This weekend’s round of MLS games brought about further wins for LAFC, NYCFC, The Crew, and the Whitecaps most of whom will be vying to continue this winning streak next week. Atlanta, Minnesota, SKC, and the Revs will all want to use their wins this week to power forward into the rest of the season. The Red Bulls played their first match of the season this weekend and will be hoping that their 4-0 home win will prove to be a reflection of how the rest of the season will go. Toronto, Dallas, San Jose, the Sounders, and the Union all had a bye this week, and will be looking to be fresh for next weekend’s round of matches.
Columbus Crew 3-2 Montreal Impact
A late Winner from Gyasi Zardes ensured Columbus continue their winning ways.
The Crew began the day with a pair of quickfire goals. Federico Higuain converted a penalty in the twelfth minute earned by Lalas Abubakar when he was brought down in the penalty area during a corner kick. Gyasi Zardes got one as well three minutes later when a header from Artur hit the crossbar and landed at his feet.
Ignacio Piatti put the Impact on the board in the 59th minute with a skilful dribble that was capped by a great finish in the bottom of the far corner. Raheem Edwards made it a tie game in the 85th minute with a superb volley of Daniel Lovitz’ cross. However, Zardes converted a penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time that would prove to be the winner, it was earned by Luis Argudo for being brought down while dribbling across the penalty area.
New England Revolution 2-1 Colorado Rapids
The Revs managed to edge the Rapids thanks to a stoppage time winner.
Diego Fagundez put the Revs on the board first with a low-hit shot in the 48th minute. In the 53rd minute, the Rapids were awarded a penalty following a rough coming-together in the penalty area, Jack price stepped forward to take it, but Revs keeper Matt Turner parried it away from net allowing Price a second try that ultimately sailed over the crossbar. Niki Jackson brought the Rapids level at last in the 66th minute with a strong headed effort past Turner.
Chris Tierney scored the winner for the Revs in the third minute of stoppage time with a well taken free-kick that took a lucky deflection to ease past Rapids keeper Tim Howard.
Real Salt Lake 1-5 LAFC
Bob Bradley’s LAFC maintained the winning start to their season as four of their players get on the scorecard.
Joao Plata netted the first goal of the game for RSL in the 20th minute with a follow up of a penalty he had controversially earned when he was seemingly brought down in the box.
Diego Rossi brought LAFC level in the 30th minute with a shot around RSL keeper Nick Rimando. Latif Blessing put the visitors ahead in the 33rd minute with an easy finish from just in front of net assisted by Steven Beitashour. Benny Feilhaber made it 3 for LAFC in the 47th minute with a shot between the legs of Rimando, assisted by Beitashour. Diego Rossi earned his brace in the 81st minute with a skilful finish past Rimando after a fantastic first-touch. Carlos Vela capped the scoring for Bradley’s side in the 86th minute with a well-placed shot from outside the box, assisted by Diego Rossi.
Chicago Fire 3-4 Sporting Kansas City
The Fire couldn’t catch a break as what was supposed to be their late winner was nullified by two quickfire goals from SKC.
SKC took the lead in the 44th minute thanks to a strong header from Felipe Gutierrez after a rebounded save. Johnny Russell made it two for SKC with a solid finish of a loose ball in the box.
Aleksandar Katai got the Fire on the board in the 70th minute with a quick header at the near post following a superb dribble and pass from Bastian Schweinsteiger. Nemanja Nikolic found himself in the right place at the right time as usual to bring the Fire level with a quick finish of a rebounded save just in front of the net in the 74th minute.
Nikolic then sent the Fire ahead in the 82nd with yet another well-timed run to finish Brandon Vincent’s pass in front of the box. Jimmy Medranda brought SKC level only a minute later with a finish from out wide after a parried save by Fire keeper Richard Sanchez. Gutierrez got his brace and sealed the game in the 86th minute with a skilful finish of Daniel Salloi’s backheel in the penalty area.
Houston Dynamo 1-2 Vancouver Whitecaps
The Whitecaps managed to halt the Dynamo’s momentum for an important win.
Whitecaps forward Kei Kamara scored the first goal of the night with a well-struck penalty in the 28th minute. Alberth Elis brought the Dynamo level in the 39th minute with a well taken shot past Whitecaps keeper Stefan Marinovic. Brek Shea scored the winner for the Whitecaps in the 49th minute with an excellent run followed by an excellent finish past Dynamo keeper Chris Seitz.
New York Red Bulls 4-0 Portland Timbers
The Red Bulls opened their season with a statement win over the Timbers.
Benjamin Mines made it a goal-scoring debut to put the Red Bulls ahead in the 18th minute with a stretching finish of Kaku’s pass across net. Bradley Wright-Phillips made it two for the Red Bulls with a header from close range in the 77th minute, assisted by Sean Davis. Carlos Rivas scored another for the Red Bulls in the 80th minute with a finish into the far-post past Timbers keeper Jake Gleeson. Rivas earned his brace in the third minute of stoppage time with a solid finish of Connor Lade’s pass across the goal.
Orlando City SC 1-2 Minnesota United FC
Minnesota earned their first of the season over an Orlando team that simply couldn’t find the net.
Ethan Finlay gave The Loons the lead in the 12th minute with a chipped finish over Orlando keeper Joe Bendik expertly assisted by Kevin Molino. Yoshimar Yotun took and scored a penalty in the 42nd minute that had been awarded following a VAR review. Finlay earned his brace and scored the winner for Minnesota in the 79th minute with a quick finish from close range, assisted by Miguel Ibarra with a cross.
Atlanta United FC 3-1 DC United
Atlanta manged to bounce back from their trouncing in Houston to earn a solid home win over DC United. Are Tata Martino’s boys back in town?
Josef Martinez opened the scoring in Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a solid effort right in front of goal in the 24th minute, assisted by Hector Villalba. Miguel Almiron made it two for Atlanta in the 73rd minute with a powerful effort from the edge of the 18-yard box. Villalba got himself on the scoresheet in the 75th minute with a spectacular header over DC keeper David Ousted. Darren Mattocks got DC a consolation goal in the 86th minute with a neat finish of a loose ball in the box.
New York City FC 2-1 LA Galaxy
New York City FC continue their march into the season with a win against a 10-man Galaxy team that seemed outclassed all match long.
NYCFC took the lead in the 22nd minute thanks to a tidy finish of a poor clearance inside the Galaxy penalty area by Anton Tinnerholm. David Villa extended the lead with a steady finish of a rebounded save by David Bingham in the 33rd minute. Jonathan dos Santos gave the Galaxy a glimmer of hope in the 60th minute with a toed-in finish past NYCFC keeper Sean Johnson.
