So LA/NY is now the game to watch

The first legs of the round of 8 are over. RSL was very impressive in getting a 3-0 win over SSFC.  The result may have been a surprise to a good number of people, but the score was a surprise to most all non-RSL fans.  It will be very hard to Seattle to overcome 3 goals.  I expect RSL to advance. Sporting KC won 2-0 on the road over Colorado.  Due to the crazy number of injuries the Rapids have taken, their reserve squad will have to travel to KC on Thursday.  Sporting KC should advance pretty easily. Houston got a 2-1 victory on the road, so this serious could go anywhere now.  Philly has the potential to get a road win and end Houston’s season.  I don’t expect it to happen though.  Houston advances after a draw in Houston. LA went to NY and got a 1-0 win.  I didn’t see this whole game but from the looks of it the most exciting part of the game was right after the final whistle.  Rafa Marquez decides to throw the ball at Landon Donovan after the game which ends in a red card for himself and one for Juninho.

“Marquez fell down, maybe a fly went into his eye”

So the Red Bulls weren’t able to win the first leg. The next best thing must be to start shit and then fake an injury in hopes of getting a Galaxy player ejected. That is some stupid shit that shouldn’t be in MLS. It should make for a spirited game when these teams return to LA on Thursday night. I expect LA to win that one as well and advance to the semi-finals.

How good is Rafa Marquez?

This is the question everyone wants to know the answer to - how good is Rafa Marquez? Okay, maybe everyone isn’t waiting to find an answer to that question - but Marquez certainly knows.  Better than the rest of the NY defense.  After a recent 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake Marquez had this to say according to mlssoccer.com

“I think this is a team game and, unfortunately, there isn’t an equal level between my teammates and me,” Marquez said through a translator on Wednesday. “I am trying to play at my level [and if] that doesn’t mean that the whole back line can perform at that same level, that’s a problem.”

These comments were rewarded by his head coach who gave him the weekend off.  Saturday NY will host the Portland Timbers in a very important game to determine who will go to the playoffs and who will be staying home.  I previously predicted that the Timbers would win this game, but now that I know NY is so good they can not even play their best defender I’m a little skeptical about my prediction. What do you think - was this right to suspend Marquez for this important game because of his comments?свети георги