MLS Roundup: Record-setting Saturday punctuated by 10-goal thriller in D.C.
D.C. United 6 -- Real Salt Lake 4
This wild encounter at R.F.K. Stadium ended with 10 goals, the second highest total ever in a single MLS game. RSL stormed to a two-goal lead through Joao Plata’s tidy finish and Kyle Beckerman’s thumping drive from distance, but United equalized through two Chris Rolfe goals. Taylor Kemp’s thunderbolt gave United its first lead just before the hour, but Aaron Maund responded in the 62nd minute to restore parity. Fabian Espindola and Abdoulie Mansally exchanged goals to set the stage for United’s grand finish. Perry Kitchen and Nick DeLeon struck in the final quarter of an hour to cinch the points for the Eastern Conference leaders.
Orlando City 5 -- Columbus Crew SC 2
Orlando City produced a five-goal response to Federico Higuain’s opener to thump Crew SC at the Citrus Bowl. Higuain benefited from good work by Justin Meram to send the visitors in front after five minutes. It proved a false dawn as Cyle Larin and Darwin Ceren struck before halftime to send Orlando City in front. Larin pounced again eight minutes after the break to increase the lead before Aurelien Collin and Cristian Higuita removed any doubt. Collin then turned into his own net in second-half stoppage time to complete the scoring.
Colorado Rapids 1 -- LA Galaxy 3
Another second-half outburst ended the Galaxy’s 15-game winless streak away from home and shunted the Rapids aside at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Marcelo Sarvas provided the Rapids with a foothold with his goal inside the opening quarter of an hour. It slipped away after the interval as Sebastian Lletget and Alan Gordon issued the response by the 70th minute. Robbie Keane added a third on the break in the late stages to guarantee the Galaxy’s first away win in 346 days.
New York City FC 2 -- Montréal Impact 3
The visitors ruined Frank Lampard’s NYCFC debut by collecting all three points at Yankee Stadium. The first two Impact goals stemmed from poor defending over the top. Dominic Oduro latched onto a Laurent Ciman ball and thrashed home after five minutes, while Ignacio Piatti doubled the advantage after the half-hour after good work from Andres Romero. David Villa pulled a goal back from the spot and then watched as Lampard made his long-awaited debut by replacing Andrew Jacobson moments later. Piatti grabbed his second from the spot six minutes from time to restore the two-goal advantage, but Tommy McNamara’s immediate reply created a grandstand finish. NYCFC pushed and pushed in the late stages, but the Impact held out to claim victory.
New England Revolution 3 - Toronto FC 1
Ten-man Toronto FC imploded to usher the Revs toward the points at Gillette Stadium. Charlie Davies inspired the meltdown when he bundled home after Chris Tierney and Kelyn Rowe constructed a tidy set piece. Jozy Altidore then received a red card for kicking out at Jose Goncalves to inflame the misery. Lee Nguyen doubled the advantage just before halftime after Damien Perquis pulled down Rowe as he attempted to meet a Tierney free kick. Davies grabbed his second after the interval to confirm the victory, while Jonathan Osorio snatched a late consolation goal for 10-man TFC.
Philadelphia Union 1 -- New York Red Bulls 3
Shaun Wright-Phillips marked his Red Bulls debut by prompting the winner for brother Bradley at PPL Park. Sacha Kljestan opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 66th minute after debutant Tranquillo Barnetta accidentally caught Shaun Wright-Phillips inside the penalty area. Sebastian Le Toux responded seven minutes later to draw the Union level. The two Wright-Phillips brothers combined for the winner a moment later and then watched Anatole Abang snatch an insurance goal in second-half stoppage time to seal the victory.
Sporting Kansas City 1 -- Houston Dynamo 1
Ricardo Clark pounced in the final quarter of an hour to lift the Dynamo to a point at Sporting Park. Dom Dwyer staked Sporting to the lead after just six minutes when he nodded home Benny Feilhaber’s inviting free kick from the right. Clark eventually produced the equalizer in the final quarter of an hour when he rose highest to turn home Brad Davis’ inswinging free kick from the right. Houston survived Clark’s immediate exit through injury and Nathan Sturgis’ late dismissal to secure a draw.
Seattle Sounders 0 -- Vancouver Whitecaps 3
