Gambians in MLS wrap: Sanna’s goal not enough as Impact trounced

Gambia international Sanna Nyassi scored the Impact’s first ever goal on the road in the 19th minute, his fourth career marker versus the Red Bulls but they ended up been defeated 5-2.

Thierry Henry scored his first career MLS hat trick and set up another goal to lead New York past first-year Montreal Impact. Kenny Cooper and Mehdi Ballouchy also scored as the Red Bulls made it nine goals over the past two home games, having lost their first two on the road.

Sanna Nyassi and Justin Mapp scored for winless Montreal, which led 1-0 and 2-1 before former Arsenal great Henry took over. Following a pass from Bernardo Corradi, the 23-year-old Gambian forward was able to get onto the end of the ball beating defender Markus Holgersson and then buried it passed the Red Bulls goalkeeper Ryan Meara low, right side.

The Red Bulls’ win came at a cost, losing former Barcelona midfielder Rafa Márquez to a groin injury. After the game, the Gambia international used the social networking site Twitter saying that the defeat was a tough one but the team has to work harder in order to get what they want.

Sanna tweeted, “Tough lost last night still got to stay strong though, keep believing and continue to work hard.”

Meanwhile in Carson, Kelyn Rowe and Chris Tierney scored in the first half to lead Sainey Nyassi and Abdoulie “Kenny” Mansally’s New England past undermanned Los Angeles Galaxy. Saër Sène added a third goal in the 65th minute for the visitors.

The defending champion Galaxy, playing without captain Landon Donovan, sidelined by a quad strain, while David Beckham was also absent for the second half. The third member of L.A.’s big-money trio did play; and Robbie Keane scored a consolation for the hosts in the 78th minute.

After the match, Sainey, who is sidelined due to injury simply tweeted, “Great Win guys, game plan worked!! #Revs.”

Finally in Portland, Kyle Beckerman scored in stoppage time to give Real Salt Lake a dramatic win at Mamadou “Futty” Danso’s Portland Timbers. His goal stunned the sellout crowd, which was beginning to celebrate a victory until substitute Jonny Steele equalized for the visitors in the 89th minute and Beckerman added the last-gasp winner.

Darlington Nagbe scored twice for Portland, becoming the first player to do that since the Timbers’ first-ever MLS game, last year. Álvaro Alberto Saborío Chacón, returning to Real’s starting lineup for the first time this season, opened the scoring with a first half penalty.