All three Canadian MLS clubs were in action twice this week, with games on both Wednesday and Saturday.
The Montreal Impact and Toronto FC had two regular season MLS matches this week. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, on the other hand, had a CONCACAF Champions League match and a regular season game to compete in.
Let’s start with Wednesday’s action.
Montreal Impact 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes
The Montreal Impact picked up a point in a 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose on Wednesday night. Earthqauakes forward Chris Wondolowski scored 35 minutes into the match and Impact midfielder Kyle Bekker levelled the score in the 65th minute.
Montreal was playing with 10 men after defender Ambroise Oyongo was sent off with a red in the 49th minute.
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Toronto FC 0-2 New York City FC
New York City FC midfielder and former Chelsea skipper Frank Lampard scored his first goal in MLS on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Forward Patrick Mullins added a second goal in the second half as New York City FC dispatched Toronto 2-0. Italian legend Andrea Pirlo picked up assists on both of those goals.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1-0 CD Olimpia
The Whitecaps hosted Honduran outfit CD Olimpia on Wednesday night at BC Place. Vancouver secured the Champions League victory with a 1-0 win. Canadian midfielder Kianz Froese scored the goal as a younger-looking Whitecaps lineup helped move Vancouver into a tie for first in Group F with the Seattle Sounders.
It was a busy week as all three clubs were back in action on Saturday.
Montreal Impact 3-0 New England Revolution
The Montreal Impact blanked the New England Revolution 3-0 at home to collect three massive points as the club continues its march towards the MLS playoffs.
After some strong ball movement by the Impact attack, midfielder Johan Venegas gave Montreal the early lead in the fifth minute when his long drive was deflected into the back of New England’s net.
Impact forward Didier Drogba followed that one up with a goal of his own in the 60th minute. Off a free kick, Drogba sent the ball towards the net and it too would take a deflection and find the back of the net.
In the 72nd minute, Impact midfielder Marco Donadel received a red card after a poor challenge on New England’s Andrew Farrell, giving the Revs a chance to stage a comeback.
However, it was Impact midfielder Dilly Duka who would extend the lead to three when he scored off a brilliant pass from Drogba in the 76th minute.
Goalkeeper Evan Bush made three saves and picked up a clean sheet in Montreal’s 3-0 win.
The Montreal Impact will be back in action on Wednesday when they host the Chicago Fire.
Toronto FC 3-1 Colorado Rapids
Toronto FC cruised to a 3-1 home victory over the Colorado Rapids to snap a three-game losing streak. Toronto superstar Sebastian Giovinco tallied twice in four minutes and added an assist on defender Damien Perquis’ goal in the 38th minute.
Canadian midfielder Jonathan Osorio also grabbed an assist on Giovinco’s second goal in the 18th minute. Robbie Findley and Benoit Cheyrou also had assists in the match.
Rapids midfielder Dillon Powers scored a goal in the 40th minute to bring Colorado within two goals, but that was as close as the Rapids would get as Toronto picked up three big points.
For a more in-depth look at this game from MLS Multiplex, click here.
Toronto FC will host the Chicago Fire next on Sept. 26.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0-3 Seattle Sounders FC
The first-place Vancouver Whitecaps suffered a rare defeat when they played host to their Cascadia Cup rivals, the Seattle Sounders, on Saturday night at BC Place. The Sounders went on to defeat their conference foes 3-0.
However, this game was more than just a regular season MLS game as Seattle had the opportunity to clinch its first Cascadia Cup since 2011.
Sounders midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz scored the opening goal in the 45th minute off a great feed from forward Obafemi Martins.
In the 71st minute, Seattle’s attack went back to work as forwards Clint Dempsey and Nelson Valdez would help set up midfielder Gonzalo Pineda for a goal. After some excellent passing, Pineda would send a thumper behind Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted.
Obafemi Martins would add to the lead in the 87th minute as the dynamic duo of Dempsey and Martins would connect for a goal to put this game far out of reach for the Whitecaps.
With the victory, the Seattle Sounders grabbed the Cascadia Cup from their counterparts, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers, for the fourth time in club history and first since 2011.
Fortunately for the Whitecaps, the Los Angeles Galaxy and FC Dallas both lost this week, so the ‘Caps still remain first in the Western Conference and league standings. However, multiple teams are right on their heels in both conferences.
For a more in-depth look at this game from MLS Multiplex, click here.
The Whitecaps will face the Sounders again in a CONCACAF Champions League match on Wednesday in Seattle before hosting New York City FC on Sept. 26 in MLS regular season play.
Next: Italian World Cup Legend Paolo Rossi Visits Toronto (Interview)