Toronto stretches MLS win streak to six games

Washington (AFP) – Canadian striker Tosaint Ricketts scored in the 77th minute to give Toronto a 3-2 victory over Minnesota United, stretching the Major League Soccer win leader’s victory streak to six matches.

Toronto’s club record run has featured five triumphs in 18 days and put the team atop the Eastern Conference at 7-1 with four drawn for 25 points.

Ricketts converted Jozy Altidore’s cross for the home victory while Italian international forward Sebastian Giovinco, who scored on a 20th-minute penalty kick, was taken out late in the first half with quad tightness.

Minnesota’s Christian Ramirez netted an own goal before Trinidadian teammate Kevin Molino’s goals in the 52nd and 62nd minutes pulled the visitors level.

Iraqi international striker Justin Meram’s first career hat trick was capped by a game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time to lift the Columbus Crew past host Montreal 3-2.

US midfielder Lee Nguyen scored one goal and set up another to spark the New England Revolution to a 4-0 home victory over Real Salt Lake. The hosts did all their scoring in the first half in snapping a five-match winless streak and delivering Real’s fourth loss in a row.

Bosnian midfielder Haris Medunjanin scored one goal and assisted on two others in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-0 romp at D.C. United.

Hungarian international striker Nemanja Nikolic scored twice, the last on a 76th-minute penalty kick, in Chicago’s 4-1 victory at Seattle.

Ghana striker Latif Blessing scored twice, including the second-half equalizer that lifted Sporting Kansas City into a 2-2 draw at Orlando City. Brazilian star Kaka and Canada’s Cyle Larin scored for Orlando, which remained unbeaten at home.

Albanian international Shkelzen Gashi scored twice to power the host Colorado Rapids over San Jose 3-0.