It was another busy round of midweek action in Major League Soccer on Wednesday evening – a dozen matches were on the docket and while weather in Colorado saw the Rapids’ match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC postponed, the other matches more than made up for a short schedule, including no less than four two-all draws and a bravura performance from Houston Dynamo FC.
New York Red Bulls 2-2 Charlotte FC
After conceding a first-half double to Benjamin Bender, the hosts battled back with two goals in the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Cristián Cásseres also hit the woodwork for Red Bulls, but the teams would share the points in a result that left both three points off the playoffs.
Orlando City 2-2 Philadelphia Union
A goal and an assist from Martín Ojeda had staked Orlando to a 2-0 lead with half an hour to play, but the Union struck twice to leave Florida with a point. Philadelphia had goals from Jack McGlynn and José Martínez, the latter in stoppage time, to keep hold of fourth place.
Atlanta United 2-2 New York City FC
A brace from Gabriel Pereira looked to have given the visitors three points in Atlanta, NYCFC having scored inside the first minute and again early in the second half. But Brooks Lennon set up Nick Firmino with his seventh assist of the season in the fourth minute of added time to allow the hosts to nick a point.
FC Cincinnati 3-0 Toronto FC
Cincinnati continued their torrid run at home with a comprehensive win over Toronto. Winners of all ten of their first matches at home this season, they’re now eight points clear of Nashville in the Eastern Conference. In-form Lucho Acosta scored and set up Dominique Badji – the creative midfielder has eight goals and two assists since the beginning of May.
CF Montréal 1-0 Nashville SC
The hosts pulled off arguably the shock of the round as they held in-form Nashville scoreless at home. Bryce Duke scored the game’s only goal on 27 minutes as Montréal moved in to the play-in positions with their second win in a row.
Houston Dynamo FC 4-1 San Jose Earthquakes
The Dynamo have become the league’s form team and they notched their third win in a row. Hector Herrera had a pair of assists and Thor Úlfarsson scored a brace off the bench as Houston head into the weekend in fourth place.
St. Louis CITY SC 1-3 Real Salt Lake
Damir Kreilach’s brace earned the visitors the win as St. Louis have now endured a four-match winless run. RSL have meanwhile won three of four to move into seventh place ahead of a visit from Minnesota United on Sunday.
LA Galaxy 2-2 Sporting Kansas City
Alan Pulido confirmed his position as the league’s form striker with a brace – the Mexican forward now has six goals in four matches as SKC moved to within a point of the playoff positions – only Houston have done better in their last six matches. For the hosts, Douglas Costa had his second assist in as many matches, but the Galaxy remain just a point above bottom side Colorado.
Los Angeles Football Club 1-0 Seattle Sounders FC
Matuesz Bogusz scored one of the fastest goals in LAFC history as the hosts moved three points clear in the Western Conference standings. The Sounders are now winless in four, as they continue to struggle in the absence of leading scorer Jordan Morris.
Portland Timbers 1-2 Chicago Fire FC
Kei Kamara scored his fifth goal of the season off the bench to lift the Fire to a vital win in Portland. The result snapped a five-match winless run for the visitors, and moved them back into the playoff mix in the Eastern Conference.
Austin FC 3-0 FC Dallas
In a match delayed by weather, the hosts got their third home win in four matches against derby rivals Dallas. Brad Stuver impressed in goal as Austin leapfrogged four sides to end the round in eighth place.
