany 2006, but I just said that American fans should never take qualifying for granted. I'm not sure I feel that way anymore.
I never thought I would see the day when the U.S. qualified for a World Cup without breaking a sweat the way it did for this World Cup. Remember the 2002 qualifying campaign, the life-and-death match in Barbados, the three-match losing streak and the loss to Honduras at RFK? There was not a single moment like those during the U.S.'s qualifying run this time around.
All this, of course, is great for the U.S. national team, but it's made me yawn when the Nats take on most CONCACAF rivals (even though Jamaica always gives the U.S. a good game). I now find myself only looking forward to the games against teams like Germany, Latvia and Morocco.
Call me a snob, I guess.
On to the weekend
Columbus Crew host the Chicago Fire: It's the first home match of the Sigi Schmid era and I expect the Crew to come out strong. If they can score one in the first 30 minutes and get the game on their terms, I think they'll win. I guess that's a big if, and it's also a bit risky to pick against a Chicago team that's got a lot of attacking options. But, I'm going with it.
The Crew will get an early goal from Eddie Gaven, who scored two the last time he played against the Fire, they'll get another from Kei Kamara for a 2-0 lead. Chicago will pull one back through Nate Jaqua, but Sigi's boys will dig in and take a 2-1 victory.
D.C. United host the Houston Dynamo: This should be a lively game with two of the league's faster-playing teams. DC is going to have to win the little battles in midfield (which is one of its strengths) and Christian Gomez is going to need to be the creator of chances. That may not be easy as Dynamo center back Adrian Serioux looks to be a tough man to shake. For whatever reason, I see this one as a very rough match. I think Brian Ching scores his sixth goal to give Houston a first half lead, and I think Freddy Adu comes on in the second half to score an equalizer. Final score, 1-1.
Kansas City Wizards host the New England Revolution: This is a match that the Wizards have to be looking at as a true test of their off-season improvements. The Wizards were fortunate to get out of Houston with a 2-1 victory last week and the last thing they want to do is follow that up by coughing up points at home. The Revs certainly have a bad taste in their mouth about the many first-half chances they squandered at Giants Stadium last week.
When the Revs take the field motivated, they might be the class of the league. This game is going to be lively. Taylor Twellman and Clint Dempsey score for the Revs. Eddie Johnson scores two for the Wizards. The final score is 2-2.
Colorado Rapids host FC Dallas: The Rapids were impressive last week, coming back from an early 1-0 deficit to win 3-1. Terry Cooke provided some nice service, for sure. The Rapids look to me to be one of those teams that's going to be a tough out, especially at home, so I like their chances to deal FC Dallas their first defeat of the season. We'll also see if FCD coach Colin Clarke and midfielder Ronnie O'Brien have really put their differences aside. The Rapids will take this one convincingly, 2-0, on goals by Jovan Kirovski and Jean Philippe Peguero.
Real Salt Lake host the New York Red Bulls: RSL is 0-2 heading into their home opener and want to prove they're not the same team that struggled to five wins a year ago. They are not going to want to lay a big egg in their home opener. That said, the Red Bulls, with draws in their first two matches, have to be thinking "three points" as they go into this one.
The Bulls scored a pair of goals opening week in DC, despite not creating two legitimate scoring chances, and they could not score at home vs. the Revs. They have to try and force the issue in this game, even though it's a road game. An opening day crowd, a hard playing surface and a desperate RSL team will make this game pretty wide open. I think RSL's desperation pays off in a 2-1 win.
Chivas USA "host" the Los Angeles Galaxy: As you see "host" doesn't really mean "hosts" when Chivas USA is the home team in the Honda Super Clasico. Nevertheless, this is a game where Chivas absolutely wants to prove to their neighbors that they are not the same team they were a year ago.
The Galaxy will also be fired up, as they never want to think of a game at the Home Depot Center as anything but a home game. Chivas backliners have to be concerned about the speed of Landon Donovan, Herculez Gomez (and possibly Cornell Glen). The Galaxy won't have an easy game, but will win this one, 2-0, with an early goal from Herc and a late, late clincher from LD.
Jeff Bradley
