MLS round-up: Orlando fly high, Galaxy struggle

New England Revolution v San Jose Earthquakes 0-0

New England Revolution played out a scoreless draw with San Jose Earthquakes as both sides failed to find a breakthrough.

The Earthquakes hit the post on 22 minutes when Danny Hoesen should have done better in front of goal.

In the 65th minute came the save of the match. The Earthquakes produced some good build up play and found Fatai Alashe in the area, six yards out. Alashe struck the ball towards the goal only for keeper Cody Cropper to somehow put the ball over the bar with his leg.

It was San Jose who looked the team more likely to score and the Revolution were left thanking Cropper again as he managed to beat away a shot with three minutes remaining to secure a point for New England.

Toronto FC v Chicago Fire 3-1

Toronto picked up their second win of the season as they beat Chicago Fire 3-1 at home.

Victor Varquez found Giovinco on the edge of the box, who fired low to beat Jorge Bava in the Fire goal after 28 minutes.

Four minutes later it was 2-0. A cross from Justin Morrow was headed in by Eriq Zavaleta to take the lead into half time.

Giovinco grabbed his second of the match with eight minutes remaining with a well taken free kick past Bava to give Toronto a 3-0 lead.

On 88 minutes The Fire got a consolation goal, with substitute David Accam playing a one two before scoring to make it 1-3.

Chicago Fire lie in 5th, while Toronto FC are now 7th in the Eastern Conference.

Houston Dynamo v San Jose Earthquakes 2-0

The Earthquakes were well beaten by Houston Dynamo who switched formations for the match from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 after two disappointing results.

The Dynamo got off to a great start. Alex was brought down in the area, with Erick Torres slotting away the resulting penalty kick straight down the centre.

The Dynamo made it 2-0 on 72 minutes. David Bingham came out to catch the corner but got no where near the ball, leaving Alberth Ellis to slot home from close range.

Juan David Cabezas came close to making it 3-0 only to hit the bar and the ball to sail over the bar from the resulting rebound.

Houston Dynamo now lie in third in the Western Conference with San Jose Earthquakes in sixth place.

Philadelphia Union v Montreal Impact 3-3

An entertaining 3-3 draw was played out by the Union and the Impact as the bottom two sides in the Eastern division battled it out.

It was Philadelphia who opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Roland Alberg scored well after beating one defender before slotting under the keeper.

The Union went further ahead on 22 minutes. A cross to the back post was headed back to the centre of the six yard area for CJ Sapong to head home.

Philadelphia were flying and on 37 minutes they had a chance to go further ahead after Dominic Oduro was adjudged to bring down defender Jack Elliott. Alberg stepped up and just about slotted the penalty away and send the Union faithful into a frenzy.

The lead was cut by one two minutes later as the Impact scored after a great run and finish from Ignacio Piatti leaving Montreal with it all to do in the second half.

Montreal got their second of the match on 66 minutes. Ambroise Oyongo crossed a great ball onto the head of Anthony Jackson Hamel who squeezed the ball into the net.

With the Union looking like they would hold out, the Impact broke their hearts. A long ball dropped to Matteo Mancosu who fired in a low shot that Andre Blake could only push back out into the path of Jackson Hamel who scored the goal to earn the Impact a fantastic point after being 3-0 down.

The draw leaves Philadelphia Union bottom and still searching for their first win of the season.

Portland Timbers v Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1

Portland Timbers ran out 2-1 winners against Vancouver Whitecaps.~

The Timbers took the lead in the 18th minute after a cracking strike from Darlington Nagbe after skipping round two players before unleashing a powerful drive into the back of the net from distance.

Things got worse for the Whitecaps as The Timbers took a 2-0 lead five minutes before half time. Nagbe started the move in midfield by finding Diego Valeri out wide. Valeri crossed in for Darren Mattocks to slot home from close range.

The second half kicked off with the Whitecaps on the attack. Their persistence was finally rewarded on 58 minutes after Christian Bolanos was brought down in the area by Alvas Powell. Fredy Montero stepped up but his initial kick was saved well by Jeff Attinella before the rebound fell back to Montero who slotted home to leave the Whitecaps one behind.

Montero came close to finding the equaliser on 76 minutes but the ball sailed agonizingly wide from the Colombian’s chipped effort.

It was to be Vancouver Whitecaps’ last chance as they finished the match losing 2-1 and remain in ninth position. Portland Timbers stay top of the Western Conference.

NY Red Bulls v Columbus Crew 2-0

New York Red Bulls beat Columbus Crew 2-0 to win their fourth match of the season and go third in the table level on points with Columbus Crew who stay in second place.

The Red Bulls took the lead on 11 minutes. Alex Muyl’s deflected cross caught keeper Zack Steffen off his line and fell to Sacha Kljestan who put the ball into the net.

New York took a 2-0 lead on 38 minute when Daniel Royer converted a penalty after Bradley Wright Phillips was brought down in the area.

Ola Kamara came close to pulling a goal back, but Luis Robles saved well.

It was not to be for the Crew, who would could not find a way back into the match.

FC Dallas v Sporting Kansas City 1-0

FC Dallas kept up their good run of form as they beat Sporting Kansas City 1-0.

Dallas started well and were denied on 40 minutes by keeper Tim Melia, who punched out a shot from Roland Lamah who had been sent through on goal, to keep both teams level at the break.

It was Kansas who started brightly in the second half. After working the ball into the box, the ball came to Jimmy Medranda who shifted the ball left before attempting a curling shot that Jesse Gonzalez did well to save and push wide.

The goal finally came in the 77th minute. Michael Barrios sent over a teasing cross to the back post that was met by the head of defender Maynor Figueroa to score.

FC Dallas lie second behind Portland Timbers in the Western Conference while Sporting Kansas stay fourth.

NYC FC v Orlando City 1-2

Orlando City pulled off a great result away against NYC FC as they won 2-1 and went top of the Eastern Conference.

The game finally came to life after 24 minutes when NYC’s Jack Harrison crossed for Maxi Moralez, who’s diving header was well saved by Joe Bendik.

But it was Orlando who broke the deadlock, as Cyle Larin slotted home from close range after a good break, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead at half time.

Orlando increased their lead five minutes after the restart with that man again, Larin, scoring after out muscling Rodney Wallace in the air to head home after a deep cross.

NYC needed a response, which finally came on 67 minutes. Wallace’s header was beat away by Bendik in the Orlando goal.

Five minutes later NYC reduced the deficit. Moralez found David Villa with a chipped free kick, who turned and volleyed into the net from a acute angle.

It set up a frantic last 10 minutes. Moralez and Harrison both came close to bringing the scores level only to be thwarted by Bendik, to keep the score 2-1 Orlando City at the final whistle.

NYC FC stay mid table in the Eastern Conference.

Minnesota United v Colorado Rapids 1-0

In a game of little chances it was Minnesota United who came out on top with a 1-0 win over Colorado Rapids.

The first half was fairly non existent with both teams cancelling each other out as they both battled for possession.

The first strike on goal came in the 54th minute for the Loons. Kevin Molino struck a low shot which Zac Macmath did well to save.

Seven minutes later the Rapids had their first real chance after a great cross by Eric Miller was met by Dominique Badji who somehow managed to hit the underside of the bar from six yards out.

The Loons hit back immediately, forcing Macmath into saving, as he tipped the ball over the bar and punched clear the resulting corner.

Minnesota found the break through they deserved on 71 minutes. A rasping drive from Ibson was tipped onto the post by Macmath. The rebound fell to Johan Venegas who headed to Ibarra whose diving header found the net.

Minnesota United held tight to win 1-0 and grab their second win of the season to move to eighth in the Western Conference, while Colorado Rapids slip to second in the Eastern Conference.

New England Revolution v D.C. United 2-2

New England Revolution drew 2-2 in an entertaining match against D.C. United.

The match was barely four minutes old when the Revolution went 1-0 up with a stooped header from Juan Agudelo, as the ball sneaked into the net from 6 yards after a teasing cross from Kei Kamara.

D.C. United hit back on 25 minutes with a long range strike from Jared Jeffrey which flew into the net.

Three minutes later D.C. United took the lead. Chris Odoi Atsem fed a fantastic through ball to Sebastien Le Toux who beat Cody Cropper to the ball to slot under the keeper to take the 2-1 lead into half time.

The second half had barely started when D.C. United found the equaliser on 48 minutes. Le Toux’s corner was met at the far post by Antonio Milnar Delamea who headed back across goal for Agudelo to poke home from close range to secure the draw.

New England Revolution remain in eighth with D.C. United in ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Real Salt Lake v Atlanta United 1-3

Atlanta United pulled off a convincing 3-1 win to defeat Real Salt Lake.

It was Atlanta who broke the deadlock on nine minutes through Hector Villalba who jumped on the rebound to fire home, after Nick Rimando had pulled off two good saves.

Atlanta went further ahead early in the second half. Miguel Almiron disposed Chris Wingert, before laying the ball off to Yamil Asad who dribbled past one defender before firing in the goal.

United looked the most likely to score the next goal but RSL, against the run of play, reduced the deficit on 69 minutes. Albert Rusnak struck low into the corner of the net.

Atlanta secured the win in injury time Brandon Vazquez rounding Matt Van Oekel to slot home and give United a 3-1 win.

Real Salt Lake stay mid table in the Western Conference, while Atlanta United move to forth in the Eastern Conference.

LA Galaxy v Seattle Sounders 0-3

Seattle Sounders hammered LA Galaxy 3-0 away as the Galaxy continued to struggle.

The Sounders opened the scoring with a well taken header from Clint Dempsey after a great cross from the left from Nicolas Lodeiro.

The second goal came six minutes later. A Joevin Jones cross was deflected into his own goal by Ashley Cole to put the Sounders 2-0 up.

The win was secure just before half time with goal number three. Dempsey found Jordan Morris on the left of the area who took a few steps forward before sliding the ball into the net to give the Sounders an unassailable led.

The second half continued like the first with Seattle putting the Galaxy under pressure. Dempsey struck the bar on 58 minutes to deny a fourth Sounders goal with the final score staying at 3-0.

Seattle Sounders are in fifth position with LA Galaxy struggling in tenth place in the Western Conference.