After a bye-week during the international break, the Eastern Conference was in full action again this past weekend. Let’s take a look at how the East stands after week 5 is all said and done.
1. Orlando City SC – 8 pts. | 4-1 win vs. Portland, next: at Philadelphia Union
Orlando City SC shined against the defending MLS Champions with a stellar offensive performance. Four different players – Seb Hines, Brek Shea, Kevin Molino and Kaka – contributed to the impressive win over the Timbers. Next, the Lions will head to Philly with a lot of confidence.
2. Montreal Impact – 6 pts. | 1-0 loss at Seattle Sounders, next: vs. Columbus Crew SC
The Impact outshot the Sounders, 13-12, but a Clint Dempsey goal late in the second half sealed Seattle’s victory. The loss was Montreal’s second in a row after falling to FC Dallas on March 19. The Impact will try to avoid making it three straight when they welcome Crew SC next.
3. Philadelphia Union – 6 pts. | 1-0 loss at Chicago Fire, next: vs. Orlando City
Wild weather with snow and wind caused both teams to struggle throughout the match. A red card on Philly’s Warren Creaville shifted the momentum and lead to the Union’s two-game winning streak coming to an end. Next, Philadelphia will take a trip down south for a match-up with Orlando City at much more welcoming temperatures.
4. New England Revolution – 6 pts. | 1-0 win vs. New York Red Bulls, next: vs. Toronto FC
The Revolution earned its first victory of the season against the Red Bulls after some controversy. In the 55th minute a square pass in the box from Juan Agudelo to Diego Fagundez lead to the only goal of the game. It came seconds after the Red Bull’s Kemar Lawrence went down with an apparent injury. Questions about fair play were raised after the match.
5. New York City FC – 5 pts. | Bye week, next: vs. Chicago Fire
With a bye in week 5, New York City FC hopes to change the momentum after going winless in its last three matches. NYCFC will face-off against the Chicago Fire at Yankee Stadium on April 10th.
6. Chicago Fire – 5 pts. | 1-0 win vs. Philadelphia Union, next: at New York City FC
The Fire earned their first win of the season under Head Coach Veljko Paunovic. The lone goal of the game came from Kennedy Igboananike in the 51st minute. Next, the Fire will head to New York to take on NYCFC.
7. Toronto FC – 5 pts. | 1-0 loss at Colorado Rapids, next: at New England Revolution
Two yellow cards on Toronto’s Benoit Cheyrou in the 11th and 13th minutes forced TFC to play shorthanded throughout most of the match. A goal by Colorado’s Luis Solignac in the 18th and the Rapids’ ability to hang on defensively resulted in Toronto’s second consecutive loss. Toronto will look to end that streak when it travels to Gillette Stadium for a match against the New England Revolution.
8. New York Red Bulls – 3 pts. | 1-0 loss at New England, next: vs. Sporting Kansas City
A goal by Diego Fagundez in 55th and a red card on Felipe Martins six minutes later spelled doom for the Red Bulls. New York’s Bradley Wright-Phillips had the best chance to equalize with an open shot, but Revs goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth came up with the save to seal the loss for the Red Bulls.
9. D.C. United – 3 pts. | 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes, next: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
D.C. lead 1-0 until the 88th minute but could not hold off the Earthquakes’ Adam Jahn who forced the equalizer, leaving United winless throughout the first five games of the 2016 season. D.C.’s next chance to earn three points will come at home against Vancouver.
10. Columbus Crew SC – 2 pts. | 1-1 draw at FC Dallas, next: at Montreal Impact
Despite another week without a victory in 2016, the Black & Gold displayed progress, snapping a seven-game win streak at home for FC Dallas. A score by Crew SC’s Justin Meram in the 9th minute gave Crew SC the lead. Columbus had several opportunities to put the match away. Instead, Tesho Akindele equalized for Dallas in the 77th. Crew SC will head to Montreal for a match-up against the Impact this week.
