WASHINGTON, DC (July 21, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- DC and Chivas USA get an extended All-Star break after crashing out of the SuperLiga, and problems in Columbus and Jersey.
Super Semis
Houston and New England remain alive in the SuperLiga, with both helping to push MLS counterparts out of the competition. Houston beat DC 3-1 on Sunday with goals from Ricardo Clark, Bobby Boswell, and Stuart Holden. They now host Pachuca next Tuesday, July 29th. New England drew 1-1 with Chivas USA, putting the Revs through against Atlante next Wednesday, July 30th.
Absent from the semifinal festivities is Chivas, who lost to Atlante on the final day of Group A and were passed by them on goal differential for the second semifinal slot.
The final group games were a horror show for attendances. Chivas - Atlante sold out, but it was at a venue that only holds a little over 10k. DC - Houston were the highlight in a game where DC supporters should have expected a weak home side. 12,893 at RFK. Group B put 6,157 at Pizza Hut Park for Santos Laguna - Pachuca, and Titan Stadium drew all of 4,738 for Chivas USA - New England as Chivas USA got relocated for the X Games.
Security
For those of you who woke up this morning feeling like it was 1998, Major League Soccer is right there with you. Incidents at Columbus' Crew Stadium and Giants Stadium have returned us to the old argument - how to effectively handle supporter groups. A decade on, MLS doesn't have a good answer.
In Columbus, it was West Ham supporters entering the Crew supporter area and starting an altercation. In Giants Stadium, it was also the supporter group getting policed by security. The Columbus incident ended in arrests and in North Jersey several RBNY fans were banned from future games at the stadium.
The RBNY story is especially odd, with SoccerbyIves.net's Ives Galarcep outlining how one of the support group's leaders is now no longer allowed in Giants Stadium.
Columbus 1 - West Ham United 3
In West Ham's All-Star game warmup, Columbus opted for the non-representative roster and got the appropriate result. Dean Ashton opened the scoring for West Ham in the 6th minute, with Columbus equalizing through Jason Garey in the 20th. A Columbus own goal from Brad Evans made it 2-1 West Ham in the 26th, and Kyle Reid finished off the scoring in the 53rd.
For those keeping score at home, here was the Crew's lineup:
Andy Gruenebaum, Jed Zayner, Ryan Junge (Andy Iro 64) Ezra Hendrickson (Chad Marshall 64), Andrew Peterson, Duncan Oughton (Stefani Miglioranzi 71), Brad Evans (Ryan Miller 71), Cory Elenio (George Josten 76), Eddie Gaven (Brian Carroll 46), Steven Lenhart (Alejandro Moreno 64), Jason Garey (Ricardo Pierre- Louis 64)
And for West Ham:
Robert Green (Jimmy Walker 76),Lucas Neill, Anton Ferdinand (Bondz N'Gala 84), Calum Davenport (Jordan Spence 71), Joe Widdowson, Julien Faubert (Tony Stokes 76), Scott Parker (Jack Collison 71), Mark Noble (Hayden Mullins 57), Kyle Reid (Junior Stanislas 57), Dean Ashton (Carlton Cole 46), Craig Bellamy (Ashley Miller 87)
Waiver Wire
Ricky Schramm is no longer a member of Red Bull NY.
