STORY LINES
1. Preki’s precocious start » It’s the second team in what’s supposed to be Major League Soccer’s first market, Los Angeles. It’s a squad beset by injuries for the second straight season. And two out of the five players that have been on the field for every minute of the first five games this season are 35 years old. But that’s how it goes for undefeated Chivas USA under the stewardship of Preki Redosavljevic. The 45-year-old, Serbian-born former U.S. national team star was MLS coach of the year in 2007 — an award which may have appeared loaded after inheriting the team from Bob Bradley, who was promoted to U.S. national team head coach. But Preki’s unit went to the playoffs again last year. This year, with no-name additions Eduardo Lillingston (2 goals), Bojan Stepanovic (1 goal, 1 assist), and Chukwudi Chijindu (1 goal), Chivas (4-0-1) is off to the best start in MLS.
2. American ascension » Leading a platoon of U.S. players that had a stellar weekend in Europe, goalkeeper Tim Howard saved penalty kick attempts by Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand as Everton toppled Manchester United in the English FA Cup semifinals. Howard won the tournament as Manchester United’s keeper in 2004. Among a group that is now at least 40-players strong, U.S. defender and Olney native Oguchi Onyewu’s two goals for Standard Liege (Belgium) and former Terp Maurice Edu’s goal for Rangers (Scotland) also stood out.
3. Bottom feeders surfacing » Three of the bottom four teams in last week’s MLS rankings — Dallas, Houston, and New York — each won their first games of the season, with the Red Bulls looking the most formidable as its roster is strengthened by the return of goalkeeper Jon Conway from suspension and the addition of midfielder Albert Celades and left back Alfredo Pacheco. New York hosts D.C. United on Sunday.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Pat Onstad, Houston Dynamo
Among a number of stunning saves in MLS play last weekend, nothing was better than Onstad’s miraculous two-save effort late in the second half that secured Houston’s first victory of 2009. Onstad first dove right but managed to lift his left arm straight up to parry Colorado forward Conor Casey’s penalty kick into the crossbar. The ball fell squarely to the feet of Terry Cooke, but Onstad scrambled to his feet and across the goal to the left post to block what had been a wide-open gift for the Rapids midfielder. Not too shabby for the 41-year-old Canadian.
HE SAID WHAT?
“I’m having a go at the referee today because his performance was a disgrace.”
– Toronto FC head coach John Carver, ripping into Tim Weyland, who a week before booked nine different players — ejecting three — in a match between Chivas and Los Angeles.
Hudson’s path very different than his father’s
Son of former Chelsea star finds a home in coaching
Early turns in Anthony Hudson’s soccer career ensured it would be quite different from his father’s.
Instead of the glory of success as a player on the field — and the often troubling times that come with the celebrity status surrounding it — Hudson is already firmly planted on the sideline. Despite the relatively young age of 28, Hudson has been tasked with completely rebuilding Real Maryland of United Soccer Leagues Division 2 after the club’s disastrous inaugural season, in which it finished 3-15-2.
London-born Alan Hudson, Anthony’s father, remains the iconic playmaker of Chelsea in the early seventies, the days of flamboyant English soccer and the sideburns and carousing that accompanied it. Alan Hudson made his pro debut at age 17, lined up alongside equally legendary Peter Osgood and against George Best, and won Chelsea’s first European trophy with the 1971 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
He’s also battled alcoholism, serious injuries, and bankruptcy, famously offering his 1971 medal for sale last spring at the same time Chelsea was headed to the Champions’ League final.
“He’s gone through some difficult times,” said Anthony Hudson. “I sort of grew up around that kind of lifestyle. It’s difficult to get away from.”
Anthony Hudson’s own playing career didn’t quite work out. He was an apprentice at West Ham, but after bouncing around in England and the Netherlands, he shifted to coaching and completed his UEFA “A” License, the second-highest European coaching certification, by the time he was 25. He relocated to the U.S. in 2005, and joined Real Maryland after spending two seasons as a player/assistant with the Wilmington Hammerheads.
“Anthony knows what he’s talking about,” said Real Maryland general manager David Noyes, himself only 33. “[Age] doesn’t really come to mind.”
“It’s always a dream to do that, to put your own players in place and put in your own ideas and start from scratch,” said Hudson, who has only one member from last year’s Latino-heavy roster (Victory Ramirez).
The new squad boasts three former members of D.C. United (brothers Jeff and Pat Carroll, and Ryan Cordeiro), two Cuban defectors (Yendry Diaz and Loanny Cartaya) and a couple English players (Tom Taylor and Jody Banim).
“I can certainly feel and understand exactly where the players are coming from,” said Hudson. “Sometimes, it’s to a fault, really, because you get a little bit too worried or concerned, and it can affect you. At this level, it is difficult, financially, logistically, and I’ve been there. I am with them.”
