PREFACE: Both the Fire and Red Stars now have five matches to go in their regular seasons. Both took huge setbacks in their chase for a playoff spot in their leagues. One team appears tired (though they will get a much-needed rest) and one team’s fans are tired of their inability to play a full 90 minutes.
FIRE: Francisco Calvo was a hero for equalizing against New England on Saturday night, but he became a zero for his cheap giveaway that became a match-winner for the Revolution. So instead of potentially being closer to the red line, they are now four points back with five to play.
Simply put, the Fire need to win four of their last five to even have a chance at the playoffs. Otherwise, it will be an eighth season this decade without playoffs and a full decade without a playoff win. Anyone else think Don Garber has way too much faith in Andrew Hauptman and Nelson Rodriguez in leading this club into the next decade?
RED STARS: The Red Stars remain in third despite their third straight loss, but by the time their September 8th match against Houston comes around, they may start that match in fifth place and below the red line in the NWSL.
The Red Stars have looked a tired team during this losing streak. They are far from the cohesive unit that they were during the five-match winning streak. Portland was every bit that unit on Sunday and but for North Carolina’s two matches in hand, look odds on to claim the shield.
Thankfully, a two-week break is coming up, save for their US National Teams which now includes Casey Short, as they continue their victory tour against Portugal with a pair of friendlies in Philadephia and St. Paul.
What the Red Stars need at this point is for a second big attacking threat other than Sam Kerr. Teams are getting wise by closing her down and frustrating her. Players did step up during the five-match winning streak, and they need to for the final five matches as well if they are to reach the playoffs.
AN IRON FRONT: It was hard not to see the banners displayed by the Rose City Riveters during Sunday’s match between the Thorns and Red Stars. The banners were a protest against Major League Soccer’s decision to ban what it describes as the use of political signs and displays at games.
The previous night, fans of the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders engaged in a 33-minute protest without organized chant as part of their protest at Providence Park.
Simply put, human rights are not a political issue. It is a moral issue. Just because you have a ticket to a match, does not give you the right to be a racist, a fascist, or a regular jerk. Given existing conditions, human rights are far beyond a mere political issue.
Honestly, FIFA and the English Premier League in particular have done a substandard job in combating racism and homophobia (read: that chant when a goalkeeper takes a goal kick). The “political ban” makes MLS come off as having contempt for its fans. Leagues and clubs can display their own signs of anti-racism, but unless they take a more forward approach in combatting racism and other human rights issues, the fans’ calls for action will only grow louder and will drown out any noise about banning banners MLS deems “political”.
