Houston might consider themselves the media underdogs, but they've already established a template for dealing with Los Angeles. Against Seattle, they kept the game even away and won it at home. Overshadowed by the support for the Sounders at Qwest, Houston put 27,465 in Robertson Stadium for round one's finale. That's a little more than the Home Depot Center holds.
In an all to play for game home or away, Houston is in the better position.
Seattle had enough time to consider the following at Robertson Stadium. The field conditions are such that getting a quality shot on frame when the ball is moving seems unlikely. We can defend headers. Therefore, we can get this game through the overtime and into penalties. The ball isn't moving when we shoot in penalties. That's our best way forward.
Then Brian Ching scored the game's only goal with the ball in mid-air.
Here's another suit statement. At the Home Depot Center, LA needs to avoid a scenario where their offense works, but they still end up even in regulation. That's what happened against Chivas USA in the opener, and this time they head directly to overtime. Though I thought the Galaxy was by far and away the better team in the second leg, they could have very easily been the better team losing that game.
Over 180 minutes, the Chivas USA - Galaxy series never really became about Zach Thornton vs Donovan Ricketts. Instead, it was the inability of Chivas USA to get their offense going in Game Two. Over 90 minutes, keeping could be the difference in the Western Conference final. The goalkeeper match-up favors LA, but Houston has the better defense. It's almost a situation where letting Ricketts have more of a look might actually swing things in favor of the Galaxy.
Too often, the Galaxy defenders don't know when to let up so Ricketts can do his job. One of the reasons Bruce Arena is Coach of the Year is that he brought in a keeper like Ricketts. The simple point he made with that move was going out and getting a guy that frustrated him as National Team coach. If you've got a player with a history of showing well against the US National Team, he can probably succeed in the US domestic league.
At the same time, Arena has had to revamp a defense, starting a first-year defender in every game who now also happens to be the Rookie of the Year. That's still not a completed project.
LA has a tendency to close space too late, crowding their box with bodies but leaving attacking players unmarked. At times, they're also too concerned with holding the line and getting the flag rather than making sure they're covered if that flag isn't waved.
Chivas USA ran out of ideas last week, but they still had their opportunities. More than a few times, LA's defensive spacing freed up an attacking player. A sharper attack will take advantage.
On TV
Western Conference Final on ESPN2: Houston - Los Angeles at 11pm. All Times Eastern
Europe
‘Nobody wants to play poker with the future of Rangers Football Club’ – chairman Alastair Johnston answers the key questions -- from The Herald's Martin Bain and Alastair Johnston: And that is when we have to withdraw our appetite for expansion and for improving the product.
All change for England’s 2018 World Cup bid -- from The Times' Kevin Eason: He joins a board trimmed from 12 to seven.
Bundesliga votes to keep clubs owned by members -- from The Guardian's David Conn: Many fans treasure this system.
Dwight Yorke: Southgate got a huge break – why didn't I? -- from The Independent's Brian Viner: "Would I get an opportunity? I don't know."
Americas
David Beckham and LA Galaxy both shining anew -- from The LA Times' Grahame L Jones: "To be honest, the person who's made it work is David."
Dynamo go against tide -- from The Houston CHronicle's Bernardo Fallas: All that's missing is triumph.
Big-money MLS investments paying off -- from Yahoo! Sports' Martin Rogers: "I like to think I can help this team in big games."
The Fire's facilitator -- from ESPN Chicago's Charlie Corr: The Fire finally cashed in on their chances last week.
Real Salt Lake a handful for Fire -- from The Southtown Star's Nick Firchau: How good has RSL gotten at this game?
Union's new assistant embraces development role -- from The Philadelphia Inquirer's Pat Leonard: "It was really difficult to make the decision to leave the World Cup team in a World Cup year."
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
