American Stoke City

Photo credit: Getty Images

 

Once there was a club named Fulham FC of the Barclay's Premier League in England where many Americans got their first taste of European soccer, some to reach new heights (Clint Dempsey) and others to rethink their path (Eddie Johnson). It was clear to the team that American soccer players were a valuable asset and it helped them stay afloat in the always-competitive Premiership.

Where Carlos Bocanegra and Brian McBride broke ground, Kasey Keller guarded the doors and suddenly other teams went looking for gold across the Atlantic. In came Tim Ream, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and even Landon Donovan. All except for Ream left too soon, but their legacy remained.

So when Stoke City agreed to terms with up-and-coming Geoff Cameron of MLS' Houston Dynamo, a new pathway open for American players. Cameron settled quickly, closed gaps and made Stoke a better team. Maurice Edu joined before the close of the transfer window but the defensive midfielder did not impress enough, possibly due to his diminished form after Glasgow Rangers folded (he is now on loan to Turkey's Bursaspor). And yet, the Stoke City management decided to roll the dice on American talent one more time: Brek Shea.

I was as surprised as many other fans, no doubt, that the FC Dallas winger could be on his way to the Premier League. He had a lackluster 2012, but so did Tim Ream in 2011 when he signed with Bolton during the January transfer window of 2012. He's a young lad at only 22 and if injuries are overcome and he is patient and disciplined, his skill and speed can become quite an asset. Two goals against Mexico during the USA's term with Klinsmann have been generated through his play and he was a go-to winger in the absence of Landon Donovan.

Are we likely to see any more Americans make the jump to Stoke? Probably not, but the team's commitment to the developing game in the United States cannot be understated. This is why Dempsey joined (and thrives in) Tottenham, and it is why Michael Bradley now plays for Roma. Expect bigger things from our compatriots abroad. Stoke isn't the beginning, that goes to Fulham. Instead, the Trotters are an assertion that American soccer players have joined the elite and are here to stay.

MLS Attendance Statistics 2012 Week 10

No Premier League? No problem. Major League Soccer has plenty of action through the summer, including two or three major signings with names like Michael Ballack, Alessanro Nesta and Stephen Ireland being thrown around. On the stands things are a bit of a mix bag. While new arenas open (Houston's BBVA Compass), and recent additions shine (Livestrong Sporting Park, PPL Field), older teams and stadiums come flat: New England, DC, Dallas, Columbus. Although the latter two have their own stadiums, they continue to struggle with attendance.

League totals still remain above 2011's due to Montreal's sellouts at Olympic Stadium and the opening of Houston's new stadium. Houston happens to have settled for a downtown location for its home, something that perhaps could have been done to increase attendance in Dallas, for example. New England and DC, on the other hand, desperately need their own soccer specific fields. Seemingly weak attendance (Kansas City) has turned into sold out matches after new stadiums have been opened. 

The numbers:

Team	Average	Relative	Median
DC	13751	71	13619
KC	19017	103	19777
NE	10394	52	11251
CLB	12658	62	11516
TOR	19022	83	18944
CHI	14087	70	14159
NYRB	16204	64	17114
PHI	18437	100	18526
HOU	22039	100	22039
MON	40529	199	41016
LA	23197	86	22696
CHV	12868	68	14127
DAL	13164	64	11702
SJ	11904	113	10364
COL	14507	80	13954
RSL	18344	92	17924
SEA	38627	100	38399
POR	20438	100	20438
VAN	18615	89	19271

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Game Week 33

Magnificent Seattle. Over 64,000 in attendance for Kasey Keller's farewell match. Can anyone else match that? Perhaps once Donovan or Dempsey retires. Maybe the LA Colliseum or Rose Bowl. Maybe for Tim Howard there will be enough to approach Seattle's attendance for Keller? In New York? Seattle has set the bar pretty high once more.

This is the penultimate week of MLS attendance stats. The Sounders continue in front, having raised their average by 2000 over last year. KC, relatively speaking, has doubled its attendance due to their new stadium. LA, Dallas and Colorado have all had good gains from 2010. Chicago and Columbus continue to struggle a bit although recent matches have seen higher number of seats filled, especially for the Crew as they gear up for the playoffs.

The stats:

Team	Average	Relative	Median
DC	15203	62	14849
KC	18070	98	18467
NE	13631	68	13164
CLB	12185	60	11298
TOR	20183	88	20139
CHI	13898	69	14203
NYRB	19356	77	20039
PHI	18258	99	18524
HOU	16491	61	16478
LA	23330	86	23719
CHV	14470	54	14067
DAL	12933	63	11022
SJ	11928	114	10525
CRD	14881	82	14706
RSL	17248	86	16841
SEA	38496	108	36304
POR	18827	101	18627
VAN	20334	97	20226

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Game Week 30

Recent results and matches have shown the staying power of the league both on and off the pitch. A week ago, the Washington Post's Soccer Insider blog remarked on a particularly high-attendance game week (29). Depending upon how you slice it, you could end up with vastly different numbers. However, granted equity in our analysis, a few things do stand out: Dallas (17109), Columbus (21203, only sellout of the season), Salt Lake (19888), New York (25000). Great numbers even though football season (gridiron variety) is in full swing. Add to this the perpetual sellouts in the Pacific Northwest and we are talking about the second-highest attendance record in league history; second only to the inaugural season.

The numbers as of this week:

Team	Average	Relative	Median
DC	15107	62	14477
KC	17945	97	18467
NE	13206	66	12914
CLB	11974	59	11272
TOR	20187	88	20145
CHI	14170	71	14567
NYRB	18967	75	19684
PHI	18217	98	18524
HOU	16410	61	16247
LA	22840	85	22959
CHV	14470	54	14067
DAL	13103	64	11138
SJ	12021	114	10525
CRD	14850	82	14706
RSL	17029	85	16571
SEA	36932	103	36287
POR	18627	100	18627
VAN	20585	98	20518

MLS wins in Mexico without a meaning

Photo credit: MLS

Odd title perhaps. Then again so is the situation at field level. Last month, FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders FC managed historical first-time wins on Mexican soil against Pumas and Monterrey, respectively, at the 2011/2012 Concacaf Champions League. But are those wins meaningful if you can't equal the feat on home soil?

For Dallas this happened tonight as they saw their potential lead in their Champions League group disappear with a loss at home. The 1-0 win in Mexico was erased by a 2-0 loss to Pumas at home. So, all things being equal, they came out losing by a -1 goal differential. So was history really truly made? Cosmetically, perhaps. But point for point it's really not that meaningful. Had Dallas won tonight's game, it local supremacy would have been more evident.

This doesn't just go for Dallas. Seattle could have made history last night by winning their game, at home, versus relative-minnow Herediano of Costa Rica. Herediano had been outscored 9-1 until they defeated a slightly short-handed Sounders team by 1-0. Again, win at home or at least tie in order to have the away game be meaningful.

For LA Galaxy, winning their game at home versus Morelia will be as much of a statement as their controversial loss on Mexican soil. If Colorado can win abroad then they will have erased their terrible result at home.

These days it is clear that teams must not present "B" or "C" squads in continental games. One could argue that this is why Dallas and the Sounders were able to win in Mexico. It is also true that there is nothing wrong with fielding a defensive team when trying to protect a lead. Just something for MLS to ruminate on.

The Ascent of MLS in the Champions League

Photo Credit: Concacaf

The Concacaf Champions League has only been played in its current format since 2008. In the beginning, MLS was ill-prepared and lost scandalously to smaller teams from Trinidad and Tobago, Panama and even USL's Puerto Rico Islanders and Montreal Impact. But a recent surge in the quality of play in the league has been matched by equally-impressive results in the CCL. FC Dallas became the first MLS team to defeat a Mexican squad on Mexican soil with their win versus Pumas last week. Tonight, Seattle Sounders pushed that and became the second when they downed Monterrey at the Tecnologico.

Clearly there is something special going on. The widening of player pools and salary and the increased competition from additional MLS teams has produced a new breed of American soccer player. Added to this is the rebirth of the reserve league. More playing time for individuals means a deeper pool to draw from as squads tackle MLS fixtures, US Open Cup, friendlies and the CCL.

There are a few caveats that come along with the recent success of MLS in the CCL. Aside from the fact that all teams are undefeated so far and that they won all of their opening matches is the clear prerogative that international games have taken. There was an excellent article recently that touched on this subject and shows how much the league has grown in just four seasons.

It also comes down to respect. Yes, Pumas showed a lack of respect for FC Dallas when they played their junior squad and were promptly punished. Today Monterrey fielded a nearly full strength team versus Seattle but the players lacked focus until the second half. That plus the absence of Ayovi in the first half still had us wondering how seriously they were taking the game.

It should be noted that until MLS wins at home versus the Mexican squads in the return games, no real victory can truly be sung. Right now, a statement has been heard and it's up to the MLS teams to own this moment and finish their groups on top. Something special can still happen, as it almost did for Real Salt Lake in the final of the 2010/2011 Champions League. Team's views have changed and reaching the playoffs or winning the MLS Cup aren't the only goals.

It's appropriate to suggest that Mexican teams will storm back into the scene. There is a lot of pride at stake, as could be seen near the end of Seattle's match when tempers flared. Let's remember that Mexico's league is only below Brazil and Argentina (and not by much) in the Americas. For the Aztecas, as it is for most other clubs in Europe and South America, reaching the top spots (and not just the championship) means lucrative deals, better players, and chances for continental glory. This is a new mindset for American fans but one that coaches are beginning to take up. Aaron Winter knows this, his Toronto team is all but out of MLS competition and he is focusing on the CCL.

There is something different and special that MLS brings to the competition. Mexico might have great local and continental superstars in their teams, but only MLS is able to bring players from throughout the world. How many times were we likely to see Beckham and Keane playing meaningful, competitive matches in Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras in the past decade? Not until MLS made the changes necessary. Our American league is learning from its mistakes and is embracing the way the sport is played throughout planet football but without losing its unique American style: teamwork.

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Game Week 21

Sorry for another delay, folks! Lots of stuff happening so I had to divide my time accordingly. With Europe restarting this month, most attention will be shifted away from MLS. However, expect strong attendance to continue in the Pacific Northwest and new strongholds in the east (Philly, KC). Some of the other locations might take a hit from NFL and college football as fall sports begin play.

For the current attendance analysis we have Columbus and New England constantly struggling to fill the stands. Toronto and DCU's poor form is also reflected on their attendance. Conversely, Colorado and Dallas continue to make gains relative to 2010 and surely owe their success to their MLS Cup final last season.

I wanted to look at medians again but this time for the west and for the relative attendance. The plot above shows that most teams see over 80% in stadium capacity for most games except for Dallas (64%) and Chivas (54%). Note, however, that Dallas has made a gain of over 2000 seats since last year.

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Game Week 17

Copa America or not, MLS must continue. Now with most of their players in hand, the league continues to see strong attendance, especially over the holiday weekend with sold out venues from LA to Dallas and San Jose to Colorado. Kansas City's form stretches not only through its impressive unbeaten run but also to its shining new home at Livestrong Sporting Park. San Jose's numbers may seem inflated but this is because it chose to play at a larger venue for the New York match.

Most interesting from the 2011-2010 plot is the fact that 8 teams are in the positive and 8 in the negative (Portland and Vancouver don't count as this is their first year in the league). Of the 8 teams in the negative only 3 are more negative than -1000. However, all 8 teams in the positive are above 1000.

The numbers:

Team	Average	Relative	Median
DC	15696	64	14105
KC	18017	98	18467
NE	12675	63	12337
COL	10483	51	10306
TOR	19876	86	20086
CHI	14026	70	13156
NYRB	17878	71	18081
PHI	18177	98	18372
HOU	16411	61	15176
LA	22739	84	23719
CHV	15111	56	14058
DAL	13278	65	11138
SJ	13367	127	10276
CRD	14735	81	14185
RSL	16066	80	15513
SEA	37265	104	36255
POR	18627	100	18627
VAN	20019	95	20518

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Game Week 15

Sorry for the long lapse in stats analysis. It's been quite busy elsewhere and only one person manages the desk at Futbol USA. One of the more important events in the past few weeks is the inauguration of Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, the new home of Sporting KC. Beautiful location and one the national team will remember for a while (just see some comments by Edu, Donovan and Co. at ussoccer.com). In MLS play, the stadium has been sold out and is a welcome sight after years at cavernous Arrowhead Stadium and CommunityAmerica Ballpark (slightly over 10,000 capacity). Because of KC's stadium and the fact that they just now started playing at home, its numbers will look relatively inflated. Remember that it's doubling its previous capacity so crowds will be bigger.

As was posted before, the median of the attendance can now more appropriately be used to gauge the approximate attendance any particular team has had this season. Above is the average - median relationship for the Western Conference. Unlike the East, there is more of a one-to-one relationship for most stadiums. Notable differences are Dallas and Chivas. Dallas had higher attendance for its opening day and when the Galaxy came to town. The same goes for Chivas (sellout at the HDC for the SuperClasico).

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Game Weeks 10 & 11

In response to comments from our readers, I've elected to show some numbers this week. No in-depth analysis for the sake of brevity. DC United remains strong in its attendance average but its last few games have been below 13,000. FC Dallas is also riding high on a couple of strong dates. I will do an analysis of median vs mean next week. For now, here are the magic numbers:

Team	Average	Relative	Median
DC	16344	67	15276
KC
NE	10893	54	11587
COL	10199	50	10306
TOR	19557	85	20086
CHI	13628	68	12315
NYRB	17191	68	16366
PHI	18045	98	18591
HOU	14954	55	14191
LA	24496	91	24998
CHV	14648	54	13722
DAL	14258	70	12185
SJ	9879	94	10276
CRD	13243	73	12987
RSL	16672	83	15907
SEA	36350	102	36287
POR	18627	100	18627
VAN	19987	91	20664

Sporting Kansas City still hasn't played at home, hence the missing numbers.

Bad challenges in MLS

The MLS season has just started and some of its biggest stars are out for the rest of the year: Steve Zakuani (Seattle Sounders), Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake), David Ferreira (FC Dallas). Both Morales and Ferreira are MVPs for their teams--and the league--and means severe headaches for the coaches and the game in general. For Morales and Zakuani, additional punishment was dealt to their aggressors: a fine and 10-game ban for Brian Mullan and 4-game ban for Mondaini. But why the disparity?

It could be that Mullan's challenge was not only "malicious" but also unnecessarily early. Zakuani was injured just three minutes into the match. It was a seriously damaging and disturbing challenge and warrants punishment. The ill-timed, unprovoked tackle was reminiscent of one inflicted on Arsenal's Eduardo a few years back by a Birmingham City player.

But why the serious difference in punishment? Because Mondaini is an international player? Because it was later in the match? Because it was "more warranted"? No, it should be no different. And who's in the MLS disciplinary committee anyway?

Soccer is about handling the ball with your feet and being smart in passes and tackles. One should always go for the ball, not the player. Sometimes, however, our feelings get in the way and our competitive nature betrays our sportsmanship. I was injured once while trying to tackle someone for a mistake I made. I could have injured him but instead twisted my knee, sidelining me for months. I never played again competitively due to other reasons, but I remember what it's like to be a competitor.

The moral of this story is about fairness. Rash tackles deserve punishment, equal punishment to all that inflict them. Everyone gets hurt once in a while but this should not come from malicious, unprofessional challenges. These athletes are payed to entertain and have fun doing it, not for playing street soccer.

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Week 4

We are now in the 4th week of play and attendance remains strong for the most part. FC Dallas, although only having an average of just under 12,000 for their last couple of matches, still pulls off an average of over 14,000 given their sellout opening game. They are clearly doing something right both on and off the pitch. Vancouver has also had the novelty sellout crowds and continue to show how strong soccer is in the Pacific Northwest market. The Portland Timbers open their new home venue at Jen-Weld Field on Thursday. This match attracts special interest on my part, as I will probably attend a few games this season.

Some of the weaker markets are already showing their poor attendance, however. Most notable are New England and Columbus. A more detailed look at the difference between seasons is presented in the two plots above. For the yellow bars (2011-2010), New England lags behind last year's average by over 3,000. Compare that to 2009 (green bars) and it is over 4,000. Something needs to be done to address this. Not to mention that their total numbers are in the four-digit category. New England used to be one of the strongest markets early in the league's history. Is it management? Players? The venue? Steve Nicol is a great coach but sometimes fresh ideas can inject energy into a team (and crowd). Hyndmann did it for Dallas.

Also on the losing end is Columbus. The 2008 champions have struggled in attendance for the past couple of years, even with the presence of Barros-Schelotto. They also recently lost their jersey sponsor, Glidden, before their contract was up. Finally, Chicago is also well below their past attendance numbers when C. Blanco was playing. Bringing is Ljundberg and Nery Castillo payed very little dividends and aren't in the team anymore.

Expect other markets like Houston and Toronto to stabilize. Their fan base is strong and their stadiums are usually full. More stats will come by the middle of next week as a combo of weeks 5 and 6.

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Week 3

Week 3. Interesting trends. Scheduling is always tough in a sports-mad society like America. With MLB opening days and March Madness, not to mention ongoing NBA, and one has to have priorities. Clearly, for some of the markets, MLS isn't a priority. New England continues to struggle with their attendance no matter who comes to town. This time it was the Timbers and I enjoyed watching some Timbers fans in the stands. Also on the same boat is Red Bull New York. Their impressive stadium always looks a bit sad when the Red Bull logo is so prominent in place of spectators.

Dallas, who had an impressive opening day, also collapsed in the second week. The same is true for the reigning champs: Colorado Rapids. Their figures for this week didn't hit the 5 digit mark. Granted, it was cold and snowy, but that usually doesn't stop fans in this country. And props to those that showed up. It's tough getting there when the weather's bad. I know first hand. And yet, the LA Galaxy holds strong in their attendance, nearly 25,000 this week. And the signs held up by fans reading "We love Beckham" brings it right home. It's about stars, and it's worth it when it is. Then again, the west coast is much more consistent in attendance than the east. Just have a look at the relative attendance as of week 3:

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Week 2

Before I dive into the statistics for this week, I wanted to restate the purpose of this analysis. It is really twofold: as a scientist I am interested in trends and relative terms. Thus, the "relative attendance" factor, which is derived from the stadium capacity, is a look at how full a stadium really is. Having been to two opening days: Rapids (2010) and Sounders (2011), it became clearer that a number be defined. For the Rapids, the attendance was 11,641 (64%). I had posted on Twitter that it was a nice crowd and I believed so until someone replied that "it looked empty."

Seattle, of course, is the pernnially sold-out venue for soccer fans. The stadium can hold up to 67,000 for football matches has a reduced MLS capacity of 36,500. Opening day had 36,443. And it was precicely after this match that, as we walked out of the stadium, I heard several conversations about how full the stadium was and why they didn't expand it further, given its NFL capacity. That's a tough sell in this country, even by Seattle's standards. This is why most soccer venues are usually for 20,000 spectators. It's more cost effective for the team and the fans and it adds intimacy to the experience.

But for opening day this season a couple of weak markets (in recent years) showed very well. FC Dallas opened at 20,104 this season (8016 for opening day 2010). Colorado, the reigning champs, opened with a crowd of 17,139, approaching capacity. Real Salt Lake, Vancouver, LA Galaxy and Philadelphia also sold out for opening day. Decent (>70%) crowds were present for the New York, DC and Toronto. Do temper your judgement, however. Paltry crowds were present for a rebuilding Columbus Crew, New England, Chicago, as well as the second game in Dallas.

Graphics are on the right column. All data is derived from official match reports and stadium capacity.

MLS 2011 Attendance Statistics Week 1

Just a quick update. I have posted the new graphics on the right hand column. A more substantial post with some analysis of the first two weeks of MLS will be posted after this weekend's matches. This has been a very interesting and successful start for the season, with sellout crowds in Vancouver, Dallas, Colorado, LA, to name a few. Quite a difference from recent years. More to come.

MLS 2011

In my last post, I recounted the experience at the MLS First Kick 2011 opening match between the Seattle Sounders and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Last year I was also fortunate to watch the Colorado Rapids' home opener in April 2010. Perhaps next year I can experience another home opener. And that's what brings me to today's post: a look ahead at MLS in 2011 and what the league has to offer.

Little did I know in 2010 that the Rapids I watched from the Dick's Sporting Goods Park stands would be the eventual MLS champions. This was over the resilient, steady FC Dallas in a 2-1 finally that went into overtime. This was after FC Dallas had dispatched heavily-favored LA Galaxy by 3-0 and semifinalists San Jose Earthquakes had humbled Henry and Marquez's New York Red Bulls. This season, the Galaxy and the Red Bulls are once again heavily favored due to their considerable pedigree and depth. Real Salt Lake is also quite deep and swelling with talent. The same can be said about the Seattle Sounders, although their finishing needs to improve.

There are also teams in rebuilding mode and others that are, at least in paper, good enough to challenge for silverware. Such is the case with the four-time champion DC United. The club boasts not only Andy Najar (18, 2010 Rookie of the Year), but also newly acquired Dax McCarty, impressive rookie Perry Kitchen, veterans Josh Wolff and Joseph Ngwenya, but also the resurgent Charlie Davies. Clearly a team to watch.

The re-branded and remodeled Sporting Kansas City is coming to the fold with US international Teal Bunbury and Mexican star Omar Bravo. Salt Lake upgraded Saborio to Designated Player (DP) status and has kept its core of players, becoming deeper and more stable. Such is also the case with the Earthquakes, who are hoping Ike Opara can return to form and Wondolowski can continue to impress. New York has Agudelo to build around Henry at forward and Marquez in the back line alongside Tim Ream. Also in the mix are Tchani, John Rooney, Lindpere and Dane Richards. LA may have lost Edson Buddle, but have gained Juan Pablo Angel--how's that for a triple whammy with Donovan and Beckham?

Also on the upswing is the Houston Dynamo. Rookies Kofi Sarkodie and Will Bruin complement Brian Ching and a solidified back line with Hunter Freeman as a new addition. The New England Revolution, Chicago Fire, Toronto FC and Columbus Crew are at a crossroads right now, in a continuously difficult rebuilding process. This was evident in RSL's demolishing of the Crew in Concachampions play. Toronto has much to prove after years of impressive fan base but not enough on the pitch.

Seattle and Philadelphia, recent additions to the league, are going through different growing pains. Seattle is still looking for a stabilizer in its back line and a creative force in the attack. Losing Nkufo and Ljundberg have hampered its ability to finish their chances (clear evidence of this occurred in Tuesday's match). Piotr Nowvak has yet to find a winning form for his Philadelphia Union. The sophomore year for this franchise should be an interesting one now that players like Orozco and Fred have left and Faryd Mondragon and Carlos Ruiz have taken their place.

Not to be outdone, not by a long shot, are the two newcomers: Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. True to their USL and NASL roots, the Cascadia teams have taken similar, yet uniquely distinct paths to the MLS. Portland boasts impressive rookies like 2nd overall Darlington Nagbe, with experience national team players Kenny Cooper (striker) and Perkins (goalkeeper). Vancouver went for the biggest longshot in league history by snatching 17-year-old Omar Salgado as the number 1 pick and the fullback--and World Cup star--Jay DeMerrit. Portland has a stocked offense. Vancouver is still building theirs, with Salgado months away from being allowed on the pitch given FIFA rules (American with a Canadian team).

So tomorrow as some of us watch intently the NCAA brackets unfold and others catch the early European games, a new chapter will be played out in MLS history. The 2011 season is upon us and the league is 18-team strong and 16 years old. Stars will rise and fall but one thing is clear... American soccer is here to stay. Enjoy the games.

Photo credits MLS

Original team: Rapids win MLS Cup

The Colorado Rapids won the MLS Cup final yesterday versus arguably the best team in MLS--FC Dallas. It was a fitting finale, perhaps for a team that I grew to appreciate during my brief time in the Denver-Boulder area. From a practice match against a college team that was canceled due to inclement weather to the first competitive MLS match I ever attended. Truthfully, even at the beginning of the season, I never thought the team would make it this far...even less to actually win it. But that's how soccer works.

The match started as we thought it would: FC Dallas dominated and David Ferreira scored. Hyndmann fielded the same team that ran over the LA Galaxy. Another Dallas rout of their opponent? Not quite. Rapids coach Gary Smith continued his game plan and the team quickly moved to shut down the Colombian ace (and league MVP) with Mastroeni and Larentowicz providing the pressure. Brek Shea, meanwhile, was null in this game, with Dax McCarty taking up most of the offensive efforts.

For the Rapids, it was a team effort. Conor Casey showed why he's considered a resilient force and an underrated attacker (probably a better option for the US than Robbie Findley at the World Cup). Omar Cummings provided an important second striker, making the Rapids' front one of the best tandems in MLS. But it was Casey's unwavering fight for a goal that eventually brought the scoreboard level. In a play where Dallas' defense was frozen and in which Hartman and a defender ended up on the ground, was where Casey (also laying horizontal) struck home the equalizer. Typical Casey fashion. It reminded me of the tying goal versus Honduras in the match played by the US against the Catrachos that eventually wound up a victory and sealed the US' passports for South Africa.

The game took a downturn after the tying goal. Too much defense and not enough inventiveness from either team. The game ended up going into overtime and the Rapids grew even more dangerous. Yes, Dallas had more opportunities, but you have to put them away in order to win a game.

It would be Kandji in the 107th minute, after replacing an inured Cummings, that would put the Colorado team ahead on the scoreboard. It was a freak shot that bounced off George John's thigh, past an incredulous Hartman, almost in slow motion, into the net. Kandji would actually leave the game injured after this play and the Rapids were down to 10 men.

Dallas incessantly attacked but was thwarted every time by a stout defense and excellent goalkeeping by Pickens. After 2 or 3 clear chances, the referee blew the whistle and a new champion was crowned: the Colorado Rapids. An original MLS team with hard working individuals and lacking a Designated Player or colorful coach. Attendance in their stadium is mediocre at best, but they've sent a clear message that they are a relevant team ready to win more fans, more tournaments, and the heart of American soccer.

Photo credit: Colorado Rapids

Designated Winner: FC Dallas triumphs over Galaxy

FC Dallas was victorious this evening at the Home Depot Center, cradle of the LA Galaxy and stadium that ranked second-highest in attendance. Hyndman's men did it in style. Gritty defense. Outstanding 'keeping by Kevin Hartman, often underrated, clearly overlooked by the national team.

The star today? Hartman +10. The team played as one. It defended as one, it created as one and it attacked as one. Some of us out there had called Atiba Harris' lone start up top a risky maneuver not likely to pay off. I jokingly said it could be a genius move. And it was. More so because it allowed for the counter as Ferreira, McCarty and Shea pushed up as soon as there was a free ball. Ferreira iced the game midway through the first half. John scored again for Dallas early in the second half before Chavez sealed the 3-0 win in the 73rd. Hartman saved at least 4 sure goal attempts.

No Beckham and no Donovan in the final. Instead we have two "long shot" teams: Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas. Little did I know when I went to the Rapids' home-opener in April that this would be the team to beat in November. MLS clearly doesn't need designated players to win the cup. And yes, I'm stressing the cup. Because in reality, LA won the league and Real Salt Lake were the runners-up. This would be the case in most of Europe and some South American leagues. Here, the Supporters Shield (awarded to the highest points) is clearly shunned as a secondary title.

One last point: these two teams represent some of the lowest-attended of all squads in this league. Rapids' 2009 average was 13,328, whilst for Dallas it was 10,815. Only San Jose and Kansas City had lower numbers, and that's because their stadiums hold less than 10,500 to begin with. Will reaching the final bring up attendance numbers? It did for Columbus, to some extent. Is a designated player necessary? Not really. Not unless you know how to slide one in without upsetting the environment: Schellotto, Giovanni worked well. For Dallas it may be appropriate to get an interesting name and excite the soccer-loving crowds in the state.

This will be an interesting, fitting finale for a season full of surprises: from the rise of Buddle to the late charge in scoring by Wondolowski. From the return of Beckham to the arrival of Henry and Marquez. From the entrance of Philadelphia to the sellout crowds at Qwest Field. From the impressive Hans Backe (New York) to the outstanding Hyndman.

photo credit: MLS

MLS 2010 Attendance stats final week

It seems only fitting that I should do the last week's attendance figures as the first part of the MLS playoffs draws to a close. Why? It just seems that 3 of the teams with the lowest attendance could win the cup and will be hosting the semifinal: Colorado Rapids (13329), San Jose Earthquakes (9877) and FC Dallas (10874). Only New England (13018) and Kansas City (10286) have lower numbers than the Rapids.

With that said, we turn to another statistic: change from 2009. Both San Jose (-3836) and Dallas (-1567) saw declining attendance compared to last year. Indeed, San Jose saw the biggest loss by any team in the league. The Rapids saw a modest gain of +998.

Let's keep this in perspective, however. With the two highest-attended teams yet to play, Seattle (36500) and LA (21571), the spectacle on ESPN tonight will have a nice backdrop. Indeed, this season saw a significant increase in attendance overall when compared to 2009 (+1678). This is partly due to increasing availability of seats for Seattle (+5603 overall) and the major gains by New York (+5889) after opening the Red Bull Arena and adding Marquez and Henry.

How will next season compare? Given possibly sellout crowds for Vancouver and Portland, as well as strong attendance in Philadelphia, Toronto, LA, Salt Lake and Chicago, we could see the figure go up even more, perhaps by another 1000. And if the on-field success by Dallas, San Jose and Colorado can reignite attendance in those cities, MLS can look even stronger in the world scene.

MLS 2010 Attendance stats week 12

Attendance graphics have been updated for week 12. Note that Dallas has recovered slightly after having a 14K attendance day. DCU also saw a slight rebound with attendance at 15K. Finally, TFC saw its stadium full once more. New York (18K) and LA (20K) also had important gains (not shown, counted for week 13). We can expect fuller stadiums after the world cup.