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MLS Roundup: RSL Can't Lose, Chicago Can't Win

Nick Rimando and perennial MLS Cup contenders Real Salt Lake keep their eyes on the prize. Elsewhere, Gáston Fernández goes wondergoal, Landon Donovan goes record-hunting, and Omar Gonzalez goes out.
BY Nick Kariuki Posted
May 05, 2014
3:30 PM

THE GAME YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN

Real Salt Lake’s late 3-2 comeback against a capitulating Chicago Fire demonstrated the difference between the team that can’t lose this season and the team that can’t win.

Home at Toyota Park, Chicago started to build up its early lead in the 22nd minute when Harry Shipp was allowed the space and time to attempt a low shot from outside the box. RSL keeper Nick Rimando could only parry the ball down into his six-yard-box, where a tracking Mike Magee had no problem side-footing in to finish. In the 31st minute the hosts doubled their lead when Greg Cochrane’s cross from the left side found the unmarked Juan Luis Anangonó, who could perfectly place his header into the bottom-left corner.

Fire keeper Sean Johnson was a wall in the first half as RSL turned up the pressure, saving efforts from both Alvaro Saborio and Joao Plata before the break. Here’s the one that didn’t make the highlights: After the break, RSL controlled majority of the possession and momentum, which almost worked against the team when in the 63rd Magee was able to out-hustle Nat Borchers to a long ball only to see his shot bounce down on the wrong side of the goal-line after hitting the crossbar.

Real’s pressure and dominance finally paid off in the 72nd minute when Plata was given the time to turn and shoot in the Chicago box. In the 90th minute Saborio practically ran into an Olmes Garcia cross that the Chicago defense should never have let get near him, leaving him a point-blank shot past Johnson.

Three minutes later Johnson was left hung out to dry again when Saborio was able to swing in another cross from the left which Plata volleyed in for his second and the winner (Plata seemed fractionally offside, but RSL fans will be sure to point out that opponent Nicolás Mezduida evaded the linesman’s wrath for his goal last Saturday). Fire coach Frank Yallop pretty accurately summed up his side’s performance in the last 20 minutes as “piss poor defending.”

The win extended both RSL’s unbeaten-run and the Fire’s winless streak this season.

GOALS OF THE WEEK

Gáston Fernández’s first-minute opener in the Portland Timbers 3-2 win over D.C. United takes the prize this week. The Argentine striker beat D.C. keeper Bill Hamid to a low cross from Diego Valeri. Then, with ice-cold composure, he chipped the ball up and hurdled the sliding Hamid in the same motion, before kicking it over his left shoulder into the goal. Watch and appreciate: Only 34 seconds into the game, the goal is the fastest in Timbers history and Fernández’s fourth of the season. The result also marked Portland’s first win of the season and an end to their frustrating start to the campaign.

The runners-up this week are Vincente Sanchez’s chip to give Colorado Rapids a 1-0 win over the Galaxy: I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt as far as whether he meant to cross or shoot it.

Rookie Patrick Mullins earns a mention for his left-footed cannonball in the New England Revolutions’ 2-1 victory at Toronto FC:

TWO WEEKS TILL CAMP

  • With Klinsmann’s selection of the 30-man provisional World Cup squad coming up, it’s as agonizing to see contenders going down injured as it is refreshing to see them get back on the field. Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez was subbed out at half time as a precaution for a knee injury in L.A.’s 1-0 defeat at Colorado.

  • Recovering from a hamstring injury, D.C. United forward Eddie Johnson was not risked in United’s 3-2 loss to the Timbers on Saturday.

  • On the plus side, Houston Dynamo captain Brad Davis has swiftly returned to his role as the heart of the side, providing a goal and an assist in his two games back from an ankle injury.

  • Brad Evans may have been culpable for the own goal which put Philadelphia ahead, but he later provided Obafemi Martins the assist to help Seattle win 2-1 against the Union. Saturday marked the midfielder’s third game, and first full game, back from a calf contusion.

    STANDINGS AND STATS

  • SKC’s victory moves the side to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, while Columbus drops down to fourth. The Rev’s and New York hold second and third, respectively.

  • The Sounders maintained its place on top of the Western Conference. FC Dallas losing 1-0 to New York allowed RSL to move into the second slot ahead of them.

  • Erik Torres converted penalty in the 7th minute may not have meant much in Chivas USA’s 4-1 defeat to the Houston, but it has put his season’s tally up to seven. He is now has one goal fewer than Clint Dempsey and one more than Bradley Wright-Phillips.

  • Graham Zusi and Quakes midfielder Shea Salinas join Obafemi Martins and Dax McCarthy at the front of the assist rankings with four.

    OTHER NEWS AND EVENTS

  • Landon Donovan and Rimando are both still one shy of reaching their MLS-topping benchmarks. For Donovan it’s the 135th goal that will make him the outright top goal scorer, while Rimando is trying to join Kevin Hartman on 111 clean sheets. This is how painfully close Landon was:
  • This game week had no draws. The last time this happened in the regular season was 16 game weeks ago.

  • The Sounders have extended its winning streak to four games now. Chicago and Chivas have both gone eight games without a win.

  • Chris Wondolowski bagged a brace in San Jose’s 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps, which should help build his case for the upcoming national team selection. Here’s the goal that wasn’t a penalty: Nick Kariuki is an American Soccer Now columnist. Follow him on Twitter.

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