Major League Soccer – Match Recaps – 11 August 2012
Sporting KC moved on top of the Eastern Conference, Vancouver beat RSL at home, FC Dallas edged Colorado, and San Jose rallied to beat Seattle in Major League Soccer on August 11, 2012.
Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 Real Salt Lake
The Whitecaps scored goals in a five minute span to inch closer towards guaranteeing a playoff spot. Camilo Sanvezzo capitalized on RSL failing to clear the ball and Dane Richards double the lead with a curling shot just inside the near post. RSL did make things interesting with a stoppage time goal from Nat Borchers.
| 58′ | Camilo Sanvezzo | 1 – 0 | |
| 63′ | Dane Richards | 2 – 0 | |
| 90′ +2′ | 2 – 1 | Nat Borchers |
Sporting Kansas City 2-1 DC United
Sporting followed up their US Open Cup victory with a solid win at home. Teal Bunbury headed home a corner and Graham Zusi scored the match winner. DC created far fewer chances but took advantage of a defensive lapse to level for the match shortly after Bunbury’s goal. The win puts Sporting on top of the Eastern Conference standings.
| 13′ | Teal Bunbury | 1 – 0 | |
| 22′ | 1 – 1 | Nick DeLeon | |
| 63′ | Graham Zusi | 2 – 1 |
FC Dallas 3-2 Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas held on for a much needed victory as their playoff hopes remained alive. Colorado took an early lead but Dallas responded with three unanswered goals to make it 3-1 by the 48th minute. The most notable of these was a fantastic free kick by Jair Benitez as he curled it over the wall and past a diving goalkeeper. Colorado cut the lead to 3-2 with a Jeff Larentowicz free kick that deflected off the near post and into the net.
The momentum swung to the visitors until the 71st minute when Jaime Castrillon received a red card. Castrillon went down near the edge of the box and was unhappy that a foul was not called. As Castrillon got to his feet and went for the ball, he was blocked by FC Dallas George John. Castrillon, who felt John was blocking him from getting the ball, reacted by swinging his foot at his face. Replays show that he made minimal contact with John but the act appeared to have malice and could result in a suspension of several games.
The last best chance for Colorado was just before the final whistle as Larentowicz tested the goalkeeper with a long range effort. It was saved and Dallas are two points behind Colorado.
| 11′ | 0 – 1 | Jaime Alberto Castrillón | |
| 40′ | Fabian Castillo | 1 – 1 | |
| 44′ | Jair Benítez | 2 – 1 | |
| 48′ | David Arturo Ferreira | 3 – 1 | |
| 55′ | 3 – 2 | Jeff Larentowicz | |
| 71′ | Jaime Alberto Castrillón (red card) |
San Jose Earthquakes 0-0 Seattle Sounders FC
San Jose’s ability to score late goals continued as Steven Lenhart scored just before the final whistle. SJ had a 1-0 lead heading into stoppage time until Seattle’s Fredy Montero equalized. Both of the goals were from long throw-ins that each defense failed to clear.
Montero’s goal appeared to be enough for Seattle to get a draw but a minute later it was San Jose’s Steven Lenhart rising to head a corner kick into the back of the net. It’s another dramatic result for San Jose who the MLS Western Conference with 47 points (five above second place RSL).
| 71′ | Simon Dawkins | 1 – 0 | |
| 90′ +2′ | 1 – 1 | Fredy Montero | |
| 90′ +3′ | Steven Lenhart | 2 – 1 |
