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June 13, 2009
MLS ROUNDUP
Conference races tighten up
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Christian Gomez scored the deciding goal in DC’s 2-1 win over Chicago.
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images |
DC UNITED 2, CHICAGO FIRE 1
WASHINGTON, DC—DC United knocked the Chicago Fire out of first place in the MLS East with Saturday’s 2-1 win in front of 18,369 at RFK Stadium.
The Fire gifted their rivals with the first goal, a 24th-minute penalty kick after ‘keeper Jon Busch took Chris Pontius down in the box. Marco Pappa equalized for Chicago in the 33rd, curling a shot just inside the post, but Christian Gomez delivered the game to DC in the 41st, with a long free kick after Pontius was fouled, this time by Gonzalo Segares.
Josh wicks came up big in goal for DC, stopping five of Chicago’s six shots on goal. Busch finished with two saves.
The win leaves United with 22 points (5-3-7), slightly ahead of Chicago (5-3-6) in the standings.
TORONTO FC 2, NY RED BULLS 1
TORONTO, Ont.—Toronto FC (5-5-4) got back on the winning track Saturday, with a 2-1 win over the struggling New York Red Bulls in front of 19,843 at BMO Field.
Sam Cronin opened the scoring in the third minute, pouncing on the rebound after Red Bulls ‘keeper Danny Cepero blocked Amado Guevara’s penalty kick back into play. The spot kick was awarded after defender Seth Stammler was whistled for a handball in the box.
Danny Dichio sealed the win for Toronto in the 43rd minute, once again spoiling a solid play by Cepero, who had darted out to kick Guevara’s long service away just ahead of Toronto’s Pablo Vitti. Dichio netted the shot from 25 yards out.
Albert Celades spoiled netminder Stefan Frei’s shutout bid in the 54th minute, but it was not enough to snap the Red Bulls’ 20-game road losing streak, a league record. New York falls to 2-10-3.
HOUSTON DYNAMO 3, FC DALLAS 1
FRISCO, Tex.—Newcomer Cam Weaver scored twice to lead the Houston Dynamo past FC Dallas 3-1 Saturday in front of 8,580 at Pizza Hut Park.
The Dynamo led 3-0 before Drew Moor spoiled netminder Pat Onstad’s shutout bid in the 67th minute. Weaver, acquired earlier in the week from San Jose, opened the scoring in the 13th, deflecting Brian Mullan’s shot past goalkeeper Ray Burse. In the 37th minute, Richard Mulrooney doubled Houston’s lead with a long volley, and Weaver one-timed a shot from close range in the 63rd to make it a three-goal game.
The win, their fifth straight, lifts the Dynamo into a tie with idle chivas USA at the top of the MLS West, at 8-2-3, with 26 points. The Hoops fall to 2-7-4.
REAL SALT LAKE 2, LA GALAXY 0
CARSON, Calif.—Yura Movsisyan and Nat Borchers scored, and goalkeeper Nick Rimando made five saves, as Real Salt Lake blanked the LA Galaxy 2-0 Saturday before 19,718 at the Home Depot Center. It was RSL’s first road win of the season, and snapped the Galaxy’s 10-game unbeaten streak.
Movsisyan opened the scoring in the 13th minute, spinning around Gregg Berhalter and roofing a shot over ‘keeper Donovan Ricketts. Borchers, a central defender who had not scored since September 1, 2004, was near the far post when Clint Mathis’ centering pass was deflected, and put the ball past Ricketts from close range.
The Galaxy played the last 25 minutes shorthanded, after Eddie Lewis received a straight red card for violent conduct after tossing a ball at RSL’s Javier Morales.
The Galaxy (2-2-9) and RSL (4-6-3) are tied for fifth place in the MLS West with 15 points each.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 2, SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 1
SEATTLE—Freddie Ljungberg and Fredy Montero each had a goal and an assist as Seattle Sounders FC held off the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Saturday in front of 28,999 at Qwest Field.
Montero, frustrated by two world-class saves by San Jose netminder Joe Cannon, got a measure of revenge in the 42nd minute, setting in motion the play that lead to Ljungberg’s go-ahead goal. Montero forced a San Jose turnover and relayed the ball upfield to newcomer Sebastian Le Toux, who in turn led Ljungberg into the box to challenge Cannon one-on-one.
In the 59th minute, Montero rescued a play gone awry, tapping Patrick Ianni’s off-target header into the net. Ianni received the ball off Ljungberg’s corner kick.
Darren Huckerby pulled the Quakes within one in the 68th minute.
Sounders FC remains third in the Western Conference standings at 5-3-5 (20), seven points behind leaders Chivas USA and Houston. The Quakes trail the pack at 2-8-3 (9).
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