Football Americana Week 7: Goal spree in MLS

There were goals, goals and more goals in Major League Soccer in Week 7, and they weren't all down to individual magic. Here's your weekly MLS update.

In midweek there were a total of four matches. 19-year-old DC United goalkeeper Bill Hamid made his professional debut and starred as he helped United to their first win of the season, a 2-1 victory over Kansas City Wizards. Australian Danny Allsopp opened the scoring early on, his deflected shot finding the net and giving United their first lead of the season. Allsopp was on target again before half time and made it 2-0 with a classy finish from the edge of the area. The Wizards were rattled but did pull one back thanks to Kei Kamara. Ryan Smith and Christian Castillo were probably lucky not to earn their teams a red card apiece.

New England Revolution took a good old-fashioned thrashing from Chivas USA. Jesus Padilla put the Californian side ahead in the 26th minute, pouncing on a mistake by Kevin Alston and rounding goalkeeper Preston Burpo to score. Marko Perovic was dismissed for swinging a couple of elbows a couple of minutes later, and from there on in it was a formality. Justin Braun made it 2-0 in the 33rd, and goals from Padilla and rookie Blair Gavin after the break completed a 4-0 thumping.

In Texas, FC Dallas won 1-0 against Houston Dynamo to pick up their first ever away win against their neighbours and their first of the season. Heroic last-ditch defending kept matters level until FCD's Jair Benitez was sent off controversially for a clash with Luis Angel Landin. 10-man Dallas won it 12 minutes from time with a header by Ugo Ihemelu.

It was also 1-0 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, where LA Galaxy continued their blistering start with a 1-0 win over Colorado Rapids. The Rapids caused real problems for the Galaxy but it was Alan Gordon who made the difference, finding the net with a diving header from Landon Donovan's free kick.

At the weekend, there were goals flying in all over the place, and LA Galaxy bagged no fewer than four of them - unanswered - on an away trip to Seattle Sounders. Jovan Kirovski gave the Galaxy a half time lead with a shot which squirmed through Kasey Keller's hands. Omar Gonzalez made it 2-0 with a thumping header off the crossbar, and Todd Dunivant stooped to take advantage of bad defending to make it three. Landon Donovan opened his 2010 account with a burst of pace in front of Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and a prod past Keller. Seattle have offered to refund tickets after their dismal showing.

Toronto FC also got four and conceded just once against Chicago Fire. Nick LaBrocca's goal was an overhit cross but TFC won't mind, and doubled their lead with a poacher's finish by O'Brian White just after the break. Logan Pause quickly pulled one back with a phenomenal strike from distance, but Toronto finished the job with a quickfire double from Chad Barrett.

In Sandy, Utah, newcomers Philadelphia Union were comfortably beaten, falling to a 3-0 defeat by Real Salt Lake. A defensive error caused problems for the Union, and RSL skipper Kyle Beckerman eventually rolled in the opener. Jamison Olave bundled in a Javier Morales free kick to make it two, and Alvaro Saborio capped the victory with a confident header 20 minutes from time.

A five-goal thriller at Columbus Crew saw New England Revolution beaten again. They took the lead with a shot by Zak Boggs which was fumbled horribly by the Crew's goalkeeper William Hesmer. Eddie Gaven equalised for Columbus, and Cory Gibbs' sliding own goal made it 2-1 to the Crew. Boggs levelled with a composed finish, but the Revs were defeated by a stoppage time winner by Robbie Rogers.

After both picking up their first wins of the season, DC United headed for Pizza Hut Park but were beaten 1-0 by FC Dallas. United were once again unlucky in front of goal and FCD took all three points despite taking just one of their own many chances. Jeff Cunningham slotted past Bill Hamid to seal the win for Dallas. United will rue shots from Clyde Simms and Kurt Morsink which hit the woodwork either side of Cunningham's goal.

High-flying New York Red Bulls came unstuck at San Jose Earthquakes, where they took a 4-0 beating after the sending off of right back Luke Sassano inside 15 minutes. Sassano saw red for an outrageous tackle on Bobby Convey, and the Earthquakes took full advantage. Ryan Johnson took his goal with excellent technique, and the Quakes added three more in the second half. Bouna Condoul allowed Joey Gjertsen's daisy cutter to go underneath him for 2-0, and Chris Wondolowski made the game safe with 14 minutes to go. Bobby Burling's header added insult to injury.

Houston Dynamo roared past Chivas USA in the space of four minutes at the beginning of their encounter at HDC. Brad Davis beat Zach Thornton with a lovely sliding lob in the fourth minute, and in the seventh Adrian Serioux doubled the lead by thundering a header home from a corner.

All of the above leaves LA absolutely flying, sitting top of the West and a full nine points clear of the Dynamo. In the other table, Columbus are catching up with New York and are now just four points behind them on 11. You can see those standings here, and watch all the action here.