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MLS Weekend Review

A Quartet of Teams Qualify for 2015 MLS Postseason

Four teams—D.C. United, New York, FC Dallas and Los Angeles Galaxy—clinched playoff spots while a slew of comebacks and slip-ups keep the remaining spots open for postseason aspirants.
BY Nick Kariuki Posted
October 05, 2015
11:25 AM

Red Bulls Overtake Galaxy

The New York Red Bulls came back from one goal down to defeat the Columbus Crew on Saturday on the strength of goals from Lloyd Sam and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

The match also featured former coach Mike Petke’s return to Red Bull Arena as part of a ceremony arranged by the club. It’s been nine months since the fan favorite was fired and replaced by Jesse Marsch.

“It’s not like I got fired from a team in Kalamazoo, Michigan, that I had no connection to—so it was obviously a little more difficult and the process was a little longer,” Petke told reporters before the match. “With all the things that went on initially with the supporters and everything, it was uncomfortable for me. I didn’t want to come back to sit with the South Ward and be a distraction to the product on the field.”

In Seattle on Sunday, Robbie Keane took advantage of an errant pass to put the Galaxy ahead, but a stoppage-time equalizer from Chad Barrett leveled the score. The draw puts New York and L.A. level on 51 points but the Red Bulls are ahead in the Supporters’ Shield race on goal differential.  

Goal of the week: Krisztian Németh

The Hungarian’s jinky run from inside his own half left three of Portland’s defenders and goalkeeper Larsen Kwarasey on the floor and Sporting Kansas City with the crucial goal it needed to see out the game. For some reason MLS is not allowing embeds of the "official" goal video, so here's an unofficial look for you.

 

Dallas takes Lone Star bragging rights

FC Dallas swept the 2015 Texas Derby thanks its its dominant 4-1 over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday. After Mauro Diaz converted his 25th -minute penalty, Houston seemed up for the contest with an equalizer from Ricardo Clark. The second half saw a brace from David Texeira and a goal from Kellyn Acosta put that fight to rest.

Texeira’s first tally was a beauty.

Dallas now has 50 points with four games remaining. (Los Angeles only has two left to play, and Vancouver has three.)  

Toronto F.C. deserves an honorable mention for its 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday. With this fortunate deflection, Sebastian Giovinco moved his season total to 21, one behind Columbus’ Kei Kamara.

Good to see him getting acquainted with the local customs.

The Revs and Whitecaps struggle

It seemed pretty straightforward: The New England Revolution needed at least a draw at the Chicago Fire—which had lost its last five—on Saturday to book its playoff ticket.

However, the Revs had shown jitters in their previous two games, losing to the Montreal Impact and drawing with the Philadelphia Union. After Juan Agudelo’s opener and a dominant first half, New England took its foot off the pedal and allowed goals from Chicago’s David Accam, Harry Shipp, and Gilberto. New England will get two more swipes with a home game against Montreal and a trip to New York City F.C. to close out the season.

The Whitecaps also remain on the cusp after a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes. Cristian Techera scored a first-half goal but Quakes captain Chris Wondowlowski countered with one of his own, dropping the Whitecaps to third in the West and lifting San Jose just above the red line.  

Lions stay in the hunt; NYCFC slips

When Montreal Impact designated player Didier Drogba finally braved the artificial turf at the Orange Bowl on Saturday, his only meaningful contribution to the match was to tee up Orlando City defender Seb Hines’ volley for the winning goal. 

Montreal was fortunate that Dominic Oduro’s goal to match Cyle Larin’s opener counted, since it seemed like he picked it from Orlando goalkeeper Tally Hall’s grasp. City’s playoff hopes survive another week, to the frustration of Montreal, Columbus, and Toronto. 

Drogba’s old Chelsea teammate, NYCFC’s Frank Lampard, only needed 48 seconds to score against a struggling D.C. United side that has made a habit of conceding early. But D.C. have also made a habit of scoring late, and a 70th-minute equalizer from Fabian Espindola and a 72nd-minute winner from Álvaro Saborio snapped the team’s six-game winless streak and catapulted it into the postseason.

NYCFC next faces Orlando on Oct. 18 in a game that will be equally crucial to both sides. The Lions will be without stars Káka and Brek Shea, who picked up suspensions due to accumulated yellow cards, while R.J. Allen and Jason Hernandez will sit out for New York.  

Nick Kariuki is an American Soccer Now columnist. Follow him on Twitter.

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