DC Sail On, Orlando Miss Chance to Reduce Gap on Impact ...

It could have been worse.

With 8 mins to go in Portland last night, Orlando were creeping ever nearer to Montreal Impact in the Eastern standings. They had led from the 44th minute when Santiago Patino first-timed a weak clearance into the net from 12 yards.

Had they held on, Orlando would have come within two points of the Impact, with a superior goal difference and most notably, a game less played.

But the gap was kept cushioned at four, thanks to a headed combination between Fernandez and Ebobisse, the substitute, who applied the finishing touch.

Chasing the game, Portland had gone to two central strikers, introducing Ebobisse in the 61st minute. The move paid off with 8 mins left on the regulation clock.

It was almost total domination by the Timbers throughout, who despite outshooting their opponents 26-2, forced only three saves from Greg Ranjitsingh in Orlando’s goal.

Orlando had made nine changes from the team that defeated Columbus Crew at the weekend.

Elsewhere, a predictable victory ensued for DC United at a poor Cincinnati. The hosts rallied briefly after going behind, levelling with an early second-half penalty.

Wayne Rooney’s reaction to the concession earned him a yellow card and so vehement were his protests you’d be forgiven for thinking he felt the game was moving away from his side.

He need not have worried. DC and Lucas Rodriguez were aided by a fortunate deflection wrong-footing Spencer Richey just two mins later, and the rest was history. Rooney claimed the goal of the match - he makes it look so easy - to effectively kill the contest at 3-1, and Paul Arriola drilled in a fourth.

DC are now second in the East, five points in front of Montreal with the same number of games played.


Last night’s results -

Portland Timbers .... 1 Orlando City ......... 1 (HT 0-1)

FC Cincinnati ...........1 DC United ..............4 (HT 0-1)