Football Americana Week 17: LA and RSL stall

In a Major League Soccer week stunted by friendlies against those dastardly Europeans, just five fixtures took place. Despite the paucity of games there was time for a couple of twists in the race for Supporters Shield.

League leaders LA Galaxy needed a last minute equaliser to take a point from their home game against San Jose Earthquakes. Bobby Convey put the Quakes ahead by rolling in his first of the year in the second minute, but Edson Buddle prodded LA level just before the hour mark. Brandon McDonald pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box to score against his old club and it looked to have won the game for the Earthquakes until Landon Donovan tapped in from close range in the 90th minute.

At BMO Field, Toronto FC had to share the spoils with FC Dallas. Maicon Santos fired a low shot past Kevin Hartman to score his first for Toronto but Milton Rodriguez headed FCD's equaliser 13 minutes from time. Dario Sala, FCD's unused reserve goalkeeper, managed to get himself a red card in stoppage time.

Columbus Crew led Houston Dynamo 1-0 at half time thanks to a mind-boggling error by goalkeeper Tally Hall to allow Emilio Renteria to score in front of the vuvuzela-blowing masses at Crew Stadium. Crew played some great football but were given a helping hand when Bobby Boswell got his second yellow card in the 72nd minute. From there it was easy pickings for Columbus and Andy Iro and Leandro Griffit made it 3-0.

Real Salt Lake were forced to settle for a point in their pursuit of LA. They exchanged second half goals with Chivas USA at Rio Tinto, Ned Grabavoy giving RSL a deserved lead with a fantastic volley before Jesus Padilla's shot squeezed under Nick Rimando to secure a point for Chivas.

Seattle Sounders and Colorado Rapids exchanged three goals in the first 17 minutes at Qwest Field, with Steve Zakuani's somewhat fortunate brace sandwiching a blistering strike from Omar Cummings. Zakuani's first hit the post and bounced in off goalkeeper Matt Pickens and his second was a simple tap-in to win the points early for the Sounders. Conor Casey ended the game badly bloodied after a sickening clash of heads with Patrick Ianni.

You can check out all the action here and check out the tables here. If you do, you'll see that Columbus now have an eight-point lead over the Red Bulls at the top of the East, LA remain nine points clear of Salt Lake in the West, and DC United are rubbish.