The wait is finally over and the 2009 Major League Soccer finally kicked off this weekend. Here is a look at the games this weekend.
Houston 1 Columbus 1
Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored in the 81st minute to give defending MLS champion Columbus a 1-1 season-opening tie against the Houston Dynamo. Houston’s Brian Ching broke a scoreless game early in the second half when took a lead pass from Chris Wondolowski and scored from just outside the upper box.
The Crew tied the game when Jason Garey settled a loose ball with a header and Schelotto fired it just inside the left post.
Toronto 3 Kansas City 2
Amado Guevara scored twice in the second half, leading Toronto FC to its first win against Kansas City.
Jim Brennan also scored as Toronto overcame two thundering goals by Kansas City’s Davy Arnaud. Toronto, an expansion team in 2007, had scored only once in the teams’ six previous matches.
Toronto missed a chance to ice the game when Dwayne De Rosario put a penalty kick over the crossbar in the 80th minute, after a handball call against Michael Harrington.
Chicago 3, FC Dallas 1
Brian McBride scored the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick in the 51st minute to lead Chicago. The Fire won at FC Dallas for the first time in 14 games despite surrendering Kenny Cooper’s goal on an amazing shot from inside his own half in the 9th minute. Check out the goal below.
Chicago’s Justin Mapp made it 1-1 on a 15-yard shot in the 38th minute, then McBride put his team ahead after FC Dallas defender Drew Moor was called for a hand ball in the penalty box early in the second half.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco added an insurance goal in the final seconds when he curled a free kick over a wall of defenders into the right corner of the net.
Revolution 1, Earthquakes 0
Kheli Dube scored in the 55th minute to give depleted New England a win over the Earthquakes. New England, missing four starters due to injury and another because of a league suspension, eked out its first victory in San Jose since 2000 despite being outshot 16-7.
The Earthquakes dominated play for much of the final hour but never could break through against New England goalkeeper Matt Reis, who made four saves to preserve the shutout.
Chivas USA 2 Rapids 1
Paulo Nagamura scored two second-half goals and Chivas USA won its home opener in four consecutive seasons. Omar Cummings scored for the Rapids.
Nagamura tied the score in the 55th minute on a 25-yard shot that rolled past Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Four minutes later, Nagamura fired a low hard shot from 15 yards out and tucked it into the back of the net.
