MLS Roundup: Dos Santos deadly as the Red Bulls run over Toronto.

Red Bulls show teamwork beats talent in win over Toronto.
New York Red Bulls fans were not always the most welcoming of Ali Curtis and Jesse Marsch. The now infamous town-hall meeting in the wake of Mike Petke’s dismissal saw passion and raised voices as well an exemplary display of composure from goalkeeper Luis Robles.

That night at Red Bull Arena was seven months ago last week and how feelings have changed as this new look team continues to collect wins. Ditching the previous ethos of star names like Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and Tim Cahill, they now operate with an approach that centres around the sum of the parts.

It has proven a successful tactic, particularly against teams with talismanic talent. A trio of derby wins against New York City FC was supplemented by a comfortable 3-0 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday. Equally as impressive is their ability to overcome and adapt. Without three starting defenders for the visit of Sebastian Giovinco, they reduced the diminutive Italian to just two shots on goal.

Only the New England Revolution have proved sterner this season and that was with Giovinco playing just 45 minutes against the Revs (Source @GalindoPW).

Their success was in part due to the quick tempo they instigated. Speaking at half-time, with his side up 1-0, Jesse Marsch noted Toronto’s attempts to change that: “They don’t want to play at our pace they just want to lull the game to sleep and let one of their talented players make a play,” Marsch said.

Able to maintain that speed of play in the second half, they netted twice to earn the victory. In the wider context that also gave them a better points per game average than Eastern Conference rivals D.C. United and more importantly a higher average than at this stage last season.

A bold change in approach, it was certainly a risk laden one. Paying off, if it continues another meeting could be in order, this time to plan the MLS Cup victory parade.

An old friend haunts Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto.
With tears in his eyes Nat Borchers tried to find the words. “I got a little emotional,” he said, clearly choked up.

Borchers was back in Salt Lake City with current club Portland Timbers for the first time and it proved to be memorable as he scored the only goal of the game.

Departing Rio Tinto Stadium earlier this year after seven seasons with the club, Borchers forged a strong bond with supporters - only in part due to his impressive beard. They were reminded just why they fell in love with him on Saturday night as he played his part in resisting wave after wave of home pressure.

Goalkeeper Adam Kwarsey also played his part with some impressive saves as RSL found new and inventive ways not to score - creating 15 attempts in total.

Then, in the 85th minute it seemed like Borchers had won the match, only for his header to be cleared off the line. Granted the same space to attack the ball from a corner in the 95th minute he did not make the same mistake twice and it skidded off the turf and into the net.

Falling to his knees it was clear Borchers was enduring a cascade of conflicting emotions. Recording the Timbers’ 11th clean sheet of the season - a league high - it was also their third in a row.

While the reaction of RSL fans may be to clamour for Borchers return their issue remains at the top of the field. The club have netted 27 goals in 25 matches this season - a figure they had reached after just 19 games last season. The issue could be rectified with the recent signing of striker Juan Manuel Martinez. Handed a Designated Player deal, he will need to act quickly if they are to achieve the play-offs.

The Quakes break the streak as their play-off hopes survive.
For those who enjoy predicting the outcome of soccer games, a low-scoring draw seemed a certainty for the Colorado Rapids’ trip to face the San Jose Earthquakes.

Their last four meetings have all produced draws, with two 1-1 results thrown in for good measure. It was a result both teams were eager to avoid, with the Quakes knowing their slim play-off hopes would be further dented with defeat. Battling through a six game winless streak heading into the match, it has been an arduous month and a half for Dominic Kinnear.

Wins over the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders in June seemed to be the precursor to a play-off charge much like the ones Kinnear orchestrated at former club Houston Dynamo. Then five defeats and a draw happened and the ship began to sink. Yet in true Kinnear fashion this narrow victory over the Rapids, thanks to a goal from Clarence Goodson, may just be the spark those hopes need to reignite.

A situation that ebbs and flows between success and failure, it is impossible to predict how this San Jose team will finish the regular season, one thing is for sure though, it will be entertaining for neutrals.

FC Dallas powerless to stop LA Galaxy’s tremendous DP trio.
The new-look LA Galaxy were out for revenge Saturday evening. FC Dallas handed them a defeat in their last meeting, a game in which Fabian Castillo added to his growing reputation as one of the league’s most exciting young players.

Admiring his pace and movement, it seemed the Galaxy wished for something similar and subsequently acquired Giovani Dos Santos. A process that was years in the making, Dos Santos further supplemented a strong attacking line-up containing Robbie Keane, Sebastian Lletget and Gyasi Zardes.

That wealth of talent came to the fore in Frisco, Texas, as Robbie Keane drew LA level before Keane and Dos Santos combined for the third time in two games to give the Irishman his second of the evening.

Another example of why they are considered favourites to collect the MLS Cup this season, even the shaky defence that showed itself for the Dallas goal looks irrelevant when you consider how impressive this attack - and in particular Keane looks.

It will take a special side to contain the LA Galaxy, something highlighted by this win against a talented FC Dallas.

Seattle and Orlando play out the pros and cons of mid-season signings.
A week in soccer allows for a chronic swing in the emotional state of any fan. Those attached to the Seattle Sounders were somewhat concerned and down last Sunday as LA Galaxy handed them their fifth straight defeat in Major League Soccer.

However after the introduction of their new recruits - Román Torres and Nelson Valdez - this weekend they were back to winning ways, beating Orlando City 4-0 at home.

Valdez netted the first goal of his Sounders career with an impressive header, while Torres provided extra experience and quality to the team’s back four. The latter attribute was somewhat missing for the visitors as another new addition to the league - David Mateos - gave away a first half penalty and generally struggled to deal with Obafemi Martins.

The Nigerian’s brace lifted spirits in Seattle and allayed fears that the team were in the midst of a heavy slide. Still with Clint Dempsey and Osvaldo Alonso to return it would seem Sigi Schmid’s moves in the transfer market have also been expertly timed, adding a much needed injection to a flagging Sounders roster.

Currently sitting just inside the play-off places, that timely boost could prove vital in continuing the Sounders run of consecutive play-off appearances - one that dates back to their first season in MLS. It also highlights the importance of the right mid-season signings.

Results.

New York Red Bulls 3-0 Toronto; New England 2-0 Houston; Sporting KC 4-0 Vancouver; FC Dallas 1-2; Real Salt Lake 0-1 Portland; Seattle Sounders 4-0 Orlando; Philadelphia Union 3-3 Chicago Fire.