PREFACE: One team is now locked in the playoffs. How does Sam Kerr do it? Meanwhile the other is on the verge of getting locked out for the 8th time in ten seasons. How do you not score against and FC Cincinnati squad that’s given up 74 goals?
FIRE: How do you not score against an FC Cincinnati squad that’s conceded 74 goals—now 14 more than the next worst in the Rapids? Quite simply, it’s because the Fire have done this almost all season. The four times they genuinely didn’t were against New England (when they were horrible), Colorado (when they were horrible), Atlanta (when everything went right for the Fire), and Montreal (who could still make the playoffs).
The only saving graces for the Fire are that New England also drew blanks against Real Salt Lake and Montreal losing to LA Galaxy. The Fire actually gained a position and their scenario is much simpler. They need to win both their remaining games (vs. Toronto and at Orlando) and hope New England get fewer than four points in their final three games.
You would expect the coach of FC Cincinnati to say his team ‘fought like lions’ on Saturday night, but that was actually Veljko Paunovic about his team. It’s simply not good enough and it needs to be much, much better in the last two games or else he should be thrown to the lions.
Incidentally, both New England, Colorado, and Montreal did throw coaches to the lions and they are still in playoff contention thanks to improved efforts, but at least the former two were climbing out of deep holes they may not climb completely out of by October 6th.
RED STARS: We’re no longer talking about whether the Red Stars ‘can’ make the playoffs, they have. Now the question is whether they can get a home semifinal with at least three weeks’ rest after they regular season finale against Utah on Saturday (7pm, NBCS-CHI +). Win that, and if Portland fail to win both their final two games, and there will be playoff soccer at SeatGeek Stadium this year.
It was a real team effort over Washington from Alyssa Naeher’s saves to Sam Kerr’s goals. Speaking of Sam Kerr’s goals, she broke her own single-season record from two years ago with her 18th of the season. The Red Stars appear to be peaking again and maybe at a better time than in July and early-August when they had a five-match win streak. The Red Stars have now punched their ticket to Playoff Island, now the challenge is to get a home semifinal and advance to Cary on October 27th.
