[USA] MLS Review: Sam the hero for Red Bulls, Galaxy held

New York Red Bulls kept their spot inside the top six of the Eastern Conference after claiming a dramatic 1-0 win over 10-man DC United.

Englishman Lloyd Sam was the hero for the Red Bulls, popping up with a 90th-minute match-winner at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday.

After Fabian Espindola was controversially sent off in the 32nd minute – shown a straight red card by referee Mark Geiger for a high foot on Dax McCarty – United appeared on track for a hard-fought draw in New York.

United goalkeeper Bill Hamid pulled off a number of fine saves throughout the contest but the East leaders suffered a hammer blow in the closing stages as Sam drove forward and place the ball into the back of the net.

[Venezuela] Primera Division Review: Five-star Caracas thrash Aragua

Caracas heaped misery on Aragua, thrashing the Venezuelan Primera Division strugglers 5-0 on Wednesday.

The loss sent Aragua to the bottom of the 18-team league on goal difference behind Metropolitanos (both two points).

Caracas were powered to victory at their Estadio Olimpico de la UCV home via three goals inside 33 minutes, with each of Jhonder Cadiz, Ricardo Andreutti and Romulo Otero scoring.

The result was capped off by Otero’s second in the 72nd minute, and a Robert Garces goal late on.

[South Korea] K.League Review: Seoul march on with late winner, Jeonbuk held

In-form Seoul scored yet another late winner to secure a 2-1 victory at Seongnam which lifted them up to sixth place in the K.League.

Choi Yong-soo’s charges are now unbeaten in nine games in all competitions and leapfrogged Ulsan in the table on Wednesday courtesy of Koh Myong-jin’s last-gasp strike.

Hwang Ui-jo had put the home side in front eight minutes into the second half at the Tancheon Sports Complex, but Ko Kwang-min levelled 13 minutes later.

Seoul have secured victories over Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Motors – the top two in the K.League – courtesy of late goals and they were at it again, as Koh snatched all three points to move the visitors into the top half of the table.

[Argentina] Primera Division Review: River move clear, Boca continue resurgence

River Plate preserved their unbeaten record in the Argentine Primera Division, while Boca Juniors won again under Rodolfo Arruabarrena.

Uruguayan striker Rodrigo Mora stepped up in the absence of star man Teofilo Gutierrez, netting a brace as River accounted for Tigre 2-0 at the Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on Sunday.

River have collected 16 points from six matches to move three clear of Velez Sarsfield, who played out a goalless draw with third-placed Newell’s Old Boys on Saturday.

Gutierrez has played an integral role for River this season, topping the scoring charts with six goals in five games and his red-hot form saw him called into the Colombia squad.

With the 29-year-old away on international duty, River needed a player to take centre stage and that man was Mora.

[Peru] Primera Division Review: Juan Aurich, Melgar make winning starts

Juan Aurich continued where they left off as they opened the Peruvian Primera Division Clausura campaign with victory over San Simon.

A week after lifting their maiden Apertura title, Juan Aurich were back in action as they saw off San Simon 2-1 at the Estadio 25 de Noviembre on Sunday.

Hernan Rengifo, who scored nine goals in 15 Apertura games, opened the scoring after 32 minutes in Moquegua.

The 31-year-old was left unmarked at the back post and coolly headed the ball into the corner of the net.

Osnar Noronha doubled the visitors’ lead on the stroke of half-time, when he sprung the offside trap before poking the ball beyond San Simon goalkeeper Federico Nicosia.

[Colombia] Primera A Review: Boyaca Chico stumble, top sides win

Boyaca Chico dropped off the pace in the Colombian Primera A, while Deportivo Cali and Medellin won to hold the top two spots.

Two points off top heading into the weekend, Boyaca Chico twice coughed up a lead to draw 2-2 at Atletico Nacional.

Francisco Rodriguez and Juan Perez had put Boyaca Chico ahead in the eighth and 60th minutes respectively, but equalisers from Elkin Calle and Sherman Cardenas helped salvage a point for Atletico.

Deportivo Cali are clear top on 17 points, one ahead of Medellin, after a 1-0 road win over Aguilas Doradas.

Juan Cabezas’ goal three minutes out from half-time was enough for Cali, who won their fifth game of the season.

Medellin joined Cali with four straight wins, as they downed Fortaleza 3-2 away from home.

[USA] MLS Review: Revolution keep pressure on top two, Timbers rally

New England Revolution consolidated third spot in the Eastern Conference after coming from behind to beat Chicago Fire in MLS on Sunday.

Goals from Uruguayan import Diego Fagundez and substitute Charlie Davies cancelled out Sanna Nyassi’s opener as the Revolution won 2-1 in front of 12,204 spectators at Gillette Stadium.

After extending their winning streak to four games, the in-form Revolution remain third in the East with 39 points from 27 matches.

New England are only three points adrift of second-placed Sporting Kansas City, who have lost four on the bounce.

The Fire are second from bottom in the East – seven points behind Philadelphia Union in the race for the final play-off spot.

And the Chicago franchise made a bright start in New England as they attempted to make it three games without defeat.

[Paraguay] Division Profesional Review: Guarani stunned

League leaders Guarani suffered a shock Paraguayan Division Profesional loss as Libertad beat Olimpia.

Previously unbeaten, Guarani went down 1-0 at Deportivo Capiata – but maintained their three-point lead at the top.

Fabio Escobar haunted his former club, scoring the winner for his fifth-placed side in the 43rd minute.

Libertad moved into second after a 3-1 win over Olimpia, who slipped to third.

Claudio Vargas scored a lucky opener for Libertad as his 35-yard free-kick took a big deflection to find the bottom corner.

The second was even more fortunate as Rodrigo Lopez made it 2-0 in the 37th minute.

An Olimpia defender’s attempted clearance looped over his own goalkeeper Victor Centurion and onto the crossbar, allowing Lopez to come in and put away an easy finish.

[Costa Rica] Primera Division Review: UCR, Cartagines remain unbeaten

UCR took advantage of more postponements in the Costa Rican Primera Division, going clear top with a 2-0 win over Santos de Guapiles.

Fixtures involving Deportivo Saprissa, Herediano and Alajuelense have been postponed with the trio missing key players, who are on national duty at the Copa Centroamericana.

Alajuelense remain just through two league fixtures – from which they have maximum points – while UCR have played five times for 13 points.

Jose Antonio Giacone’s UCR took an early lead at home, Ariel Contreras netting in the ninth minute.

Santos’ Ismael Fuentes then handed UCR a two-goal buffer in the 59th minute, getting the final touch into his own net.

[Brazil] Serie A Review: Cruzeiro held by Fluminense, Sao Paulo win again

Cruzeiro surrendered a lead twice as they shared the spoils at Fluminense in Brazilian Serie A, while Sao Paulo extended their winning run.

League leaders Cruzeiro were held to a 3-3 draw, despite a first-half brace from Julio Baptista, after 18-year-old substitute Kenedy equalised for Fluminense with two minutes remaining in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

Cruzeiro – 11 games unbeaten in a span stretching back to May 28 – remain top of the table with 43 points from 19 matches.

Fluminense are 12 points off the pace in fifth spot.

With the competition’s leading goalscorer Ricardo Goulart and midfielder Everton Ribeiro away on international duty with Brazil in the United States, former Real Madrid and Arsenal forward Baptista was promoted to Marcelo Oliveira’s starting XI.

And he made an instant impact at the iconic Maracana, converting a 14th-minute penalty after Paraguayan Miguel Samudio – on loan from Libertad – was fouled in the area.