Chicago Fire

Kansas City in first place? D.C. United in last place? Toronto FC on a 2 game winning streak? Those are the facts and even though the MLS season is still very young there have been many surprises in the Eastern Conference.

Many people picked D.C. United to be the Eastern Conference representative in the MLS Finals with all the off-season acquisitions that the team made. So much press was given to United that it seemed they were the only team that made any moves. Well, so far in the young season those moves have not translated to success. United is in last place with only 3 points and sports a record of 1-3-0. 3 losses already and they have lost two in a row, losing to Columbus 2-1 at home and getting embarrassed 4-0 against Real Salt Lake. Their only win was against lowly Toronto.

Did I just say lowly Toronto? FC Toronto has won 2 games in a row including a 3-2 win over the L.A. Galaxy in L.A. Toronto is 2-2-0 and is in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference. Their lack of scoring last year was well chronicled and they did not make the changes that many, including me, thought would help their lackluster offense. But apparently their offense is starting to click, as the young franchise is on a 2 game winning streak and is at the .500 mark for the first time in team history.

Many people thought Kansas City would be a surprise pick for the East and so far they have looked good. They are in first place in the Eastern Conference, after winning the match up of 2 of the top 3 teams in the East with a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire. Kansas City is wining with a solid mid-field game and have dominated possession in all but one of their games. Overall the Wizards have scored 7 goals and given up 5 goals in their 5 games. They have a record of 3-1-1 to sit atop the Eastern Conference.

The Columbus Crew have been another early season surprise, as they are alone in 2nd place with a 3-1-0 record. If you are looking to watch an exciting high scoring game tune into a Crew match up as they have scored 8 goals in 4 games, but given up 6 goals as well. Conversely if you like low scoring defensive soccer tune into a New York Red Bulls game. The Red Bulls have been playing great defense in the early part of the season only giving up 3 goals in 3 games. The only thing is they have only scored 3 goals, which translates to a record of 1-1-1 and a 2nd to last place standing in the conference.

New England has played decent being 2-1-2, which puts them at the middle of the pack in the East. They have scored 7 goals in the 5 games but have also given up 7 goals. They are just biding their time until they get goal-scoring machine Taylor Twellman back from a knee injury. The Chicago Fire have been playing well, as their defense has been stellar only giving up 2 goals in 4 games. Both Chicago and New England are tied for 3rd place in the Eastern Conference with 7 points each.

The season is young and a lot can happen in the upcoming months, but not many would have predicted this wild start in the Eastern Conference.

New York Red Bulls

 
Key Acquisition(s)

Zack Thornton

 
Key Loss(es)

Ronald Wattereus, Clint Mathis, Demo Kovelenko, Markus Schopp

The New York Red Bulls were good early last year, but faded late because they failed to score goals.

But this is the year Altidore will break out. He has been streaky, but as the second full-time striker, he should have at least 15 goals. When paired with Angel, who will contribute 22 to 25, they should make the best tandem in MLS this year.

The real problem is in the back.

Can Parke, the last pick in last year’s draft, really be the man back their? If he can, then a solid playoff team will follow. If not, a leaky defense could signal a fall out of the post-season and the end of the line for their coach.

Prediction

Playoffs, 4th overall

 

Real Salt Lake

Key Acquisition(s)

A new, soccer-specific Stadium, Dema Kovalenko, Matias Corboda, Kenny Deuchar, Matt Borchers

Key Loss(es)

Alecko Eskandarian

RSL has fortified itself with good young talent. Players like Kyle Beckerman and Robbie Findley should have great seasons.

But their transformation into a potential playoff team really stems from leaving their monstrously bad, almost unplayable stadium behind. Look for a surprisingly strong RSL side this year. 

Prediction

Playoffs, sixth overall

Chicago Fire

 
Key Acquisition(s)

Thomasz Frankowski, Patrick Nyarko, Brandon Prideaux, Andy Herron

Key Loss(es)

Matt Pickens, Ivan Guerrero 

Chicago went deep last year, but that will not happen again.

The Fire has holes at some key spots and the back line is getting older. Besides that, there is no goalkeeper to speak of.

While the team will regress, it still should have a very solid season and one of its better years offensively. Watch for a 4-3-3 this season. 

 
Prediction

Playoffs, 7th overall

Columbus Crew

 
Key Acquisition(s)

NONE

 
Key Loss(es)

Andy Herron, Marcos Gonzalez

This team is poised to take a step back this season.

Columbus will rely on its stable of older players, such as Schelotto, Hejduk, and Moreno. They were active in the foreign market and tried to get some younger talent, and they will look to make additions later in the season.

But at least for now, the Crew’s season hopes look bleak.

Prediction

No playoffs, 11th overall, sub-.500 record

Toronto FC

Key Acquisition(s)

Kevin Harmse

Key Loss(es)

Kenny Stamatopoulos, Ronnie O'Brien

The Toronto faithful were great last year, but their team was not. And this off-season, things only got worse.

But they have a stud in Maurice Edu, and they will look to add some talent around him to improve for next season.

Prediction

Dead last, 14th overall

Bridgeview, Illinois—While MLB and college football were hosting important games, Major League Soccer held its own Thursday night.

The 2007 MLS Playoffs got underway at Toyota Park in Chicago between the Chicago Fire and D.C. United. 

The Chicago Fire (10-10-10) opened their two-game aggregate series against D.C. United (16-7-7) with a 1-0 win by way of a 14th minute Chris Rolfe goal.

Rolfe scored the game's only goal simply by being in the right place at the right time.  Rolfe was the beneficiary of a defensive miscue by D.C. United's back line—after two United defenders couldn't successfully settle a long ball, Rolfe netted his first career playoff goal from around 15 yards out.

United Goalkeeper Troy Perkins seemed quite tentative in the first half, struggling with a few of Chicago's early opportunities.  However, Perkins shook off his nerves in the second half—coming up with big saves to keep D.C. United in the game.

In the other net, Chicago goalkeeper Matt Pickens needed only two saves to complete his clean sheet.

Both squads had two players pick up yellow cards—Chicago's Diego Gutierrez and C.J. Brown, and D.C.'s Brian Carroll and Jaime Moreno. 

With the win, the Fire now hold a slight advantage over D.C. heading into the second and final leg of their two-game aggregate series.  Rather than basing the series on wins and losses, in an aggregate series, teams advance based on the total number of goals scored. 

Instead of looking at the series as a regular two-game series, imagine one game that lasts 180 minutes, instead of the usual 90 minutes.  Using that analogy, the Fire now hold a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The second "half" will be played on November 1st, at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.