Dynamo Crush Galaxy; Clinch Playoff Birth

• Houston beat Los Angeles 3-1 last night at the Home Depot Center to jump Chivas (who drew with Colorado earlier in the day) in the Western standings and clinch a playoff spot. The Galaxy's continued poor play has yet to result in any changes to Frank Yallop's status as coach although I would certainly expect Landon Donovan to be dealt in the offseason either to San Jose or sold to a club abroad.
  
• Chivas USA's draw with Colorado kept the Rapids just one point behind Chicago for the last playoff spot. I cannot over emphasize the boost Conor Casey whose early MLS form was poor has given to the Rapids. Casey who was an accomplished player in the Bundesliga but seems to have never cracked the code to be effective for the US National Team finally seems comfortable in MLS and he is the single reason Colorado is back in the playoffs race.
• It occurred to me in a conversation with Johnathan Starling last night (BC John) that even though MLS is consistently maligned and compared unfavorably to the Australian A-league by many in the European media and to the Mexican League by many here at home, the MVP's of both those leagues last season are now playing in MLS. Fred formerly of the Melbourne Victory and now an above average role player (but by no measure the best player on his team let alone the league) for DC United, and the incomparable Blanco who led Club America to the Apetura Playoffs finals last season and now if strutting his world class stuff for the Chicago Fire.
  

MLS Saturday Roundup

• DC United moved atop the table on goal differential with a 4-0 win at Pizza Hut Park versus FC Dallas. Ben Olsen scored twice in the first half and both Fred and Christian Gomez scored goals from outside the area early in the second half to seal the victory.
  
• Denilson made his FC Dallas debut during the match and was largely ineffective
• To make room for Denilson, FC Dallas put Marcelo Saragosa on the injury reserve list. He cannot return this year.
  
• Robbie Findley scored against his old team as the new look Real Salt Lake side moved 4 points clear of bottom with a 2-1 win at the Home Depot Center against the Galaxy. Landon Donovan missed yet another penalty in the match and it is obvious that despite Donovan's efforts the Galaxy are terribly outclassed every time they take the field in an MLS match.
  
• A late Juan Pablo Angel goal made Red Bull New York virtually impossible to catch for a playoff spot. The 1-0 win over Chicago put Bruce Arena's team nine points clear of 8th place. Kansas City's 1-1 draw with Houston took them 6 points clear of 8th, meaning of Columbus, Colorado and Chicago only one is likely to be in the postseason.
  
• Today's Colorado-Columbus matchup is absolutely huge in the playoff race. The winner has a leg up for the 8th spot. Chicago, sitting one point behind both teams should be pulling for a draw.
  

MLS News, Notes and Rumors

• The Miami Herald reported Monday that the city of Miami is actively seeking an MLS franchise for a proposed new stadium that will replace the Orange Bowl. Last week, the University of Miami Football team announced they would vacate the stadium in favor of Dolphin Stadium.
  
• The Boston Globe reports that the Revolution are on the verge of signing Dusan Petrovic, who played for Serbia & Montenegro in 2006 World Cup.
  
• The Times of London continues to fuel the almost never ending drum beat about Jurgen Klinsmann replacing Frank Yallop and/or Alexi Lalas in this article.
  
• Freddy Adu has not left the bench for Benfica since Jose Antonio Camacho took over the club.