MLS 360: Week 15

Seattle Sounders moved back to the top of the Supporters Shield standings after a comfortable 3-0 win against FC Dallas at CenturyLink Field.

Martins made a scoring return for Seattle

The visitors put in a strong first half display but were unable to turn pressure into goals as Sounders recorded their fifth straight home win over Dallas.

Lamar Neagle opened the scoring before the returning Obafemi Martins netted his seventh of the season and in added time Leo Gonzalez netted his first goal since 2010.

The Western Conference leaders leapfrogged the Eastern Conference leaders as D.C. United succumbed to a 1-0 defeat away at Orlando City.

The win went some way to avenge two early season defeats at the hands of United for the expansion franchise, both also a 1-0 score line.

And it was captain Kaka that the Lions had to thank, he scored the rebound from his penalty miss to extend Orlando’s unbeaten run to five games.

New England Revolution also seized the opportunity to close the gap on Eastern leaders DC to four points with a 2-0 win against Chicago Fire.

Two goals in the space of three minutes ended Revolution’s six-match winless run and they had clearly been reading our predictions!

Fire had several players away on international duty and New England took full advantage with Diego Fagundez and Charlie Davies scoring early in the second half.

Finlay leads the MLS assists chart

New York City moved level on points with Chicago and Montreal Impact after their 3-1 win against the latter at the Yankee Stadium.

David Villa scored his side’s first before Mix Diskerud got on the score sheet, with NYCFC winning back-to-back matches for the first time.

Wandrille Lefevre’s late goal for Montreal looked set to cause a nervous finish but Kwadwo Poku confirmed the points.

A storm delayed kick-off by more than two hours at MAPFRE Stadium meaning Columbus Crew’s clash against LA Galaxy did not kick off until 9:45pm local time.

When the match did eventually begin it was a game of two halves with Sebastian Lletget handing the visitors a deserved lead at the interval. 

But Federico Higuaín rescued a point for Columbus with Ethan Finlay recording his league-high eighth assist of the campaign. 

Images courtesy of Otto Greule Jr and Jamie Sabau, with thanks.