"Well, everybody hurts sometimesEverybody criesEverybody hurts sometimesAnd everybody hurts sometimes"
Love, it is a fickle, fickle thing. However amazing the light shines, it means nothing without the darkness to contrast it with. Soccer is no different. How can you appreciate the remarkable climb of FC Dallas and Vancouver without noticing that Seattle has dive bombed faster than Courtney Love’s film career.
On June 16th, the team lost Clint Dempsey to a momentary lapse of reason (and littering) and Obafemi Martins to injury. The team has not responded well winning only a single game in the duo’s absence. The return of Dempsey was not enough on Saturday as they lost at home to Cascadia rivals Whitecaps 3-0 in a dispiriting performance.
The Sounders swoon cannot be fixed with one player. “It’s never going to be that easy,” Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said so himself in his post-match comments.
"“I tried to caution people. Everybody thought, ‘Ok, everybody’s back’ and it’s a snap of the fingers and it’ll all happen again. That’s not the way it works.”"
However for a squad that’s nearly fit getting blown out 3-0 at home, it’s hardly reassuring, even if for the team that nearly won The Triple last year.
The Columbus Paradox
When Columbus is rolling, they are rolling. Usually that means when they are at home. Save a win at the exceptionally unexceptional Chicago Fire, Columbus is winless on the road. The team has 27 goals at home, but only nine on the road.
That didn’t change this weekend at Orlando where OCSC had no problems dispatching the Crew despite giving up a penalty kick in the first five minutes of play. How easy was it for Orlando? They made one substitute–Cyle Larin in the 78th minute as a reward for the rookie’s hat trick.
Portland’s Goal Problem
The Timbers finished third in the league in scoring in Caleb Porter’s first two seasons in the league. Year three has been a different story. So it was probably fitting that one day after MLS teams combined for a record 32 goals, the Timbers and Earthquakes combined for none.
The Timbers have attempted to address their offensive woes hitting the transfer window, but have only managed one goal (a penalty kick) since Lucas Melano joined the squad.
Next: L.A. Galaxy Say Goodbye To Jaime Penedo, Hello To Donovan Ricketts