Columnist Nick Green has written 100 Percent Soccer
since 2005. A
native of England, he began writing about soccer in
the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat
in the stands for one in
the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home
Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas
USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer.
Married to a long-suffering soccer widow, he has a cat
named Pele.Half Time: New England Revolution at Chivas USA
It didn't take long for the makeshift Chivas USA back line to become the story of the opening 45 minutes, the Revs taking a 1-0 lead on a Kenny Mansally strike, his second of the season.
But Chivas USA spurned a couple of early chances to allow the Revs to take the advantage.
MLS debutant Bobby Burling (LMU) put a chance over the bar in the third minute, while Jesse Marsch, with acres of space alone in front of the net, somehow shanked an Ante Razov cross wide.
The Revs countered in the 18th minute, easily breaching the Chivas USA rearguard when Jeff Larentowicz threaded a ball through a porous defense to find Mansally, who slotted home the ball past a helpless Brad Guzan. Former Galaxy defender Chris Albright initiated the sequence.
It could have been worse.
Guzan tipped a dangerous Mauricio Castro shot over the bar shortly before half time to ensure the Revs didn't double their lead.
Moreover, Eric Ebert almost gifted the Revs a goal in the 16th minute, an errant back pass to Guzan picked off by Mansally, who was stopped by an approaching Guzan.
Two notes: apparently Cary Talley was signed from Real Salt Lake already injured, which pretty much sums up the plight of Chivas USA.
Also, after the Galaxy game a member of Legion 1908 committed an "act of violence" against a Galaxy fan and was suspended for two games.
In solidarity, members of Legion 1908 decided to boycott today's game.
The team has adoped a no violence no tolerance toward violence policy in the wake of several reported instances of fan problems, including a stabbing of a Chivas USA fan in Houston, club officials said.
Comments
By the way, the Legion wasn't suspended for attacking a Galaxy fan - the Chivas USA front office is fine with that. The Legion actually attacked the other CUSA supporters group.
Chivas USA and the Legion are going to bring MLS to a screeching halt, Nick. All it's going to take is one death, and the mainstream media will make soccer into a pariah sport.
Why do you people in the press box keep dicking around, treating Cue and Hunter like human beings instead of accessories before the fact? How many more hints do you all f#@%* need?
Seriously.
Posted by: Dan | May 12, 2008 12:57 PM
Actually, the Legion provoked and attacked members of the Union Ultras (the new Chivas USA supporters group). Per a member I spoke to, the Legion beat up members of the ACB as well. The Legion has a history of abandoning Chivas USA for their own best interests. They didn't show up at last year's Revs match either.
The FO is handling this issue internally.
Posted by: Travis | May 13, 2008 9:23 AM
Thanks to Dan, Travis and Chivas USA folks for the clarifications.
Posted by: Nick | May 14, 2008 7:04 PM