Jermain Defoe scores third goal in two games to lift Toronto FC

Jermain Defoe continued a torrid start to his Major League Soccer career, scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 victory for Toronto FC on Saturday over DC United.

Toronto FC's Jermain Defoe celebrates after scoring against DC United on Saturday. Chris Young / AP / The Canadian Press / March 22, 2014

Agence France Presse

Mar 23, 2014

Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe scored in the 60th minute Saturday to give Toronto a 1-0 victory over DC United in the Canadian Major League Soccer club’s home opener.

It was the first time in club history that Toronto had opened a campaign with back-to-back wins, following a 2-1 triumph last week at Seattle.

Defoe netted both goals in the first half at Seattle and once again made the difference, swiping a failed clearance attempt in the penalty area and beating United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

The 31-year-old Englishman netted 143 goals in two stints at Spurs to rank fifth on the London side’s all-time scoring list and left the English Premier League side last month to join Toronto in time for this month’s start of the MLS campaign.

Expectations are high for a Toronto side that managed only six wins and 11 draws in 34 MLS matches last year.

In other MLS action, a successful Dom Dwyer penalty in the second half put Sporting Kansas City over the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0.

FC Dallas scored three times in a span of 15 minutes in the second half to beat Chivas USA 3-1. Michel, Je-Vaughn Watson and Fabian Castillo secured the scores for Dallas.

The Colorado Rapids extened a winless start for the Portland Timbers, as Vicente Sanchez netted in the 73rd on a penalty and Deshorn Brown added the second two minutes later (and missed a penalty two minutes after that) for a 2-0 victory.

The Columbus Crew were also winners, staking a 2-0 lead with Bernardo Anor registering a double in the first half which would stand in a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union.

The New England Revolution and Vancouver Whitecaps played to a scoreless draw and Robbie Keane scored for the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake.