Even with players away on international action this weekend there was still a full slate of MLS games. The headline game was the match between RSL and the LA Galaxy, which RSL easily one. At the other end of the table, the Columbus Crew are still winless to begin the season.
Real Salt Lake 4 LA Galaxy 1
Javier Morales scored twice and added an assist as Real Salt Lake strolled bast the LA Galaxy. RSL got off to a great start when Morales assisted on Andy Williams’ goal in the 2nd minute. Morales then made in 2-0 after only 10 minutes when he scored for the penalty spot. Morales then beat Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders from 20 yards out in the 41st minute to send RSL into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
It got worse for the Galaxy as Paulo Araujo Jr. scored in the 68th minute to make it 4-0 before Juan Pablo Angel scored a consolation goal in the 79th minute from a David Beckham free kick.
RSL extended its MLS unbeaten streak to 16 games, three shy of the league record shared by FC Dallas (2010) and Columbus (2004-05). RSL hasn’t lost at home in the regular season since May 16, 2009, a span of 26 games.
Philadelphia 1 Vancouver 0
The Philadelphia Union, who went 8-15-7 in their inaugural season last year are now 2-0 after beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 on Saturday.
Carlos Ruiz scored in the 77th minute while veteran Colombian goalkeeper and Philadelphia captain Faryd Mondragon kept his second shutout of the season. The Union managed just two shutouts as an expansion club, tying a MLS record for fewest in a season.
The Whitecaps fell to 1-1-0 one week after posting a 4-2 victory over Toronto FC in the Whitecaps franchise’s debut.
NY Red Bulls 0 Columbus Crew 0
Alex Horwath made five saves in his Major League Soccer debut as the short-handed Red Bulls managed to get a point in Columbus. The Red Bulls were missing five starters to national team duties and injuries deprived them of forward Thierry Henry and goalkeeper Greg Sutton, forcing the third-string Horwath into action.
One of the league’s pool of emergency backup goalies last season, Horwath was tested in the first half with four shots on goal from Columbus. His best save came in the 39th minute when he made a sprawling fingertip stop of Emmanuel Ekpo.
Toronto FC 2 Portland Timbers 0
Javier Martina scored two goals as Toronto FC rebounded from a disastrous opening day loss in Vancouver.
The Dutch winger conjured a highlight-reel goal out of nothing in the 70th minute, pulling down a booming goal kick from Stefan Frei and then volleying it from outside the box over reserve goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.
Chicago Fire 3 Sporting Kansas City 2
Marco Pappa had a goal and an assist as Chicago beat 10-man Sporting 3-2 in the Fire’s home opener.
Diego Chaves scored Chicago’s first goal on a penalty kick after Sporting KC’s Omar Bravo received a red card for taking down Gaston Puerari in the box in the 30th minute.
Puerari found the net in the 40th minute when Marco Pappa forwarded the ball to Michael Videira in the box and Videira flicked a short pass to Puerari.
Matt Besler cut Sporting KC’s deficit to 2-1 in the 51st minute. The Fire answered 9 minutes later when Pappa overcame a swarm of defenders. He dribbled into the box, beat four defenders and shot the ball into the lower left corner for a 3-1 lead.
Teal Bunbury pulled one back for Sporting KC in the 72nd minute, but the Fire were able to hold on for the victory.
San Jose Earthquakes 2 FC Dallas 0
Chris Wondolowski, who led MLS last year with a career-high 18 goals, scored a pair of goals to help San Jose start the season 2-0/
Wondolowski notched his first of the year in the 5th minute. He pushed one into the left corner of the net from just inside the top left of the penalty box. It marked the 11th consecutive regular-season goal for San Jose scored by Wondolowski, an MLS record.
San Jose made it 2-0 18 minutes later when Wondolowski broke free in front of the goal, taking a cross from Joey Gjersten from the left wing and heading it past goalie Kevin Hartman.
Colorado Rapids 1, Chivas USA 0
A year ago to the day, Omar Cummings scored the winner for the Colorado Rapids in a 1-0 road victory against Chivas USA.
This time, Cummings was unavailable for the fixture, busy on international duty with Jamaica. But the result was the same with Quincy Amarikwa taking Cummings’ place both in the starting 11 and on the score sheet.
Cummings’ partner in crime, Conor Casey, was also unable to start for the Rapids. The big center forward was nursing a calf injury, making Saturday the first time in 63 Rapids’ league games that neither Casey nor Cummings had started. Irish international Caleb Folan therefore started alongside Amarikwa, making his MLS debut.
Amarikwa’s 32nd-minute goal was well-taken as he latched onto a perfect through ball from Jamie Smith, beating the offside trap in the process. The young striker did very well to chip on-rushing Chivas ‘keeper Zach Thornton, then calmly slotted into the empty net.
