With the season now having entered its final month, the stakes are ever-higher in Major League Soccer. In the Eastern Conference, seven teams are in the mix for the two playoff spots, while in the Western Conference, St. Louis CITY SC have sealed the top seed, but only five points separates second place from ninth, with a fierce battle on the line for position. Read on to catch up on all the action from around the league.
Toronto FC 2-3 FC Cincinnati
Brandon Vázquez and Jonathan Osorio traded braces, but Aaron Boupendza would settle the match for the visitors with twenty minutes to play, securing the Supporters’ Shield in the process.
Orlando City 3-0 CF Montréal
The hosts continued their strong late-season form with a comprehensive win over Montréal, who are now winless in six and in danger of falling out of the playoff positions.
New England Revolution 2-1 Charlotte FC
Against a Charlotte side fighting for the slim survival of their playoff hopes, the Revs got a vital win to nip ahead of Philadelphia and into third place, with Noel Buck and Dave Romney netting the goals.
New York Red Bulls 0-1 Chicago Fire FC
In a massive win for the Fire, Georgios Koutsias scored the game’s only goal in the second half, allowing Chicago to beat the ten-man hosts and also leapfrog them in the standings, moving level on points with Montréal in ninth.
Columbus Crew 1-1 Philadelphia Union
André Blake made eight saves in a real statement of intent from Philadelphia, who will take heart from a stout display despite having taken the lead just after the interval.
Minnesota United FC 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes
After conceding late on, the Loons’ playoff hopes now hang by a thread, their six-match winless run having seen them slip from contention, three points adrift of ninth with just two matches left to play.
Houston Dynamo FC 0-0 FC Dallas
Despite their mid-week exertions in winning the U.S. Open Cup, the hosts took this Copá Téjas match seriously, playing a strong side at home to Dallas. Neither side was able to break the other’s resistance, though, and it was honors even at full time.
St. Louis CITY SC 4-1 Sporting Kansas City
The expansion side made history as they sealed top spot in the Western Conference thanks to a second-half flurry, netting all four goals in the span of just twelve minutes as João Klauss continued his impressive return from injury with his fourth and fifth goals in September.
Nashville SC 0-0 Seattle Sounders FC
Joe Willis made three saves and the league’s best defense kept another clean sheet at home, having all but secured their place in the playoffs.
Inter Miami CF 1-1 New York City FC
Still without the injured pair of Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, Miami snatched a vital point at home against a direct rival, scoring in the fourth minute of added time thanks to Tomás Avilés.
Colorado Rapids 1-0 Austin FC
Despite having long been eliminated from playoff contention, the Rapids got an unlikely win against and Austin side who still harbor their own hopes of qualifying, with defender Andreas Maxsø scoring the match’s only goal just before halftime.
LA Galaxy 3-3 Portland Timbers FC
Portland saw their four-match winning run come to an end in Los Angeles, as the Galaxy, not yet eliminated from playoff contention, saw a powerhouse performance from Douglas Costa (two assists, one goal) lead the way.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-2 D.C. United
D.C. battled with a rare goal from Mateuz Klich to earn a point to keep them level with Montréal in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
Los Angeles Football Club 0-1 Real Salt Lake
Coming off defeat to Club Tigres on penalties in Campeones Cup on Wednesday, LAFC suffered a rare home loss, with Chicho Arango netting against his former side to lift RSL into second place in the Western Conference.
