The Boys in Blue were off last weekend but there was still plenty of action around the league. Let’s take a look at the results and the stand-out performances. Here’s what went down this week around MLS Week two!
Week Two:
Columbus Crew SC: 3 (2-0-0)
Montreal Impact: 2 (0-2-0)
Who knows how much longer Columbus will have a team, but for now they are playing like they belong. With already a win at home and a victory at MLS Champions Toronto FC, Fredrico Higuain and Gyasi Zardes are proving to be a formidable duo with two goals apiece. Higuain is only one assist shy of joining the 50-50 club (50 career goals and 50 career assists) and will look to take that next step at the Union next Saturday. The Impact were given the difficult task of starting the season with back-to-back road matches and will try to right the ship at home this week vs. Toronto FC.
Highlights:
New England Revolution: 2 (1-1-0)
Colorado Rapids: 1 (0-1-0)
In probably the least glamorous matchup of the weekend, Chris Tierney scored on a deflected free kick in stoppage time to claim the victory for the Revolution. Tierney might not have been on the field had it not been for left back Gabriel Somi leaving to injury early in the first half. You can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Given these two recently underperforming clubs and typical February New England area temperatures, this actually was an intense and entertaining match to watch.
The Revolution won’t be able to ride this positive wave since they don’t suit up again until March 24th vs NYCFC. Colorado will feel this bitter defeat for quite a while as they also don’t return to action for another two weeks when they host Sporting Kansas City.
Highlights:
Real Salt Lake: 1 (0-1-1)
LAFC: 5 (2-0-0)
Bob Bradley’s squad made quick work of Real Salt Lake, piling up 5 unanswered goals after trailing 1-0 in the 20th minute. Following up his game-winning blast last week just outside Seattle’s 18 yard box, Diego Rossi had the game of the week tallying another 2 goals and for good measure, 3 assists. The combination of youth and veterans like Benny Feilhaber and Steve Beitashour have made LAFC a club no one wants to play. Even the addition of Latif Blessing in the Expansion Draft is paying off, playing all 90 minutes in both games so far, helping to stabilize the midfield.
It doesn’t get much easier for Real Salt Lake as they host the New York Red Bulls Saturday night. LAFC won’t be able to ride the momentum from their first two victories since they are off three weeks before the much-anticipated match with the LA Galaxy. Thanks MLS!
Highlights:
Chicago Fire: 3 (0-1-0)
Sporting Kansas City: 4 (1-1-0)
Nemanja Nikolic was back to his old tricks scoring 2 goals for the Fire, but it wasn’t enough as a brace from Felipe Gutierrez helped power Sporting KC to victory. His bookend goals in the 9th and 86th minute sealed Chicago’s fate. Surrendering 4 goals at home to an opponent not known for it’s offensive prowess will no doubt weigh on Fire coach Veljko Paunovic before they head out to Minnesota this weekend. Sporting KC will return to the Cauldron and the friendly confines of Children’s Mercy Park to take on Chris Wondolowski and the San Jose Earthquakes.
Highlights:
Houston Dynamo: 1 (1-1-0)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: 2 (2-0-0)
The Whitecaps are off to a solid start and they had two stand-out players in their win vs Houston. Kei Kamara scored a PK off a penalty he created, as well as assisting on Brek Shea’s game-winner in the 49th minute. Kamara joined an elite club with his PK, becoming only the 10th player in MLS history to notch 100 goals. The other star for Vancouver was goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic. He made a few spectacular saves and the only goal he surrendered was due more to the Whitecaps back line allowing Houston too much time in the box.
Vancouver will look for their third straight win to start the season next week in Atlanta in the marquee match-up of the week. Houston travels to the nation’s capital to take on DC United in an early Saturday afternoon affair.
Highlights:
NY Red Bulls: 4 (1-0-0)
Portland Timbers: 0 (0-2-0)
With Bradley Wright-Phillips and Tyler Adams not in the starting 11, the Timbers must have liked their chances in Harrison, NJ. A 1-0 lead for New York at the half, turned into a three goal onslaught in the final 15 minutes at the expense of the Portland defense. I know it’s early, but so far it looks like the stingy defense that Portland was known for under Caleb Porter, is not resembling anything close with Giovanni Savarese at the helm.
The Red Bulls will have a tough task next Saturday when they travel to Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City, while things don’t get any easier for the Timbers as they head to FC Dallas in two weeks for their third consecutive road match to start the season.
Highlights:
Orlando City FC: 1 (0-1-1)
Minnesota United FC: 2 (1-1-0)
After a tough road loss in San Jose to start the season, the Loons were locked in another road battle in Orlando before newcomer Ethan Finlay recorded his second goal of the day to seal the victory. This was an emotional win for Adrian Heath who returned to Orlando for the first time since his firing as head coach. Taking away from the win is the loss of midfielder Kevin Molino for the season with a torn ACL. This is his second season-ending ACL injury in three years. Depth is not a strength of Minnesota and Adrian Heath will have his work cut out for him.
Although it hasn’t been a great start for Orlando City FC, they can breathe a little easier knowing Sacha Kljestan and Dom Dwyer will be joining them soon. They will take on NYCFC at Yankee Stadium in their first road match Saturday afternoon, while Minnesota’s improved defense will be waiting in their home opener for the Chicago Fire.
Highlights:
Atlanta United FC: 3 (1-1-0)
DC United: 1 (0-1-1)
It wasn’t too hard to predict this one. Over 72,000 in Atlanta, setting a new MLS attendance record and coming off a 4-0 drubbing to Houston in week one, Atlanta took all of its frustration out on DC United. The crowd was manic, hungry, and so were Atlanta’s forwards and wingers. Darren Mattocks netted his first goal as a member of DC United but it was late in the 2nd half when the match was already decided. Make sure you check out the highlights for Hector Villalba’s assist on Josef Martinez’s goal in the 24th minute. You might not see a better pass all season.
DC plays their “home” opener next week, albeit at the Maryland Soccerplex where they will look for their first win of the season. Atlanta will look to continue some home cooking when they host Vancouver, in what I anticipate to be the game of the week.
Highlights:
NYCFC: 2 (2-0-0)
LA Galaxy: 1 (1-1-0)
East coast vs West coast in what should have been a nationally televised game. MLS must not have wanted to compete against the March Madness bracket reveal. In addition to David Villa notching his first goal of 2018, newly signed right back Anton Tinnerholm also found the back of the net. Four goals from NYCFC in their first two matches isn’t uber impressive, but having four different players account for each goal is telling. They are no longer just the David Villa show and the defense is looking improved.
They will have a tougher defensive task when they take on Orlando City FC next week. LA Galaxy will look to regroup and heal up. Giovani dos Santos pulled up lame with a hamstring but they have a few weeks off before heading north for a matchup with the Whitecaps.
Highlights:
Week 2 Goals:
Hit rewind on Week 2. ⏪ https://t.co/1CTuRMsLEx
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2018
Week 2 Saves:
Give 'em a hand. The BEST SAVES from Week 2. https://t.co/bUHhHuY673
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2018
Team of the Week:
Player of the Week, week two:
Some more goodness from @LAFC's Diego Rossi, @alcatelmobileus Player of the Week 😚 https://t.co/rcCjlOiyoj https://t.co/1HMRG4YvCW
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 13, 2018
Week Two Power Rankings:
@MLS Power Rankings from Week 2 ⬇️https://t.co/BhbSxNr535
— Tim Lovenguth (@Tim_Lovenguth) March 13, 2018
Week 3 Fixtures:
Saturday, March 17th:
DC United vs Houston Dynamo | 1:30 PM EST
Philadelphia Union vs Columbus Crew SC | 2:00 PM EST
Minnesota United FC vs Chicago Fire | 2:00 PM EST
Montreal Impact vs Toronto FC | 3:00 PM EST
New York City FC vs Orlando City FC | 3:30 PM EST
Atlanta United FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 7:30 PM EST
Sporting Kansas City vs San Jose Earthquakes | 8:30 PM EST
Real Salt Lake vs New York Red Bulls | 9:00 PM EST
Sunday, March 18th:
FC Dallas vs Seattle Sounders FC | 5:00 PM EST
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Peace out Union fans!
