Football Americana Week 6: Edson "Thatcher" Buddle smashes the Union

After one goalless match, LA Galaxy striker Edson Buddle's back in rampant form, seeing off Philly almost single-handedly. There were sendings off aplenty in Week 6, one or two surprises, a great goal for San Jose and - you guessed it - defeat for DC.

DC United slumped to yet another defeat, losing again at home. Their conquerors on this occasion were New York Red Bulls, Hans Backe's resurgent outfit. For the second time, Salou Ibrahim and Juan Pablo Angel combined to win it for the Red Bulls, rather against the run of play. Salou's finish was scrappy, Angel's routine, but toothless DC had no response. Curt Onalfo's days are surely numbered already.

At Gillette Stadium, New England Revolution split the points with FC Dallas. Zack Schilawski hit the post in the 40th minute but found the net a minute later when Kheli Dube mugged goalkeeper Dario Sala and passed the ball across the area. Dube was sent off ten minutes into the second half, ostensibly for a studs-up tackle but I think there may have been a stamp by him a split-second before. The red cost the Revs, Atiba Harris finding the net with a header from a Dax McCarty free kick with 25 minutes to play.

Joseph Niouky also saw red for the Revs thanks to an ugly tackle on Heath Pearce. Brek Shea and Jeff Cunningham both hit the crossbar as FCD failed to take advantage.

Houston Dynamo put the impressive Kansas City Wizards in their place with a 3-0 victory at Robertson Stadium. It was one-way traffic by the time Dominic Oduro set up Luis Angel Landin to dink in the Dynamo's opener, and minutes later Davy Arnaud gave the Wizards a mountain to climb by picking up a 33rd minute red card for leaving a firm foot in when challenging Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad.

Brian Mullan made it two when the Wizards allowed him to stretch his legs down the right hand side and head for goal far too easily, and the third came from Samuel Appiah, again assisted by Oduro, who put in a fantastic performance.

Two second half goals saw Chicago Fire and Chivas USA cancel one another out. Baggio Husidic gave the Fire an advantage at Toyota Park, with a tap-in in the 52nd minute, but Maicon Santos headed Chivas level and earned them a deserved point.

Struggling Toronto FC were beaten again on a visit to Real Salt Lake. The champions took a first half 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Jamison Olave and Andy Williams, and TFC had only a late Dwayne De Rosario penalty to show for their work in Utah.

San Jose Earthquakes and Colorado Rapids have both improved this season, but it was the Quakes who emerged triumphant from their encounter at Buck Shaw Stadium. Just one goal made the difference, Chris Wondolowski thumping the ball in off the crossbar in the 33rd minute, leaving Matt Pickens and his magnificent beard helpless.

Edson Buddle scored twice more for LA Galaxy as they swept aside Philadelphia Union with a 3-1 win. AJ De La Garza took advantage of a great pass from Buddle with under a minute gone to prod the ball in for 1-0, and the national team hopeful bagged his own brace before half time.

A scrappy 27th minute goal was supplemented by a cool finish from a one-on-one from an assist by Landon Donovan. Former Galaxy player Stefani Miglioranzi was sent off at 3-0 for an awful, late two-footed challenge, leaving the Union with littel chance of mounting a comeback. Fred put Jack McInerney's consolation goal on a plate, but Philly continue to shoot themselves in the foot with silly dismissals.

And there was no separating Seattle Sounders and Columbus Crew at Qwest Field. Steve Zakuani rounded the Crew goalkeeper to open the scoring early, but Steven Lenhart equalised in first half stoppage time by heading in Danny O'Rourke's cross. O'Rourke, already on a yellow card, clumsily felled James Riley late on and was shown his second red card of 2010. Fredy Montero had a stoppage time winner disallowed for a foul on Crew's Andy Iro by Sanna Nyassi.

2010 continues to belong to the Red Bulls and the Galaxy. New York are now seven points clear of Columbus and Chicago in the East, while the Galaxy are six ahead of Colorado and Houston in the West. You can see those standings here, and watch all the highlights from Major League Soccer here.