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| MLS opening day: Timbers beat Crew while NYC FC win thriller | MLS opening day: Timbers beat Crew while NYC FC win thriller |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Fanendo Adi scored in the 79th minute and the defending champions Portland Timbers defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Sunday in a rematch of last year’s MLS Cup. | Fanendo Adi scored in the 79th minute and the defending champions Portland Timbers defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Sunday in a rematch of last year’s MLS Cup. |
| All 20 MLS teams opened the league’s 21st season on Sunday. Portland kicked off the season by unveiling a championship banner hung in the rafters of the north end of Providence Park. | All 20 MLS teams opened the league’s 21st season on Sunday. Portland kicked off the season by unveiling a championship banner hung in the rafters of the north end of Providence Park. |
| Diego Valeri’s first-half goal gave the Timbers the early lead until Federico Higuain’s brilliant bicycle kick drew the Crew even in the 68th minute. | Diego Valeri’s first-half goal gave the Timbers the early lead until Federico Higuain’s brilliant bicycle kick drew the Crew even in the 68th minute. |
| Related: Will LA Galaxy's stars lift the MLS Cup? Our soccer writers predict the season | Related: Will LA Galaxy's stars lift the MLS Cup? Our soccer writers predict the season |
| Last season, the Timbers defeated the Crew 2-1 in Columbus for the title. It was Portland’s first title since joining the league in 2011. | Last season, the Timbers defeated the Crew 2-1 in Columbus for the title. It was Portland’s first title since joining the league in 2011. |
| The Timbers took the early lead on Sunday on Valeri’s free kick in the 23rd minute that was misjudged by Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark, who was also in goal for Columbus for the MLS Cup match. Valeri had an earlier chance in the 19th minute but he was offside. | The Timbers took the early lead on Sunday on Valeri’s free kick in the 23rd minute that was misjudged by Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark, who was also in goal for Columbus for the MLS Cup match. Valeri had an earlier chance in the 19th minute but he was offside. |
| Columbus star Kai Kamara charged down on goal in the 60th minute but keeper Adam Kwarasey made a diving save. Higuain’s stunning goal came eight minutes later off an assist from Ethan Finlay. | Columbus star Kai Kamara charged down on goal in the 60th minute but keeper Adam Kwarasey made a diving save. Higuain’s stunning goal came eight minutes later off an assist from Ethan Finlay. |
| There was no announcement from the Timbers about the reported signing of young wing Jack Barmby from Leicester City’s system. The Oregonian this week reported the signing of the 21-year-old, who played for England’s Under-20 team. | There was no announcement from the Timbers about the reported signing of young wing Jack Barmby from Leicester City’s system. The Oregonian this week reported the signing of the 21-year-old, who played for England’s Under-20 team. |
| It was the 86th consecutive sellout for the Timbers at Providence Park.Mauro Diaz set up goals for Fabian Castillo and Maximiliano Urruti as FC Dallas topped the Philadelphia Union 2-0. | It was the 86th consecutive sellout for the Timbers at Providence Park.Mauro Diaz set up goals for Fabian Castillo and Maximiliano Urruti as FC Dallas topped the Philadelphia Union 2-0. |
| Dallas dominated the match, with 10 shots on target. Castillo opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, taking a through ball by Diaz on the run and putting it under keeper Andre Blake, who came out to challenge. | Dallas dominated the match, with 10 shots on target. Castillo opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, taking a through ball by Diaz on the run and putting it under keeper Andre Blake, who came out to challenge. |
| Urruti made it 2-0 in the 79th minute. Diaz corralled a loose ball after Philadelphia gave the ball away and fed Urruti, who flicked it past Blake with his left foot. Castillo had another quality chance late on, but his shot was just wide of frame. | Urruti made it 2-0 in the 79th minute. Diaz corralled a loose ball after Philadelphia gave the ball away and fed Urruti, who flicked it past Blake with his left foot. Castillo had another quality chance late on, but his shot was just wide of frame. |
| Mix Diskerud scored the eventual winner in the 63rd minute and NYC FC beat the Chicago Fire 4-3. | Mix Diskerud scored the eventual winner in the 63rd minute and NYC FC beat the Chicago Fire 4-3. |
| NYC FC’s Thomas McNamara scored the first goal of the new season in spectacular fashion in the 10th minute, taking a ball from Khiry Shelton on the edge of the area and curling it into the top corner. Nine minutes later, Razvan Cocis levelledafter a brilliant run, and the Romanian midfielder almost registered again a few moments later. | NYC FC’s Thomas McNamara scored the first goal of the new season in spectacular fashion in the 10th minute, taking a ball from Khiry Shelton on the edge of the area and curling it into the top corner. Nine minutes later, Razvan Cocis levelledafter a brilliant run, and the Romanian midfielder almost registered again a few moments later. |
| Tony Taylor and Shelton both added goals to give NYC FC a 3-1 advantage at the break. | Tony Taylor and Shelton both added goals to give NYC FC a 3-1 advantage at the break. |
| The scoring picked back up after break. Chicago’s Kennedy Igboananike scored off a turnover in the 49th minute. But Diskerud, who was left unmarked, restored the two-goal advantage in the 63rd beating Matt Lampson at the near-post. | The scoring picked back up after break. Chicago’s Kennedy Igboananike scored off a turnover in the 49th minute. But Diskerud, who was left unmarked, restored the two-goal advantage in the 63rd beating Matt Lampson at the near-post. |
| Chicago weren’t done though, as Accam scored a penalty following a hand ball by Shelton, but the Fire couldn’t find the equalizer. | Chicago weren’t done though, as Accam scored a penalty following a hand ball by Shelton, but the Fire couldn’t find the equalizer. |
| Sebastian Giovinco, the reigning MVP, scored a penalty and had an assist in the second half, and Toronto FC beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0. | Sebastian Giovinco, the reigning MVP, scored a penalty and had an assist in the second half, and Toronto FC beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0. |
| Toronto FC, who reached the postseason last season for the first time since the club’s inception, beat the Red Bulls for the first time in seven matches at Red Bull Arena. | Toronto FC, who reached the postseason last season for the first time since the club’s inception, beat the Red Bulls for the first time in seven matches at Red Bull Arena. |
| Giovinco, also last season’s Golden Boot winner, scored in the 82nd minute before getting a yellow card six minutes later. His left-footed shot in the 90th minute from outside the box was too high, but he had the assist on Marco Delgado’s goal in the first minute of stoppage time. | Giovinco, also last season’s Golden Boot winner, scored in the 82nd minute before getting a yellow card six minutes later. His left-footed shot in the 90th minute from outside the box was too high, but he had the assist on Marco Delgado’s goal in the first minute of stoppage time. |
| The Red Bulls are coming off a Supporters’ Shield campaign — the second time in three years they’ve recorded the best regular-season record in MLS. | The Red Bulls are coming off a Supporters’ Shield campaign — the second time in three years they’ve recorded the best regular-season record in MLS. |
| Nuno Andre Coelho scored in the 73rd minute and goalkeeper Tim Melia came up with saves on three dangerous chances to help Sporting Kansas City beat the Seattle Sounders 1-0. | |
| Coelho fired his goal from 25 yards out. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei dove and got a hand on the shot, but it rolled off him and into the net. | |
| Melia stopped consecutive chances in the 15th minute — first a free kick by Clint Dempsey from 26 yards away, then a header by Chad Marshall from inside the six-yard box. | |
| In the 53rd minute, Seattle’s Andreas Ivanschitz shot was tipped on to the crossbar and to Seattle’s Nelson Valdez, but his bicycle kick from close range went over the top. | |
| Elsewhere, Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution drew 3-3, and Orlando City and Real Salt Lake were involved in another high-scoring stalemate as they drew 2-2. The San Jose Earthquakes beat Colorado Rapids 1-0. | Elsewhere, Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution drew 3-3, and Orlando City and Real Salt Lake were involved in another high-scoring stalemate as they drew 2-2. The San Jose Earthquakes beat Colorado Rapids 1-0. |