Weird MLS: Recapping the Events of Week 9 in Major League Soccer

It was great to see Orlando City put some goals in the net at home on Saturday night, that 3-2 win surely building momentum leading into a rough part of the MLS schedule. The rest of the league was quite active throughout the week, with double digit league games seeing results that affect the table.

New York Red Bulls 1 – 1 Colorado Rapids

The Red Bulls have enjoyed a three-game home stand in New Jersey, capping it off with a scrappy Rapids side Wednesday night in a back-and-forth battle that ended with both teams pulling away with a point.

It was Gabriel Torres who found himself on the end of Dillon Powers‘ service from a 30-yard set piece 25 minutes into the match, putting the scoreboard to use and stunning the New Jersey crowd early.

Sacha Kljestan drew a penalty five minutes later, setting up Bradley Wright-Phillips to do what he does best — score.

Kljestan would again attempt to impact the game in the 64th, but a beautiful try off the left boot met nothing but crossbar to keep the game even.

Once A Metro and Burgundy Wave go over the details of the draw.

Houston Dynamo 1 – 4 FC Dallas

The Texas Derby, as it's called, became a one-sided shootout rather quickly when FC Dallas made a mockery of the Dynamo's game plan with two seamless counter-attack goals in the first 20 minutes.

Ryan Hollingshead was the first benefactor, scoring from 19 yards out after Houston had collapsed to their left, leaving themselves unbalanced for the counter punch to the nose that was Fabian Castillo’s pace.

Castillo would create more service 12 minutes later, receiving a Mauro Diaz ball after a forced turnover on Alex Lopez. Castillo would press up the right side before splitting defenders to find the toe of David Teixiera’s boot to make it a 2-0 game.

Houston would dominate possession throughout the game, mostly because when Dallas did get the ball, they promptly put it in the back of the net, becoming the second straight visitor to put four goals on the board against Houston.

Dynamo Theory is trading out their orange for red while Big D Soccer relishes an easy three points.

Real Salt Lake 1 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes

RSL and San Jose fought tooth and nail for this point, combining for a total of 37 fouls across the slow-paced 90 minutes.

It was USMNT rep Chris Wondolowski who scored for San Jose in the 19th, avoiding the call for offside when Kyle Beckerman intentionally moved to play the ball off Salinas’ original shot, a play that still has Salt Lake begging foul.

In the 71st minute, San Jose’s Victor Bernardez couldn’t live with the guilt of stealing three points off such a nefarious play. With the pressure building up inside, he took it upon himself to set things straight, chipping his own keeper quite nicely to even the tie at 1-1.

RSL Soapbox is happy to escape with a point, but Center Line Soccer has some choice words for Bernardez.

Philadelphia Union 0 – 1 Toronto FC

Toronto continued to build on the momentum gained at our Lions' expense, this time sending the Union to their third straight loss on the back of the brilliance that is Giovinco's boot.

Chris Konopka made his first MLS appearance since 2012 (ironically for the Union, in Toronto) for the injured Joe Bednik, preserving a shutout for Toronto in the normal starter’s absence with help from the crossbar on Cristian Maidana’s half volley, sprung by a Sheanon Williams header.

It was Giovinco who stole the show, curling in a free kick with nothing but world class in what would go on to be the only score of the day.

Waking The Red votes Giovinco for mayor while The Brotherly Game struggles to remember what three points looks like.

D.C. United 2 – 0 Columbus Crew SC

United would continue an impressive 16-game unbeaten home streak against the hot-in-their-own-right Columbus Crew at RFK stadium, maintaining their pace at the top of the Eastern Conference table.

Chris Wolfe sparked United to their first, collecting a Crew corner kick at his feet before running unimpeded 40 yards up the pitch to feed a through ball to Fabian Espindola to cap off the counter.

Espindola would pay it forward just before the half, finding a hard working Sean Franklin unmarked at the back post off a corner kick for an easy header to double the lead.

Black and Red United are loving their time at the top, while The Massive Report tries to regroup from the tough defeat.

New England Revolution 2 – 1 New York Red Bulls

Playing two games in one week is hard. It's really hard when the Revolution are the second leg of that run.

London Woodberry has proven to be instrumental in the Revolution’s attack up the right side, again opening play early in this one. It was in the ninth minute that he would record his first career MLS assist, feeding Charlie Davies‘ third goal of the season with a well timed cross.

Lee Nguyen would serve up Teal Bunbury in the 60th, securing the result for the Revs on a night when all the stars were out for the surging Revs.

The Bent Musket is still undefeated, join the conversation with the team over how long that can last.

LA Galaxy 1 – 1 Colorado Rapids

For all their struggles, I imagine most Rapids fans are happy to get out of the week with two points to their names. I mean, "most Rapids fans" means like, five people, but still. That counts for something.

Alan Gordon continues to impress for the Galaxy, this time off the bench in light of an upcoming Wednesday MLS game. Gordon was sent on in the 72nd minute by Bruce Arena to erase the deficit created by Gabriel Torres’ breakaway goal in the 40th.

It would take Gordon just three minutes to repay the boss for his choice.

Nodding in the goal off a corner, Gordon ensured the StubHub Center unbeaten streak stayed true, making it 27 straight games for the Galaxy in the building.

LAG Confidential brace themselves for an eight-day stretch that features their club three times.

Portland Timbers 0 – 0 Vancouver Whitecaps

The Timbers played Vancouver tough, not allowing the Western Conference leaders to intimidate them one bit in this match-up between Cascadia Cup rilvals.

Timbers’ star man Darlington Nagbe had his chance at a penalty kick in the first half, but was not up to being the hero of this match, clanging his try off the right post.

Maximilliano Urruti would ensure Nagbe wasn't the only one to blow it for his side, heading a clear chance several feet high to keep Portland off the board.

Stumptown Footy will take the point, but you can bet Eighty Six Forever wants to see some goals.

Sporting Kansas City 1 – 0 Chicago Fire

KC set out to snap a three-game winless streak on national television Sunday afternoon, and they did just that despite Dom Dwyer’s furious attempts to keep the struggles going.

This time, it was in the 31st minute he refused to score a clear chance, opting instead to see how far he could head the ball into the stands.

Second-half substitute Paulo Nagamura would score the winner in the 74th to put an end to the Fire’s three-match winning streak.

The Blue Testament wants to know what Dom Dwyer has against them, while Hot Time In Old Town mourns the loss of their winning streak.

New York City FC 1 – 3 Seattle Sounders

FOX Sports 1 viewers were treated to the Obafemi Martins show on Sunday night, plain and simple.

First using his speed to cruise past defenders, then using his deft touch to feed the always hungry Captain Clint Dempsey in the box before showing his class to slide a second goal past Joe Saunders, Martins was easily the best player on the pitch and used a national television platform to prove it.

Mehmid Ballouchy did score one for the Yanks, but make no mistake, this was a showcase for the talented Sounders front man.

Sounder At Heart is enjoying life with the big road win, while Hudson River Blue is checking on Mats Zuccarello's injury.

An eventful week in MLS rounded off by a superb performance from one of the league's best, but Victor Bernardez still gets my vote for goal of the week.