Whitecaps have lost their way

CARSON, CA.  ●   Juninho and David Beckham scored on either side of halftime on Saturday to help the Los Angeles Galaxy earn a 2-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at The Home Depot Center and extend their unbeaten run to four games.

Juninho’s strike came in the 41st minute when Robbie Keane teed it up for the Brazilian to smash a brilliant strike from distance into the upper corner.

The Galaxy put the winning result beyond any doubt 11 minutes from time when a patented Beckham free kick made its way over the wall and into the top left corner for his seventh goal of the season.

Los Angeles (13-11-4) is 3-0-1 over its four-game unbeaten run, taking 10 points by a combined score of 9-1.

Vancouver (10-11-7) has lost four straight, leaving the Whitecaps clinging to the final postseason berth out of the Western Conference – the club occupies fifth place on 37 points, just five points clear of Chivas USA.

The Galaxy return to action September 14 with a home match the Colorado Rapids, while the ‘Caps take the pitch the following day for a tilt at FC Dallas.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 0, PHILADERLPHIA UNION 0

Matt Reis had seven saves to help New England play to a scoreless draw with the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night, extending the Revolution’s winless streak to a franchise-record 10 games.

New England (6-14-7) has not won since beating New York on July 8, going 0-7-3 since to drop from sixth to ninth in the standings. The Revolution were also shut out for the 10th time, tying the franchise record set last year.

Zac MacMath made three saves for the Union (7-13-4).

Before the game, New England announced leading scorer Saer Sene will miss the rest of the season due to a torn ACL, an injury sustained during Wednesday’s match against Chivas USA.

CREW 2, IMPACT 1

Emilio Renteria scored in the third minute of stoppage time to lead Columbus past Montreal.

Renteria entered the match in the 77th minute and received a pinpoint pass by Federico Higuain from the left flank and scored from 12 yards out to give the Crew (12-8-6) their fourth straight win.

Montreal (12-14-3) appeared headed for its sixth straight win when Marco Di Vaio chipped a ball over goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum in the 73rd minute to break a scoreless tie.

However, Higuain rescued the Crew with a 40-yard free kick that defender Chad Marshall headed in to tie the match in the 80th minute. Higuain has three goals and six assists in five matches since debuting with the Crew on Aug. 19.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2, TORONTO FC 1

Oriol Rosell scored his first MLS goal in the 87th minute to lift Sporting Kansas City.

Paulo Nagamura had a goal and an assist for Sporting (15-7-5), which moved into a tie for the overall points lead with San Jose. Kansas City is 4-0-1 over its past five matches, while Toronto (5-16-6) is winless in its last seven.

Ryan Johnson put Toronto up 1-0 in the 44th minute, taking a pass over the top from Robert Eckersley and putting his left-footed shot past Jimmy Nielsen from 15 yards.

Nagamura tied it in the 60th, his first league goal of the season.

REAL SALT LAKE 1, D.C. UNITED 0

SANDY, Utah (AP) – Will Johnson scored in the 49th minute to help Real Salt Lake get its first Major League Soccer victory in more than a month.

Salt Lake (14-10-4) has shut out two consecutive league opponents after a scoreless draw against Philadelphia a week earlier.

United (12-10-5) is winless in four of its last five MLS contests.

After a scoreless opening half, Salt Lake took the lead on Johnson’s goal in the fourth minute of the second half. Ned Grabavoy backed a pass to Paulo Jr. on the left side of the penalty area, and Paulo Jr. sent a cross into the 6-yard box that was deflected by DC defender Brandon McDonald. Johnson got his head under the deflected ball and knocked it home.