MLS Preview: Crew faces Rapids, Galaxy hosts Dynamo

Posted Jun 5, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 5, 2010 at 12:27 PM

The final weekend of Major League Soccer action before the World Cup break sees Los Angeles host Houston, while Columbus travels for an interesting game against Colorado.

KANSAS CITY (2-5-2) AT TORONTO (5-4-1): Toronto has rounded into form, going undefeated in its last four games, and has been perfect at home this season winning all four games at BMO Field. By contrast, the Wizards are struggling to find their rhythm having gone winless in their last seven games including a 4-1 thrashing by Real Salt Lake last Saturday.

Dwayne DeRosario has been at the heart of Toronto’s run of form, and was named the MLS Player of the Week after scoring twice in a 3-1 win against San Jose. With the Wizards being without captain Davy Arnaud after his sending off against RSL, a win would appear to be a tall order for the side.

REAL SALT LAKE (6-3-1) AT D.C. UNITED (2-8-0): Salt Lake will look to continue its five-game winning streak when it travels to face D.C. United, which remains rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

United, though, has started to show signs of life in the past two weeks, defeating AC Milan in an exhibition before earning a 3-2 victory against Chivas USA last Saturday and this same RSL team 2-1 on Wednesday in overtime in the U.S. Open Cup.

The star in that game was 17-year-old Andy Najar, who scored a spectacular individual goal to earn his side victory after they had exchanged goals from the penalty spot in regulation. RSL will still be without Kyle Beckerman, but could have Andy Williams and Chris Wingert return from injury which would make a difference.

CHIVAS USA (3-7-1) AT NEW YORK (6-5-0): After Juan Pablo Angel’s stoppage time goal snapped the Red Bulls’ four-game losing streak, they will now try to enter the break on a winning streak against a Chivas USA side that has had trouble getting out of second gear this season.

The Goats are on their own four-game losing streak, but might be able to take heart from their 2-0 win against New York at the Home Depot Center in the second week of the season. If the Red Bulls get off to a good start, though, it could be a long break for Chivas.

HOUSTON (5-6-1) AT LOS ANGELES (9-0-2): The only remaining undefeated side in MLS will try to continue their impressive run as when the Dynamo come to the Home Depot Center on their first losing streak of the season.

Before Wednesday night’s game in New York, Houston has alternated wins and losses after a season-opening draw against FC Dallas. The Dynamo appeared to be set to take a point from the contest until Juan Pablo Angel’s stoppage-time free kick stole all three points for the Red Bulls.

The Galaxy should be expected to extend the Dynamo’s losing streak to three, especially given their excellent defensive record. Los Angeles has only conceded two goals in 11 games this season, but Brian Ching, Brad Davis and the Dynamo attack could test Donovan Ricketts and the Galaxy defense.

PHILADELPHIA (2-5-1) AT CHICAGO (2-3-4): The Union will look to build on their late victory against Houston last Saturday when they travel for the first of two games this week.

Danny Mwanga had the winner for the Union and played a pivotal role in the game after coming on as a substitute with Philadelphia trailing the Dynamo 2-1, setting up Sebastian Le Toux for the game-tying goal.

Chicago is winless in its last four games, although it has drawn three of those contests, and could really use a win to try and get back into playoff contention. Building a better record at home would go a long way towards that, the Fire have only won once in four home games so far this season.

SAN JOSE (5-3-2) AT DALLAS (2-2-6): Two teams looking to find their way back into the win column meet at Pizza Hut Park with Dallas winless in its last three contests and San Jose in its last two.

The Earthquakes played well in earning a 2-2 draw with Eastern Conference leader Columbus on Wednesday, and Chris Wondolowski has found a good run of form, moving up to third in the league scoring charts with his sixth goal of the season against the Crew.

Dallas has been struggling to find goals, having failed to score more than one goal in a game throughout the month of May. Despite that, their two losses are the third-fewest in the league, only the Galaxy and Crew have fewer, but Dallas needs to start turning draws into wins if it is to get into the playoff picture.

COLUMBUS (6-1-3) AT COLORADO (5-3-1): The Crew will try to further their advantage at the top of the Eastern Conference against the Rapids, but will be tested by a team that has won its last two games.

Connor Casey in particular was impressive in the Rapids 1-0 win against Seattle last week, his deft chip for the only goal of the game showing the kind of touch most don’t associate with the target man. That goal was his first in over a month, though, and the Rapids will be hoping he can find more consistency as they try to narrow the ever-widening gap to the Galaxy at the top of the standings.

For the Crew, holding a lead should they get one will be the focus tonight. Twice Columbus led against San Jose on Wednesday night, but both times gave up tying goals relatively quickly in a 2-2 tie.

NEW ENGLAND (3-6-2) AT SEATTLE (3-5-3): New England will try to earn back-to-back wins for the second time this season as they travel to face a Sounders team that has slipped into a bit of a funk, losing three of its last four games.

The biggest concern for the Sounders has been the side’s lack of scoring. Fredy Montero and Steve Zakuani lead the team with three goals apiece, but the team has scored only nine goals in 11 league games this season. They need more from midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who has recorded only one assist in 10 starts this season.

New England could be back on the upswing, though, after seeing Shalrie Joseph return to the side to help guide it to a 3-2 win against New York last week. They will be without their best two goalkeepers, though, as Matt Reis is unavailable despite being activated from the disabled list and Preston Burpo’s serious leg injury will sideline him for the rest of the season.