MLS, Week 15: Quakes Edge Galaxy In Wild California Clasico

The first was a vintage “Bend It Like Beckham” goal in which he scored from about 20 yards out. Impressive, but we’ve all seen it before. Here’s the GIF of the free kick from Timothy Burke at Mocksession.

It’s about as impressive of a goal from close-range that you’re going to see in MLS this year. It also turned out to be the game-winner, allowing the Earthquakes to once again come back from a two-goal deficit. You know, just another day at the office for the Earthquakes.

Just before first half stoppage time, Victor Bernardez got his team back into the game and completely altered the contest’s momentum with a brilliant goal on a free kick, his first in MLS. Assisted by Marvin Chavez, he showed some surprising skill with his feet by placing a great half-volley shot into the back of the net at the far post to cut the Galaxy’s lead to one.

At one point during the first have, Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch took a shot to the eye. As the half wore on, the area around his left eye began to look darker and darker, to go along with some swelling that looked like it caused his eye to shut completely. He was substituted at halftime and sat on the sidelines in street clothes with his eye covered in the second half.

It was a lot of basic things for Salt Lake, who weren’t marking Crew players, weren’t clearing balls in their own box, forgot to track runners on the wings and then struggled to complete simple passes going forward. The Crew did well and got their points, but the real question now is what is going on with RSL.

With the loss, Salt Lake has now lost three straight. It started with them going 2-0 up on the Galaxy, but they blew that lead, then the Earthquakes beat them last week. Now the Crew have topped them and RSL needs to take a look in the mirror and figure some things out.

The Timbers didn’t manage much of anything all match. At no point was Colorado in trouble, while Portland were fending off Rapids attacks all match. Finally in the 90th minute, Smith, who was making his return from a torn ACL, got free for a simple tap in to cap a commanding performance by the Rapids as the Timbers’ road woes continued.

After starting the season with nine straight losses, Toronto has now taken at least a point from four of their past five matches. They are not anywhere near New York, who sit atop the Eastern Conference on 31 points, but it is a hell of a lot better than there they were not too long ago.

It has been said countless times, but it’s worth repeating: Soccer thrives on rivalries. MLS has always had them, and they’ve certainly helped raise the league’s profile in recent years, but there seems to have been something lacking in that department as well.

Like Cascadia, this rivalry has plenty of history. No, it doesn’t stretch back to the NASL, but it is arguably the best one that has survived from the earliest days of MLS. This will be the 50th regular-season match between the California rivals, with the Galaxy holding a 25-16-8 advantage. They’ve also combined to win five MLS Cups, often times having to go through one another to win it.

In the end, Sporting outshot the Fire 22-7, but it didn’t matter. Pappa had the goal and Johnson was tremendous to lead Chicago to a win.

They’re still playing matches in MLS, which is cool. It’s a nice respite from Euro 2012 for those of you bored with high level soccer with some of the best players in the world. Luckily, that little tournament is over after this weekend and the world can properly focus on MLS, as it should be.

Wait, MLS is awesome this week. Seriously, it is. Whatchu got to say now, Euros?