Around the League: MLS Weekend Recap

MLS Weekend Recap

New England 3, Orlando City SC 0

Another week, another blowout for Orlando City. This time it was handed to them by the reigning Eastern Conference champs, with goals aplenty from Diego Fagundez, Juan Agudelo, and Chris Tierney, in the 43^rd, 84^th, and extra time +4. The playoffs are starting to look distant for the Lions, who are now winless in their last 6 tilts.

Montreal Impact 4, Chicago Fire 3

New Impact signing Didier Drogba carried the Impact with an epic performance Saturday night. Drogba starting the scoring in the 27^th minute, and his teammate Wandrille Lefevre added another in the 42^nd, but a after Fire penalty kick in the 36^th and a pair from Gilberto and Kennedy Igboananike, it looked like Chicago might pick up a much-needed 3 points. But from then on, it was the Didier Drogba show. The BPL legend smashed in a brace in the 61^st and 65^th to complete his hat trick, earning him player of the week honors and sealing the win for Montreal.

Seattle Sounders 2, Toronto FC 1

The Sounders picked up a little bit of steam with a come-from behind win against TFC on Saturday. Obefemi Martins put Seattle up 1-0 in the 6^th, but an Eriq Zavaleta corner in the 59^th minute broke the Sounders hearts. However, Sounders captain Clint Dempsey, who already had an assist on the day for Martins’ goal, put their fears to rest by finishing a deflected shot from Obefemi Martins.

Philadelphia Union 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1

The Union finally put an end to the Earthquake’s win streak with a 2-1 win on the road in San Jose. The Quakes took the initial lead after halftime with a converted penalty from their captain Chris Wondolowski, but a brace from the hero of the hour Conor Casey sealed the W for Philadelphia.

FC Dallas 3, Columbus Crew 0

FC Frisco beat the brakes off of the Columbus Crew in the Sunday game, with a trio of goals from Atiba Harris, Michael Barrios, and David Texeira in the 27^th, 69^th, and 71^st minutes. Good for you Dallas, may your grass ever be brown and your cleats be soggy.

What all of this means for the Dynamo

The Dynamo were off this week, due to an international break, but they will take on RSL at home this Saturday in an absolute must win. A draw helps neither team, really, but a win for RSL vaults them up to tie with Houston on points, and a win for the Dynamo plus a Quakes loss would tie them on points with San Jose, just shy of the red line.

The Sounders win is unfortunate, because a loss would have kept them at 38 points, and they would have been the next target after the Quakes. Unfortunately, that win brings them up to 41, so if the Dynamo can pass San Jose they will then have to set their targets on SKC or the Timbers.

FC Dallas’ win doesn’t mean much. They’re too far out of reach.

As a lifelong Cowboys fan, I never thought I’d find myself thanking the city of Philadelphia, but Thank You! The Earthquakes had been on a seemingly never-ending win streak, but the Union put that to bed on Saturday, keeping the Quakes just in reach.

Best Goals from Week 27