It was a busy week in Major League Soccer with several teams playing 2 games and a few surprises. Here’s a recap along with the latest standings in both conferences.
Toronto Wins 2
Toronto FC has been inconsistent this season and had a great week with 2 home victories. The first, a win Wednesday against Chivas USA, and Sunday playing against Kansas City. Playing at BMO Field in front of sellout crowds, Toronto doubled their point total, and sit alone the Eastern Conference standings. It was a bittersweet victory on Sunday as head coach John Carver resigned the day before. The resignation was for “personal reasons” and Toronto FC director Mo Johnston stated that Carver had been thinking about leaving for a few weeks and eventually decided to leave. Even with their head coach leaving, Toronto has two clean sheets in a row, and won consecutive 1-0 games. Fan favorite Danny Dichio scored his first goal of the season and Toronto is looking like a playoff team with their recent form.
Chivas USA Remains On Top Out West, Seattle Rebounds
Chivas suffered their first lost on Wednesday at Toronto but continues to remain top of the Western Conference table. Chivas USA recovered Saturday against FC Dallas and now have 16 points, 4 points ahead of 2nd place Seattle in the West. The team’s home record is impecable, with 4 wins, and only conceding 2 goals. Meanwhile, Seattle ended their 2 game losing streak with a strong win at home at Qwest Field Saturday night. Keller was back in goal and Steve Zakuani is looking like a early rookie of the year candidate with his form.
Columbus Let Another One Slip Away
The Crew had the game in hand against Chicago with a 2-0 lead at home until conceding 2 late goals. Padula earned a late red card, and Chicago capitalized late with two goals. Last year’s MLS Cup Champions are struggling, unable to hold onto leads at home against Toronto, Colorado, and now Chicago.
Real Salt Lake blanks New England 6-0
Salt Lake continues to impress at home, with a dominating 6-0 thrashing of the Revolution on Saturday. New England has scored only 5 goals so far and is still trying to get healthy. RSL’s attack at home has been second to none, scoring 12 goals in 4 games.
It’s Still Early
While teams like Chivas and Seattle look like playoff contenders, its important to note that its a long MLS season and plenty of soccer left to play. Kansas City has moved up the standings after a disappointing start, Chicago remains consistent, and DC United is starting to find their form. On the other end, Dallas and Los Angeles are at the bottom of the standings.
| 2009 – Eastern Conference Table | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||
| RK | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | GD | P | ||||
| 1 |  | Toronto FC | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 11 | |||
| 2 |  | Chicago | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 10 | |||
| 3 | | Kansas City | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 10 | |||
| 4 | | DC United | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 9 | |||
| 5 | | New England | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | -4 | 8 | |||
| 6 |  | New York Red Bulls | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -4 | 5 | |||
| 7 | | Columbus | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 4 | |||
2009 – Western Conference Table | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||
| RK | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | GD | P | ||||
| 1 | | Chivas USA | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 16 | |||
| 2 | | Seattle Sounders FC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 | |||
| 3 | | Real Salt Lake | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 9 | |||
| 4 | | Colorado | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 8 | |||
| 5 | | Houston | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -1 | 5 | |||
| 6 | | San Jose | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 5 | |||
| 7 | | Los Angeles | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 4 | |||
| 8 | | Dallas | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -6 | 4 | |||
