This week’s batch of games was significantly smaller thanks to the World Cup qualifiers being played abroad, but that didn’t mean that the action was any less exciting. The Red Bulls managed to clinch the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference thanks to an emphatic win over the West-leading Whitecaps. Later in the week the Dynamo were able to clinch a playoff spot of their own with a close win over SKC.
New York Red Bulls 3-0 Vancouver Whitecaps
The Red Bulls blitz the Whitecaps to earn last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Red Bulls nabbed the lead in the 33rd minute after Daniel Royer’s fantastic strike past Whitecaps keeper David Ousted following a solid pass from Sacha Kljestan.
Bradley Wright-Phillips doubled that lead in the 58th minute after being unleashed on a spectacular run by Tyler Adams’ through pass, and chipping the ball over an outstretched Ousted. The score was made 3-0 in the 72nd minute after a brilliant shot from 20-yards out by Felipe Martins, assisted by Kljestan.
Minnesota United FC 1-1 Sporting Kansas City
SKC fail to make chances pay as they are held to a draw by Minnesota United.
Diego Rubio put SKC in the lead in the second minute of added time with a quick shot from close range after a great back-pass into the area by Latif Blessing.
Brent Kallman headed home the equalizer for Minnesota in the 83rd minute off the cross from Abu Danladi. Minnesota’s Joseph Greenspan was shown a second yellow card in the first minute of extra-time and was subsequently sent off following a foul on Diego Rubio.
Colorado Rapids 1-1 FC Dallas
The Rapids hold a struggling Dallas team to a draw thanks to early lead.
Stefan Aigner put a lot of relief into the minds of the Rapids when his shot managed to sneak in past Dallas keeper Jesse Gonzalez in the 15th minute.
The scoring was nearly made 2-0 in the 51st minute when a header from Alan Gordon was acrobatically saved by Jesse Gonzalez, highlighting his sought-after abilities. Atiba Harris headed home Javier Morales’ corner kick in the 54th minute to bring Dallas level and keep them in the playoff hunt.
Houston Dynamo 2-1 Sporting Kansas City
The Dynamo clench playoff spot thanks to own-goal from SKC.
Jimmy Medranda put SKC ahead in the 33rd minute with a first-touch strike of Saad Abdul-Salaam’s pass into space.
Tomas Martinez brought the Dynamo level in the 63rd minute with an emphatic volley from close range that managed to bounce under SKC keeper Andrew Dykstra. Erik Palmer-Brown suffered the ignominy of scoring an own-goal in the 77th minute following a freekick from Tomas Martinez.