Action from Thursday's match between D.C. United and Seattle Sounders FC in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Unbeaten streaks end for MLS clubs

July 19, 2010

Associated Press

Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC saw their unbeaten runs come to an end during the latest round of action in Major League Soccer (MLS).

There were important wins for Philadelphia Union and Seattle Sounders FC, while conference leaders Columbus Crew and Los Angeles Galaxy returned to winning ways over the weekend.

The action started on Wednesday, with Columbus falling 1-0 at home to Kansas City Wizards. Canadian youngster Teal Bunbury scored in the 14th minute and goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen made seven saves to lead the Wizards over the Crew in the Ohio state capital. The win ended Kansas City's three-match losing streak.

On Thursday, Seattle's Roger Levesque scored on a header in the 89th minute to end the Sounders' four-game winless run with a 1-0 win at D.C. United. The timely goal gave Seattle their first MLS win since June 5.

Four matches took place on Saturday, with Philadelphia ending Toronto's eight-match unbeaten run with a 2-1 home win at PPL Park. Maksim Usanov's hand-ball led to Sebastien Le Toux's match-winning penalty in the fifth minute of time added on. This after TFC's Chad Barrett had cancelled out Michael Orozco Fiscal's strike for the Union in the second half in Chester, Pennsylvania. In Columbus, Emilio Renteria and Brian Carroll scored to keep the Crew five points ahead of New York Red Bulls in the MLS Eastern Conference standings following a 2-0 win. New York's Thierry Henry watched from a suite at Crew Stadium after joining the Red Bulls as their new Designated Player last week.

In Colorado, Conor Casey scored in the 74th minute to help the Rapids draw 1-1 with Kansas City. Davy Arnaud scored in the 20th minute for the Wizards, who last won in Colorado back on June 9, 2004. Meanwhile, in Texas, Brek Shea had a goal and an assist to lift FC Dallas to a 2-0 home win over Salt Lake. Atiba Harris had Dallas' other goal at Pizza Hut Park. The result ended the MLS Cup holders' 10-match unbeaten streak in the league.

The lone game on Sunday saw the Galaxy return to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at struggling D.C. United. Landon Donovan scored on a penalty in the second half to win the game for Los Angeles after Andy Najar had cancelled out Edson Buddle's first-half strike at RFK Stadium.

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