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Published on September 4, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0, New York Red Bulls 1 1. New York extends unbeaten streak to 10 games with 1-0 win over Whitecaps (The Canadian Press) 2. Bradley Wright-Phillips ties MLS scoring lead in Red Bulls' win (Associated Press)

New England Revolution 2, Colorado Rapids 0 3. Revolution break through, end skid (Boston Globe) 4. Revolution grab goals, snap losing streak with win against Rapids (Boston Herald)

Chicago Fire 3, Philadelphia Union 0 5. Fire haven't been shut out for 7 matches (Chicago Daily Herald) 6. Battered Union dominated by Chicago Fire (Associated Press)

FC Dallas 3, Portland Timbers 1 7. Short-handed FC Dallas still too much for Portland Timbers 3-1 (Dallas Morning News) 8. Absences force FC Dallas coach's Oscar Pareja's hand (Dallas Morning News) 9. Portland Timbers lose fourth straight road game, falling 3-1 to FC Dallas (The Oregonian)

LA Galaxy 2, Columbus Crew SC 1 10. Galaxy beats the Columbus Crew, 2-1, with an unlikely lineup (Los Angeles Times) 11. Galaxy turns to Emmanuel Boateng with Gyasi Zardes out (Los Angeles Times)

MLS Articles 12. Quakes get goals but not a win in friendly (San Jose Mercury News) 13. Dynamo loan Erick Torres to Cruz Azul of Liga MX (Houston Chronicle)

(Additional articles for consideration can be submitted directly to Jane Sexton of MLS Communications at Jane.Sexton@MLSsoccer.com.)

1. New York extends unbeaten streak to 10 games with 1-0 win over Whitecaps

By Monte Stewart The Canadian Press - September 3, 2016

VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps lost their coach, and a chance to gain ground on a playoff spot Saturday.

Bradley Wright-Phillips scored to give the New York Red Bulls a 1-0 victory over the Whitecaps on Saturday in a match that Vancouver coach Carl Robinson was ejected shortly before halftime for protesting a throw-in awarded to New York.

The Red Bulls prevailed despite having few legitimate scoring chances while the Whitecaps had several.

"We could have, and probably should have beat them, but we didn't," said Robinson. "We just didn't take any of the numerous chances we had."

Robinson faces an automatic one-game suspension for his ejection.

Wright-Phillips chipped a shot home after Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey bounced a clearing attempt off him while falling down in the box. The goal was the 17th of the season for Wright-Phillips and moved him into a tie for the Major League Soccer scoring lead.

The Red Bulls (12-9-7) extended their unbeaten streak to a club-record 10 games as they moved into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference with Toronto FC. New York earned its first-ever win against the Caps in seven all-time meetings.

"From a table perspective, (it's) very big because it keeps us in the race for first in the East," said New York coach Jesse Marsch. "It keeps us on our roll."

The Whitecaps (8-13-7) went winless for the eighth straight game and saw their hopes of making the playoffs become even more difficult. Vancouver has only scored one goal in its past seven league games. The Caps have now been blanked in three straight contests and failed to put a single shot on target Saturday. They were credited with 12 shots, including blocks.

"It's a (microcosm) of our season, I think, and it is what it is," said Robinson, referring to missed opportunities. "We can't sugar-coat it, and we don't. We need to do better."

Striker Erik Hurtado recorded seven shots, shooting wide on a number of dangerous chances. He also put a header over the crossbar. Robinson said Hurtado was "distraught" and "in tears" after the game and his bad luck coincided with the team's misfortune.

Referee Sorin Stoica ejected Robinson in first-half added time for protesting the decision to award New York a throw-in after a Red Bulls player kicked the ball out of play. A second ball was thrown on the field while the original ball came back and a Whitecaps player booted one ball to the sideline. Seconds after an animated Robinson complained, the official sent him off.

When asked whether he would appeal the ejection, Robinson said he will check the rules first. Meanwhile, Red Bulls coach Marsch disagreed with the official's decision.

"For me, I don't think (Robinson) was acting egregiously or obnoxiously," said Marsch. "He was trying to make a point about a couple of calls, but I didn't think that warranted a tossing. The league is making this emphasis about bench behaviour and coaches. So I guess we have to find a way to be altar boys on the bench."

Three minutes into the second half, Hurtado missed the net for the third time after he was in the box alone against Robles. The miss proved costly as Wright-Phillips scored for New York in the 50th minute.

Wright-Phillips said he was fortunate to capitalize after some ricochets of the ball.

"When (the ball) broke free, I just thought hit the target, try to hit the target," he said. "I kind of blacked out, I don't remember too much. (I'm) just happy to get a goal and three points on the road."

The Red Bulls earned only their second win in 15 away games this season.

"We had enough chances to win two games, I thought, to be honest, but right now it's not going our way," said Caps rookie midfielder Fraser Aird.

Notes: Assistant Martyn Pert ran Vancouver's bench in Robinson's absence. ... Both teams used all three of their allowed substitutes. ... The officials were slow coming on to the field for the second half. They jogged on to the pitch together while players from both sides were already lined up... David Villa of NYCFC also has 17 goals.

2. Bradley Wright-Phillips ties MLS scoring lead in Red Bulls' win

Associated Press - September 3, 2016

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Bradley Wright-Phillips scored in the 50th minute and the Red Bulls beat the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday 1-0 on Saturday to extend their club-record unbeaten streak to 10 games.

The Red Bulls (12-9-7) moved into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference with Toronto FC.

Wright-Phillips scored his 17th goal to tie for the Major League Soccer scoring lead. He chipped a shot home after Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey bounced a clearing attempt off him while falling down in the box.

The Whitecaps (8-13-7) are winless in eight games. Vancouver coach Carl Robinson was ejected shortly before halftime for protesting a throw-in awarded to New York and faces an automatic one-game

3. Revolution break through, end skid

By Frank Dell'Apa Boston Globe - September 4, 2016

FOXBOROUGH - The timing was right for the Revolution to break their scoring slump Saturday night. After compiling scoreless streaks of four games and 374 minutes, the Revolution took a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on a night dedicated to all-time leading scorer Taylor Twellman.

The Revolution (7-12-9, 30 points), ending a six-game winless streak, took the lead on a 12th-minute Juan Agudelo goal, the team's first since a 4-1 loss at Toronto Aug. 6. Chris Tierney added a 49th-minute score as the Revolution attacked effectively in their second game since switching to a 4-4-2 formation.

Agudelo and Lee Nguyen combined up front, the Revolution missing Kei Kamara (Sierra Leone national team), against a Rapids team (11-5-10, 43 points) playing without former Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones (injured), plus goalkeeper Tim Howard and three others on international duty.

The scheme also allowed Diego Fagundez and the other Revolution midfielders to take on playmaking roles in what Nguyen described as "free-flowing football."

Nguyen hit the post twice in the first half, on a 33d-minute penalty kick and a 41st-minute attempt off a give-and-go with Agudelo.

"That was the whole point of changing the formation," Nguyen said. "Coaches wanted to put our possession players centrally and have them in the center of the field, Scotty [Caldwell] and [Gershon] Koffie keeping the foundation, the ball flowing left to right, and me and Juan finding those little pockets in between."

Agudelo finished to the far side of the net past Zac MacMath, the Revolution's first goal since Teal Bunbury's 88th-minute score against Toronto. The sequence began off a throw-in, Koffie and Nguyen playing a give-and-go, Koffie laying off for Agudelo.

Dillon Powers had chances to tie, one-timing a shot wide left (15th minute) and having a drive saved (18th) by Brad Knighton.

"A timely save," Revolution coach Jay Heaps said. "It was the save you need in a game where we need things to go our way. If that goal had come back and now it's 1-1, who knows what's in the next moments? I thought that was huge and that kept our confidence up."

After the fans produced a 20th-minute chant in support of Twellman's ThinkTaylor concussion awareness organization, the Revolution went back on the attack.

A Caldwell through ball sent Kelyn Rowe in alone, Rowe going down after slipping the ball under a diving MacMath. Nguyen, who had converted 11 successive penalty kicks, sent the shot off the right post, his first miss since Sept. 21, 2013 (2-1 win over D.C. United). Nguyen is 13 for 15 on penalty kicks since joining the Revolution in 2012, one better than the previous team record held by Shalrie Joseph (12 for 15).

Eight minutes later, Agudelo back-heeled to Nguyen on a give-and-go, Nguyen continuing past three defenders across the top of the penalty area, then sending a shot off the left post.

Tierney scored his second goal of the season and 10th of his MLS career after Rowe touched on to Fagundez, who ran into the penalty arc, then laid off for Tierney to launch a left-footer into the far side of the net.

The Revolution then began slowing the game down, controlling possession. But the Rapids threatened. In the 60th minute, Knighton tipped a Powers header over the bar off a Dominique Badji cross, and in the 78th minute, a close-range Liam Doyle shot was blocked by London Woodberry.

The Revolution remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference in goals scored (31), but the two-striker setup could help them remain in contention for a playoff spot - they are 2 points behind D.C. United in the race for the final place.

"We've gone through a rough patch here recently and just not been able to convert on our chances," Knighton said. "We put it all together and really showed what we're capable of doing, and that's a confidence thing and that builds with wins and shutouts.

"These guys are finishing balls in training, it's just not converting in the game situations. Finally, we took our chances. We had multiple chances in the first half, and hit two posts, so the chances are there and the goals are starting to come now. So, hopefully we can right the ship and continue on the winning way."

Kamara and Je-Vaughn Watson (Jamaica national team) are expected to return for the Revolution's game against Eastern Conference leader New York City FC next Saturday.

"We don't have time to relish anything," Heaps said. "Right now, we're on to the next game.

"I've already written on the board in the locker room - NYCFC - we're on to the next game."

4. Revolution grab goals, snap losing streak with win against Rapids

By John Connolly Boston Herald - September 4, 2016

FOXBORO - A job well done.

That was the story top to bottom for the Revolution, who broke out of the doldrums with a 2-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids last night to send the Gillette Stadium crowd of 15,046 home on a happy note.

The Revs (7-12-9), deploying a formation with the forward tandem of Juan Agudelo and Lee Nguyen up top, registered a goal in each half, with Agudelo connecting in the 12th minute and Chris Tierney in the 49th. The victory was backstopped by Brad Knighton, who was sharp throughout.

"We came out talking about the beginning of the half, the beginning of games and being aggressive. I thought the second half was really a much better half for us top to bottom," Revs coach Jay Heaps said. "We used our speed, in-and-out. It was really important knowing Colorado has the best defense in the league.

"So we'll look at the positives of this one, but we don't have time to relish this one. We have another big one next week. I already wrote on the board: New York City."

The Revs, who were winless in the previous six league game (0-5-1) and mired in a goal drought of 362 consecutive minutes, were desperate for redemption. They also had to scrap for a win without two regular starters, forward Kei Kamara and defender Je-Vaughn Watson, who were away on international duty.

The Revs finally cracked the back of an enemy goal when Agudelo accepted a pass from Gershon Koffie and banked home a shot off the far right post in the 13th minute - ending the drought at 375 minutes

"The way we played tonight, with the formation, I liked it. It was like I had a little more free room. It's not like I was playing against two guys," Agudelo said.

Almost immediately, veteran midfielder Tierney, the longest-tenured Revs player, gathered his celebrating teammates in a huddle to offer caution and not let the lead slip away.

The Rapids (11-5-10) had a bid in the 15th minute, but midfielder Dillon Powers, set up nicely by former Boston University standout Dominique Badji, missed wide left. A subsequent long ball three minutes later gave Powers another opportunity but his big blast was deflected wide by Knighton.

"A timely save," Heaps said. "It's a save you need in a game that you need to go our way. That was huge. It gave us confidence. Brad was huge tonight."

The Revs had a glorious chance to double the lead in the 32nd minute, when Kelyn Rowe took a feed from Scott Caldwell and escaped behind everyone. Rapids keeper Zac MacMath tripped up Rowe, earning a yellow card and giving the Revs a penalty. But Nguyen, who has been 3-for-3 in PKs this season, spun a low shot off the right post.

The snake-bit Nguyen was back in the 41st minute, artfully dribbling the ball across the front and eluding three players before sending his shot off the left post.

The Revs enjoyed their first halftime lead since July 31 at Orlando City, and only had to wait four minutes after the second half kickoff to double the advantage. Diego Fagundez drove up the middle and spotted Tierney wide-open to his left. Fagundez perfectly led Tierney, who powered a patented left-foot shot into the upper right corner over MacMath for a 2-0 lead. It was Tierney's second goal of the season, and first since March 26.

Knighton made his best save in the 59th minute when he leaped to steer a blast by Powers over the crossbar.

"Brad Knighton came up trumps on one or two (shots) tonight and set the tone," Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni said.

5. Fire haven't been shut out for 7 matches

By Orrin Schwarz Chicago Daily Herald - September 3, 2016

Last-place teams have to look hard for positives, but here is one: the formerly low-scoring team known as the Chicago Fire hasn't been shut out in its last seven matches.

The Fire collected a 3-0 victory against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night at Toyota Park, in the process shutting out one of the highest-scoring teams in MLS.

New Dutch forward Michael de Leeuw provided much of the offense. He nearly got credit for the Fire's first-half goal that was eventually ruled an own goal. There was no question he deserved credit for the second-half goal, heading it in. He nearly had another in the 83rd minute but just missed high.

"He's a very opportunistic striker," Philadelphia coach and former Fire defender Jim Curtin said of de Leeuw. "He's a guy who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. We've talked about how he makes good runs in the box and dealing with that."

Midfielder Arturo Alvarez scored the third goal in the 90th minute off a de Leeuw assist.

The Fire (6-12-8, 26 points) also hasn't been scoring just lone goals lately. Only once during that seven-game stretch has the Fire settled for just one goal.

Slowly but surely the Fire is climbing out of the basement of the league rankings in goals scored.

"There is no doubt that all the work that we've been doing in the season, it's slow, but it's coming all together," Fire coach Veljko Paunovic said.

In 11 games since joining the Fire, de Leeuw has 3 goals and 3 assists.

The win also is the second in the last four matches for the Fire, who could use every bit of bright side they can find after last week's 6-2 loss at D.C. United, one of the worst in club history.

That's in the past, de Leeuw said, noting the team's confidence.

"Ah, it's good," he said. "It's big. The most important thing is we create a lot of chances. Then you can score a lot of goals. You see it in the last four or five games."

Another bright spot was goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who recorded 4 saves for his fifth shutout this season, the team's eighth.

6. Battered Union dominated by Chicago Fire

Associated Press - September 3, 2016

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Michael de Leeuw had a goal and an assist, Arturo Alvarez scored and the Chicago Fire beat the Union 3-0 on Saturday night.

Matt Polster tapped a pass to de Leeuw near the spot and Philadelphia's Roland Alberg poked it past goalkeeper John McCarthy for an own goal in the 22nd minute.

De Leeuw's header doubled the advantage in the 71st. On the breakaway, Razvan Cocis fed Luis Solignac whose shot was stopped by McCarthy, but de Leeuw put away the rebound from the right side of the 6-yard box. Alvarez, on the feed from de Leeuw, made it 3-0 in the 90th minute.

Chicago's Sean Johnson had four saves for his fifth shutout of the season.

The Union (11-8-7) had won two in a row and three of its last four.

The Fire (6-12-8) have won three straight at home against Philadelphia.

7. Short-handed FC Dallas still too much for Portland Timbers 3-1

By Jon Arnold Dallas Morning News - September 3, 2016

FRISCO -- FC Dallas trounced the Portland Timbers 3-1 Saturday, notching an assertive victory despite the absence of five players away on international duty.

The win put FCD three victories away from the 60-point mark the team achieved in the 2015 campaign, a tally that would've won the Supporters' Shield given to the team with the best regular-season record had it not lost a tiebreaker. Getting to 60 points could be enough to lock up the prize for what would be the team's first major trophy since 1997, though by that time the team may also have lifted the U.S. Open Cup.

FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja maintained his long-term focus after the match, though, insisting that his players won't read much into another victory that puts the team firmly in control of its destiny.

"The thing that I like the most is that they are taking the journey one step at a time," Pareja said. "I don't want them to overthink too many things, I want them just to come and perform every day the way they are, and that makes me feel honored to coach them."

FCD not only won emphatically, but the team's chief rival in the Western Conference, the Colorado Rapids, fell 2-0 to New England. The Rapids visit Frisco on Saturday.

After coming from behind in last week's win over rival Houston, FC Dallas avoided falling into an early hole, instead starting off as the better team and earning an early penalty kick.

Winger Michael Barrios came into the box with a head of steam and was brought down by goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, prompting referee Ted Unkel to point to the spot.

Mauro Diaz sent his penalty kick to Gleeson's right in the 14th minute to make it 1-0.

And just before the halftime break, Diaz assumed his familiar role as provider. Getting the ball in the center, he threaded a through ball past the Timbers defense to Barrios, who squared the ball to the center of the box. The initial effort was kept out, but Victor Ulloa was there to pound the ball into the back of the net.

It was Diaz's 11th assist of the season, giving him the most for an FCD player since 2010 and putting him four shy of the club record of 15 set by Jason Kreis in 1999.

Portland had a spirited start to the second half and came close to cutting the lead in half when Lucas Melano's shot ricocheted off the crossbar. But minutes later, FC Dallas squelched any thoughts of a rally when center back Walker Zimmerman rose to head in a free kick from Diaz to extend the lead to 3-0. "He pulls the strings for us and once again he showed that tonight," Ulloa said of Diaz. "He's deadly on those set pieces, and we have to take advantage of it."

A consolation goal from Portland's Diego Valeri in the 87th minute couldn't take any shine off a performance that inched FCD closer to the Supporters' Shield.

8. Absences force FC Dallas coach's Oscar Pareja's hand

By Jon Arnold Dallas Morning News - September 3, 2016

FRISCO -- With five players called up for international action and Zach Loyd still sidelined with concussion symptoms, it was relatively easy for FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja to pick his squad for Saturday's game against Portland.

There were 20 active players available, including all three goalkeepers, and 18 players make up an MLS match-day squad. Pareja left out third goalkeeper Ryan Herman and defender Norberto Paparatto, who is yet to make his FCD debut.

The absences meant the coach also had to give starts to players who don't normally see the field, much less go from the opening whistle. Central midfielder Juan Esteban Ortiz made just his second start of the season, his first since July 13, when Pareja used an alternate side during a short week. Ryan Hollingshead, a converted winger who has turned into a utility man, started at left back for the first time since July 16.

From the spot: Mauro Diaz converted a penalty kick that Michael Barrios won early in the first half for his fifth goal of the season. The Argentine No. 10 has scored three of those goals from the penalty spot, having also converted in last week's 3-1 win over Houston and in a 2-0 win over the Sounders in May. Saturday's penalty was the fifth FC Dallas has converted in five attempts this season.

The leading assist man for the team, Diaz has just one goal from open play, a rocket against the Chicago Fire in a July victory.

Flying the flag: FC Dallas can take heart that its absent players are not being wasted in the international break. Four of the five players called up started for their international teams, with Trinidad and Tobago fullback Aubrey David the only player who didn't participate.

Kellyn Acosta started and played the full match for the United States at left back Friday, a change from his normal central midfield role that he plays with FCD, in a win over St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Midfielder Carlos Gruezo started and played 82 minutes in a 3-0 defeat for his Ecuador side against Brazil on Thursday. And defender Maynor Figueroa wore the captain's armband for Honduras as he got the better of club teammate Tesho Akindele and Canada in a 2-1 win.

The international players have another round of matches Tuesday before returning to North Texas.

9. Portland Timbers lose fourth straight road game, falling 3-1 to FC Dallas

By Jamie Goldberg The Oregonian - September 3, 2016

The Portland Timbers have been dominant at home this season. They've won nine games at Providence Park and have scored three or more goals in each of their last three wins at home.

But they haven't carried that form on the road.

A week after scoring four goals in the first half and beating the Seattle Sounders 4-2 at home, the Timbers (9-11-8, 35 points) fell 3-1 to first place FC Dallas (15-7-6, 51 points) at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas Saturday night.

"We took it on the chin today," Timbers coach Caleb Porter told KPDX after the game. "FC Dallas was the better team."

Despite the loss, the Timbers remain three points above the red line in playoff position with six games left in the regular season.

But Portland's spot in the standings is far from secure. The seventh place San Jose Earthquakes and eighth place Sounders both hold two games in hand on the Timbers.

The Timbers and FC Dallas were both missing key players to international duty Saturday night, but the absences didn't seem to hinder Dallas very much.

The game turned in FCD's favor in the 14th minute after Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson came out for a late challenge and made contact with Michael Barrios in the box. Referee Ted Unkel immediately pointed to the spot and Mauro Diaz sent his PK into the corner of the net to put Dallas up 1-0.

Entering the game, Portland was 0-5-1 when conceding the first goal on the road this season, and the Timbers once again struggled to recover away from home after going down 1-0 Saturday.

An unmarked Victor Ulloa scored from within the box on a rebound in first half stoppage time to give Dallas a comfortable lead heading into halftime.

"They scored goals in timely moments," Porter said. "Bottom line is we weren't good enough. They were better today."

The Timbers, who are tied for the most goals conceded in the Western Conference this season with 44, continued to struggle on defense in the second half. Walker Zimmerman lost his mark and headed-home a free kick from Mauro Díaz in the 53rd minute to give Dallas an insurmountable 3-0 lead.

Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri pulled a goal back in the 87th minute when he got on the end of a deflected cross from Zarek Valentin, but the game was already out of Portland's reach by that point.

The Timbers have now lost four straight games on the road and have been outscored 9-2 in those outings.

Portland is the only team in MLS that has yet to win on the road this year. The last time an MLS team made playoffs without winning a game on the road during the regular season was in 2003 when eight of ten teams earned a spot in the postseason.

The Timbers will play three of their final six games on the road this year, and the club is keenly aware that it will need to do better away from home in those final outings if it hopes to secure a playoff spot.

"It's one game and it wasn't good enough today," Porter said. "With six games left, we can't have any more of these."

10. Galaxy beats the Columbus Crew, 2-1, with an unlikely lineup

By Kevin Baxter Los Angeles Times - September 3, 2016

The Galaxy talked a lot last week about the opportunities Saturday's showdown with the Columbus Crew presented.

With five starters unavailable, the game offered a number of lightly-used players a chance to shine. With just one of the three teams ahead of them winning Saturday, the game gave them a chance to move up in the Western Conference standings.

And with Bruce Arena sitting on 199 career wins, the game offered their coach a chance to become the second man in MLS history to reach 200 victories.

Then there was the opportunity that fell to second-half substitute Baggio Husidic, whose 25-yard strike from the left wing found the upper corner of the net just inside the far post, snapping a scoreless tie and sparking the Galaxy to a 2-1 win before a crowd of 24,693 at the StubHub Center.

"I took a risk. I just smashed it," said Husidic, whose 78th-minute goal was his second of the season.

"It was," he added "one of the better goals I've ever scored as a pro."

Giovani Dos Santos got the Galaxy's other score four minutes later, latching on to a deflected ball near midfield, outrunning Columbus defender Nicolai Naess into the penalty area, then lifting a left-footed chip over goalkeeper Steve Clark.

It was his third score in five games, giving him a team-high 10 for the season. And when Adam Jahn knocked the rebound of a penalty-kick save past Galaxy keeper Brian Rowe in stoppage time, Dos Santos' goal became the game-winner.

But Husidic's goal may be remembered as the one that got the season back on track for a Galaxy team that hadn't win in six games and as many weeks.

"It will be huge for us," midfielder Sebastian Lletget said. "Our confidence is going to rise through the roof."

The Galaxy played Saturday without midfielders Steven Gerrard and Gyasi Zardes and defender Jelle Van Damme, who are all injured. Captain Robbie Keane was also missing to international duty while midfielder Nigel de Jong is gone for good after he jumped to Turkish club Galatasaray.

Only Keane is expected back before next weekend, which has forced Arena to go deep into his bench for starters. One of those he summoned for Columbus was Raul Mediola, who probably needed to be introduced to some of his teammates since he was making the first start of his MLS career and his first appearance of any kind in more than two years.

But at least he had an excuse. Some of the Galaxy's other starters also looked like they had just met as well and they've been playing together for six months. So when Husidic came on for Mike Magee after 65 minutes, he was just looking to the give the team a spark, not necessarily a goal.

Instead he did both.

"Getting subbed on, you're tied in the game, you've got nothing to lose going forward," he said. "We've been talking for the last couple of weeks about being a bit selfish and shooting around the goal. And that's exactly what I did."

"When I took a touch I wasn't planning on shooting. But it just laid up so perfect, I'm like 'I've got nothing to lose'."

The result was the Galaxy's first goal in 189 minutes.

"Hopefully this is the momentum we need," Husidic said.

They certainly needed the three points, which gave them 43 for the season and left them in a three-way tie, eight points back of division-leading Dallas. The Galaxy came take sole possession of second place with a win at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.

"The goal tonight was to get three points," Arena said. "That was accomplished."

As for 200 MLS wins, something only Sigi Schmid had accomplished before Saturday, Arena said it's a milestone he'll cherish later.

"I never really get all hung up on those things," he said. "I know one day it will be important, probably for my grandchildren to read about it. I'm honored to have just coached some great players in this league and that's the reason why I've been able to pile up a few wins along the way."

For Dave Sarachan, the Galaxy's associate head coach, the record wasn't so easy to dismiss.

"The guy's a winner. And you can't say that about everybody," he said of Arena. "This is a hard league to win in. So 200, that's a pretty impressive number."

11. Galaxy turns to Emmanuel Boateng with Gyasi Zardes out

By Kevin Baxter Los Angeles Times - September 3, 2016

one on the Galaxy is fleeter of foot than first-year midfielder Emmanuel Boateng. Yet it has taken a broken foot for Boateng to get a chance at demonstrating what that speed can do to heal a struggling team that has scored six goals in its last six games, none of which it won.

The fractured foot wasn't Boateng's, of course. It belongs to Gyasi Zardes, who went down in last weekend's scoreless draw with Vancouver and isn't expected back until the playoffs.

Whether the Galaxy make it that far could be determined, in large part, by Boateng, who will join Sebastian Lletget and Mike Magee in inheriting some of the playing time Zardes will forfeit.

Boateng, Lletget and Magee were all in the starting lineup against Columbus on Saturday, when the Galaxy were dealing with more than just the absence of Zardes. Also out with injury were defender Jelle Van Damme and midfielder Steven Gerrard while captain Robbie Keane was returning from international duty.

Midfielder Nigel de Jong, meanwhile, is gone for good, signing last Wednesday with Turkish club Galatasaray after the Galaxy agreed to terminate his contract.

"Ema, Seba, those guys who have been coming off the bench are probably going to be in starting roles," said defender A.J. DeLaGarza, who appeared in his 200th game with the Galaxy, most of any current player. "A lot of them have earned the opportunity. Now it's there for them. But they've got to take it."

Boateng is primed to do just that. Although he's started 11 times this season - twice while Zardes was away with the U.S. national team - he's played only two full games since May 1. Should he get a more complete audition while Zardes is sidelined, he cautioned he won't be trying to imitate his teammate, he'll just be taking his spot in the lineup.

"If I try to be Gyasi, it's not going to work. I'm Ema and he's Gyasi," said Boateng, whose speed and wide play challenge opposing defenses in some of the same ways Zardes does.

"It's still an 11-man game. [You] still rely on your teammates. That's the thing: Believe in each other and get out there and do it as a group. We all have to come together."

Lletget agrees. Last season, his first with the Galaxy, he had five goals in his first seven starts. But this year he's scored just once in 24 games. Now with Zardes and Gerrard out for an extended time, he's eager to shoulder more of the offensive load.

"I'm looking forward to these games," he said. "It's just a case of you have to be that guy. Who else is going to do it? I'm ready for it."

The team is also ready for a turnaround, DeLaGarza said. Although the Galaxy were winless in August, they went into Saturday's game leading San Jose by eight points in the race for the Western Conference's final playoff berth. And they control their own destiny, playing four of their final eight games against teams also in the postseason hunt.

"We've got to make sure September is the total opposite of August," he said. "You want to have it in your hands, not in other people's hands. But you've got to start winning.

"It's simple to say but you've got to put in on the field."

12. Quakes get goals but not a win in friendly

By Martin Gallegos San Jose Mercury News - September 3, 2016

SAN JOSE -- Despite scoring their first goal since Aug. 19, the Earthquakes were outgunned in Saturday's 4-3 friendly match loss against C.F. Pachuca at Avaya Stadium.

With more than half of their regular starters either sitting out the exhibition with injuries or away on international duty, several new faces cracked the starting lineup for the Quakes. Among those making their starting debut was goalkeeper Bryan Meredith, who had a rough first half.

Meredith surrendered two goals in an opening half that saw the defending Liga MX champions outclass the Quakes. The first came on a shot in the 12th minute from Erick Gutierrez that Meredith got his hands on but fumbled away and allowed to dribble into the goal. Pachuca struck again when Raul Lopez scored a phenomenal goal in the 21st minute on a free kick that curved into the right corner of the net.

43-year-old Mexican legend Oscar 'Conejo' Perez got the start at goalkeeper for the Tuzos and looked as spry as ever. He blocked a few good San Jose shots in the first half, including a spectacular save on a blasted low driving shot in the 27th minute from Tommy Thompson.

"He's been around a long time and to be starting for the defending champions just shows you that his quality hasn't dropped at all even as he's gotten older," Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear said of Perez.

Lopez would strike again to make it 3-0, but after Perez was replaced by Alfonso Blanco to start the second half, the Quakes were finally able to take the lid off the goal. They scored twice in the span of three minutes with a header from Thompson off a perfect setup from Shea Salinas in the 64th minute, followed by a goal from Salinas in the 67th minute from the right side of the penalty area.

Ruben Botta, who scored on a penalty kick in the 66th minute, was ejected from the game three minutes after his goal when he received his second yellow card, leaving Pachuca with 10 men. Salinas would score his second goal on a rocket from the left side of the penalty box in stoppage time but it was not enough as the Quakes still came up short.

In a game that meant nothing for San Jose in terms of its run at a possible playoff spot in the MLS, Kinnear said he was just happy to see the team make it close and come out of the match without any injuries.

"It was a great comeback at the end," Kinnear said. "After it was 4-1 we could have put our heads down and walked away but great spirit by the guys to get two goals there at the end."

The loss pushes San Jose's winless streak to four consecutive games in all competitions.

Goalkeeper David Bingham, who left last Saturday's game at Columbus with a back injury, could be in line to return this week when the Quakes host Seattle Sounders FC. "His back is sore, but that's about it," Kinnear said. "I think he's headed towards playing against Seattle."

13. Dynamo loan Erick Torres to Cruz Azul of Liga MX

By Corey Roepken Houston Chronicle - September 3, 2016

Less than two years ago, Erick Torres arrived to the Dynamo as the most-hyped player in club history. This weekend there is little to celebrate as the Mexican forward heads back to his native country - perhaps permanently.

The Dynamo on Saturday loaned Torres, 23, to Liga MX side Cruz Azul for the remainder of the calendar year. Cruz Azul will have the option to buy Torres when the loan expires.

Torres was signed by the Dynamo as a designated player in December 2014 for a reported $7 million transfer fee after he scorched MLS by scoring 22 goals in 44 appearances with Chivas USA in 2013 and 2014.

That goal scoring prowess never carried over to Houston. In 25 appearances (seven starts) Torres had zero goals and two assists.

"We feel at this time it is in the best interest of everybody that Erick gets put into a fresh environment," Jordan said. "One of two things will happen from this. One, there will be a permanent transfer. The second option is Erick will return here with a fresh start of a new season."

Torres got off to a rocky start with the Dynamo last summer. In May, he was accused of sexual assault in Mexico but eventually was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. Once with the Dynamo in July, Torres struggled to gain any momentum on the pitch.

His chance to start anew in 2016 was foiled by former coach Owen Coyle, who never favored Torres despite his designated player status.

Coyle and the Dynamo parted ways in May, but Torres was in the middle of a boomerang type of travel that kept him moving between the Dynamo and other countries with the Mexico Olympic team.

He had one assist in 11 appearances (four starts) this season. Despite the lack of success in Houston, Torres remained a big name in Mexico.

"Several clubs have expressed interest," Jordan said. "Cruz Azul expressed strong interest Wednesday and things moved very fast."

The Dynamo play host to Liga MX side Chivas - Torres' original team - in a friendly on Sunday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. er of the net to put Dalla

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 4, 2016


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