Tuesday, April 04, 2006

2-2 the Hard Way

If you had told me before Saturday’s RBNY season opener at DC that the results would be a 2-2 draw, I’d be pretty satisfied. After all, the club was starting only a handful of players that started the ’05 monsoon game vs. RSL. However, after watching the Bulls blow a 2-0 halftime lead to settle for one point, I’m a little disappointed, but hopeful. The NY goals in the first half were a mix of incredible skill and incredible luck, but even with a two goal lead after 20 minutes, I wasn’t filled with a feeling of confidence. 70 minutes is a long time to hold a lead, and traditionally the NY club does everything possible to keep matches interesting. Alecko Eskandarian is going to be a major factor up front for DC this season, and he absolutely punished the ball for the year the NJ-native spent on the shelf. United’s second goal came at the expense of my Goat of the Week: Jeff Parke. Not only did Parke stick out his leg to knock Facundo Erpen’s shot past Tony Meola, but the defender from Drexel whiffed on a potential game-winner in front of an open net with ten minutes to spare. Steve Jolley, anyone?

Next up: the Revs, who looked real good in laying some MLS Cup revenge on the Gals in Carson. Hopefully, Twellman, Dempsey, Noonan, and Ralston will be taking it easy on RB ahead of their Tuesday USA date in N. Carolina vs. Jamaica, where Tony the Tiger will hit the century mark in appearances before calling it (finally) a USMNT career.

Quick Kicks:

No MLS on FSC this season? I understand that the league doesn’t want to give away rights to Murdoch if Disney & Univision will be paying cash, but more matches on TV=good. Fewer matches=bad.

The renamed New York Soccer Report debuts tomorrow night late on MSG. No other regional carrier devotes so much time to soccer, and MSG does a great job mixing team news, local soccer history, and great personalities. Even if you’re not in the NY area, it’s worth a look.

Rumor on BigSoccer is that the new Canadian Club will be named Inter Toronto FC. Some folks are up in arms, but I see no problem with this paean to the legendary team in Milan. If folks are really going to stay away because of the club name, we’re better off without them.

My bets on 2006 Hall-of-Fame invitees: Rocket Roy Lassiter, who’s MLS single-season goal record set in 1996 still stands today, and the formerly goateed President of RBNY, Alexi Lalas. The announcement is set for the April 22nd Red Bull-DC rematch at Giants Stadium.

On the fracas between some DC morons and Red Bull fans at and around RFK on Sunday, I hope the larger media doesn’t get wind of the incident, because events like this can very quickly deflate the momentum that the league has built in the season’s first week. I appreciate the steps that RBNY and the league seem to be taking to attract more adult soccer fans, but unruly fans have got to be squashed immediately.

Chivas USA is introducing USMNT Midfielder John O'Brien as the latest member of their roster today. And NY gets all the allocations?

I’m taking part in the new, blog-ified All-American XI this season, along with a who’s who of the BS and blog cognoscenti. Week 1’s report should be up soon. Take a quick click on over there, won’t you?

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