Traditionally two of the most potent and dynamic attacking outfits in Major League Soccer, both the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders have performed some way below that standard so far this season. However, the two Cascadia rivals enjoyed something of a renaissance this weekend, and it was largely down to the long-awaited flight of two players who have struggle to take off.



Jack McInerney and Jordan Morris might be rivals on either side of North American soccer’s deepest divide, but the two could have surely sympathised with the other, given the similarities in their respective situations. Something was different this weekend, though. Both players found the net in wins over the San Jose Earthquakes and the Philadelphia Union, with Morris’ strike his first as a professional player.



Against Philadelphia the former Stanford forward was an altogether more positive player. The backwards play that has hindered him so critically as the focal point of the Sounders’ frontline was gone and instead Morris used everything he has as a player to demonstrate just why he was sought so keenly over the off-season. His finish with the outside of the right foot illustrated his potential as a pure finisher, whilst his all-round game was also good enough to make Seattle forget all about Martins for 90 minutes, at least.

McInerney also impressed in his outing for the Portland Timbers, although it wasn’t quite in the role that was originally envisaged for the former Philadelphia and Montreal man. The 23-year-old’s reputation as a penalty box poacher is well established, but on Saturday evening Caleb Porter used him on the left wing, and it worked.

It perhaps shouldn’t have – maybe Porter’s masterstroke was no more than the product of blind fortune – but it did. McInerney excelled down the left flank throughout and even showed a defensive side to his game which must have even surprised Porter. This wasn’t the performance of a poacher – this was the display of the complete wide forward/playmaker, with his pass through for Lucas Melano to break and square for Fanendo Adi in stoppage time one of the plays of the match.

Wins for both Portland and Seattle came at a welcome time, with concerns over attacking identity and fluidity still persistent. But this weekend’s results could go some way to alleviating those worries. Morris is on the way to forging an MLS reputation for himself, whilst McInerney is in the process of changing his. GR

Rapids’ Jermaine Jones gamble might pay off

We’ve been here before. Just like three years ago, when the USA’s World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica was hijacked by inches upon inches of the white stuff, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park hosted another Snow Clasico on Saturday as the Colorado Rapids faced the New York Red Bulls. There was no snowfro this time, only snow-dreads, but once again Jermaine Jones was the headline act.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Colorado and New York in the snow. Photograph: David Zalubowski/AP

The image of Jones’ hair bristling with snow has become synonymous with the game of three years ago, and while his dreads didn’t quite weigh quite as heavy with snow on Saturday, his contribution was even more telling, netting the game’s opening goal on his Rapids debut. Colorado went on to claim a 2-1 win over the Red Bulls, with Jones highlighting why his signing could be worth the risk.

Jones played the full 90 minutes, despite having just returned after four months out of action. Fitness remains a concern for the 34-year-old, with his combative style hardly conducive to a player of such injury proneness. It will most likely be the case that Jones’ first-team appearances are carefully managed by Pablo Mastroeni, but against New York he demonstrated just how valuable he could still prove to be.

“[Colorado] gave me an opportunity to prove people wrong. That’s what you saw today on the field, I tried to give back to them and give them that trust back,” the US international said afterwards. Jones also excelled in providing the intangibles too, giving Colorado the kind of character and presence that they have lacked in recent seasons.

“He was a real leader out there tonight,” confirmed Mastroeni. With Tim Howard also arriving in Denver this summer, the Rapids will soon have even more experience to call upon.

Now the challenge for Mastroeni is to find the best position for Jones. Against the Red Bulls he was played in something of an attacking role, but it seems likely that he will predominantly be used in an anchoring post this season, which could free up space for Dillon Powers to make the long awaited shift to his best position as a more mobile central operator. With Jones now available the Rapids are stronger in almost every way – as long as he is fit, at least. GR

Was criticism of Giovani Dos Santos and Steven Gerrard too hasty?

The LA Galaxy – still Major League Soccer’s glitziest and most alluring team after all these years – have been something of a paradox so far this season. Bruce Arena boasts one of the most illustrious and decorated squads outside Europe, and yet the Carson club were largely better off without them – without Giovani Dos Santos and Steven Gerrard, namely. When they played the Galaxy were a poorer side. Until Friday night.

Against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium, LA turned in their best performance of the campaign so far – and did it with both Dos Santos and Gerrard in the starting lineup. What’s more, the maligned duo were instrumental in pulling off the result. The Galaxy controlled the contest, with their dominance ultimately reflected in the scoreline.

Arena had attempted to shoehorn both players into his team before. Dos Santos started the previous week’s home fixture against the Portland Timbers but struggled to make any kind of impression, notching just one shot on goal (an off target one). Gerrard’s problems as a Galaxy player are even more profound, with the former England captain without a clear role in the team ever since his arrival last summer. Until Friday night in Texas, he was a misfit.

Circumstance forced Arena’s hand against the Dynamo, however, with Dos Santos and Gerrard given the responsibility of carrying the side in the absence of key figures. Nigel De Jong has enjoyed an impressive start to life in LA – if you can ignore the tackle that almost snapped Darlington Nagbe’s ankle the week before – and so his suspension was expected to hit the Galaxy hard. His energy is now integral to the way the Galaxy play, but Gerrard – despite his obvious physical limitations - managed to replicate it as a midfield anchor in front of the back four.

For the first time since summer 2015, the Galaxy had an identity as a team again. In behind Gyasi Zardes as the central striker, Dos Santos was comfortable as a hub of attacking activity. The Mexican was the obvious showstopper, finding the net twice in the win over Houston. But it was in midfield where the most surprising of surprises occurred. Gerrard might have finally found his role in the LA Galaxy side. The only problem is that De Jong might fight him for it – and that’s never a good idea. GR

Drogba and Piatti do the business for Montreal

Ninety minutes had elapsed at Toyota Park. One each between Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact, and the visitors, who had dominated possession and created the better chances, looked like they’d be leaving with just a point. Chicago were set to extend their unbeaten run to five, but then up stepped the Impact’s premier performers to do what premier performers tend to do.

Chicago coughed it up cheaply in midfield, and Dominic Oduro found Ignacio Piatti, pulling out to that left side as he loves to do. One touch from the Argentinian to kill the ball, another to set himself, and a third to bend a stunning shot past Matt Lampson from 25 yards. Two-one in stoppage time, and Montreal had earned the points. It was Piatti’s fourth of the season, and it was magnificent.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Piatti jumps for joy after scoring his goal. Photograph: Mike Dinovo/USA Today Sports

The goal capped a solid day’s work from Montreal, in a game that saw the first of the season for the ageless Didier Drogba, back from self-imposed exile. Drogba, at 37, is not prepared to put his body through the rigors of MLS’s artificial turf, and since four of Montreal’s first five games were played away from grass, the Ivorian was missing for a large chunk of the early season. But his behind the-heel finish for his 56th-minute equaliser was delicious, and cancelled out Kennedy Igboananike’s equally tasty opener. Three great goals in a competitive contest.

Chicago coach Veljko Paunovic thought his side had shown Drogba too much respect. “What concerns me the most is that we weren’t mature in this game,” Paunovic lamented. “When Drogba came into the game we were impressed by him and that’s something that I am not happy about. He is one of the best players in the world, a great guy and everything. But our team has to understand that we have to respect ourselves as we are respecting our opponents; and I don’t think we were on that page. I don’t think we were good, but that’s something that we have to learn.”

Drogba was happy, though. “In the second half, we played with more rhythm and created more chances,” he said. “We wanted to pull off a great result here. We wanted to win. We’re top of the conference, and we have to show more ambition on the road. This win does us a lot of good.” TH

Columbus notch their first win of the season

It hasn’t been the best of starts for last year’s MLS Cup finalists. Gregg Berhalter’s side had lost all their momentum from autumn’s playoff run, and coming into this weekend’s fixtures, were the only MLS side yet to win this season. Most alarming was their stuttering attack: for a side that scored goals for fun last term, they couldn’t seem to find the net. Even Kei Kamara was having a hard time.

But Saturday was a good day. Three goals, three points, and Columbus’s season can now begin properly. The skilful Justin Meram was at the heart of things for the Crew, making two for his attacking colleagues and scoring one for good measure. New York City FC were at their accommodating worst, and Kamara and Ethan Finlay took advantage of some wide open spaces at Mapfre Stadium to finish unerringly, as they say in the parlance. Even the dismissal of Michael Parkhurst, incorrectly shown a red card after Tyson Wahl fouled Kwadwu Poku in the box late on, didn’t dampen Columbus spirits. Parkhurst should have his expulsion rescinded this week.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Kei Kamara is closed down by Jason Hernandez. Photograph: Fred Squillante/AP

Berhalter admitted Kamara and Finlay’s goals were “big”, but retained his perspective, and urged his team to keep doing what they do. “There were points so far in the season when we’ve been a little unlucky, but we could have done better,” he said. “We realize that. It’s playing our brand of soccer and continuing to execute that’s important.”

Worrying signs for NYC FC: despite two more goals for the redoubtable David Villa, they haven’t won since the opening day – their winless run now stands at five – and Patrick Vieira admits he isn’t sure what’s going on.

“It’s difficult to put a finger on what’s not going well,” Vieira said. “I think we played a team who was better than us today. I think there’s nothing more to say.” But Vieira was in no doubt as to the solution. “Keep working,” he said, grinning. “Keep working even harder.” TH

Results

Friday

Houston 1-4 LA Galaxy

Saturday

Chicago Fire 1-2 Montreal Impact

DC United 0-1 Toronto FC

Columbus Crew 3-2 New York City FC

Colorado 2-1 New York Red Bulls

Seattle 2-1 Philadelphia

Real Salt Lake 1-0 Vancouver

Portland 3-1 San Jose

Sunday

Orlando City 2-2 New England

FC Dallas 2-1 Sporting KC