MLS attendance report: May 16, 2010

Observations

The week started with Real Salt Lake hosting Houston on Thursday. A fair crowd for midweek of just under 13,000. I say a ‘fair crowd’ only out of lowered expectations. I would think that a visit from one of the top teams would draw closer to 15,500, but that’s just me. Philadelphia had its second home match at Lincoln Financial Field and drew over 25,000. Their next home game is scheduled for the brand new PPL park, so that’s the end of the big numbers for Philly. New England had their biggest turnout this season with just over 13,600. A little over 15,000 saw the Crew maintain their undefeated status. In DC, 13,500+ saw United continue to struggle. A tad less than 18,000 witnessed the first loss at home by RBNY. Kansas City drew a respectable crowd given the horrendous conditions at game time. The Galaxy seem to have settled into the 20,000 range at home this year.

Rookie Watch: Danny Mwanga scored his first pro goal in dramatic fashion earning the Union a draw in extra time. KC’s Teal Bunbury was instrumental in the Wizard’s game vs Chicago.

Not bad for the players on my preseason ‘watch list'(bottom of post). Ryan Smith played well and Kei Kamara scored a brace for the Wizards.

Streaking

• FC Dallas have not lost at home in its last 12(8 wins).
• TFC has not lost at home in 9 straight.
• TFC is winless in 13 straight road games(4 draws).
• RSL are unbeaten in their last 14 regular season home games.
• Los Angeles have yet to yield a goal on the road(4 games).

MLS Throw Ins

• Two teams remain unbeaten, Columbus and Los Angeles.
• There have been 13 draws compared to 24 in ’09 thru the first 64 matches.
• There have been 41 clean sheets in the first 64 matches, counting scoreless draws as 2
• Through 64 games: goal scoring is slightly down from 2009, 2.50 vs 2.58.
• RSL has lost only twice in its last 33 home matches. They lost only once in ’08 and ’09, a feat matched by Houston.
• Saborío is looking like a pretty good signing for RSL.
• For the first time this season, TFC didn’t lose on the road and LA didn’t win at home.

Going to World Cup Camp

These are the MLS players that are now heading to their respective countries’ pre-World Cup camps. The columns represent the games that will be played by their MLS teams during their absences. The only dead bang sure thing player that will be going to South Africa is Landon Donovan, although I think it would also be safe to say that Roger Espinoza(Honduras) and Andrew Boyens(New Zealand) will make their final squads. Did I forget anyone?

Getting Friendly

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

The MLS play-in matches for the Open are down to the final matches that will determine the teams that will join the top 6 league finishers in 2009. Seattle are the defending cup holders, and as such will compete in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League. Two teams will emerge from the group of Colorado, RSL, DCU and RBNY to join the 6 that automatically qualified.

• Colorado Rapids defeated the Kansas City Wizards 2-1.
• Real Salt Lake beat the San Jose Earthquakes on PK’s 5-3 after playing to a 3-3 score.
• New York Red Bulls downed Philadelphia 2-1.
• DC United beat FC Dallas 4-2, the 2nd year in a row that DCU eliminates FCD.
• New York Red Bulls downed New England 3-0.

The structure for the tourney has been finalized. Round 1 begins June 15, Round 2 June 22, Round 3(when the 8 MLS teams join in) June 29.

In case you were wondering, here is the World Cup schedule(June 11-July 11). Note that the latest start time(ET) is 2pm.