Major League Soccer played thirteen matches this weekend, and there was no shortage of excitement, from a Cascadia Cup clash in Seattle to another big win for Philadelphia Union. Read on for our recap off all the action:
New York City Football Club 0-0 New England Revolution
Djordje Petrovic’s five saves were enough for the visitors to earn a point in New York, as the hosts dominated possession but couldn’t find a way past the Revs’ keeper. Richie Ledezma hit the bar for the hosts, but that was as close as they came, the result extending their winless streak to seven.
Seattle Sounders FC 0-0 Portland Timbers
It was an early kickoff for a feisty Cascadia Cup encounter, and Seattle had most of the ball, but with leading scorer Jordan Morris injured, were unable to break down the Timbers’ resistance. The result saw Seattle slip behind St. Louis CITY SC, while the Timbers dropped out of the playoff places.
FC Cincinnati 1-0 Chicago Fire FC
In-form Luciano Acosta scored for the sixth time in as many games, his strike seven minutes from time propelling the hosts to a sixth straight win, the result leaving them eight points clear of Nashville in first place.
Inter Miami CF 1-2 D.C. United
Goals for Donovan Pines and Christian Benteke were enough to see the visitors pick up a vital win in Miami’s first match without Phil Neville. Ian Fray scored a late consolation, but the hosts would lose their fifth straight match as they remain rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
New York Red Bulls 0-3 Orlando City
Orlando kept their five-match unbeaten run going with a strong display on the road. Facundo Torres scored a brace and Iván Angulo had a goal and an assist, the win taking back into the playoff spots.
Philadelphia Union 3-0 CF Montréal
Julián Carranza kept up his torrid form, netting a brace to reach nine goals on the season, just one behind league leaders Dénis Bouanga and Hany Mukhtar. With the win, the Union climbed into third place, just a point behind Nashville.
Columbus Crew 4-2 Charlotte FC
For the second match running, the Crew had their shooting boots on, putting four goals past the visitors in the match’s first hour. Christian Ramírez had two goals and an assist, while Cucho Hernández had a goal and an assist in what was the Crew’s third straight home win.
St. Louis CITY SC 3-0 Houston Dynamo FC
The expansion side are well and truly back on track after a slight dip in form last month. Their third win was another comprehensive victory, with Eduard Löwen scoring from the spot and Roman Bürki making four saves.
FC Dallas 1-2 Nashville SC
The inevitable Hany Mukhtar scored his tenth goal of the season, best in the league, allowing Nashville to keep hold of second place. Dallas had equalized after conceding an early own goal, but the reigning MVP scored for the seventh time in six matches to power the visitors.
Austin FC 1-2 Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake continued their strong road form in Austin, extending their unbeaten run to four thanks to a double by Rubio Rubín. Julio Cascante scored a late consolation for the hosts, but RSL held on to move to within a point of the playoffs.
Minnesota United FC 1-1 Toronto FC
Lorenzo Insigne scored for just the second time this season, but substitute Kelvin Arriaga would snatch a point for the hosts just a minute before full time as Toronto remain winless on the road this season.
Colorado Rapids 0-0 San Jose Earthquakes
Moïse Bombito was sent off with more than half an hour to play, but the Rapids held on for a draw. For San Jose, Daniel saved a penalty from Connor Ronan, one of five saves on the evening as the ‘Quakes recorded a second straight clean sheet.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1-1 Sporting Kansas City
Alan Pulido’s early goal was canceled out by a late Ryan Gauld penalty in Vancouver, but the visitors will be happy to continue their modest unbeaten run as the draw brings them to within two points of the playoffs.
