Wins for both New York teams, a red card for Zlatan and more from the weekend’s MLS action.
Toronto earned an all-important win that they hope will turn their season around. Dallas was denied the three points in Frisco as their defence crumbled in the dying minutes of the match. Both NYCFC and the Union earned heavy 4-goal victories as they merely played to the tune of this week’s goal-scoring frenzy. Portland won their fifth in a row, and Atlanta lost not only to a very good Red Bulls team, but also a VAR system that seemed against them at every turn. Also, Zlatan received a red card for hitting another man in the face, yet the Galaxy still won. Which reality are we living in?
Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 San Jose Earthquakes
The Whitecaps salvaged a point at home against the earthquakes thanks to Reyna.
Cristian Techera opened the scoring for the Whitecaps in the 19th minute with a shot from the centre of the box, assisted via through-pass from Yordy Reyna. The Quakes came level during the first minute of added time in the second half thanks to a solid finish by Danny Hoesen from the left side of the box, assisted via through-pass from Florian Jungwirth.
Nick Lima put the Quakes ahead in the 53rd minute with a good finish from the right side of the box, assisted by Valeri Qazaishvili. Yordy Reyne brought the Whitecaps level in the 64th minute with a strong header from the centre of the box, assisted via cross from Marcel de Jong for the last goal of the game.
Toronto FC 2-1 Orlando City SC
Telfer on form as Toronto took down Orlando at home.
Jay Champman was in the right place to finish a rebounded shot from Tosaint Ricketts into an open net in the 63rd minute. Cristian Higuita brought Orlando level in the 73rd minute with a great shot from outside the box, assisted by Josue Colman. Ryan Telfer scored the winner in the 87th minute with a solid finish of Auro’s cross from the left side of the box.
FC Dallas 2-2 Vancouver Whitecaps
Stoppage-time penalty earned the Whitecaps a point as Dallas defence crumbles.
Reggie Cannon put Dallas on the board in the 40th minute with a shot from outside the box, assisted by Roland Lamah.
In the 70th minute, Maximiliano Urruti made it two for Dallas with a good finish from the centre of the box, assisted by Santiago Mosquera following a break. Maynor Figueroa suffered the ignominy of scoring an own goal in the 82nd minute to put the Whitecaps on the board. In the tenth minute of injury time, Key Kamara converted a penalty earned by Anthony Blondell after being fouled in the box by Jimmy Mauer.
New York City FC 4-0 Colorado Rapids
NYCFC demolished the Rapids in heavy home win as David Villa scored twice.
David Villa opened scoring for NYCFC in the 22nd minute with a good finish from the centre of the box, assisted by Maximilano Moralez.
Ronald Matarrita made it 2-0 for NYCFC in the 49th minute with a header from the left side of the box. Maxi Moralez got himself on the board in the 56th minute with a shot from outside the box, assisted by David Villa. Villa netted his second in the 74th minute to make it 4-0 for NYCFC with a shot from the left side of the box, assisted by Rodney Wallace.
Portland Timbers 2-1 LAFC
The Timbers earned the three points against an LAFC that couldn’t quite do it.
Cristhian Parades opened scoring for the Timbers in the 52nd minute with a tight finish from the right side of the net following a Diego Valeri free-kick attempt. Carlos Vela brought LAFC level in the 74th minute with a beautiful curling shot from the right side of the box, assisted by Eduard Atuesta. Samuel Armeteros scored the winner for the Timbers in the 81st minute from outside the box, assisted by Cristhian Parades.
New England Revolution 0-1 Columbus Crew SC
The Crew managed to edge the Revs in New England.
Lalas Abubakar scored the winning goal for the Crew in the 85th minute with a strong headed finish of Federico Higuain’s corner. This capped a solid performance by the crew that was certainly deserving of the win, though the New England defence could certainly be lauded for its performance.
Philadelphia Union 4-1 Real Salt Lake
The Union thoroughly handled RSL in huge home win.
Marcus Epps got the Union off the mark in the 21st minute with a good finish from the centre of the box, assisted by Fabrice Jean-Picault. Borek Dockal doubled the Union’s lead in the 34th minute with a solid shot from the centre of the box, assisted via through-pass from Alejandro Bedoya.
RSL finally got on the board in the 65th minute thanks to a good goal from Damir Kreilach, assisted by Sebastian Saucedo. Ilsinho restored the Union’s two-goal lead in the 74th minute with a solid finish from the centre of the box, assisted by Borek Dockal. Keegan Rosenberry made it four for the Union in the 81st minute with a great shot from outside the box, assisted by Ilsinho following a corner.
San Jose Earthquakes 1-3 DC United
DC earned all three during solid win against the Quakes that was decided by the first half.
Zoltan Steiber opened scoring for DC in the 15th minute with a shot from the centre of the box, assisted via through-pass from Luciano Acosta. Darren Mattocks double DCs lead in the 20th minute with a shot from the right side of the box, assisted by Luciano Acosta. Yamil Asad made it 0-3 for DC in the 37th minute with a shot from outside the box, assisted by Paul Arriola. Danny Hoesen got the Quakes on the board in the 43rd minute with a shot from a tight angle, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.
Minnesota United FC 1-1 Sporting Kansas City
Minnesota and SKC shared the spoils as neither team found the edge over the other.
Khiry Shelton netted his first of the season in the eighth minute with a close-range headed finish of Johnny Russell’s corner to put SKC up 0-1. Darwin Quintero brought Minnesota level in the 20th minute with a close-range finish into the centre of the net.
Chicago Fire 2-3 Houston Dynamo
The Dynamo downed the Fire in high-scoring affair.
Romell Quioto put the Dynamo on the board early with a goal in the fourth minute, assisted by Tomas Martinez following a break. Nemanja Nikolic brought the Fire level in the 14th minute with a shot from the centre of the box, assisted by Aleksandar Katai. Diego Campos scored two minutes later to put the Fire ahead, assisted via through-pass from Nemanja Nikolic.
Alberth Elis converted a penalty in the 56th minute to bring the Dynamo level after Mauro Manotas earned the penalty for being fouled in the box by Richard Sanchez. Elis scored the winner in the 74th minute with a good shot from the centre of the box, assisted by Oscar Boniek following a break.
Atlanta United 1-3 New York Red Bulls
The Red Bulls handily beat a ten-man Atlanta side with the help of VAR, BWP, and Ryan Meara.
Ezequiel Barco opened the scoring for Atlanta in the 26th minute with a good finish from the centre of the box. Daniel Royer converted a penalty in the 42nd minute to bring the Red Bulls level after Bradley Wright-Phillips drew a foul in the box.
BWP put the Red Bulls ahead in the 51st minute with a wonderful header from the centre of the box, assisted via cross from Michael Murillo. BWP made his brace in the 55th minute with another solid header, this time assisted via cross from Alejandro Romero Gamarra. To make things even worse for Atlanta, defender Greg Garza was shown a red in the 71st minute for a studs-up tackle on Sean Davis
Montreal Impact 0-1 LA Galaxy
Zlatan red card, Galaxy win, Impact defeat. Is this the MLS you wanted?
The Galaxy were given a hill to climb in the 41st minute with Zlatan Ibrahimovich was shown a red card following violent conduct against Michael Petrasso.
Ola Kamara scored the one and only goal of the match for the Galaxy in the 75th minute with a great finish from the centre of the box, assisted via headed-pass from Emmanuel Boateng.
