Philadelphia 1 Columbus 0 - It took 5 games, but the Philadelphia Union finally have their first win of the 2012 season. Freddy Adu was in the lineup for just the second time this year for the Union, and his play was the difference in the match as he drew the penalty that Gabriel Gómez converted for the game's only goal. Zac MacMath didn't see a ton of action in net for the Union but he make a big time kick save of an Olman Vargas effort from point blank range in the second half that would've tied the match.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
DC United 2 New England 1 - After back-to-back losses to start the season, United are now undefeated in 4 straight thanks to a late goal from substitute Chris Pontius. United found themselves in an early hole in the match thanks to José Moreno's first ever MLS goal. The 30 year old Colombian volleyed home a cross from Saer Sene less than 6 minutes in, but DC United would battle back. Reigning MVP Dwayne De Rosario set up the equalizer with a bicycle kick off a Nick DeLeon corner that was headed in by Maicon Santos, and then that set the stage for Pontius. Just minutes after coming into the match, DeLeon led Pontius with a headed pass into the box. Pontius took on defender Stephen McCarthy and once free, ripped a curling shot around Reis for his first goal of the season. Joe Willis made 6 saves for DC United in the win.
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| Photo Credit: washingtonpost.com |
Seattle 1 Colorado 0 - The Sounders ended a 306 minute scoring drought thanks to a goal from an unlikely source. Right back Zach Scott scored a beautiful header at the near post off a corner from rookie Alex Caskey for his first ever MLS goal to give Seattle its first win in 3 tries. Fredy Montero continues to search for his first MLS goal of the season and while he was very involved in the match, he was denied three times by terrific saves from Matt Pickens. Things got a little heated late in the match when Colorado's Brian Mullan took out Osvaldo Alonso in the middle of the field drawing an immediate reaction from the Sounders. It was Mullan's wild tackle last year that broke Seattle striker Steve Zakuani's leg, an injury from which he still hasn't returned. Colorado has now dropped two straight and three of four.
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| Photo Credit: deseretnews.com |
Chivas USA 1 Toronto 0 - Toronto's difficult start to the 2012 season continues following a 5th straight defeat, this time 1-0 at the hands of Dan Kennedy and Chivas USA. Ecuadorian Oswaldo Minda scored his first MLS goal when he headed in a Miller Bolaños corner kick for the only goal of the match and Kennedy took care of the rest twice denying Danny Koevermans from point blank range to earn his second shutout of the season. Kennedy is tied for the league lead with 23 saves as Chivas USA has won 3 of their last 4. Toronto FC meanwhile remains the only MLS team still in search of its first win.
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| Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com |
New York 2 San Jose 2 - Kenny Cooper and Chris Wondolowski each found the back of the net for their respective teams in a wild first half, but San Jose and New York settled for a 2-2 draw. Cooper struck first when Thierry Henry threaded the needle and set Cooper up for the easy finish. San Jose would come back though following a Dax McCarty turnover as Khari Stephenson fed a wide open Rafael Baca for the equalizer. The Red Bulls then retook the lead thanks to McCarty who atoned for his earlier mistake by rocketing home a flick from Cooper to go ahead 2-1. But Wondo and the Quakes would fight back again this time with Wondo powering in a diving header to even the game at 2 apiece. And that's the way it would end. Both teams are now unbeaten in 4 straight and sit in second place in their respective conferences. Wondoloski has 7 of San Jose's 10 goals on the year and is tied with Cooper and Henry for the league lead.
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| Photo Credit: ca.sports.yahoo.com |
Dallas 2 Montreal 1 - Brek Shea's first goal of the season gave Dallas a second consecutive win as Montreal failed to build upon last week's victory over Toronto. Montreal took the lead on a second half penalty kick goal by 36 year old Italian striker Bernardo Corradi, but Dallas would rally thanks to Panamian striker Blas Perez. Perez headed in a rebound to tie the game at 1 in the 77th minute and then he started the play that led to Shea's game winner ten minutes later to give Dallas a big three points at home. Perez has 3 goals and 3 assists for FC Dallas this year.
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| Photo Credit: mlssoccer.com |
Sporting KC 1 Real Salt Lake 0 - A showdown between the two top teams in MLS this weekend did not disappoint. In the end it was undefeated Sporting KC knocking off Real Salt Lake thanks to a second half goal from Frenchman Aurélien Collin. Collin's goal ended Real and Nick Rimando's shutout streak at 267 minutes, while Sporting and Jimmy Nielsen earned their fifth clean sheet in six tries and ran their league-record string of not allowing a shot on goal to 335 minutes before Nielsen was called upon to stop a Nat Borchers header in second-half stoppage time. Graham Zusi picked up his league leading sixth assist when his corner kick set up Collin's game winner. Sporting looks to make it 7 in a row when they take on Vancouver on Wednesday night.
Los Angeles 3 Portland 1 - Early on in this one it looked as though the Galaxy's dreadful run of play was going to continue, but eventually the trio of Landon Donvoan, Juninho and David Beckham proved to be too much sending the Timbers to a 4th straight loss. Kris Boyd opened the scoring for Portland with his third goal of the year, but the Galaxy would answer courtesy of Captain America. Robbie Keane set the play up with a brilliant bit of footwork in the corner and his attempted cross deflected right to Landon Donovan who buried the equalizer. The score would stay tied at 1 until late in the match when Juninho drilled a low driven shot from 25 yards out to give the Galaxy their first lead. David Beckham would add a brilliant insurance goal from long range to close out the match.
Chicago 1 Houston 1 - Houston's Will Bruin and Chicago's Logan Pause traded goals midway through the first half before officials were forced the call the match after about 65 minutes due to lightning. The match included a 70-minute rain delay after the 13th minute, but the weather cleared enough to allow at least a majority of the match to be played. Bruin opened the scoring on an assist by veteran Brian Ching, but the Fire responded almost immediately when Pavel Pardo's free kick struck the back of an unsuspecting Logan Pause and deflected off the underside of the bar and into the net to tie the game at one. Tally Hall would make 3 saves for the Dynamo to preserve the tie before the game was called.
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| Photo Credit: foxsportshouston.com |
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