The New York Red Bulls (7-6-15, 36 pts.) snapped an eight-game winless streak on Saturday night when Luke Rodgers scored to give the New Yorkers a 1-0 win against host FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park. New York has a chance to slip into the MLS playoffs as it currently holds the last wild-card spot.
In the 36th minute, Rodgers received a cross from forward Juan Agudelo and registered the only goal of the game from inside the six-yard box. New York Red Bulls was without Thierry Henry because of a recurring problem with an inflamed achilles and also defender Roy Miller; Mexican international defenders Rafa Marquez and Jan Gunnar Solli were also out of action due to suspension. The Red Bulls play at home against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, in a battle among Eastern Conference top teams, the Philadelphia Union, in the hunt to finish atop the Conference, knocked off leader Columbus Crew, 1-0, when Sebastien Le Toux scored in the 32nd minute. Columbus is still in first place.
The Chicago Fire beat Chivas USA, 3-2, while playing a player short. Chicago got a first half goal from defender Cory Gibbs and an own goal from Chivas forward Juan Pablo Angel to lead, 2-0, at the half. Angel redeemed himself by cutting the deficit to one goal early in the second half, then Nick LaBrocca got the equalizer by midway in the second period, with five minutes to play; Dominic Oduro scored the winner for the Fire.
In the Western Conference, all-purpose player Mike Magee and Robbie Keane led the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 3-0 win over the struggling Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS play last weekend. Magee, who played as a goalkeeper in a game for the Galaxy this season, scored twice, while former Tottenham Hotspur (English Premier League) striker Keane also got on the scoreboard for Los Angeles. The win keeps the Galaxy atop the MLS Western Conference.
The Seattle Sounders, the other top team in the West in second place, maintained its race for the Conference’s top spot with a 3-0 win over much-improved DC United. The Sounders were led by Alvaro Fernandez’s two goals after Michael Fucito’s strike started the scoring earlier in the game. had opened the scoring.
In other games involving Western Conference teams, Houston Dynamo rallied from a one-goal deficit to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-1; Khari Stephenson gave the Earthquakes a 1-0 lead just before the first half ended, but Brad Davis equalized from the penalty spot just after the second period started and with 10 minutes left to play, second half substitute Will Bruin scored the winner. The Colorado Rapids lost, 2-1 to improving Toronto FC. Real Salt Lake got a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City forma goal by striker Nat Borchers.
SVG World Cup Win
In World Cup play, hosts St. Vincent and the Grenadines got a goal in each half from Myron Samuel and Cornelius Stewart to pick up its first win in Group E, a 2-1 result over Grenada at the Arnos Vale playing field. Both teams lost their opening games; the Vincentians went down to Guatemala there, 4-0, back on Sept. 2 and Grenada was upset at home, 2-0, against Belize on the same day.
St. Vincent got on the scoreboard about 20 minutes into the game when Samuel ran onto a through pass on the right side of the goal and placed a side-footed shot into the far left corner to put Vincy Heat ahead, 1-0, at the half.
Midway through the second period, Stewart latched onto a cross from second half substitute Shandel Samuel and registered a goal high into the top of the net from inside the six-yard box. Grenada pulled a goal back just five minutes later for the final score. Both teams will continue their quest to reach the next round when play resumes on Oct. 7; St. Vincent and the Grenadines will host Guatemala, while Grenada will travel to Belize. The winner of this group advances to the semifinal round
