Red Bulls open with easy win
Carlos Rivas scored two goals and the New York Red Bulls opened their MLS season with a 4-0 win over the Portland Timbers last night in Harrison, N.J.
Elsewhere, former Revolution striker Kei Kamara scored his 100th career MLS goal, Brek Shea had the go-ahead score early
SOCCER ROUNDUP
in the second half and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the host Houston Dynamo, 2-1 . ... Gyasi Zardes scored two goals, the second on a penalty in the 94th minute, and the host Columbus Crew beat the Montreal Impact, 3-2 . ...
In Sandy, Utah, Diego Rossi scored two goals and Los Angeles FC stayed undefeated as a franchise with a 5-1 rout of Real Salt Lake . ... Ethan Finlay scored a pair of goals to lead Minnesota United over host Orlando City, 2-1 . . . . In Bridgeview, Ill,. Felipe Gutierrez scored twice and Sporting Kansas City rallied with two late goals to beat the Chicago Fire, 4-3.
West Ham crisis
It was an ugly win for Manchester United in the English Premier League, and an even uglier loss for West Ham.
United scored twice through Marcus Rashford in the opening 24 minutes then produced a gritty, ultra-defensive display to grind out a 2-1 win over fierce rival Liverpool and strengthen its hold on second place. The Reds Devils are now five points ahead of John Henry’s Liverpool.
There was as much action in the stands as on the field at West Ham, where home fans invaded the field on two separate occasions to confront players and gathered below the directors’ box to force the club’s owners to be escorted out in the second half of the 3-0 loss to Burnley . ...
Barcelona increased its lead in the Spanish league without star Lionel Messi, who took leave to attend the birth of his third son. Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho scored early in a 2-0 victory at Malaga to remain unbeaten in league play and extend its lead to 11 points over Atletico Madrid, which hosts Celta Vigo today.
Real Madrid stayed another four points back in third place after Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to beat Eibar, 2-1.