MLS Roundup: Toronto continues dominance as others battle for the playoffs

Toronto dominates the opposition with the aid of Sebastian Giovinco, while RSL blitz opposition with eight goals across two games. The rest of the East goes farther behind, while the West is close as ever.

FC Dallas 3-3 Houston Dynamo

The Dynamo made to come from behind by Dallas despite early lead.

Vicente Sanchez struck early for the Dynamo, scoring from a pass by Erick Torres following a defensive error by Dallas captain Matt Hedges in the first minute. Tesho Akindele brought Dallas level in the 45th minute with a fantastic strike into the upper 90 from just outside the box. Maynor Figueroa put Dallas in the lead two minutes later with a fantastic upper-corner strike from a tight angle.

Maximiliano Urruti double the lead for Dallas in the 51st minute with a spectacular volleyed effort from 25 yards out following a lobbed pass by Michael Barrios. Torres cut the deficit to one for the Dynamo in the 71st minute with a neat shot from close range that just managed to slip under the outstretched arms of Dallas keeper Jesse Gonzalez. Torres then evened scoring in the 86th minute by finishing a ball that had struck the crossbar.

DC United 1-0 Atlanta United

An own-goal cost Atlanta any points in this encounter as DC are lucky to escape with all three.

Early Chances by Miguel Almiron and Hector Villalba nearly put Atlanta in the lead, while Luciano Acosta also had a chance of scoring early for DC. Despite a solid performance from Atlanta, a costly mistake my captain Michael Parkhurst while defending a cross led to an own-goal in the 46th minute that ended up giving DC all the points.

Columbus Crew SC 2-0 LA Galaxy

The Crew score two to keep the Galaxy winless in eight games following heavy use of VAR system.

Galaxy defender Ashley Cole received a controversial red card in the 18th minute following a seemingly rough tackle that was determined to be just outside the box by VAR. Jonathon dos Santos then gave away a penalty kick after VAR determined that the foul that the referee had thought was outside of the penalty area was actually just inside the penalty box. Federico Higuain stepped up to take the penalty kick but Galaxy keeper Jon Kempin was able to make the save in the 24th minute. In the 26th minute, a goal by captain Daniel Steres for the Galaxy was ruled offside by VAR after it was determined that Joao Pedro was offside and interacted with the ball. Ola Kamara scored the first actual goal of the game in the 45th minute with a cool finish from inside the box. Another penalty was awarded to the Crew in the 79th minute, which Kamara stepped up to take but was also saved by Kempin. Justin Meram doubled the Crew’s lead in the 90th minute with a solid shot that just managed to get over Kempin’s shoulder.

Toronto FC 3-0 Philadelphia Union

Toronto rise about the Union with help from Sebastian Giovinco.

Sebastian Giovinco opened the scoring for Toronto with a beautiful freekick that curled into the far post in the tenth minute. Nicolas Hasler doubled Toronto’s lead in the 30th minute with an outstanding headed finish from 15-yards out off a corner kick by Victor Vazquez. Jozy Altidore scored the final goal of the night in the 57th minute with a neat finish over Union keeper Andre Blake following a wonderful assist by Victor Vazques.

Real Salt Lake 4-0 San Jose Earthquakes

RSL rock four goals past a ten-man Earthquakes.

Luis Silva opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a quick shot through the legs of Earthquakes keeper Andrew Tarbell. Anibal Godoy signalled what the evening would eventually look like when he was sent off after receiving a second yellow in the 61st minute. Jefferson Savarino doubled RSL’s lead in the 68th minute with a beautifully curled shot following a good dribble out of trouble on the edge of the box. Albert Rusnak scored RSL’s third in the 80th with a solid finish of Joao Plata’s pass across the edge of the box. Yura Movsisyan scored the fourth and final goal for RSL with a second shot from inside the box immediately after his first was blocked.

Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 Seattle Sounders FC

A ten-man Whitecaps manage to earn a draw against the high-flying Sounders.

In the 19th minute, Nicolas Lodeiro scored a penalty earned because Whitecaps defender Sheanon Williams brought down Victor Rodriguez in the box. Tony Tchani received a second-yellow in the 60th minute for a seemingly innocent tackle in the defensive third. Fredy Montero tucked away the tying goal in the 64th minute off a great pass by Alphonso Davies following a great run into the box.

Portland Timbers 2-1 Colorado Rapids

Colorado fall to early salvo by the Timbers.

In the 21st minute, none other than Diego Valeri scored the first goal of the night for the Timbers with a powerful header from close range. Darlington Nagbe doubled the lead two minutes late with a wonderful chipped goal from the edge of the box. Mohammed Saeid pulled one back for the rapids in the 28th minute with a shot from just inside the box that just managed to sneak past Timbers keeper Jeff Attinella. In the 30th minute, VAR was used to give the Timbers a penalty after referee Dave Gantar felt that there was nothing there. David Guzman stepped up to take the penalty but missed with a shot wide to the left.

New York Red Bulls 1-1 New York City FC

The New York Derby ends level as neither team could find a true advantage.

Despite the Red Bulls deserving a penalty in the 54th min, it was NYCFC’s Maximiliano Moralez who scores in the 56th thanks to excellent service from David Villa. Gonzalo Veron netted what should have been the second penalty for the Red Bulls in the 70th minute to bring the game level.

DC United 1-0 New England Revolution

Despite a close encounter, DC take all the points as the Revolution are left frustrated.

Although it was the Revs who seemed most likely to score in the minutes leading up to the goal, Luciano Acosta netted the only goal on the night for DC in the 71st minute with a quick finish of Kofi Opare’s headed pass across the box.

Philadelphia Union 2-2 Atlanta United

Atlanta just manages to snatch a late draw with ten-man Union.

The Union where the first to score, with a goal from Roland Alberg in the 18th minute thanks to a lobbed pass by Giliano Wijnaldum. Alejandro Bedoya doubled the Union’s lead in the 23rd minute with a phenomenal backward volley from close-range. Yamil Asad netted Atlanta’s first in the 26th minute with a first-time shot of a loose ball in the box.

The Union’s Joshua Yaro received a straight red in the 52nd minute for denying Josef Martinez a goal-scoring opportunity. Tyrone Mears managed to bring Atlanta level with a desperate header from the edge of the box in the first minute of stoppage time that only just managed to sneak into the net.

Columbus Crew SC 2-1 FC Dallas

The Crew earn routine win to keep Dallas winless in six games.

Ola Kamara opened the scoring for the Crew in the 50th minute with a good finish of Hector Jiminez’ pass across the box. Jonathan Mensah doubled the Crew’s lead in the 71st minute with a diving header on the end of a brilliant free-kick delivery by Federico Higuain. Walker Zimmerman netted Dallas’ only response in the 78th minute with a solid header from 15-yards out.

Orlando City SC 1-2 Vancouver Whitecaps

Orlando made to suffer by early own-goal as the Whitecaps take the win.

Tommy Reading suffered the ignominy of scoring an own goal in the ninth minute when his attempted clear of a dangerous free-kick ended up in the net to give the Whitecaps an early lead. Former Orlando man Brek Shea doubled the Whitecaps lead in the 53rd with a chipped goal over Orlando keeper Joe Bendik. Cyle Larin scored Orlando’s first and only goal of the night in the 62nd minute with a commanding header from the middle of the box.

Chicago Fire 1-2 Minnesota United FC

Minnesota snuff the Fire to earn first ever MLS away win.

Abu Danladi opened up the scoring in the 36th minute after a scramble in the box. Danladi scored the goal for his brace in the 45th minute after an excellent run into the box to get on the end of Jerome Thiesson’s cross. David Accam scored the Fire’s only goal of the night in the 77th minute with a great finish of Bastian Schweinsteiger’s perfectly weighted through-pass.

Real Salt Lake 4-1 Colorado Rapids

RSL continue scoring to beat the Rapids as both teams are reduced to ten men.

Joao Plata opened up the scoring for RSL in the 41st minute with a tight finish from just inside the box. Luis Silva netted a penalty in the 50th that was earned when RSL’s Jefferson Savarino was brought down in the box by Mekeil Williams. Danilo Acosta received a straight red in the 57th minute for a late tackle on Marlon Hairston. Rapids midfielder Alan Gordon was sent off after receiving a second yellow in the 77th minute for a rough tackle.

Joshua Gatt scored the Rapids only goal of the night in the 82nd minute after VAR overturned the original offside call. Luis Silva scored his second of the night, and RSL’s third in the second minute of extra time after a brilliant solo run. Brooks Lennon made it four in the sixth minute of added time with a skilled finish of Sebastian Saucedo’s pass across the box.

Montreal Impact 1-3 Toronto FC

The Impact crumble under the attacking force of Toronto.

Sebastian Giovinco scored the first goal of the evening in the 41st minute with a freekick that was beautifully curled into the near corner. Jozy Altidore doubled Toronto’s lead in the 52nd minute with an excellent finish of Marco Delgado’s cross. Ignacio Piatti scored a consolation goal for the Impact in the second minute of extra time with a remarkable finish from just inside the box. Sebastian Giovinco scored his second of the night one minute later with a brilliant volley from Steven Beitashour’s cross.

LA Galaxy 0-3 San Jose Earthquakes

The Earthquakes shake the Galaxy to keep them winless in nine.

Valeri Qazaishvili scored in the second minute of added time in the first half with a cool finish of a loose ball following a corner kick. The Galaxy’s Nathan Smith received a straight red in the 57th minute for a rough tackle on Andres Imperiale.

Marcos Urena made it two for the Earthquakes in the 80th minute with a cheeky chip over Galaxy keeper Jon Kempin. Chris Wondolowski scored the third and final goal for the Earthquakes in the second minute of extra time to bring his total of MLS away goals to 64, surpassing Landon Donovan for the record.

Seattle Sounders FC 1-1 Portland Timbers

All is level between the Sounders and the Timbers in this battle for the Western Conference title.

Christian Roldan netted the first goal of the game in the 18th minute with a clever finish of a loose ball following a corner kick. Diego Valeri slotted in a penalty kick in the second minute of added time after Darren Mattocks was brought down in the box. The Sounders’ Nouhou Tolo was shown a straight red in the third minute of extra time for pushing off the face of Diego Chara.