Matchday 18 in Major League Soccer saw 14 matches played across Saturday and Sunday, and no shortage of incredible goals and late drama. From Lucas Zelarayán’s long-distance rocket to an acrobatic finish from Lucho Acosta, here’s our recap of all the weekend’s action.
CF Montréal 4-0 Minnesota United FC
A double for Mason Toye and another strong match (and clean sheet) for Jonathan Sirois saw the hosts bag their biggest win of the season. With the win, Montréal moved into the playoff positions, while the visitors slipped to tenth.
Toronto FC 1-1 Nashville SC
A brilliant curling effort from Lorenzo Insigne looked to have given the hosts the win, but a mistake from Sean Johnson twenty minutes from time allowed Nashville to claw back a point, as they remained second in the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte FC 3-3 Seattle Sounders FC
In a match that saw both teams take the lead multiple times, Raúl Ruidiaz’s brace wasn’t enough to earn the Sounders a win. A late goal from substitute Patrick Agyemang allowed Charlotte to nick a point but they remain outside of the playoff positions.
New England Revolution 3-1 Inter Miami CF
Carles Gil scored from the penalty spot and added a pair of assists to help the Revs get back to winning ways. Inter Miami added a goal from Josef Martínez from the penalty spot late on, but it wasn’t enough to allow the visitors to get a foothold in a match that Bruce Arena’s side dominated from start to finish.
Atlanta United 3-1 D.C. United
Giorgios Giakoumakis scored again with a nifty finish, bringing his total for the year to a league-leading ten goals, and Andrew Gutman added a goal and an assist for the hosts. Taxi Fountas, recently back from injury, scored a consolation for D.C., but it wasn’t enough to stop Atlanta ending a run of four draws in a row.
Orlando City 2-0 Colorado Rapids
Pedro Gallese kept a clean sheet in his hundredth appearance for Orlando, as Facundo Torres had a goal and an assist. The Rapids finished with nine men after Braián Galvan and Lalas Abubakar were sent off.
Chicago Fire FC 1-2 Columbus Crew
Lucas Zelarayán was on the scoresheet again, scoring from inside his own half in stoppage time to help the Crew to yet another win. Xherdan Shaqiri had leveled just minutes earlier, but the Armenian International pounced on a loose ball to seal his team’s third straight win.
Houston Dynamo FC 4-0 Los Angeles FC
The hosts shook off a poor run of form to shock the visitors. Houston dominated throughout, scoring in the eleventh and 89th minutes as Amine Bassi converted once again from the penalty spot.
Sporting Kansas City 4-1 Austin FC
Alan Pulido scored twice and added an assist to help the hosts thump visiting Austin. Now four unbeaten, SKC have moved up into the play-in spots as Austin slipped to twelfth.
Real Salt Lake 0-0 New York City FC
Luis Barraza made four saves to give struggling NYCFC a vital road point. Jefferson Savarino hit the woodwork for the hosts wit both sides remaining outside the playoff spots.
San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Philadelphia Union
Left back Miguel Trauco scored a rare goal to break the Union’s four-match unbeaten run. The win allowed the ‘Quakes to pull level on points with third-place LAFC, and stay ahead of a tightly bunched pack of seven teams within three points of each other.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1-1 FC Cincinnati
Luciano Acosta's goal from a seemingly impossible angle was enough to earn Cincinnati a point on the road against the Canadian Cup Champions. Ryan Gauld pulled back a goal from the penalty spot but Cincinnati retained first place in the Eastern Conference and the league’s best record.
St. Louis CITY SC 1-1 LA Galaxy
Nicholas Gioacchini’s acrobatic finish gave the hosts the lead, but Daniel Aguirre came off the bench to shock the Western Conference leaders.
Portland Timbers 1-0 FC Dallas
Franck Boli scored the game’s only goal after a fine assist from Evander in the first half. The result saw the Timbers climb into the playoff spots, while Dallas remained fourth.
