Major League Soccer 2008: Week 7 roundup

Thursday, May 15, 2008

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.

San Jose Earthquakes 2-3 Columbus Crew

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

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.

Los Angeles Galaxy 1-2 Red Bull New York

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.

Chivas USA 1-2 New England Revolution

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.

Houston Dynamo 2-1 Colorado Rapids

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

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

Eastern Conference

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

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

"MLS Week 7 Box Scores" — Major League Soccer, May 11, 2008

Full match reports

"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

Associated Press. "MLS Capsules" — Yahoo! News, May 10, 2008
Associated Press. "Sunday's MLS Capsules" — Yahoo! News, May 10, 2008

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