MLS Week 25: Ante up!

Chivas USA clinched a playoff spot and Real Salt Lake kept their slim playoff chances on a respirator in week 25 of MLS. A brace from Ante Razov gave him 11 goals on the season, the seventh time Razov has scored 10 or more in a season. Meanwhile, TFC got a goal but didn't get off the snide.

SEPT. 23
DC United 1-1 Chicago
Chicago nearly made Chad Barrett's 18th minute goal hold up, but Jamie Moreno saved a point on the road for DC United with in the 84th minute. Barrett managed to bring down Cuauhtemoc Blanco's lofted ball down the center of the pitch and beat DC keeper Troy Perkins to his right. That goal held up until the 84th minute when Chicago forward Chris Rolfe lost the ball to Moreno inside the area. Moreno settled the ball and then blasted a shot inside the right post.
Full Match Recap.

FC Dallas 1-2 Los Angeles
Chris Klein handed the Galaxy their fifth win of the season, after Dallas and Los Angeles traded goals in the first half. At the 11th-minute mark, Dax McCarty found net for the Hoops. But the luck went the Galaxy's way for a change, as Dallas defensive midfielder Chris Gbandi was ejected with his second yellow and the Galaxy were awarded a PK. Donovan stepped to the spot and equalized for the home side. The winner wouldn't come until the 72nd minute, as Klein only his second goal of the season to give LA the result.
Full Match Recap.

SEPT. 22
New England 2-2 New York
Taylor Twellman scored twice, but a late equalizer from Juan Pablo Angel saved a point for the home side. Steve Ralston was credited with his league-leading 12th assist, sending a free kick beautifully to the head of Twellman in the 22nd minute. Francis Doe, making only his second career start in MLS, equalized when Dane Richards crossed to him in the box and he tapped the ball past a siving Matt Reis eight minutes before halftime. Twellman jumped on a poor clearance by Bulls defender Chris Leitch to give the Revs the lead in the 70th minute. But Angel's 16th goal with just six minutes plus injury time left made certain the Eastern conference clubs would share the spoils.
Full Match Recap

Columbus 2-1 Toronto
Toronto fans rejoiced early, as the *** scoreless streak was broken just two minutes from the most unlikeliest of sources. Reds defender Miguel Canizalez put TFC ahead by cleaning up the garbage in the box. But even though the goal drought is finally over, the point drought continues, as Jason Garey and Jacob Thomas both scored their first goals of the season in the 61st and 83rd minutes, respectively, to give the Crew the win.
Full Match Recap

Colorado 0-1 Real Salt Lake
In a steady rain, RSL forward Kyle Brown scored his second carrer MLS goal to dash Colorado's hopes of leap-frogging Chicago in the standings. The visiting Rapids were without the services of a somewhat resurrgent Conor Casey (2g, 1a in 4 games), as well as defensive players Facundo Erpen and Pablo Mastroeni, both of whom were out due to suspension. The game's only goal came in the 30th minute when Chris Brown's long distance shot on goal was punched out front by Bouna Coundoul and Kyle Brown (no relation) pounced on it. Colorado's Tony Sanneh had a chance to equalize but his lunging effort at the six ricocheted off Nick Rimando and was cleared.
Full Match Recap

Kansas City 1-2 Chivas USA
Ante Razov scored a brace, including a spectacular injury-time goal. and Chivas USA clinched a spot in the postseason with a 2-1 win over struggling Kansas City. Chivas dominated the first half of the match and nearly scored on three different occasions. In the second half, however, the Wizards woke up with several chances around the 55th minute mark. Neither team could find the go-ahead, until the 69th minute, when Francisco Mendoza, on the left flank, played a low cross to Razov who tucked it in at the far post for his 10th goal of the season. But just three minutes later Eloy Colombano scored his first of the season to equalize. As has been the case for KC, it began with Eddie Johhnson doing all the work. EJ's put one off the crossbar and Colombano cleaned up the garbage. However, the home side would not be denied and Razov found the winner two minutes into extra time, a brilliant bending left-footer from 25-yards.
Full Match Recap

SEPT. 20
Chicago 1-1 Dallas
Chicago diminuative forward Chris Rolfe broke the 0-0 deadlock with a brilliant right-footer from 30-yards out in the 56th minute, and it appeared that the Fire would collect all three points in Frisco. Not so fast, said the 'Little Fish,' as Carlos Ruiz steals an equalizer in the third minute of injury time. Maybe it's the new do.
Full Match Recap.

SEPT. 19
Los Angeles 2-2 Real Salt Lake
It was fitting that MLS's two worst teams would produce an unwatchable 2-2 draw on Wednesday night. After a scoreless first half, the teams exchanged penalty kicks with Carery Talley converting for RSL in the 56th and Landon Donovan leveling the match with his 79th minute PK. Donovan helped put the Galaxy ahead six minutes later with a nice touch through to Gavin Glinton who beat RSL keeper Nick Rimando. That lead would hold up less than a minute, as Javier Morales rifled a free kick past LA keeper Joe Cannon.
Full Match Recap.