The dog days of summer trotted in ahead of schedule this week as a heat wave rolled over much of the nation, sending mercury skyrocketing and MLS goal-scoring plummeting.
After feasting on more than three goals per game for the past two weeks, MLS fans watched the average dip below two this week, with five of the 16 games ending in double-bagel draws.
There was a shortage of goals, but not highlights: A Serie A alum and a onetime US wunderkind both sparkled, a few league powers got back on track with much-needed wins and one team showed they could be an Eastern Conference contender after all.
Additionally, several notable players returned from long injury layoffs, while even more bold-faced names were absent due to injuries or suspension.
Let’s crank up the AC and take another look.
Righting the Ship
While the July 4 tilt between Western conference powers Real Salt Lake and Seattle fizzled like a wet sparkler, ending 0-0, both teams were back in action the following Saturday and they both picked up sorely needed wins.
WATCH: Zakuani, Mullan swap jerseys
The Claret-and-Cobalt got a hat-trick from Alvaro Saborio to cruise past the Portland Timbers 3-0 and end a four-game winless streak, while the Sounders got two Mauro Rosales assists and held on for a 2-1 win over Colorado that ended their club-record, nine-game winless skid.
That wasn’t the only landmark moment in the game either: in the 86th minute, Seattle winger Steve Zakuani entered the game for his first MLS appearance since last April, when the Rapids’ Brian Mullan, who was on the field on Saturday, broke his leg with a brutal challenge. At the end of the game, the two players publicly put the incident to rest by hugging and exchanging jerseys.
READ:Zakuani returns, ready for "real hard work" to begin
In Chicago, the Galaxy — who were without the suspended David Beckham all week — also got back on track thanks to a standout individual performance. Striker Robbie Keane bagged two goals to lead a 2-0 win over the Fire, who were missing playmaker Sebastian Grazzini. The Argentine midfielder is taking a leave of absence to deal with “personal issues.”
Digging Out
The Galaxy win came after a disheartening 2-1 loss to Philadelphia on the Fourth of July at the Home Depot Center, a game that marked the (surprisingly fast) return of LA center back Omar Gonzalez from a torn ACL suffered in January.
LA were excited to have Gonzalez back in the fold, but they were unable to celebrate his return with a win as squandered chances and two Philadelphia backheels — one from Jack McInerney and one from Lionard Pajoy — did them in.
READ: Gonzalez comfortable, confident in first action of 2012
McInerney opened the scoring in the 46th minute with his back to goal, flicking Michael Farfan’s cross just inside the far post. After Chad Barrett tied it up in the 73rd minute, Philly snatched all three points in stoppage time, as Pajoy freed Michael Farfan with a backheel and the winger tucked a shot past Josh Saunders for a 95th-minute winner.
The Union kept the momentum going on Saturday with a 3-0 rout of fellow conference stragglers Toronto FC. Midfielder Freddy Adu dazzled Toronto defenders on several occasions during this one, in addition to scoring the goal that made it 2-0 in the 36th minute. Antoine Hoppenot rounded out the scoring in the 78th minute and Philadelphia moved to 5-9-2, just four points behind Montreal with four games in hand.
HIGHLIGHTS: Gomez, Adu and Hoppenot sink TFC
Under new coach John Hackworth, they’re shaking off a dismal start to the season.
For their part, TFC fell to 2-11-4 with the loss, but they, too, have shown signs of rebirth under a new coach (Paul Mariner). Last Wednesday, they tied FC Dallas 1-1 in the sweltering heat of Texas to lock down a fifth straight result without a loss.
All for Naught
Kansas City may be several clicks north of FC Dallas Stadium, but it was at least as hot on Saturday, as the temperature hit 104 degrees for a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Championship against Houston.
Perhaps not surprisingly, given the temperature, Sporting KC and the Dynamo played to a scoreless draw — Houston’s second of the week after a 0-0 affair at home against Chicago last Tuesday.
FC Dallas also rang up a 0-0 draw, stalemating Western Conference leaders San Jose on Saturday. That game marked both the first MLS start in 15 months for FCD playmaker David Ferreira — and the 13th consecutive game without a win for FCD.
READ: Ferreira's long-awaited return deviates from FCD script
Also joining the double-zero department this week were Chivas USA and Vancouver, who couldn’t find the net in their match on Saturday at the HDC. With the home side missing Juan Agudelo, Oswaldo Minda and Ante Jazic, weary Vancouver put just one shot on goal.
Up and Down
Three days earlier in Colorado, in the debut of Scottish international Barry Robson, the Whitecaps also managed just one shot on goal — but that time, it worked out pretty well.
Rookie striker Darren Mattocks fired it, pouncing on a botched clearance by Rapids defender Drew Moor to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. They held on to it, getting six saves from ’keeper Joe Cannon and overcoming the visitors’ 17 shots and 60 percent edge in possession.
Vancouver’s Cascadia rivals Portland also had a mixed week, downing San Jose 2-1 before suffering the 3-0 rout at Rio Tinto. The Timbers got a goal from local product Danny Mwanga and captain Jack Jewsbury and held on as the Quakes hit back late — as usual — with an Alan Gordon goal in the 74th minute. But the cardiac kids fell short this time and Portland moved to 5-2-2 at home with the win.
HIGHLIGHTS: Montreal comeback downs Columbus
Montreal were also up and down in Week 18, falling 3-1 to Sporting Kansas City on the Fourth, and edging Columbus 2-1 with a pair of late goals on Sunday night. New signing Marco Di Vaio was lively in both games, bagging his first MLS assist in Sunday’s win.
Columbus center back Chad Marshall returned to the starting lineup in that one after a long injury layoff.
Finally, in Foxborough, Mass., the injury-riddled Red Bulls fell to the Revolution 2-0 to remain winless (0-13-4) at Gillette Stadium since 2002. New York were without Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez, Heath Pearce, Jan Gunnar Solli and Markus Holgersson.
READ: New DP Bengtson shows worth immediately for hot Revs
New England extended their unbeaten streak to five games with the win — and got the clincher in the 84th minute from new signing Jerry Bengtson, a 25-year-old Honduran international.
