3 good 3 bad – Week Two

MLS Cup holders LA Galaxy needed an added-time equaliser to avoid a first defeat of the season at Portland, but who were the real winners and losers this week? Here are our picks...

Flying high:

1) Soccer takes a bite out of the Big Apple

NYCFC's new home the Yankee Stadium

Soccer returned to New York City for the first time since 1976 as David Villa and co. lit up the Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber had long wanted a team in New York itself, with the Red Bulls based over the water in New Jersey.

With Villa opening his account already, Frank Lampard arriving at the end of the Premier League season and another superstar promised, the future is looking bright on the field.

And with a crowd of 43,507 also packing into the baseball ground, the new franchise seem to be getting it right off the field too.

2) Future looks bright for the Crew

Columbus Crew head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter not only signed a new contract on Friday but his side also picked up all three points against Toronto.

Now in his second season with the club, Berhalter’s new deal has tied down the former Crystal Palace man until 2017, and he’s already planning ahead.

The 41-year-old is hoping to establish an academy structure at the club with a view of replicating the first team style among younger age groups.

3)Winless streak comes to an end

San Jose players together in victory....at last!

San Jose Earthquakes finally ended their 16-game winless streak with a 3-2 victory against a Seattle Sounders side that went ahead inside the opening 20 seconds.

Five of the starting 11 had suffered through the entire seven month drought since their last win on August 2^nd – ironically against the Sounders.

Real Salt Lake also hold the league record winless run, between August 2005 and May 2006 the franchise went 18 matches without victory.

In the pits:

1) Tyler Deric goes from hero to zero

The Houston Dynamo keeper was in our ‘good books' last week after a string of saves inspired his side to victory, but a week can be a long time in soccer.

Owen Coyle’s side travelled to Orlando in search of back-to-back wins but Deric, who joined the club in 2009, put through his own net in bizarre fashion.

Pedro Ribeiro closed down the 26-year-old’s attempted clearance at the edge of the area, sending the ball bouncing toward an open goal.

And after the two battled for the ball, Deric punched over Ribeiro’s head and sent the ball, and the two players, crashing into the net.

2) Stuart Holden held up

USA international Stuart Holden had a day to forget as he was left stranded in Detroit airport – with his luggage elsewhere!

The former Bolton Wanderers man, who has not played since last March due to injury, was flying from LAX to work as a TV pundit but a cancelled flight scuppered his plans.

The 29-year-old remained in high spirits though, when offered a bite to eat by a Twitter follower his response was: “prefer a few points at this point lad.”

We hope you made it home Stu and that you’re reunited with your bag someday.

It's definitely a divorce @united #stilldelayed #lostbaggage @ESPNFC see u maybe??? pic.twitter.com/uzvYCRhLRC
— Stuart Holden (@stuholden) March 16, 2015

3) Water leak at Real Salt Lake

Head coach Jeff Cassar praised his team’s defensive organisation in week one; but as good as they were last week, they were every bit as bad this time out.

The Claret-and-Cobalt scored an own goal and made two individual errors that led directly to goals in their 3-3 draw with Philadelphia Union.

Fernando Aristeguieta punished two errors within just four first-half minutes before Jamison Olave, who had drawn Real Salt Lake level, sliced a clearance into his own net.

Images courtesy of IcyBloke and Amy Meredith, with thanks.