The Columbus Crew jumped into first place in the Eastern Conference during MLS Matchday 7 after a 2-1 win over CF Montreal. Looking out west, the San Jose Earthquakes dismantled D.C. United, 6-1, and the LA Galaxy still remain winless on the year.
There were some shakeups in the Western Conference standings, but the Vancouver Whitecaps remain in first and are two points ahead of San Diego FC.
Let’s take a look at some of the best performances from MLS Matchday 7.
San Jose runs riot against D.C. United, 6-1
The San Jose Earthquakes have jumped into eighth in the West after a blowout win over D.C. United. Josef Martínez scored a hat-trick and is looking like his old self once again. Cristian Arango scored the match’s first goal, his fourth of the year, and San Jose did not look back after the opening whistle, scoring three times in the first 45 minutes.
Christian Benteke put D.C. on the scoreboard in the 45’+2′, but that was the only good thing that happened for D.C. for the rest of the match. San Jose scored three more times in the second half to run up the score and move into eighth.
Columbus jumps into first in the East
The Columbus Crew are now sitting in first in the Eastern Conference after a 2-1 win over CF Montreal. AZ put the Crew up 1-0 in the 11th minute for his first goal of the season. In the 26th minute, Jacen Russell-Rowe doubled the lead for the Crew.
Caden Clark appeared to have scored for Montreal in the 33rd minute, but VAR would rule the goal offside. Prince Owusu found the back of the net for Montreal in the 50th minute, but no comeback was mounted in the remaining 40 minutes.
Montreal continues to sit in last in the East with two points to their name.
Miami draws with Toronto in a nail-biter
Nobody thought that Toronto FC would cause Inter Miami problems during Sunday Night Soccer, but they did and stole a point from Chase Stadium.
Toronto had an insane sequence of potential goals in the 19th minute but somehow could not convert. Federico Bernardeschi gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the 45’+2′, but who else than Lionel Messi to bring the match level in the 45’+5′.
Messi dominated for most of Sunday’s match, finishing with one goal, eight shots, and three shots on target. Both sides had many close chances to acquire the lead in the second half, but the match would end in a 1-1 draw.
Jack McGlynn scores first goal for Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo have struggled early to start the season, sitting 13th in the West. But on Saturday night, they picked up three points over LAFC to potentially find a new groove.
Former Philadelphia Union midfielder Jack McGlynn scored his first goal for the Dynamo in the 58th minute. His goal would be the only one for the rest of the match, and Houston would walk away with a 1-0 win.
McGlynn has been finding more confidence as of late in his new role with Houston and his goal will definitely add more grit to an already hungry player.
San Diego keeps rolling with win over Seattle
San Diego FC keeps on rolling. Their latest victim this matchday was the Seattle Sounders.
Jeppe Tverskov wasted no time tilting the match in San Diego’s favor, scoring in the second minute. Aníbal Godoy would double the lead in the 41st minute, then Chucky Lozano added the trifecta in the 45’+3′.
Seattle wouldn’t respond to the first-half route from San Diego, giving yet another win to the league’s newest club. San Diego sits second in the West and are chasing down Vancouver.
MLS Standings after Matchday 7
Columbus Crew – 15 pts
Inter Miami – 14 pts
Philadelphia Union – 13 pts
Charlotte FC – 13 pts
FC Cincinnati – 13 pts
Orlando City – 11 pts
Chicago Fire – 11 pts
New York Red Bulls – 11 pts
Nashville SC – 10 pts
Atlanta United – 9 pts
New York City FC – 8 pts
D.C. United – 6 pts
New England Revolution – 4 pts
Toronto FC – 3 pts
CF Montreal – 2 pts
Western Conference
Vancouver Whitecaps – 16 pts
San Diego FC – 14 pts
Minnesota United – 14 pts
Austin FC – 13 pts
Portland Timbers – 11 pts
FC Dallas – 11 pts
Colorado Rapids – 11 pts
San Jose Earthquakes – 10 pts
LAFC – 9 pts
Real Salt Lake – 9 pts
St. Louis City SC – 8 pts
Seattle Sounders – 6 pts
Houston Dynamo – 5 pts
Sporting Kansas City – 4 pts
LA Galaxy – 2 pts
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union
