After week 29 the numbers look like this…

5 year comparison
WK 29 205 GP YTD
Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP
 2005  18,417  6  15,959  15,108  192
 2006  20,277  10.10%  6  16,235  1.73%  15,402  1.94%  192
 2007  20,575  1.47%  7  16,587  2.17%  16,812  9.16%  195
 2008  16,234  -21.10%  7  16,416  -1.03%  16,894  0.49%  195
 2009  22,165  36.53%  7  15,878  -3.28%  15,868  -6.07%  205
YTD – 205 Games
Average Median %<10K %>20k
 2005    15,959   14,450  16.20%  22.83%
 2006    16,235   14,806  12.67%  24.49%
 2007    16,587   15,188  9.75%  27.25%
 2008    16,416   15,038  11.22%  24.88%
 2009    15,878   14,534  15.61%  19.51%

Here are the attendance comparisons to 2008’s equal number of home games(205):

MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games
2008 2009
Att Cap Att Att +/- GP Cap Cap
 Seattle  0  0  30,739  NA  14  94.87%  32,400
 Toronto  20,110  91.50%  20,324  1.07%  13  92.47%  21,978
 LA Galaxy  25,938  96.07%  19,946  -23.10%   14  73.87%  27,000
 Real Salt Lake  15,773  77.50%  16,208  2.76%  13  76.04%  19,340
 Houston  15,980  71.02%  16,160  1.13%  14  71.82%  22,500
 D.C. United  20,061  89.16%  16,075  -19.87%   14  71.44%  22,500
 ChivasUSA  15,029  55.66%  15,551  3.48%  12  57.60%  27,000
 Chicago  17,303  86.51%  14,485  -16.28%   14  72.43%  20,000
 San Jose  13,941  89.35%  14,478  3.86%  14  79.32%  10,300
 Columbus Crew  14,267  71.34%  14,279  0.08%  14  71.39%  20,000
 NE Revolution  17,542  77.97%  13,432  -23.43%   13  59.70%  22,500
 Colorado Rapids  13,659  75.52%  12,331  -9.72%   15  68.18%  18,086
 FC Dallas  12,946  61.09%  12,241  -5.45%   14  52.48%  21,193
 N.Y./N.J. Red Bulls  15,741  62.49%  11,861  -24.65%   14  47.09%  25,189
 KC Wizards  10,843  104.41%  10,022  -7.57%   13  96.50%  10,385

My disclaimer about the capacity calculations – Additional disclaimer note: I factored in the Dallas game at the Cotton Bowl as 100% capacity of 51,012.

Observations

Week 29 games drew 22,165. No surprise as the Dallas’ doubleheader, with Mexico playing a friendly, drew 51,012 to the Cotton Bowl. This will likely prevent FCD from finishing the season with an average attendance under 10,000. I don’t have a problem with this type of scheduling. It is part of the solution for mid-week matches as MLS starts to honor FIFA dates more in the future. More on this in a few days. DCU had it’s largest crowd of the year, pulling in over 24,000. Columbus drew right on average. Colorado closed out its regular season home schedule with the 3rd largest crowd of the season and San Jose sold out Buck Shaw. Over 16,800 came out to Robertson for the Dynamo.

Week 29 Games
 
FC Dallas 1 3rd Degree – Buzz Carrick
New England 0 Revolution Soccer
 
Los Angeles 1 LA – Official Blog
Chicago 0 Chicago Fire Confidential
 
DC United 0 DCU – Steve Goff – Soccer Insider
Chivas USA 2 Chivas USA – MLSNet
 
Columbus 0 Columbus Dispatch – Crew XTra
Seattle 1 Seattle Times
 
Colorado 1 Undercurrent
New England 1 Revolution Soccer
 
San Jose 1 San Jose Center Line Soccer
RBNY 0 Red Bulls Reader
 
Houston 1 Soccer y Fútbol – Barnard Fallas
Kansas City 1 Kansas City – Hillcrest Road

So How Are They Doing?

Points after 205 Games
Pts GP  PPG GD H/A
 Columbus  46  27  1.70  11  1/2
 Los Angeles  44  28  1.57  3  1/1
 Houston  44  28  1.57  9  1/1
 Seattle  41  28  1.46  7  1/1
 Chicago  41  28  1.46  4  1/1
 Chivas USA  41  26  1.58  3  3/1
 Colorado  40  28  1.43  8  0/2
 New England  38  27  1.41  -4  2/1
 DC United  36  28  1.29  -2  1/1
 Toronto FC  35  27  1.30  -5  2/1
 Real Salt Lake  34  27  1.26  4  2/1
 Dallas  33  27  1.22  2  1/2
 Kansas City  32  27  1.19  -6  2/1
 San Jose  28  26  1.08  -11  1/3
 NY Red Bull  18  28  0.64  -23  1/1

RBNY remain the only mathematically eliminated club. LA and Houston joined Columbus, clinching playoff berths.

A wounded New England team dropped game-in-hand points in Dallas. The Revs were just what FCD needed to keep their improbable run going. New England has been at the bottom of the table in shots attempted all season. Losing Ralston(season ending knee injury) as well as Twellman seriously reduced the risk that the porous Dallas defense would be severely tested. On top of that for New England, they lost Wells Thompson for their 2nd game of the week in Colorado, which they ended up drawing. The Revs still control their own destiny but now their lead over playoff chasers looks tenuous. Taking only 1 point from 6 this week, with Columbus twice and Chicago upcoming in its last three will make a securing playoff berth a difficult task.

Once again, Los Angeles did what a playoff team needs to do, unless you’re Chicago, and that is to win at home. For the Fire, the loss means any slim hope they might have had for either the conference championship or the Supporters’ Shield are now just mathematical possibilities.
Seattle, which last week seemed the most vulnerable, came up with a huge unexpected win at Columbus, ending the Crew’s 24 match home undefeated run(against MLS teams). With a game in hand over Houston and LA though, Columbus still has the Supporters’ Shield within its grasp. Chivas USA, who a few weeks ago along with New England had the advantage of games in hand, has made the most of it(unlike the Revs) and have a legitimate chance to win the west. They are 3 points behind with 2 games in hand.

Playoff Contenders Remaining Schedule Points
Pts  Home  Away
 Chivas USA  41  KC  SJ  CHI  HOU  26  15
 Seattle  41  KC  FCD  24  17
 Colorado  40  FCD  RSL  29  11
 New England  38  CLB  CHI  CLB  24  14
 DC United  36  CLB  KC  23  13
 Toronto FC  35  SJ  RSL  NY  24  11
 Real Salt Lake  34  NY  TFC  COL  26  8
 Dallas  33  SJ  COL  SEA  25  8
 Kansas City  32  CHV  SEA  DCU  16  16
shaded = away game

Top 3 tiebreakers.(MLS 2009 Rules of Competition)

    1. The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition)
    2. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)
    3. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)

Streaking

  • FC Dallas has no lost at home in 7(6 wins).
  • RBNY is winless on the road.
  • TFC has not lost home in 5 straight.
  • Colorado and TFC have not won on the road in 7 straight.
  • RSL is unbeaten in 8 home games.
  • Seattle is scoreless in last 4 home games.
  • Chicago is winless in 5(3 draws).

MLS Throw Ins

Rapids fans might be wondering if they will soon see Arsenal(EPL) players on loan in Colorado to keep sharp or recover from injury in the future as Don Garber backs Rapids owner Stan Kroenke’s possible buyout of Arsenal.

Goal scoring got off to a slow start this season, but had almost caught up to last year’s numbers. However as the playoffs beckon and sphincters tighten, the offenses have been offensive. After 205 games, nearly 60 fewer goals(-10.2%) have been scored. This week’s seven games saw 5 shutouts and 2 1-1 draws. No team scored more than 2 goals this week.

MLS In CONCACAF Champions League

In Group A, Houston lost at home to Pachuca. They need help in the last match to move on. Árabe Unido will have to lose on its visit to Pachuca while Houston must win at Metapan. Houston holds the tiebreaker over Árabe Unido. DC United stayed strong in Group B this week, with a win over San Juan Jabloteh(T&T). They also hold the tiebreaker advantage over Marathón. Columbus lost to group leaders Cruz Azul, ending its long undefeated(all competitions) home streak. For DCU and Columbus, advancement is in their own control, win and they’re in. Houston must win and Árabe Unido must lose in order to advance.

2.3 CONCACAF Tie-Breaker Procedures

In the event two teams are tied on aggregate goals scored at the end of Regulation time in the 2nd Leg (Preliminary Round or Championship Stage) or on points (Group Stage) the following tie-breaker criteria shall be applied, in order, to determine the winning team or ranking of teams.

Phase 2: Group Stage

  • Greater number of points earned in matches between the teams concerned
  • Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned
  • Greater number of goals scored away from home in matches between the teams concerned
CONCACAF Champions League
 A w d l pts diff
 Pachuca(MEX)  4  0  1  12  10
 Arabe Unido(PAN)  3  1  1  10  5
 Houston(USA)  2  1  2  7  2
 Isidro Metapan(SLV)  0  0  5  0  -17
 B
 Toluca(MEX)  4  0  1  12  11
 DC United(USA)  3  0  2  9  4
 CD Marathon(HON)  3  0  2  9  -4
 San Juan Jabloteh(T&T)  0  0  5  0  -11
 C
 Cruz Azul(MEX)  4  1  0  13  11
 Columbus(USA)  2  1  2  7  -4
 Saprissa(CRC)  1  2  2  5  -1
 Puerto Rico(CFU)  0  2  3  2  -6
 D
 Pumas UNAM(MEX)  4  1  0  13  10
 Comunicaciones(GUA)  2  0  3  6  -3
 Real Espana(HON)  2  0  3  6  -7
 W Connection(T&T)  1  1  3  4  0
CONCACAF Champions League
Oct 21-22
Group Game 6
Columbus plays Oct 20
DCU plays Oct 20
Houston plays Oct 21

Columbus’ upcoming schedule is: Oct 11 MLS, Oct 17 MLS
DC United’s upcoming schedule is: Oct 17 MLS
Houston’s upcoming schedule is: Oct 18 MLS

USMNT/MLS Scheduling – FUBAR Once Again

On October 10, when the US plays its WC qualifier in Honduras, MLS once again has matches scheduled. San Jose at TFC at 4pm ET, Columbus at New England at 7:30pm ET and the Wizards at Chivas USA at 10:30pm ET. The time of the US match has been tentatively set for 8pm ET. It may not matter, however, for as of this writing, the game will be televised in the US on closed circuit Pay-Per-View in select bars only. Yeah, unbelievable, I know, but the rights are held outside of the US and therefore are beyond the control of anyone in the US soccer or broadcasting world.

Where to View the Match in English

Where to View the Match in Spanish

On October 14 the US Men play their final WC qualifer at 8pm ET. RBNY play Real Salt Lake in Utah at 10pm ET.

Of the MLS teams with players on the 22 man US squad, Conrad(KC), Bornstein(CHV) and Rogers(CLB) will miss Oct 10 league matches. Non US players that can be expected to miss matches include:

  • Guevara(HON) from TFC
  • Elliot(NZL), Alvarez(SLV), Sanchez(SLV) and Glen(T & T)(if he gets over his injury) from San Jose
  • Moreno(VEN) from Columbus
  • Espinoza(HON) from KCOther players have been called up, but a short MLS schedule mean many will not miss matches. Did I overlook anyone(who would miss a game)?

    FIFA U-20 World Cup – US Fails to Advance

    MLS Players on the US U-20 roster will return for next week:

    GOALKEEPERS (3): Josh Lambo (FC Dallas)

    DEFENDERS (6): Kyle Davies (FC Dallas)

    MIDFIELDERS (8): Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gerson Mayén (Chivas USA)

    FORWARDS (4): Peri Marosevic (FC Dallas), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

    In the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the U.S. opened against Germany, losing badly 3-0, but they came back with a big win over Cameroon 4-1, but lost 3-0 in the group finale to South Korea. They were finally eliminated after Saturday’s play, losing out to Costa Rica on the totals goal tiebreaker.

    FIFA U-20 World Cup