D.C. United's Fabian Espindola (pictured) scored in a May 31, 2014, MLS win over visiting Sporting Kansas City. (Photo: Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images)
CONCACAF.com recaps action from Major League Soccer’s qualifiers for 2014/15 CONCACAF Champions League. Liga MX is currently in its offseason.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
(2014/15 CCL qualifiers in BOLD)
In a battle of 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League qualifiers, D.C. United (21 points) moved within two points of Eastern Conference leader New England following a 1-0 win over visiting Sporting Kansas City (19 points) on Saturday.
Fabian Espindola scored the lone goal in the 28th minute, sending what appeared to be a cross inside the far post for his seventh goal of the season.
Sporting Kansas City, which stretched its winless streak to five games, fell to third place in the East. It was United’s first win over Sporting Kansas City in four years.
On Sunday, the host Portland Timbers (16 points) rallied from a three-goal deficit to score twice in the final quarter hour, but still fell to the Vancouver Whitecaps (20 points), 4-3, at Providence Park.
After Maximiliano Urriti put the Timbers in front on in the third minute, Pedro Morales (16’, 26’) struck twice from the penalty spot in a 10-minute span and Erik Hurtado followed with a goal four minutes into first half stoppage time to give Vancouver a 3-1 halftime lead.
Jordan Harvey made it 4-1 four minutes into the second half, before Gaston Fernandez (77’) and Will Johnson (86’) struck late for Portland, which had its two-game winning streak snapped.
***************************************
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Sporting Kansas City played the visiting New York Red Bulls (15 points) to a 1-1 draw.
Toni Dovale’s first MLS goal gave the home side a 1-0 lead after nine minutes, but Thierry Henry set up Bradley Wright-Phillips for the Englishman’s league-leading 11th goal five minutes after halftime to level the score.
On Wednesday, Portland won 2-0 at Chivas USA (10 points). Adi Fernando (65’, 71’) struck for a second-half brace, scoring twice in a span of six minutes.
