MLS round-up: David Villa scores wonder goal, Orlando beat LA

Philadelphia Union v NYC FC 0-2

A wonder goal from David Villa helped secure the points for NYC in a 2-0 win at Philadelphia Union.

Jack Harrison came closest to scoring on 21 minutes as his curling low left foot shot was tipped around the post by keeper Andre Blake. The Union hit back six minutes later when Alejandro Bedoya struck a rasping drive that Sean Johnson did well to save.

Villa again had a shot charged down on 29 minutes, before Maximiliano Morales stung the hands of Blake from the rebound.

With the scores level at half time, the deadlock was finally broken seven minutes after the restart. Ronald Matarrita slid a fantastic ball through to Jack Harrison, who slotted under the keeper into the net, giving NYC the lead.

NYC were starting to play some excellent football as chances came and went for Patrick Vieira’s side. A mixture of good saves from Blake and some woeful finishing kept the score to 1-0.

Finally the goal came for NYC and what a goal it was. With the clock in the 90th minute the ball was won by Villa just inside the Union half. With the ball on the bounce, the Spaniard hit a lofted shot high into the air which floated over the scrambling Blake and into the net. It was a fantastic goal, one of the top goals seen in the MLS and hit from 53 yards. If ever a goal deserved to win a match it was that.

It leaves Philadelphia Union bottom of the Eastern Conference and still without a win. NYC lie in fourth, three points behind Columbus Crew.

San Jose Earthquakes v FC Dallas 1-1

FC Dallas remained unbeaten, but the result could have been better had it not been for a last gasp equalizer in the final seconds of the match.

It was Dallas who almost opened the scoring on 30 minutes as Michael Barrios brought the ball down off his chest and hit his shot just wide of the goal.

With chances few and far between the first half remained goalless.

David Bingham in the Earthquakes goal pulled off a fantastic stop after Maxi Urruti and Rolan Lamah had combined well in the area before Lamah shot.

FC Dallas finally scored in the 78th minute when Kevin Acosta slid in to score a goal which looked to have secured all three points for Dallas.

However with the game deep into injury time, Dallas failed to deal with a long free kick that, after being flicked on, found its way into the area for Jahmir Hyka to finish and score his first ever goal for the Earthquakes and secure the draw.

FC Dallas stay one point behind leaders Portland Timbers in the Western Conference, with San Jose Earthquakes in fifth.

Orlando City SC v LA Galaxy 2-1

Orlando produced a good 2-1 win against LA Galaxy but it took a last minute winner to secure the three points.

Orlando started the game well but were left wondering how they hadn’t taken the lead after six minutes. Carlos Rivas hit a beautiful curling shot which somehow hit both posts before the rebound fell to Giles Barnes whose shot was cleared off the line and for a corner. But two minutes later Orlando did find the back of the net. Scott Sutter found Will Johnson on the edge of the box who chested down before firing the volley into the net.

Rivas again hit the post on 18 minutes after hitting a glorious left foot shot from just under 30 yards.

But a rampant Orlando could not add to their score and went in at half time 1-0 up.

The Galaxy knew they had to step up their game, and had their best chance in the 77th minutes from a free kick. Giovani Dos Santos curled in a left footed free kick over the wall that hit the crossbar. Six minutes later Galaxy drew level. Romain Alessandrini wrong footied two players before firing in from just outside the box.

With the game looking like finishing a draw, Orlando’s Will Johnson whipped in a corner kick that fell to Cyle Larin on the edge of the six yard box. He vollied into the roof of the net to secure the points for Orlando and send the home support into raptures.

Orlando City are in second place one point behind Columbus in the Eastern Conference, while LA Galaxy stay in 8th in the Western Conference.

Vancouver Whitecaps v Seattle Sounders 2-1

The Whitecaps won their second match of the season as they beat a struggling Sounders team 2-1.
It was Seattle who almost took the lead on eight minutes after Clint Dempsey’s audacious shot from 40 yards hit the bar with the keeper well beaten.

The first half remained goalless with Seattle again starting brightly in the second half, with Dempsey forcing David Ousted into a finger tip save as he somehow kept out his low shot.

The Whitecaps took the lead however on 65 minutes. A great cross from the right from Christian Techera found Fredy Montero unmarked to head home.

Vancouver doubled their lead on 80 minutes. Christian Bolanos sent in a corner that Kendall Waston headed on, which fell to Montero to head home from close range for his second goal of the match.

The Sounders hit back in a frantic finale to the match. Dempsey again struck the post from long range before Will Bruin forced the ball home for a 90th minute winner. With seconds left the Whitecaps survived another scare as Waston managed to clear off the line after Dempsey again had prodded the ball towards goal.

The game finished 2-1 with Vancouver Whitecaps taking three points and stay midtable in the Western Conference. Seattle Sounders lie in ninth place.

Montreal Impact v Atlanta United 2-1

Montreal scored in stoppage time to take the points and a 2-1 win against Atlanta United.
Atlanta took the lead five minutes before half time as Kenwyne Jones scored his first goal for the club on his debut with a neat finish. However just on the stroke of half time a red card and penalty brought The Impact level. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez was sent off after bundling Matteo Mancosu to the floor. Ignacio Piatti stepped up to fire in the equaliser.

With the game heading for a draw, Montreal hit a last gasp winner. Hernan Bernardello shot from distance only for Anthony Jackson Hamel to expertly and cheekily deflect the ball into the net to win the points.

It was Montreal Impact first win of the season as they lie second from bottom in the Eastern Conference, with Atlanta United sitting mid table.

Chicago Fire v New England Revolution 3-0

Chicago Fire won 3-0 against New England Revolution with Sebastian Schweinsteiger in good form.

The Fire’s chances were increased after Je Vaughn Watson was sent off after two bookable offenses on 27 minutes which Chicago took full advantage of by scoring just before half time. Luis Solignac found Schweinsteiger on the edge of the box. The German drove into the area and finished low past the keeper.

The second half had only just kicked off when the Fire increased their lead. Solignac again put a great ball in to the area that Michael de Leeuw deflected towards Nemanja Nikolic to score.

The third goal came on 72 minutes, when Nikolic got on the end of a left field cross to get his second of the game.

Chicago Fire are in third in the Eastern Conference while New England Revolution stay mid table.

NY Red Bulls v D.C. United 2-0

The Red Bulls beat D.C. United 2-0 to win their third match of the season.

With chances for both teams going begging, the Red Bulls took the lead just after half time following a corner from Sacha Kljestan. Alex Muyl headed home low past keeper Bill Hamid to give the Red Bulls the lead.

Hamid was dealt further embarrassment as Bradley Wright Phillips was sent through by Felipe and fired a shot through the keeper’s legs. It was a great finish by Wright Phillips from an acute angle.

D.C United almost pulled a goal back on 86 minutes with Steve Birnbaum going close before he was eventually stretchered off after a serious head injury.

New York Red Bulls stay fifth in the Eastern Conference while D.C. United stay eighth.

Houston Dynamo v Minnesota United 2-2

Houston and Minnesota played out an entertaining 2-2 draw as both sides gained a point a piece.
It was Houston who scored first after a well taken goal by Mauro Manotas who controlled a pass from Erick Torres before sweeping the ball into the corner of the net.

The Dynamo went further in front just before half time. A free kick from Boniek Garcia found Alberth Elis unmarked to slot home.

The Loons hit back just after half time following a corner from Kevin Molino which was headed home at the far post by Christian Ramirez.

Ramirez came close again on 55 minutes knocking the ball just over the bar. But four minutes later Minnesota got the equaliser they deserved.

Molino dribbled down the right and attempted to cross. The ball deflected off Adolfo Machado, which dropped to Johan Venegas in the middle who fired home to draw the scores level.

Houston Dynamo stay fourth in the Western Conference, three points from leaders Portland Timbers, while Minnesota United lie in 10th.

Portland Timbers v Sporting Kansas City 0-1

A surprise win away to Portland Timbers kept Sporting Kansas City unbeaten for the season.

Ilie Sanchez had Kansas’ only real chance on 37 minutes when his header went just over the bar.

With eight minutes of the second half gone Kansas took the lead. Dom Dwyer headed in from close range after great build up play. Benny Feilhaber crossed for Jimmy Medranda on the left side of the box who found Dwyer in the area to score.

The Timbers tried to hit back. First keeper Tim Melia saved well from Darren Mattocks and then pull off a spectacular save by finger tippingDarlington Nagbe’s shot onto the bar. It was a save that ensured Kansas won the three points. Sporting Kansas City are second, one point off the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference.

Columbus Crew v Toronto FC 2-1

Columbus Crew grabbed a good 2-1 win against Toronto FC to record their fourth win of the season.

It was Toronto FC who took the lead with a powerful header from Jozy Altidore after a corner was sent in by Victor Vazquez on 21 minutes.

But the Crew hit back on 37 minutes. Niko Hansen crossed well for Ola Kamara to tap in from close range.

Six minutes later the Crew had their second of the match. Alex Crognale headed the ball into the six yard area from a corner, for Justin Meram to flick in the net to give Columbus a 2-1 lead at half time.

Columbus Crew held on in the second half to land the win and stay top of the Eastern Conference, with Toronto FC in ninth.

Colorado Rapids v Real Salt Lake 1-2

Colorado Rapids had a disappointing 2-1 loss after leading until the 85th minute only to lose the match. This after having experienced goal keeper Tim Howard suspended for three games following an altercation with a fan in a previous game.

It took until the 29th minute for the first goal. Marlon Hairston crossed from the left for Kevin Doyle to score a diving header to put the Rapids 1-0 up.

Colorado then hit the self destruct button, first with Jared Watts handling on the line to receive the red card with Yura Movsisyan scoring from the spot.

Then on 87 minutes, a great run by Brooks Lennon made space for himself before hitting a low 25 yard strike to win the match for RSL. Real Salt Lake stay mid table in the Western Conference, while Colorado Rapids stay bottom.