MLS 2012, Week 16: Robbie Keane And Jerry Bengtson Make Waves

Major League Soccer 2012, Week 16: What We Learned

Scoreless draws and big names returning headlined a busy Week 16.

Montreal Impact Vs. Columbus Crew, 2012 MLS: Impact Come Back For 2-1 Win

If you skipped the first hour and didn't tune into the Montreal Impact vs. the Columbus Crew until the last 30 minutes then you have impeccable timing. It took until the 58th minute for either team to actually put a shot on goal, but it ended with three goals in the last 26 minutes and a 2-1 comeback win for the Impact.

Milovan Mirosevic struck for the opening goal when the Impact failed to mark him and Donovan Ricketts wasn't much better so the blame could be spread around, not that the Crew cared. They were ahead and considering how inept Montreal looked going forward, it felt as if it would stay that way.

The Crew did not account for equally poor defending on their end, though. Zarek Valentin took a pass from Sanna Nyassi and with nobody looking keen to defend him, Valentin raced in to slot one past Andy Gruenebaum for the equalizer.

Then in the 89th minute the Crew conceded a penalty when Chris Birchall clumsily ran over Justin Mapp. The referee had no choice except to point to the spot and Patrice Bernier converted the kick for the winning goal.

Neither team played particularly well, but at least it entertained late. Even if they were the result of bad defending, you can't complain about the drama of three late goals and a comeback win in the waning minutes.

New England Revolution Vs. New York Red Bulls, 2012 MLS: Jerry Bengtson Scores In Debut

The New England Revolution signed Designated Player Jerry Bengtson this week with the hope that he could boost an attack that is, at times, anemic. Mission accomplished. In his very first match the Honduran international scored and along with Lee Nguyen's tally, led the Revs to a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

Nguyen got the Revs on the board in the 24th minute with a goal that the home side undoubtedly deserved. They played excellent from the opening kick and punished a Red Bulls team that was without a handful of starters, including Thierry Henry and Heath Pearce. Then Nguyen got free just outside the box and hit a good low shot that Ryan Meara lost through traffic. The goalkeeper reacted late and the ball squeezed just inside the post for a good opening goal.

New York had their chances, none better than when Kenny Cooper hit the bar in the 56th minute, but they were always a step behind New England. In the 84th minute, the Revs made sure they would get the win they deserved when Saer Sene combined with Shalrie Joseph to get a chance on goal. Meara made the save, but the rebound fell to Bengtson for the tap in and the Revs were on their way to three points.

That the Red Bulls got beat is no surprise since they have yet to win at Gillette Stadium since it opened in 2002, with four draws in the 17 matches they have played there highlighting the "good category". They really don't like that place, which is something they have in common with fans.

Philadelphia Union Vs. Toronto FC, 2012 MLS: John Hackworth's Boys Do It Again

The hole they dug under Peter Nowak's leadership may be too deep to dig out of, but John Hackworth seems to have figured something out with the Philadelphia Union. The new coach led his team to its third win in five games since taking over, this one a 3-0 dismembering of Toronto FC on Sunday.

In less than half as many games as they played under Nowak, the Union have already won more games (three), scored more goals (10) and registered just one fewer shutouts (two) under Hackworth. They've also qualified for the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup for the first time in their three-year history.

The dominance in this game started early. Freddy Adu helped create a couple strong scoring chances and the Union enjoyed more than 70 percent of the possession in the first half. They broke through for a goal when Gabriel Gomez's shot deflected past Milos Kocic in the 34th minute. Just two minutes later, Adu found the back of the net when he took Gabriel Farfan's pass and beat Kocic to the far post at a sharp angle. Antoine Hoppenot finished off TFC with a goal in the 78th minute.

The loss halted a nice run of form for TFC, which had entered the match on a five-match unbeaten streak. They are now seven points behind the Union and in last place of the Eastern Conference.

Chicago Fire Vs. LA Galaxy, 2012 MLS: Robbie Keane Braces Fires LA To Win

David Beckham and Landon Donovan were named to the MLS All-Star team on Sunday, but it was the LA Galaxy's other Designated Player who shined at Toyota Park. Robbie Keane drew a penalty, which he finished, and then added a second goal to lead the Galaxy to a 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire.

Fresh off of consecutive losses, the Galaxy needed to get three points in Chicago and Keane would have to be at the heart of that. Beckham was suspended and Donovan started on the bench so much of the attacking responsibility fell to Keane.

In the 24th minute, Keane made his mark when he drew a penalty with a cross that struck Jalil Anibaba's hand. It was unclear whether Anibaba handled the ball in the box or not and replays were inconclusive, but the referee pointed to the spot and Keane knocked home to penalty to give LA the lead.

Up a goal, LA was content to sit back and protect their lead in what become an ugly match. The two teams had chances here and there, but the Galaxy put men behind the ball and the Fire lacked ideas in the final third, which turned the match into a standing and giveaway contest.

The match's defining moments came in the 77th minute. Chris Rolfe took a square ball at from just outside the box hit a good low shot that looked like it would just squeeze inside the post, but Josh Saunders made a sensational save to keep the ball out and then the Galaxy came right back to put the match away for good.

Donovan, with fresh legs after coming in as a substitue, took the ball away in LA's own half and took it the length of the field before sliding the ball over to Keane, who had just the keeper to beat. He did and LA were on their way to a 2-0 win.

With the win, the Galaxy move into fifth place, the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Fire are still in a decent position despite the loss, sitting fourth in the East.

Seattle Sounders Vs. Colorado Rapids, 2012 MLS: Sounders Win In Steve Zakuani's Return

It had been 15 months since Steve Zakuani last played in a match after Brian Mullan broke his leg, but on Saturday night at CenturyLink Field, he was back, coincidentally against Mullan and his Colorado Rapids team. And while Zakuani was a great story all on its own, as big of a story was the Seattle Sounders' nine-match winless streak, but that streak is no more. That is because the Sounders picked up a 2-1 win, and along with the Zakuani return, made for a near perfect night in Seattle.

Marking on crosses was a problem for the Rapids all night and it led to both goals Seattle goals. First, Alvaro Fernandez was left completely unmarked on a corner kick so without a defender anywhere around him he had no problem nodding in the ball from Mauro Rosales. Later, Eddie Johnson was able to get free at the top of the six-yard box so when Rosales crossed he had an easy finish to double the Sounders' lead.

Later on, Omar Cummings scored to bring the Rapids to within one, but it wouldn't be enough. The Sounders had their three points in the bag.

With four minutes to go, Zakuani came in off the bench to cheers and chants from the Sounders' faithful. A win and a Zakuani return made for a great match, but then the match got a signature moment too when Zakuani and Mullan traded jerseys and embraced after the match. It was a great moment and a signal that things were back to normal, in its own way. Zakuani is playing and the Sounders are winning. Just like old times.

Chivas USA Vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 2012 MLS: Rested Goats Settle For Draw With Tired Caps

Chivas USA had 10 days off before squaring off against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center and the Caps had just three. Advantage, Goats.

The only problem is that Chivas had to go up against Joe Cannon. Well that and they are not very good going forward. That combination resulted in no goals for the home side in a 0-0 draw for a point that will disappoint the Goats, but that the Whitecaps will be happy to take.

There weren't many chances for either side early on as the tired Caps were content to stay compact and the Goats showed just how attack challenged they can be, but Chivas finally got something going after the hour mark. A scramble in the box followed a free kick and had Chivas gotten to the ball they would have gone in front, but the Whitecaps managed to clear it. Then a few minutes later, Cannon denied Paolo Cardozo with a good save to keep the match scoreless.

Vancouver had one good chance to score when Camilo got free on a corner kick, but he missed the frame. That gave way for more Chivas forays forward, but Cannon made two late saves to ensure that the visitors would get a point.

Real Salt Lake Vs. Portland Timbers, 2012 MLS: Alvaro Saborio Decides He's Good Again

Alvaro Saborio has had a wildly inconsistent season and hasn't performed well during Real Salt Lake's recent skid, but he was the man of the match on Saturday, scoring a hat trick as RSL broke their four-game winless streak. After an uneventful first half against the Portland Timbers, he came alive in the second half and scored all three goals in his team's 3-0 victory.

The first two goals came in quick succession, with Portland's defense looking completely out of sorts on both occasions. Kyle Beckerman set up Saborio for the opener in the 60th minute with a lofted ball from the center of the pitch into the penalty area. Saborio easily out-jumped Futty Danso and placed a header perfectly at the far post, putting RSL ahead. Less than two minutes later, he beat the entire Portland defense to a well-placed Chris Wingert cross and finished easily to solidify his team's lead.

Diego Chara went into meltdown mode shortly thereafter. He made a nasty challenge on Javier Morales in the 66th minute, for which he picked up a yellow card. In the 73rd minute, Chara handled the ball in the penalty area, leading to a penalty kick and a sending off. Saborio stepped up and converted, completing his hat trick.

Real Salt Lake kept the ball in Portland's half for the rest of the game and forced Troy Perkins into multiple saves, but didn't find another goal. Not that they needed it, they were just being big meanies at that point anyway.

FC Dallas Vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 2012 MLS: Hoops Can't Win Again, This Time Against 10-Man Quakes

David Ferreira was back, but so were the same old hapless FC Dallas. The 2010 MLS MVP made his first start in 15 months as he completed his return from a broken ankle, but playing well enough to earn Dallas their fair share of possession, it didn't result in any goals. That meant a 0-0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes, which stretches the Hoops' winless streak to a staggering 14 matches in all competitions.

Dallas did well to generate 14 shots, but just three were on target due to impatience and a general lack of ideas in the final third. For their part, San Jose did well to create chances themselves and had seven corner kicks to Dallas' one, but they couldn't find the net either.

The Quakes almost broke through in the 36th minute when Chris Wondolowski chipped Kevin Hartman and watched the ball bounce towards the goal for what looked like would be a sure tally, but Hernan Pertuz had other ideas. The defender stuck with the play and raced in behind Hartman to clear the ball off of the line at the last moment with a brilliant diving save.

Making matters worse for Dallas is that they got to play the last 10 minutes up a man after Ramiro Corrales picked up two yellow cards in a three minute span, but they still couldn't score. It's 14 matches and counting now for Dallas and you can bet that they know it.

Sporting Kansas City Vs. Houston Dynamo, 2012 MLS: Draw Moves KC Into First Place Tie

It was 104 degrees at Livestrong Sporting Park on Saturday so only so much could be expected of Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo, and they delivered the very littlest possible. Both teams struggled to do much in the attack, which is becoming commonplace for Kansas City, but each did get a point in the 0-0 draw and that point moves Sporting into a tie with D.C. atop the Eastern Conference.

The shots were there once again for Sporting, who had 17 attempts at goal, but only four were on frame. They also had six corner kicks, but that didn't do them any good either. For all of their possession, they didn't create many great chances and when they did get them they either missed the goal or hit them straight at Tally Hall. The zero next to their name on the scoreboard was very much deserved.

As ineffective as Kansas City was going forward, Houston was worse. They didn't generate anything of note for most of the match and even when Brian Ownby did get a chance in the final minutes, it didn't turn into much.

The quality of play won't leave either team happy, but the result won't sting either side too much. Sporting can lean on the fact that they are back atop the East, while the Dynamo are now unbeaten in their last three so there is that.

VIDEO: Hernan Pertuz Clears Chris Wondolowski's Shot Off The Line

David Ferreira Returns To FC Dallas Starting Lineup After 15 Month Absence

At a time when it seems like nothing can go right for FC Dallas, they've are finally getting a break. David Ferreira, who hasn't started a match in 15 months, is back in the starting lineup for the Hoops today against the San Jose Earthquakes as they look to get their first win in their last 13 matches.

Ferreira took the field for Dallas on April 23, 2011 against the Vancouver Whitecaps looking to help his team get three points in what was supposed to be a great season for the Hoops. He was the reigning MLS MVP and the young Dallas team was supposed to get in line behind him and build on their appearance in the MLS Cup final from the year before, but Ferreira broke his ankle in the 55th minute and everything changed for the Hoops.

What was supposed to be a great season for Dallas wasn't. Brek Shea had a great season, but he wasn't able to completely fill the void left by Ferreira and nobody else could either. They were an okay team, but not a great one.

This year Dallas wishes they were an okay team. They are downright awful, as 13 matches without a win would indicate. Even if Ferreira gets fit quickly it is unlikely that he is able to turn things around for Dallas. He made his return on Wednesday as a substitute and today he makes his first start. Dallas is going to need a lot more than that, though. No one player, not even a former MLS MVP, can fix all of Dallas' problems.

MLS 2012, Week 16 Preview And Fixtures: Who Has Any Gas Left In The Tank?

Midweek matches lead to sloppy play, usually. Let's hope that isn't the case this weekend.