Operation REC

Today we meet Dallas in our first match of Operation Recapture El Capitan. As you know, we won the inaugural El Capitan in 2006 and retained it in 2007 then lost it in 2008 after we tied Dallas in all three matches. Because of the ties, El Capitan was awarded to the team with the highest number of away goals, which favored Dallas since they had twice as many away games to accrue goals. Still, the Dynamo have nothing to complain about as they were the ones who tied a lousy time three times, twice at Robertson.

Now that the two teams face each other an odd number of times, one team would have the advantage by having more opportunities to get away goals. So this week, the tie-breaker rules were changed for this and future seasons:
1. Head-to-head regular season series (W-L-T)
2. Head-to-head goal differential in regular season series
3. Result of playoff series (if applicable)
4. Result of CONCACAF Champions League series (if applicable)
5. Result of SuperLiga playoff match (if applicable)
6. Result of SuperLiga group match (if applicable)
7. Result of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match (if applicable)
8. Holder retains trophy

Dynamo should win El Capitan outright in the regular season. And they should win tonight. They outclass FCD at every position (Dallas' David Ferreira could be a shining exception), but it's rivalry matches such as this one that can turn a struggling team's fortunes around. FCD has some fight in it, Cooper and Cunningham can use their size and speed (respectively) to punish us. So we should win, but FCD won't make it easy and could steal a point (or three) if we're too cavalier.

After tonight, we play Dallas twice at Pizza Hut Park: Saturday, June 13 (live on Fox Soccer Channel), and Thursday, August 6 (live on ESPN2).

The Dynamo website has a couple of articles that reflect on some nostalgic moments from the "Texas Derby":
Top 10(+1) plays in Houston-Dallas rivalry. The "+1" is the special mention of the Ricardo-Ruiz incident at the end of the 2007 regular season -- not a highlight, but definitely memorable. That explosion wasn't really due to the rivalry as much as due to Carlos Ruiz being a cheating, violent scumbag who finally got under Rico's skin.
Top 5 matches in the Houston-Dallas rivalry. We can thank Alvarez who, gifted though he is, lingers in mediocrity due to his lack of focus, professionalism, and maturity...and these traits helped significantly in our victory that became the #1 match on this list.

See you at the game! (I heard the pitch is finally green!)

"The better team won"

Well, that was easy.

With most of Chivas USA back home nursing injuries, there was no surprise that the Dynamo got 3 points last night. We knew there'd be goals scored even without Ching and DeRo, but there was the worry that Chivas would get one or two past Caig as well. The surprise was that by halftime we had amassed a 4-nil scoreline (and we could have scored more). The second half saw a more conservative Dynamo come out, but even then we had some great opportunities and Kei Kamara was terribly unlucky to not get his hat trick. It was a great night for the Sierra Leone native (Sierra Leonean?). Could Caraccio have had the same night?

Nate Jaqua also had a big night. I don't know what he did in Austria, but he is twice the player he used to be in the buildup.

Stuart Holden is looking more and more like the franchise player he could be. After a solid Olympic showing, he had a great run and a confident game-winning goal to start things off. He also does so well in the midfield. The Dom has got to find a way to keep Stuie on the field with DeRo, Mullan, and Davis. But where?

And Caig got a shutout, doing well on the three or so dangerous opportunities generated by Chivas, and also not turning otherwise tame Chivas opportunities into dangerous opportunities.

In all, I think the only complaint I have is that The Dom didn't substitute earlier. With a game on Sunday in New Jersey, he could have given some of his tender starters some rest.

As of last Friday, the Dynamo had never scored four goals in one half. As of Wednesday night, the Dynamo have accomplished that feat twice.

And we're only 4 points from the once-distant Supporters' Shield. We have 32 points (as does Chicago), the Crew have 34 points, and the Revs are at the top with 36 points. Can we catch them? That would be a first for the club and would gain us entry into all of the international tournaments of 2009.

Game recap

Another article: Four goals in the first half hasn't happened in the MLS since the Galaxy did it 10 years ago in 1998. Kamara said. "I am playing with -- every game now -- the best players in the league. This is my third year now and I have been around a lot of good players, but now, being around these guys, they are making me better every time I step on the field."

Article focusing on Chivas. Preki, "The better team won, they were sharp from the first minute, and that's the end of that."

Other Quotes.

USMNT
I saw only the last half of the USMNT match in Guatemala. (Game recap.) From what I saw, the US couldn't match Guatemala's passion and zeal. The US couldn't maintain possession for long on the attack and looked flustered on defense. They were lucky to get all three points, which is a fantastic result for the US in a hostile stadium in Central America. The fact that we got a goal off a free kick isn't all that surprising, but the way Guatemala was torching our defense, it was surprising they didn't get a goal (or three) of their own. Tim Howard, MOTM.

Ives has a good recounting of the post-match sentiments. Tim Howard had a few choice words about El Pescadito (or "Peccadillo" as I deem more appropriate).

USSoccerplayers.com has a good summary of the obstacles the USMNT faced off field and how it affected the on field performance. Sometimes the challenge is more than just matching the skill of the opposition.

Showing our Quality! (Conference Semis 2nd Leg)

What an awesome evening tonight.

Sitting in Section 118 (turns out I've been sitting near the Mezzanine owners all this season), the crowd was vocal and spirited. In fact, every section was roaring...well, except for the FCD Inferno section above the south goal, which was deathly quiet after Ching scored the game winning (and series tying) goal. With more than 30,000 people -- most in orange -- Robertson was a cauldron that would will the team to victory.

As I expected, the Dynamo controlled possession and territory. We had 2-3 near goals in the first 10 minutes. (I can't believe the stadium officials didn't notice the Ref's signaling of the free kick for FCD -- not a goal for Houston -- after the near-goal in the first minute...how deflating to make everyone think we tied the aggregate right out of the gate.) It was all orange on the field. As I feared, we couldn't turn our chances into goals. I couldn't see much in the south goal (due to my viewing angles), but it looked like the ball was practically bouncing off a Plexiglas shield. We were doomed to lose to an inferior team, 1-0. And to make matters worst, 5-Star took my bags of free cookies when I entered the stadium...at least I got to keep my free orange boxers.

But that was the first half.

[Note that the most important part of the evening occurred at the beginning of halftime, when birthday wishes for my wife were broadcast on the Jumbotron. Happy XXth birthday, honey!]

The second half was much better than the first. A hearty shout-out to former Houstonian, Arturo Alvarez, for losing his head and kneeing Davis in the groin in the opening minutes of the second half. Alvarez had looked pretty creative at times in the first half, and was now leaving his team short-handed. It seems another former Houstonian, Chris Gbandi, did the same last year in FCD's series versus the Rapids. Alvarez's departure helped open up the field more, and allowed Dom to immediately sub in Holden for Waibel and switch to a 3-5-2.

More Dynamo possession ensued. Then goals. Lots of goals! A plethora of goals! A cornucopia of goals! I feel a Haiku coming on!

Always creative,
Yet tonight we finish too,
In our orange cauldron.

First, Holden gets his nifty half volley off a Ching-headed layoff. Then Ching evens the series and gets the game winner by finishing off a perfectly timed through pass from D-Ro. In the waning moments of regulation, Ching misses another sitter. Would he regret that? No! Because he gets the series winner off a pass from Ngwenya in the first half of overtime. Just to seal the deal, Brad Davis shoots a dynamite laser of a free kick into the upper 90. Dallas become frantic but ineffective in the second half of overtime, and Dynamo-Houston wins 4-1 (4-2 agg.) to face either Chivas USA or KC Wizards in the Western Conference Championship. I'm pulling for KC so we get one more home game.

This game had everything: Noise. Bad officiating. Evil doers (Ruiz). Turncoats (Serioux stomping on Holden's neck...though I'm sure that's an accident). Bad guys taking a formidable lead; good guys overcoming adversity and winning in the end. Margaritas (but at $10...yikes!).

Rico Clark came onto the field on crutches and sat in the field chairs (with John Michael Hayden) right in front of us during the second half.

At the end of the game, the team considerately walked to every end of the stadium, applauding the fans. DeRo wore Rico's jersey (backwards, so Clark's name and number 13 were highly visible) in honor of his teammate who will have to sit out this match and every other match this season because of the captain of the opponent that was vanquished tonight.

And when that talisman of disrepute, Ruiz, scored the opening goal of tonight's match, it looked like the MLS might have successfully conspired to reward the maleficent while shackling the innocent (though admittedly tarnished innocent). Ruiz should not have been on the field tonight given his role in the incident with Clark, but the MLS didn't seem to have a problem with that. But since he was on the field, so should Clark have been.

And then to have Ruiz's antics coddled by the Referee tonight? Stupefying.

I guess I'm a callous sadist, because I enjoyed Ruiz getting injured by his own teammates as he strutted his stuff after his goal, taunting the fans, then tripping over the ad boards. He grabbed his head afterwards, of course. He grabbed his cranium a lot all night, not that it bothered the refs.

But all that is merely introductory exposition to set up the real story of the night: the good can prevail with hard work, skill, esprit de corps, and tens of thousands of people behind you.

Lurking through the BigSoccer boards post-game, I found a few quotes that made me feel good about the team I support:

[Regarding Houston] : Nobody else is beating Houston if they keep playing like this.

[Regarding FCD]: If the Front Office wants to know why PHP isn't full next year, they should play the tape of this game. Three years running, three implosions. Stupid, dirty play. Overreacting to fouls. ... The worst is, I really feel sad for all of you hard-core fans. This team doesn't deserve you.

[Regarding Houston fans, a left-handed compliment]: Absolutely. They have great, albeit stupid, retarded, rabid fans. Good for them. It doesn't seem right, of course, but that's life.

All of these quotes came from FCD fans, who praise the Dynamo and Dynamo supporters, and question the nature of their own team. I do wish FCD would gain some class (which would start by ditching Ruiz), but them having no class makes it so much easier to despise them. Having said that, I was impressed with the FCD fans, who drove a long way on a weeknight, and were quite boisterous. If I were to offer an opinion, it would be that they need to learn some songs to sing when things aren't going their way. They looked despondent when the balance turned on the field; perhaps some clamorous songs would hide their own trepidation while inspiring their team to reverse the tables yet again.

Those were quotes from opposing fans. Now for some quotes from the Dynamo, go here.

I'm tired and my throat aches. Off to bed. Go Dynamo!

The Weekend's Anti-soccer

The US Soccer Players blog (I site I now regularly hit) has its take on the recent first round leg matches of the conference semis. Here are some highlights:

"We wanted to play and go forward but, at the end of the day, who cares?" Revs' coach Steve Nicol told the Boston Globe.

It's naive to imagine that Nicol might worry about entertaining the 14,165 fans who came to watch. But to say "who cares?" like an insouciant teenager suggests he thinks that everyone watching his dull but efficient team in the playoffs is similarly fixated on "smart play" and the final result as he is. The thought of the revs making it through to the MLS Cup Final again is, frankly, depressing.

Regarding the Dynamo match:

Steve Morrow reverted to the British stereotype, breaking up all opposing plays with niggly fouls and using the big lad Adrian Serioux to launch in as many long (and arguably foul) throws as possible in the hope that one might careen around and land in the right place. It worked, with Clarence Goodson banging in a loose ball for the only goal of an intense but extremely poor game of soccer.

Dallas committed 23 fouls in the game, to Houston's eight. The Dynamo, sometimes seen as the Revs of the West, deserved a tie at least for their effort, and because they weren't as dirty as their opponents. It's a strange game when you end up feeling sympathy for Eddie Robinson, the victim of yet another discreet Carlos Ruiz elbow to the face.

Ruiz continued his mediocre form, showing no on-field rapport at all with the lumbering Kenny Cooper. In the end, you prayed for a cameo five minutes from Denilson just to watch him backheel the ball and remind you that this was really supposed to be a game of soccer, and not hands-free rugby played by panicky, over-developed third-graders.

"We made it difficult for them to establish a rhythm," Dallas defender Bobby Rhine told the Dallas Morning News in the understatement of the weekend. Congratulations, Bobby. And did you wonder why there were only twelve and a half thousand people in the stadium for what should have been the biggest game of the season?

Check out Ian Plenderleith's article for his perspective on the entire weekend.

The Banning of Clark; The Empowering of "El Peccadillo"

Thursday, the PTB of the MLS spoke, saying: "I have decided that it is necessary to take firm action to reflect the fact that Ricardo Clark's violent kick to Carlos Ruiz in last weekend's game against FC Dallas, while out of character, is unacceptable behavior from an MLS player. In taking this action, Major League Soccer is sending a signal that it will not accept reckless and dangerous behavior on its fields. If there is a repeat of this kind of behavior by any MLS player, even firmer sanctions can be expected in the future. I hope and believe that Ricardo Clark will reflect on and learn from his mistake and become a better professional as a result."

Then he (they?) suspended Clark for 9 games and fined him $10,000.

Oh, here's the voice mail that Don Garber left on Ricardo Clark's machine last Thursday:

...oh, there's the beep. These machines are tricky sometimes. Uh, Rico, Don here. I just wanted to let you know that one sin we cannot abide is a momentary slip into passion -- well, we encourage passion, of course, just certain types of passion. Anyway, it would be better if you wouldn't be so obvious with your violence. Regular violence done subtly is fine; and who cares if it's selfishly motivated? Just none of that "moment of provoked weakness" stuff, okay? Please try to conceal it a bit better, and remember: violence should be a tool to enhance your game and give you an edge. Use it insidiously for the betterment of the game.

Oh, and next time just break his leg in the run of play. Even if you cause a career-ending injury, we'd have suspended you only 2 games -- just ask Hristo. See ya, and good luck in the play-offs -- oops, didn't mean to rub it in.

The Internet boards are lit up with Ruiz-haters defending Clark, pacifists denouncing Clark, and wizened journalists shaking their heads sagely and reprimanding Clark for not being the professional that they are. The only journalist who has taken up a position that I agree with (including even our hometown journalists) is Ives Galarcep, who has had several blog posts about this incident. Here is one that summarizes his viewpoint.

Ives pretty much sums up my thoughts.

I think Clark's punishment was excessive. Throwing an elbow or a series of punches to someone's face is more malicious that a single kick to the arm. As violent as the kick looks (especially in dramatic slow-motion), it's pretty mild despite the histrionic lamentations of many viewers. It certainly doesn't warrant a third of the season. You wouldn't see a baseball player get suspended for 53 games or a basketball player suspended for 26 for something like that.

Maybe I watch too many Die Hard movies and I've become inured; or maybe others are too effete. Probably neither. I just think there is greater violence and greater injustice in the world and in the world of sports. Even in the game of soccer I think there are things that bring greater disrepute to the game.

Clark was definitely foolish though, and his violence should be punished. That's why I thought a 6 match ban would be appropriate punishment, plus a fine. That's what Sala earned for his participation in a post game melee. And for the record, I think brawling is more violent, more dangerous, and more disreputable than a single kick to the arm.

Also, I think that the cause of the violence explains the incident a little, and perhaps attenuates the degree of disgust associated with the violence. When violently victimized, it's natural to lash out. Is it the right thing to do? No, but it's understandable.

And the cause of Clark's violence was a punch to the kidneys administered by Ruiz.

Even with the replay, it is hard to determine Ruiz's wrongdoing. He's good at what he does and has learned how to hide his peccadilloes. You can't see anything from the Internet feeds--or at least I can't. I had to slow down the slow-mo DVR replay on my big screen TV to see the progression. When the ball is kicked, everyone (except Ruiz) is focused on playing the ball. Ruiz is focused on another target, Clark. Ruiz makes an unnatural movement with his harm that looks to be a jab or punch to Clark's side. Clark immediately collapses. Clark wasn't watching Ruiz (he was doing what you're supposed to do: playing the ball), so he wouldn't have known to "dive" then; his fall was caused by the strike. Only after Ruiz had violently dispatched Clark did Ruiz attempt to play the ball.

When Clark's momentary lapse of reason led to a kick to Ruiz's arm, Ruiz must have been elated. This created another opportunity for the Soccer Con Man. The shot to the arm obviously was harmless because Ruiz was able to go to his Plan B (every con man has a back up). He grabbed his head and rolled around in an attempt to exaggerate his own "victimization" by his former punching bag, thus masking his own earlier assault and possibly drawing a PK.

Clark could have kicked Ruiz several more times before others restrained the Dynamo midfielder. Multiple strikes are typical of hooligan activity -- but Clark didn't, because this wasn't hooliganism. It was a one-time momentary lapse of reason brought about by stress.

The major difference between Ruiz's violence and Clark's is that Ruiz's violence was premeditated and with the sole intent of gaining an advantage for himself. Clark's violence was emotional and in reaction to being wronged. Neither action was right, but a moment's weakness after being wronged is much less offensive than a pre-planned assault designed for selfish gain. Ergo, Ruiz deserves equal if not more punishment.

As for the violence itself, people can be easily swayed by the drama of a kick, but it can be argued that a kick to a fleshy arm is less dangerous than a sucker punch to the back/side.

And this has nothing to do with Ruiz's past antics. This is based on the actions and violence of THIS incident. (Although repeat offenders should be punished more harshly.)

Clark's violence should be punished, no doubt; but I find Ruiz's incessant cheating and continual violent conduct (which has, disgustedly, been refined to a subtle art) to bring repeated disrepute to the game. His transgressions go far beyond diving; his nickname should change from "El Pescadito" to "El Peccadillo".

Ruiz should be punished no less than Clark, and his cynical machinations should not give his team any advantage over potential opponents in the post-season. I don't think a Clark-less Dynamo should have to face a Ruiz-led FCD in the playoffs...not that Ruiz brings much to the pitch these days.

I am baffled how teams continue to put up with the stain that is Ruiz. But on the Internet, one can find many Ruiz-apologists to this day. This pleases Ruiz to no end, I'm sure; because without gullible folks, con men can't survive. His shenanigans could not continue without the MLS's, journalists', and even some fans' tacit blessing. They're all being conned, but the true victim is the game.

If the MLS truly wanted to end these incidents, it would go after the instigators. Instead, they let the criminals roam free to create more victims...and then the victims themselves are held to a separate standard when they react to the injustice that the criminals (and, by proxy, the MLS) have unleashed upon them.

So, if 9 games is the new standard for a momentary slip into rash violence, then so be it. Future offenders will have to be held to this ever-changing standard. But if Ruiz doesn’t get more than his standard 1 game suspension (on top of his 1 game for yellow accumulation), then he is giggling at the chaos he is able to sow…and others of his ilk are preparing their own surreptitious jabs and taunts in order to further undermine the game for their own personal gain.

D-Mo and D-Ro Dominate in Dallas

What a dominating performance the Dynamo had in Frisco today. A 3-0 domination that left FCD with only 1 shot on goal. (Game guide -- Game Recap.)

The old D-Ro we know and love returned. He was the prime generator in the midfield, but also on the finishing end with a rocket to the near post in first half injury time, and another rocket from distance that was deflected by Sala...and those were just two of many.

Ching was doing his usual holding play and possession dribbling to make the insightful passes that make things happen. He got credit for the assist on Holden's goal of course (in the 84th), but my ultra-slow replays show that his head slightly deflected the ball on Mulrooney's corner kick, thus pushing the ball away from Sala's reach and getting the ball to E-Rob for the second goal in the 62nd minute.

As for the Defense? What can you say? Dominating. FCD's threats were few and far between.

Heck, I'm so happy I won't even mention Jaqua's horrendous finishing!

We've got 14 wins and 48 points, tied for first in the Western Conference (tied for 3rd overall). This is a good thing, because while the Supporters' Shield may be out of our reach (realistically, though not mathematically), we need the points to keep us in the top 4, which gets us into next year's SuperLiga. Then we can start worrying about the MLS Cup, which gets us the accolades and the invite to the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

As for the elephant in the room, I couldn't believe when I saw the usually cool Clark go ballistic on Ruiz at the end of the game. He'll get a sure match ban and fine after that violent act. In the replays, I couldn't see Ruiz do anything except jump for the ball then succumb to gravity and land on Clark. Then, using the ultra-slow replay of my DVR, I saw El Pescadito focused completely on Clark (not the ball) as he ran, then he jabbed Clark in the ribs (or sucker punched him in the kidney), and only then did Ruiz focus on the ball and jump for it over Clark's crumpled body. Clark was clearly incensed and kicked Ruiz in the arm, which of course caused the Lying, Cheating Guatemalan to grab his head and writhe in pain. Clark's violence was completely out of line and could have cost his team the clean sheet; however, had he not exploded (but couldn't he have done so less violently?), Ruiz's cheating would not have been recognized. Ruiz is a known cheater, and is incorrigible in his behavior, bringing disrepute to the game every time he is on the field. Clark should be banned for 2-4 matches, but Ruiz should be banned from the MLS. His cheating is pervasive, violent, cynical, and we only see a small fraction of the infractions that he attempts out on the pitch. No team with any values would support him or his manner of play...and I hope the MLS is composed entirely of teams with such caliber and ethics.

Thankfully, we got the 3 points and the clean sheet. We're closer to achieving our goal of being in the top 4 of the standings. Our defense has proven so stellar this year: we can allow up to 2 goals a game for our final 3 games and still set the record for goals conceded in a season and goals per game conceded in a season. If we can do this AND get 9 points out of our remaining games, life will be good...

...until the MLS postseason starts -- then we'll have a whole new set of goals we'll want to accomplish.

Go Dynamo!