North Carolina Wesleyan Men's Soccer

Missed Sitters From Dwyer & Ramirez & More From MLS Week 9

Missed Sitters From Dwyer & Ramirez & More From MLS Week 9

Goals were at a premium in Week 9 in MLS — except for in Kansas, where SKC and the Revs combined for eight goals in a wild draw.

Apr 29, 2019 by Steven Streff
Missed Sitters From Dwyer & Ramirez & More From MLS Week 9

After five midweek games, this weekend in MLS was one of the tamer bouts of action of the season so far. There was just one game in which both teams scored multiple goals, though that affair between Sporting Kansas City and the New England Revolution had just about everything. There could have been a couple of more goals this weekend, too, if not for glaring misses from Dom Dwyer and Christian Ramirez. 

Atlanta United got their first home win of the season, but star playmaker Pity Martinez was quite angry after being subbed out of a scoreless game. Minnesota United won the first team at their new Allianz Field, giving us a first look of the postgame Wonderwall at their own stadium.

Here's a recap of all the action from MLS this weekend: 

New York City FC 1 - 1 Orlando City

City have turned a corner it seems, picking up seven points over the past week. That included a win at D.C. United last weekend, a win midweek against Chicago, and then the draw at Yankee Stadium on Saturday against the Lions. The dropped points at home weren't ideal, but Dome Torrent has eased some of the pressure on his job with the first two wins of the season. City were probably a bit fortunate to get a point against Orlando, though, as Dom Dwyer somehow missed the target with this wide-open header.



Toronto FC 1 - 2 Portland Timbers

Big ups to the Portland Timbers, who had a nightmare start to life on the road but have reeled off two wins in a row. A week after winning a 2015 MLS Cup rematch against the Columbus Crew, Portland went north of the border and fell behind early to the Reds. But Bill Tuiloma cracked in a wonderful equalizer moments later, and then Jeremy Ebobisse won it for the visitors with a diving header. Portland is still looking for their first clean sheet of the season, but now there are only four more games left before the 2015 champs can return to the newly renovated Providence Park.

FC Dallas 0 - 0 San Jose Earthquakes

The other team that has turned a corner in recent weeks has been the Earthquakes, who have now picked up points in four of their past five games. A midweek draw in Seattle was nice, even if SJ did let a two-goal lead slip away. Matias Almeyda's side followed that up with another point in Frisco, holding their own against Luchi Gonzalez's young Dallas team. It was a bloodbath early in the season for San Jose, who lost their first four games while conceding 14 goals. 

Now? San Jose sits just two points out of a playoff spot.

Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 1 Philadelphia Union

With Andre Blake out injured, Union coach Jim Curtin had to turn to 20-year-old Matt Freese for his first start on the coast to coast trip. Freese played well and was beaten just once, on a header from Doneil Henry. But Kacper Przybylko, in his first start, scored an equalizer for the Union with his first goal in the second half. Not bad for the Union, who were dealing with several injury issues and had two players missing for personal reasons. 

It's been nearly two weeks since Vancouver handed LAFC their only loss of the season. It was a big ask to go on short rest and get a result in Orlando the previous weekend, but the Whitecaps are going to have a long season if they can't get results at home against an undermanned side like the Union.

Atlanta United 1 - 0 Colorado Rapids

A huge sigh of relief in Atlanta! The fans can finally stand without shame during a game, as the Five Stripes have finally won a game at home! Julian Gressel did just enough to prod a cross from Darlington Nagbe past Tim Howard in the 74th minute, as the hosts squeaked by the winless Rapids. Everyone has been scoring goals aplenty against Anthony Hudson's side, but a win is a win for Atlanta and Frank de Boer. Go check out Hudson's quotes after the game - but the big talking point from Saturday was Pity Martinez's frustration after being subbed out of a scoreless game.

Here is a look at how the reigning South American Player of the Year took his substitution from a perspective in the stands:



New York Red Bulls 1 - 0 FC Cincinnati

The Red Bulls, struggling just as much as Atlanta this year, also won on Saturday night thanks to a goal from Connor Lade. The finish was great from the defender, befitting of the buildup to the goal itself. 



But the Red Bulls were almost a bit fortunate in taking all three points, as the visitors hit the woodwork twice in searching for an equalizer. Cincinnati, who earned seven points from three games earlier in the year, are now in a stretch of zero wins in their past five games, with four losses. The expansion side have only scored one goal in those five games, though Fadendo Adi should be returning to the team shortly after a suspension.

Houston Dynamo 2 - 0 Columbus Crew

Another win for Wilmer Cabrera's side, who have picked up three points in five of their seven games this year. The Dynamo currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, but only because everyone else above the red line has played at least nine games. On points per game, the Dynamo are third in the West, behind the two LA clubs. 

Columbus made several changes to the starting lineup after the midweek loss at home to D.C. United, but it made little difference for Caleb Porter's side. The Crew have just one goal over their past four games, all losses, as they've fallen down to fifth in the Eastern Conference. 

Sporting Kansas City 4 - 4 New England Revolution

A point on the road for the Revs isn't a bad result, but blowing a 3-1 lead will leave a bad taste in the mouth of Brad Freidel. Up by two goals at the break, the Revs got two red cards in the second half and had to leave Kansas with just one point. It was a pretty wild affair between two teams that haven't been playing well lately, and this was the only game from the weekend that featured multiple goals from both teams. 


Montreal Impact 1 - 0 Chicago Fire

Don't look now, but even without superstar Ignacio Piatti the Montreal Impact are playing the best soccer in a wide-open Eastern Conference. The Impact have lost just once in their past six games, all without the services of the Argentine Piatti. It hasn't always been pretty, and Omar Browne's goal, on his debut, was quite scrappy. But they all count the same, and now the Impact are tied with D.C. United atop the Eastern Conference with 17 points. 

If Montreal can continue to get results — and then get Piatti back — Remi Garde's side might be one of the favorites in the East, which can't be said of the Fire, who have just nine points from their first nine games. 

Minnesota United 1 - 0 D.C. United

We've already covered the decision to call back Donovan Pines' goal in the first half. The other controversy from this game? Whether or not Angelo Rodriguez got a touch on the goal or not. The striker is still being credited with the goal, but Pines said after the game that he didn't think Rodriguez got the final touch. Which would then mean that Romain Metanire, who served the cross in, should be credited with the goal. What do you think?



Seattle Sounders 1 - 1 Los Angeles FC

Jordan Morris and Carlos Vela traded early goals, and then Christian Roldan was controversially sent off in the 18th minute. There were surely meant to be more goals between two of the best teams in the league this year. But the Sounders couldn't capitalize on a scramble in front of goal, and then Christian Ramirez, feeling sorry for Dom Dwyer, had the actual miss of the weekend, and probably the season. 

Just, how?



Kelvin Leerdam then got sent off late for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity by taking down Diego Rossi just outside the box. It was actually a great decision from Leerdam, as the game was deep into stoppage time, and LAFC couldn't convert the free kick. But with suspensions and injuries, the Sounders will now struggle to put together a full game day squad for their next game. 

LA Galaxy 2 - 1 Real Salt Lake

LAFC have made the most headlines with their play this year, but which team has the most points per game? That's right, their local neighbors, the Galaxy. It wasn't very convincing on Sunday night against RSL, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half goal was enough to give the Gals their seventh win in nine games this year. LAG hasn't been as flashy as LAFC, but both have only conceded eight goals this year, best in the league. 

Zlatan once again was part of the story of this game, after getting in the face of defender Nedum Onuoha after scoring his goal. Zlatan apparently went to the RSL locker room after the game to apologize, but the former Manchester City defender was having none of it.