MLS Roundup: Goals aplenty as the international break hits with a bang

Atlanta United FC 4-2 San Jose Earthquakes

Nine-man Earthquakes fall to Atlanta despite early lead.

The Earthquakes took a very early lead after a break lead to a fantastic finish by Tommy Thompson in the second minute. Kofi Sarkodie earned a controversial second-yellow to be send off in the 32nd minute to set the Earthquakes to ten men.

Carlos Carmona scored the equaliser for Atlanta in the 55th minute after a header by Josef Martinez was parried away by the Earthquake’s keeper David Bingham. Josef Martinez then scored a commanding header 10 minutes later to put Atlanta in the lead. Chris Wondolowski then volleyed an excellent cross from Nick Lima at close range to bring the Earthquakes level again in the 66th minute.

Atlanta found themselves in the lead again in the 81st minute via a header by Anton Walkes. Josef Martinez solidified the win for Atlanta with a well worked play that he finished neatly in the 89th minute. Victor Bernardez then summed up the Earthquakes performance by receiving a direct red card for what the referee perceived to be stamping on Josef Martinez after the latter attempted a tackle.

Minnesota United FC 0-1 Columbus Crew SC

Minnesota stay bottom after lacklustre loss to the crew.

While it was the Crew who ended up finding the net first, Minnesota’s Ibson’s free kick late in the first half required an excellent save from the Crew’s keeper Zack Steffen.

Kekuta Manneh scored the only goal of the game in the 58th minute after being allowed to dwell on the ball just too long before sending a screaming shot to the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards out.

FC Dallas 4-2 DC United

Dallas hammer 4 past DC United to continue hunt for the West.

Ian Harkes opened scoring in the 30th minute from 20 yards out with a one-touch shot which pinged in off the post. Atiba Harris then headed in a Mauro Diaz corner kick from 8 yards out to bring Dallas level in the 41st minute. Roland Lamah then finished a solid effort by Maximiliano Urruti seven minutes later to put Dallas up 2-1.

Maximiliano Urruti doubled Dallas’ lead with a tight-angled shot that deflected in off DC United’s keeper Travis Worra in the 47th minute. Roland Lamah scored his brace with a curt finish from close range of Michael Barios’ cross eight minutes later. Deshorn Brown then put a glimmer of hope in the eyes of DC United with a confident finish through the legs of Dallas keeper Jesse Gonzalez in the 57th minute.

Colorado Rapids 1-3 Seattle Sounders FC

The Sounders hand the Rapids their second straight defeat as they solidify their middle table position.

US international Clint Dempsey opened the scoring in the sixth minute for the Sounders. Will Bruin doubled the lead in the 30th minute with a first-time shot from close range after a wonderful Zlatan Ibrahimovic-esque pass from Clint Dempsey.

Dominique Badji then put the Rapids on the board in the 78th effort by getting on the end of a Marlon Hairston pass after a salvo of shots failed before. Clint Dempsey finished off the game in the 85th minute with a superb flick over fellow US international Tim Howard from the edge of the 18-yard box.

LA Galaxy 2-6 Real Salt Lake

RSL stun the Galaxy with second-half demolition.

Albert Rusnak opened the scoring for RSL in the 30th minute with a neatly placed solo-goal. Ashley Cole then brought the Galaxy level in the 41st minute after finding himself on the end of a lobbed pass, albeit from what looks like an offside position. Kyle Beckerman put RSL back on top in the first minute of added time with a close-range header.

Yura Movsisyan scored RSL’s third in the from close range. Jefferson Savarino put RSL up 1-4 in the 62nd with a screamer from 25 yards out that hit the upper 90. Savarino got his second and RSL’s fifth off a rebound. Joao Plato rounded the Galaxy keeper Clement Diop to put RSL up 1-6 in the 80th. Bradford Jamieson scored the Galaxy’s second in the 89th, but it was too little too late for the defeated Galaxy.

New England Revolution 2-3 New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls edge the Revolution with late goal to stay mid-table.

Teal Bunbury got the Revolution on the scorecard first with a tight finish off Diego Fagundez’ pass in the 21st minute. Bradley Wright-Phillips drew the Red Bulls level two minutes later with a phenomenal volley from the edge of the box. Lee Nguyen put the Revolution back on top with a chip over a desperate Luis Robles after a scramble in front of goal in the 26th.

Daniel Royer tucked away a penalty in the 55th to bring the Red Bulls back level. Gonzalo Veron managed to score in the 90th minute, just seven minutes after being subbed on, to win the Red Bulls the three points.

Orlando City SC 1-3 Toronto FC

Sebastian Giovinco brace leads Toronto to victory over struggling Orlando.

US international Jozy Altidore opened the scoring for Toronto in the 18th minute with a shot that managed to sneak past Orlando keeper Joe Bendik.

Sebastian Giovinco scored his first of the night with a cheeky chip over Bendik in the 46th minute. Carlos Rivas finally got Orlando on the board with a right finish past Toronto keeper Alex Bono in the 63rd. Giovinco then secured the game for Toronto with a curled free kick to win his brace.

Houston Dynamo 3-1 Montreal Impact

The Dynamo go ahead early to win against the Impact.

Andrew Wenger’s header for the Dynamo in the first minute of play is the earliest goal scored this game weak, and is among the earliest scored this season. Alex doubled the Dynamo’s lead with a goal from just outside the box in the 23rd. Fresh sub Memo Rodriguez put the Dynamo up 3-0 in the 67th with a screamer from 20 yards out. Michael Salazar hit a volley from close range to score a consolation goal for the Impact in the 89th minute.

Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2 New York City FC

The Whitecaps come from behind in the second half to beat NYCFC.

Fredy Montero netted early to put the Whitecaps 1-0 up in the third minute after an error by NYCFC’s defence allowed a break towards goal. Maxime Chanot brought NYCFC level in the 34th minute with a tight finish after a post-corner goal scramble. David Villa scored a well-struck penalty in the 40th to put NYCFC in the lead.

Jordan Harvey scored a wonderful volley in the 55th minute to bring the Whitecaps back level. Yordy Reyna then scored a bullet of a header in the 88th minute to give the Whitecaps the three points and was subsequently booked for his celebration of what would prove to be the winning goal.

Portland Timbers 2-2 Chicago Fire

The Fire manage to hold on to draw against a dominant Timbers team.

The Timbers are the first to score, with Fanendo Adi confidently slotting a penalty right down the middle in the 24th minute. Arturo Alvarez scored the equaliser for the Fire in the 34th minute from about 35 yards out that looked like it would be touched by Nemanja Nikolic but was not.

Chicago took the lead in the 61st minute via a screamer of a goal by Brandon Vincent that pinged in off the crossbar. Sebastian Blanco found himself on the receiving end of a masterful pass by Diego Valeri to bring the Timbers level in the 70th.

Sporting Kansas City 1-1 Philadelphia Union

SKC go unbeaten in six despite draw against the Union.

Diego Rubio finally managed to break though the wall of McCarthy with a fantastic shot from 20 yards out in the 49th to put SKC in the lead. A controversial penalty, scored by Roland Alberg, in the 69th minute rescued the point for the Union.

Keeper John McCarthy kept the Union in the game with several masterful saves throughout the game, and it is he who can be thanked for the point that they escaped with.