MLS - Canuck Round-up (Week 2)

Last weekend only the Impact could win. In Week 2, however a 96th min equalizer by FC Dallas’ 17-year-old Ricardo Pepi ensured they’d be the only north of the border team not to record victory.

This allowed the Vancouver Whitecaps to take centre stage for their excellent 1-0 success down in California, where Chicarito made a quiet debut for the Galaxy.

Tosaint Ricketts grabbed the game’s only goal in the 74th minute, profiting from some incisive play by Ali Adnan, who left former Impact player Nick Du Puy flailing before setting up Ricketts’ side-footed clincher.

In a poor display by the Galaxy, the Whitecaps had the chance to put an even better gloss on the result but Lucas Cavallini’s poor penalty was saved by David Bingham.

Earlier (75 mins) Joe Corona compounded a miserable night for the hosts, seeing red after a foul on Russell Teibert brought a second yellow card.

Toronto FC dominated for most of their game at home to NYCFC, yet had to wait until 9 mins from the end before debutant Ifunanyachi Achara headed home on the goal-line. It looked like Richie Laryea’s deflected effort would go in anyhow, but Nigerian Achrara, who had a tenth minute goal chalked off for offside, made sure.

It’s 180 minutes of football now for NYCFC without a goal and two straight defeats. They could thank Sean Johnson on Saturday for keeping them in the game for as long as he did.

Photo by Anatoliy Cherkasov/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Maxi Urruti shot to the top of the MLS scoring charts with his first ever brace for Montreal Impact. His team however were unable to hold on despite entering the game’s final ten minutes with the two-goal lead still in tact.

The 2-2 draw represents the second time in four matches this season the Impact have not won after holding a two-goal lead, but on a brighter note they gleaned a point from a venue where only defeat has ever been tasted in four previous MLS visits.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Next up for Montreal Impact is the Champions League quarter-final, second-leg against Olimpia of Honduras in midweek. Consequently the Impact have no game next weekend, when Vancouver plays host to 100% Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC get a first look at Nashville SC, who remain pointless after the opening two games.

When Goals Came...

FC Dallas .... 2 Montreal Impact .... 2
59 - Maxi Urruti (IMFC)
68 - Maxi Urruti (IMFC)
83 - Zdenek Ondrasek (FCD)
90+6 - Ricardo Pepi (FCD)

Toronto FC .... 1 NYCFC .... 0
81 - Ifunanyachi Achara (TFC)

LA Galaxy .... 0 Vancouver Whitecaps .... 1
74 - Tosaint Ricketts (VWFC)