The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsAfter nearly three months, the soccer season is back underway. The MLS is back, with two new teams, making it a 22-team battle for the MLS Cup this year. Two new expansion teams, in Atlanta and Minnesota, will be aiming for a run at the playoffs in their first season in the league. Meanwhile, experienced competitors like the Galaxy, Toronto and last year’s Champions, the Seattle Sounders, will all be going for the title again.
The last two MLS Cup Champions had differing starts to their 2017 campaigns. The reigning Champions, Seattle, suffered a shock defeat, while the Timbers eased to victory. It was one of the new boys they beat, as both Minnesota and Atlanta lost out in their first ever MLS fixtures.
Friday 3rd March
Portland Timbers 5 (Olum 14’, Valeri 47’ 82’, Adi 90+1’ 90+3’)
Minnesota United 1 (Ramirez 79’)
The Loons travelled to Portland in their first ever MLS match, and they were handed the worst expansion debut loss in MLS history. The Timbers ran riot, scoring four times in the second half to win 5-1. Diego Valeri and Fanendo Adi both scored twice for the 2015 Champions, as they scored five for the first time at Providence Park. Lawrence Olum scored the opening goal of the season to get the Timbers off and running. Minnesota did get a goal back late on, through Christian Ramirez’ strike, but their first ever goal in the MLS was nowhere near enough.
Saturday 4th March
Columbus Crew 1 (Finlay 17’)
Chicago Fire 1 (Accam 73’)
Two sides that missed out on the playoffs in 2016 met up in Columbus on the opening day of the season. The Crew reached the final in 2015, and they started the better, with Ethan Finlay opening the scoring inside the opening twenty minutes. However, the Fire, who finished bottom of the Eastern last year, equalised late on. David Accam, their main man, was the one to level things for the visitors, who have taken a good point on the road in their season opener.
LA Galaxy 1 (dos Santos 53’)
FC Dallas 2 (Urruti 47’, Acosta 69’)
All three goals came in the second half, as last year’s Supporters’ Shield Champions overcame a tough Galaxy outfit in Los Angeles. The hosts were without two of their star men from last year, with both Steven Gerrard (retired) and Robbie Keane (free agent) moving on. They went behind at the start of the second half when Maxi Urruti opened the coring for Dallas. Gio dos Santos, arguably the Galaxy’s main player this season, levelled with a penalty kick just six minutes later. However, the visitors would win it through Kellyn Acosta’s nice finish with twenty minutes left.
Real Salt Lake 0
Toronto FC 0
After losing in last year’s MLS Cup Final, Toronto travelled to Salt Lake City to open their 2017 campaign, but could only manage a draw against RSL. The Canadian side had the best chance to win the game when Nick Rimando brought down Sebastian Giovinco in the box. The Italian dusted himself off to take the penalty, but Rimando redeemed himself, making the save.
Colorado Rapids 1 (Badji 52’)
NE Revolution 0
Despite injuries to Tim Howard and Shkelzen Gashi, the Rapids continued their great home form with a victory over New England on the opening weekend. Colorado went undefeated in the regular season at DSG Park in 2016, and they carried that on here. Dominique Badji scored the only goal of the game just after half time, as the Rapids aim to make the playoffs once again in 2017. The Revs had their chances, but failed to find the back of the net in this one.
DC United 0
Sporting KC 0
The two goalkeepers were the heroes in this goals encounter, as Bill Hamid (DC) and Tim Melia (SKC) both made several stops to keep it at 0-0. DC had the better of the opportunities, and should have gone ahead in the second half, but for two goal-line clearances in a matter of seconds. From a corner, both Roger Espinoza and Dom Dwyer headed the ball off the line, before Melia made a great save, tipping the ball around the post.
THIS SEQUENCE WAS BONKERS! #DCvSKC https://t.co/WvSXIg7SCN
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) March 5, 2017
Houston Dynamo 2 (Torres 20’, Quioto 42’)
Seattle Sounders 1 (Dempsey 58’)
Despite Clint Dempsey returning to action after a six month layout with a heart problem, and scoring, the Sounders started their title defence with a shock defeat in Houston. The Dynamo finished bottom of the Western last season, came out firing, and goals from Erik Torres and Romell Quioto gave them a two goal lead at the break. Clint Dempsey pulled one back for the Sounders after the break but the damage was done, and the reigning Champions com away from Houston with nothing.
SJ Earthquakes 1 (Godoy 17’)
Montreal Impact 0
An early strike from Anibal Godoy was enough for the Quakes to take victory on the opening weekend. It was their first victory against Montreal, with no wins in their previous five matches against the 2012 expansion side. However, when the Impact have trailed at halftime in their last 11, they have no wins, so the Quakes did what they needed to do to take all three points on Saturday.
Sunday 5th March
Orlando City 1 (Larin 15’)
New York City 0
The first game at the Orlando City Stadium was a good one for the hosts, who scored a single goal to win the match. Cyle Larin scored after a quarter of an hour, his first of the season, after netting 31 in his opening two years in the MLS for the Lions. However, a worry for them was that their Brazilian playmaker, Kaka, was taken off after just eleven minutes with a hamstring injury, which could keep him out for around six weeks.
Atlanta United 1 (Asad 26’)
NY Red Bulls 2 (Royer 76’, Walkes og 82’)
Atlanta were within fifteen minutes of victory, but two late New York goals took the points away from them in their opening MLS match. Yamil Asad opened the scoring for the hosts after 25 minutes, but it would not last the distance, as a Daniel Royer header and an own goal from Anton Walkes gave the Red Bulls the lead. It got worse for Atlanta, who went down to ten men late on as Carlos Carmona was given a straight red for stepping on Felipe, who was already on the ground.
Vancouver Whitecaps 0
Philadelphia Union 0
The final game of the weekend finished in a goalless draw as neither Vancouver or Philadelphia could break the deadlock at BC Place on Sunday night. Eight players made debuts in the game, with Jay Simpson, formerly of Hull City and Cardiff City, now plying his trade for the Union. Brek Shea and Fredy Montero came off the bench in their first appearances for the Whitecaps.
With one week of fixtures in the bank, the 22 MLS teams will be looking ahead to Week 2 of the season, with the two expansion teams going head to head. Atlanta travel to TCF Bank Stadium to face Minnesota on Sunday evening. Elsewhere, LA Galaxy host Portland, while the reigning Champions, Seattle, travel to Montreal on Saturday evening.
Next Week: Chicago-Real Salt Lake, New England-Orlando, NY Red Bulls-Colorado, Philadelphia-Toronto, Montreal-Seattle, Houston-Columbus, Sporting KC-FC Dallas, San Jose-Vancouver, New York City-DC United, Minnesota-Atlanta, Los Angeles-Portland.
