Impact surges past Dynamo; Quakes take first place
Davy Arnaud of the Montreal Impact celebrates his goal against the Houston Dynamo
MONTREAL, Quebec ● So far, so good at Stade Saputo.
The Montreal Impact have now scored eight goals in two games at their new home thanks to an entertaining 4-2 win over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday. Montreal’s Sanna Nyassi and Davy Arnaud, and Houston’s Brad Davis and Will Bruin traded goals in a frantic first half before Hassoun Camara and Patrice Bernier closed the deal for the Impact.
The first goal of the game was set up when Felipe released Nyassi into space behind the Houston defense. As the Gambian international tried to round Tally Hall, he stumbled and fell down on the grass but had time to lift his head and see the ball somehow trickle into the empty net. Nyassi could have gotten a second in the 14th minute, but was unable to finish from the outside of his foot.
Despite not creating much after Nyassi’s goal, Houston got an opportunity to equalize when Bernier tripped Colin Clark on the edge of the box. Davis unleashed a left footed curler towards the top right corner which Donovan Ricketts got a hand on but could not fully stop.
The Impact wasted no time in getting back in front: Jeb Brovsky released Justin Mapp on the left of the box, where he crossed towards Arnaud who outjumped Corey Ashe to nod the ball in.
Down a goal again, Houston rallied better this time around and managed good possession. Bruin’s sixth road goal this campaign – and his ninth overall – was well deserved. Brian Ching’s through ball, his third assist of the season, was exquisite.
After the break, Montreal came back from the locker room with extra determination. Montreal’s pressure between the 45th and 60th minutes yielded six corners, the last of which produced Camara’s winning volley into the top left corner.
The Dynamo did not help themselves afterwards. Geoff Cameron conceded a penalty which Bernier duly converted to make it 4-2, while Adam Moffat was issued a straight red card for a rough foul on Felipe in the 73rd minute.
The Dynamo will be back in action next Saturday as they host the Philadelphia Union, while the Impact will welcome Marco Di Vaio into their squad against archrivals Toronto FC on Wednesday at Stade Saputo.
TORONTO 2, REVOLUTION 2
Chris Tierney scored in second-half stoppage time to complete New England’s comeback and lift the Revolution to a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday.
With the Revolution (5-7-3) trailing 2-0, Blake Brettschneider cut the deficit in half in the 71st minute as he knocked in a rebound past Toronto goalie Milos Kocic.
Danny Koevermans put Toronto (1-10-2) ahead in the 4th minute and Ryan Johnson doubled the lead in the 42nd, before it gave up a two-goal lead for the second straight game. Houston scored two late goals to pull to a 3-3 draw against Toronto on Wednesday.
Both Toronto goals came from headers inside the 18-yard box on pinpoint crosses from the left side by defender and Canadian international Ashtone Morgan.
UNION 4, SPORTING KC 0
Jack McInerney scored twice and Philadelphia snapped a six-game winless skid.
Lionard Pajoy converted a penalty kick in the 81st minute after Antoine Hoppenot was fouled in the box and Hoppenot also had a goal in the 87th minute for the Union (3-8-2). Philadelphia, 0-5-1 in its previous six, won for the first time since beating Chivas USA 1-0 on April 21.
Philadelphia entered the game having scored a league-low eight goals. However, McInerney got the Union on the board early with a goal in the second minute. He added his second in the 43rd minute.
Kansas City (9-4-2) snapped its four-game unbeaten streak.
FIRE 2, CREW 1
Marco Pappa and Dominic Oduro scored in the first 26 minutes to lead Chicago.
The victory moved the Fire (7-5-3) within three points of third-place New York in the Eastern Conference. Columbus, dominated from the start by the Fire, had entered the game with a six-match unbeaten streak (3-0-3).
The Crew’s last loss was on April 28, 1-0 to Vancouver.
Pappa maneuvered to the edge of the penalty area, and using a screen, ripped a right-footed shot off the hands of diving goalkeeper Andy Gruenbaum in the second minute.
EARTHQUAKES 2, REAL SALT LAKE 1
Reserve forward Alan Gordon scored a goal and assisted on another from Chris Wondolowski to lift San Jose past Real Salt Lake.
The victory allowed San Jose (10-3-3) to move into first place in the Western Conference. Javier Morales scored for RSL (10-5-2), which suffered its second straight home loss in MLS action and third consecutive setback at Rio Tinto Stadium overall.
The Earthquakes opened the scoring in the 76th minute when Ramiro Corrales played a long ball down to Gordon inside the box. Gordon headed the ball over Rimando before he could get to it. The ball bounced across the goal line and into the net to give San Jose a 1-0 lead.
CHIVAS USA 0, FC DALLAS 0
Dan Kennedy finished with three saves to help Chivas USA tie FC Dallas.
With the tie, FC Dallas (3-9-5) extended its winless streak to 11 games to set a new club record. The previous record of 10 games without a win was from July 2 to Sept. 10, 2005. FC Dallas is 0-7-4 during its winless streak and has been shutout four times during that span.
Chivas USA (5-7-4) salvaged a tie despite only managing a season-low two shots. FC Dallas finished with 13 shots.
