MLS 2017: Week 31

A short week awaits this weekend, with only three games on during the international break. We begin with...

The New York Red Bulls hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Luis Robles are in goal. New York led off in the thirty-third minute with a Daniel Royer goal, via Sacha Kljestan and Tyler Adams. Marcel de Jong of Vancouver had a yellow card for a fifty-first minute foul. The Red Bulls added on in the fifty-eighth minute with a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, set up by Adams. New York extended the lead in the seventy-second minute as Felipe scored, thanks to Kljestan. In the eighty-fourth minute, the Red Bulls; Kemar Lawrence received a yellow card for his foul. The final held at 3-0, with the man of the match being Kljestan.

West to Minnesota, where United FC welcomes Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Bobby Shuttleworth draw the starts in goal. Jerome Thiesson of Minnesota had a yellow card for his forty-first minute foul. Kansas City began in first half stoppage time with a Diego Rubio goal, passed from Latif Blessing. Melia came out in the fifty-ninth minute with an injury, and Andrew Dykstra replaced him in goal. Sporting saw yellow cards for Seth Sinovic in the seventieth minute for a foul and for time wasting in the seventy-second minute by Dykstra. Minnesota tied it in the eighty-fourth minute on a Brent Kallman goal, coming off of Abu Danladi. Minnesota went down to ten men after consecutive yellow cards for Joseph Greenspan in the eighty-sixth minute and in stoppage time. The final stayed at 1-1, with Kallman named man of the match.

Finally, the Colorado Rapids bring in FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Zac MacMath are the keepers. Colorado struck first in the fifteenth minute with a Stefan Aigner goal, via Joshua Gatt. Dismark Boateng of the Rapids had a yellow card for his twenty-second minute foul. Dallas tied it in the fifty-fourth minute on an Atiba Harris goal, set up by Javier Morales. Dominique Badji of Colorado had a yellow card for a sixty-eighth minute foul. In the sixty-ninth minute, Harris took a yellow card for a foul. The score was 1-1 in the end, with the man of the match being Aigner.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2017-18 Day 3

Just three games on tonight, beginning in...

Columbus, as the Blue Jackets host the New York Islanders. Thomas Greiss and Sergei Bobrovsky are in goal. Columbus opened in the first period with a Sonny Milano goal, via Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nick Foligno. The Blue Jackets added on with a Cam Atkinson goal, helped along by Artemi Panarin. Columbus extended the lead in the second period as Ryan Murray scored, thanks to Panarin and Alexander Wennberg. The Blue Jackets padded the lead on a Zach Werenski power play goal, powered by Wennberg and Panarin, the latter earning a sock trick. Columbus chased Greiss with a Pierre-Luc Dubois goal, coming off of Seth Jones. This stood for a 5-0 win, as Jaroslav Halak went perfect in relief. The three stars were Panarin, Bobrovsky (29 save shutout), and Wennberg.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo and Andrei Vasilevskiy make the starts in goal. Tampa Bay started in the first period with an Ondrej Palat goal, assisted by Brayden Point and Victor Hedman. The Lightning added on with a Point goal in the second period, going in unassisted. Florida got on the board with a Connor Brickley goal, helped along by Alex Petrovic. The Panthers tied it on a Mark Pysyk goal, via Radim Vrbata and Vincent Trocheck. Tampa Bay retook the lead in the third period with a Vladislav Namestnikov power play goal, powered by Steven Stamkos and Alex Killorn. The Lightning extended the lead as Nikita Kucherov scored an unassisted goal. Florida got one back with a Jonathan Huberdeau goal, passed from Evgenii Dadonov and Keith Yandle. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-3 with a Palat empty net goal, set up by Point. The three stars went to Point, Palat, and Namestnikov.

Finally, the Dallas Stars bring in the Vegas Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ben Bishop are the masked men. Dallas got going in the second period with a Tyler Seguin power play goal, powered by Devin Shore and John Klingberg. Vegas tied it in the third period with a James Neal goal, coming off of Nate Schmidt and Luca Sbisa. The Golden Knights pulled ahead with a Neal goal, his second of the game, made possible by Cody Eakin and Jason Garrison. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars being Neal, Fleury (45 for 46 in saves), and Seguin.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2017-18 Day 2

Eight games on for the second day of the regular season. We begin in...

Boston, as the Bruins host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Tuukka Rask are the Finnish goalies. Boston began in the first period with a David Pastrnak power play goal, powered by Charlie McAvoy and David Krejci. Nashville tied it on a Viktor Arvidsson goal, made possible by Ryan Johansen. The Bruins took the lead back in the second period with a Jake DeBrusk goal, helped along by Krejci and Anders Bjork. Boston added on with a McAvoy goal, assisted by Krejci, who got a sock trick, and DeBrusk. The Bruins extended the lead with a shorthanded empty net goal by Brad Marchand in the third period, set up by Brandon Carlo. The Predators got one back on a Scott Hartnell power play goal, coming off of Johansen and Arvidsson. Nashville got closer with a Filip Forsberg power play goal, going in unassisted. The final held at 4-3, with the three stars given to Krejci, DeBrusk, and McAvoy, while Arvidsson and Johansen get the honorable mentions.

Up in Buffalo, the Sabres welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Robin Lehner are the masked men. Buffalo started in the first period with a Jason Pominville goal, courtesy of Seth Griffith on the power play. Montreal tied it on a Max Pacioretty goal, assisted by Jonathan Drouin and Brendan Gallagher. The Sabres took the lead back in the second period with a Pominville goal, made possible by Jack Eichel and Evander Kane. The Canadiens tied it again in the third period with a shorthanded Phillip Danault goal, set up by Shea Weber and Karl Alzner. Montreal won 3-2 in the shootout with a lone tally by Drouin. The three stars went to Drouin, Price (43 for 45), and Pominville.

In New York City, the Rangers host the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Henrik Lundqvist are the veterans in goal. Colorado led off in the first period with a Matt Duchene goal, coming off of Patrik Nemeth and Nail Yakupov. The Avalanche added on with a Mikko Rantanen power play goal, powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie. New York got on the board with a Mika Zibanejad power play goal, with a lone assist by Kevin Shattenkirk. The Rangers tied it on a Zibanejad goal, guided in by Mats Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich. Colorado took the lead back in the second period with a Barrie goal, helped along by Alexander Kerfoot and Chris Bigras. The Avalanche iced it at 4-2 with a Gabriel Landeskog empty net goal, set up by Duchene. The three stars were Duchene, Zibanejad, and Varlamov (37 for 39 in saves).

Northwest to Detroit, where the Red Wings bring in the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Jimmy Howard draw the starts in goal. Detroit got going in the second period with an Anthony Mantha power play goal, powered by Martin Frk and Mike Green. The Red Wings added on with a Dylan Larkin power play goal, with assists provided by Green and Mantha. Minnesota got on the board in the third period with a Joel Eriksson Ek goal, via Chris Stewart and Marcus Foligno. The Wild tied it on a Stewart goal, helped along by Tyler Ennis and Kyle Quincey. Detroit pulled ahead again with a Henrik Zetterberg goal, assisted by Green, who got a sock trick, and Gustav Nyquist. The Red Wings extended the lead as Frk scored, thanks to Mantha. The final held at 4-2, with the three stars given to Frk, Mantha, and Green, while Stewart gets an honorable mention.

Up in Ontario, the Ottawa Senators host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Craig Anderson are between the pipes. Ottawa opened in the first period with a Chris Wideman goal, via Derick Brassard and Bobby Ryan. Washington tied it on a Brett Connolly goal, coming off of Lars Eller and Matt Niskanen. The Senators took the lead back in the second period with a Mark Stone goal, with a lone assist by Brassard. Ottawa added on in the third period with a Brassard goal, helped along by Bobby Ryan. The Capitals got one back with an Alex Ovechkin goal, guided in by Evgeny Kuznetsov. Washington tied it as Ovechkin scored again, thanks to Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana. The Senators retook the lead with another Stone goal, passed from Dion Phaneuf and Wideman. The Capitals tied it again with an Ovechkin goal, completing his hat trick with helpers from Kuznetsov, who got a sock trick, and Vrana. The tie went to a shootout, where Ovechkin and Kuznetsov topped Ryan to give the Capitals a 5-4 win. The three stars belonged to Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, and Brassard, while Stone, Wideman, Vrana, and Ryan get the honorable mentions.

Southwest to Chicago, as the Blackhawks welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Antti Niemi and Corey Crawford are the goalies. Chicago struck first in the first period with a Ryan Hartman goal, via Patrick Kane and Michal Kempny. The Blackhawks added on with a Brandon Saad goal, with a lone assist by Richard Panik. Chicago extended the lead as Nick Schmaltz scored, thanks to Kane and Hartman. The Blackhawks chased Niemi with a Saad goal, with assists provided by Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. Chicago padded the lead against Matt Murray with a Patrick Sharp goal, assisted by Artem Anisimov. Pittsburgh got on the board in the second period with a Phil Kessel power play goal, powered by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Blackhawks responded with a Kane goal, fueled by Hartman and Gustav Forsling. Chicago continued with a Panik goal, made possible by Schmaltz and Jan Rutta. The Blackhawks piled on with a Schmaltz goal, courtesy of Kane and Hartman, both of whom earned sock tricks. Chicago kept going with a Saad goal to complete his hat trick, with the help of Jonathan Toews and Seabrook. The Blackhawks finished it at 10-1 with a Seabrook goal, guided in by John Hayden and Hartman. The three stars were Saad, Hartman, and Kane, while Seabrook and Schmaltz get the honorable mentions.

Out in California, the Los Angeles Kings host the Philadelphia Flyers. Michal Neuvirth and Jonathan Quick are in the blue paint. Los Angeles dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Trevor Lewis goal, helped along by Nick Shore and Kyle Clifford. The Kings added on with a Tyler Toffoli goal in the third period, assisted by Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Quick (35 save shutout), Lewis, and Toffoli.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Arizona Coyotes. Louis Domingue is mismatched with John Gibson in goal. Arizona was first to score in the first period with an Anthony Duclair goal, via Alex Goligoski and Tobias Rieder. The Coyotes added on with a Clayton Keller goal, coming off of Goligoski and Max Domi. Anaheim got on the board with a Corey Perry goal, assisted by Rickard Rakell. Arizona shot back in the second period with a Domi power play goal, powered by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Christian Dvorak. The Coyotes extended the lead as Christian Fischer scored a power play goal, thanks to Brendan Perlini and Goligoski, the latter earning a sock trick. The Ducks chipped back with Perry's second of the game, guided in by Rakell and Andrew Cogliano. Anaheim pulled closer on an Ondrej Kase goal, made possible by Jakob Silfverberg and Brandon Montour. The Ducks tied it in the third period with a Cogliano goal, with a lone assist by Perry. Anaheim took the lead with a Rakell goal, passed from Cogliano. This stood for a 5-4 win, with the three stars going to Rakell, Cogliano, and Perry, while Goligoski and Domi get the honorable mentions.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2017-18 Day 1

The NHL is back in action beginning tonight. We have four games for the season debut, beginning in...

Winnipeg, as the Jets host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Steve Mason play in goal. Toronto led off in the first period with a Nazem Kadri power play goal, powered by James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak. The Maple Leafs added on with a van Riemsdyk goal, via Bozak. Toronto extended the lead as William Nylander scored, thanks to Jake Gardiner and Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs padded the lead in the second period with a Patrick Marleau goal, courtesy of Matthews and Mitchell Marner. Toronto chased Mason early in the third period with another Marleau goal, helped along by Kadri and Leo Komarov. The Maple Leafs continued with a Marner power play goal, with assists provided by van Riemsdyk and Morgan Rielly. Winnipeg got on the board with a Mark Scheifele goal, made possible by Patrik Laine and Dustin Byfuglien. Toronto shot back with a Matthews goal, guided in by Connor Carrick and Andreas Borgman. The Jets replied with a Mathieu Perreault goal, with a lone assist by Bryan Little. The final was 7-2, with the three stars going to van Riemsdyk, Matthews, and Marleau, while Marner, Kadri, and Bozak get the honorable mentions.

Back stateside, the Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Matt Murray protect the nets. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Justin Schultz goal, coming off of Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. St. Louis tied it on a Brayden Schenn goal, via Carl Gunnarsson and Jaden Schwartz. The Blues took the lead with a Colton Parayko power play goal, going in unassisted. The Penguins tied it again in the second period with an Olli Maatta goal, courtesy of Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin. St. Louis retook the lead with an Alex Pietrangelo goal, helped along by Vladimir Sobotka and Paul Stastny. The Blues added on in the third period with a Stastny goal, assisted by Sobotka and Vladimir Tarasenko. Pittsburgh pulled back on a Crosby power play goal, powered by Guentzel and Malkin. The Penguins tied it on a Conor Sheary goal, with helpers from Greg McKegg and Rust. St. Louis won 5-4 in overtime with a Pietrangelo goal, his second of the game, fueled by Schenn and Schwartz. The three stars went to Pietrangelo, Schenn, and Stastny, while Crosby, Schwartz, Sobotka, Guentzel, Malkin, and Rust receive the honorable mentions.

Out west, the Edmonton Oilers bring in the Calgary Flames. Mike Smith and Cam Talbot man the creases. Edmonton opened in the first period with a Connor McDavid goal, fueled by Leon Draisaitl and Patrick Maroon. The Oilers added on in the third period with another McDavid goal, going in unassisted. Edmonton iced it at 3-0 as McDavid completed his hat trick on an empty net goal set up by Draisaitl and Milan Lucic. The three stars were McDavid, Talbot (26 save shutout), and Draisaitl.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Philadelphia Flyers. Brian Elliott and Martin Jones draw the starts in goal. Philadelphia started in the first period with a Claude Giroux goal, courtesy of Jakub Voracek. The Flyers added on with a Jordan Weal power play goal, powered by Travis Konecny and Shayne Gostisbehere. San Jose got on the board with a Kevin Labanc goal, via Brenden Dillon and Joe Pavelski. The Sharks tied it with another Labanc goal, coming unassisted on the power play. Philadelphia retook the lead in the second period with a Wayne Simmonds power play goal, coming off of Gostisbehere and Voracek. San Jose retied it in the third period with a Logan Couture power play goal, with assists provided by Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. The Flyers regained the lead with a Simmonds power play goal, his second of the night, fueled by Voracek and Gostisbehere, both of whom earned sock tricks. Philadelphia iced it at 5-3 with a Simmonds empty net goal to complete his hat trick, set up by Sean Couturier. The three stars went to Simmonds Voracek, and Gostisbehere, while Labanc gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

MLS Midweek: October 3, 2017

Just one game to squeeze in before the international break, as Atlanta United FC hosts Minnesota Untied FC. Bobby Shuttleworth faces a lesser foe in Kyle Reynish in goal. Collin Martin of Minnesota had a yellow card for his thirtieth minute foul. Atlanta saw a yellow card for a thirty-eighth minute Tyrone Mears foul. Minnesota got going in the forty-eighth minute with an Abu Danladi goal, via Kevin Molino. Atlanta went down to ten men in the sixtieth minute when the keeper Reynish took a straight red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Alex Tambakis replaced him via a substitution of Kenwyne Jones. Atlanta tied it in the sixty-seventh minute with a Hector Villalba goal. Atlanta took the lead on a seventy-second minute Julian Gressel goal, courtesy of Yamil Asad. Asad took a yellow card for delay of game in the seventy-ninth minute for Atlanta. Brent Kallman of Minnesota had a yellow card for his eightieth minute foul. Minnesota tied it in the ninetieth minute with a Christian Ramirez goal, coming off of Sam Nicholson and Collen Warner. Minnesota took the lead deep in stoppage time with a Molino goal, helped along by Jerome Thiesson and Miguel Ibarra. Molino took a yellow card for time wasting, but the score held at 3-2 Minnesota, with Molino named man of the match.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NWSL 2017 Regular Season Finale

This is the last week of the NWSL Regular Season. We begin with four games on Saturday, first in...

Portland, as the Thorns FC host the Chicago Red Stars. Michele Dalton is mismatched with Adrianna Franch. Portland led off in the second minute with a Hayley Raso goal. The Thorns added on in the thirteenth minute with an Ashleigh Sykes goal. Chicago's Arin Gilliland took a yellow card for her twenty-fifth minute foul. The Red Stars saw a yellow card given to Lauren Kaskie in the thirty-third minute. Amandine Henry of Portland took a yellow card for a foul in the forty-second minute. Chicago got on the board with a Sofia Huerta goal in the seventy-first minute. Portland replied in the eighty-third minute on a Nadia Nadim penalty kick. The final stood at 3-1, with the woman of the match being Sykes. The Thorns also got good games from Raso, Christine Sinclair, and Emily Sonnett. The Red Stars' best were Gilliland, Vanessa DiBernardo, and Huerta.

On the east coast, the Washington Spirit welcome the Seattle Reign FC. Madalyn Schiffel and Didi Haracic are the young goalies. Washington began with a Mallory Pugh goal in the twenty-seventh minute, set up by Meggie Dougherty Howard. The Spirit added on with a Pugh goal in the thirty-second minute, coming off of Havana Solaun. Seattle got on the board with a Jess Fishlock goal, via Kiersten Dallstream. The Reign tied it on a Larissa Crummer goal in the eighty-third minute, passed from Fishlock. Seattle took the lead with a Fishlock goal in the ninetieth minute, courtesy of Dallstream. This made it 3-2, the final, with Fishlock named woman of the match. Also starring for the Reign were Lauren Barnes, Dallstream, and Beverly Yanez, while the Spirit got good games from Caprice Dydasco, Tori Huster, Dougherty Howard, and Pugh.

Up in Boston, the Breakers host Sky Blue FC. Caroline Casey and Abby Smith draw the starts in goal. Boston opened in the twenty-fifth minute with a Natasha Dowie goal, helped along by Midge Purce. The Breakers added on with a Dowie goal in the twenty-eighth minute, coming off of Tiffany Weimer. Sky Blue got on the board with a thirty-fourth minute goal by Sam Kerr, via Maya Hayes. In the sixty-fourth minute, Boston's Purce took a yellow card for a foul. Madison Tiernan of Sky Blue had a yellow card for a seventy-second minute foul. Sky Blue tied it in the seventy-sixth minute with a Tiernan goal, set up by Kelley O'Hara. Sky Blue took the lead with an Erica Skroski goal in the seventy-eighth minute, assisted by Taylor Lytle. Boston retied it after Sky Blue's keeper Casey pawed at a shot three times before it fell in the net, officially credited as an own goal in the eighty-fifth minute. Sky Blue retook the lead in the eighty-seventh minute with an O'Hara goal, guided in by Leah Galton. The final held at 4-3, with O'Hara named woman of the match. Sky Blue also saw good games from Skroski, Mandy Freeman, and Kerr, while the Breakers' best were Brooke Elby, Dowie, and Weimer.

South to North Carolina, where the Courage bring in the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Katelyn Rowland are the gloved women. Orlando started in the twenty-second minute with a Kristen Edmonds goal, passed from Chioma Ubogagu. The Pride added on in the fifty-first minute with a Marta goal, made possible by Alex Morgan. North Carolina got on the board in the sixty-second minute with a Lynn Williams goal, set up by Taylor Smith. The Courage tied it in the sixty-seventh minute with a Williams penalty kick goal. Harris also received a yellow card for delaying the game before the spot kick was taken. In the seventy-second minute, Orlando's Marta took a yellow card for a foul. In the ninetieth minute, Abby Dahlkemper of North Carolina received a yellow card for a foul. The Pride took the lead back with an Alanna Kennedy free kick goal in stoppage time. This made it 3-2, the final, with the woman of the match being Kennedy, while Orlando saw good games from Marta, Ubogagu, and Edmonds, while the Courage's best were McCall Zerboni, Smith, Debinha, and Williams.

On Sunday, the regular season ends with FC Kansas City hosting the Houston Dash. Jane Campbell and Nicole Barnhart protect the nets. Kansas City struck first in the tenth minute with a Maegan Kelly goal, assisted by Desiree Scott. In the forty-eighth minute, Bruna of Houston took a yellow card for a foul. In the fifty-first minute, Cari Roccaro of the Dash received a yellow card for a foul. Houston tied it on a Rachel Daly goal, via Kristie Mewis and Nichelle Prince. In the sixty-third minute, Kelly of Kansas City received a yellow card for a foul. In the seventy-first minute, Shea Groom took a yellow card for her foul. The final held at 1-1, with the woman of the match being Daly. Also strong for the Dash were Campbell, Amber Brooks, and Mewis, while Kansas City's best were Sydney Miramontez, Scott, Kelly, and Sydney Leroux.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Jane Campbell
RB Kelley O'Hara
CB Lauren Barnes
CB Alanna Kennedy (out of position)
LB Erica Skroski
DM Jess Fishlock
AM Kristie Mewis
AM Kiersten Dallstream
FW Mallory Pugh
FW Natasha Dowie
FW Lynn Williams

MLS 2017: Week 30

All teams are in action this weekend before the international break. We begin with ten games on Saturday, the first in...

Florida, as Orlando City SC hosts FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Joe Bendik are in goal. Dallas had a yellow card for time wasting by Michael Barrios in stoppage time. The game ended at 0-0, with Bendik's five-save clean sheet making him the man of the match.

Up in Canada, Toronto FC welcomes the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Alexander Bono are the keepers. Toronto led off in the thirty-second minute with a Justin Morrow goal. Toronto added on with a Morrow goal in the thirty-seventh minute. New York got on the board in the thirty-ninth minute with a Gonzalo Veron goal, made possible by Tyler Adams and Daniel Royer. The Red Bulls' keeper Robles took a yellow card for dissent in the fifty-second minute. New York tied it in the seventy-seventh minute on a Royer penalty kick goal. Toronto reclaimed the lead in the eightieth minute on a Victor Vazquez penalty kick goal. Jozy Altidore of Toronto had a yellow card for his eighty-second minute foul. Toronto extended the lead in stoppage time as Morrow completed his hat trick, with the help of Altidore and Marco Delgado. This made it a 4-2 final, with the man of the match being Morrow.

Down in Ohio, the Columbus Crew SC bring in DC United. Steve Clark faces his former team and Zack Steffen in goal. Columbus began in the fourteenth minute on a Josh Williams goal, coming off of Federico Higuain. Russell Canouse of DC had a yellow card for an eighteenth minute foul. The Crew's Jonathan Mensah took a yellow card for dissent in the forty-ninth minute. Columbus added on in the fifty-sixth minute with a Justin Meram goal, made possible by Artur. The final was 2-0, with the man of the match being Williams.

To the east, the New England Revolution host Atlanta United FC. Brad Guzan and Brad Knighton are the similarly named goalies. Atlanta had a yellow card for delay of game by Leandro Gonzalez Pirez in the twenty-fifth minute. The final held at 0-0, with Guzan the man of the match for his five-save clean sheet.

Back west, the Chicago Fire welcome New York City FC. Sean Johnson and Matt Lampson protect the nets. Chicago's Dax McCarty took a yellow card for a sixteenth minute foul. The Fire opened in the twentieth minute with a Nemanja Nikolic goal. New York City tied it in the forty-third minute on a David Villa goal, passed from Maximiliano Moralez. New York City's Moralez had a yellow card for his seventy-third minute foul. The score stayed at 1-1 for the draw, with the man of the match being Villa.

In Texas, the Houston Dynamo bring in Minnesota United FC. Bobby Shuttleworth and Tyler Deric are the experienced goalies. Minnesota saw a yellow card for a Michael Boxall foul in the sixty-eighth minute. Houston got going in the sixty-ninth minute with an Alberth Elis goal, via Vicente Sanchez. Elis also received a yellow card for delay of game for the Dynamo. Houston added on with a Romell Quioto goal in the eighty-fifth minute, set up by Sanchez, and likewise, Quioto took a yellow card for delay of game. Francisco Calvo of Minnesota had a yellow card for his eighty-seventh minute foul. Minnesota got on the board with a Sam Nicholson goal in stoppage time, coming off of Calvo. This wasn't enough, as the final stood at 2-1, with Sanchez named man of the match.

Northwest to Colorado, where the Rapids host the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Tim Howard guard the woodwork. Colorado went down to ten men in the twelfth minute as Jared Watts took a straight red card for violent conduct. Montreal matched that by going to ten men in the thirty-second minute after a straight red card to Daniel Lovitz, also for violent conduct. The Rapids started in first half stoppage time on a Stefan Aigner goal, helped along by Mekeil Williams. Kortne Ford of Colorado had a yellow card for a forty-eighth minute foul. The Impact tied the game in the sixty-second minute with a Matteo Mancosu goal, via Samuel Piette. The Rapids retook the lead in the eighty-first minute with an Alan Gordon goal, courtesy of Dominique Badji and Williams. Gordon also took a yellow card for Colorado for delaying the game. This made it 2-1, good for a Rapids win, with the man of the match being Williams.

Backtracking to Kansas City, as Sporting welcomes the Vancouver Whitecaps. Stefan Marinovic is mismatched with Tim Melia in goal. Vancouver dented the scoreboard in the fifty-third minute with an Erik Hurtado goal, via Jordan Harvey. In the sixty-ninth minute, the Whitecaps' Alphonso Davies took a yellow card for time wasting. Kansas City went down to ten men in stoppage time after Graham Zusi took a straight red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Vancouver also went to ten men two minutes later when Christian Bolanos took a straight red card for violent conduct. The Whitecaps held on for a 1-0 win, with the man of the match being Hurtado.

In California, the Los Angeles Galaxy bring in Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Clement Diop draw the starts in goal. Salt Lake went down to ten men in the fourteenth minute as Marcelo Silva took a straight red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Gyasi Zardes of Los Angeles had a yellow card for a thirty-second minute foul. The Galaxy struck first in the forty-first minute with a Bradford Jamieson goal, set up by Jermaine Jones. In the forty-eighth minute, Los Angeles' Jamieson took a yellow card for his foul. Real had a yellow card for a David Horst foul in the eighty-first minute. Romain Alessandrini took a yellow card for time wasting for the Galaxy in the eighty-fifth minute. The tactic failed, as Salt Lake tied it in stoppage time on a Kyle Beckerman goal, courtesy of Horst. Beckerman was named man of the match for creating the 1-1 draw.

Saturday ends in San Jose, as the Earthquakes host the Portland Timbers. Jeff Attinella and Andrew Tarbell are the backups in goal. San Jose was first to score in the sixteenth minute with a Valeri Qazaishvili goal, via Jahmir Hyka. The Earthquakes added on with a Danny Hoesen goal in the forty-ninth minute, made possible by Chris Wondolowski and Qazaishvili. Victor Bernardez of San Jose had a yellow card for a foul in the fifty-sixth minute. Portland's Vytautas Andriuskevicius took a yellow card for his seventy-first minute foul. The Timbers got on the board in the eighty-seventh minute with a Sebastian Blanco goal, passed from Darlington Nagbe. This only made it 2-1, the final, with Qazaishvili named man of the match.

Finally, Sunday's lone game sees the Philadelphia Union host the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Andre Blake are the gloved men. Seattle's Jordy Delem had a yellow card for an eleventh minute foul. Philadelphia saw a yellow card for Ilsinho's foul in the twenty-seventh minute. The Union drew first blood in the twenty-eighth minute with a Marcus Epps goal, via Ilsinho and Haris Medunjanin. Philadelpia added on in the eighty-eighth minute with a Roland Alberg goal, coming off of Jay Simpson. The final stood at 2-0, with the man of the match being Blake for his five-save clean sheet.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.