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MLS Preseason: Zusi, Saad lift Sporting KC, Gaven shines for Crew and more

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Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com


By CALEB SONNELAND

In a prelude to their season-opening match that is less than a month away, Sporting Kansas City topped D.C. United, 2-1, in Casa Grande, Ariz., Saturday on the strength of goals from Graham Zusi and Soony Saad.

Zusi scored on a 34th-minute free kick, and Saad finished off a feed from newly acquired Jacob Peterson in the 62nd minute to account for the goals for the defending Eastern Conference regular season champions.

United did pull a goal back late through former Kansas City player and current guest player Jose Burciaga Jr., who finished off a Danny Cruz cross and powered home a volley into the roof of the net in the 78th minute.

Highlights from the match and more scores and goalscorers from the weekend's full slate of preseason action are after the jump:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbTWl6lffKU]

GAVEN NOTCHES TWO, CREW SWEEP U.S. U-17s

It never seemed like much of a question as to what the outcome would be when the Columbus Crew played the U.S. Under-17 national team, as the MLS side rolled to 6-0 and 4-0 victories in a pair of 70-minute friendlies in Bradenton, Fla., on Saturday.

Eddie Gaven scored twice in the opening 15 minutes of the first match to spearhead Columbus' effot. Justin Meram, Emilio RenterĂ­a and newcomers Milovan Mirosevic and Olman Vargas also got on the scoresheet for the Crew, which trotted out a lineup full of starters for the opening game.

Mirosevic converted from the penalty spot for his goal, while Vargas missed a chance at bagging a brace by missing his penalty kick attempt.

Tommy Heinemann scored twice, and rookie Kevan George and Homegrown Player Aaron Horton joined him on the scoresheet in the second game.

WIEDEMAN SHINES FOR FCD

He only needed 45 minutes to do it, but FC Dallas' Andrew Wiedeman bagged a hat trick and an assist in a 6-0 rout of the University of Memphis on Sunday.

Fabian Castillo, Blas Perez and Scott Sealy also registered goals for FCD, but it was Wiedeman, a second-half substitute, who stole the show.

On at halftime, Wiedeman played Sealy into the Memphis area with a first-time pass for a goal in the 53rd minute. Just four minutes later, Wiedeman was on hand to poke home a Jonathan Top cross at the far post for his first of the day.

In the 61st minute, Wiedeman volleyed home a Jair Benitez cross and capped things off in the 80th when he latched onto a Bruno Guarda through ball, rounded his marker and slotted the ball under the on-rushing goalkeeper.

JEWSBURY, MARCELIN LIFT PORTLAND OVER HOUSTON

Goals from Jack Jewsbury and James Marcelin proved decisive as the Portland Timbers took a 2-0 result from the Houston Dynamo on Sunday.

Jewsbury got on the end of a Ryan Kawulok pass and finished past Dynamo backup goalkeeper Erich Marscheider to put his side on the scoresheet in the 63rd minute.

Marcelin doubled the Cascadia club's advantage in the 86th minute when he let fly from about 25 yards out. His shot careened off the crossbar and just crossed the goal line for his second goal of the preseason.

ROWE IMPRESSES AGAINST BOSTON COLLEGE

U.S. Under-23 midfielder Kelyn Rowe showed why he was taken with the third overall pick in last month's MLS SuperDraft with a pair of goals in the New England Revolution's 3-0 rout of Boston College on Friday.

After getting on the end of a Benny Feilhaber ball, Rowe whipped a shot into the far corner from inside the area to give the Revs the lead in the seventh minute.

Rookie Alec Purdie, who replaced the injured Sainey Nyassi, played a ball to Rowe at the top of the box, where the former UCLA Bruin curled home his second goal in the 54th minute.  

Supplemental draft pick Michael Roach was thrown into action in the 70th minute, and he repaid his coach's faith with a goal in the 89th to wrap things up.

RED BULLS NOTCH DRAW IN MEXICO

Rookie and Homegrown Player Connor Lade grabbed the lone goal for the New York Red Bulls as the club drew 1-1 against FC Merida of the Mexican second division.

After going down a goal early in the second half, Lade snuck in behind the Merida back line and lobbed keeper Alfredo Frausto in the 80th minute to save the result.

MATTOCKS STRIKES IN DRAW WITH RSL

Real Salt Lake and the Vancouver Whitecaps clashed Friday, but the two sides couldn't be separated in a 1-1 draw, even after 125 minutes of play.

Rookie striker Darren Mattocks was first to get things going in the 27th minute when he beat Nick Rimando at his near post to put the 'Caps up 1-0.

RSL's Fabian Espindola leveled the score from the penalty spot 12 minutes later after Ned Grabavoy was felled inside the area to draw a foul.

WONDOLOWSKI STRIKES AGAIN

Chris Wondolowski now has two goals in two preseason games as the San Jose Earthquakes beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on Friday.

Wondolowski's goal proved to be the decisive one after new signing Jaime Castrillon had given the Rapids the lead in the 13th minute. Khari Stephenson brought San Jose back into the game in the 32nd minute, and Wondolowski made his count in the 69th minute for the matchwinner.

CHICAGO EDGES CHIVAS

Daniel Paladini scored the crucial goal for the Fire as Frank Klopas' men logged a 1-0 win over Chivas USA in California on Saturday.

Paladini began with the ball around midfield before marching down into Chivas territory and firing a low shot past Tim Melia in the 49th minute.

IMPACT DRAW BLANKS IN CALIFORNIA

The Montreal Impact failed to register a goal this weekend, after the MLS newboys logged two 0-0 draws with the Portland Timbers and a 45-minute affair with USL Pro's LA Blues. 

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What do you make of all of the weekend's preseason action?

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Comments

  1. What exactly?

    He’s a seriously incredibly nice dude. I’ve had the pleasure to get to talk to him. He’s open, honest, and willing to talk.

    For example, at LSP’s opener, his goal (would’ve been the first goal at LSP) was called offsides. I didn’t get a good look at it live and asked him about it. He went into great detail and explained why as much as he wanted it, the ref got the right call.

    Reply

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