Major League Soccer 2008: Week 7 roundup
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Image: Ben Stanfield.
Strong road victories for the Columbus Crew and the Chicago Fire strengthened their positions at the top of the stacked Eastern Conference, while in the Western Conference defending champions Houston Dynamo became the final team to record a win.
Columbus trailed the San Jose Earthquakes going into the 73rd minute, before a double-salvo by Robbie Rogers and a first of the season for Brad Evans handed the Crew a 3-1 lead. A consolation from the Earthquakes could not prevent Columbus securing a fifth consecutive win.
D.C. United 0-2 Chicago Fire
[edit]Chicago Fire are just 2 points off Columbus' tail after they defeated D.C. United 2-0 at RFK Stadium. A cool side-footed finish by Justin Mapp opened the scoring for the visitors, and a spectacular 30 yard drive by Cuauhtemoc Blanco sealed a 4th defeat in 5 for DC, who were without Designated Player Marcelo Gallardo. DC United are now 4 points adrift at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, both New England Revolution and the New York Red Bulls boosted their early season play-off hopes with victories in Los Angeles.
New York defeated LA Galaxy 2-1, with Juan Pablo Angel bagging the game-winner and his first of the season. The Red Bulls had taken the lead in the first half through rookie Danleigh Borman's first career goal, before Alan Gordon equalised for the Galaxy. However, almost immediately from the restart Dane Richards drove down the pitch and slid Angel in, who subsequently rounded Cronin and slotted home.
In the second game at the Home Depot Center in Week 7, Taylor Twellman announced his return from injury with the 2nd goal in New England Revolution's 2-1 win over Chivas USA. Gambian teenager Kenny Mansally had put the Revs in front with his 2nd of the season, and Twellman's left-footed strike gave New England a 2-0 advantage. It proved crucial as Justin Braun netted his first career goal in injury time to give Chivas USA only a consolation.
Out in the Western Conference, leaders, the Colorado Rapids, succumbed to an ill-tempered 2-1 defeat to the Houston Dynamo. Omar Cummings' equaliser for the Rapids was sandwiched between Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosario strikes for the 2007 Champions, who became the last team in this year's competition to record a victory. The Rapids remain top of the Western Conference with 9 points.
Real Salt Lake 2-1 FC Dallas
[edit]In the 2nd all-West match-up, Real Salt Lake continued their fine home form with a 2-1 success over FC Dallas. Argentine playmaker Javier Morales built on a two-assist performance last week with the opening goal at Rice-Eccles Stadium. While Kenny Cooper would equalise for Dallas with a well taken strike from an acute angle, Kyle Beckerman got a touch to Andy Williams' deft through ball to hand RSL just their 2nd win of the season.
Tables at the End of Week 7
[edit]Eastern Conference
[edit]| Team | Pts | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Crew | 18 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| Chicago Fire | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 10 |
| New England Revolution | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 |
| New York Red Bulls | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Toronto FC | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | -1 |
| Kansas City Wizards | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | -1 |
| D.C. United | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 14 | -5 |
Western Conference
[edit]| Team | Pts | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rapids | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 2 |
| FC Dallas | 9 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 8 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 15 | -1 |
| Real Salt Lake | 8 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -1 |
| Houston Dynamo | 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 |
| Chivas USA | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 15 | -5 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | -4 |
Box scores
[edit]- "MLS Week 7 Box Scores" — Major League Soccer, May 11, 2008
Full match reports
[edit]- "Fire again find the magic at RFK" — Major League Soccer, May 8, 2008
- "Dynamo earn first victory of 2008" — Major League Soccer, May 10, 2008
- "Real hold off FCD in see-saw affair" — Major League Soccer, May 10, 2008
- "Crew storm past San Jose in second half" — Major League Soccer, May 10, 2008
- "Angel delivers first goal, win for NY" — Major League Soccer, May 10, 2008
- "Twellman, Revs trump Chivas USA" — Major League Soccer, May 11, 2008
Sources
[edit]- Associated Press. "MLS Capsules" — Yahoo! News, May 10, 2008
- Associated Press. "Sunday's MLS Capsules" — Yahoo! News, May 10, 2008
