For the last year or so we have been doing a weekly winners and losers in the English Premier League and for the 2009 season we will be doing the same for Major League Soccer. Here is a look at who we think we the winners and losers in an exciting first weekend of the season
Winners
Major League Soccer
What a week for MLS. They added two new teams, giving the league some natural rivalries in the Northwest and the opening game was an unqualified success in Seattle. And they did it all without that David Beckham guy.
Attendance
119,667 fans attended the 7 games for an average crowd of 17,095. The top crowd was the 32,523 sellout in Seattle.
Landon Donovan
Two goals in the Galaxy’s opener and Donovan shows once again why he is the best goal scorer in MLS. The only reason why LD might struggle to repeat his 20 goal performance of last season is the heavy schedule of games that the U.S. national team has this summer. Donovan is the new face of the Galaxy and MLS.
Toronto FC
Toronto has some of the most passionate fans in MLS, but their terrible away form (only four wins away in their first two seasons) means that TFC has missed out on the playoffs the last two seasons. This weekend’s three goals and three points bodes well for Toronto fans.
Seattle Sounders
A sell out crowd, incredible excitement in the stands and a great performance on the pitch. it. It was a great weekend for Sounders fans.
Losers
San Jose
The Earthquakes had a great chance to pick up an opening day win against a depleted New England team and they failed to find a way passed New England goalkeeper Matt Reis. The Earthquakes had 16 shots, but forced Reis into only four saves.
New York Red Bulls
A horrendous performance in Seattle on national TV. The NYRB need to rebound against New England this weekend or all the feel-good vibes from last seasons MLS Cup run will be gone before Easter.
