MLS Roundup: Diaz inspires FC Dallas to late comeback victory over LA Galaxy
FC Dallas 2 -- LA Galaxy 1
Mauro Diaz inspired FCD’s late revival to recover from a one-goal deficit and sweep to victory in Frisco. Gyasi Zardes opened the scoring just before the hour to give the Galaxy a foothold. Diaz prompted Blas Perez’s equalizer after 77 minutes with a sublime chip over the line and then set the stage for Tesho Akindele’s winner four minutes from time. The result kept FCD atop the Western Conference and sent the Galaxy spiraling to a first defeat in six outings.
Columbus Crew SC 3 -- Seattle Sounders 2
Crew SC warded off a late Seattle push to procure a deserved victory at Crew Stadium. The home side started brightly and underscored their encouraging start with the opener through Kei Kamara. Clint Dempsey issued his response against the run of play before the half-hour. Federico Higuain restored the lead early in the second half before Kamara extended it with his second goal just before the hour. Dempsey arranged a grandstand finish when he poked home a rebound after 75 minutes, but Crew SC navigated through the final quarter of an hour to secure all three points.
D.C. United 1 -- Sporting Kansas City 1
United extended its unbeaten run to seven matches and remained atop the Eastern Conference with a hard-fought draw against Sporting at RFK Stadium. The two teams exchanged goals just before halftime to sort out the result. Jairo Arrieta completed good work from Perry Kitchen and Chris Pontius to open the scoring after 42 minutes, but Dom Dwyer responded on the stroke of halftime to snatch a share of the spoils.
Chicago Fire 1 -- Real Salt Lake 2
RSL ended a scoreless streak stretching all the way back to March to claim all three points at Toyota Park. Alvaro Saborio collected a slide-rule pass from Jordan Allen and slotted home from the edge of the penalty area to end a 510-minute drought for Claret-and-Cobalt players. Luke Mulholland doubled the advantage after the break by rounding off a tidy move at the back post. Chicago pulled a goal back from the spot through Jeff Larentowicz, but RSL held firm in the end to secure the victory.
Montréal Impact 1 -- Portland Timbers 2
Diego Valeri marked his return to the starting XI with a sublime curling effort to decide this affair at Stade Saputo. Montréal entered its first league game in a month on the heels of a midweek victory over Toronto FC in Canadian Championship play, but the Impact eventually fell behind when Nat Borchers poked home just after the hour. Valeri doubled the advantage with a wonderfully curled effort in the 70th minute. Dominic Oduro responded a moment later for the home side, but Montréal eventually slipped to a third league defeat in five matches.
Vancouver Whitecaps 3 -- Philadelphia Union 0
Vancouver exacerbated the Union’s evident troubles with a straightforward victory at B.C. Place. Union coach Jim Curtin turned to on-loan goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre to provide a boost, but Sylvestre did not receive nearly enough help from the players in front of him. Pedro Morales opened the scoring just after the half-hour by breaking the trap and slotting home. Octavio Rivero doubled the advantage shortly before the interval to keep the Whitecaps on course, though the Union raised reasonable questions about a foul on Rivero in the buildup. The queries continued when Richie Marquez procured a questionable dismissal inside the final 15 minutes to reduce the visitors to 10 men. Their pleas did not prevent Darren Mattocks from completing the rout with the third goal nine minutes from time.
