MLS Review: 5 Takeaways From Week 15
By Chris Wimmer
With the dust setting on another week of MLS, Chris Wimmer reviews the action…
Orlando City & Kaká Deny DC United Season Sweep
Another Orlando City SC match, another Kaká penalty goal. This is seemingly becoming a winning formula for the Lions. Led by the Brazilian, Orlando City was able to deny first place D.C. United the season sweep they had hoped for at the Citrus Bowl. Without rookie sensation Cyle Larin, Orlando relied on excellent goalkeeping by Tally Hall and the seventh goal by designatied player Kaká to shut out the Black-and-Red 1-0 at home. Orlando relied on fellow Brazilian Pedro Ribeiro to help fill in for Larin however besides earning his team the only penalty kick of the match, the 6’4″ striker was very immobile and not much of a scoring threat for most of the match.
Obafemi Martins is a BEAST!
We mentioned that Obafemi Martins was part of the Dynamic Duo in Seattle but how about the performance the 2014 MLS MVP runner-up put on in front of the Seattle Sounders home fans Sunday? Martins came on as a substitute in the second half and in only 29 minutes of play netted his seventh goal of the season (tied for 3rd in MLS). If the Nigerian continues to display this form throughout the remainder of the season he will surely be in the running form 2015 MLS MVP.
More from DC United
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- Three players to keep an eye on for D.C. United this preseason
- Will D.C. United’s offseason strategy pay off?
- What can D.C. United expect from Acosta in year two?
- Should he stay or should he go: D.C. United/USMNT’s Bill Hamid
FC Dallas Still Winless in over a month
A 3-0 shutout in Seattle has extended the winless streak for FC Dallas to six games. The Toros have now been held scoreless in three straight matches and have only scored in two of their last five MLS games. Needless to say, something needs to change and quickly in Dallas if they plan to remain in the playoff picture. Blas Perez is the leading Red Stripes goal scorer (5) but he hasn’t even found the back of the net since a loss to the LA Galaxy on May 9th. Currently FCD are in fifth place in the Western Conference with 22 points.
NYCFC DP’s Lead Team to Victory
Led by designated players David Villa and Mix Diskerud, New York City FC earned three much needed points in their quest to climb out of the Eastern Conference cellar. Diskerud not only helped the USMNT defeat World Cup champions Germany with his goal earlier this week in international duty, he also finally tallied his second goal since making history by being the first to score for NYCFC in their inaugural MLS season. With the scheduled July arrival of Premier League veteran Frank Lampard and the rumored addition of the Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, NYCFC should be well positioned for a perfectly timed push into the top six for a playoff birth.
LA Galaxy Continue to Struggle without Keane and Lampard
With 2014 MLS MVP Robbie Keane away on national team duty and dealing with personal family tragedy and still without incoming designated player Frank Lampard until July, the LA Galaxy continued their recent struggles. A 1-1 draw on the road against the Columbus Crew made it three straight games without a win and much needed three points. Sitting just above the “red line” in sixth place LA have only been able to secure two points in their past three matches which sees them only two points ahead of Houston for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Galaxy fans should still have plenty of faith that their club will have much better results when their two designated players finally team up on the pitch…whenever that may be.