MLS roundup: TFC victory moves them into 1st place in East
Toronto's Altidore has 6 goals in last 8 games
Jozy Altidore had a goal and an assist and Toronto FC beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 on Saturday night to move into first place in the Eastern Conference.
Altidore opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, finishing Justin Morrow's cross from the middle of the area. Altidore assisted Jonathan Osorio's goal in the 52nd minute, blocking Sean Johnson's errant throw-out so Osorio could send back an easy chip shot past the out-of-position goalkeeper.
Altidore has six goals in his last eight games — nine in 10 counting his two U.S. national team appearances. His scoring burst comes at a crucial time for Toronto FC (13-8-7) with last year's MLS MVP, Sebastian Giovinco, out for four weeks with a muscle strain.
Michael de Leeuw closed the deficit to one for Chicago (6-13-8) with a high-leaping header from in front of the net in the 64th minute.
Vancouver 3 - 1 Columbus
Andrew Jacobson scored the go-ahead goal in the 74th minute, Erik Hurtado added another in the 82nd and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Columbus Crew 3-1 on Saturday night.
Jacobson dribbled in from near midfield and slotted home a right-footed shot from the right side of the arc — Vancouver's first shot on goal. Erik Hurtado made it 3-1 on a putback off David Edgar's initial attempt.
The Whitecaps (9-13-7) tied it in the 13th minute on an own goal by the Crew's Gaston Sauro. Columbus (5-11-11) opened the scoring moments before on Ola Kamara's leaping kick to finish Mohammed Saeid's corner.
Vancouver was 0-5-3 coming in to the match with just three goals over that span.
Columbus' Tony Tchani was sent off in the 86th minute due to violent conduct.
The kickoff was delayed over an hour due to weather.
Montreal 1 - 1 Philadelphia
Matteo
Matteo Mancosu tied it with a header in the 88th minute and the Philadelphia Union held on for a 1-1 draw with the Montreal Impact on Saturday night.
Hernan Bernardello crossed in a diagonal chip pass and Donny Toia flicked it along through the middle of the Union defence to set up Mancosu's goal for the Impact (9-8-11).
"I'm very satisfied with this goal," said Mancosu.
"We played a good away game against a direct rival. We could have scored more, with the chances that we created, but we have to be pleased, because we played well and picked up an important point."
Union (11-10-8) goalkeeper Andre Blake injured his hip on the play from a diving attempt to make a save but stayed on for the remainder of the contest.
Tranquillo Barnetta opened the scoring in the 45th minute on a straightaway left-footed shot from 25 yards. It was Barnetta's fifth goal of the season.
"We played well for most of the game," said Impact coach Mauro Biello.
"We saw good things on both the defensive side and the offensive side. The goal at the end is the result of all the work that my players put in. This is a good point that we pick up against Philadelphia, and I'm pleased with the game."