October 7, 2012
MLS ROUNDUP
Sounders win in front of 66,452

COLUMBUS CREW 1, SPORTING KANSAS CITY 1
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Eddie Gaven’s stoppage-time header lifted the Columbus Crew into a 1-1 draw with Eastern Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City Sunday at Columbus Crew Stadium.

The result leaves Sporting (17-7-8, 59 pts) with an uncomfortably close three-point cushion over second-place Chicago, who backed into the postseason field when Columbus failed to take the full three points and would win a tiebreaker for postseason seeding due to their greater number of goals scored. The Crew (14-11-7) are one point behind Houston for the fifth and final conference playoff berth with 49.

CJ Sapong gave Sporting a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute with a second-chance header off Graham Zusi’s league-leading 15th assist of the season, but the sides were evenly matched throughout, each putting five shots on goal. Sapong was alone at the top of the six-yard box when Zusi found him with a pass from near the right corner flag. The initial shot hit the left post and rebounded back to Sapong, whose aim was better the second time around.

Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen helped Sporting absorb early pressure from the Crew, stopping back-to-back shots by Jairo Arrieta in the sixth minute. Nielsen also dove to turn away a potential equalizer from the Costa Rican forward in the 86th.

Gaven salvaged the point with a nodding header from just outside the six-yard box, after Emilio Renteria’s looping service from the right flank.

CHIVAS USA 1, FC DALLAS 1
CARSON, Calif.-- Jorge Villafana scored for the first time in two years to help Chivas USA snap a seven- game losing streak and earn a 1-1 tie with FC Dallas at the Home Depot Center Sunday.

Blas Perez gave FC Dallas an early lead as the Hoops looked to keep their playoff hopes alive. David Ferreira got in on a ball over the top from midfield. He lashed a shot from the left side of the penalty area that Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy stopped. The rebound fell directly into the path of Perez who tapped it in.

Villafana equalized in the 70th minute. Miller Bolanos played a ball from the right side near the end line across the mouth of the goal. The ball touched off Nick LaBrocca and Villafana put it in.

The tie leaves FC Dallas at 9-12-11 with 38 points, four points behind Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the final MLS West playoff spot. Both teams have two games left, meaning a Vancouver win or Dallas loss would eliminate the Hoops from the playoff chase. Chivas improve to 7-17-8 and 29 points, but remain winless in their last 11 games.
Full story from LA Soccer News

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 3, PORTLAND TIMBERS 0
SEATTLE—Seattle Sounders FC took over third place in the MLS West with Sunday’s 3-0 win over Cascadia Cup rivals the Portland Timbers in front of 66,452 at Century Link Field.

A 25th-minute own goal by Portland’s Futty Danso was the nominal game-winner, but Eddie Johnson scored in the 28th and Fredy Montero and the 62nd to leave no doubt about which team deserved the win.

Danso right-footed the ball past Portland netminder Donovan Ricketts while trying to keep Adam Johansson’s right-side cross away from Fredy Montero inside the six-yard box. Three minutes later, Johnson doubled Seattle’s lead with an open left-footer from near the penalty spot off a service from Brad Evans.

Montero finished things off in the 62nd, putting his own rebound into the empty net after Ricketts blocked the initial shot near the top of the six-yard box.

Goalkeeper Michael Gspurning did his part for the Sounders with five saves as the Timbers put six shots on goal.

Sounders FC improve to 14-7-10 and 52 points, three points behind second-place Real Salt Lake. The Timbers fall to 7-16-9 (30). Portland still can win the Cascadia Cup, but will need to defeat Vancouver on Oct. 21 to do it.