MLS – Columbus and Houston at the Top of the Eastern & Western Conferences
By Claudia Beckford
The US men’s professional soccer league or MLS is currently at its peak in action after this weekend when all teams have just completed their 22nd game out of the 30 ones each group plays during the regular season, which will soon come to an end in late October.
The present Eastern Conference leaders are the Columbus Crew at the top with 40 points, followed by New England Revolution with only two points less for a total of 38.
During the 2008 campaign, Columbus Crew has established itself as one of the strongest and best MLS teams and after their recent win over FC Dallas by 2-1, Columbus becomes the Eastern leader. The team counts with amazing players such as the Argentinean striker Guillermo Barros Schelotto who at their latest game produced a perfect corner kick for team mates Chad Marshall and Venezuelan Alejandro Moreno who managed to score and draw at the 37th minute meantime Dallas had already one goal of advantage. Nevertheless, only a couple of minutes later, Columbus scored for the second time again with another assist from Barros Schelotto as the key man.
Other Columbus’ players that have key roles on the field are the defender and Captain Frankie Hejduk, whose background in the senior league began in 1996 with Tampa Bay Mutiny and Central American defense Chad Marshall who has been playing for Columbus for the past four years.
In the Western standings we find the Houston Dynamo at the top. The team has managed a total of 9 wins for a total of 31 goals; the other team which is the closest to the Dynamo is Real Salt Lake with 30 points and 27 goals. “La Naranja,” as the Dynamo is also known, has achieved two MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007 and its Coach’s Dominic Kinnear desire to win the Cup this season.
Amongst some of the Houston Dynamo stars which have become great team’s supporters are the British goalkeeper Tony Caig, striker Kei Kamara, midfielder Brad Davis and defender Patrick Ianni.
Other teams which still will not give in to have a place in the playoffs since there are some good possibilities to increase a few points and gain a spot to play for the championship are Chicago and DC United in the Eastern Conference and Chivas USA and FC Dallas in the Western Conference.
Additionally, there is more action coming up for us soccer fans this Thursday when Dallas meets Colorado and on Saturday evening with five different games while the Kansas City Wizards and the Houston Dynamo will close the weekend on Sunday.
About the author:
Claudia Beckford provides current MLS Soccer content as well as information in the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.
Technorati Tags: MLS, regular season, Eastern Conference, Columbus Crew, New England Revolution, FC Dallas, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Chad Marshall, Alejandro Moreno, Frankie Hejduk, Tampa Bay Mutiny, Central American, Houston Dynamo, Real Salt Lake, La Naranja, MLS Cups, Dominic Kinnear, Tony Caig, Kei Kamara, Brad Davis, Patrick Ianni, Chicago, DC United, Chivas USA, Western Conference, Colorado, Kansas City Wizards
