Yet again
This entry was posted on 6/15/2007 8:50 AM and is filed under post comments.
Why does it seem that every time we play Dallas, we give up a goal in added time that takes points away? This time, as soon as it was into added time and Dallas made it into the box, I just knew they were going to score. I didn't even have to look, I just knew what was going to happen. My only thought as to why this always happens at the end of a match is conditioning. When I was coaching wrestling, we would hang a red flag on the door that said mental training day on days that we would have a very intense practice with lots of conditioning. This really was more about mental fitness than anything. Towards the end of the practice, when everyone was tired, we would do situation drills that required thinking (for example, you would be down by 2 with 30 seconds left. This really did help you think when fatigued. I don't know if there is a soccer equivalent, but it seems that's where we keep getting beat.
Otherwise, finishing is still a big problem. There were plenty of open shots that if they were played correctly, they would have been fine. For example, Freddy Adu about half way through the second half got a clean look at about the pentalty spot and rather than slot it in under the charging Sala, tried to blast a hole in the back of the net and score the spectacular goal instead of just scoring. All that would have been needed was a slight toe poke or side foot and the ball would have been in, instead Freddy winds up a driven shot, which takes longer and gives Sala enough time to make the save. I thought Freddy did what he has done all year, right when he looks like he's going to score, something happens at the end that just takes it away.
I think the worst part was the referee. I know talking about MLS refs it just repeating the same thing on a loop, but this past performance was truly deplorable. How is that not at least a foul and red card when Atiba broke away and was pushed at the top of the 18? Not only is that not a foul, Kreis gets sent off for having a very understandable reaction to that. How is it that Freddy can continue to be mugged and nothing ever gets called until the one time someone actually bounced off him (shoulder to shoulder withing a meter of the ball I might add)?
RSL looked dangerous for most of the second half (why is Andy Williams not starting?) but just couldn't finish. I truly felt that match should have been a win for RSL, which bothers me a lot since this just seems to be what keeps happening.
As for Trey Fitz-Brutus, e tu Trey?