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June 20, 2009
MLS ROUNDUP
Setback for United, narrow escape for FCD
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Matt Pickens made six saves as Colorado blanked DC United, 3-0.
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images |
COLORADO RAPIDS 3, DC UNITED 0
COMMERCE CITY, Colo—Omar Cummings had two goals and an assist as the Colorado Rapids blanked leg-weary Eastern Conference leaders DC United 3-0 Saturday in front of 11,416 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Cummings opened the scoring in the 11th minute, getting free at the left side of the box and curling a shot around ‘keeper Josh Wicks into the far side netting. He helped the Rapids put things away with an unassisted tally in the 45th minute, and fed the ball to Colin Clark, who completed the whitewash in the 49th.
Winning goalkeeper Matt Pickens made six saves, including an early stop on Santino Quaranta’s point-blank header that kept United from knotting the score in the 18th minute. Josh Wicks stopped three in the losing effort.
The game was the third in eight days for United (5-3-8). The Rapids improve to 5-2-5 (20), fourth in the MLS West.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 2, LOS ANGELES GALAXY 1
OAKLAND, Calif. – The Los Angeles Galaxy had plenty of chances, but it was the San Jose Earthquakes that had the finishing touch, coming away with a 2-1 victory Saturday in front of 17,128 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
Gregg Berhalter dug the Galaxy into an early hole, fouling Pablo Campos just off the right post to set up a penalty kick for the Earthquakes. Campos got to take his own revenge, stepping up to the spot and slotting the ball to the lower left corner, just out of reach to diving ‘keeper Donovan Ricketts.
Ryan Johnson, who terrorized the LA defense mercilessly before being subbed out in the 85th minute, doubled the San Jose lead in the 54th minute, with assists from Campos and Chris Leitch. Jovan Kirovski kept the Galaxy in the game with a 64th-minute header, but the Earthquakes held on for the win.
The loss drops the Galaxy to 2-3-9 (15 pts), while San Jose improves to 3-8-3 (12).
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 1, NEW YORK RED BULLS 1
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—Fredy Montero scored deep into first half stoppage time to give Seattle Sounders FC a 1-1 road draw with the New York Red Bulls Saturday before a Giants stadium crowd of 14,313.
Montero took advantage of rookie defender Jeremy Hall to knot the score, forcing a turnover and dribbling in to beat netminder Danny Cepero one-on-one. His goal countered a 40th-minute empty net strike by striker Juan Pablo Angel, who beat Seattle ‘keeper Kasey Keller to the ball after defender Tyrone Marshall accidentally cracked a clearing pass off of teammate Patrick Ianni. The ball rebounded toward the penalty area, sparking a footrace between Angel and Keller.
The results did not change either team’s position in the standings. Seattle remains third in the MLS West with 22 points (5-3-7), while the Red Bulls trail in the East at 2-10-4 (10).
REAL SALT LAKE 1, HOUSTON DYNAMO 1
HOUSTON—It took more than a half hour, but the Houston Dynamo salvaged a tie with shorthanded Real Salt Lake on Brian Ching’s 89th-minute goal.
The Dynamo, who brought a 10-game unbeaten streak into the game, dominated the game on paper, outshooting RSL 9-1 overall and holding a 4-1 edge in shots on goal. Salt Lake, however, made the most of their one chance and took a 1-0 lead when Fabian Espindola scored in the 28th minute.
Netminder Nick Rimando (three saves) made a solid stab at the clean sheet, but was dealt a blow in the 58th minute, when Jamison Olave collected his second yellow card of the match and was ejected. Ching kept the Dynamo’s streak alive by scoring from close range.
The Dynamo take sole possession of first place in the Western Conference at 8-2-4 (28). Real Salt Lake are fifth in the conference at 4-6-4 (16).
FC DALLAS 2, COLUMBUS CREW 1
FRISCO, Tex.—FC Dallas scored twice in the final ten minutes to snatch a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew Saturday in front of 8,041 at Pizza Hut Park.
Eric Avila’s first goal of the season, in the 80th minute, countered the own goal by Pablo Riccheti that had gifted the Crew a 1-0 lead in the 17th. Kenny Cooper’s 87th-minute penalty kick put the game away. The kick was awarded after Columbus defender Chad Marshall fouled David Ferreira in the box.
Both goalkeepers had busy nights, as the teams combined for 27 total shots and ten shots on goal. The Crew’s Andy Gruenebaum stopped five as the Crew improved to 4-2-8 (20). Ray Burse made three saves for the Hoops.
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