JAMAICAN striker Omar Cummings netted his team’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Chivas USA, while goalkeeping compatriot Donovan Ricketts kept a clean sheet in LA Galaxy’s indentical win over New England Revolution as the Major League Soccer (MLS) kicked off at the weekend.

Andy Williams’ Real Salt Lake, the defending MLS Cup champions, were easy 3-0 winners over San Jose Earthquake and Dane Richards’ New York Red Bull opened their new stadium with a 1-0 win against rivals Chicago Fire.

However, defender Shavar Thomas, who was transfered to expansion club Philadelphia Union at the end of last season, sat on the bench in his team’s 0-2 loss to Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field.

Cummings, the Rapid’s second highest scorer with eight goals who had 12 assists last season, scored early in the second half (58th) as Colorado handed Chivas USA a 1-0 loss on Friday night.

The win was just the third season-opening victory for Colorado and their first on the road, while Chivas were losing an opener for the first time since 2005 — their first season in the MLS.

Cummings opened the scoring in what was a tight and uneventful match, in the 55th minute, when Chivas defender Mariano Trujillo’s failed clearance went straight to the attacker who, with his back to the goal, turned sharply and ripped a shot just inside the right post.

The Rapids forward now has three goals and one assist in his last five games against Chivas at Home Depot Center.

Meanwhile Ricketts, who played a pivitol role in David Beckham’s and London Donovan’s LA Galaxy reaching the MLS Cup final last season when he had an impressive nine clean-sheets, wasted no time in notching another shut-out to start the campaign with a 1-0 win over New England at the Home Depot Centre on Saturday.

Midfielder Williams came on after 62 minutes for champions Real Salt Lake, who were already 3-0 up in their away match against the San Jose Earthquakes at the Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday.

At the new Red Bulls Arena, Richards — who is expected to spearhead the New York Red Bulls attack this season, along with star striker Juan Pablo Angel — came in for much critisism from coach Hans Backe after their less-than-impressive 1-0 win over rivals Chicago Fire in the new 25,000 seater.

According to Backe, “I got the same stuff from him that drives me nuts — too much dribbling, holding, and completely taking the air our of our attacks.

“Dane Richards might have hopped in the hot tub because we didn’t see the vision and focus tonight from him that he displayed during the pre-season,” Backe stated.