New York and Philadelphia are making a legitimate case to lead the Eastern Conference, but events of the past week suggest that third place – the last automatic MLS Cup Playoffs place – is very much up for grabs to any of the other seven suitors. Houston currently has a tenuous grip on the spot.
RELATED: MLS Standings
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VIDEO: Stefan Frei on Toronto FC TV following the LA-TFC draw.</p> |
New York defeated New England 2-1 last Friday to move atop the East. Thierry Henry struck his seventh of the season, which stood as the winning goal. The next night Philadelphia failed to overtake the Red Bulls, drawing Salt Lake 1-1 at home. The two leaders now have 22 points each and continue to be the class of the conference.
Out West, Los Angeles feels they dropped two points to Toronto in the 2-2 thriller Saturday, but LA still leads the conference and MLS with 31 points. Dallas had a magnificent chance to close the Galaxy gap until a stunning 4-1 loss to Kansas City at home on Sunday kept the Hoops six points behind LA.
The West too has a serious fight for third place. Seattle is holding on to third for now, but any one of Colorado, Salt Lake or San Jose could claim it in a matter of days depending on results.
Kansas City and Chicago had the best week in terms of gaining points. They opened the brand new Livestrong Sporting Park to a nil-nil draw, then KC went on to upset Dallas on the road. Chicago also played three nights later, defeating Columbus 1-0 at Crew Stadium, forcing the Ohio club to split their two matches last week.
Salt Lake had a terrible week winning just one of six points. They managed to get the draw in Philadelphia after losing 2-1 to Columbus at midweek.
Elsewhere, D.C. dropped a 4-2 decision at home to San Jose. The visiting Quakes – missing attackers Chris Wondolowski and Ryan Johnson to the Gold Cup – used a Steven Lenhart hat-trick to guide them to maximum road points; Houston beat Chivas 2-1 at home with a Heath Pearce own goal doing the Goats in at Robertson Stadium; Drew Moor’s stoppage time strike helped Colorado nick Portland 1-0 at the Timbers’ JELD-WEN Field; Eric Hassli scored what may be the best goal of 2011 to date in Vancouver’s 2-2 draw in Seattle.
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