Colorado Rapids 2, LA Galaxy 1 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Sam Nicholson's strong effort all night finally paid off near the end.

The Colorado Rapids forward scored in the 90th minute off a pass from Edgar Castillo, and the home side held on for a 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

With the victory, the Rapids ended the Galaxy's nine-match undefeated streak and put an end to a five-game winless skid of their own.

Romain Alessandrini put the Galaxy up 1-0 in the 33rd minute with a goal off a turnover, but Kellyn Acosta equalized for Colorado with his second goal in two matches in the 50th.

The Galaxy missed a chance to take a late lead when Rapids goalie Tim Howard saved Alessandrini's shot on target in the 75th minute. Howard finished the night with three saves.

Goals

• 33' – LA – Romain Alessandrini | WATCH
• 50' – COL – Kellyn Acosta | WATCH
• 90' – COL – Sam Nicholson | WATCH

Three Things

• THE BIG PICTURE: To somehow get back into the playoff picture, Colorado need all the points they can get. This was a start, and a confidence-builder as they cooled off one of the league's hottest teams, outplaying the Galaxy throughout the match. For LA, ending a long undefeated streak via a comeback defeat to one of the West's bottom-dwellers is deflating; they'll get Zlatan Ibrahimovic back for their next match.
• MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The Rapids were rewarded for their good play throughout with Nicholson's winning goal, and the passes from Bismark Boateng and Castillo were on point.
• MAN OF THE MATCH: The candidates: Acosta, Castillo, Nicholson. The honoree: Sam Nicholson, who was inches from a goal in the sixth minute if not for a tiny deflection by Ashley Cole, and who took six shots with three on target. He also was close to drawing a penalty kick with a run in the first half, but didn't get the call.
   

Next Up

• Colorado: Saturday, August 11 vs. San Jose Earthquakes (9 pm ET |  Full TV & Streaming Info)
• LA Galaxy: Saturday, August 11 vs. Minnesota United FC (10:30 pm ET | Full TV & Streaming Info)

New York City FC 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Erik Hurtado’s sensational full volley three minutes from full time earned Vancouver Whitecaps FC a 2-2 draw against New York City FC Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.

Hurtado, who came on for the start of the second half, latched onto Brek Shea's back-post cross and the unmarked forward hammered home his second goal of the season. The Whitecaps nearly took all three points when Shea’s well-struck free kick caromed off the crossbar moments later.

The Whitecaps (8-9-6) took the lead in the 22nd minute against the run of play as Nicolas Mezquida went on a rampaging run toward goal after winning the ball in midfield. With no one from NYCFC closing him down, the Uruguayan continued to attack the goal before firing low and inside the far post from 24 yards out for his second goal of the season.

Jesus Medina leveled for NYCFC (13-5-5) just before the break with his fourth goal in the last five games. Anton Tinnerholm hustled to keep the ball in play at the end line before serving the ball to Medina, who took a slick first touch with his left to separate from Brett Levis before finishing with his right.

Valentin Castellanos put NYCFC in front one minute into the second half, tapping in a Jo Inge Berget cross at the edge of the six-yard box to score on his debut.

Goals

• 22’ — VAN — Nicolas Mezquida | Watch
• 45+1 — NYC — Jesus Medina | Watch
• 46’ — NYC — Valentin Castellanos | Watch
• 87’ — VAN — Erik Hurtado | Watch

Three Things

• THE BIG PICTURE: NYCFC paid for shocking defensive errors and squandered a chance to pick up ground on Supporters’ Shield leaders Atlanta United, while the Whitecaps moved within a point of the playoff line in the West by joining Atlanta as the only teams to earn a point at Yankee Stadium this season.
• MOMENT OF THE MATCH: It’s all about this sweet equalizer by Hurtado.
• MAN OF THE MATCH: Shea was a handful down the wing, and the ball he played on Hurtado’s equalizer was inch-perfect. And he was about an inch away from scoring the winner on a free kick.

Next Up

• NYC: Sunday, August 12 at Toronto FC (4 pm ET | ESPN, TSN - full TV & streaming info)
• VAN: Canadian Championship Final, Leg 1 - Wednesday, August 8 vs. Toronto FC (10 pm ET | TSN, TSN GO)

Minnesota United 1, Seattle Sounders 2 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Will Bruin and Nicolas Lodeiro both scored in second-half stoppage time to lift the surging Seattle Sounders to a miraculous 2-1, come-from-behind victory over Minnesota United on a memorable Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium.

Lodeiro converted a penalty just moments into the extra allotment following a Video Review by referee Drew Fischer, who determined Miguel Ibarra handled the ball defending Roman Torres' header in the area.

Then in the seventh minute of time added on, the substitute Bruin reached Raul Ruidiaz's flick-on and chipped Loons' keeper Bobby Shuttleworth to set off delirious celebrations for the visitors (and in the dressing room afterward).

The Sounders have now won four straight and are unbeaten in seven. They remain beneath the playoff line, but have earned 17 of their 30 points total over their last seven matches as they attempt yet another late postseason charge.

Darwin Quintero scored his 10th goal of the season early for Minnesota, who drop a point beneath the Sounders in the standings. Quintero also struck the post later in the first half, as did fellow Colombian Loons Designated Player and striker Angelo Rodriguez in his MLS debut.

Goals

• 20' - MIN - Darwin Quintero | Watch
• 90'+1 - SEA - Nicolas Lodeiro (PK) Watch
• 90'+7 - SEA - Will Bruin | Watch

Three Things

• THE BIG PICTURE: While the Sounders entered the weekend with fewer points, Minnesota arguably needed the victory more considering their status as the home side and their upcoming schedule. The Loons play their next five away from home before hosting Portland on Sept. 22. Seattle will be concerned with the status of defender Kim Kee-Hee, who exited for Torres following a first-half injury.
• MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Of all the memorable moments for a club that already owns an MLS Cup, a Supporters' Shield and four U.S. Open Cups, Bruin's last-gasp winner will be a special one, particularly if it becomes part of another second-half charge to the postseason.
• MAN OF THE MATCH: While the Sounders trailed for most of the match — after a promising first 15 minutes no less — they continued to turn the screw on Minnesota thanks in no small part to Osvaldo Alonso's tireless work in midfield. He completed 57 total passes in the opposition half, including 30 inside the final third, and was a big reason Seattle led 22-12 in shots and held 63 percent of the possession.

Up Next

• MIN: Saturday, Aug. 11 at LA Galaxy (10:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info)
• SEA: Sunday, Aug. 12 vs. FC Dallas (10 pm ET | FS1 - full TV & streaming info)

FC Dallas 1, San Jose Earthquakes 3 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

The San Jose Earthquakes won just their third game of the 2018 MLS regular season and their first since May 12, beating FC Dallas 3-1 at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.

The Quakes, in last in the Western Conference, sprung the surprise against first-place Dallas and ended their unbeaten run at home this season. San Jose's other two victories this season have come against Minnesota United.

The Earthquakes opened the scoring in the 19th minute, as Vako eluded Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez outside Dallas' box, then beat the tracking defenders to slot the ball into the net on a tight angle.

Dallas tied it up four minutes later. Reggie Cannon forced a turnover, made a slaloming run through San Jose's defense, and Roland Lamah finished off the chance for the home side.

San Jose didn't give up, and another blunder from Gonzalez opened the door for a second Quakes goal, this one courtesy of Jahmir Hyka early in the second half.

The Quakes defended well for the rest of the half, and ensured the three points after Vako scored his second off a feed from Chris Wondolowski in the dying minutes.

Goals

• 19' – SJ – Valeri "Vako" Qazaishvili | Watch
• 23' – DAL – Roland Lamah | Watch
• 47' – SJ – Jahmir Hyka | Watch
• 88' – SJ – Valeri "Vako" Qazaishvili | Watch

Three Things 

• THE BIG PICTURE: It's the kind of result we see in MLS, with one team looking like they'll roll and the exact opposite happening. This was San Jose's best performance since opening day, and perhaps this is a result to give them some traction, finally, on their season. For Dallas, the immediate concern is the mistakes made by Gonzalez.
• MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The opening goal by Vako set the tone for San Jose's performance and ability to get the job done.
• MAN OF THE MATCH: The Quakes have been crying out for both a cohesive team performance and a star to lead the way this year, and Vako, with two opportunistic goals, filled the role to give the team and fanbase something to smile about.

Next Up

• Dallas: Sunday, August 12 at Seattle Sounders (4 pm ET | FS1, TSN4 - Full TV & Streaming Info)
• San Jose: Saturday, August 11 at Colorado Rapids (10 pm ET | Full TV & Streaming Info)

Orlando City SC 3, New England Revolution 3 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

After a rough July, the New England Revolution looked poised to get August off to a better start with a road win over Orlando City SC, only to twice be pegged back by two spirited Lions comebacks in a pulsating, ebb-and-flow affair that ended 3-3 on a muggy summer night at Orlando City Stadium. 

Juan Agudelo headed a throw-in past Earl Edwards Jr. at the near post to open the scoring and Cristian Penilla ruthlessly punished a Lions gaffe in the back as the Revs dominated the early going. But Dom Dwyer caught their back line napping with a goal on the stroke of halftime, which set the stage for Amro Tarek to nod a set-piece equalizer off the woodwork, off Matt Turner's hands and into the net in the 71st minute.

Teal Bunbury came off the bench to push New England back in front with a fine solo effort. Yet just when Brad Friedel & Co. thought they'd earned their first victory in over a month, Scott Sutter redirected an angled free kick past Turner deep into injury time to snatch a share of the spoils. 

To cap the madness, Dwyer was cautioned and Yoshi Yotun was ejected as the proceedings turned edgy in the dying moments.

Goals

• 7' – NE – Juan Agudelo | WATCH
• 18' – NE – Cristian Penilla | WATCH
• 45' – ORL – Dom Dwyer | WATCH
• 71' – ORL – Amro Tarek | WATCH
• 76' – NE – Teal Bunbury | WATCH
• 76' – ORL – Scott Sutter | WATCH

Three Things 

• THE BIG PICTURE: New England should be frustrated at letting victory slip from their grasp late, yet this was also two more points dropped at home for the Lions. And both sides look quite short of complete as the season's stretch run begins.
• MOMENT OF THE MATCH: All three goals in the second half were game-changers, and the last one settled matters, so kudos are due to Sutter and his indefatigable teammates in purple:
• MAN OF THE MATCH: He saw red late, but we'll still give Yoshi Yotun the nod for shaking off an early knock, working hard in the engine room and serving up assists on all three of Orlando's goals.

Next Up

• ORL: Sunday, August 12 at D.C. United (8 pm ET | FS1, TSN4 - Full TV & Streaming Info)
• NE: Saturday, August 11 vs. Philadelphia (7:30 pm ET | Full TV & Streaming Info)

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