Gam-MLS Wrap: Futty’s Timbers draws Kandji’s Dynamo, Sanna’s Impact held by LA,Win for Sainey’s Revs
- Wednesday, 16 May 2012
- Written by Modou Lamin Beyai
The Houston Dynamo of Gambia-hopeful Macoumba Kandji and Portland Timbers of Gambia international Mamadou “Futty” Danso could not be separated as they played out a goalless draw at the BBVA Compass Stadium.
Much of the play was concentrated in Portland’s half during a first period that saw neither keeper really tested. The first real effort at goal came on the stroke of half time, when Macoumba Kandji shot straight at Troy Perkins from all of 35 yards.
Brad Davis bent a left-footed free kick just wide of Perkins’s right-hand post as Houston threatened to break the deadlock 10 minutes after the break. Portland nearly took a shock lead in the 68th minute when Sal Zizzo squared the ball to Darlington Nagbe, whose shot from inside the box was blocked by Corey Ashe.
The home side came on strong in the latter stages and Calen Carr thought that he had been denied a goal-scoring opportunity when he was brought down by Mamadou “Futty” Danso. However, the referee awarded a free kick to Portland, much to Carr’s dismay.
Perkins pulled off a magnificent save when Luiz Camargo raced through on goal, denying the Brazilian brilliantly with his legs. Brian Ching and Colin Clark were both guilty of wasting late openings before Alex Dixon tested Perkins once more deep into injury time.
After cutting in from the left, Dixon unleashed at the Portland goalkeeper, who managed to quickly gather the ball after initially spilling it. That save meant that the scores remained level and the teams had to share the spoils. Futty and his Timbers face Chicago Fire next.
Elsewhere, the Montreal Impact of Sanna Nyassi and the LA Galaxy played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday in front of a record crowd of 60,860 spectators at the Olympic Stadium. Sanna saw only five minutes of play after coming in as an 85th minute sub but his Impact still remain undefeated at home with a 2-0-2 record in regular season play.
The Impact opened the scoring in the 8th minute when defender Nelson Rivas played a long ball from inside the Impact half that found forward Davy Arnaud sprinting in behind the Galaxy defence.
Alone in front of goal, the Impact captain beat the sliding LA goalkeeper Brian Perk to score his second of the season and his seventh against the Galaxy. Rivas earned his first ever point in MLS with his assist, in his first start at home.
The Galaxy tied it up in the 62nd minute, when midfielder David Beckham curled a free-kick around the outside of the wall from about 25 yards out, just inside the right post, short side. His goal ended the Impact’s shutout streak of 259 minutes.
On Saturday, May 19, Sanna and his Impact will play their final game at Olympic Stadium against the New York Red Bulls. On that day, they will be avenging their loss to New York on March 31.
The club will play their first game at Stade Saputo, expanded to 20,341 seats, on June 16 against the Seattle Sounders FC.
At the Gillette Stadium, Sainey Nyassi was not part of the New England Revolution squad that faced Mustapha “Toubabo” Jarju’s former Vancouver Whitecaps as he is still nursing a hamstring strain.
Lee Nguyen haunted his former team with two goals and one assist in an inspired performance as the New England Revolution rolled to a 4-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC. They face the Houston Dynamo of Macoumba Kandji next.