The Sounders finally got on the board in the 80th minute of their third game of the season to avoid falling to 0-3 when Steve Zakuani tapped in a deflection off a corner kick from Erik Friberg. Seattle had opportunities all match long, but up until that point they were unable to convert as Dynamo keeper Tally Hall had just a sensational game stopping everything that came his way. Houston took a 1-0 late in the first half when Lovel Palmer's free kick hit the cross bar and the rebound eventually popped out to Geoff Cameron who slammed it home for his first goal of the year. Seattle finished the game outshooting Houston 26-6. The Sounders head South to take on the Earthquakes on Saturday while the Dynamo head East to take on the unbeaten Red Bulls.
Photo Courtesy: houstondynamo.com
TORONTO 2 PORTLAND 0
Javier Martina scored once in each half to give Toronto FC their first win of the season and drop the expansion Timbers to 0-2. Martina got Toronto on the board in the 14th minute when he received a pass from Dwayne De Rosario deep in the box and tucked his shot past Adin Brown. Brown left the game at half time and was replaced by 20 year old New Zealander Jake Gleeson. Gleeson played well and had absolutely no chance on Martina's second goal. Toronto keeper Stefan Frei hit Martina in stride with a brilliant service and Martina one timed the bouncing ball past a diving Gleeson and off the post for just a sensational strike to make it 2-0. Things got a little interesting in the 84th minute as Mikael Yourassowsky received a second yellow card and was sent off for "delaying a restart" forcing Toronto to play a man down for the final few minutes, but Frei and the Toronto defense held fast as they rebounded from last week's abysmal showing in which they allowed 4 goals. Toronto will host Chivas USA on Saturday while the Timbers will travel to Foxboro still in search of their first win.
Photo Courtesy: theepochtimes.com
PHILADELPHIA 1 VANCOUVER 0
A week after being the star in Vancouver's big win last week against Toronto, Eric Hassli was arguably the goat in this one. Hassli picked up a pair of bad yellow cards and was sent off in the 57th minute opening the door for Philadelphia to break through the Whitecap defense and pick up a 1-0 win. Stefani Miglioranzi's long range shot deflected to a wide open Sebastien Le Toux who quickly found Carlos Ruiz in front of the goal for the easy finish. 39 year old Colombian keeper Faryd Mondragon posted his second shutout in as many matches for the Union who only had two clean sheets all of last season. Things will get tougher for Philadelphia as they head west to take on the Galaxy next weekend while Vancouver looks to bounce back from their first loss as they host Kansas City.
Photo Courtesy: philadelphiaunion.com
CHICAGO 3 KANSAS CITY 2
Kansas City may have come up short against Chicago, but having to play the final 60 minutes a man down and still falling short by only a goal, they showed they're going to be a force to be reckoned with this season. Omar Bravo, last week's hero, was sent off in the 30th minute for tripping up Gaston Puerari on a breakaway attempt. Chicago's Diego Chaves converted the penalty pick and just 6 minutes later Puerari made it 2-0 when he was able to get in behind the Kansas City defense and beat Jimmy Nielsen for his first goal of the season. But Sporting would battle back getting a goal from Matt Besler off a corner when the initial cross was bobbled by Sean Johnson to make it 2-1. But not even ten minutes later, Marco Pappa showcased his talents beating FOUR Kansas City defenders at the top of the box before slotting home his first goal of the 2011 campaign to make it 3-1. Still Sporting would not go quietly as second half substitute Teal Bunbury flew past the Chicago defense on a through ball and beat Johnson to cut the deficit back to one. While Sporting didn't earn any points for their efforts, their impressive performance despite being a man down on the road definitely turned some heads this weekend. Kansas City will travel to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps next weekend while the Fire are idle.
Photo Courtesy: chicago-fire.com
NEW YORK 0 COLUMBUS 0
Despite the absence of goalkeepers Bouna Coundoul and Greg Sutton, defenders Tim Ream and Rafa Marquez, midfielder Dane Richards and strikers Juan Agudelo and Thierry Henry, New York still managed to play the Crew to a 0-0 draw to remain undefeated through two matches. Coundoul (Senegal), Ream (USA), Richards (Jamaica), Agudelo (USA) and Marquez (Mexico) were all tied up with national team duty while Henry was out with a hamstring injury and Sutton was suffering from concussion like systems allowing the Red Bulls to showcase their depth. Columbus dominated the run of play but keeper Alex Horwath, who signed with the club on Friday and replacement centerbacks Stephen Keel and Carlos Mendes were up to the challenge as they helped New York post their second consecutive shutout. Joel Lindpere had perhaps the best scoring opportunity but his left footed drive to the near post in stoppage time was stopped by a diving Will Hesmer. Columbus, still in search it's first win of the season will play host to Dallas on Friday night while New York will take on the Dynamo on Saturday.
Photo Courtesy: newyorkredbulls.com
NEW ENGLAND 2 DC UNITED 1
New England scored twice in the first 20 minutes getting a goal from Zack Schilawski and a penalty kick from Shalrie Joseph, his second goal of they year, to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their home opener against DC United. DC managed to get on the board late when Charlie Davies, again used as a second half substitute, converted a PK of his own in stoppage time giving him 3 goals already this season. However, it was too little too late for United as they dropped to 1-1 on the season. Dejan Jakovic was sent off in the 93rd minute for a run in with New England keeper Matt Reis sealing United's fate. DC heads to Colorado to take on the defending champions on Sunday while the unbeaten Revs play host to winless Portland on Saturday night.
Photo Courtesy: revolutionsoccer.net
SAN JOSE 2 DALLAS 0
After getting shutout in the opener, reigning Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski would not be denied two weeks in a row. Wondo scored twice in the game's first 25 minutes and Jon Busch did the rest after that. Dallas outshot San Jose 19-6 but Busch was up to the task making 5 saves and pitching his first shutout of the 2011 season. Designated Player Fabian Castillo made his debut for Dallas coming on as a substitute in the 57th minute and while he showed his skill in several one v one situations with defenders, FC Dallas was unable to capitalize. Wondolowski has now scored the Earthquakes' last 12 regular season goals which is an MLS record. Dallas heads to Columbus where they will play the Crew on Friday night with both teams still in search of their first win while Wondo and company play host to the Sounders on Saturday night.
Photo Courtesy: sjearthquakes.com
REAL SALT LAKE 4 LOS ANGELES 1
You could make a lot of excuses for why the Galaxy seemed so out of sorts against RSL on Saturday night, but one thing was clear, Salt Lake meant business. It took less than two minutes for RSL to get on the board when Andy Williams redirected a cross from Paulo Jr past a helpless Josh Saunders for the early 1-0 lead. L.A. nearly equalized two minutes later when a David Beckham free kick hit off Williams and then deflected off the post, but the Galaxy were unable to take advantage. Still not 10 minutes into the game RSL was awarded a penalty kick when Saunders took out Paulo Jr. and Javier Morales easily converted for his first goal of the year. Morales wasn't done though as he would pick up his second goal of the half when he took a throw-in from Chris Wingert and fired it into the top corner beating Saunders again. RSL made it 4-0 in the 68th minute when Paulo Jr. got in on the action slotting home a lovely cross from Fabian Espindola. The only blemish on an otherwise perfect night was Juan Pablo Angel getting on the end of a Beckham free kick for his first goal in a Galaxy uniform making it 4-1 in what was an otherwise dominating performance. Yeah there was no Landon Donovan, or Donovan Ricketts or Omar Gonzalez, but make no mistake, this was still an impressive win as the boys from Utah improved to 2-0 on the young season. Salt Lake is off next weekend while the Galaxy will try and rebound with a home game Saturday against the unbeaten Union.
Photo Courtesy: realsaltlake.com
COLORADO 1 CHIVAS USA 0
The defending champs are 2-0 to start the 2011 season after knocking off winless Chivas 1-0 on Saturday night beating them for the 4th straight time. Colorado started the match with Omar Cummings away on international duty and Conor Casey on the bench with tightness in his calf but it didn't matter. Jamie Smith found Quincy Amarikwa on a through ball that Amarikwa made a lovely touch on to get by Zach Thornton for the 1-0 lead. Chivas USA never really threatened to score as they dropped to 0-2 on the season. Conor Casey came on as a substitute for the Rapids in the 79th minute, but still had time to pick up his second yellow card in as many weeks. The Rapids ended up with 5 yellow cards all together. Chivas USA heads to Toronto this weekend as they look to get in the win column while Colorado hosts DC United on Sunday.
Photo Courtesy: coloradorapids.com
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