NEW YORK (AP) — Santiago Rodriguez scored a key goal and defending champion New York City FC crushed Montreal 4-1 on Saturday.
The Uruguayan’s strike gave NYCFC a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. The New York team also received the contribution of a goal from Alexander Callens.
Brazilians Talles Magno and Thiago closed the account.
The Montreal goal was the work of Zachary Brault Guillard.
NYCFC reached four points and moved into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Montreal continued to sink without points in the campaign.
Also on Saturday, “Chicharito” scored, but the Galaxy fell.
Ecuadorian Xavier Arreaga scored the decisive goal with a header in the 72nd minute as the Sounders prevailed 3-2.
The assist on Arreaga’s goal was provided by Salvadoran Alex Roldán, for Seattle to collect its first three points of the campaign.
Mexican Javier “Chicharito” Hernández scored in the sixth minute for the Galaxy to take the lead. Jordan Morris equalized for Seattle 11 minutes later.
The Sounders went into the break with a 2-1 lead, thanks to a goal from Colombian Fredy Montero in stoppage time.
After a foul by Mexican Julián Araujo, Montero scored from a free kick.
The Brazilian Douglas Costa also executed a free kick, which was deflected by another player and ended up in the goal defended by Stefan Frei, three minutes into the second half, so that the score was even 2-2.
An attempt by Mexican Efraín Álvarez to equalize the score crashed into the crossbar, 10 minutes from the end.
The Columbus Crew came from behind to beat Toronto FC 2-1, thanks to goals from Argentina’s Lucas Zelarayán and Derrick Etienne Jr. in the second half.
On the night, the Colombian Darwin Quintero scored a goal in each half and the Houston Dynamo won 2-1 over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Spaniard Jesús Jiménez gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute, thanks to a cross from his compatriot Alejandro Pozuelo.
With a goal from Argentina’s Franco Jara, Dallas beat Nashville 2-0. For their part, the Colorado Rapids defeated Sporting Kansas City by the same score, with a goal from Chilean Diego Rubio.
In other matches, Los Angeles FC won 2-0 on their visit to Inter Miami; Real Salt Lake beat the New England Revolution 3-2; the Portland Timbers beat Austin 1-0; Cincinnati won 2-1 over Orlando City; the Philadelphia Union beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0, and the Chicago Fire defeated DC United by the same score.
