MLS Week 11: DC United Becomes First Team To Win At Portland

Timbers starters: Perkins-G, Hall-D, Brunner-D, Danso-D, Wallace-D, Zizzo-M, Jewsbury-M, Chara-M, Alhassan-M, Cooper-F, Perlaza-F. Subs: Brown-G, Horst-D, Marcelin-M, Moffat-M, Nagbe-M, Johnson-F, Pore-F

United starters: Hamid; Kitchen, Jakovic, White, Woolard; Najar, Simms, King, Pontius; Ngwenya, Brettschneider. Subs: Wolff, Fred, Barklage, Shanosky, Korb, Brasesco, Willis

It was not a dominating Galaxy performance though. They were shaky at the back, giving the Revolution chances and the home side did well to build from the back several times to threaten the LA goal.

Kofi Sarkodie was shown his second yellow card just a couple minutes after the goal and was sent off. It was a immature decision from the Dynamo rookie who’d been playing well up to that point.

The draw allows the Galaxy some more space between them and Dallas in the Western Conference, while the Dynamo improve to 3-4-6 and stay in the playoff mix in the East.

The wild looked to be going Dallas’s way just before the goal as they had the lead and the man advantage but the midfield giveaways and lack of strong possession continue to haunt this club in this game.

With minutes remain the Dynamo are starting to press now that they have the momentum in this one again. Should they get the draw it will be a huge boost to the club while for Dallas it will be a big let down after being in the lead.

Real Salt Lake starters: Rimando, Beltran, Borchers, Olave, Russell, Beckerman, Johnson, Grabavoy, Williams, Espindola, Alexandre

Both teams had chances to grab a winner in the second half. They went back and forth on chances, but neither team could convert so they were forced to split the point and remain winless.

The Dynamo are win less in the month of May and would love to finish the month on a positive note with a defeat of their rivals from the north. FC Dallas is on a tear, undefeated in their last seven matches since losing David Ferriera to an ankle injury. Dallas hasn’t allowed a goal since May 1st so the Houston offense will have to try and break out of their slump against the hottest defense team in the league.

Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear has made a couple changes ahead of the Gold Cup, playing all three players who will be leaving and resting some regular starters like Bobby Boswell and Hunter Freeman.

Amazingly, TFC actually made a game of this at one point. After falling behind 3-0 at halftime, they cut the deficit to 3-2 on a pair of goals from Maicon Santos nine minutes apart. But Mapp’s second goal in the 62nd minute pushed the lead back to two goals, and the rout was one from there.

Toronto FC starters: Frei; Eckersley, Harden, Williams, Gargan, de Guzman, Tchani, Yourassowsky, Soolsma, Maicon Santos, Plata.

Union starters: Mondragon; Williams, Valdes, Califf, Harvey; Mapp, Nakazawa, Carroll, G. Farfan; Mwanga, Le Toux

Last week’s predictions: 5 of 8 correctly picked

Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m., Saturday