2014 MLS Power Rankings: Week 12
May 21, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; DC United forward Fabian Espindola (9) controls the ball as Houston Dynamo midfielder Corey Ashe (26) defends during the second half at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
11. D.C. United
After Ben Olsen’s D.C. United scored a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo at RFK Stadium on the wings of Chris Rolfe (28′) and Fabian Espindola (63′), they saw the wheels fall off in their 2-1 defeat to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday. Fabian Espindola scored the only goal for D.C., in the 73rd minute.
“We’re extremely disappointed with the result,” said midfielder Davy Arnaud. “I felt like we did more than enough to come out of here with something from the game, and we didn’t. Coming off three games in a week, I think we came here, we matched them, and then some. It’s disappointing to not come away with something from the game.”
The schedule won’t get easier for D.C. United, who have to put up with Sporting Kansas City on May 31 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be televised by MLS LIVE.
May 23, 2014; Kansas City, KS, USA; Toronto FC mid-fielder Bradley Orr (16) reacts after scoring against Sporting KC defender (0) during the second half at Sporting Park. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
12. Toronto FC
Luke Moore (67′) and Bradley Orr (90′ + 1′) scored for Ryan Nelsen’s Toronto FC, who salvaged a 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.
“I can’t say enough about the character and determination of this squad,” Nelsen told MLSsoccer.com’s Armen Bedakian. “Everyone keeps telling them, keeps wanting them to fail but they keep rising to the occasion.
“This is a major step forward for us. I sat here last year when we were down to 10 men, we just buckled as a team. Here, we showed so much character and heart and to come to a place like this and take a point is extremely pleasing. Now we go home with two home games coming up in a nice situation.”
Toronto have two matches this week. First off is the May 28 encounter with the Montreal Impact in the Canadian Championship at home. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by Sportsnet One. Then, on May 31, they continue their homestand with a match against the Columbus Crew. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET and will be televised by MLS LIVE and TSN.
May 24, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Federico Higuain (10) is tackled by Chicago Fire midfielder Grant Ward (8) in the second half of the game at Crew Stadium. The Columbus Crew beats the Chicago Fire by the score of 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
13. Chicago Fire
It’s back to the drawing board for Frank Yallop’s Chicago Fire after their 2-0 defeat to the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium. Any ideas, Frank?
“We seemed flat from the first whistle,” Yallop told MLSSoccer.com’s Shane Murray. “The guys seemed up for the game, but we weren’t sharp. We have a few guys out at the moment, so there’s not a lot we can change. We just have to keep working, and it’s one of those games where Columbus was better than us tonight, they deserved to win the match. You have to take the defeat and move on.”
It will not get any easier for Chicago, who now have to deal with a resurging Los Angeles Galaxy side determined to finally win on the road. Kickoff at Toyota Park on June 1 is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET and will be televised by MLS LIVE.
May 23, 2014; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting KC forward Dominic Dwyer (14) celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Toronto FC during the second half at Sporting Park. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
14. Sporting Kansas City
Despite a Dominic Dwyer brace in the 47th and 84th minutes, Peter Vermes’s Sporting Kansas City could not hang on late and were consigned to a 2-2 draw against Toronto FC at Sporting Park.
“It doesn’t matter what personnel you have out there. We were up 11 (men) to 10, and after their red card we were up twice, 1-0 and 2-1,” said midfielder Benny Feilhaber. “We essentially gave two points away. We gave them a point and threw two in the trash. It’s very frustrating, and it doesn’t matter who we’re missing.
“We are missing our whole back line basically, but it’s unacceptable. We can’t give up goals, especially in the last five minutes of the game and in injury time. This has happened in past games, but thankfully it’s still early in the season.
“The beautiful thing about MLS is that there are playoffs. We still have confidence we’re going to make the playoffs, and then it’s a whole new season. But we have to get this right if we’re going to get to the playoffs and make a good run like we did last year.”
Sporting have two matches this week. On May 27, they host the New York Red Bulls at home. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN2, WatchESPN and ESPN Deportes. On May 31, Kansas City travel to RFK Stadium to take on D.C. United. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET and will be televised by MLS LIVE.
May 24, 2014; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (99) is congratulated by forward Thierry Henry (14) after scoring a first half goal on a penalty kick against the Portland Timbers at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
15. New York Red Bulls
Mike Petke’s New York Red Bulls could not turn back the tide after Bradley Wright-Phillips got them ahead on the Portland Timbers in the 38th minute. The end result: a 2-1 defeat to the Portland Timbers at Red Bull Arena. New York will look to get back on the winning track on May 27 at Sporting Park against Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN2, WatchESPN and ESPN Deportes.