Five Things We Learned From This Weekend's MLS Action

1. Charlie Davies knows how to dive- Since his return from a potentially career ending car crash, nothing but love has been poured towards DC United forward Charlie Davies. However, after his antics last night, I feel it fit to direct a little negativity his way. 1-0 down with only a few minutes remaining, United were desperate for a goal, a desperation embodied by Davies, who dived obviously, pretending to be fouled by Omar Gonzalez so as to win a penalty. To be fair to the striker, the penalty was converted with aplomb, a lovely Paneka chip enough to put DC United back on level turns.


2. New York don't know how to score- With attacking talents of the likes of Henry, Richards, De Rosario and Agudelo in tow, there really is no excuse for the Red Bulls' inability to score goals. On Saturday night, the Red Bulls kept possession with ease, without ever challenging Philadelphia keeper Mondragon. Henry looked slow and lackadaisical in possession, while Agudelo's late substitution paid testament to the threat level that he posed. On the other hand, Philadelphia took advantage of their one opportunity of the game, with substitute Torres popping up with a winner. Hans Baake will hope that the Red Bulls' scoring struggles are only early season struggles, and not signs of a more endemic problem.

3. Real Salt Lake have Real strength in depth- No Morales, no Borchers, no Olave, no problem for Jason Kreis' Real Salt Lake side. Coming into the game off an energy sapping trip South, Real could hardly have been blamed for coming up short in New England. However, 2009's MLS Cup champions showed the kind of remarkable strength in depth often lacked by Major League Soccer sides, winning 2-0 over the high flying New England Revolution. Defender Chris Schuler and forward Paulo Jr. got the goals, but it was the effort delivered by every starter for a depleted Real which left onlookers amazed.

4. Alan Gordon has found a new lease of life in Toronto- Derided, for most of his stay in Los Angeles, Alan Gordon looks to have finally found a home in Toronto, Canada. Depicted as the quintessential MLS player in Grant Wahl's The Beckham Experiment, Gordon has been ridiculed by fans throughout his career for a lack of pace and technique. However, the former Galaxy man has started the 2011 MLS season in a rich vein of form, with two goals from his last two matches. Still rocking after Dwayne De Rosario's high profile departure, Gordon's goals have helped to steady the ship at Toronto, and lift the team to two straight draws.


5. Davide Ferreira still has it- With two goals against defending MLS Cup champions Colorado, Davide Ferreira has put all memories of his, and Dallas' stuttering start behind him. Before Friday's win, Dallas and Ferreira had looked out of sorts, and questions were beginning to be raised about the age of both team and star player. However, a resounding 3-0 win which avenged last season's cup final defeat has put FC Dallas very much back in the Supporters Shield picture, and if Davide Ferreira continues the form he showed against the Rapids (scoring two goals and commanding the game throughout)  then who knows, maybe Dallas can go one better than last season.