News & Notes: Sept 13

CD Chivas USA @ FC Dallas

If Chivas played as sharpe as a dull knife, then FCD was as sharpe as a baseball. FCD why? Why, why why? I think you have a problem. A problem with commitment. But I think we can work on it. This is at the very least the third year in a row you have just melted away at the end of the season. First place should have been a lock by now, you could have been in thje play offs by now, but no. No, it was not to be. Did you even realize you were at a game, and you were the ones playing?

Carlos Ruiz? The lad hasn't scored since early June and at this point I wonder at the wisdom of going through all this trouble to secure his services and put him up as the face of the team. Although he still seems like the better option, when compared to his former strike partener Eddie Johnson, who has only scored twice in eighteen games.

Ronnie O'Brian? The kids got talent and speed. But he seems toi swing wildly from being a major play maker to a dissinterested winger, who for whatever reason is yet to jell with the rest of the team.

Chivas was only slightly better off than FCD, but still had their own fair share of defensive lapses, miscues, and irate players. If you believe the announcers, then Chivas is the team to beat. But strangely enough, I find myself still most impressed with the Gals, even though they lost their game this past Sunday.

After this game, I don't see FCD or Chivas havign any chance to win the MLS Cup unless they change there ways. And at this rate FCD could give up its home advantage all the way to the final.

Mexico @ US: Women's Friendly

Great to see PAETEC Park get shown off on national TV. The field and stands really look top class for a second division team. The game was really the perfect homecoming for Abby Wambach, who scored two goals.

The US Women are now 17-0-0 against Mexico and according to espn.com, the US has outscored Mexico 82-6. I only wish the men enjoyed such one sided domination.

The game was by far the most entertaining American fixture on TV today and I found myself spending long periods enjoying this match over the drab and dull FCD/Chivas match. The women passed much crisper, attacked harder, and showed off their creative abilities with great success. While the announced crowd was only about 7,000, those that were there saw a great game, and really made some good noise during the game.

Hawaii girl Natasha Kai came on as a sub late in the game and only got a few touches on the ball. While I obviously would have liked to see more of her, you can't argue with the results put up by the forwards that did start the game.