The game in 100 words (or less): FC Dallas are MLS Cup contenders this year, just as they were in 2015, and they’ve built themselves a fantastic jumping-off point for the 2016 season with a 2-0 home victory over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday. Mauro Diaz assisted on both of FCD’s goals — as he typically does — which were scored by Fabian Castillo and Maximiliano Urruti. For all the praise that FCD’s attack is given — and rightly so — they were oh so good defensively in this one. It’s that kind of balance and ability to win games in so many different ways that’ll make them one of, if not the, team to beat.
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Three moments that mattered
22' — Castillo turns on the burners, 1-0 to FCD — Diaz -> Castillo. We’ve seen that combination once or twice before, haven’t we? Diaz is the magical no. 10 capable of springing Castillo, the blazing-fast winger into space at the drop of a hat. The Union were the first victims of 2016.
79' — Urruti bags his first for FCD, courtesy of Diaz — Hey, remember what I just said about Diaz and Castillo? The same looks to already be true of Diaz and Urruti, who arrived this offseason from the Portland Timbers. Diaz crossed from the ball from the right side of the six-yard box and Urruti poked it home from the goalmouth. Argentine connection.
87' — Castillo stretchered off the field — This is just about the worst possible news, both for FCD fans and fans of MLS in general. Fingers crossed Castillo is OK and doesn’t miss significant time.
Not what FC Dallas fans want to see. Fabian Castilo stretchered to the locker room. Went down in pain and covered face after taking a shot.
— Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) March 6, 2016
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Man of the match: Mauro Diaz
Goalscorers: Castillo (22'), Urruti (79')
The game in 100 words (or less): The Houston Dynamo blew a pair of second-half leads to drop two points at home against the New England Revolution, going from 2-1 and 3-2 ahead to 3-3 in the end. To their credit, though, they came back from a goal down after three minutes to take their first lead of the season. Giles Barnes scored in his first game as the new Dynamo captain, and Cristian Maidana and Andrew Wenger marked their Dynamo debuts with goals after coming to Houston from Philly in the offseason, but goals by Diego Fagundez, Charlie Davies and Daigo Kobayashi were enough to steal a point for the visitors despite trailing by a goal into the 93rd minute.
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Three moments that mattered
3' — Fagundez rifles in the opener from 25 yards out — Chest control. Bounce. Fire. Fagundez makes it look oh so easy, doesn’t he? This is how every player would like to open his season — three minutes on the clock, scoring an early Goal of the Year nominee.
Swerve. #NERevs #SoccerSunday https://t.co/XJsAe7xBO8
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 6, 2016
77' — Barnes slots home from outside the box, 3-2 Dynamo — Houston went 2-1 ahead in the 50th minute, but Davies pulled the Revs back level two minutes later. Then, with 13 minutes left in regular time, Will Bruin crossed the ball to the top of the penalty area, Boniek Garcia dummied it and let it run in order for Barnes to apply the deft finish to the far post. Poetry in motion.
Corner flags beware. https://t.co/i50A1dYYgS
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 6, 2016
90+3' — Kobayashi heads home for the late equalizer — Fagundez’s cross was pinpoint to the penalty spot, and Kobayashi rose above the crowd to head the ball downward and past Joe Willis for the final-minute-of-stoppage-time equalizer.
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Man of the match: Diego Fagundez
Goalscorers: Fagundez (3'), Maidana (45+1'), Wenger (50'), Davies (52'), Barnes (77'), Kobayashi (90+3')
The game in 100 words (or less): It’s going to be a might long season for the Colorado Rapids, and it began in depressing fashion, a 1-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes, on Sunday. Sure, Pablo Mastroeni’s men held a significantly larger chunk of the game’s possession than San Jose (58-42) and out-shot the Quakes 18-7 (5-4 on target), but they left Avaya Stadium with nothing to show for it once again. Chris Wondolowski did the damage, scoring the game’s only goal 44 seconds after halftime.
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Two moments that mattered
46' — Wondo heads home to start the 2nd half — Darwin Quintero provided the cross, Wondolowski provided the textbook header from just about the penalty spot. It’s what he does.
85' — Bingham stretches to make the big, late save — David Bingham played the role of late hero for the Quakes, as his 85th-minute save to deny Eric Miller’s long-range blast was a thing of beauty.
The save that kept the lead for @SJEarthquakes. 👀 @BinghamDb https://t.co/1wgGmw1H01
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 6, 2016
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Man of the match: Chris Wondolowski
Goalscorers: Wondolowski (46')