With sixย MLS Saturday afternoons/evenings officially in the books, only 28 more to goโฆ
[ FOLLOW: All of PSTโs MLS coverage ]
Portland Timbers 0-1ย Sporting Kansas City
Two teams remain unbeaten to start the 2017 MLS season: FC Dallas, the defending Supportersโ 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 Sportingโs 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) โ neither of which were scored prior to second-half stoppage time during games in which three points had already been safely secured โ en route to securing the aforementioned unbeaten start (two wins, three draws).
With a defensive record like that, Peter Vermesโ 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.
Houston Dynamo 2-2ย 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.
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.
Columbus Crew SC 2-1 Toronto FC
If youโve managed to work out the narrative surrounding Toronto this season, please do tell. Theyโre a confounding bunch at the moment: while they entered Saturdayโs game asย one of three teams unbeaten to start the season, theyโve 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.
In the space of seven minutes just before halftime, they threw it all away and found themselves a goal down, which is where theyโd 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.
New York Red Bulls 2-0 D.C. United
D.C. should be thankful for Minnesota and the Philadelphia Union, as theyโre the only two sides who somehow manage to make Ben Olsenโs side seem a cohesive squad. (At least Minnesota are extremely watchable, and Philadelphiaโฆ well, OK, never mind.)
A visit from their I-95 (Atlantic Cup)ย 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).
Colorado Rapids 1-2ย Real Salt Lake
The 2016 Rapids were a mirage, perhaps even a figment of our imagination from beginning to end. The differenceย is night and day.ย 1-0 victories were the hallmark of last yearโs Supportersโ Shield runners-up.
As for RSL, thatโs two wins in two games under new head coach Mike Petke. On Saturday, they trailed 1-0, thanksย Kevin Doyleโs 29th-minute opener, heading into the 85th minute. Then, Coloradoโs 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.
Elsewhere in MLS โ AFTERNOON ROUNDUP
Montreal Impact 2-1 Atlanta United
Orlando City SC 2-1 LA Galaxy
Chicago Fire 3-0 New England Revolution
