What a wild week it was across Major League Soccer. Here are a few of the bullet points, just in case you couldn’t catch every minute.
Canadian capers
Though it’s technically not league action, we’ll start with Tuesday’s Canadian Championship semifinal first legs, which marked the entry of the Great North’s three MLS sides into the tournament.
Toronto FC have caught fire of late: Entering the week, they’d only tasted defeat once this year, and that was way back on April 15. They were stunned 2-1 by the Ottawa Fury, however, as the USL club mounted a second-half comeback to leave TFC with work to do in the second leg at BMO Field. Meanwhile, out at BC Place, Vancouver and Montreal played a riveting first leg that came down toPatrice Bernier vs. Spencer Richey...
This one’s for mom
The Colorado Rapids bagged a hard-fought and much-needed win over Sporting KC on Saturday, and the winner came off the head of defender Kortne Ford. It was the Homegrown rookie’s first MLS goal, and also a worthy tribute to his mother Laurie, who is fighting a serious resurgence of cancer and has become a rallying point for the Rapids and their fans this year.
“I was happy that I could do that for the team, but more importantly that one was for my mom,” Ford said afterwards.
Superman delivers Inchy’s revenge
We’re talking about Christian “Superman” Ramirez here, Minnesota United’s Cinderella-story striker, who notched the goal that won the Loons’ match with Orlando City and inflicted a bit of payback for MNUFC coach Adrian “Inchy” Heath against the Lions side he once coached.
Ridiculousness in Rain City
Where to begin? D.C. United’s win in Vancouver was as wild a 1-0 game as you’re likely to ever encounter, marked by late drama, wild moments in front of goal and contentious penalty-kick calls at both ends. The Whitecaps were dominant at times, uncorking 22 shots but coming away empty-handed thanks to four being saved by D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid and four clanging off the woodwork – including, amazingly, Cristian Techera’s injury-time PK.
Maund dieu
Like D.C., the Philadelphia Union also traveled west this weekend, and might well have pulled off a smash-and-grab heist of their own – if it wasn’t for Aaron Maund. The Real Salt Lake defender stuck with the play as Philly winger Fafa Picault’s header bounced towards an empty net, racing back to clear the ball off the line and preserve the scoreless deadlock that his teammate Joao Plata broke shortly after with the game’s only goal.
Spiteful down South
Atlanta United and New York City FC have no built-in reason to harbor extra dislike for one another, aside from being two of the East’s most talented teams. Yet their Sunday clash at Bobby Dodd Stadium had a hard edge to it, one reminiscent of a playoff game or ancient crosstown derby that pulsated with high-tempo play and personal confrontations. The two teams have now swapped 3-1 home wins; will they duel again in the postseason?
