MLS: Five things we learned in week 13

Robbie Rogers and the LA Galaxy make history

Robbie Keane scored a hat trick and the Galaxy out-passed and overran a bewildered Seattle Sounders team to end the visitors' recent promising run; Gyassi Zardes showed glimpses that suggest he'll be one of the players best-positioned to replace the departed Mike Magee; the absence of Osvaldo Alonso that had nearly derailed last week's Seattle win over Dallas, could clearly not be compensated for by the far less dynamic Shalrie Joseph (who was also red carded, making his immediate future participation moot).

There were plenty of storylines, but the biggest moment of the weekend came in the 77th minute at the Home Depot Center (the last time this venue will carry that name in MLS), long after the game had ceased to be a meaningful moment. At that moment Juninho was subbed out of the game for LA to be replaced by Robbie Rogers.

In the coming weeks and months Rogers may prove to be the speedy wide man the Galaxy have rather lacked in their latest incarnation — he may even reach a peak of match fitness in time for a meaningful judgement to be made on whether he can replicate the post-season impact of Mike Magee. But for Sunday night his principal impact was as the first openly gay professional athlete to play in one of the five American major sporting leagues. And while this game and result was remarkable in the context of this early MLS season, it was insignificant in the broader context of a historical moment not just for Rogers, but for those who might be encouraged by his example to live authentic lives.

When Rogers spoke to the Guardian's Donald McRae in his first major interview after his initial announcement, he suggested he had no appetite for dealing with the circus he thought might accompany a return to the game:

"If you're playing well it will be reported as: 'The gay footballer is playing well.' And if you have a bad game it'll be: 'Aw, that gay dude … he's struggling because he's gay."

But the player has reconsidered in the wake of the outpouring of support he has received, and also by an awareness of a duty he feels to stand up as an example to LGBT youth. On Sunday night at least, the fact of the player's sexuality was relevant to the commentators. It might be too much to hope that it won't be considered as relevant when he next plays for LA, but this was a small and significant step towards just such a moment. Welcome back, Robbie. GP

Hapless United get a glimpse of what might have been

In December 2009, D.C. United pursued a 34-year-old who had morphed the University of Akron from regional success to national power. While his team went undefeated en route to the 2009 NCAA title game, Caleb Porter transcended the college landscape to become an MLS target. The most storied franchise in league history, having missed the playoffs for two consecutive season, eventually offered him the keys, hoping the kismet that led Virginia's Bruce Arena to huge success with United over the league's first three years could be recaptured in Porter.

That history was often recalled when the Portland Timbers confirmed Porter's capture last August, the move prompting an obvious question: Why Portland over D.C., especially at a time when the Timbers were challenging Chivas USA for last place the West? Why Portland but not Washington?

Fast-forward nine months and Saturday's scene at RFK Stadium embodied the difference. At match's end, Portland's small section of fervent support sang over United's despondent crowd, one noticeably fewer than the 14,131 announced. The Timbers cruised to a 2-0 victory extended unbeaten run to 11, and stayed five behind FC Dallas, the West's leader downing San Jose 1-0 later on Saturday.

Conversely, United are 10 without a win, a state made more depressing by the game's underlying performances. Portland's possession-hogging aestheticians played one of their least compelling matches of the campaign, but eschewing style for resourcefulness, the Timbers showed the kind of adaptability that hints at some real staying power. On the other hand, D.C. United, especially moving forward, showed some desperately-sought signs of improvement. Yet at fulltime, their progress wasn't enough to score against or come within two goals of a visitor's off day.

"It's embarrassing how soft we are," D.C. boss Ben Olsen said after the game, the tone of his remarks having steadily escalated during United's free-fall.

Maybe it's lack of talent, but few teams have the likes of Dwayne DeRosario, Chris Pontius, and Nick DeLeon to build their attack around. Midfielder Perry Kitchen's reputation continues to grow, while goalkeeper Bill Hamid is now on the periphery of the U.S. picture. It's a core that finished second in the East last season, one that compared favorably to their counterparts on Saturday. Almost every MLS roster has shortcomings, but only one sits on five points through 12 games.

United are too mired in their own team's troubles to dwell on Portland, but for the team that wanted Caleb Porter, the Timbers' performance is a reminder of what could have been. It's also a reminder of change's potential. RF

Are New York the new Goonies?

It's been quite a week in New York soccer. Between Tim Cahill's injury time goal to beat LA Galaxy last Sunday, and Jamison Olave's injury time goal to salvage a point against Columbus Crew this week, were seven days where the announcement of New York City FC changed the playing field for the New York Red Bull organization, and set the clock ticking for the team and club to finally make the kind of breakthrough, both in New York and the league, they have so far never quite managed.

New York could have been forgiven for thinking ahead to what an uncertain future holds for them — even their fans were referencing the coming struggle for hearts and minds with a large pre-game tifo quoting The Warriors — "The future is ours - can you dig it?". But the Columbus Crew were quick to bring them back to the present day. With just a couple of minutes on the clock, Dominic Oduro was quickest to react to a poor header from Olave, and powered his way into the box to poke the ball past Robles for the lead, picking up a game-ending injury in the process.

Robles had looked sluggish off his line in the lead up to the goal, but he was hardly alone in the opening half hour as Columbus, playing without their first choice center backs, protected their replacements by playing high and defending from the front, led by Oduro's replacement Schoenfeld and Higuain chasing down New York when they were on the ball. It's the type of harrying that New York coach Mike Petke would approve of if it came from his own men, but it was conspicuously absent in a subdued Red Bull performance. A long ball over the top from Cahill was met by a deft Henry chip to tie the game after half an hour, but the hosts rarely got going and needed Olave's late, late intervention to save a point after Higuain had scored a 74th minute penalty — never mind The Warriors, the Red Bulls unbeaten streak has been built on the kind of late goals we associated with last year's Goonies.

Not that the late show impressed Petke — who was furious in his post-game press conference. Admittedly most of this rage was directed at the referee rather than his own under-performing players — though long after he has received his inevitable disciplinary fine from MLS, Petke might be demanding a similar level of passion from his players throughout the game, and not just in the last five minutes. As San Jose are finding out this year, there's a time limit on how long you can rely on those finales. GP

Philadelphia may still need more changes

Marco Di Vaio was expected to be a difference-maker for Montréal, though in 17 appearances after arriving from Bologna last season, the former Italian international scored only five times. Combined with declining goal rates in Serie A, there was reason to believe the 36-year-old's touch was fading.

That treatise seems silly now. After a hat trick against Philadelphia, part of the Impact's 5-3 win at Stade Saputo, Di Vaio is up to nine goals, his recent explosion (five in four games) showing Montréal's second dimension. Early on, Marco Schallibaum's team was typecast as Catenaccio-derived opportunists. Now, having scored 20 times in 11 games, the Impact have the league's best attack. In addition to carving out wins, Montréal can put up a number.

John Hackworth saw Montréal's performance in a different light, and it's hard to blame him. After a week preparing for Di Vaio's off-the-ball mischievousness, the Union head coach saw the Impact attacker score three times in the first 32 minutes, leaving Philadelphia to chase a game that finished closer than it played out.

"We need to make some moves maybe, going forward," Hackworth explained, a curious state for a team whose young core should be coming into their own. Of the 14 Union players who saw action on Saturday, eight are between the ages of 20 and 24. All have previous MLS experience, so while the team tweaks by trading away Bakary Soumare (to Chicago) and Gabriel Farfan (to Chivas USA), an emerging, productive core should be in place. Instead, the Union continue to ask questions.

Kléberson was supposed to be an answer, yet through Saturday, the Flamengo loanee has only made three starts, the last of which failed to convince. As the most advanced of three midfielders, Kléberson never meaningfully influenced the attack. His touches were good, his decisions were sound, but in a role that should have been creating for Jack McInerney, Kléberson was a non-factor. The club's highest-paid player was taken off in the 65th minute, his team scoring twice as many goals with him off the pitch as on.

The move exemplifies the problems Philadelphia has had augmenting their young talent. Players like Soumare, Freddy Adu, and Conor Casey have been brought in on good salaries to little avail, the Union unable to complement their inexpensive core.

Perhaps Hackworth is right and the team needs to make some moves, but whatever philosophies motivated their previous transactions have failed to pay off. Whether it's Adu or Kléberson, the front office's execution just hasn't been there. When that changes, results will follow. RF

Results are coming before full health for Colorado

The lineup looked promising for Óscar Pareja's side. Edson Buddle, limited to four previous starts, was in the team, as was captain Pablo Mastroeni, also making only his fifth start of the year. With Martín Rivero, arguably Colorado's most important attacker, also in the starting XI, the Rapids' team that faced Chivas USA was as strong as any Pareja's been able to pick this year.

For better or worse, the result fit this year's larger pattern. Colorado scored early through Atiba Harris, survived a game defined by a lack of chances, and saw Nathan Sturgis capture some late insurance, giving the team a 2-0 win that kept them in the West's top five. Along the way, though, the Rapids lost Rivero again, the Argentine playmaker having aggravated the right foot he broke in January. While Pareja was optimistic after the game, claiming the pain wasn't the result of any "pop or contusion," Colorado is left sweating out another health concern.

The Rapids aren't the only MLS side successfully navigating injury woes. The New England Revolution, after a 2-0 win over Toronto, are sixth in the East despite seeing Kevin Alston (cancer), Saer Sene (knee injury recovery), and A.J. Soares (hamstring) miss significant time. Real Salt Lake were without Nat Borchers to start the season, have just got Chris Wingert back, and have had Álvaro Saborio limited to six starts. Yet after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chicago, Jason Kreis's team sits third in the West.

Colorado, however, are not only surviving; they're transcending. The collective punditry saw the Rapids as Western Conference fodder before the season, most picking Pareja's team to finish eighth. They'd let Jeff Larentowicz and Conor Casey go and were gambling on Buddle, Harris, and a promising group of un-blooded prospects to help change their course. It wasn't something that was supposed to happen overnight, yet despite Dillon Powers, Deshorn Brown, Christopher Klute and Shane O'Neill being pressed into more action than expected, Colorado are 5-4-4.

For now, the kids are more than alright, a situation that will need to persist if Rivero's foot has relapsed. If he's sidelined, he will join Diego Calderon and Jamie Castrillón as Pareja's missing pieces, the patch job continuing amid intermittent returns.

Yet if Colorado's rapid youth movement holds, there may be no need to live in wait of the big names' returns. Powers, Brown, Klute and goalkeeper Clint Irwin have filled the gaps in a surprisingly competitive team. With Colorado in playoff contention, it may be time to fold up the injury list, consider the kids, and wonder how good the Rapids can be in the now. RF

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