MLS Roundup: A hectic Decision Day brought the MLS regular season to an end

MLS Roundup

With a full schedule of decision day action, there were several important matches being played to determine seeding in the playoffs and also who would clinch the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. FC Dallas played LA Galaxy, needing a win, and for San Jose Earthquakes to draw or lose their game. San Jose Earthquakes played Minnesota United, needing a win to clinch the spot, or to draw and Dallas to draw or lose and Real Salt Lake to draw or lose. Real Salt Lake played Sporting Kansas City, and needed to win while both FC Dallas and San Jose Earthquakes drew or lost their games. It was certainly a nail-biting experience in the end, as all three teams fought for a win in their games and earned it, meaning the Earthquakes were able to clinch the playoff spot.

Atlanta United FC 2-2 Toronto FC

Sebastian Giovinco freekick rescues draw for Toronto away at Atlanta.

Yamil Asad opened up scoring in the 31st minute by converting a penalty after VAR determined there was a handball in the penalty box by a Toronto player. Jozy Altidore brought the away team level in the 60th minute by just barely prodding home a shot past Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan. Josef Martinez put the home team back ahead in the 74th minute with a flicked shot past the keeper, assisted by Hector Villalba. Sebastian Giovinco rescued the point for Toronto in the 84th minute with a beautifully curled freekick that managed to sneak in off the crossbar.

DC United 1-2 New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls managed to come from behind to beat ten-man DC in last ever game at RFK stadium.

Paul Arriola put DC in the lead in the 44th minute with a quick finish past Redd Bulls keeper Luis Robles. Michael Murillo brought the Red Bulls level in the 68th minute with a quick flick over DC keeper Steve Clark after some great link-up play with Muhamed Keita. Luciano Acosta was handed a red card following a lashing-out in the penalty box. Gonzalo Veron netted the winner for the Red Bulls in the 75th minute off a low cross by Alex Muyl.

FC Dallas 5-1 LA Galaxy

Dallas did everything in their power to make the playoffs by handing the Galaxy a heavy defeat, but ultimately fell short thanks to results elsewhere.

Michael Ciani put the visiting Galaxy ahead in the second minute with a powerful header from Romain Alessandrini’s corner kick. Roland Lamah brought Dallas level in the 37th minute after finishing a brilliant pass by Carlos Gruezo. Matt Hedges put the home team ahead in the 41st with a quick finish of a loose ball in the penalty area. Roland Lamah doubled Dallas’ lead in the 49th with a header from Mauro Diaz’ corner. Michael Barrios made it 4-1 in the 68th with a cool near-post finish from inside the box. The Galaxy’s night was made even worse when Clement Diop received a straight red card in the 71st minute when he upended Roland Lamah. Mauro Diaz converted the penalty in the 73rd minute to end scoring 5-1.

Houston Dynamo 3-0 Chicago Fire

The Dynamo dominated the Fire to earn win on final day of the regular season.

Houston defender Leonardo grabbed the lead in the second minute with a solid header at the far post off Adolfo Machado’s throw-in. Romell Quioto doubled the lead in the 68th minute with a neat finish under the arm Fire keeper Richard Sanchez. Mauro Manotas scored the final goal of the night in the 75th minute with a dashing finish from Andrew Wenger’s cross.

Montreal Impact 2-3 New England Revolution

The Revolution edge the Impact with an even later winner to beat out a late equalizer.

Diego Fagundez put the Revolution ahead in the 19th minute with a finish of a rebounded Krisztian Nemeth shot. Patrice Bernier netted a penalty in the third minute of added-time to add a brilliant touch for his final competitive football match before retirement. Nemeth put the Revolution back in front in the 46th minute with a confident finish from just beyond the penalty spot, assisted by Diego Fagundez. Matteo Mancosu scored a 90th-minute equaliser for the Impact, but Kelyn Rowe got the last word in with his screamer of a shot from 25-yards out in the sixth minute of extra-time.

New York City FC 2-2 Columbus Crew SC

NYCFC failed to make chances pay as the Crew laboured to a draw.

Ola Kamara netted the first goal of the game to put the Crew ahead in the eleventh minute with a first-touch finish from Federico Higuain’s cross. David Villa netted an equaliser for NYCFC seven minutes later with a headed finish from Maximiliano Moralez’ corner. Villa netted his brace in the 45th minute with a shot from just inside the box.
Josh Williams brought the Crew level in the 58th minute with a towering header past NYCFC keeper Sean Johnson to end the scoring for the night.

Philadelphia Union 6-1 Orlando City SC

The Union blitz Orlando to end the season with a bang as three of their players net braces.

Ilsinho opened scoring in the third minute with a first-touch shot from the edge of the box. Fabrice Picault doubled the Union’s lead three minutes later with a powerful header past the outstretched arm of Orlando keeper Earl Edwards. C.J. Sapong netted his first goal in the 26th minute with a solid finish from Picault’s pass across goal. Picault then netted his brace in the 38th with a clever finish between the legs of Edwards. Ilsinho found the net in the 63rd minute to earn his brace with a shot from the edge of the box. Dom Dwyer netted a consolation goal for Orlando in the 72nd minute with a quick header from Yoshimar Yotun’s free kick. C.J. Sapong earned his brace two minutes later with a quick finish of a bobbled save by Edwards to end scoring 6-1.

Portland Timbers 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps

The Timbers edged the Whitecaps to clinch the Western Conference Title.

Kendall Waston put the Whitecaps on the board first in the 29th minute with a commanding header from Yordy Reyna’s freekick. Liam Ridgewell netted the Timbers’ equalizer in the 32nd minute by tapping the ball in following a parried save by Whitecaps keeper Stefan Marinovic. Darren Mattocks put the Timbers ahead with a quick finish of Vytautas Andriuskevicius’ pass across the goal-mouth.

Real Salt Lake 2-1 Sporting Kansas City

RSL did their part in an effort to make the playoffs, but results elsewhere left them short in the long run despite convincing win over SKC.

Luis Silva netted in the third minute following a scramble in front of goal to give RSL the lead. Brooks Lennon doubled RSL’s lead in the 41st minute with a second shot after his first was parried away by SKC keeper Andrew Dykstra. Ike Opara netted SKC’s only goal of the night in the 89th minute with a low header from Graham Zusi’s freekick.

San Jose Earthquakes 3-2 Minnesota United FC

The Earthquakes earned a last-minute victory to send themselves into the playoffs despite Minnesota’s best efforts.

Danny Hoesen opened up scoring for the home team in the 15th minute after breaking past defenders and beating Minnesota keeper Bobby Shuttleworth for the goal. Jerome Thiesson brought Minnesota level in the 36th minute with a beautifully curled shot from just outside the box. Chris Wondolowski restored the Earthquakes lead in the 55th minute with a quick finish from Danny Hoesen’s cross. Francisco Calvo brought Minnesota back level in the 81st minute with a strong header to beat Earthquakes keeper Andrew Tarbell. Marcos Urena scored the ultimate winner for the Earthquakes in the third minute of extra time after Chris Wondolowski basically laid the ball on a silver platter in front of goal to be finished.

Seattle Sounders FC 3-0 Colorado Rapids

The Sounders managed a big win over the rapids despite paying 50+ minutes down a man.

Will Bruin opened up the scoring for the Sounders in the ninth minute with an easy finish from Kelvin Leerdam’s pass. The Sounders’ Clint Dempsey was shown a red card in the 24th minute for appearing to elbow the Rapids Mike Da Fonte. Nicolas Lodeiro converted a penalty in the 64th minute after VAR determined that Axel Sjoberg fouled Will Bruin in the box, resulting in a red card for Sjoberg. Nicolas Lodeiro netted his brace in the fourth minute of added time with a well-placed shot from just inside the box to beat the keeper and end scoring 3-0 for the Sounders.

About the Author

Tyler Webster
Site lead/writer for MLSFootball.