MLS Morning Espresso 9/26

When I awoke yesterday morning, I came to the conclusion that I would never witness the following:

1. An Aston Martin parked in my driveway

2. Dinner and a movie with Jessica Alba

3. A referee recanting a penalty

I’m still certain of the first two, but the belief that I’d never see the third was shattered after referee Ramon Hernandez awarded a penalty to Real Salt Lake after Marvell Wynne’s handball inside the box.

The replay was clear – no doubt a penalty was warranted. But, after consulting with his assistants, Hernandez retracted his decision, leaving the home crowd furious. Their club,which was down 0-1 with only minutes to spare, had a 23-match unbeaten streak to preserve.

Lo, in the 93rd minute, Nat Borchers steered a header on frame to ensure the extension of streak by the score of 1-1.  Conor Casey’s 11th minute goal allowed the Rapids to escape Rio Tinto with a point.

In Bridgeview, the Fire lost a crucial match to red-hot Seattle, 1-0. After keeping the sublime Sounders off the board for the first 87 minutes, Blaise Nkufo’s tally two minutes from time gave the guests the only goal they’d need to take three points.

The unbeatable FC Dallas captured a convincing 3-1 victory over the Wizards in Kansas City. Martin Chavez wasted no time putting his club on top with a 4th minute strike, while Milton Rodriguez (12′) and Jeff Cunningham (82′) added goals of their own. Ryan Smith’s goal in the 57th spoiled the clean sheet for Dario Sala.

Meanwhile, DC hosted Houston in a battle of conference cellar dwellars. Once again, it was Andy Najar (29′) that gave DC a lead it would later relinquish. This time, it was self-inflicted, as Devon McTavish coughed up an own goal in the 66th minute before the floodgates opened for Dominic Oduro (70′) and Geoff Cameron (100′- yes, 100′) to raise the Dynamo out of the Western Conference basement.

Now that Houston was no longer subterranean, who assumed the mantle of worst in the west? Well, it was none other than Chivas USA, who dropped an embarrassing 3-0 loss to  Philadelphia at PPL Park. Alejandro Moreno (25′) and Fred (48’+) put the Union up a pair before the half, while Sebastien LeToux added the icing on the cake with his 12th goal of the year in the 69th minute.

Lastly, but certainly not least-ly, San Jose strengthened its playoff ambitions with a 3-2 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field. Chris Wondolowski pulled off the hat trick (3′, 53′,67′) to give the Quakes all the offense it needed, while Toronto made it close late via goals from Dwayne DeRosario (66′) and Maicon dos Santos (79′).