My First MLS Match

There was a strong thunderstorm developing near Orlando as I was driving towards the stadium. When I got to the stadium and began walking in, I saw the first thing to irk me about my trip. I went to the Orlando City twitter feed to get an update on if kickoff was going to be delayed because of those thunderstorms. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the Orlando City social media team was literally playing a game of Battleship with the FC Dallas social media team. I could not wrap my head around what I was reading. Instead of being able to quickly access very pertinent information on the match itself, I had to scroll past some ridiculous “banter”. I was witnessing two “teams” having a laugh minutes before a match. Now, these aren’t the players or coaching staff on these twitter accounts, but I believe it points to a culture that’s pervasive throughout US Soccer.

I found my way to my seat about 15 minutes before kickoff. I was certainly impressed with the renovations made to the Citrus Bowl since the last time I watched a football match here (USWNT friendly vs Brazil, another time I was not impressed with the “home” team, but thrilled to see Erika Tymrak score her first international goal that day, a truly special player not fully recognized because of the entitlement of those at the top). Even outside the stadium, I had the same thoughts about how much nicer the stadium looked. It was nice to have individual seats instead of bleachers to sit on. The LED boards and just how shiny and new the concourse and rows looked was impressive no doubt. Then I focused my eyes on the pitch. MLS tries to make itself look noble, awe-inspiring, or whatever you want to call it about its player walkouts with its dramatic theme music. The firework stands are set up in place, the center circle tarp is out, etc. The national anthem plays and the fireworks go off during it, to the delight of the crowd. I hear the uproar of the crowd at each blast. I start coming to the realization of what all of this is. Marketing and an attempt to cast an image over what was about to elapse. The shiny new stadium, the twitter battleship duel, the music, the LED boards, the fireworks, all of it masking an image of professionalism and authenticity to fool the casual fan into thinking they are about to see top class football.

The match begins with Orlando City kicking off and after their third pass, the center back plays an aimless long ball. I immediately realize what I’m about to witness for the next 90 minutes: MLS soccer. The amount of technical and tactical decisions that drove me crazy inside were unquantifiable. Refusing to receive across the body in open space. No switching of the play. A lack of playing out the back. Improper body shape when receiving the ball. No positional understanding. Tons of open space between the lines. Poor touches and poor passes all over the place. At one point, I made my way to the lower sections to get a better view of the players themselves. I recall at one point where a center back passed to the goalkeeper. The defensive mid checked down the middle for a simple 15 yard pass where he had no pressure on his back. The goalkeeper decides to do the prototypical “boot it”, much to the dismay of the midfielder who only shook his head in disappointment and begrudgingly jogged up the field. I know exactly how that feels as a midfielder. “What’s my purpose” is the thought running through his head. The amount of times I saw the pacey players dribble into spaces occupied by 2,3, 4 defenders was bewildering. I simply could not believe that the “top level” of soccer looked like this. Yes, Kaká was suspended due to a dubious red card. But, you’re telling me that this is the acceptable quality level of everyone else that usually surrounds him, and that one man makes a team? Bollocks. Football is about the team, not the individual. These are the players that show up with or without him. His presence and quality is there to hide the deficiencies of those around him. That’s what these “DP” players are, band aids to cover up the holes of MLS.

I recall Rivas, playing right mid at the time, just moping about the pitch with no worry as to the team shape. He left the middle of the pitch open and vulnerable to a counter attack when he needed to rotate inside to cover his midfielder who got dragged out of position while attacking. He would not quickly check to the space on the outside once the fullback behind him did his defensive duties and won the ball, forcing him into playing an aimless long ball. His body language was absolutely piss poor. I was thinking, I would never allow my players to have such a poor attitude on the pitch and not help their teammates. He was such a poor model to any young kid watching him that night. To my amazement, it was he who took an 88’ penalty kick. As you can guess, he skied it.

Towards the end of the match, I noticed many people were leaving the match early (my friend included). When the penalty kick was missed, it was like the gates had opened and hundreds of people got up and began walking out. I was shocked by what I was seeing. These fans couldn’t care enough to stay the whole game. MLS couldn’t create a product that people would have a genuine interest and passion for. It spoke volumes to the hollowness of MLS.

Now I think back to how the “experience” put on by MLS before the match actually started this whole night for me. They sell the fantasy of the fan experience. The big soccer-specific stadiums (cough, only for certain franchises) in downtown areas. The atmosphere of the crowd. The social media buzz. The fireworks. But what about the football? The thing I’m actually paying money to see. The product on display is what I care about the most. That’s what I judge. Not the crap around it. I couldn’t help but feel empty, angry, and disappointed at the end of the match.

After witnessing all of this first hand, it was made clear to me what is prioritized in the “top division” of US Soccer. The spectacle, the image, and the exterior of the match was more important than the match itself. It was a product that lacked substance. The question now is, why is that the case? Simply put, for the system that’s in place by US Soccer, it is good enough.

And I say it’s not.