The opening game of the 2012 MLS Playoffs sees two sides with tradition try and reestablish themselves as perennial contenders for the championship. After missing the post-season for back-to-back years the first time in club history, Chicago got their formula right this season to become one of the best sides in the league, home and away. Houston have been buoyed by an undefeated record at home, but won't have that as an advantage in this winner takes all fixture at Toyota Park outside of Chicago. While Los Angeles against Vancouver will have more glamour, this match-up very well could lead to the Eastern Conference Champions as both sides are strong enough to match up in a home and away against Kansas City and the winner between New York and DC United.
Chicago Fire v Houston Dynamo
October 31, 2012 8:00 CST
Head to head at Toyota Park
April 15 Chicago 1 - 1 Houston
Sept 2 Chicago 3 - 1 Houston
Form over last five games
Chicago W1 - L3 - D1 4GF 7GA
Houston W2 - L2 - D1 7GF 7GA
The Chicago Fire are back in the post-season for the first time since 2009 when they were upset by Real Salt Lake in the Eastern Conference Finals. A side that was lead by the great Mexican international Cuauhtémoc Blanco struggled upon his departure and for two years could not get the pieces right to get out of the lower half of the table. The solution was bringing in another pedigreed Mexican midfielder in Pavel Pardo, who has substantial Bundesliga experience, as well as former German international Arne Freidrich. Solid veterans, at reasonable salaries have allowed the likes of Sherjill MacDonald and Alvaro Fernandez to also come on board to take the Fire back to that balanced side that was so good in 2008 and 2009.
Houston are coming off an impressive 2011 playoffs that saw them use their experience to get past division champs Kansas City and hold their own against a heavily favoured LA Galaxy. Lead by one of the best coaches in MLS, Dominic Kinnear, Houston will always be a contender as the right mentality has been instilled in the organization that winning is paramount. Lead by one of the best, if not the best, set piece taker in the league, Brad Davis, the Dynamo will need to reverse a result almost two months ago that saw them dominate possession, shots and chances but somehow end up on the losing end.
This match will no doubt come down to the midfield as Pardo, Fernandez, Marco Pappa and Chris Rolfe will be tested by Davis, Oscar Garcia, Adam Moffat and Luiz Carmargo. Up top, Houston might have a slight advantage with Will Bruin and Brian Ching combining for 17 goals this season, but Chicago are balanced with a handful of players looking dangerous.
Without question, this is the tighter affair in the Knockout Round as both sides have distinct advantages over the other side. It is a tough one to call as Houston have been the stronger, more consistent side over the years but at this exact moment, Chicago player for player is the better side. In the end this could come down to overall experience and with Kinnear having been there, done that, and Frank Klopas getting his first taste of the playoffs, it should come down to the more experienced Dynamo being able to grind out the win and move onto the Conference Semi-Finals.
Prediction
Houston Dynamo 2 - 1 Chicago Fire
Los Angeles Galaxy v Vancouver Whitecaps
November 1, 2012 7:30 PT
Head to head at Home Depot Centre
June 23 - Los Angeles 3 - 0 Vancouver
Sept 1 - Los Angeles 2 - 0 Vancouver
Form over last five games
Vancouver W1 - L1 - D3 6GF 3GA
Los Angeles W2 - L1 - D3 9GF 7GA
Can the LA Galaxy repeat as MLS Cup Champions to become the first team to do so since Houston back in 2006 and 2007? Bruce Arena has his team primed and despite having finished fourth should still be considered favourites with an attack that numerous options, both in the starting line up and off the bench. To counter that, one of Vancouver's biggest strengths is a veteran group of defenders that will need to call upon their experience if they are to have any hope of getting out of the Western Knockout Round.
Vancouver stumble into the playoffs lacking the required confidence needed to stand up to one of the strongest sides in MLS over the last four years. The Whitecaps record heading into the post-season is boosted by the fact their lone win came against an abysmal Chivas USA side, at home. Outside of that one win, Vancouver have only managed to score twice since September 1 and are the only team in the playoffs with a negative goal difference.
A side that looked like it had the right formula with one of the best MLS players from 2011, Sebastien Le Toux, seemed to upset the balance in the second half of the season with the arrivals of Kenny Miller and Barry Robson. Miller especially has been a disappointment as his pedigree in the Scottish Premier League at Rangers has failed to carry over to any club since his incredible scoring pace in the first half of the 2010/11 season. Barry Robson has shown flashes of his ability to be an impact player, but also has looked poor at times. As noted, Vancouver's defence is their best hope, but with age not appearing on their side, will be tested continuously over the match.
Los Angeles had a terrible start to the 2012 season, rivaling Toronto FC through most of May, but under the guidance of Bruce Arena recovered well through the summer months. Well off of their monumental 2011 season that saw them finish with 67 points and win the MLS Cup, by the time October 2012 ended, they were within a game of being tied for second place, but now have to get past Vancouver to take another step in defending their title.
With the slow start behind them, the Galaxy have now gotten to a point where they are almost looking as potent as 2011. Robbie Keane has been impressive this season finishing with 16 goals, while Landon Donovan put in his standard campaign that has him with 9 goals and 13 assists. The return of Edson Buddle and addition of Christian Wilhelmsson puts the Galaxy back in the juggernaut category when it comes to offensive firepower.
If there is one weakness Vancouver will need to key in on, it's between the sticks as Josh Saunders has proven to be shaky at times and vulnerable to making mistakes. However, this would require the Whitecaps offense to all of a sudden turn on and at this point it seems unlikely they will rediscover something that has been missing for so long. If Darren Mattocks and Camilo can become influential again, this really is their only chance.
Realistically it is difficult to envision a match where Vancouver will come out on top in this one. They would need to rediscover not only form that has gone missing since early summer, but road form that hasn't even existed this season. The two games at the Home Depot Centre are fair litmus tests of what could happen in this game as the Galaxy have been on a steady ascent since June and especially at home have become near unbeatable. Having only lost once at the Home Depot Centre in the playoffs, the likelihood of Los Angeles getting one step closer to a repeat is very likely after Thursday night.
Prediction
Los Angeles 3 - 1 Vancouver
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