Week 11 was a weird one in MLS, in which only one lonely home team was victorious despite some surprisingly high-scoring games. Real Salt Lake fell at home for the first time in over a year, and the Portland Timbers suffered their first home loss ever in MLS competition. We could see a bit of a return to normalcy in week 12, both in MLS results, and in our predictions contest. Or not.
Here's the current standings:
Week 11: Chest 6, Martin 5, Readers 5, AMT 4
Overall: Chest 47, AMT 47, Readers 42, Martin 40
Wednesday June 1, 10:30 PM: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Chivas USA
Martin: Van. Chest: Tie. AMT: Chv.
Since I'm posting this story a day later than usual, which happens to be only a few hours before game time for the first match of the week, I thought hard about giving the Readers a free point here. But then again, I don't want to finish in fourth place. Anyway, Tom Soehn rules. (Martin)
Friday June 3, 11:00 PM: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. DC United, FSC
Martin: Tie. Chest: Tie. AMT: DC.
Afterward, people will complain that this doesn't really count as a cross-country trip for DC, because United have been on the West Coast since last weekend's history-making win at Jedi-Welding-Whatchimacallit Field. Either way, in the span of six short days, everybody will have shifted from discussing United's 5-game winless streak to their 5-game unbeaten streak. (AMT)
Martin: KC. Chest: KC. AMT: KC.
Can two teams both simultaneously lose to each other? Actually, I think the match up really favors KC's high-pressure style, especially with Adrian Cann going down with an ACL tear. I can't believe I'm doing this, but give me the Sporks here. (Chest)
Saturday June 4, 7:30 PM: New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew
Martin: NY. Chest: Tie. AMT: Tie.
Remember how LA is missing lots and lots of key personnel? I'm pretty sure the Red Bulls are planning on filling out their bench with Cosmos players. For the record, the only active players associated with the Cosmos are on U-17 teams. (AMT)
Saturday June 4, 8:30 PM: FC Dallas vs. New England Revolution
Martin: Dal. Chest: Dal. AMT: Dal.
FC Dallas hasn't lost since April 17. Sound familiar? The Hoops had a similar run in 2010. They suffered two early-year losses, then didn't lose again until October, en route to an MLS Cup appearance. I'm starting to think that the same thing will happen in 2011. (Martin)
Saturday June 4, 8:30 PM: Chicago Fire vs. Seattle Sounders
Martin: Sea. Chest: Tie. AMT: Sea.
No one's really talking about it, but Sigi Schmid is still juggling players like it's the preseason. Frank Klopas is in his first day on the job, and he already probably has a clearer idea of who his best team is. To be fair, that's because he just doesn't have many good players to choose from, but still. (Chest)
Saturday June 4, 9:00 PM: Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union
Martin: Clr. Chest: Tie. AMT: Clr.
The Union lit up Toronto for six goals last weekend, tripling the total goals they'd scored previously all year. Don't expect the same when they fly out to Dicks this week. (Martin)
Saturday June 4, 9:00 PM: Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Martin: RSL. Chest: RSL. AMT: RSL.
Sorry, Tommy. Someday, though. Someday. (AMT)
Saturday June 4, 10:00 PM: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Houston Dynamo, Galavision
Martin: Hou. Chest: Tie. AMT: Tie.
The Dynamo will look back on the last month as just a phase where they had a Koke problem. You know, like most people did in the 80s. (Chest)
Saturday June 4, 10:30 PM: Chivas USA vs. Portland Timbers
Martin: Tie. Chest: Chv. AMT: Chv.
Sometime during their trip to LA, Kenny Cooper will try his hotel room card. It won't work, and he'll try again. After it goes wrong a second time, Jack Jewsbury will finally come along and let him into his room, but not before Cooper gets into an argument with John Spencer and is substituted to a cheap motel down the street. (Chest)