The Vancouver Whitecaps started their MLS campaign off on a good note getting a 4-2 victory over their northern rivals in their first MLS match. It was fitting that Vancouver's first designated player, Frenchman Eric Hassli, would score their first MLS goal opening the scoring in in the 15th minute. Toronto would equalize on the 8000th goal in MLS history by Dwayne De Rosario, but it was almost all Vancouver after that. Vancouver native Terry Dunfield put the Whitecaps ahead for good after receiving a lovely through pass from Davide Chiumiento, and then in the second half Atiba Harris, who came over from FC Dallas in the Expansion Draft, converted off a poorly cleared corner kick to make it 3-1. Hassli closed out Vancouver's scoring on a 2 on 0 breakaway after substitute Wes Knight drew Stefan Frei out of the net and then laid the ball across the middle to him for the uncontested score. Maicon Santos added a beautiful left-footed goal from distance for Toronto a few minutes later to cut the deficit to 4-2, but it was too little too late. Vancouver walks away with 3 points and Toronto drops their 2011 opener. Toronto will host the expansion Portland Timbers next Saturday while will Vancouver travel to Philadelphia.
Photo Courtesy: www.cbc.ca/sports
NEW YORK 1 SEATTLE 0
It's been a frustrating week for Seattle as they dropped their second 1-0 match in a row. Playing without the injured Steve Zakuani Seattle still had their opportunities, but it was New York who had a chance to break through first when 18 year old Juan Agudelo was hauled down in the box by Jhon Kennedy Hurtado for a penalty kick, but Kasey Keller made a diving save on Thierry Henry's attempt to keep the score even at 0-0. Fredy Montero had a pair of great chances in the first half, but New York's Greg Sutton made an unbelievable save on the first, and Montero struck the post on the second. Finally in the 70th minute, New York broke through when Teemu Tainio played a ball over the top to Agudelo who was able to fight off Leo Gonzalez and right a shot with the outside of his right foot past an outstretched Keller and into the left corner for his first regular season MLS goal. Seattle had one more good opportunity late, when Montero's blistering free kick was deflected by Sutton and substitute Lamar Neagle was able to gather in the rebound but couldn't get his shot attempt on frame leaving Seattle 0-2 to start the 2011 season. New York will now travel to Columbus to take on the Crew next Saturday while Seattle returns home to host Houston on Friday night.
Photo Courtesy: theglobeandmail.com
DC UNITED 3 COLUMBUS 1
Charlie Davies is back folks. Coming on as a substitute for Joseph Ngwenya in the 52nd minute, Davis netted a pair of goals, the first on a penalty kick and the second when he beat Chad Marshall and then dribbled around goalkeeper Will Hesmer before driving the ball home leading DC to a 3-1 win. Josh Wolff scored his 76th MLS goal and first with United after spending the previous seven seasons with Kansas City to open the scoring. Wolff got a through ball from Jed Zayner and was able to fight off defender Rich Balchan before slotting the ball past Hessmer. Columbus got a late penalty kick from Robbie Rogers, but that was all they could muster against goalie Pat Onstad. The real story in this one was Davies playing in his first REAL match since his horrific car accident in October of 2009 that caused him to miss the World Cup. It's a safe bet that he won't be coming off the bench too much longer for Ben Olsen's squad. Columbus will host New York next Saturday while DC will travel to Foxboro to take on New England.
Photo Courtesy: msnbc.com
DALLAS 1 CHICAGO 1
The first leg of the Brimstone Cup ended in a 1-1 draw despite FC Dallas being forced to play a man down from the 55th minute on following a straight red card to Brek Shea. Uruguayan strike Gaston Puerari got in behind Shea and the two became entangled causing the 21 year old to be ejected for "denying a goal scoring opportunity." Already 1-1 when Shea was sent off, the Fire had some great chances over the final part of the second half, but Kevin Hartman came up big every time denying Puerari on a 1 v 1 and making great saves on strikes from Marco Pappa and Logan Pause down the stretch. Diego Chaves got Chicago on the board in the 17th minute when he fired home a rebound off an attempt by Cory Gibbs. The lead would be short lived though as a little over a minute later Zach Loyd did some nifty work down the left sideline before slotting a ball through the middle to Milton Rodriguez who back-heeled the ball past a helpless Sean Johnson for the equalizer. Chicago hosts Kansas City next Saturday while Dallas hosts San Jose.
Photo Courtesy: chicagobreakingsports.com
PHILADELPHIA 1 HOUSTON 0
Sebastien Le Toux was a factor for Philadelphia once again as he was so many times last season. Le Toux gathered in a long throw from Sheanon Williams and ripped it off the crossbar in the 5th minute, but veteran Danny Califf was there to gather in the rebound tucking it past Tally Hall to give the Union a 1-0 that would stand up the remainder of the game. Houston, who was without striker Brian Ching still recovering from a right hamstring injury, struggled to capitalize on a number of opportunities, the best one coming when Brad Davis played a ball into the box for Dominic Oduro who made an errant first touch hitting the ball over the bar in what should have tied the game. It was a frustrating defeat for the Dynamo who will now travel to Seattle to take on the Sounders on Friday night. Philadelphia will host the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday in their opener.
Photo Courtesy: philadelphiaunion.com
COLORADO 3 PORTLAND 1
The expansion Timbers were no match for the defending MLS Champion Rapids falling behind big early and just looking completely overmatched throughout. Omar Cummings split two defenders in the right corner and shot down the endline before laying a ball right through the middle of the box. Conor Casey was the original target but Jeff Larentowicz ended up on the end of it giving Colorado a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute. Cummings made a similar run a little while later abusing Kevin Goldthwaite with a nifty spin move but Casey sent the shot just wide of the mark. Casey and Cummings would combine again a little while later with Casey heading a flick over the top that Cummings was able to run on to creating a 1 v 1 with Portland keeper Adin Brown. Brown made the initial stop, but the rebound deflected right back to Cummings who tucked it away to make it 2-0. A little over a minute later Jamie Smith hit a blistering shot from long range that hit off the underside of the bar and went in to make it 3-0 just 30 minutes in. Portland would get a late goal from Kenny Cooper off a free kick to give the Timbers their first MLS goal, but it was too little too late as the Rapids began the defense of their championship on a positive note. Portland will travel up north to take on Toronto in search of their first MLS win while the Rapids take on Chivas USA.
Photo Courtesy: coloradorapids.com
REAL SALT LAKE 1 SAN JOSE 0
Real Salt Lake overcame the elements on a rainy, windy night in Santa Clara to open the 2011 season with a 1-0 victory. San Jose had all kinds of opportunities throughout the match, but Nick Rimando was up to the task making a number of fine saves denying the Earthquakes time and time again. Dreadlocked Kyle Beckerman finally broke the scoreless draw ripping a shot from about 20 yards out that skipped past a diving Jon Busch hitting off his fingertips and deflecting in off the left post for the game winner. The Earthquakes mounted a furious attack over the final 20 minutes, but they came up just shy in a tough loss to open the 2011 season.
Photo Courtesy: realsaltlake.com
KANSAS CITY 3 CHIVAS USA 2
31 year old Mexican international star Omar Bravo made his MLS debut in style netting a pair of goals and leading Sporting Kansas City to their first win under their new name. Sporting wasted no time getting on the board in this one when Ben Zemanski turned the ball over in the box and C.J. Sapong, the 10th overall pick in this year's Super Draft smashed a shot home from close range for a goal in his MLS debut. Bravo would double the lead in stoppage time right before the half taking a pass from Kei Kamara at the top of the box and catching Zach Thornton in no man's land flicking it over him for his first MLS goal. Jimmy Conrad would could into the lead in the second half scoring off a corner kick against the club he spent the past 8 seasons with, but Bravo had an answer taking another ball from Kei Kamara and getting in behind the defense to beat Zach Thornton for a second time. Chivas USA would battle back yet again getting a goal off of another corner, this time with Zemanski smashing it home, but it wouldn't be enough as Sporting walked away with the 3-2 win. Kansas City will try to make it two in a row as they head to Chicago on Saturday while Chivas plays host to the reigning champions late Saturday night.
Photo Courtesy: sportingkc.com
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