Chivas USA took control of the Western Conference and the top of the MLS overall table, while the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution are both still unbeaten and at the top of the East, after Week 5 of the Major League Soccer season.
At The Home Depot Center, Chivas USA were leading the Western Conference and the overall table after three wins and a draw to open the season, just a point ahead of Sounders FC, who had started their history with three shutout victories before their first loss the weekend before.
Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller was suspended after being sent off the weekend before, and Chris Eylander, making his first MLS start, was beaten in the 32nd minute when a cross from Jonathan Bornstein was deflected into his own goal by Seattle defender James Riley. Chivas USA put the game away six minutes from the end. Set racing down the left side, substitute Bojan Stepanovic dribbled into the box before laying the ball back for Chukwudi Chijindu, and he slid in to stab home from the spot for his first career professional goal.
At RFK Stadium, the New England Revolution took the lead five minutes into the second half when Shalrie Joseph scored his first goal on the season. But a minute into stoppage time, D.C. United pulled level through a bit of history. Jaime Moreno swung in a free kick from the left flank and Ben Olsen got on the end of it at the back post, heading it off a Revolution defender and just over the line. For Moreno, it was his 100th career assist, making him the first player in MLS history to reach double-digits in both goals and assists, to go with his MLS record 122 goals scored.
At Toyota Park, the Chicago Fire came out flying and were two goals up 20 minutes into the game, both from Brian McBride. But the Kansas City Wizards did not give up and pulled a goal back from U.S. international Josh Wolff in the 78th minute. Then in the 89th minute, Michael Harrington put in a cross from the right touchline toward the near post where Wolff slipped in front of his marker and sent a glancing header to the back of the net to give K.C. points for just the fourth time in 17 all-time trips to Chicago.
At Robertson Stadium, the Houston Dynamo took the lead in the 20th minute when Brian Ching scored. But the Colorado Rapids missed a great chance to grab a point when Conor Casey was tripped up in the area by Bobby Boswell seven minutes from the end. But Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad first dove to turn aside Casey’s penalty kick, then somehow scrambled to his feet to block Terry Cooke’s rebound effort and save the full three points.
At Giants Stadium, It took the Red Bulls just two minutes to open their account with the first goal scored by one of their own players. Dane Richards won the ball on the right side and sent in a rolling cross. RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando was able to parry it, but only as far as Macoumba Kandji, who side-footed home the easiest of finishes into the empty goal.The Red Bulls doubled the lead just before the hour with a wonderful movement. Juan Pablo Angel and Kandji played a one-two at midfield that sent Kandji racing toward the RSL goal. Angel continued his run and in the box, Kandji laid the ball off to his right and Angel slotted it home inside the far post for his first goal on the season.
More worrisome for Red Bulls fans was the paltry crowd of 8,508 that watched the game in a beautiful sunny day in the big apple.
At Pizza Hut Park, FC Dallas jumped to a two goal lead before halftime through goals from Drew Moor and Kenny Cooper. With the half counting down Toronto FC pulled a goal back when ,Adrian Serioux, obtained from FC Dallas in the off-season, scored from close range. TFC pulled themselves level in the 59th minute when Chad Barrett scored on a breakaway. But Dallas were not to be denied and Kenny Cooper got his second from the penalty spot as Dallas got its first victory of the year.
At Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Earthquakes scored early against the LA Galaxy when Pablo Campos scored after just five minutes. But the Galaxy slowly worked themselves back into the game and a Bryan Jordan header 14 minutes from time meant that both teams had to settle for a point.
