2012 Week 9 Review

No goals this week, but our guys did play in seven of 11 possible games last week (not including three guys who are out injured and missed four games).  This upcoming weekend, we’ll have two head-to-head possibilities, as well as two of our boys will get to check out the Houston Dynamo’s new stadium – BBVA Compass Stadium – which opens on Saturday.  The place looks really sweet, expecially if you like the color orange.

• Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] & Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] – Montreal Impact •  Bush was not in the team for either match this week.  Ubiparipovic played 84 minutes at mid in a 2-0 win on the road at Sporting Kansas City.  Followed that up with 90 minutes on Wednesday night, as the Impact was dumped out of the Amway Canadian Championship with a 2-0 loss.  The aggregate was the same, after a 0-0 draw the previous week.    This week: v Los Angeles Galaxy, Saturday, 12 May, 4pm

• Chris Korb [Gates Mills/University School] – DC United •  Got in at right back for the final 14 minutes of a 5-3 loss at San Jose  last Wednesday.  This week: @ Houston Dynamo, Saturday, 12 May, 430pm – match to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network

• Justin Morrow [Cleveland/St. Ignatius] – San Jose Earthquakes •  Just win, baby!  Right?  Ordinarily, a center back whose team allows three goals at home can’t reflect fondly on any such match.  But the first-place Earthquakes scored five, so it’s all good!  Morrow went the distance in last Wednesday’s 5-3 win over DC United, and the day before, the gang at the March to the Match podcast called him “the best center back in the league right now.”  Wow!  This week: v Chivas USA, Sunday, 13 May, 7pm – match to be televised live on Galavisión

• Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] – Portland Timbers •  Started up top and played 90 in the Timbers’ 0-0 home draw with the Crew.  This week: @ Houston Dynamo, Tuesday, 15 May, 830pm

• Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] – Vancouver Whitecaps •  Was an unused sub for the Whitecaps’ 2-1 home win against San Jose on Saturday.  On Wednesday, Nanchoff started and played 70 minutes at outside mid in a 3-1 victory over FC Edmonton in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship semifinals.  Vancouver will play Toronto FC in the two-leg final, starting next week.   This week: @ New England Revolution, Saturday, 12 May, 730pm; v Toronto FC, Wednesday, 16 May, 1030pm

• Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] & Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] – Columbus Crew •  Another 90 at center back for Williams in the 0-0 draw at Portland.  Once more, he nearly scored, with a goal-line clearance denying him of a fine header off a corner kick.  Here’s a story on Williams pairing up with Eric Gehrig last week at center back.  Meanwhile, Speas is still on the DL as he recovers from sports hernia surgery.  This week: v FC Dallas, Saturday, 12 May, 730pm

• Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] – Los Angeles Galaxy •  Was not a part of the gameday roster for the mid-week 2-0 loss at Seattle.  Neither was he a part of the squad for the Galaxy’s 1-0 home loss to the Red Bulls.  He did put in 90 minutes’ work during a reserve team 1-1 draw with San Jose on Tuesday.  This week: @ Montreal Impact, Saturday, 12 May, 4pm

• Ben Zemanski [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] – Chivas USA •  Is currently out injured with a sprained MCL, but is on the recovery trail.  In the cdchivasusa.com preview for last week’s game with Chicago, Zemanski said, “I’m close, it’s just that final stretch of getting confidence back in my knee, but I feel like I’m close,” Zemanski said. “I can pass the ball. I’m doing some [running] and cutting. It’s getting stronger, but there’s just that final stretch. I’m trying to get back out this week, but hopefully this week or next.”  Also, check out this link.  Evidently, you could win a date with Ben.  Interesting.  Without Zemanski, Chivas lost 2-1 to the Fire at the Home Depot Center last Friday night.  This week: @ San Jose Earthquakes, Sunday, 13 May, 7pm – match to be televised live on Galavisión