MLS Roundup: Kansas City stay top of the West, as Toronto and the Fire battle for the East
DC United 2-1 Atlanta United FC
DC United earned a much-needed win for their climb from the bottom of the MLS in this error-filled win over Atlanta.
Atlanta took the lead in the 17th minute after an erroneous pass by DC United gave possession to Atlanta who pounced with a well-executed through pass and low cross in front of goal allowed Julian Gressel to easily slot the ball into the net.
It wasn’t but six minutes later that a poor clear by Atlanta Keeper Alec Kann allowed Luciano Acosta a chance inside the box, which he expertly worked into the goal.
15 minutes into the second half, DC United took the lead via a one-touch volleyed goal from Patrick Nyarko.
Minnesota United FC 3-2 Portland Timbers
Minnesota upset the Timbers in their own climb from the bottom in this frustration-wrought game.
The first goal came in the form of an own-goal by Portland defender Amobi Okugo in the seventh minute. Portland respond via a penalty netted by Diego Valeri in the 37th.
Minnesota re-took the lead two minutes into the second half with a clever flick from Christian Ramirez over the Portland keeper. Portland re-tied the game two minutes later after a Vytautas Andriuskevicius shot was deflected by Minnesota’s Francisco Calvo into the net. An error by Portland keeper Jeff Attinella following a Minnesota freekick in the 64th left the ball at Abu Danladi’s feet, allowing him to easily score and put Minnesota on top again.
A rough challenge in the 70th minute by Minnesota’s Abu Danladi on Portland’s Sebastian Blanco in the middle of the pitch saw both players go down. Both players lashed out at each other during the struggle, resulting in a red card for each player.
Colorado Rapids 1-3 LA Galaxy
LA earn a convincing win over bottom-of-the-league Colorado to bring themselves back up into a playoff spot.
Jack McBean put LA ahead early with a goal from 25 yards out in the 5th minute. Colorado’s Dillon Serna netted the Equalizer some 30 minutes later from just inside the box.
The second half saw LA go ahead again in the 63rd as Jack McBean earned his brace via a clever back-heal just in front of Colorado keeper Tim Howard. The 71st saw LA’s Bradford Jamieson earn a penalty after a good run, which Romain Alessandrini casually chipped down the middle to double LA’s lead.
Seattle Sounders FC 1-1 Orlando City SC
Orlando City struggled to a draw with Seattle without the aid of a suspended Cyle Larin.
Seattle took the lead in the 19th minute with a beautiful goal by Will Bruin from 15 yards out. It was a perfectly-weighted through pass that enabled the goal, and that would be a constant threat throughout the game for Orlando City.
The second half saw Orlando City holding on via the expert efforts of Orlando City’s keeper Joe Bendik as he kept Seattle from netting a second during a penalty-box scramble in the 57th minute. Orlando City’s Scott Hutter rescued a point for Orlando City in the closing moments of extra-time with a flicked header from a well-placed freekick.
Toronto FC 2-0 New England Revolution
Top of East Toronto shutout the middling Revolution in an encounter that was closer than it looks.
Toronto netted their first in the eleventh minute via a tap-in by defender Drew Moor following a cross from Armando Cooper. Toronto nearly doubled their lead in the 57th from a well-placed free-kick by Sebastian Giovinco that was blocked by the Revolution’s Lee Nguyen at the last second.
Giovinco ultimately got his goal in the sixth minute of extra-time as he controlled a ball cleared from the half into a well-placed shot.
Houston Dynamo 1-1 FC Dallas
The most recent iteration of the Texas Derby saw both Houston and Dallas take away a point in this fiery encounter.
Erick Torres put Houston in front in the 19th minute with a wonderfully placed shot following a searching pass from Houston’s half. Nearly every chance for either side ended up in a goal as Houston struggled to find and second, and Dallas sought to level the game.
Dallas finally drew level in the 59th minute after Maximiliano Urruti put the ball into the net after a scramble inside of the box.
New York Red Bulls 0-2 New York City FC
NYCFC shut-out the Red Bulls in this Hudson River Derby, in a complete performance.
NYCFC went ahead in the 33rd after a goal by Jack Harrison with his first touch inside the penalty area. The Red Bulls’ keeper Luis Robles kept NYCFC at bay for most of the game, but ultimately had no chance.
NYCFC got their second in the 65th minute from a well-placed header by Ben Sweat to complete the victory.
Atlanta United FC 1-0 Colorado Rapids
Atlanta earn their first ever win against struggling Colorado in a dominant display.
Given that this is their maiden season, Atlanta now have a 100% record against the 2016 MLS Cup runners-up.
After 66 minutes of solid pressure, Atlanta finally managed to find the net via Josef Martinez during a penalty-area scramble.
Philadelphia Union 1-0 DC United
The Union manage to edge DC in this close bottom-of-the-table encounter.
In the 31st minute Fabrice Picault sent the Union ahead with a wonderful volley at the near post from a cross.
The 70th minute saw DC awarded a penalty, which Lamar Neagle took, and the Union’s Andre Blake save. Three minutes later DC’s Luciano Acosta received a straight red card for appearing to kick the Union’s Haris Medunjanin on the touchline after a struggle for the ball. Medunjanin notified the referee that he was not kicked, and the red card was rescinded.
Columbus Crew SC 4-1 Montreal Impact
The Crew blitz bottom-of-the-table Impact in a late goal bonanza.
Federico Higuain sent the Crew ahead with slightly-deflected freekick in the 17th minute. Montreal level the scoring less than two minutes later via a well-placed shot by Anthony Jackson-Hamel.
Late in the second half the Crew began their blitz with a goal from Kekuta Manneh in the 70th minute, only moments after being subbed on. Their next goal came from the boot of Ola Kamara in the 72nd minute. Federico Higuain netted his brace in the 88th minute with a close-range shot.
Minnesota United FC 2-2 Vancouver Whitecaps
Minnesota rescue a point against the Whitecaps with second-half rally.
The Whitecaps took the lead in the 17th minute following a penalty earned by Brek Shea, and taken by Christian Techera. Tony Tchani’s header during added-time in the first half doubled the Whitecaps’ lead.
It wasn’t until the second half that Minnesota got on the board following a well-headed ball by Francisco Calvo in the 50th minute. Jerome Thiesson leveled scoring with a 63rd minute goal from 25 yards out.
Chicago Fire 4-0 Orlando City SC
The Fire trounce an Orlando City who continue to miss the suspended Cyle Larin.
David Accam netted the Fire’s first in the third minute with a clever back-heel just in front of goal. He got his brace only five minutes later after rounding the Orlando City keeper.
Nemanja Nikolic netter the Fire’s third only seven minutes into the second half. Following a penalty awarded in the 62nd minute, David Accam won his first ever MLS hat-trick a minute later with an excellently taken penalty.
LA Galaxy 1-2 Sporting Kansas City
Kansas City stay top as LA fail to make chances pay off.
Kansas City took the lead in the 22nd minute via Roger Espinoza’s shot from 30 yards out deflects into the net off the keeper’s fist. Ike Opara double Kansas City’s lead in the 35th minute with a fantastic pseudo-bicycle kick over the keeper’s head.
LA were able to net a consolation goal via David Romney’s header in the 77th which was awarded late by the near linesman.
San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Real Salt Lake
Ten-man Earthquakes manage win over poor RSL.
Danny Hoeson put the Earthquakes ahead in the 13th minute with a fierce-shot from close-range. Marcos Urena doubled their lead with a shot at the far post from a very close angle in the 68th minute.
The Earthquake’s Nick Lima was sent off after receiving a second-yellow in the 71st minute, giving RSL some glimmer of hope. It wasn’t to be, with Jose Hernandez only able to net a consolation goal for RSL in the fourth minute of extra-time.
Portland Timbers 2-2 Seattle Sounders
Ten-man Sounders rescue late-draw against the Timbers in this iteration of the Portland-Seattle rivalry.
The Sounders took the lead in the 27th minute with an excellent goal by Joevin Jones. The Sounders’ Brad Evans then gifted a penalty to the Timbers with and was subsequently issued a straight-red. Fanendo Adi then netted the penalty in the 45th minute. Dairon Asprilla then gave the Timbers the lead following a headed goal by Dairon Asprilla.
Clint Dempsey headed in the saving goal for the Sounders in the fourth minute of extra-time following a fast counter-attack that saw him connect with a well-placed cross.