Dynamo Advances

FC Dallas continued its history of stumbling through the MLS postseason, blowing a second half two goal aggregate lead in a 4-2 ET aggregate loss to the defending champion Houston Dynamo. This intra-state rivalry continues to get chippier and chippier with each passing fixture as today's outing resembled a rugby match, with Arturo Alvarez being sent off for kicking Brad Davis, and several other yellow cards being issued for violent conduct. Keep in mind Rico Clark of Houston is serving an MLS record suspension for kicking Carlos Ruiz last month when the two teams met.

Steve Morrow has to be complimented however for his tactical approach to the match which saw FC Dallas in control before Alvarez's sending off. Denilson in what will probably be his last game in MLS played fairly well until being replaced by Pablo Richetti after Alvarez was sent off.

So FC Dallas, one of the most consistent winning franchises in MLS history still only has one piece of silverware: the 1997 US Open Cup to show for its success. We'll see if this changes next year.

PODCAST NOTES:

• Episode 31 of the podcast is now online. It features a now dated preview of the FC Dallas-Houston match with Bryan Zygo of the World Soccer Wrap podcast, and a look back at the epic Chicago-DC United match from Thursday night.
  
• Episode 32 featuring a wrap up of all the first round playoff series will be available late Monday afternoon.
• Episode 33 featuring a look at Americans playing on the European continent with correspondent Mario Valdez will be available late Thursday or early Friday.

Chivas Win West; KC Clinches

Nill-Nill draws aren't always as lifeless and dull as the scoreline indicates. That was again the case last night as the passion of the match overwhelmed both sides in Chivas nill nill draw with Houston. The winner take all match for the Western crown led to some heated exchanges between players, a red card for Lawson Vaughn, hard tackling, players in the refs faces and finally at the end a near shoving match between the two Head Coaches. But Chivas got the draw they needed and they will be seeded #1 in the Western Conference playoffs.

Elsewhere Kansas City clinched a playoff spot with a 2-0 win over struggling FC Dallas. Colorado was eliminated by Robbie Findley's late strike which gave Real Salt Lake the satisfaction of having ended their rivals season. Look for Salt Lake next season to make a real push towards the upper reaches of MLS.

Today the winner take all match between the LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire will be seen on Telefutura at 3pm ET.

FC Dallas Unveil Denilson

FC Dallas today unveiled Denilson, a world cup winner and runner up with Brazil as its newest signing. The Hoops latin flavored attack is even more impressive with Denilson joining Juan Toja, Pablo Richetti and Arturo Alvarez in the midfield, and Carlos Ruiz in the attack. To make room on the roster for Denilson, FC Dallas will have to part with one of their four senior international players. Adrian Serioux and Marcelo Saragosa are the most likely candidates, but neither is a player Steve Morrow particularly wants to let go of. That puts FCD in then unenviable position of losing a player who has contributed to the solid play of the team to this point.

FC Dallas Sign Denilson

In what has to be seen as a huge move, FC Dallas one of the best teams in MLS has signed 2002 World Cup winner Denilson. The 29 year old Brazilian midfielder was for my money the best player for his country in France 1998 where Brazil reached the finals and also contributed to Brazil's 2002 winning campaign. What Denilson brings for the Hoops is a player who can hold the ball in the midfield allowing Juan Toja and Arturo Alvarez more freedom to go forward, and push wide. In addition with a target men like Carlos Ruiz and the currently injured Kenny Cooper, Denilson can be expected to really help feed the ball into space or into the box where FCD's traget men can finish with ease.

This move lays down the marker for the other top clubs in MLS. The Beckham rule may have been about marketing and PR for the Galaxy but it is about winning silverware for other clubs. Steve Morrow took his time determining how to use his designated player slot because he wanted to enhance his clubs chances of winning MLS Cup, not just fill more seats in the stadium. But if Denilson can play the Jog Bonita brand of Football he did for Real Betis not so long ago, I am sure Pizza Hut Park will fill up to see him.

Pachuca, LA Advance in Superliga

Pachuca has Chivas number. For third time in four months, the goats have been eliminated from a knock out competition by a much less glamorous and less well supported Pachuca club. Los Angeles without David Beckham won Group A after a 6-5 win at Pizza Hut Park versus FC Dallas. The game was marked by some classic finishing combined with sloppy defending and two teams playing for three points to try and advance to the knock out stages of Superliga. A true classic ended with the Galaxy winning and advancing.

Superliga Wrap

The inaugural Superliga Tournament once again gave us some great action Saturday Night as FC Dallas was unfortunate to draw with Pachuca. Clarence Goodson appeared to give the Hoops a one to nill lead right before halftime but the goal was incorrectly judged offsides by the official. After Carlos Ruiz did score a goal to put FCD ahead 1-0, the Hoops conceded a penalty which Pachuca converted to draw level. Dallas had several chances down the stretch to win the match but failed to convert. Now sitting on two points, third in the group, Dallas needs to defeat Los Angeles in its final group game to advance. Dallas should feel hard done once again: They should have beat Chivas if not for a missed hand ball call on the Guadalajara goal, and now another controversial draw. Nonetheless, I believe Dallas has shown themselves already to be the class of Group A, even if they are currently in serious jeopardy of not advancing.

In the second match a disappointing crowd of just over 37,000 (some reports had claimed as many as 70,000 would show) saw Chivas of Guadalajara dominate the outclassed David Beckham less Galaxy. Joe Cannon had another solid game between the posts for the Galaxy single handidly keeping LA even at halftime. In the second half, Francisco Rodriguez put Chivas ahead, and sensing a tired and outclassed LA squad, Jose Manual De La Torre saw an opportunity to bring Omar Bravo off the bench and get him some playing time. Bravo, who played in both the Gold Cup and Copa America for Mexico was held out of the first Superliga match in order to give him some break time. Bravo scored a wonderful counter-attacking goal in the 82nd minute, after Carlos Pavon of LA had mishit two headers that could have equalised the match. Landon Donovan scored a spectacular goal late but it wasn't enough. David Beckham was in the match squad and available but was never called upon. Even more curious was that Cobi Jones who singley changed LA's stalemate with Pachuca in the first group match was left on the bench while Frank Yallop opted to bring on Edson Buddle and Gavin Glinton late. For my money, Cobi Jones even at 37 is five times the player either of those two subs that were used will ever be, and Yallop's decision making has to be questioned. In addition, after announcing David Beckham would be held out of the match due to his injury, why was he dressed and availible? Was Yallop anticipating a late free kick to win or equalize the match and just wanted him availible for such an occasion?

NOTES

• It appears Freddy Adu's time in MLS has ended. He wasn't in the lineup tonight for Real Salt Lake and the Washington Post and ESPN report he is on his way to Portugal to meet with Benfica club officials.
• Tomorrow night's DC United vs Club America clash is a virtual elimination game in Superliga. Surprising considering these are the two most decorated clubs in their respective leagues both domestically and internationally. But Moriela and Houston both outclassed their opponents in the first match.

Superliga: Night One Wrap

Superliga is everything we hoped for and more. While the upset of the tournament has already taken place with Mexican Clausura Champion Pachuca defeated in a somewhat lackluster match 2-1 by the Los Angeles Galaxy (who just a week ago was referred to as a "pub team" by a leading English daily), the real fireworks took place in the intense high level match between Chivas Guadalajara and FC Dallas.The match had the feel of an international of some note, or at the very least a major club match between two old rivals. Both teams attacked early and often with many chances being created. FC Dallas' two top players, Captain Carlos Ruiz and MLS All Star Juan Toja were both playing very well, but it was Arturo Alvarez who scored a wonder goal to put the Hoops ahead 1-0 early in the second half. Sadly, minutes later Chivas equalized on a very controversial goal which should have been disallowed on a hand ball, but in fairness the FC Dallas players should not have stopped playing to try and sell the official on the call. Then minutes later a major fracas broke out as Drew Moor was decked in the face, but he retaliated and was seen by the official and sent off. Following this incident FC Dallas Captain Carlos Ruiz already carrying a yellow card was in the officials face and came close to be sent off. Towards the end of the match Ruiz went down easily in the box trying to draw a PK, which would have been a fair make up call for the illegitimate Chivas goal, but Ruiz didn't get the call. The match ended in a frenzy as Dallas down a man kept attacking and Chivas continued to pile on the pressure. The 1-1 result wasn't just for the Hoops but it does keep them alive in Group A, where the Galaxy's 3 points lead the group thanks in large part to some great play off the bench by Cobi Jones, who has made a career of frustrating Mexican clubs.

The Model Foreign signing for MLS?

Juan Toja/ MLSnet.com

With all the hype about David Beckham coming to MLS, the media seems to have missed perhaps the biggest impact foreigner to sign with MLS in past several seasons. I am of course speaking of Juan Toja, the 22 year old midfield dynamo for the Hoops. Toja is probably the most skilled foreign player I have seen this season in the league. This includes such big name signings as Juan Pablo Angel and Guilermo Baros Scheletto both of whom have had a remarkable impact on the league.

Toja's performance in last night's dramatic 3-3 draw for FC Dallas versus DC United was a case in point. DC United took a 3-0 lead behind two excellent goals from another skilled foreign newcomer, Luciano Emilio. At that point Toja took over the match and dictated the tempo in midfield. Toja scored two goals and helped set up Carlos Ruiz for another as Dallas scored three goals in 29 minutes to escape RFK Stadium with a draw.

Toja's outstanding performance has allowed FC Dallas supporters to not fret over the dumping of Ronnie O'Brien and Richard Mulrooney after last season. Toja, at just 22 provides a model for MLS contrary to that of Beckham, Angel and Scheletto. Those players all enhance the profile of MLS overseas, but Toja like Ryan Nelson and Stern John before him could be the type of player MLS scouts from smaller leagues (or in Nelson's case from US colleges) and then sells to European clubs for a big profit. Since MLS is intent on spending money on the Beckham's and Angel's of the world, it is wise to have a financial safety net which can be achieved by good scouting of young Latin American talent.