MLS Review: Galaxy thrash Dynamo, Rapids edge Crew

Posted Jun 6, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 6, 2010 at 08:21 AM

Los Angeles continued its undefeated start to the season while Colorado scored late to defeat Columbus in Saturday’s Major League Soccer action.

LOS ANGELES 4, HOUSTON 1: The Galaxy extended their undefeated start to the season to 12 games as Jovan Kirovski scored twice in the first half to lead the side to victory.

Kirovski opened the scoring in the opening minute, heading home as the Dynamo defense fell asleep, but Houston hit back six minutes later as Cam Weaver blocked a clearance by Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts after pushing on a through-ball from Lovell Palmer.

The Galaxy retook the lead in the 21st minute, though, as the Dynamo again failed to pick up Kirovski in the penalty area before he buried a low finish into the net. The Galaxy put the game away early in the second half as first Tristan Bowen and then Alex Cazumba added goals to put the Galaxy up 4-1 before the hour-mark.

COLORADO 1, COLUMBUS 0: The Rapids took their third straight 1-0 victory as a late goal by Drew Moor gave his side all three points after teammate Paolo Mastroeni had been sent off at Dick’s Sporting Good Park.

The game didn’t really heat until the second half, but then in the 77th minute it briefly boiled over. Mastroeni was fouled by Steven Lehnart, who then kicked the ball into the Rapids midfielder. Mastroeni lunged at Lehnart, which was enough for his ejection from the game.

Eight minutes later, though, Moor snuck in at the far post to head home a long free kick from just outside the 6-yard box. It was his first goal of the season, and allowed the Rapids to take sole possession of third place in the Western Conference.

SEATTLE 3, NEW ENGLAND 0: The Sounders got exactly what they needed heading into the World Cup break as three first-half goals carried them to victory against the Revolution.

Leo Gonzalez scored the first in the fifth minute, taking advantage of a slight bit of luck when a poor touch by Steve Zakuani sent the ball to him on the left side of the penalty area to blast home left-footed. Zakuani was more sure-footed in the 24th minute, though, volleying home from 15 yards.

Fredy Montero added the third in the 42nd minute, his patience paying off before firing a low shot home, as the Sounders scored a resounding victory, their biggest at home in the league this season.

DALLAS 2, SAN JOSE 0: Brek Shea scored both goals for Dallas in a three minute span to give it victory over the Earthquakes and moved it closer to the middle of the pack in the Western Conference.

David Ferreira was the creator of the first, a nice run down the left and cut back from the byline setting up Shea perfectly for the finish. He then made the most of defensive hesitancy, pressuring Chris Leitch into a mistake before tucking home after Joe Cannon couldn’t handle the ball cleanly.

CHICAGO 2, PHILADELPHIA 1: The Fire won for just the second time at Toyota Park in the league this season as Baggio Husidic scored early to lead the team past the Union.

Husidic finished clinically after an excellent run and pass by Patrick Nyarko and almost doubled their lead moments later, Philadelphia goalkeeper Chris Seitz saving well from Marco Pappa.

Pappa wouldn’t be denied in the second half, though, as the Union’s defense cleared poorly after another excellent save from Seitz. Danny Mwanga pulled back a goal in stoppage time, but Chicago held on for victory.

NEW YORK 1, CHIVAS USA 0: Seth Stammler scored the only goal as the Red Bulls earned their second straight victory while avenging their defeat to Chivas earlier this season.

Stammler drove a shot into the bottom left corner of the net after a corner had been partially cleared in the 27th minute. Juan Pablo Angel appeared to have doubled the lead in the 80th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

For their part, the Goats didn’t threaten much. Maykel Galindo had their best chance, but was denied by a sliding Tim Ream after rounding Bouna Coundoul in the New York goal.

D.C. UNITED 0, REAL SALT LAKE 0: A stout defensive performance allowed United to gain a point and end RSL’s five-game winning streak.

RSL only managed one shot on goal and were wasteful with some of their other chances, Alvaro Saborio going close with a second-half header. D.C . could have grabbed victory for themselves, in fact, Stephen King squandered a golden opportunity in the 58th minute.

TORONTO 0, KANSAS CITY 0: There were no goals, but two red cards at BMO Field as both sides were reduced to 10 men for separate incidents in either half.

Jimmy Neilsen was the more active of the two goalkeepers, making an excellent save on Jacob Peterson in the first half, but Toronto was unable to continue its perfect home record in the league this season. The Reds were first reduced to 10 men when Nick Garcia was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Kei Kamara in the 26th minute.

Kansas City was then reduced to 10 men when Craig Rocastle received his second yellow card in the 57th minute. The Wizards had the last good opportunity to find the back of the net, Kamara firing just wide from 25 yards, but the game would end goalless.