Cienfuegos Keeps Galaxy Unbeaten
Mauricio Cienfuegos’ penalty kick with less then two minutes remaining Saturday gave the undefeated Galaxy a 2-1 Major League Soccer victory over the Kansas City Wizards before 11,500 at Kansas City, Mo.
The Galaxy (5-0) holds a four-point lead in the Western Conference.
Wizard defender Sean Bowers took Cobi Jones down just inside the right edge of the penalty area in the 88th minute to set the stage for the game-winning kick.
“It was definitely a penalty kick,” Jones said. “He grabbed me from behind and then took a swipe at my feet and kicked the legs out from under me.”
Jones scored the first goal of the game moments before halftime, pouncing on a clearing attempt and getting the ball past Mike Ammann for his fourth goal of the season.
Kansas City (2-3) tied the score in the 72nd minute on a header by Paul Rideout. Midfielder Mark Chung beat Ezra Hendrickson on the left flank and made a crossing pass to Rideout at the far post.
Rookie goalkeeper Matt Reis, who helped UCLA to a national title, saved seven shots in his debut with the Galaxy.
“In the first half, I played well,” Reis said. “They didn’t have as many chances. I was making good decisions. But in the second half, they were coming after us. But I was at the right places a the right times.”
Columbus 5, Miami 1--Stern John set a team record with three goals and an assist as the Crew won at Columbus, Ohio, before a crowd of 12,636.
John’s seven-point game broke the Crew mark of six held by Brian Maisonneuve.
Ansil Elcock had three assists and Brian McBride added a goal for the Crew (4-1), which won its fourth in a row. McBride has a goal in every game.
The Fusion (3-3) allowed four second-half goals as its three-game winning streak ended.
John started the second-half rally in the 48th minute with his first goal.
New England 2, Washington 1--The Revolution celebrated its home opener with a shootout victory at Foxboro, Mass.
The game was tied, 1-1, at the end of regulation with each team scoring in the first half.
In the shootout, Imad Baba, Ivan McKinley and Paul Keegan scored for New England while Jamie Moreno and Roy Wegerle converted for D.C. United.
The victory ended a three-game losing streak for New England (1-3).
San Jose 2, Dallas 1--Braeden Cloutier and Lawrence Lozzano each scored for the Clash in the final five minutes before 12,939 at Dallas.
