Toronto hammer the Crew as the Galaxy shake up the Earthquakes
Chicago Fire 2-1 FC Dallas
Three goals in the first ten minutes gave The Fire a 2-1 win and moved them to second spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Fire opened the scoring on three minutes as Nemanja Nikolic scored after a good cross from the left from Brandon Vincent. Three minutes later Dallas drew level after some lacklustre defending by the Fire let in Roland Lamah to score from close range. The Fire hit back again on nine minutes. David Accam teased the defender before hitting a low shot from the edge of the box that keeper Chris Seitz should have done better with.
The hosts managed to hold on to the win and even missed a late minute penalty that was well saved by Seitz. FC Dallas lie third in the Western Conference.
Toronto FC 5-0 Columbus Crew
Toronto kept up their impressive start to the season with a resounding win against Columbus Crew.
The first goal came after only six minutes when Tosaint Ricketts was fouled in the area, Victor Vazquez slotting home the resulting spot kick. Justin Morrow then added the second with a powerful shot which flew past keeper Zack Steffen on 39 minutes.
It was more of the same in the second half. Just before the hour mark Vazquez grabbed his second of the match, hitting his free kick under the wall and into the net. With Toronto running riot their fourth goal came on 86 minutes after some good build up play sent Jonathan Osorio through to score before Jordan Hamilton wrapped up the game in injury time keeping Toronto top of the Eastern Conference by five points.
Seattle Sounders 1-0 Portland Timbers
In a very tight match, the Sounders scrapped a 1-0 win to grab an important result.
Seattle scored the breakthrough goal four minutes into the game. Chad Marshall flicked on a header from a corner for Cristian Roldan to head home. Chances fell to both sides but both goalkeepers were in fine form. Seattle move to eighth with the Timbers in fifth in the Western Conference.
Vancouver Whitecaps 0-1 D.C. United
D.C. United grabbed an away win with an inspired display from keeper Bill Hamid.
The Whitecaps hit the woodwork twice in the first 20 minutes before Hamid pulled of a great save on 42 minutes getting down low and saving on the line.
D.C. We’re given a penalty on 59 minutes. Jose Guillermo Ortiz went down in the box although replays show a clear dive by the player. Lamar Neagle converted from 12 yards to put United one up. The Whitecaps then had a great chance to draw level after Hamid was adjudged to have fouled in the area. However Cristian Techera struck the post in injury time from the resulting penalty to give D.C. United the win.
Minnesota United 1-0 Orlando City
United secured a good win against Orlando with Christian Ramirez scoring his eighth goal of the season.
Orlando missed a glut of chances in the first half in which they dominated the match, however it was Minnesota who got the important goal on 56 minutes. Johan Venegas’ fantastic through ball found Ramirez who slotted home into the Orlando net. The home side managed to hold on to gain a good result against a spirited Orlando side.
Colorado Rapids 1-0 Sporting Kansas City
The Rapids claimed a 1-0 win in a gritty performance over Kansas City.
Colorado grabbed the game’s only goal on 11 minutes. A free kick from Shkelzen Gashi found the head of Kortne Ford who managed to score in the bottom corner.
Kansas tried in vain to find an equaliser having 25 shots at goal, although 21 of them were from outside the penalty area. To add to Sporting’s woes Roger Espinoza was sent off late on. Sporting still remain top of the Western Conference.
Atlanta United 3-1 NYC FC
In a great first half display Atlanta took all three points to win the crucial match against NYC.
Miguel Almiron put United in front on 16 minutes after a great cut back by Julian Gressel. Three minutes later it was 2-0 as Victor Villalba scored after driving into the area and finishing well, curling the ball round the keeper. Their third goal came on 23 minutes after another superb cut back and assist from Gressel for Almiron to slot home again.
NYC grabbed a consolation goal on 71 minutes through Jack Harrison but it was too little too late.
New York Red Bulls 2-1 New England Revolution
The Red Bulls won again despite doing a goal down.
Lee Nguyen opened the scoring for the Revolution on nine minutes from the penalty spot after Diego Fagundez was brought down. It took until two minutes into the second half for the Red Bulls to draw level. Bradley Wright-Philips back healing into an empty net after the keeper could only spill the ball. Daniel Royer put the Bulls 2-1 up on 74 minutes, tapping in Wright-Philips’ cross to seal the win.
Real Salt Lake 1-0 Philadelphia Union
RSL took the win, although they had their keeper Nick Rimando to thank.
RSL opened the scoring on 36 minutes after some great build up play set up Joao Plata to score. The Union tried to hit back but found Rimando in breathtaking form as he single handily kept them at bay with some fine saves. RSL found their own opportunities blocked as Union keeper Andre Blake made seven saves to try and keep them in the match.
However, the score remained 1-0 to put RSL four points clear of bottom side Colorado Rapids.
San Jose Earthquakes 2-4 LA Galaxy
The Galaxy came away with an impressive win in an entertaining match against the Earthquakes.
It was the Earthquakes who took the lead on 10 minutes with a goal from Chris Wondolowski who volleyed home after a good cross from Danny Hoesen. Nine minutes later the Galaxy were level, Joao Pedro slotting home after finding himself unmarked inside the area. LA Galaxy then went ahead on 35 minutes from a penalty by Giovani dos Santos but two minutes later it was all square again as Danny Hoesen tapped in from close range after some good work on the left. An unfortunate own goal by Victor Bernardez just before half time gave the Galaxy a 3-2 lead. As he deflected a cross into his own net.
Finally on 64 minutes, dos Santos grabbed his second and Galaxy’s fourth goal as his perfect diving header flew past David Bingham in the Earthquakes goal after a sublime pass from Romain Alessandrini. The Galaxy now sit mid table in the Western Conference with the Earthquakes in forth.
FC Dallas 0-0 Houston Dynamo
Dallas have failed to win their last four matches but they cannot be blamed for not trying against a Dynamo team who sat back in the second half.
Both teams had their keepers to thank as Dallas’ Jesse Gonzalez and Houstons’ Tyler Deric both produced good saves to keep the score goalless. Dallas continued to try and find a way through in the second half but some resolute and dogged defending from Dynamo ensured the score remained 0-0 at full time.