The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsIncluding one game on Thursday night, there were eleven games in the MLS this week, five of which ended with a 1-0 scoreline. There was also a big win for the league leaders Toronto, who put five past the Crew. The Texas Derby ended in a scoreless draw, thanks to the two netminders.
Thursday 25th May
Chicago Fire 2 (Nikolic 3’, Accam 10’)
FC Dallas 1 (Lamah 6’)
All three goals came in a frantic opening ten minutes on Thursday night, as the Fire took another victory in the MLS. The league’s top scorer, Nemanja Nikolic, added to his tally for the year in just the third minute. However, Roland Lamah equalised on the six minute mark, before the Fire’s other main man, David Accam, put them back in front after ten. Nikolic had a chance to double his tally, and the lead, late on, but Chris Seitz saved his penalty. The Fire’s four game winning streak has seen them move into a comfortable 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, while FC Dallas remain in 3rd in the West.
Friday 26th May
Toronto FC 5 (Vazquez p6’ 59’, Morrow 39’, Osorio 86’, Hamilton 90+3’)
Columbus Crew SC 0
Toronto ran riot on Friday night, smashing five goals past a sorry Columbus Crew side to win the Trillium Cup mini-series. In a side without Giovinco and Altidore, the hosts still opened the scoring inside the opening six minutes. Victor Vazquez scored from the spot, with Justin Morrow doubling the lead before the interval. Vazquez then got his second of the night, before Jonathan Osorio and Jordan Hamilton both opened their MLS accounts for the season late on. The five-goal win sees Toronto maintain their big lead at the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings. On the other hand, the Crew just stay inside the playoff places in the East.
Saturday 27th May
Colorado Rapids 1 (Ford 11’)
Sporting Kansas City 0
The Rapids got just their third win of the season as the bottom club in the West beat the top club this weekend. Kortne Ford got the only goal of the game in the eleventh minute, and the Rapids held on for the rest of the match for a vital three points. SKC have now only won one of their eight away games in 2017, but still remain top of the West by two points, but they have played more games than the teams below them. Despite the victory, The Rapids remain four points adrift at the bottom of the Western Conference.
Minnesota United 1 (Ramirez 56’)
Orlando City SC 0
Manager Adrian Heath got a victory over his former club, as Minnesota won by one against Orlando City. After scoring own goals two weeks in a row, Christian Ramirez got one at the right end this time out. His eighth of the season gave the Loons the win over the Lions. Kaka’s presence was missed for the visitors, who struggled to really create any clear cut chances. The win keeps Minnesota in 9th in the West, while Orlando’s continuing struggles away from home sees them drop to 4th in the Eastern.
New York Red Bulls 2 (Wright-Phillips 47’, Royer 74’)
New England Revolution 1 (Nguyen p9’)
Two second half goals saw the Red Bulls come from behind to beat the Revolution on Saturday evening. Lee Nguyen scored from the penalty spot for the visitors in the ninth minute, but goals from Bradley Wright-Phillips and Daniel Royer turned the game around and gave the New York side the three points on the night. They now sit 5th in the East, in a three-way tie on 20 points. The Revs sit 9th in the East, three points off the playoff places.
Real Salt Lake 1 (Plata 36’)
Philadelphia Union 0
After a run of four straight wins, the Union finally lost again in 2017, and Real Salt Lake got the win they needed. Joao Plata scored the only goal of the game in Salt Lake City, as the Union’s four-game winning streak is over after their terrible start. Despite the defeat, Philadelphia are still in 8th in the Eastern Conference. RSL got a win which keeps them 10th in the Western, but they are only three points off the red line.
San Jose Earthquakes 2 (Wondolowski 10’, Hoesen 37’)
LA Galaxy 4 (Pedro 19, dos Santos p35’ 64’, Bernardez og 44’)
A six-goal Cali Clasico thriller saw the Galaxy run out 4-2 winners at Avaya Stadium on Saturday night. Chris Wondolowski opened the scoring with his eighth Cali Clasico goal in the tenth minute, but the lead did not las long. Joao Pedro equalised for the Galaxy just nine minutes later, with Giovani dos Santos scoring from the penalty spot ten minutes from the break. Danny Hoesen levelled the game for the Quakes just two minutes later. Victor Bernardez then put through his own net before the break to give the Galaxy the lead for the second time in the game. Gio dos Santos then got his second of the game in the second half to give the Galaxy the win. They move into the playoff places with the three points, while the Quakes stay in 4th after defeat, both in the East.
Seattle Sounders 1 (Roldan 4’)
Portland Timbers 0
Just one goal was needed in this Cascadia Cup rivalry meeting, as the Sounders struck early to take victory. Cristian Roldan got the goal in just the fourth minute, and it was the only one of the match. The Timbers had two penalty shouts turned down in the second half as the Sounders held on for the win. They stay in 8th in the West, while the Timbers are 5th, with just two points separating them.
Vancouver Whitecaps 0
DC United 1 (Neagle p61’)
The side from the capital ended their run of three straight defeats with a victory in Vancouver on Saturday night. Lamar Neagle converted from the penalty spot for the visitors on the hour mark, which turned out to be the only goal of the game. The Whitecaps hit the woodwork four times in the game, including a late missed penalty from Cristian Techera. The defeat for Vancouver sees them drop outside of the playoff places in the West, while DC’s first win in four sees them move off the bottom of the East.
Sunday 28th May
Atlanta United 3 (Almiron 16’ 23’, Villalba 19’)
New York City FC 1 (Harrison 71’)
A seven-minute spell which saw Atlanta score three times saw them over the line against NYC on Sunday night. Their first three shots all found the back of the net. First, Miguel Almiron scored in the 16th minute, before Hector Villalba doubled the home side’s lead three minutes later. Seven minutes after scoring his first, Almiron got his second of the game to make it a three-goal lead. Jack Harrison scored a consolation goal for NYC in the second half. The win sees Atlanta climb to 7th in the East, while NYC remain in 3rd in the same Conference.
FC Dallas 0
Houston Dynamo 0
The Texas Derby ended goalless thanks to both sides goalkeeper’s making some fantastic saves on the night. Both Jesse Gonzalez and Tyler Deric recorded shutouts in this one, including some highlight-reel saves from the pair. The Dynamo finally got a point on the road after suffering five straight away defeats to start the 2017 campaign. The point keeps them 2nd in the Western Conference, ahead of FC Dallas on goal difference, who played for the second time in three nights.
Standings – team points (games played):
Eastern Conference:
TOR 29 (14), CHI 24 (13), NYC 20 (13), ORL 20 (13), NY 20 (14), CLM 19 (14)
ATL 18 (12), PHI 16 (13), NE 16 (13), DC 14 (12), 13 (11)
Western Conference:
SKC 22 (14), HOU 20 (13), FCD 20 (12), SJ 19 (14), POR 18 (13), LA 17 (12)
VAN 16 (12), SEA 16 (12), MIN 14 (13), RSL 14 (14), COL 10 (12)
Full standings here:
Statistics:
Goals:
- 11 – Nemanja Nikolic (CHI)
- 9 – Erick Torres (HOU)
- 8 – David Villa (NYC), CJ Sapong (PHI), Christian Ramirez (MIN)
Assists:
- 8 – Victor Vasquez (TOR)
- 6 – Yamil Asad (ATL), Chris Pontius (PHI), Alex (HOU), Sacha Kljestan (NY), Romain Alessandrini (LA)
- 5 – Raheem Edwards (TOR), Carlos Rivas (ORL), Lee Nguyen (NE), Joevin Jones (SEA), Maximiliano Moralez (NYC), Haris Medunjanin (PHI), Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA), Chris Wondolowski (SJ)
Clean Sheets:
- 7 – Tim Melia (SKC)
- 5 – Jesse Gonzalez (FCD), Andre Blake (PHI), David Bingham (SJ)
- 4 – Stefan Frei (SEA), Luis Robles (NY)
There are four midweek fixtures in the MLS this week. The reigning MLS Cup Champions travel to Ohio to face the Crew, while NYC will look to bounce back on the short week against New England. Elsewhere, Houston host Mike Petke’s RSL, and Orlando host the capital’s side, DC United.
Fixtures:
- Columbus v Seattle
- Houston v RSL
- NYC v New England
- Orlando v DC United
