ESPN Soccernet Blog

Posted by Conor Nevins

International friendlies are frustrating. You never know quite what you're supposed to be rooting for or what your expectations should be. By definition, they're meaningless, so it's hard to spend too much time and energy agonizing over winning or losing.

Ideally, their purpose serves the big picture. It's a snapshot of what a team looks like at a given moment, to be used as a reference point for the future. Indeed, they can be a valuable exercise, if only to provide meaningful competition for players who otherwise don't get many opportunities to play together.

So what does the big picture look like for the United States national team after a two-game European swing through Slovakia and Denmark that ended in 1-0 and 3-1 losses, respectively? Unfortunately, it's a bit blurry.

Even by the most conservative estimate, by now you can nail down 15 seats on the plane to South Africa, which meant these last two games of 2009 served as something of a tryout for the remaining slots on coach Bob Bradley's 23-man roster for the 2010 World Cup. And with the injuries to Oguchi Onyewu and Charlie Davies threatening their World Cup prospects, Bradley is forced to reach deeper into his player pool than he'd probably like in the final months before the competition begins.

Jeff Cunningham is a good example. His blistering goal-scoring streak toward the end of the MLS season forced Bradley to give him a chance. Cunningham is essentially in pay-as-you-play mode, and he can ride his winning hand as long as he keeps scoring goals. Who knows, maybe it'll take him all the way to South Africa. So far, so good, anyway.

But while Cunningham might be playing with house money, it's not just the so-called fringe players who still have something to prove. Ricardo Clark has had the luxury of an unavailable Jermaine Jones and an injured Maurice Edu, the main competition at his position. But his place isn't cemented in the center of that midfield.

Furthermore, though it seems heretical to suggest Jozy Altidore not be included in the starting 11 -- especially without Davies -- how many would object to giving Robbie Findley 90 minutes of leading the line after Altidore's lethargic performance in Denmark? You can be protected by potential for only so long. Maybe he has a better answer for his recent lack of production, but the rest of us are running out of ideas.

Of course, the performances can be excused somewhat by the absence of key players. It's amazing how you take for granted the endeavor and work rate Landon Donovan brings to both the midfield and attacking third.

But that's kind of the point, isn't it? This game -- and this stage of the international season -- isn't so much about the established players as it is about which team can reach deeper into its pocket to pull out a winning combination. Denmark was certainly without many of its big guns. Yet it seemed to the Danes to truly be an open tryout, with eager 20-somethings from the domestic league with a point to prove vying for the few remaining tickets to South Africa. In fact, it must have been an educational evening from the Danes' perspective.

If only it were so from the American point of view. In fairness, it wasn't so much that the performance was bad, just confusing. Inserting Donovan and Clint Dempsey into the lineup goes a long way toward clearing up that picture, but the question marks remain.

To me, Benny Feilhaber distinguished himself more than anyone else against Denmark. But as well as he played, do we know any more about his role in the national side? Is he the main guy in the center of the midfield? Does he stay wide and drift inside as the play develops? Is he there to complement Michael Bradley? Should it be the other way around?

Stuart Holden did nothing to diminish his prospects, either. He showed signs that he's comfortable and capable of being more than a wide player. His is an interesting case to watch moving forward, especially with a likely move overseas in the January transfer window.

The biggest problem with the U.S. performance in Denmark was that it was found guilty of the worst offense at the international level: It was predictable. Without Dempsey or Donovan, there was no fluency or connectivity in any U.S. passing or movement. Scoring three goals right after halftime after being down 1-0 at the break, you might expect that the Danes had a rousing locker-room speech. But you can imagine all that really needed to be said was, "Pressure their center mids and they'll give the ball away cheaply and their outside backs can be had every time. Do that and we win easily."

It really seemed that simple for Denmark in the second half, and that's what has to be troubling for Bob Bradley. As I said before, these games have to be viewed in the context that they were played -- with key players absent, injuries and players just on the heels of a long MLS season. And even in failure, these games can be informative.

For his part, Bradley said the things you'd expect him to say. There were bright spots early on, but the game got away from his team in the second half. And while it's not the best bookend to 2009, the year was ultimately a positive one, and these losses don't mean much in the grand scheme of things. But I wonder if he's not more concerned than he lets on about the lack of options he has to turn to.

Three Cheers for Cuauhtemoc

There'll be plenty of words written about the upcoming MLS Cup final in Seattle between the L.A. Galaxy and Real Salt Lake. But my lasting impression from this year's playoffs was that of Cuauhtemoc Blanco during the Chicago Fire's run to the Eastern Conference finals.

Blanco, whose tenure in the MLS came to an end with Chicago's loss to RSL in the Eastern Conference finals, might not be able to match fellow designated player David Beckham in terms of exposure and commercial weight, but that doesn't make his tenure in MLS any less significant. With his return to Mexico to play for Veracruz, it's interesting to compare the two players when you measure their value on the field, independent of T-shirt sales and magazine covers. Each has such a singular quality to his game that is so pleasing to the eye yet impossible to replicate.

But while Beckham's ability to make a ball move in ways that defy the laws of physics can take one's breath away, what Blanco brought to the MLS game is more significant. It's an intuitive quality that's hard to pinpoint but one that is infectious to his teammates and captivating to an audience. His teammates wanted to match his creativity, even if they fell short of his brilliance. He invites players to play a style that should be the standard the MLS is trying to reach.

At first glance, he looks more like a Sunday morning rec-league player than a professional -- and a player you'd pick near the bottom. But despite not possessing the speed to get behind anyone, he can have a defender at his mercy with the ball at his feet. It's guile, it's invention, it's creativity -- whatever you want to call it, it's the kind of quality the MLS doesn't see enough of and will surely miss.

Posted by Andrew Hush

Los Angeles will begin the MLS Cup as the favorite but there are a number of reasons for Real Salt Lake fans to believe it will be they who are celebrating on Sunday night.

First of all, recent form is on the side of Jason Kreis' team, which tied 2-2 with the Galaxy in May before winning 2-0, at the Home Depot Center, five weeks later. Moreover, as he constructs his game plan for this weekend, RSL's impressive young manager can glean information from his team's performances in those two games that could be very useful.

In both encounters, Los Angeles struggled to contain Salt Lake's pace up front. While Robbie Findley has shone in the postseason, it was the threat of Yura Movsisyan on the break that was a bigger factor when these sides met previously, most notably in the June win when, having been released by a ball from midfield, he beat Gregg Berhalter one-on-one before firing past Donovan Ricketts.

Also interesting to note, when watching these regular season games, was RSL's success from set pieces. Findley scored from a corner in the sides' draw and Nat Borchers found the net at the Home Depot Center after the Galaxy failed to clear a corner properly.

While its opponent will draw comfort from regular season battles, it is likely that L.A. will pay less attention to what has gone before. For example, David Beckham played in neither match, while Landon Donovan also was unavailable for the latter encounter. Given that dearth of creativity, the Galaxy's attacking issues -- just one of their goals came from open play -- are more understandable.

Thus, Los Angeles has more of an element of the unknown and this is another reason I expect this to be a cagey affair if there is no early goal. As it has done throughout its postseason run, Salt Lake will want to play on the counterattack while the Galaxy will seek to avoid exposure at the back to set a platform on which their stars can work.

Neither team lost this season when scoring first but both have shown an ability to recover from falling behind in the playoffs. Given its remarkable run, Salt Lake should have no fear but, like New York last year, I feel that it will fall just short.

With its star duo in tandem, the Los Angeles of the present is a significantly better team than that which turned out against Salt Lake earlier this year. Bruce Arena's side has a little more quality and experience, both on the field and the sideline and, if its backline can get to grips with the opposing strikers, should justify its favorite tag.

A thing that made me go hmmm

What have you made of the playoffs to date? Personally, while there have been some fascinating moments, I have been somewhat disappointed by the lack of a sustained "wow" factor.

The most thrilling game was Real Salt Lake's 3-2 comeback win over Columbus (after trailing 2-0), while Chicago's series against New England was one of the more compelling tactical battles. Overall, though, defenses have been on top and the quality of attacking play has been lacking.

Although a paucity of goals does not automatically diminish entertainment, in the case of this postseason, an average to date of 1.9 per game is reflective of a lack of true excitement. Over the past six seasons, only once -- in 2007 when just 16 goals were scored through the first two rounds -- has the total at this stage been below 20.

Furthermore, in only two of the 10 games played this postseason have both teams scored, which makes me think that it is time to tinker with the playoff system. The most obvious change would be to incorporate the away goals rule (where a goal scored on the road counts effectively as double), a move that would encourage road teams especially to adopt a more offensive mindset away from home.

One thing that has been pleasing is the lack of playoff red cards, with just one -- to Seattle's James Riley -- having been shown so far. That number is a happy contrast with the regular season, in which a player was sent off every 2.81 matches. Here's hoping for a continuation of that on Sunday, with an end-to-end game mixed in.

Good luck, young man

By the time you read this, one of the more eagerly awaited national team debuts for some time may already have taken place in Denmark, where Edgar Castillo was expected to don the colors of the U.S. for the first time.

Although Jonathan Bornstein has been improved at left back recently, there is no doubt that the position remains up for grabs and, with plenty of time remaining before a World Cup squad has to be picked, Castillo has a great opportunity to claim a place on the plane to South Africa.

Should Castillo impress, it will be another defensive positive for Bob Bradley after Jonathan Spector did well in a central role against Slovakia. Spector's versatility makes him a shoo-in for South Africa and, with questions remaining over Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit, continued good form may make the West Ham man a first-choice selection at the back.

Posted by Jen Chang

Busy, busy weekend, what with the U.S. team playing, World Cup qualifiers and of course MLS Cup playoffs. Here's what I'm thinking about Monday morning:

1. U.S. versus Slovakia. Of course the disclaimer here is that the U.S. was missing Tim Howard, Oguchi Onyewu, Landon Donovan and Charlie Davies from what would be its ideal lineup. However, the bulk core of the starting lineup was present, and the 1-0 loss to Slovakia highlighted the weaknesses in the U.S. offense, which have long been its lack of creativity and inability to break down solid defenses. Granted, Slovakia won its European qualifying group for the World Cup, but this team has only two high-caliber international players (Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik).

As a result, Slovakia typically plays the way we saw it play on Saturday: It defends deep with discipline, cedes possession and looks to attack predominantly on the counter. In short, Slovakia almost always sets up the way the U.S. often does against superior opposition. The result? The U.S. was stifled for virtually the entire game after the Slovaks scored and offered next-to-nothing going forward. And herein lies the problem: The U.S. relies on two things to score most of its goals: set pieces and counterattacking. With both Davies and Donovan in the lineup, the extreme pace the U.S. offers on the counterattack is enough to scare virtually every team. With Davies gone, that breakaway threat is markedly reduced, and defenses can key on Donovan.

Likewise, the U.S. has made a living beating up on the comedic defenses and undersized goalkeepers in the CONCACAF region via set pieces and high balls. That's far more difficult to do against European defenses. My point is the U.S. still needs to prove it can score against a quality foe when it trails and when it needs to bring the game to the opposition. We all know the current U.S. recipe for success against top-tier sides. It basically involves defending deep and hoping to snatch a goal on a set piece or counterattack. If the U.S. takes the lead, it defends even deeper and continues to look to score on the counter. However, to progress in the World Cup next year, the U.S. can't continue to rely on front-running against top teams. It needs to develop a more effective plan of attack if it does go down a goal and do so, without comprising its ability to keep its shape and defend at the back.

On the bright side, Brad Guzan looked very good as Howard's replacement (his save on Stanislav Sestak to prevent a second Slovakia goal was exceptional), and Jonathan Spector looked very polished at center back (other than playing Sestak onside for the aforementioned shot). I've said for years that Spector seems far more suited to center back than fullback. After watching him impress against Slovakia, I'd argue that until Onyewu returns, the U.S. should start Spector with Jay DeMerit (once he returns from his eye injury) at center back and move Carlos Bocanegra back to left back (unless Edgar Castillo can make that spot his own) to replace Jonathan Bornstein, who remains far short of being international-caliber. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Bocanegra is the ideal left back either, far from it in fact. However, at this point, he's certainly the lesser of two evils there compared to Bornstein.

2. MLS Cup playoffs. Well MLS almost got its ideal scenario of a Galaxy versus Fire matchup in the MLS Cup final (Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN360.com), which would have been a marketer's dream with David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Brian McBride. Two out of four isn't bad. The Galaxy, of course, overcame Houston 2-0 in a strange game in which the momentum kept shifting dramatically -- the two power outages certainly played their part. The Galaxy started well, then lost their way as the second half was all Houston, then comprehensively outplayed the Dynamo in OT. However, Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts got a little lucky when he pushed Brian Ching's header onto the post, and frankly, it was a strange decision by the ref to disallow Andrew Hainault's goal from the subsequent corner.

As for OT, it's a bit harsh to single out Ricardo Clark, especially since he'd played well to that point, but he basically cost Houston the game with a couple of clumsy (and completely needless) challenges on the Galaxy's Alan Gordon. In the first instance, which resulted in Beckham's free kick and Gregg Berhalter's goal -- I'm not sure what Clark was thinking. Aside from the fact that you need to limit the amount of free kicks you give Beckham and the Galaxy, Clark decided to hack down Gordon about 35 yards out from goal, while Gordon was surrounded by two or three Houston players. That's right, Alan Gordon. I guess I must have missed all the numerous instances in his career when Gordon picked up the ball 35 yards from goal, beat two or three guys off the dribble and either slammed the ball into the net or carved open a defense with an incisive pass. Why would you even think about fouling Gordon in that instance? And don't get me started on the second foul, when Gordon had lost control of the ball in the penalty area and was dribbling away from goal before Clark brought him down.

One last note on the Dynamo -- it's safe to say that heralded DP signing Luis Landin brought nothing to the table against the Galaxy. It's probably also safe to assume that the primary reason for that is he looks severely out of shape (and that's probably an understatement).

As for the Eastern Conference final, Real Salt Lake deserved the win against the Fire. RSL largely outplayed Chicago, and if not for a couple of point-blank missed sitters by Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan, they would have won comfortably. Although the Fire have the bigger offensive names, the reality is that the well-paced RSL forwards could provide the Galaxy's back line with a far greater test because of their speed.

Posted by Zach Benabid

There's always something a little frustrating about the way international breaks cut into the club season. Even with World Cup qualifying fixtures taking place this weekend, including what should be two very compelling European games in Ireland-France and Portugal-Bosnia, I find it hard to adjust to the international schedule with domestic leagues in full swing. And distracting me to an even greater degree from the qualifiers are two friendly matches between four of the most serious World Cup contenders: Spain-Argentina and England-Brazil.

England-Brazil: Still No Room For Pato

Let's get to the England-Brazil match first. The buzz surrounding this game has been diminished by the news that the midfield pairing of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will miss the match, along with a host of other England regulars such as Glen Johnson. Nevertheless, England manager Fabio Capello will have an opportunity to test the mettle of some secondary players against a Brazil side that enters the game full of confidence after breezing though its World Cup qualifiers (read: England might get blown out of the water this weekend).

Brazil comes into the match at full strength, as manager Carlos Dunga has called up most of the players who were instrumental in the team's World Cup qualification. There was, however, a continued and glaring oversight -- the absence of striker Alexandre Pato.

Brazil's recent run of success makes it hard to criticize Dunga. Pato's persistent omission from the squad is hard to understand, however, especially given his strong performances over the past month.

Don't get me wrong, Dunga has molded Brazil into a side that exhibits both flair and toughness, a side that, in my opinion, is the best team in the world right now (yup, I agree with the SPI Rankings). Pato, for whatever reason, has not been included in his first-team plans, and that's fine. But Pato's continued and absolute absence from the squad does not make much sense to me, either.

Outside of Kaka, Pato is probably the most talented Brazilian playing in Europe. It's not simply that he is a tremendous talent; the youngster has also proven to be quite a versatile striker, able to play up top or as the second man. You would think a manager would find a way to get a player of this caliber on his team, even as a backup.

This weekend's omission against England was yet another blow to the young striker's chances of travelling to South Africa next season. Dunga, instead, opted to call up Nilmar and Hulk, while also relying on Robinho, who may not be able to play as he recovers from an ankle injury.

The point is that Pato should no longer be thought of as a player with a bright future. He is a player of the present and one who could really help Brazil this summer, if the team runs into serious injury or needs a spark off the bench.

Spain-Argentina: Welcome, Jesus Navas

Even with Fernando Torres out due to a hernia injury, the Spain-Argentina friendly should be a fun affair for one simple reason: There is no match that will feature more individual talent.

The game itself presents interesting tactical matchups. Spain has a clear advantage in the midfield regardless of who starts. That's what happens when Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas are your midfield options.

Argentina counters with the most talented group of forwards in the world. It's astounding that this team can call up Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

The one player, however, I am most interested in watching is Spain's Jesus Navas. Sevilla's star winger has earned his first call-up, overcoming an anxiety disorder that has kept him from joining the national team in the past.

Navas has been instrumental in Sevilla's impressive start in both La Liga and the Champions League and could add yet another dimension to an already super-talented Spanish squad.

Watch on ESPN360

You can watch a couple of friendlies on ESPN360 on Saturday (all times ET):

Wales vs. Scotland, 10 a.m.

Spain vs. Argentina, 2:30 p.m.

Posted by Andrew Hush

The battle to be best in the West will be settled at the Home Depot Center, as the Galaxy and Dynamo battle it (Friday, 11 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN360.com) out for a ticket to Seattle.

Los Angeles came through its SuperClasico series with Chivas (3-2 on aggregate) thanks to moments of individual skill rather than any continuously cohesive team play. Defensive mistakes blighted its first leg performance while, last weekend in the return match, Bruce Arena's side made heavy weather of overcoming a limited opponent, hanging on in the closing stages when the tie should have long been settled.

When a team can boast Landon Donovan and David Beckham as two of its number, it is not surprising that those around such stars look to them for inspiration. However, Houston is not Chivas and, as I wrote before the postseason began, for L.A. to go all the way, it needs others to step up. Mike Magee has played well but Arena still needs more from Edson Buddle.

While the Galaxy's star power has been its trump card, Houston has shown the experience of having been here before. A punishing series against Seattle was won through patience and perseverance -- although Brian Ching's deciding goal was a cracker -- and you can expect another display built on pragmatism, as well as a defense anchored by the ageless Pat Onstad, on Friday.

Not that Houston does not possess game-changing players itself. Ching is a proven match-winner while Dominic Oduro's pace will trouble LA's back line. If that doesn't work, Luis Angel Landin and Cam Weaver offer threats from the bench. To nullify these sizable threats, the Galaxy must limit their service, meaning that the likes of Brad Davis, Brian Mullan and Stuart Holden must be shut down.

One goal was scored in the two games these sides played against each other during the regular season -- Todd Dunivant's strike deciding a June clash at the HDC -- and I would expect it to be similarly close on Friday, although there may be more goals. It might need extra time to separate them but, in the end, the playoffs are often about the stars and I expect the X-factors of Donovan and Beckham to give LA the edge.

Verdict: L.A. 2-1 Houston

Salt Lake vs. Chicago

One night later, the Western champion will discover who it will face at Qwest Field on Nov. 22 when the Fire and RSL meet at Toyota Park.

Chicago will start the game as favorite but, as Columbus discovered, this is not your regular season Salt Lake side. Against New England, Denis Hamlett's men did enough to get through but the greater variety of attacking options available to its next opponent means more improvement is needed. The return of Wilman Conde and Gonzalo Segares would offer more flexibility although I wonder if either of the two will be risked, given their lack of match fitness.

Naturally, Cuauhtemoc Blanco will be the main man for the hosts. The veteran Mexican is one of a number of Fire players for whom this game will the last in the Windy City -- Chris Rolfe and Brandon Prideaux will not be back while the futures of Brian McBride and Marco Pappa are also uncertain -- and, given his sense for the big occasion, I expect a showing similar from the Chicago talisman to that which he gave in the second leg against the Revolution.

However, as RSL showed in overcoming a Guillermo Barros Schelotto-inspired Columbus onslaught last Thursday, Jason Kreis' side has a playoff spirit which can respond favorably to the odds stacked against it. Falling behind will not be part of the game plan but, with the experience of having successfully recovered before, there will be no panic among the Salt Lake ranks should Chicago get the first goal on Saturday.

If Salt Lake is to clinch a first-ever MLS Cup berth, its precocious youngsters and savvy veterans must continue to excel. Robbie Findley's pace could give the Fire defense fits, especially if Dasan Robinson and CJ Brown are its anchors while Yura Movsisyan is also a threat off the bench. Meanwhile, Javier Morales and Andy Williams were at their creative best in the comeback in Columbus and must continue to provide.

A quirk of MLS is that RSL is playing in the championship game of the Eastern Conference a year after taking part in the west's equivalent. Having fallen then to a team from the nation's right coast, can it redress the balance with a shock win of its own? I doubt it, but then who would have predicted that Kreis and his men would get even this far when the postsesason brackets came out? Chicago, you have been warned.

Verdict: Chicago 2-1 Real Salt Lake

A thing that made me go hmmm

Two weeks after I suggested that Jeff Cunningham's goalscoring form could put him back in the national team picture, wouldn't you know it, Bob Bradley went and included the FC Dallas man in his squad for Saturday's friendly in Slovakia. The veteran striker is one of a number of players who will look to use the friendly to remind Bradley of their capabilities.

Among the others is Sacha Kljestan, back in the fold having lost his place following the Confederations Cup, and Robbie Rogers whose left-footedness will make him a contender for a spot on the plane to South Africa. Dax McCarty has also been included and may get a chance in the center of midfield, a position in which the competition for places is particularly fierce.

Less deep is the central defensive pool. With Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit sidelined for lengthy periods, the USA desperately needs back-ups to seize their chances to shine. Thus, the coming week is a big one for Chad Marshall, Clarence Goodson and Jimmy Conrad.

Posted by Zach Benabid

With two match days remaining in the Champions League, some of Europe's biggest clubs face challenges large and small as they look to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament:

Liverpool's troubles spill into Europe

Liverpool is in the most precarious position of the big European clubs as its nightmare Premier League season has spilled into the Champions League. The Reds currently find themselves in third place in Group E, five points behind second place Fiorentina and qualification into the next round. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez recently admitted that it will take a "miracle" for his squad to advance into the tournament's knockout stages.

Fiorentina's road to the knockout stages also is a difficult one, as it must host group leader Lyon before wrapping up group play, on the road, against Liverpool. A win against Lyon will send Fiorentina through, but a slipup in that game could set up a very interesting final match day at Anfield (providing Liverpool takes care of business against group bottom-feeder Debrencen). The Viola have looked fantastic in both Serie A and the Champions League, yet it remains to be seen if this team has the mental toughness to finish strong in the group. Complicating matters further for the Italian side is news that star striker Adrian Mutu may miss a month of action because of a right knee injury.

While Liverpool's qualification chances are indeed very slim, stranger things have happened on Europe's biggest stage.

Milan and Real delight

As Liverpool continues to sink, A.C. Milan has begun to rise. Less than a month ago, the Italian club appeared to be on its way to one of its worst seasons in recent memory. But a 2-1 Serie A win against Roma in mid-October steadied the ship. The momentum from that victory carried over into the Champions League three days later, when the Italians shocked Real Madrid with a 3-2 road victory. The two wins have seemingly turned the Rossoneri around. This past Tuesday, Milan again faced Madrid, and although the game ended in a 1-1 draw, it was the most complete performance put on by the team all season long.

Frankly, this past week's 1-1 draw between Milan and Madrid was the highest quality Champions League game I've seen this season. It was an open and attractive game (although it did not lack in quality defending), with compelling subplots in the form of one-on-one battles: Clerance Seedorf versus Lass Diarra, Massimo Ambrosini versus Kaka, Gianluca Zambrotta versus Sergio Ramos. It was exactly the type of game you'd expect from the two most successful clubs in the tournament's history.

Madrid also deserves a great deal of credit coming out of the game. October was a roller coaster ride for the Merengues. The loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to an ankle injury was followed by disappointing results in La Liga and the Champions League. A 2-0 La Liga win against Getafe at the end of October helped quell some of the criticisms directed at manager Manuel Pellegrini, and in its most recent game against Milan, the team began to show improvement through Kaka, Karim Benzema and Marcelo, who was deployed in the midfield instead of as a left back.

The draw left Milan and Madrid tied with seven points atop Group C, with Marseille one point behind in third place. Should Milan win its next game against Marseille, it would qualify for the knockout stages. Such a result would also open the door for Madrid to advance, should it beat Zurich.

Barcelona and Inter in tight straights

Group F is the tightest of the Champions League groups, with the four teams separated by two points. Titleholder Barcelona finds itself tied with Rubin Kazan (with five points) after the two teams drew in Russia this week. The draw allowed Inter Milan to move to the top of the group after the Nerazzuri came back to beat Dynamo Kiev with 86th- and 89th-minute goals.

Inter has been unimpressive thus far in the tournament, perhaps a product of high expectations. Manager Jose Mourinho was brought in to conquer Europe, not just continue Inter's dominance in Italy. But before a comeback win against Kiev on Wednesday, the team had managed only three draws in group play.

The Nov. 24 games should go a long way in determining which teams advance from this group, as Barcelona hosts Inter and Kiev travels to Russia to take on Kazan. The last time Inter and Barcelona met, it was a game of contrasting styles, with Barcelona sending attacking surge after attacking surge against a staunch Inter defense. The game ended in a 0-0 draw; it's hard to imagine Barcelona will be held scoreless at home this time around. And although I expect both Inter and Barcelona to find a way to advance out of this group, don't count out Kazan, which has proven to be an admirable and dangerous opponent.

Posted by Andrew Hush

With all four ties in the playoffs wide open as they enter their second legs, it seems certain that, come Sunday evening, some of the higher seeds will be clearing out their lockers.

One of those in danger is Columbus, although I expect the Crew to find a way to eliminate Real Salt Lake, which was just 2-11-2 on the road all season. Columbus fans will have to be patient against a side that is likely to come with a defensive mind-set and it will be incumbent upon Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Alejandro Moreno to respond positively to being left out of the first leg.

Staying in the east, Chicago against New England is likely to play out in a similar manner, although I fancy the Revolution's chances more than I do RSL's. Can the Fire deal with the pressure? My tip for MLS Cup has flattered to deceive all season and continued in that manner in the tie's first leg. Afterwards, coach Denis Hamlett was bullish about Chicago's chances about return match, but it remains to be seen whether Chicago can break down what is likely to be a resolute New England rearguard.

I still fancy Houston and Seattle to go to penalties although I do expect there to be goals at Robertson Stadium, as long as both sides can be more clinical with their chances. For Houston, it is important not only that Luis Angel Landin is fit but that he performs. After all, it was for games such as these he was signed as a DP late in the season. Seattle could have Tyrone Marshall back while Fredy Montero should be over the illness that bugged him in the first game.

You would expect both Los Angeles and Chivas to defend better than each did last Sunday, meaning that the sides' second SuperClasico playoff meeting will be a cagier affair. David Beckham needs to step up after he spent much of the first leg on the game's periphery while Goats fans will be hoping to see more of the same from Maykel Galindo, whose pace worried the Galaxy's backline throughout the second half on Sunday.

End the errors

Maybe I'm being picky or getting grumpier in my old age but I cannot help hoping that, whichever teams do prevail this weekend, they do so due to their own excellence rather than opponents' mistakes. We saw plenty of those in the opening legs of the four ties, games which, overall, I felt were disappointing in their level of play.

After a lack of composure in front of goal blighted Seattle against Houston, the first goal of the postseason came about due to a Columbus loss of concentration. Not only was Frankie Hejduk at fault, he allowed Yura Movsisyan to get in a cross, but also the hitherto impressive Eric Brunner, who was beaten at the near post by Robbie Findley.

Meanwhile, both goalkeepers were culpable at Foxborough on Sunday. First, Chris Rolfe capitalized on Matt Reis' inability to hold Marco Pappa's cross and later, as New England fought back, Jon Busch's failure to hold a Pat Phelan header led to Shalrie Joseph bundling home the winner.

However, nothing that preceded it could outdo the comedy of errors we saw at the Home Depot Center as Los Angeles and Chivas repeatedly made basic mistakes to allow their opponents back into the game. It may have been exciting for the fans but I doubt Bruce Arena or Preki enjoyed it.

Let's hope this postseason is remembered for the good, as opposed to anything bad or ugly. After all, I haven't even mentioned referees ...

A thing that made me go hmmm

From the ridiculous to something more sublime. Awards season begins today as MLS announces the winners of the goalkeeper of the year and fair play prizes. Accolades continue to be handed out on an almost-daily basis until shortly before MLS Cup, with the 2009 MVP as well as the commissioner's award the last to be distributed.

I cast my votes last week and gave Jeff Cunningham the nod as my MVP for almost single-handedly pulling FC Dallas back to the brink of the playoffs with game-winning goals in seven of the Hoops' 11 wins. Fredy Montero and Shalrie Joseph were Cunningham's closest rivals in my eyes.

Here are my selections for some of the other big prizes:

Coach: Bruce Arena, Los Angeles (tough call as there were many good candidates)

Goalkeeper: Zach Thornton, Chivas USA (he was also my choice as comeback player of the year)

Defender: Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Seattle (Geoff Cameron was close and deserves a U.S. call-up)

Rookie: Omar Gonzalez, Los Angeles (I voted before that backpass vs Chivas!)

Newcomer: Fredy Montero, Seattle (teammate Freddie Ljungberg's late-season form saw him considered too).

Posted by Conor Nevins

Real Salt Lake and New England had to wait until their final regular-season games to clinch spots in the postseason, and both did so with a little help from other teams.

So perhaps it's fitting that both provided the drama and intrigue in the first leg of the MLS playoffs. Each secured a one-goal advantage at home against a higher-seeded opponent, vital lifelines to carry when they hit the road for their return legs.

Here's my breakdown of the first leg of the MLS playoffs:

New England versus Chicago (New England leads 2-1 heading back to Chicago)

I admit, I was among those who bought into the conventional wisdom that suggested New England had too many injuries and not enough firepower offensively to seriously challenge Chicago over two legs. That's in no way an endorsement of Chicago's championship credentials; the Fire's shortcomings are obvious enough. But the Revs couldn't continue to count on Shalrie Joseph to provide cover for the back line, maintain possession in the midfield and venture forward into the box and score goals, could they?

So much for conventional wisdom. Joseph did just that in a 2-1 win at Gillette Stadium, notching a 75th-minute winner to give the Revs a vital one-goal lifeline to bring with them to Chicago.

The Fire probably will leave Foxborough feeling a bit aggrieved. They had a bright start and were rewarded for their ambition and attacking endeavor with a Chris Rolfe goal in the 17th minute. It looked like they might blow the game open a couple of minutes later, but Brian McBride's shot hit the post.

New England's lack of a natural target man in attack is painfully obvious at times. As industrious as Sainey Nyassi and Kenny Mansally are on the wings, neither would be mistaken as a center forward. And Edgaras Jankauskas will give you an honest effort, but not much else.

Not too many teams rely on their holding midfielder to double as a striker. But anyone who has followed the Revs closely this season wouldn't have been surprised to find Joseph essentially spearheading the attack late in the game. It's a tactic I was convinced would fail them come playoff time, but Joseph poked home the game-winner after a scramble in the box to prove me wrong.

Second-leg prediction: Chicago 1, New England 1

Real Salt Lake versus Columbus (RSL leads 1-0 heading back to Columbus)

I'm not so quick to lambast Crew coach Robert Warzycha's decision to leave Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Alejandro Moreno on the bench. He must have had his doubts about their fitness (especially Schelotto's) and was confident enough in his other players to get the result he wanted.

And let's be honest: The result the Crew were aiming for at Rio Tinto was a scoreless draw to bring back home to Columbus. Schelotto and Moreno were not going to offer much to achieve that aim. And the Crew were two minutes and change from achieving that goal, until Robbie Findley grabbed a lifeline for RSL in the dying minutes.

Heading back to Columbus, the focus doesn't change much. The Crew still need to win at home, something they obviously have shown they're more than capable of. Now there's just a little extra pressure, which may not be the worst thing. It gives the players extra initiative to take the attack to RSL, and perhaps will liven up the home crowd.

And Warzycha will have a fully rested reigning MVP at his disposal. The Crew's coach could come up looking smarter by the end of next week. Or he could have some serious explaining to do should Columbus come up short. I'm guessing the former.

Prediction: Columbus 3, Real Salt Lake 1

Chivas versus L.A. Galaxy (Chivas 2, L.A. 2)

It was exciting, to be sure -- but not necessarily in a good way. Maicon Santos' goal in the fourth minute proved to be the only goal scored that didn't come as a result of a shockingly bad, rec-league defensive error.

But while it won't be easy viewing in the film room for the coaches, both sides probably can agree that a draw was a fair result. Either team could have won or lost -- it was just that kind of afternoon. Hopefully, the nerves (or whatever was plaguing the game) will be gone for the second leg.

Preki will have a difficult time keeping Maykel Galindo on the bench to start the second leg. Galindo came on as a second-half substitute to inject some energy into a Chivas attack that seemed a bit shell-shocked heading into the break down 2-1. Although his 50th-minute equalizer was gifted to him from a bad back pass from Omar Gonzalez, he finished the chance well and gave Chivas an added element in attack. It's hard to imagine Preki not giving him full run in the second leg.

Second-leg prediction: L.A. 1, Chivas 0

Seattle versus Houston (Houston 0, Seattle 0 heading back to Houston)

The speed and intensity of the game screamed for goals, but none were forthcoming. It wasn't for lack of effort. Patrick Ianni, who filled in for an injured Tyrone Marshall in Seattle's back line, exhibited the kind of luck the Sounders were destined to have on the night when he saw two headed chances denied: one cleared off the goal line by Brian Mullan, one by the crossbar.

The talking point for me following the game was the performance of the referee, Ricardo Salazar. The numbers suggest Salazar didn't have a great game. He produced three yellow cards for each team, yet the Dynamo committed three times as many fouls as the Sounders (18-6).

But my point about the officiating is less a judgment of Salazar's performance than an observation of the challenges MLS officials face come playoff time. The game was physical, and you didn't need to see Nate Jacqua's head wrapped in bandages to realize that. But isn't there a tacit recognition that referees err on the side of swallowing their whistles come playoff time? It's what makes the NBA playoffs so great to watch. Players, coaches, officials and fans all understand that what was a foul in the regular season isn't going to get called in the playoffs.

After watching the Seattle-Houston game, I'm not so sure that trend translates as well to soccer. The best thing a referee can do early in a game is set a standard for what an acceptable challenge is. Whether players (or fans) perceive that standard as fair or unfair, at least they can reasonably assume what they're allowed to get away with on the field. Salazar was, to be polite, inconsistent in setting that standard in the game. And it took fluidity away from an entertaining, attack-minded game.

Second-leg prediction: Houston 2, Seattle 1

Random thoughts

After watching the first weekend of MLS playoff action and considering the results for Real Salt Lake and New England, I found myself wondering what Kevin Payne would think.

Payne, D.C. United's president, recently stirred up a bit of controversy in MLS circles when he suggested that teams that employ cynical and negative tactics to earn results -- and possibly a playoff berth -- damage the league's image, and that a stronger emphasis on entertaining, attacking style should be embraced. He identified New England and Real Salt Lake as culprits of what he perceives as a bad trend for MLS.

Setting aside whether his argument has merit (it does) or smacks of sour grapes given that D.C. United is watching the playoffs from home (it does), I wonder if he feels vindicated after watching RSL and New England win over the weekend? If it's true that both teams don't play an attacking and entertaining style, yet were rewarded with an invitation to play on the league's biggest stage, is that bad for the league's image, as Payne suggests?