MLS 2012, Week 20: Seattle Lays A 4-0 Beat Down On LA

The usual Major League Soccer weekend schedule seemed just like any others. Eight games that were stretched out over three days. A couple big headlining games like New York at Houston, LA at Seattle and even a rivalry game in Colorado.

But all of that seemed to go to the back burner as the news passed on Sunday morning that Columbus Crew rookie midfielder Kirk Urso passed away.

But two minutes later, Saunders could do nothing to stop Eddie Johnson as Seattle exposed LA’s lack of pace in defense again. Gaul looked every bit the part of left back converted from striker when he allowed the Sounders space on the left, which resulted in Mauro Rosales getting plenty of time to get a cross away. It was a pinpoint cross, too, finding Johnson, who outran Gonzalez and snapped perfect header into the side netting for the opening tally.

In the 51st minute, Seattle got in behind the LA defense again and while Saunders came rushing off his line to make a great save, but the rebound found Montero. The Colombian hit a great first time shot that beat a scrambling Saunders and the Sounders were 2-0 up.

* This is not a complaint about MLS not having relegation. It will not have relegation any time soon and that is fine. This is a complaint that both of these teams are awful.

* That isn’t a mistake. He was completely unmarked right in the middle of the box.

Once they got their goal, Toronto took control of the match. It wasn’t so much that they were creating chances, because they weren’t, but they were seeing out the match and never felt too threatened. That earned them a halftime lead and at the hour mark they were still ahead.

Bunbury’s goal came in the 20th minute when he was able to use one good touch and his speed to beat the slow-footed Revs defense. Bunbury gave chase to a ball near midfield, which the Revolution defense also stepped up to try to get, but Bunbury got there first. He then used one touch to flick the ball over the top and then gave chase. Nobody on New England was going to be able to chase down Bunbury, who got to the ball, settled and curled the ball low inside the post to give Sporting the lead.

From that point on, Kansas City was very disciplined and was clearly thinking defend before attack. They were organized and maybe even sometimes cynical, committing 21 fouls to slow down the Revs. It proved effective as the Revs struggled to create chances and when the final whistle went, Sporting could not be happier to finally be back on the smiling side of the scoreboard.

Down a goal, the Union pressed for an equalizer and once again looked the better side, but once again it resulted in nothing. They hit the post in the first half and had several more chance in the second, but it didn’t pay off.

Playing 10v10, the Union looked like it did with 11 men. They were bright, but nothing came of it and then the Impact got them again with some great finishing.

Andy Gruenebaum didn’t have a very busy second half, but did come up with six saves to keep it close.

The end of the MLS season is getting shockingly close. It’s not as if the season will end tomorrow, but the finish line is in sight. That was quick. Sneaky, sneaky.

With that in mind, some teams better start winning. We list those running out of time to get wins: