SKC TOP PHILLY IN PK SHOOTOUT TO CAPTURE US OPEN CUP CROWN AND BERTH IN '16-'17 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

At Chester, Pennsylvania:

After a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes, Benny Feilhaber, Dom Dwyer, Matt Besler, Paulo Nagamura, Graham Zusi, Kevin Ellis, and with the game winner, Jordi Quintilla, all converted their spot kicks as Sporting Kansas City won their third US Open Cup championship on Wednesday night winning the penalty-kick shootout 7-6 over the home-standing Philadelphia Union.  Sporting won their third major trophy in four years (the Open Cup title in 2012 and 2015 and the MLS Cup in 2013; as the Kansas City Wizards, they also won the Open Cup in 2002) and qualified for the group stage of the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League.

The Union came up short in the Open Cup final for the second straight year.

UEFA Champions League, Group D: Citizens , Juve Post Wednesday Wins

Two games were contested in Group D of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

At Monchengladbach, Germany:

Sergio Aguero's game-winning penalty kick in the 90th minute lifted Manchester City to a 2-1 come-from-behind road victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.  Here's Sergio celebrating with teammates after his successful spot kick.

Getty Images photo

At Turin, Italy:

Alvaro Morata (41', that's him celebrating after scoring) and Simone Zaza (87') delivered the goals as Juventus blanked visiting Sevilla 2-0.


AFP/Getty Images photo


Group D Standings:

1. Juventus (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2. Sevilla (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 6)
3. Manchester City (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. Borussia Monchengladbach (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 0)

UEFA Champions League, Group C: Astant Gain Home Draw With Galatasaray; Eagles Knock Off Matress Makers In Madrid

Two games were played in Group C of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

At Astana, Kazakhstan:

In a contest plagued by defensive boo-boos, Hakan Balta (OG-77') and Lionel Carole (OG-89') each scored an own goal to carry FC Astana to a 2-2 home draw with Galatasaray.  Bilal Kisa (31', the only score for the right club) and Nenad Eric (OG-86') each scored for the Turkish club.  Here are members of the home club celebrating their equalizer that delivered the first-ever Champions League group-stage point for a club from Kazakhstan.

At Madrid:

Nicolas Gaitan (36') and Goncalo Guedes (51', that's him celebrating with teammate Andre Almeida) each scored twice as SL Benfica knocked off Atletico Madrid 2-1 on the road.

AFP/Getty Images photos

Group C Standings:

1. SL Benfica (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2. Atletico Madrid (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Galatasaray (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)
4. FC Astana (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  Galatasaray scored two road goals in the first of their two games with FC Astana.

UEFA Champions League, Group B: Red Devils and Horses Grab Wednesday Wins

Two games were played in Group B of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

At Manchester, England:

Juan Mata (PK-34', that's him celebrating) and Chris Smalling (53') each socred a goal as Manchester United came from behind to defeat visiting  VfL Wolfsburg 2-1.

Getty Images photo

At Moscow:

Seydou Doumbia scored twice (21', PK-36', that's him celebrating after his first score) as CSKA Moscow raced to a 3-0 lead before holding on to a 3-2 home victory over PSV Eindhoven.

AFP/Getty Images photo

Group B:

1. PSV Eindhoven (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
2. Manchester United (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. CSKA Moscow (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS 3)
4. VfL Wolfsburg (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)

UEFA Champions League, Group A: PSG, Catalins Win On Road

Eight games were played on Wednesday as UEFA Champions League group-stage action, two of them were contested in Group A.

At Lviv, Ukraine:

Serge Aurier (7', that's him celebrating), David Luiz (23'), and Darijo Sma (OG-90'+1) each scored a goal as Paris Saint-Germain dominated Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 on the road.

At Malmo, Sweden:

Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals (29' [shown here], 90') in Real Madrid's 2-0 road blanking of Malmo FF.

AFP/Getty Images photos

Group A Standings:

1. Real Madrid (GP: 2; GD: +6; PTS: 6)
2. Paris Saint-Germain (GP: 2; GD: +5; PTS: 6)
3. Malmo FF (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 0)
4. Shakhtar Donetsk (GP: 2; GD: -7; PTS: 0)

AFC Champions League: Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Take Semi Series Opener

At Guangzhou, China:

Huang Bowen (36') and Zheng Zhi (57') each scored once on Wednesday as Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao defeated visiting Gamba Osaka 2-1 in the opening game of their AFC Champions League semifinal series.

AFC Champions League: Al-Ahli Gains Series-Opening 1-1 Road Draw

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Ailton Almeida's equalizer in the 82nd minute enabled Al-Hilal to salvage a series-opening 1-1 draw with Al-Ahli Dubai on Tuesday as the semifinal round of the AFC Champions League commenced.  Rodrigo Jose Lima dos Santos scored for the visiting club from the United Arab Emirates in the 57th minute.

UEFA Champions League, Group H: Victory For Valencia, Zenit

Two games were played in Group H of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

At Lyon, France:

Sofiane Feghouli scored the only goal of the match (shown here) in the 42nd minute  as Valencia knocked off Lyon 1-0 on the road.


AFP/Getty Images photos

At Saint Petersburg, Russia:

Oleg Shatov scored the winning goal in the 67th minute as Zenit Saint Petersburg defeated visiting KAA Gent 2-1.  That's the hosts' Artem Dzyuba celebrating after scoring in the 35th minute.

Group H Standings:

1. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
2. Valencia (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. Lyon (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. KAA Gent (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  Lyon scored an away goal in the 1-1 draw with KAA Gent.

UEFA Champions League, Group G: Dynamo Kiev, Dragons Post Tuesday Wins

Tuesday saw two Group G matches in the UEFA Champions League.

At Haifa, Israel:

Andriy Yarmolenko (4') and Junior Moraes (50') delivered the goals in Dynamo Kiev's 2-0 road win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.  Here, we see Maccabi's Gil Vermouth being challenged by the guests' Antunes.

At Porto, Portugal:

Maicon Pereira Roque (who was being congratulated here by teammate Maxi Pereira) scored the winning goal in the 52nd minute as FC Porto knocked off visiting Chelsea 2-1.

AFP/Getty Images photos

Group G Standings:

1. FC Porto (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
2. Dynamo Kiev (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 4)
3. Chelsea (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 3)
4. Maccabi Tel Aviv (GP: 2; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

NOTE:  FC Porto scored two away goals in the 2-2 draw against Dynamo Kiev.

UEFA Champions League, Group F: Bayern Munich Manhandle Dinamo Zagreb; Legend Knock Off Gunners At Emirates

Two Group F games were contested in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

At Munich, Germany:

Coming off his one-man Bundesliga scoring barrage against Wolfsburg, Robert Lewandowksi delivered a hat trick (21', 28', 55') as Bayern Munich destroyed visiting Dinamo Zagreb 5-0.  Here's Rugged Robert (right) celebrating after scoring one of his goals.

At London:

Alfred Finnbogason scored the winning goal in the 66th minute (that's him celebrating after scoring) as Olympiacos knocked off Arsenal 3-2 on the road.

AFP/Getty Images photo

Group F Standings:

1. Bayern Munich (GP: 2; GD: +8; PTS: 6)
2. Olympiacos (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 3)
3. Dinamo Zagreb (GP: 2; GD: -E; PTS: 3)
4. Arsenal (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

UEFA Champions League, Group E: No Leo The Lion? Barca Battle Back To Upend Leverkusen; BATE Hold Off Visiting Wolves

UEFA Champions League group-stage play resumed on Tuesday with eight games, two of them in Group E.

At Barcelona:

Sergi Roberto (80') and Luis Suarez (82', that's him celebrating after scoring) each scored a goal two minutes apart as Barcelona, minus the injured Lionel Messi, came from behind to upend visiting Bayer Leverkusen 2-1.

At Barysaw, Belarus:

Filip Mladenovic, seen here celebrating scored twice (12', 30') as FC BATE Borisov raced out to a 3-0 lead after the first half-hour before holding off visiting AS Roma 3-2.

AFP/Getty Images photos

Group E Standings

1. FC Barcelona (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
2. Bayer Leverkusen (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
3. FC BATE Borisov (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 3)
4. AS Roma (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)

MLS: Quakes, Galaxy Snag Sunday Wins; Sounders and SKC Draw In Kansas

Three Major League Soccer contests took place on Sunday.
At Kansas City, Kansas:

Dom Dwyer, who came off the bench, scored the equalizer in the 79th minute to lift Sporting Kansas City to a 1-1 home draw with the Seattle Sounders. Obafemi Martins scored for the guests in the 32nd minute.

At San Jose, California:

The San Jose Earthquakes, despite finishing the contests with ten men, knocked off visiting Real Salt Lake 1-0.  Matias Perez Garcia scored the game's lone goal in the 87th minute, then took off his jersey, which is against the laws of the game, for which he picked up his second yellow card of the match, followed by a red card which disqualified him from the game.

At Carson, California:

Giovani dos Santos (11'), Robbie Keane (15'), and Steven Gerrard (57') each scored a goal as the Los Angeles Galaxy took over top spot in both the Western Conference standings and the Supporters' Shield race as they held off visiting FC Dallas 3-2.

MLS STANDINGS:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1.   x-New York Red Bulls (GP: 29; GD: +14; PTS: 48)
2.      New England (GP: 31; GD: +2; PTS: 47)
3.      Columbus (GP: 31; GD: -1; PTS: 47)
4.      DC United (GP: 31; GD: -2; PTS: 45)
5.      Toronto FC (GP: 30; GD: 0; PTS: 43)
6.      Montreal (GP: 29; GD: +3; PTS: 42)
7.      Orlando City SC (GP: 31; GD: -11; PTS: 38)
8.      New York City FC (GP: 31; GD: -5; PTS: 37)
9.      Philadelphia (GP: 31; GD: -9; PTS: 34)
10. z-Chicago (GP: 31; GD: -12; PTS: 27)

NOTE:  With New England and Columbus level on points (47) and wins (13), the Revolution have the superior goal differential (+2, to the Crew's -1).

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1.     Los Angelels (GP: 31; GD: +14; PTS: 50)
2.     Vancouver (GP: 30; GD: +8; PTS: 48)
3.     FC Dallas (GP: 29; GD: +6; PTS: 47)
4.     Seattle (GP: 31; GD: +6; PTS: 46)
5.     Kansas City (GP: 30; GD: +4; PTS: 45)
6.     Portland (GP: 30; GD: -4; PTS: 44)
7.     San Jose (GP: 31; GD: +2; PTS: 43)
8.     Houston (GP: 31; GD: -1; PTS: 41)
9.     Real Salt Lake (GP: 30; GD: -7; PTS: 38)
10.   Colorado (GP: 30; GD: -7; PTS: 34)

x-Clinched playoff berth

z-Eliminated from playoff contention

CAF Champions League: USM Alger Grab Semi Series Opener On Road

At Omdurman, Sudan:

Mohamed Aoudia (13') and Karim Baiteche (62') each scored a goal on Sunday as USM Alger took the opening match of their CAF Champions League semifinal series with Al-Hilal 2-1 on the road.

MLS: Reds, Impact, Timbers, Dynamo, NYC FC Win; Revs and Philly Draw In Foxborough; Fire Eliminated From Playoffs

Six games were contested in Major League Soccer on Saturday. 

At Toronto:

Jonathan Osorio (29'), Michael Bradley (59'), and Jozy Altidore (79') each scored a goal as Toronto FC defeated the visiting Chicago Fire 3-2.  The Reds' Sebastian Giovinco assisted on all three tallies and set a new MLS single-season record of 36 goals and assists (19 and 18, respectively).  The Fire became the first club to be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

At Montreal:

Didier Drogba scored twice (4', 11') as the Montreal Impact blanked visiting DC United 2-0.

At Columbus, Ohio:

Fanendo Adi scored twice (28', 50') as the Portland Timbers knocked off the Columbus Crew 2-1 on the road, preventing the hosts from locking up an MLS Cup playoff berth.

At Foxborough, Massachusetts:

Fernando Aristeguieta's equalizer in the 65th minute lifted the Philadelphia Union to a 1-1 road draw with the New England Revolution, preventing the hosts from clinching a playoff berth.  Lee Nguyen successfully converted a penalty kick in the 35th minute for the Revs.  Goalkeeper Andre Blake made ten saves as the Union grabbed a point on the road.

At Houston:

Brad Davis scored the winning goal in the 47th minute as the Houston Dynamo stayed in the race for a playoff berth after having outlasted the visiting Colorado Rapids 3-2, all but knocking the guests out of playoff contention.

At Vancouver, British Columbia:

A successful penalty kick from David Villa in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time carried New York City to a 2-1 road win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

CAF Champions League: Al-Merreikh Take Semi Opener Against TP Mazembe

At Omdurman, Sudan:

Francis Coffie (41') and Bakri Al Madina (80') each scored a goal as Al-Merreikh defeated visiting TP Mazembe 2-1 on Saturday in the opening contest of a two-match series as the CAF Champions League's semifinal round commenced.  Thomas Ulimwengu kept the Congolese club alive with his goal in the 77th minute.

MLS: Cyle Larin's Hat Trick Powers Lions Past Red Bulls In Jersey

At Harrison, New Jersey:

Cyle Larin delivered a hat trick (24', 43', 61')  as Orlando City overpowered the ten-man New York Red Bulls 5-2 on the road in the lone Friday Major League Soccer contest.

CONCACAF Champions League: Thursday Wins For RSL, Tigres, Motagua; Salvadorian Pair Eliminated

Three games were contested in the CONCACAF Champions League's group stage on Thursday.

GROUP B:

At Metapan, El Salvador:

Ikechukwu Uche scored the winning goal in the 64th minute as Tigres defeated Isidro Metapan 2-1 on the road, eliminating the Salvadorian club from the tournament.  The Mexican club would only need a draw at home against Herediano on October 21 to claim the Group B crown and a berth in the quarterfinal round.

Group B Standings:

1.    UANL Tigres (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
2.    CS Herediano (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. z-AD Isidro Metapan (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 3)

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP E:

At Managua, Nicaragua:

Israel Silva Matos de Silva scored the winning goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time as CD Motagua kept their razor-thin chances of advancing to the knockout stage alive with their 2-1 road win over Walter Ferretti.

Group E Standings:

1.   Club America (GP: 3; GD: +7; PTS: 9)
2.   CD Motagua (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 6)
3.z-Deportivo Walter Ferretti (GP: 4; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP G:

At Sandy, Utah:

Olmes Garcia (73') and Juan Manuel Martinez (77') each scored a second-half goal four minutes apart as Real Salt Lake came from behind to upend visiting Santa Tecla 2-1 and knocked the Salvadorian club out of the tournament.  RSL can lock up a berth in the quarterfinal round with a home draw against CD Municipal on October 20.

Group G Standings:

1.   Real Salt Lake (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
2.   CD Municipal (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. z-Santa Tecla FC (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 2)

z-Eliminated from tournament

CONCACAF Champions League: Galaxy, Sounders Advance To Quarterfinals

Two games were contested in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday.

GROUP D:

At Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:

Alan Gordon's equalizer in the 82nd minute lifted the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 1-1 road draw with Central FC and a berth in the quarterfinal round.

Group D Standings:

1. x-Los Angeles Galaxy (GP: 3; GD: +9; PTS: 7)
2. z-Central FC (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 4)
3. z-CSD Comunicaciones (GP: 3; GD: -5; PTS: 3)

x-Won Group D and clinched berth in quarterfinal round

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP F:

At Seattle:

Lamar Neagle scored twice (32', 47') and Nelson Valdez once (39') as the Seattle Sounders repeated their Cascadia Cup-clinching performance from this past Saturday with a 3-0 home beat-down of the Vancouver Whitecaps and won Group F and a quarterfinal-round berth.

Group F Standings:

1. x-Seattle Sounders FC (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
2. z-Vancouver Whitecaps FC (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 4)
3. z-CD Olimpia (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 3)

x-Won Group F and clinched berth in quarterfinal round

z-Eliminated from tournament

MLS: Impact, Dynamo Post Wednesday Wins

Two games were played on Wednesday in Major League Soccer.

At Montreal:

Didier Drogba (39') and Andres Romero (76') each scored once as the Montreal Impact defeated the visiting Chicago Fire 2-1.

At Houston:

Will Bruin scored the only goal of the match in the 67th minute as the Houston Dynamo, who finished the game with ten men, defeated visiting Sporting Kansas City 1-0.

Is England In Danger Of Losing A Champions League Berth?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, could be.

From The WTF Department: Five Goals In Nine Minutes ?!

Here's a feller who scored five goals in nine minutes on Tuesday, three of them during a four-minute stretch.

And he came into Bayern Munich's match with Wolfsburg as a second-half substitute.

Maybe the Portland Timbers should consider signing him away. 

CONCACAF Champions League: DC United Battle Back From Three-Goal Hole To Draw Montego Bay On Road; Verdes Knock Out San Francisco FC, Handing Knockout-Stage Berth To Queretaro; Santos Laguna Down W Connection In Trinidad

Group-stage play in the CONCACAF Champions League resumed on Tuesday with three games.

GROUP A:

At Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:

Andres Renteria's goal in the opening minute stood up as Santos Laguna defeated W Connection 1-0 on the road as the Trinidadian club exited the tournament.

Group A Standings:

1.   Deportivo Saprissa (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
2.   Santos Lagunda (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
3.z-W Connection (GP: 4; GD: -8; PTS: 3)

NOTE: Deportivo Saprissa defeated visiting Santos Lagunda 2-1 in the first of two games played between the two clubs.  The two will face off on October 20 at Torreon, Mexico for a berth in the quarterfinal round.

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP C:

At Belmopan, Belize:

Deon McCaulay scored twice (19', 88') as Verdes FC knocked off visiting San Francisco FC 2-1, knocking the Panamanian club out of the tournament and clinching the Group C title and a quarterfinal-round berth for Queretaro.

Group C Standings:

1. x-Queretaro FC (GP: 4; GD: +9; PTS: 7)
2. z-Verdes FC (GP: 3; GD: -7; PTS: 4)
3. z-San Francisco FC (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 3)

x-Won Group C and clinched berth in quarterfinal round

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP H:

At Montego Bay, Jamaica:

Jairo Arrieta (59'), Kofi Opare (78'), and Michael Farfan (90'+3)  each scored a goal as DC United, who already clinched a berth in the knockout stage, came back from a three-goal deficit and gained a 3-3 road draw with Montego Bay United.  Dino Williams scored twice (30', PK-49') and Jermaine Woozencroft once (27') for the hosts.

Group H Standings:

1. x-DC United (GP: 4; GD: +6; PTS: 10)
2. z-Aribe Unido (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. z-Montego Bay United FC (GP: 3; GD: -6; PTS: 1)

x-Won Group H and clinched a berth in the quarterfinal round

z-Eliminated from tournament

Coaching Staff Canned; Ex-Goats Prez Becomes Chicago GM

Remember, friends and neighbors, the new general manager of the Chicago Fire is a former president of the late, lamented Chivas USA.

MLS: Red Bulls (Who Clinch Playoff Berth) and Philly Post 2-0 Wins Over West Clubs

Two games were contested in Major League Soccer on Sunday.

At Portland, Oregon:

Felipe (44') and Damien Perrinelle (45'+2) each scored once while goalkeeper Luis Robles made several key saves late in the second half to preserve his 28th career shutout in 100 starts as the New York Red Bulls became the first club to lock up a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs following their 2-0 road blanking of the Portland Timbers, who have now had two draw and two defeats---two point out of a possible twelve---in their last four games.

At Chester, Pennsylvania:

Tranquillo Barnetta (3') and C.J. Sapong (63') each delivered a goal as the Philadelphia Union knocked off the visiting Houston Dynamo 2-0.



MLS STANDINGS:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1. x-New York Red Bulls (GP: 28; GD: +17; PTS: 48)
2.    Columbus (GP: 30; GD: 0; PTS: 47)
3.    New England (GP: 30; GD: +2; PTS: 46)
4.    DC United (GP: 30; GD: 0; PTS: 45)
5.    Toronto FC (GP: 29; GD: -1; PTS: 40)
6.    Montreal (GP: 27; GD: 0; PTS: 36)
7.    Orlando City SC (GP: 30; GD: -14; PTS: 35)
8.    New York City FC (GP: 30; GD: -6; PTS: 34)
9.    Philadelphia (GP: 30; GD: -9; PTS: 33)
10.  Chicago (GP: 29; GD: -10; PTS: 27)



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1.   Vancouver (GP: 29; GD: +9; PTS: 48)
2.   FC Dallas (GP: 28; GD: +7; PTS: 47)
3.   Los Angeles (GP: 30; GD: +13; PTS: 47)
4.   Seattle (GP: 30; GD: +6; PTS: 45)
5.   Kansas City (GP: 28; GD: +5; PTS: 44)
6.   Portland (GP: 29; GD: -5; PTS: 41)
7.   San Jose (GP: 30; GD: +1; PTS: 40)
8.   Real Salt Lake (GP: 29; GD: -6; PTS: 38)
9.   Houston (GP: 29; GD: -3; PTS: 35)
10. Colorado (GP: 29; GD: -6; PTS: 34)

NOTE: With FC Dallas and Los Angeles level on points with 47, the Hoops have more wins (14) than the Galaxy (13).

SUPPORTERS' SHIELD RACE: With Vancouver and New York level on points with 48, the Whitecaps have more wins (15) than do the Red Bulls (14).

x-Clinched playoff berth

MLS: Reds, NYC FC, Crew, Sounders (Who Win Cascadia Cup), Impact, Lions, RSL Garner Saturday Wins

Seven games are on top for Saturday in Major League Soccer.

At Toronto:

Sebastian Giovinco scored twice (14', 18') as Toronto FC defeated the visiting Colorado Rapids 3-1.

At New York:

Ned Grabavoy scored twice (51', 63') and David Villa delivered the game winner in the 64th minute as New York City raced to a 3-0 second-half lead before holding off the visiting San Jose Earthquakes 3-2.

At Washington:

Kei Kamara scored the winning goal in the 21st minute as the Columbus Crew knocked off DC United 2-1 on the road.

At Vancouver, British Columbia:

Andrea Ivanschitz (45') , Gonzalo Pineda (71') , and Obafemi Martens (87') each scored a goal as the Seattle Sounders thumped the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 on the road and won their first Cascadia Cup crown since 2011.

At Montreal:

Jonah Venegas (5') , Didier Drogba (60') , and Dilly Duka (76') each scored once as the Montreal Impact dominated the visiting New England Revolution 3-0.

At Bridgeview, Illinois:

Bryan Rochez's goal in the 86th minute lifted Orlando City to a 1-0 road win over the Chicago Fire.

At Sandy, Utah:

Devon Sandoval scored twice (3', 54') while Nick Rimando collected his 123rd career shutout as Real Salt Lake shocked and dominated the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy 3-0.

MLS: Benny and SKC Prove Too Much For Hoops

At Kansas City, Kansas:

In the lone Friday Major League Soccer contest, Benny Feilhaber scored twice in the final half-hour (65', PK-76') as Sporting Kansas City defeated visiting FC Dallas 3-1.

CONCACAF Champions League

Three games were played on Thursday in the CONCACAF Champions League's group stage.

GROUP B:

At Metapan, El Salvador:

Tony Rugamas (63') and Jose Salinas (90'+4) delivered the goals as Isidro Metapan kept their chances of advancing to the knockout stage alive following the 2-0 home blanking of Herediano.

Group B Standings:

1. UANL Tigres (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
2. Club Sport Herediano (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. AD Isidro Metapan (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 3)

NOTE:  Tigres scored one goal on the road in their 1-1 draw with CS Herediano with one game left between each other.



GROUP C:

At Queretaro, Mexico:

Emanuel Villa delivered a quintuple (30', 51', 53', 85', 90') as Queretaro annihilated visiting Verdes FC 8-0 in their group-stage finale.

Group C Standings:

1. Queretaro FC (GP: 4; GD: +9; PTS: 7)
2. San Francisco FC (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
3. Verdes FC (GP: 2; GD: -8; PTS: 1)



GROUP D:

At Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:

Ataullah Guerra scored the only goal of the match in the 61st minute as Central FC stayed barely alive in the race for the Group D crown by knocking off visiting Comunicaciones 1-0.

Group D Standings:

1.  Los Angeles Galaxy (GP: 2; GD: +9; PTS: 6)
2.  CSD Comunicaciones (GP: 3; GD: -5; PTS: 3)
3.  Central FC (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 3)

Europa League: Ajax and Bhoys Draw; Bordeaux and Reds Deadlock Too; Spurs, Dortmund, Royal Blues, Black Eagles Triumph As Group-Stage Play Starts

Europa League group-stage play commenced on Thursday with 24 games.

GROUP A:

At Istanbul, Turkey:

Mohamed Elyounoussi scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute as Molde FK knocked off Fenerbahce 3-1 on the road.

At Amsterdam, Netherlands:

Viktor Fischer (25') and Lasse Schone (84') each scored once as Ajax Amsterdam salvaged a 2-2 home draw with Celtic.  Nir Bitton (8') and Mikael Lustig (42') each tallied once for the ten-man Bhoys.

Group A Standings:

1. Molde FK (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Celtic (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Ajax Amsterdam (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Fenerbahce (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

NOTE:  Celtic scored once on the road in their first match with Ajax.



GROUP B:

At Bordeaux, France:

Jussie's equalizer in the 81st minute enabled Bordeaux to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Liverpool.  Adam Lallana scored for the Reds in the 65th minute.

At Sion, Switzerland:

Moussa Konate scored twice (11', 82') as FC Sion defeated visiting Rubin Kazan 2-1.

Group B Standings:

1. FC Sion (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Liverpool (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Bordeaux (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Rubin Kazan (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

NOTE:  Liverpool scored once on the road in their first match with Bordeaux.



GROUP C:

At Baku, Azerbaijan:

PAOK FC held hosts Gabala FK to a 0-0 stalemate.

At Dortmund, Germany:

Park Joo-Ho scored the winning goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage time as Borussia Dortmund defeated visiting FC Krasnodar 2-1.

Group C Standings:

1. Borussia Dortmund (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Gabala FK (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
    PAOK FC (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. FC Krasnodar (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)



GROUP D:

At Herning, Denmark:

Morten Rasmussen scored the only goal of FC Midtjylland's 1-0 victory over visiting Legia Warsaw in the 60th minute.

Jose Callejon (5', 77') and Dries Mertens (19', 25') each scored twice as Napoli destroyed visiting Club Brugge 5-0.

Group D Standings:

1. Napoli (GP: 1; GD: +5; PTS: 5)
2. FC Midtjylland (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Legia Warsaw (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Club Brugge (GP: 1; GD: -5; PTS: 0)



GROUP E:

At Vienna, Austria:

Steffen Hofmann's successful penalty kick in the 53rd minute proved to be the game winner as Rapid Vienna knocked off visiting Villarreal 2-1.

At Plzen, Czech Republic:

Tomas Horava (36') and Milan Petzela (75') each scored once as FC Viktoria Plzen blanked visiting Dinamo Minsk 2-0.

Group E Standings:

1. FC Viktoria Plzen (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Rapid Vienna (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Villarreal (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. FC Dinamo Minsk (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)



GROUP F:

At Liberec, Czech Republic:

Rafa Silva scored the only goal of the match as Sporting Braga defeated FC Slovan Liberec 1-0 on the road.

At Groningen, Netherlands:

Georges-Kevin N'Koudou (25'), Lucas Ocampos (42'), and Romain Alessandrini (61') each scored once as Marseille dominated FC Groningen 3-0 on the road, snapping a ten-match winless skid in European club competition.

Group F Standings:

1. Marseille (GP: 1; GD: +3; PTS: 3)
2. Sporting Braga (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. FC Slovan Liberec (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS; 0)
4. FC Groningen (GP: 1; GD: -3; PTS: 0)



GROUP G:

At Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine:

Yevhen Seleznyov's stoppage-time equalizer (90'+4) enabled FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk came back to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Lazio.  Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored for the visiting Young Eagles in the 34th minute.

At Saint-Etienne, France:

Robert Beric (4') and Nolan Roux (PK-87') each scored once as Saint-Etienne salvaged a 2-2 home draw with Rosenborg BK.  Tobias Mikkelsen (16') and Jonas Svensson (78') provided the scoring for the visiting Trond Kids.

Group G Standings:

1. Rosenborg BK(GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
2. Saint-Etienne (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Lazio (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)

NOTES:  Rosenborg and Saint-Etienne each scored twice in their group-stage opener while Lazio and FC Dnipro each scored once in their draw; Rosenborg scored twice on the road in their first match with Saint-Etienne while Lazio scored once on the road in their first contest with Dnipro.



GROUP H:

At Lisbon, Portugal:

Aleksandr Samedov scored twice (12', 56') as Lokomotiv Moscow downed Sporting CP 3-1 on the road.  The defeat snapped the Lions' 20-match Europa League home unbeaten run, a tournament record.

At Elbasan, Albania:

Jose Sosa scored the only goal of the match in the 28th minute as Besiktas defeated Skenderbeu Korce 1-0 on the road.

Group H Standings:

1. Lokomotiv Moscow (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Besiktas (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Skenderbeu Korce (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS; 0)
4. Sporting CP (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)



GROUP I:

At Florence, Italy:

Mohamed Elneny scored the winning goal in the 79th minute as FC Basel knocked off Fiorentina 2-1 on the road.

At Poznan, Poland:

Lech Poznan battled visiting Belenenses to a 0-0 deadlock.

Group I Standings:

1. FC Basel (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Belenenses (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
    Lech Poznan (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Fiorentina (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)



GROUP J:

At Brussels, Belgium:

Lacina Traore equalizer in the 85th minute lifted AS Monaco to a 1-1 road draw with RSC Anderlecht.  Guillaume Gillet scored for the hosts in the 11th minute.

At London:

Son Heung-min scored twice in a two-minute period late in the first half-hour (28', 30') as Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to upend visiting Qarabag 2-1.

Group J Standings:

1. Tottenham Hotspur (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. AS Monaco (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. RSC Anderlecht (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Qarabag FK (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS; 0)

NOTE:  AS Monaco scored once on the road in the first contest with RSC Anderlecht.



GROUP K:

At Nicosia, Cyprus:

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice (35', 71') as Schalke dominated APOEL FC 3-0 on the road.

At Tripoli, Greece:

David Lafata delivered the equalizer in the 56th minute as Sparta Prague gained a 1-1 road draw with Asteras Tripoli.  Pablo Mazza scored for the hosts in the second minute.

Group K Standings:

1. FC Schalke 04 (GP: 1; GD: +3; PTS: 3)
2. Sparta Prague (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Asteras Tripoli FC (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. APOEL FC (GP: 1; GD: -3; PTS: 0)

NOTE:  Sparta Prague scored once on the road in the first of two contests with Asteras Tripoli.



GROUP L:

At Belgrade, Serbia:

Andrija Zivkovic scored the winning goal in the 89th minute as Partizan Belgrade held off visiting (and ten-man) AZ Alkmaar 3-2.

At Bilbao, Spain:

Aritz Adruiz scored twice (55', 66') as Athletic Bilbao downed visiting FC Augsburg 3-1.

Group L Standings:

1. Athletic Bilbao (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Partizan Belgrade (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. AZ Alkmaar (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. FC Augsburg (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)