Outside90’s Daniel Fraiz-Martinez breaks down all the action from the latest round of Major League Soccer.
Red Bulls put out the Fire to cement their supremacy in the East
Friday night saw another of the bizarre role reversals that characterize MLS play, with the New York Red Bulls coming back from two goals down to defeat the Chicago Fire 3-2.
The victory in itself would seem routine, with Jesse Marsch’s men riding high in the Eastern Conference and Chicago in the midst of yet another dismal MLS campaign.
However, the unusual nature of the result came from the fact that the Fire had inflicted precisely the same comeback on New York at their home ground barely a month earlier. The win, which served as a much needed redemption, also finally catapulted New York to the top of the East, a long overdue arrival.
With the ghosts of past failures seemingly disposed (and with a tidy cushion of game sin hand) the New York Red Bulls would now certainly seem the firm favourites to (at minimum) clinch their Conference championship, as well as fight for Supporters Shield honours for the second time in three years.
https://youtu.be/BFg_cO280h0
“El Burrito” gives Real Salt Lake’s playoff hopes a kick
In what perhaps could have been viewed as a last chance to make an imact, an Argentine-inspired Real Salt Lake claimed a stay-off execution 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo.
In truth, even with the equally impressive and both vital victory, Salt Lake (and indeed Houston) would be considered as an outsider to claim the final playoff berth in the keenly contested Western Conference.
However, fans and management alike will at least have been lifted by several improved performances. In particular, that of their newest Designated Player acquisition Juan Manuel “El Burrito” Martinez, who scored the opener and played a significant part in the second goal.
Martinez, along with the always influential Javier Morales, will no doubt be called upon with the more realistic aspiration of CONCACAF Champions League’s progression as the season tails-off, as Real Salt Lake looks to bounce back from one of their less successful seasons in recent times.
FC Dallas leave NYCFC more than just battered and bruised
A youthful FC Dallas continued their quest to capture the Supporters Shield title by disposing of a now flailing New York City FC side, with the minimum of hassle on route to a routine 2-1 victory Saturday night.
Goals just before halftime by Tesho Akindele and a direct from the corner strike from Brazilian Michel, proved enough to dismantle a disjointed NYCFC side, who at this point look out for the count in their first ever MLS season.
Most telling perhaps is three of New York City’ star names weere substituted in this encounter, with none making it to the 75th minute mark.
Indeed, Jason Kreis’ men only managed to score after their removal, courtesy of a Patrick Mullins penalty kick which ultimately proved far too little, too late, something indicative of a season that has decidedly gone in reverse, when many would have predicted an improvement in fortunes as the weeks progressed.
https://youtu.be/2deHdGkunog
Warm Winter ahead as Orlando City stay alive
Soccer Sunday’s most significant action saw Orlando City SC’s reinforcements keep their slim playoff hopes alive, at the expense of the once highly fancied Sporting Kansas City.
Swiss midfielder Adrian Winter netted his first two goals for the club, added to a first strike by young Designated Player Brian Rochez, proved enough to overcome a momentary equaliser from Sporting forward Kristian Nemeth.
Orlando’s reinvigorated side, that also featured the returning Brek Shea, put it in a far improved performance from that of recent times. All the more impressive considering the absence of their Brazilian superstar captain Ricky Kaká.
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On the other side of the equation, Sporting Kansas City once again looked a team struggling for confidence, now on the wrong end of a five game winless streak, that includes four defeats.
In all likelihood, however, the result may well be anecdotal for both sides’ MLS aspirations this term, as their destinies seem long since decided in the final jostling for position that usually accompanies the close to the campaign in the US.
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