The Brief: Herons held, Dallas drops home match

Photo: Edwin Gomez

The following is a brief recap of various matches in no particular order:

Inter Miami 2-2 FC Cincinnati

MIAMI, FL–All four goals occurred in the second half of this match. Luis Suarez and Kenji Mboma Dam exchanged worldies to make it 1-1. Samuel Gidi thought he had snatched all three points for FC Cincinnati in the 86th minute, but Riquelme Filipi would equalizer in the 90th minute to rescue a point and keep Inter Miami within reach of second place New England who defeated Red Bull New York. FC Cincinnati remain eighth in the East with the draw.

Inter Miami travel to New England on Sunday (7pm ET, Apple TV). Cincinnati host Philadelphia on Saturday (2pm ET, Apple TV).

Photos by Edwin Gomez

FC Dallas 0-2 Columbus Crew

FRISCO, TX–FC Dallas’s chance to move top of the West took a hit as they fell at home to a desperate Columbus Crew side trying to reach the playoffs at Toyota Stadium. Gonzalo Tapia got on the end of an Anass Zanoury cross to score from close range to give the Crew the lead in the 18th minute. Shaq Moore thought he had equalized for Dallas at the hour mark, but VAR determined that Petar Musa was offside in the buildup. Indeed, Columbus would double their lead in the 70th minute as Santiago Rodriguez bundled the ball over the line before Daniel could push the ball out.

Columbus move to ninth with the win following results elsewhere. Dallas are now four points adrift of West-leading Vancouver after the Whitecaps defeated San Diego on Wednesday night.

Columbus host DC United on Saturday (2pm ET, Apple TV), while Dallas will travel to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

Charlotte FC 4-0 CF Montreal

CHARLOTTE, NC–Liel Abada got a second half natural hat trick as the Crown thumped the already eliminated CF Montreal, 4-0, at Bank of America Stadium. Charlotte clinched a playoff spot with the win and move to within two points of Chicago for fourth as the Fire drew Orlando City.

New York City FC 2-1 Atlanta United

FLUSHING, NY–Benie Traore’s goal in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time gave the Pigeons the win and keep them in the playoff hunt. NYCFC are still 12th, three points adrift of the ninth and final playoff spot. Atlanta, despite another Breel Embolo goal, are officially eliminated with the loss.

St. Louis CITY SC 2-3 Portland Timbers

ST. LOUIS, MO–CITY SC have now lost three on the bounce in league play after losing 3-2 to Portland at Energizer Park. Kristoffer Velde scored twice for the Timbers while David Da Costa score between both of Velde’s strikes. Goals by Daniel Edelman and Rafael Navarro were not enough to rescue a point. CITY SC are now level on points with Houston for third, though St. Louis has a better goal difference. The Timbers are in 11th, two points behind ninth place Real Salt Lake.

Minnesota United 3-1 Sporting Kansas City

ST. PAUL, MN–The Loons’ faint playoff hoped remain alive after three goals in 16 minutes defeated Sporting KC, 3-1, at Allianz Field. Anthony Markanich, Mauricio Gonzalez, and Kevin Yeboah all scored for Minnesota who are still four points adrift of ninth with two matches to play.

Nashville SC 0-0 Philadelphia Union

NASHVILLE, TN–Despite a 65-35 edge in possession, Nashville could not find the net. The Union remain in sixth in the East with the draw.

Austin FC 1-2 Real Salt Lake

AUSTIN, TX–All the goals came in a nine-minute span in this one. Jorge Alastuey scored first for the Verde, but Saba Lobjanidze equalized and Morgan Guliavogui gave RSL the lead and the win to vault them to ninth in the West. Austin FC is eliminated with the loss.

Seattle Sounders FC 0-1 Houston Dynamo

SEATTLE, WA–Houston moved level on points with St. Louis with the win at Lumen Field. A Lucas Halter goal in the 26th minute was all the Dynamo needed. Seattle remain eighth in the West and two points above the playoff line.

Toronto FC 1-0 DC United

TORONTO, ON–Jonathan Osorio and Josh Sargent scored as TFC came from behind to defeat DC United and keep their playoff hopes alive. TFC are two points behind the playoff line with two to play. DC are eliminated with the loss.

San Jose Earthquakes 2-2 Colorado Rapids

SAN JOSE, CA–The Rapids went up a man with San Jose’s Timo Werner sent off for foul and abusive language towards the referee and then up a goal after Darren Yapi scored to make it 2-1. However, Kosi Thompson would be shown red for denial of a goal scoring opportunity and Jack Jasinski equalized for the Quakes. San Jose fall to fifth with the draw while the Rapids remain seventh.