MLS Week 4: Dynamo Get First Win Of Season, Down Whitecaps 3-1

As has been the case in recent weeks, I’ve asked various editors from around the SB Nation soccer community to give some thoughts on various teams:

- Drew Epperley, SB Nation/Soccer

But that tie was short-lived as well. Boswell was able to get his head onto an entry pass from Cruz to give the Dynamo a 2-1 lead. The game has now gone into halftime with the score 2-1.

It does bring up an interesting point, though, and that has to do with instructions MLS has given refs this year: namely cutting down on physical play, especially inside the penalty area. When these directives were first announced, it should have been obvious that more penalties, at least earlier in the year were going to be the result.

So far, that’s exactly what appears to be happening. With a penalty being called at a rate of roughly .29 per match, we’re on pace for about 85 being called this year. That would be a MLS record and about one more per week than was called last year.

Both teams traded chances in the second half but neither were able to covert on them.

Scoring Summary:

DC has pushed Los Angeles more in the second half than they did in the first and if anyone was to score in the second half it looked like it would be the home side. Now down a goal, that doesn’t seem as true and the Galaxy look like good bets to hold onto their 1-0 win and three points.

Philadelphia Union: Mondragon, Valdes, Califf, Harvey, Williams, Miglioranzi, Carroll, Mapp, Daniel, Le Toux, Ruiz

New York Red Bulls: Coundoul, Solli, Marquez, Ream, Miller, Richards, Tainio, De Rosario, Lindpere, Agudelo, Henry.

65th Minute Recap: