The Birth of the Cool

Last weekend was a good one in MLS, featuring three come-from-behind games, one of which was one of the most entertaining in MLS this season. That game, between the New England Revolution and the Metrostars, promised to be a barn-burner before the game even started. The Metrostars needed three points to keep pace with Kansas City and Chicago in the Eastern Conference. Currently, they're still on the outside looking in on the playoffs, but a win over the Revolution would assuredly secure Bradley's job (at least for another week), motivate the team, and keep them in the playoff picture.

Fortunately, the Revolution are an equally motivated team, finally at full strength again after an entire season filled with international call-ups and untimely injuries. From the outset it was clear that they were not going to roll over and die for the Metrostars. On the contrary, the Revolution still have plenty to play for with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs still not secured, and a tight Supporter's Shield race with the San Jose Earthquakes. Both teams came into the game with the intention of winning and it showed.

The lead changed on three separate occasions, with the Revolution at one point scoring three goals in a span of seventeen minutes. It was after the Metrostars blew their 3-1 lead that I began thinking that Bradley's career with the team had to be over if the Metrostars didn't secure the three points. I was wrong, again. The Metrostars stormed back, tying the play on a Guevara goal and, in the final ten minutes, Yori Djorkaeff (the ageless wonder) scored a wonderful goal by taking advantage of a Matt Reis positioning error. There was end-to-end action, plenty of goals, and a fight, not much more than you can ask for from a soccer game. The win now leaves the Metrostars only three points back of Kansas City in the Eastern Conference playoff race with five games to play. An exciting end of the season for the league's most exciting conference.

Highlights can be found here.

MLS Power Rankings:

1. San Jose Earhquakes - After a not-so-convincing win over Chivas, San Jose finds itself back on top thanks to a Revolution loss. While that win was not convincing, San Jose did whatveer it took to win, sacrificing their bodies (see Califf, Danny) to get two late game goals to snatch victory from a tired, wounded Chivas side.

2. New England Revolution - The fact that the Revolution still battled for three points after going 3-1 down was a sign that the Revolution, for all their defensive lapses on Saturday, is, along with San Jose, the hungriest team in the league. Even when they don't need three points, they went on the road and fought the Metrostars with everything they had. This is a championship team folks.

3. D.C. United - In Saturday's most predictable game, United took it to the Colorado Rapids. Nowak called it D.C.'s best game of the season. Perhaps that Catolica game has given United some much needed confidence going into the stretch run. Regardless, they same to be firing on all cylinders offensively. If they can secure their back-line, they will be serious contenders for MLS Cup in the Eastern Conference.

4. Chicago Fire - A big win on the road moves Chicago into third place in the East before two rough games ahead in San Jose and Kansas City. If Chicago can survive those matches with three or four points, they will have done very well during the league's most unenviable road trip.

5. Metrostars - A huge win over the Revolution means that the Metrostars are now only three points behind Kansas City in the race for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. The defense is still worrisome, but if the offense (the triumvirate of Djorkaeff, Guevara, and Razov) can continue to generate goals, the Metrostars should have no problem winning games. That Djorkaeff signing (and his move to captain) is not looking so dumb now.

6. Kansas City Wizards - While the 2-2 home tie against the Galaxy on Saturday may not look terrible, it's a troubling result for Gansler's boys. Not only where they seriously outplayed at home for the first hour of the match, but they only pulled out a tie in the last ten minutes against a tired and inexperienced Galaxy defense. Until Gansler can get this team back into motion, they'll have serious trouble fending off the Metrostars.

7. LA Galaxy - What was Steve Sampson thinking? If you want to find out why the Galaxy didn't win Saturday's road match against the Wizards, look no further than at the substitutions list. Sampson's poor substitions cost the Galaxy three points, and their second away win outside Los Angeles this season. A troubling and disappointing result for Galaxy fans.

8. FC Dallas - Yesterday's victory over Real Salt Lake means that Dallas and Los Angeles have now qualified for the playoffs. It also means that Los Angeles is now mathematically eliminated from winning first place in the West. A big regular season home win for Dallas at the right part of the season. While not always convincing in victory, Dallas may just be beginning to turn their season back around.

9. Columbus Crew - Ahead of the Rapids because at least they don't play the most negative soccer I've ever seen in MLS.

10. Colorado Rapids - The most digusting, thuggish road tactics in all of MLS. Clavijo's squad takes to the road with the intention of fouling and hurting their opponents until they're completely off their game. It worked against San Jose, but it didn't work against D.C., despite the refs inability to control the match.

11. Real Salt Lake - Still losing.

12. CD Chivas USA - Is this the worst team in MLS history?