With six MLS Saturday afternoons/evenings officially in the books, only 28 more to go…
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Portland Timbers 0-1 Sporting Kansas City
Two teams remain unbeaten to start the 2017 MLS season: FC Dallas, the defending Supporters’ Shield winners, and Sporting KC. As far as statement wins go during the first month and a half of the season, few, if any, look better right now than Sporting’s 1-0 victory in Portland on Saturday.
Through six games played, Portland led the league in points (13), goals scored (16) and goal differential (+8). They were the unstoppable force. Through five games played, Sporting had conceded just two goals (fewest in MLS) — neither of which were scored prior to second-half stoppage time during games in which three points had already been safely secured — en route to securing the aforementioned unbeaten start (two wins, three draws).
With a defensive record like that, Peter Vermes’ side typically only ever needs to score one goal, and what a beauty they managed to score in this one. Roger Espinoza, Benny Feilhaber and Jimmy Medranda were heavily involved in the build-up around the 18-yard box, and Dom Dwyer headed home expertly for his second goal of the season. As is customary now, Tim Melia made one unbelievable save to secure all three points and send Sporting to within a point of Portland and Columbus Crew SC (both of whom have played one more game than them) in the (very early) Shield race.
Who else?@Ddwyer14 breaks the deadlock. #PORvSKC https://t.co/vTvcmWNjYS
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
😱😱😱 #PORvSKC
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) April 16, 2017
cc: @TimMelia28 https://t.co/jgAPRmuIBH
Houston Dynamo 2-2 Minnesota United
The exciting, young attacking talent was on full display in the first half, as Mauro Manotas and Alberth Elis pushed Houston out to a 2-0 halftime lead, but leaky spells at the back indicated trouble was always lurking just around the corner.
Off to the races.@HoustonDynamo grab an early lead. #HOUvMIN https://t.co/iaz66Gss3k
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
Make it ✌️ for @HoustonDynamo. #HOUvMIN https://t.co/cT8KVKna2Q
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
Barely 90 seconds into the second half, that trouble came to full fruition, as Cristian Ramirez finally converted on his fourth chance on the night to make it 2-1. 12 minutes later, everyone in orange fell asleep and stood around the penalty area watching the ball, and Johan Venegas slammed home a deserved equalizer.
Right back in it!@MNUFC pull one back! #HOUvMIN https://t.co/xMc2bsT0aG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
All. Square. 2-2. #HOUvMIN https://t.co/vakVi009lD
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
Columbus Crew SC 2-1 Toronto FC
If you’ve managed to work out the narrative surrounding Toronto this season, please do tell. They’re a confounding bunch at the moment: while they entered Saturday’s game as one of three teams unbeaten to start the season, they’ve got just one win in seven games, and they blew an early 1-0 lead in Columbus. Jozy Altidore headed home the opener, and TFC looked to finally have found their stride.
Jozy heads home a corner to put @torontofc in front. #CLBvTOR https://t.co/5Y2vCeefSW
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
In the space of seven minutes just before halftime, they threw it all away and found themselves a goal down, which is where they’d finish. Niko Hansen set up Ola Kamara with a spectacular ball into the box, and Justin Meram popped up at the near post to slot home past Alex Bono.
Niko Hansen ➡️ @OlaKamara
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
Smooth. #CLBvTOR https://t.co/iIcgXvq2s6
And just like that, it's ✌️ for @ColumbusCrewSC!@JustinMeram gives his team the lead. #CLBvTOR https://t.co/KCzzbBPCgs
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
New York Red Bulls 2-0 D.C. United
D.C. should be thankful for Minnesota and the Philadelphia Union, as they’re the only two sides who somehow manage to make Ben Olsen’s side seem a cohesive squad. (At least Minnesota are extremely watchable, and Philadelphia… well, OK, never mind.)
A visit from their I-95 (Atlantic Cup) rivals was exactly what New York, winless in four games entering the weekend, needed. Alex Muyl made it 1-0 less than a minute into the second half, and Bradley Wright-Phillips continued his march toward 100 MLS goals (currently at 72 in fewer than four full seasons).
Better start getting that new pronunciation down.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
Alex Muyl gets his first #RBNY goal of 2017! #NYvDC https://t.co/hETKwVqBMK
BWP. Nutmeg. 2-0. #NYvDC https://t.co/287hlPL66V
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
Colorado Rapids 1-2 Real Salt Lake
The 2016 Rapids were a mirage, perhaps even a figment of our imagination from beginning to end. The difference is night and day. 1-0 victories were the hallmark of last year’s Supporters’ Shield runners-up.
In 2016 the Rapids conceded 7 goals in 17 home games. In 2017 they've conceded four in three.
— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) April 16, 2017
As for RSL, that’s two wins in two games under new head coach Mike Petke. On Saturday, they trailed 1-0, thanks Kevin Doyle’s 29th-minute opener, heading into the 85th minute. Then, Colorado’s Jared Watts gave away a penalty and got himself sent off at the same time, and Brooks Lennon rifled a low laser past Zac MacMath three minutes later.
Gaaaame on. Yura buries the PK after Watts is sent off for a handball on the line. #COLvRSL https://t.co/8mVKYH5CsM
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
Game on INDEED. @brookslennon puts #RSL in front with a low strike! #COLvRSL https://t.co/zRfLOZ8kvL
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2017
Elsewhere in MLS — AFTERNOON ROUNDUP
Montreal Impact 2-1 Atlanta United
Orlando City SC 2-1 LA Galaxy
Chicago Fire 3-0 New England Revolution
