There were three games over last weekend. The small amount of games in week four was the MLS’s way of complying with the international games going on. Really, they should just give everyone off, so we don’t have these weird half weeks. None the less, heres a recap. This week around MLS: week four:
New England 5 Minnesota 2
A barrage of goals came in New England on Saturday. For the second straight week Minnesota scored two goals on the road; unfortunately, they lost by three. The visitors looked good during certain spells of the match, but their defensive woes continued. Hey are the first ever expansion team to allow 18 goals in their first 6 matches… however they’ve only played four. This is a historically bad defense. Movie no to the home team,New England scored five goals which helped them get their first win of 2017. Three legit goals, were overshadowed by two penalties awarded for flops.
Cue this week’s should-be shooting star meme on Fagundez’s dive; where ya at Loons fans?
https://twitter.com/TotalMLS/status/845716672912773120
New York Red Bulls 0 Real Salt Lake 0
Red Bull’s and Real Salt Lake played to a scoreless draw on Saturday at Red Bull arena. Salt Lake will take the road point after there struggles at the beginning of their season. The draw gives at the first place team in the east will give them confidence. It’s something for interim head coach Daryl Shore will build off of going forward. The Red Bulls contribute to rack up points without scoring goals. Their leading scorer for 2017 is own goals, with two, Wright-Phillips and Royer are tied for second with one goal. The Red Bulls stay first in the east with seven points. But they have some company now!
Columbus 3 Portland 2
The game of the weekend was Columbus vs Portland. The rematch of the 2015 final took place in the same stadium. Portland came into the game as the best team in the league with nine points from three games. Columbus came in knowing they’d get a share of first in the east with a win. The game was a cracker! Portland scored in the first five minutes. Columbus responded with two in the next fifteen. Portland equalized right before the half. With four minutes left in the game, Columbus’ first round draft pick Niko Hansen scored the game winner. Portland gets their first loss, and Columbus gets a share of first in the east!
Here’s where everyone stands after week four:
Eastern Conference:
| Points | Overall | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | PTS | PPG | GP | W | L | T | |||
| Columbus Crew SC | 7 | 1.75 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
| New York Red Bulls | 7 | 1.75 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Atlanta United FC | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Orlando City SC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Toronto FC | 5 | 1.67 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |||
| New York City FC | 4 | 1.33 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Chicago Fire | 4 | 1.33 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| New England Revolution | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Montreal Impact | 2 | 0.67 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Philadelphia Union | 2 | 0.67 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |||
| D.C. United | 1 | 0.33 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||
Western Conference:
| Points | Overall | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | PTS | PPG | GP | W | L | T | |||
| Portland Timbers | 9 | 2.25 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |||
| FC Dallas | 7 | 2.33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |||
| Houston Dynamo | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||
| San Jose Earthquakes | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Sporting Kansas City | 5 | 1.67 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |||
| Seattle Sounders FC | 4 | 1.33 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Colorado Rapids | 4 | 1.33 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| LA Galaxy | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Real Salt Lake | 2 | 0.5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 1 | 0.33 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||
| Minnesota United FC | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |||
Apparently MLS didn’t produce a “Goal of the week,” or “Save of the week this past week. So here’s a montage of all of the goals, and who they dubbed “player of the week.”
All of the goals from week four:
Taking a look back at all the goals from Week 4 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yFMXhsl22M
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 27, 2017
Player of the week:
1. Score a brace
2. Win @ALCATEL1TOUCH Player of the WeekThe latest to do it? @JuanAgudelo! https://t.co/Un5Q1zopoD
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 28, 2017
Team of the week:
Bench: Luis Robles, NY; Aaron Maund, RSL; Demar Phillips, RSL; Tyler Adams, NY; Wil Trapp, CLB; Diego Valeri, POR; Fanendo Adi, POR
The small week three will be followed by a normal week four with all teams in action. Stay tuned for a preview of the Union’s match against DC United tomorrow. Until then, peace out Union fans
Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
