A look back at the pulsating weekend in the MLS : Week 9

Major League Soccer is an increasingly growing brand that is beginning to attract quality players with quality crowds. This weekly update will review all the action happening over in the US.

The weekend begun on Saturday with the New York Red Bulls heading away to Toronto FC, managed by former Blackburn, Tottenham and QPR defender Ryan Nelsen. Robert Earnshaw was looking to add to his tally and fire Toronto to a famous victory, however it was another former Premier League player that stole the headlines. Former Everton man Tim Cahill scored a brace, the winner coming in the dying minutes of normal time from a Thierry Henry cross, in front of a crowd of around 20,000.

How are the current MLS Cup holders LA Galaxy coping without former star-man David Beckham? They currently stand 2^nd in the Western Conference with 14 points from 7 games and a 2-0 away victory at Real Salt Lake did not harm to their chances of retaining their title. This was all the more impressive considering the Galaxy were without star men Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and Carlo Cudicini. Mike Magee and youngster Charlie Rugg both found the net in that one.

The game of the week saw Portland Timbers come back twice to secure a 3-2 victory over Sporting Kansas City. Mikael Silvestre and co were unable to stop Chance Myers scoring a brace for Kansas however goals from Ryan Johnson, Darlington Nagbe and Rodney Wallace. The Timbers' attacking style makes them a great watch for any 'soccer' fan.

Elsewhere Montreal Impact continued their good form to remain top spot of the Eastern Conference following a 2-0 victory over Chicago Fire. The leaders of the Western Conference, FC Dallas, drew 2-2 away to Vancouver Whitecaps. Familiar faces to Premier League fans, Nigel Reo-Coker and Andy O'Brien played the full 90 minutes for the Whitecaps.

In the four other games, Chivas USA equalised in the 76^th minute against Supporters Shield holders San Jose Earthquakes to clinch a point. New England Revolution secured a much needed 2-0 victory over Philadelphia Union, their first home win of the campaign. The final game of the weekend also threw up a draw, a 1-1 stalemate between Houston Dynamo and Colorado Rapids. Former Derby man Giles Barnes came to Houston's rescue to continue a fine campaign on an individual front.

The final game of this review, however, will be the 3-0 rout for Columbus Crew over the struggling DC United in front of a crowd of around 14,000. The game's kick-off was delayed in unusual fashion as the fire brigade was called in to deal with a fire on the scoreboard within the stadium. Luckily enough for the Crew fans, the blaze must have sparked their team into life to produce a red hot performance. Dominic Oduro, Josh Williams and Federico Higuain all hit the back of the net in this clash.

Hopefully this review will have wetted your appetite for more MLS action. In the coming week noteworthy games are Columbus Crew's home tie against Thierry Henry's New York Red Bulls, Supporters Shield holders San Jose Earthquakes play host to current Eastern Conference leaders Montreal Impact, and LA Galaxy host Houston Dynamo on Sunday, May the 5^th.