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Hilarious Portland Own Goal, DC United In Epic Collapse, NYRB Score 5 As MLS Returns

By Travis Yoesting July 20, 2017
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It was a wild Wednesday in MLS after a two-week Gold Cup hiatus.
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Welcome back, MLS. We didn’t really miss you, but we’re glad you’re back.

After taking a two-week break for the start of the Gold Cup (but resuming before the end of the Gold Cup, because, you know, CONCACAF), MLS returned with a bang on Wednesday. 

But, since most MLS fans were probably watching Team USA on Wednesday instead, here’s a rundown of the night’s action, which included six pretty good matches and then a drab 0-0 draw between Minnesota and Houston. 

The match of the day came from Seattle, where D.C. United scored the first three goals only to allow a Sounders team without Clint Dempsey or Jordan Morris to score four goals in 27 minutes in a 4-3 victory for the home side. 

 

D.C. has been shockingly bad lately, losing five straight. The defense has been atrocious, allowing four goals in consecutive defeats, but we knew that when United allowed a goal to a liquor store team. 

D.C. did score its first goal in Seattle since 2010, but they also became the first team in history to lose an MLS match in regulation after leading by three goals. 

Yes, the first time ever. Go on, guess how many MLS matches have been played since its inaugural season in 1996. No, not even close. The answer is 4,916. 

While less dramatic, the New York Red Bulls also scored four goals in a short span, going from 1-0 up in the 72nd minute to 5-1 up in the first minute of stoppage time. 

 

The most intriguing match of the day was Portland hosting Real Salt Lake, which finished with 19 players on the pitch.

Let’s start with the good. The match started with a bang when Kyle Beckerman sent a long-range blast past Portland goalie Jake Gleeson for the game’s opening goal 10 minutes in.

Then came the bad. After Salt Lake went up 2-0 on a penalty, Gleeson was the victim of a horrific own goal. Albert Rusnak was given credit for the goal for some reason, but it clearly goes in off Gleeson, who, to be fair, didn’t know much about it.

You can feel bad for Gleeson, but at the same time, it’s hard not to laugh. 

And now the ugly. Victor Arboleda was sent off in the 53rd minute for this unsportsmanlike play.

 

Two minutes later, Beckerman and Fanendo Adi were both shown red following this incident.

Now, reds are no surprise when referee Baldomero Toledo is involved, but it got worse. After being shown red, Beckerman appeared to spit in the direction of Toledo. 

Whether or not Beckerman meant to spit on the ref or merely show his disgust by spitting near him is debatable. Different angles show different trajectories. Either way, it’s clear Beckerman was making a point by spitting in view of the referee and should probably be punished, at least with a fine. 

Also Wednesday, Montreal beat Philadelphia 2-1, NYFC and Toronto FC tied 2-2 and Vancouver edged L.A. Galaxy 1-0. And because MLS and CONCACAF are such stellar organizations, there will be eight more matches on Saturday when the U.S. plays Costa Rica in the Gold Cup semifinals. Well played, MLS. 

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