MLS Weekly Wrap-up: One LA team loses, while another continues to rise

Skip out on Major League Soccer coverage this week because Toronto FC didn’t hit the pitch? No worries, we have you covered. Here’s how this week’s matches played out.

Saturday:

Chicago Fire 1-1 Orlando City

If you read last weekend’s wrap up, I’m sure you are familiar with my disdain for the amount of draws we saw. The first game of this weekend was no different. Dom Dwyer got Orlando City on the scoreboard first, netting the ball at 47’. Chicago Fire’s Jorge Luis Corrales would be given a red card at 64’ for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Playing with the man advantage didn’t give Orlando any boosts, though, and Chicago would get on the board late in stoppage time (90+5’) thanks to C.J. Sapong.

New England Revolution 0-2 Columbus Crew SC

The Columbus Crew shut out the New England Revolution 2-0. Columbus played a strong game, controlling the ball and scoring on fewer shots at goal. Both goals came off the boot of Gyasi Zardes at 26’ and 90+6’.

FC Dallas 2-0 LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy didn’t fare well with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romain Alessandrini absent from their lineup. Both key players were injured on opening night and didn’t make the trip to Dallas. As a response, FC Dallas took advantage of that. Dallas kept possession of the ball and took more shots. Reto Ziegler scored on a penalty kick early in the second half (53’). Bryan Acosta would score the game winner at 61’.

Houston Dynamo 2-1 Montreal Impact

It’s fun watching the Montreal Impact lose, isn’t it? Though they struck first with a goal from Saphir Taider (34’), the Houston Dynamo didn’t give them time to enjoy it. Memo Rodriguez responded quickly at the 36’ mark. Mauro Manotas would seal the deal for the Dynamo at 86’.

Real Salt Lake 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps

It was a close matchup between Real Salt Lake and the Vancouver Whitecaps. They split possession of the ball pretty evenly (51% and 49% respectively) and took about the same number of shots on goal. In the end, though, it was Albert Rusnak’s game as he scored the lone goal of the match at 21’ on a penalty kick.

San Jose Earthquakes 0-3 Minnesota United

Another week, another San Jose Earthquakes loss. Let’s give them some credit though, they did control the ball more and took more shots than Minnesota United. There is just some serious goalscoring disconnect. Darwin Quintero opened up scoring for Minnesota at 49’ on a penalty kick. Miguel Ibarra would bring their lead to two at 52’. San Jose helped them out with an own goal scored by Harold Cummings (75’). That was the end of that.

Seattle Sounders 2-0 Colorado Rapids

The Seattle Sounders have a two-game winning streak after shutting out the Colorado Rapids. Both goals came very early in the match. Kelvin Leerdam struck first at the 5’ mark, while Raul Ruidiaz found the net again for Seattle at 8’. The rest of the game was pretty boring.

Sunday:

New York City FC 0-0 D.C. United

NYCFC and DC United had a very boring meeting at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. The 0-0 final saw little activity at all. NYCFC took 20 shots compared to the 7 DC took. New York also maintained ball control, but neither team could put the ball into the net.

Sporting Kansas City 2-0 Philadelphia Union

The Union would like to forget this game, that’s for certain. They gave up their first goal to Sporting KC at 11’ on a penalty, scored by Ilie Sanchez. Marco Fabian would be given a red card at 60’, giving Sporting a man advantage. Philadelphia gave them more than just the man advantage, they also gave them a goal. Jack Elliot’s own goal brought Sporting KC the win at the 80th minute.

Atlanta United 1-1 FC Cincinnati

The new kid in school, FC Cincinnati, got their first draw of the season. After a 4-1 loss last week, I’m sure they’re happy to have it. Atlanta United struck first and early with a goal from Josef Martinez at 5’. Roland Lamah would tie it up for Cincinnati at 86’, giving them their first ever point on the table! They grow up so fast.

Los Angeles Football Club 4-1 Portland Timbers

LAFC started out strong on Sunday against the Portland Timbers. Mark-Anthony Kaye opened up scoring at the 14’ mark. Portland responded with a goal from the boot of Jeremy Ebobisse at 29’. As the first half came to a close, LAFC regained their lead as Christian Ramirez scored at 45’. LAFC weren’t done scoring. Adama Diomande (65’) and Carlos Vela (68’) would score back-to-back goals. Portland’s Diego Chara would be shown a red card at 72’ but the game was already over.