The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsToronto had a great week, and with Sebastian Giovinco back on form (seven goals in four games), their push for the Supporters’ Shield might just be timed right. Elsewhere, there was a hat-trick for Clint Dempsey and two red cards in Portland. The stat of the week is Nick Rimando’s. The goalkeeper now has the most wins (181) of all-time in the MLS.
Friday 5 August
SJ Earthquakes 0 – New York City 0
The first game of the weekend ended in a goalless draw, with NYC coming away from San Jose with a point. Both sides had their chances but neither could find the finishing touch when it really mattered. With the draw, San Jose are now four games unbeaten, but they are still only 8th in the Western Conference. The draw keeps NYC top of the Eastern, but they are only a point clear.
Saturday 6 August
DC United 2 (Kemp, Birnbaum) – Philadelphia Union 2 (Barnetta, Pontius)
A last gasp equaliser was enough to get DC a point, with the Union dropping points once again as their tumble down the tables continues. The hosts opened the scoring through Taylor Kemp (16’), who scored his first of the season. Tranquillo Barnetta (45+1’) scored a stunning free kick to equalise just before the break, with Chris Pontius (57’) then putting Philadelphia in front against his former club. It looked as if the Union were on for the victory, but Steve Birnbaum (90+4’) got DC a point deep into stoppage time. The point keeps DC in the hunt for a playoff spot in the East, while the Union are now down in 5th, having been at the top in June.
Montreal Impact 1 (Mancosu) – Houston Dynamo 0
Despite Didier Drogba being suspended for this one, Montreal came away with all three points. Matteo Mancosu (76’) got the winner late on, but Houston were the better side and go away disappointed at the result. They are still winless at Stade Saputo all-time, and they have only scored two goals since the start of July in the MLS. They are now without a win in five, and still sit bottom of the Western Conference with just 20 points. The Impact are 4th in the East but have games in hand on those above them.
Toronto FC 4 (Giovinco 3, Altidore) – NE Revolution 1 (Bunbury)
One of the teams above the Impact is Toronto, who ran out easy winners against the Revs on Saturday night, thanks to their main man. Sebastian Giovinco (20’, 29’, 76’) got his second hat-trick in four games as he fired himself back to the top of the MLS Golden Boot charts. His first half goals were both splendid, curling the first with the outside of his boot, the second with the inside. The third was a penalty kick which effectively ended the game. Teal Bunbury (88’) got one back for the Revs, but Jozy Altidore’s (90+3’) stoppage time goal was the icing on the cake for Toronto. They move 2nd in the East with a game in hand on NYC. The Revs are 6th, just above the red line.
Colorado Rapids 2 (Hairston, Badji) – Vancouver Whitecaps 0
The Rapids extended their unbeaten home run to 12 games with a comfortable victory against Vancouver. They took the lead just before half time when Marlon Hairston (44’) got his third goal in four games. The other winger, Dominique Badji (60’) doubled the lead on the hour mark, a lead they never looked like relinquishing. The Whitecaps did not offer anything going forward, and have not scored in their last four games, a new franchise record. Vancouver are now just below the red line in the West, while Colorado are second, with games in hand on the leaders FC Dallas.
Real Salt Lake 3 (Morales 2, Garcia) – Chicago Fire 1 (Alvarez)
Sunday 7 August
Portland Timbers 3 (Valeri, Jewsbury, Adi) – Sporting KC 0
After losing 1-0 to SKC last weekend, the Timbers got revenge with a comfortable victory at home. The first half saw two red cards, with the first coming just twelve minutes in to the game. Diego Chara was sent off for hitting Benny Feilhaber in the face, leaving Portland with ten men. SKC then went down to ten late in the half when Soni Mustivar was ejected for a bad challenge. It took until the second half for the first goal, with Diego Valeri (65’) opening the scoring, before Jack Jewsbury (87’) and Fanendo Adi (90+2’) added late goals to sure up the win. The Timbers go 6th in the West, with SKC in 5th, just above them.
Orlando City 1 (Hines) – Seattle Sounders 3 (Dempsey 3)
Orlando’s 17 game unbeaten run at home is over, thanks to a Clint Dempsey hat-trick, leading Seattle to all three points. Seb Hines (7’) gave the Lions the early lead, but then the Sounders took over. Clint Dempsey (14’, 37’, 48’) equalised for the visitors just seven minutes later, before adding a second before the break. The hat-trick goal came just three minutes into the second half, with the captain being substituted on the hour mark with his work done for the day. Could the Sounders make the playoffs? They are eight points behind Portland, but they do have two games in hand. Orlando are just below the red line in the East, level on points with New England.
LA Galaxy 2 (Magee, Cole) – NY Red Bulls 2 (Veron, Davis)
NYC (37) still lead the East, but Toronto (36) have a game in hand. NYRB (33), Montreal (33) and the Union (31) are still in the hunt for the Conference title. The Revs (26) just occupy the last playoff spot, ahead of Orlando (26) and DC (24). The Crew (19) and Chicago (18) are the bottom two in the Eastern.
FCD (44) and Colorado (41) still continue to lead the way in the West, with the Rapids having two games in hand. RSL (37) and LA (37) are level in 3rd. SKC (34) and Portland (32) hold the final two playoff spots. Vancouver (30) and San Jose (28) are just outside, with Seattle’s (24) good form moving them closer. The Dynamo (20) sit bottom.
