Bleacher Report - Articles by Christopher Cantwell

Jaime Moreno: Best MLS Career Ever?

Christopher Cantwell — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:52:46 -0400

With little or no argument, any Major League Soccer fan includes Jaime Moreno in their top ten, top five, maybe top three for biggest impact in the history of MLS. But where does he stand right now?

On Saturday, Jaime Moreno assisted DC United's game-tying goal by Ben Olsen, raising his assist total to 100.

He now is the only player ever in Major League Soccer to reach the 100 goal, 100 assist mark. He currently leads all-time scoring with 122 goals.

Not only does he lead DC United, the most trophied and historic franchise in MLS, in almost every category, he sits in the top ten in almost every overall MLS stat.

First in goals. Fifth in assists. Seventh in games played. Tenth in minutes played. Fifth in game-winners. First in penalty kick goals. Fifth in multi-goal games.

And most of these he will move up in, even if he decides 2009 is his last season.

Moreno has recorded ten goals and ten assists in four seasons, tied with Preki for most ever.

What I love so much about these records is that he has done it almost all in one place, with a rotating cast of players since 1996.

Jaime Moreno has become the face of DC United soccer. Should he be the face of Major League Soccer?

We will probably see this accomplished again, but no current player even sits above 75 in both goals and assists. Who is next?

Landon Donovan currently has 86 goals, 72 assists. Ante Razov is 34 assists away, but has not played yet in his 14th MLS season. Steve Ralston also in his 14th season, needs 30 goals. Jeff Cunningham needs 40 more assists.

One hundred, one hundred is difficult.

Congratulations Jaime Moreno, you are in an elite class of Major League Soccer players. And currently the most elite.

Penguins Open With a Statement In Pittsburgh, Continue Their Momentum

Christopher Cantwell — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:05:40 -0400

Momentum is huge entering the NHL playoffs. The Penguins were flying high entering this postseason and showed no signs of letting up in game one.

A 4-1 victory with big nights from Sidney Crosby and Evengi Malkin shows great things are bound to happen for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Crosby notched a Power Play goal and an assist and Malkin exemplified his patience with a backhand goal, on an odd bounce off the board, and an assist.

A run to the Stanley Cup once again must go through Philadelphia in a physical battle for claim as the best hockey team in Pennsylvania.

The physical battle started early, and the most-penalized team in hockey showed no signs of letting up in the playoffs.

Scott Hartnell of the Flyers posted 16 penalty minutes himself, and was an irritating force upon the Pens all game.

No surprise that the key to victory in this game, and the whole series, will be the Penguins ability to capitalize on the Power Play.

Just a little over four minutes into the game, Crosby scored on a power play, and brought the Mellon Arena fans to their feet.

That home-ice edge stuck throughout the 60 minutes.

Many refer to Tyler Kennedy as the Penguins X-factor, and he scored early in the second to bring the fans right back into the game after the break.

Malkin and Eaton sealed the game up in the third, and Philly notched a late power play goal.

The game ended chippy, as the Flyers looked to set the tone for the next game, which is Friday night in Pittsburgh.

Philly ran out of room in the penalty box as they increased the physical play over the final minutes.

The Penguins look to continue their momentum and take advantage of home-ice once again on Friday. Philly will look to bounce back and grab some of their own momentum before heading home for Game three.

Chivas USA, LA Galaxy: Cards Ruin the SuperClasico

Christopher Cantwell — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:47:21 -0400

Any fan of soccer understands the importance of a yellow card and the necessity of a red card. But the display by Tim Weyland in the SuperClasico was outrageous and unnecessary.

A referee should never be noticed during a game of soccer.

The fact his name was mentioned by Alexi Lalas and John Harkes on ESPN Saturday night more times than any single player, is an embarrassment.

The match between the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA was a derby. A rivalry. A game for the city of Los Angeles. For pride. Of course we expect players to be chippy, a little excited to open the game. That is what the fans and the coaches want.

Two fouls were obvious cards; The Galaxy's Gregg Berhalter deserved a red card for halting a scoring chance and Chivas' Paulo Nagamura's second yellow was deserving.

How were nine cards thrown?

A card every 10 minutes. As many cards as shots on goal. This destroys the flow of the beautiful game.

No doubt, most were fouls. But cards change a game and ruin the excitement of the only derby in Major League Soccer.

Longest time between cards: 23 minutes. Totals: 31 fouls, 9 cards, 0 goals. 19 players on the field at the end of the match.

Let us hope the next SuperClasico allows Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy the chance to put on the show we all expect from their derby.

Tim Weyland can watch from home.

Seattle Sounders FC: Succeeding On and Off The Pitch

Christopher Cantwell — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:33:10 -0400

Seattle Sounders FC are winning on-the-pitch, and winning big off-the-pitch.

The Sounders announced today that their next two home matches, the Quakes on the 25th and the Galaxy on May 10th, have sold out. Their May 30th game against the Champion Columbus Crew has just about 1,000 tickets remaining.

Seattle has now sold out its first five matches at Qwest Field. There has been some outcry by Sounders' fans asking for Qwest Field to be opened up beyond the 27,000 limit put on Sounders' games.

I understand the complaint, but completely agree with Seattle's choice to cap at 27,000. This is the intimate setting Don Garber envisioned when he took over as Commissioner of Major League Soccer.

I sat high up at RFK stadium for LA Galaxy at DC United two summers ago, David Beckham's first MLS match appearance. And as great of a time I had, my times in Columbus, inches from the pitch in every seat, part of the Hudson Street Hooligans and Crew Union, is the feeling I want everyone to take home from an MLS match.

It is great to see the demand high in Seattle, a supply and demand scenario only seen elsewhere in Toronto.

This only excites me more for MLS Cup 2009 at Qwest Field, although I think I will have a tough time finding tickets this year.

Seattle Sounders FC: Fastest Expansion Start In MLS History

Christopher Cantwell — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:54:40 -0400

Chicago Fire has long held claim to best start by an expansion team. After the Fire's amazing start in 1998, the Fire traveled all the way to Pasadena, Calif. and took home the MLS Cup.

Is there any reason to doubt this is the fate of the Seattle Sounders? Or even to think they are more deserving? The Seattle Sounders have become a framework (along with TFC) of what an MLS expansion side should be. There is no doubt Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Portland are all taking notes from the 2009 Seattle Sounders FC.

The most season ticket sales, a Designated Player, a US legend, USL Sounders players, and young talent all are hallmarks of this team.

Seattle, now tied for first place in the West with three wins, a perfect start, looks to repeat the expansion success of the Fire. Even more surprising is the play of the Sounders defense and former US keeper Kasey Keller.

Keller is the big-name hometown player (born in Olympia) that every team looks for. He is an aging legend who has been successful throughout the world and representing the States, leading a new, youth-filled Sounders club.

And who can leave out the two-game success of Fredy Montero? In two games, he has scored three goals and provided the fans with a young, energized, highlight-making player to represent the Sounders. When he missed game three, the big-name Ljunberg stepped up early scoring in Toronto at BMO Field (one of the toughest places to play), reminding both fans and other teams that this Designated Player is here to win.

Seattle now prepares for Week Four, where they get to host the one-win Kansas City Wizards at Qwest Field. A win in Seattle for the Sounders not only solidifies them as the best expansion start of all time, but could place them in a group of elite teams who have opened the season with such dominance, reminiscent of the Crew last year (who did lose early on, but started 6-1-1).

Regardless of this week's outcome, the Western Conference knows that Sounders are one of teams to beat in '09.

SuperClasico Round One Chivas USA, Los Angeles Galaxy: The Battle For LA

Christopher Cantwell — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:49:13 -0400

The 2009 battle for Soccer dominance in Los Angeles begins this Saturday. As Chivas USA has gradually emerged as MLS Cup contenders over the past few years, the Galaxy have shifted in the opposite direction. Regardless of the records every year, the battle between Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy to claim possession of the SuperClasico is passionate and exciting.

The Galaxy, come into the match with one point, a two-goal performance by Landon Donovan saved a point in Week one. A two-assist performance by Donovan in Week three kept the Galaxy just short of controlling Conor Casey's hat trick. As Berhalter gets set to join the Galaxy and strengthen the back line alongside the fast-maturing Franklin, the Galaxy search for the first win in a series usually dominated by the Galacticos.

Chivas USA sits atop the league coming into Week four, as one of two teams rolling with nine points. After knocking off former Supporter's Shield and MLS Cup bearing Columbus Crew, it appears that Chivas is the team to beat in the West. Even when plagued by injuries, newcomers have stepped up to give the Goats the edge in the past weeks.

ESPN2 is taking coverage of the game for the first Saturday night game on ESPN this year. The first of many to not be titled, Thursday Night Primetime—a move that hopes to increase viewership. Seeing a sold-out crowd in LA on a Saturday night looks better than 11,000 somewhere on a Thursday. The Galaxy open their US Open Cup journey Tuesday night facing Colorado for the second time in three days. Two games in one week has long plagued teams in MLS, most recently shown last week when the Crew lost both Thursday and Sunday.

As Chivas USA looks to strengthen their place as an annual force in the West, the Galaxy look to re-establish themselves as the marquee Western Conference franchise. Both teams know that the road to MLS success comes through Los Angeles. And the battle for LA pride begins Saturday night in the SuperClasico.