May 23, 2012
MLS ROUNDUP
Red Bulls win streak snapped with 1-1 tie

NEW YORK RED BULLS 1, CHIVAS USA 1
HARRISON, NJ—Juan Pablo Angel scored in the 47th minute of his return to Red Bull Arena, but Kenny Cooper countered with his 11th strike of the season as Chivas USA and the New York Red Bulls played to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night.

The tie snapped the Red Bulls winning streak at five games.

Only 93 seconds into the half, Angel gave Chivas a 1-0 lead, volleying Raushawn McKenzie’s header past goalkeeper Ryan Meara from six yards. Cooper lifted the Red Bulls into the tie in the 56th minute, off a low cross from Dane Richards. Cooper has found the back of the net in four straight matches, and is now tied with San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski for the league scoring lead.

The Red Bulls moved to 8-3-2 and 26 points, Chivas to 4-6-2 and 14 points.
Full story from Big Apple Soccer
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COLUMBUS CREW 2, SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 0
SEATTLE—Justin Meram scored for the third straight game, and Emilio Renteria had a goal and an assist as the Columbus Crew (4-4-3, 15 pts) surprised Seattle Sounders FC 2-0 Wednesday at CenturyLink Field.

The Sounders outshot Columbus 21-5, but only put six attempts on goal, and netminder Andy Gruenebaum met every challenge, and got some stoppage-time help from Eddie Gaven, who cleared Fredy Montero’s shot off the line. Columbus, meanwhile, put both of their shots on goal into the net. Meram cut behind ball-watching midfielder Alvaro Fernandez for Dilly Duka’s cross, and opened the scoring with a header in the 15th minute. Renteria closed out the scoring from distance in the 76th .

The Sounders fall to 7-3-2 (23 pts).

CHICAGO FIRE 2, FC DALLAS 1
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill---The Chicago Fire scored a controversial second half penalty kick and held on to defeat FC Dallas 2-1 at Toyota Park Wednesday night.

The Fire improve to 5-3-3, 18 pts, while FC Dallas falls to 3-7-4, 13.

The Hoops took the lead just before halftime, when FCD rookie Matt Hedges headed a rebound into the net in the 41st minute.

Less than five minutes later, the Fire took one back. Marco Pappa controlled a turnover near midfield and sent the ball up to Sebastian Grazzini. Grazzini maneuvered near the top of the penalty arc and fired a left footed shot into the upper left corner of the net.

The Fire's game winner came in the 63rd minute, after Carlos Rodriguez fouled Pappa in the area. Grazzini took the penalty kick, but FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman guessed correctly and stopped the shot. Pappa charged in and put the rebound into the net. Dallas protested that Pappa was already moving into the box when the kick was taken, but to no avail.
Full story from ChicagoLand Soccer News
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SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 3, LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2
CARSON, Calif.---The San Jose Earthqaukes came from two goals down to defate the man-down Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 at the Home Depot Center Wednesday night.

The Galaxy are now on a six-game winless streak, having lost their last two, as they fall to 3-7-2. The Earthquakes, meanwhile improve to 8-2-3.

The Galaxy jumped out early on a third minute goal by Hector Jimenez. Juninho played a long ball down the right side to Chad Barrett, who laid it back into the area for Jiminez, who put the ball inside the right post.

Jimenez was shown a straight red card in the 60h minute for s stud up tackle on Steven Beitashour, but for at least a while, it didn’t seem like being a man down was bothering the Galaxy.

Mike Magee gave the Galaxy a 2-0 lead in the 73rd minute, on a goal that seemed all too easy. David Beckham sent a diagonal ball to Magee on the left. The Galaxy forward blew past the San Jose defense and cut into the area to score on a tight angle as San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch came out.

The two-goal lead lasted only three minutes before Steven Lenhart connected for his fifth goal of the season. Marvin Chavez served a corner in from the near side, and Lenhart dove at the top of the 18 to head the ball inside the near post.

The Quakes tied the game after a handball by David Beckham in the penalty area in the 81st minute. Khari Stephenson put the corner kick to the lower right corner. Goalkeeper Brian Perk guessed correctly, but could not stop the shot. It was the third penalty kick Perk has faced in four games in net for the Galaxy.

Earthquakes super sub Alan Gordon assured the victory in the 90th minute, heading a ball over Perk from the edge of the six yard box.
Full story from LA Soccer News

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP: TORONTO FC 1 - VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 0
TORONTO, ON – A late strike by Reggie Lambe secured Toronto FC’s fourth-straight Voyageurs Cup title, with a 1-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps at BMO Field Wednesday.

Toronto, winless in MLS, takes the two leg series 2-1 on aggregate and andvances to the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League.

In what was a tense and scrappy second-leg battle in front of 13,777 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, both sides finished with ten men after TFC’s Julian de Guzman and Whitecaps FC striker Sebastien Le Toux were both sent off near the hour mark.

TFC assured victory in the 83rd minute. Ryan Johnson’s cross from the left was nodded back into the path of the Bermudan international by Nick Soolsma on the edge of the Vancouver box. Lambe then struck a right-footed shot past Joe Cannon.