Defoe show lifts Toronto FC, Impact rue late mistake, Whitecaps disappoint in second half: Canadian MLS recap

TORONTO FC 4 – HOUSTON DYNAMO 2

The Jermain Defoe show took over BMO Field on Saturday night.

Down 2-0 against Houston 30 minutes in, Defoe took control of the game and brought the Reds roaring back. He set up the first-half goals from Jonathan Osorio and Dominic Oduro and scored two himself in the second half to lift Toronto FC to a 4-2 win.

It's the kind of performance that's come to be expected of the 31-year-old English striker since he arrived in MLS. Even with fellow designated player Michael Bradley out of the lineup, Defoe was able to take control of the game.

So far, Defoe, who now has 10 goals this season, has been worth every bit of his sizeable contract.

THE QUOTE: "It helps having a world-class player like Defoe any time, to tell you the truth. But in times like this [going down early] yes, because you know you're going to get chances and you just hope they get taken. And when you've got a player of that ability, they get taken." – Toronto FC head coach Ryan Nelsen

NEXT GAME: Wednesday, July 16 – vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 8 ET

SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2 – MONTREAL IMPACT 1

The Impact looked like they were about to earn a point against Sporting Kansas City, a team that has had their way with them this year.

Tied 1-1 with 90 seconds to go, miscommunication between defender Heath Pearce and goalkeeper Troy Perkins resulted in a failed clearing attempt and led to an easy game-winning goal for Kansas City striker Dom Dwyer.

It was Dwyer's second goal of the game after he had opened the scoring 5 minutes in. Impact striker Marco Di Vaio equalized just before the half-hour mark and Montreal managed to hold off Kansas City's attack until Dwyer pounced on the late mistake to seal the 2-1 win.

As has been the case for much of the season, Montreal failed to capitalize when they had the chance.

The Impact remain in last place in the Eastern Conference, with 14 points from 17 games played.

THE QUOTE:"We had a good performance, but in the end we should have walked away with points tonight. I don't know how we find ways to lose games like this. The breaks aren't going our way right now. I feel bad for the guys. It's not a good feeling coming in here and losing, believe me, or walking around the streets of Montreal when you lose games like this." – Impact head coach Frank Klopas

NEXT GAME: Saturday, July 19 – at Columbus Crew, 7:30 ET

CHIVAS USA 2 – VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 1

The Whitecaps seemed poised to cruise to a comfortable win after their first half performance at home against Chivas USA.

Vancouver dominated play in the opening 45 minutes, and Carlyle Mitchell's headed goal off a corner kick gave them a 1-0 lead going into halftime. Chivas responded off a corner of their own in the 47th minute and the Whitecaps let the game get away from them after that.

Jordan Harvey was sent off for a clumsy two-footed challenge, leaving Vancouver to play with 10 men for the game's final 20 minutes. The 'Caps followed up Harvey's dismissal with their first bit of sustained pressure but Darren Mattocks and Nigel Reo-Coker both missed their chance to retake the lead.

With less than 10 minutes left, Erick Torres nodded in a great cross sent in by Marky Delgado to put Chivas up 2-1. The Goats added a third in injury time when Whitecaps keeper David Ousted pushed up for an offensive corner kick and as a result was nowhere near his net when Leandro Barrera sent a long-range effort towards goal.

THE QUOTE: "I think we started slow at the start of the second half. That was probably the disappointing thing from the game because I didn't feel under any threat really in the first half. The 10 minutes after halftime is big in any game and they got the goal and got the bit between their teeth." – Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson

NEXT GAME: Wednesday, July 16 – at Toronto FC, 8 ET

PLAY OF THE DAY: Jermain Defoe leads Toronto FC comeback

Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @israelfehr.