If you were expecting a let down after Sporting KC played 120 minutes against Seattle Sounders FC in the US Open Cup, you couldn’t have been more wrong. No physical or emotional fatigue were apparent against DC United as the two sides squared off with a shot at first place in the Eastern Conference on the line.

Sporting would draw first blood in the 13th minute as Teal Bunbury would connect on a Graham Zusi header on a corner kick. Sporting won the corner on a long throw in from Matt Besler, a common occurrence. Bunbury had came very close moments before on an cross in open play that was barely too high to connect. Bunbury managed to get inside on Bill Hamid, but the DC United goal keeper was able to catch the cross.

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Photos by Tommy Theis Courtesy of Sporting Reporting

DC United would only see 30% of the possession at the half, but they were able to convert a chance when Andy Najar took a speculative cross into the box that Nick DeLeon was able to get a touch on, Michael Harrington lost sight of the ball and got turned around, DeLeon was able to take a touch and place his finish past Jimmy Nielsen for the equalizer.

DC United made one substitution at halftime, Branko Boskovic for Marcelo Saragosa. DC had been dominated in possession and scoring opportunities in the first half and did not find much offensive rhythm.

The second half did not improve for DC United, in fact they were able to maintain their meager amount of possesion from 37% to 44%, but they were not able to turn possession into scoring chances.

Although the score was 2-1, the game was clearly dominated by Sporting KC. They had numerous scoring opportunities, got quality shots of Besler throw ins, and were quite unfortunate that they hit the frame multiple times, Graham Zusi was victimized twice before he was able to put one away. Sporting were able to play the entire width of the field, Kei Kamara showed exceptional range end to end and sideline to sideline.

There was a bit of a scuffle when Perry Kitchen was backing into Nielsen who was coming out to punch the ball away. Nielsen appeared to try and kick Kitchen, clearly annoyed that he was challenged by the United midfielder.

After the match Peter Vermes gave DC United a compliment on their strategy, ”They didn’t come to pack it in tonight and that’s rare when we play teams at home.” Given the personalities of the DC coach, it would have been shocking if Ben Olsen hadn’t played for the win with top of the Eastern Conference table at stake.

When asked about his team’s return to form Peter Vermes replied, “The season is very long in MLS, I think sometimes what happens is you can ride the wave, you can fall off the wave, the big thing is how fast you get back on it. I think that, if anything, we never lost any confidence in ourselves.”

A three goal first half by the Chicago Fire sparked the visiting team to a 3-2 victory over the struggling LA Galaxy on Sunday night. It was the highest number of goals the Fire have scored all season. Recent designated player signing Freddie Ljungberg replaced Marco Pappa in the 57th minute, but didn’t make much of an impact as the Fire decided to absorb the Galaxy’s pressure and relied on the counter-attack.

Since returning from the World Cup break, the Galaxy have hit a wall of sorts. Los Angeles is 2-2-2 in its last six MLS matches and has been bounced out of the US Open Cup and is in danger of sealing a similar fate in the CONCACAF Champions League Tournament. Los Angeles, which had only allowed four goals in its first 15 games, has conceded nine goals in its last three matches. “It’s a concern,” Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter told ASN’s Ivan Yeo. “We have to take a look at it and get back to the basics.”

Jeff Tobin has the happier recap from Chicago.

Ljungberg’s old team, the Seattle Sounders, also had a successful weekend, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday 1-0 in a game greatly disappointing Quakes fans. It was the kind of poor showing that had Yallop publicly criticizing his team and Quakes fans talking about wishing they had not come. Eric Pederson reports from San Jose, Calif.

The New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union fought to a 1-1 draw Saturday afternoo. Sebastien Le Toux continued his MVP form with a wonderfully-taken goal in the first half but the Revs hit back through the red-hot Marko Perovic, his fourth league goal this season.

The Revs picked up a much-needed road point to continue their league resurgence. Steven Stoehr provides the New England reaction. But the Union feel hard-done by the result, as Breton Bonnette reports from Philadelphia.

Despite holding the lead twice, being up a man for the final 47 minutes of the game, not to mention having Thierry Henry at their disposal, the New York Red Bulls only managed a meager point away to the Houston Dynamo. Daniel Karell has the RBNY reaction.

FC Dallas went up a Mile High and came down with a point. The boys from north Texas remained unbeaten for the eighth straight game, leaving Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO with a 1-1 draw versus the Colorado Rapids Saturday afternoon. Philip Woodruff recaps the match from an FC Dallas viewpoint.

Speaking of excursions to altitude, in Utah Real Salt Lake dismantled DC United 3-1. Patrick McShane has the blow-by-blow of that match, while from the nation’s capital, Steve Long writes that DC United are still poised to exceed the mediocre record they have established for themselves. Though the playoffs still won’t happen.

Week 15's Best XI has several new inclusions as we hit the halfway point of what has proven to be a very interesting season. Kansas City, however, looking lost for the past several weeks, rode the quality play of their shotstopper to a much-needed week of results. The Union found more late game dramatics to secure three points at PPL Park, led by a fan favorite who just celebrated an impressive milestone. The battle for Player of the Week in the end went against the grain and to someone that has kept his squad in a match more times than any of us could count. Read on here.

The Philadelphia Union return to Chester for a second game in their new digs as the season really starts to heat up. Games vs. San Jose, Celtic FC, Toronto FC, and English giants Manchester United highlight a homestand that will help Union fans get over their World Cup withdrawal. First up, however, will be to solve a hardworking San Jose squad that sees itself above .500 for the first time since returning to the league several years ago. Seb Le Toux and Danny Mwanga hope to continue their impressive form as the Union’s quest to get back to breakeven starts in earnest. Breton Bonnette reports from the City of Brotherly Love.

The New York Red Bulls return home after a lengthy absence themselves. Red Bull Arena is old hat for the team by now, but not for the visiting DC United. The team from the nation’s capital are no longer playing like a last place club and have a number of new signings to integrate into the squad. Chris Snear updates us on that situation. Meanwhile, Red Bulls rookie sensation Tim Ream was the featured guest on a podcast co-hosted by ASN’s New York correspondent. Listen to that here.

The Kansas City Wizards (3-7-3) will host Chivas USA (3-9-2) at CommunityAmerica Ballpark with both teams hoping to turn around their disappointing seasons. The Wizards, currently in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, have won only once (a 2-0 home win over Philadelphia on June 10) since back to back victories in the opening two weeks of the season. Chivas USA just snapped a six game losing streak in league play last weak with a 1-1 draw at home to Philadelphia. Nate Brinson reports from Kansas City.

The LA Galaxy enter the two-week World Cup break undefeated after beating the visiting Houston Dynamo 4-1. Forward Jovan Kirovski led the scoring charge with a first-half brace while forward Tristan Bowen and midfielder Alex Cazumba supplied the second half strikes. It took just 47 seconds for the Galaxy to get on the board. Ivan Yeo reports from the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

From the nation’s capital, Steve Long reports on the changing fortunes of DC United and identifies the factors that have ushered in what could be a new era after all. Or is that an old one?

The New York Red Bulls defeated Chivas USA 1-0 in the last MLS match before the World Cup break for both teams. It was a lethargic affair from two very tired teams, punctuated only by Seth Stammler’s highlight goal, occasional roughhousing and questionable refereeing decisions (or non-decisions). Here ASN’s player rankings for the victorious home side.

Two organized defensive units grappled scoreless for 85 minutes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night, but three key changes late in the game gave the Colorado Rapids a dramatic 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew. Pat Shea has that report , including Rapids player ratings.

The Chicago Fire were outplayed throughout the majority of their match against the visiting Philadelphia Union, but capitalized on their chances and reaped the benefits of all three points. Jeff Tobin has the partisan view from Bridgeview, Ill., and Breton Bonnette supplies player ratings for the Union.

The Seattle Sounders soundly defeated the New England Revolution by a score of 3-0. Here is a photo gallery supplied by David Lindsay.

That will do it for MLS coverage for a little while, at least from the ASN home page. Local team-specific sites (links in the right column) will have updates over the next two weeks, but this site will be mainly devoted to that little tournament in South Africa, where ASN will be on the ground.

Several performances were crowded out of the Best XI this past weekend with the LA Galaxy's Tristan Bowen, Michael Stephens, and Real Salt Lake's Fabian Espindola not making the cut despite stellar performances. It was an offensively charged week in Major League Soccer, with a couple players cut from Bob Bradley's final 23 out to make a statement. Both Conor Casey and Brian Ching tallied but only one found their way onto the Best XI. It was the DeRo show this week once again as Toronto FC continues their tear. Head over to ASN Philly to check it out.