MLS Week 9: Justin Braun’s Hat Trick Give Chivas USA 3-2 Win Over Red Bulls

The victory was the first by a MLS team travelling across three time zones this year. More impressively, it was the first time the Red Bulls had lost since April 9 and the first time all season they had given up more than a goal. Braun actually scored as many goals as the rest of the Red Bulls opponents have scored all season.

Braun’s career seemed to be an upward trajectory last season when he scored his ninth goal on Sept. 10, 2010. That he went scoreless in Chivas USA’s last seven matches of the season didn’t seem to be a huge problem, but the scoring drought continued into this year and he eventually lost his starting job.

Red Bulls lineup: Coundoul, Solli, Ream, Marquez, Miller, Tainio, Richards, Lindpere, De Rosario, Rodgers, Henry. Bench: Sutton, Mendes, Keel, Rooney, Agudelo, Ballouchy, Kassel

Chivas lineup: Kennedy, Jazic, Pearce, Zemanski, Valentin, Elliott, Flores, Truijillo, LaBrocca, Moreno, Braun. Bench: Thornton, Umana, Trujillo, Mendoza, Mayen, Estupian, Cortez

After a rough start to the season in which he’d scored just one meaningless goal, Angel finally got on the scoresheet with his second of the season. That set the stage for Beckham, whose free kick from distance curled just inside the post as a reminder that he may be aging, but his set pieces are as brilliant as ever.

An off the ball elbow netted McDonald his red card, but it wasn’t going to stop the Quakes from getting their three points. They had earned the win and were victors for the first time in seven matches.

Just before the end of the first half Dallas struck again with Castillo. Jackson Goncalves found some space on the wing and crossed a perfect ball into the penalty box where Castillo sat free to head it home.

Sporting KC continue their half-season road trip with a visit to the Home Depot Center tonight.

LA Galaxy: Saunders; Franklin, Gonzalez, DeLaGarza, Dunivant; Donovan, Juninho, Beckham, Magee; Lopez, Barrett

The goal was Castillo’s second of the season and marks the first time that the Union have given up two goals in a game all year.

The Shea goal was easily the best chance of the night for Dallas thus far. For the most part both Dallas and the Philadelphia Union have been feeling one another out in the first 30 minutes of the match.

DC United: Hamid; Kitchen, White, Jakovic, Woolard; Najar, Simms, McCarty, Pontius; Wolff, Davies

Colorado Rapids: Pickens; Kimura, Marshall, Wynne, Moor; Thompson, Larentowicz, Mastroeni, Smith; Akpan, Amarikwa

Last week’s predictions: 5 of 9.

It’s been a bit of a one step forward, two steps back kind of season for both of the teams. Toronto FC, after a somewhat promising start in which they claimed six points in their first five games, have just three points in their past four. The Fire started the season with four points in two matches, but have just three points in their past six and have not won since Week 2. Neither team has much of an identity, despite promises from their coaches to establish one this year. Carlos de los Cobos’ planned 3-5-2 has not been seen since Week 1. Aron Winter has at least stuck with his 4-3-3, but it’s been hard to find anything resembling an attack. Pick: Tied 0-0.