Defender Shavar Thomas led Chivas USA to a 2-0 over the Seattle Sounders on April 18 and the best record in the MLS for the California-based club. It was the second shutout loss for the rookie MLS team, which includes defender Tyrone Marshall, following three straight wins without conceding a goal to open the season.

However, Thomas's team stumbled midweek, losing 1-0 to Toronto FC, which used Rohan Ricketts, an English-born midfielder with Jamaican parents, as a late second-half substitute. Johann Smith, another with Jamaican parents, was in TFC's game-day squad but did not play.

Going into this weekend, Chivas still lead the MLS with 13 points, despite suffering their first loss. The goal against TFC was only the third conceded in the team's six matches.

On April 25, Thomas and Chivas will host F.C. Dallas, a team featuring Montego Bay-born Jeff Cunningham, a striker with 11 years in the MLS and 104 goals.

A confident performance by midfielder Dane Richards helped New York Red Bulls beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 to record the club's first win of the MLS 2009.

However, Richards picked up his second caution of the season and is still without a goal or assist.

Midfielder Andy Williams made a 78th-minute substitute's appearance as his RSL club slipped to its second defeat.

On Thursday, Richards played as a second half substitute in the Red Bulls' 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards. The Red Bulls will be in action again tomorrow against TFC.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who kept a clean sheet on his MLS debut and earned Player-of-the-Week honours, lost his shutout record as his Los Angeles Galaxy drew 1-1 with the San Jose Earthquakes in the April 18 'Cali Clasico' featuring the two California teams.

Opportunity to score

The Earthquakes started forward Ryan Johnson, but replaced him in the 78th minute. Johnson will travel to Seattle today to face Marshall and the Sounders.

Striker Omar Cummings played the entire game, but could not prevent Colorado Rapids from losing 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo last Sunday. Cummings will get another opportunity to score when he faces national teammate Ricketts in goal for the LA Galaxy at home. That begins a streak of four games when the goalkeeper will face national teammates. On May 2, it's Richards, New York Red Bulls; May 6, Williams, RSL; and May 10, Marshall and the Sounders.

Substitute appearances

Long-time friends and national teammates Williams and Marshall will meet when RSL tackle the Sounders in the United States Open Cup knockout competition next Tuesday. Williams has made mostly substitute appearances for RSL this season in US Major League Soccer, but Marshall has been a solid starting presence at central defence for the Sounders.

Next Wednesday, Richards and the Red Bulls will travel to California to play Johnson's San Jose Earthquakes in the Open Cup.

Marshall is yet to commit a foul after playing every minute of the team's five MLS games so far for the Seattle Sounders, according to team statistics. He has been the victim of one foul.

Gordon Williams is following the progress of Jamaica's footballers playing professionally in the MLS and (United Soccer Leagues) USL, North America's top two leagues.