With the season closing, the last Eastern Conference playoff picture is nearly settled, while the Western Conference playoffs could turn out many different ways given that the Whitecaps are the first and only team to have clinched a playoff spot. In other news, Toronto FC have just won their first ever Supporters’ Shield with two games still to play.
Orlando City SC 0-0 FC Dallas
Jesse Gonzalez keeps Orlando goalless at the close to keep the game level.
Dallas controlled the first half of the game, surprisingly enough, but were unable to capitalize on their chances. Orlando had clear control of the second half, as one would expect of Orlando at home, but thanks to a masterclass performance by Dallas keeper Jesse Gonzalez at the close of the game, the score ended 0-0.
Toronto FC 4-2 New York Red Bulls
Justin Morrow hattrick carries Toronto over the Red Bulls to clinch Supporters’ Shield.
Seattle established a lead in the 32nd minute thanks to a close-range strike from Justin Morrow after a goal-mouth scramble. Morrow netted again in the 37th minute after a Michael Bradley shot fell to his feet. Gonzalo Veron put the Red Bulls on the board in the 39th minute after a break, with a cool finish of Tyler Adams’ through-pass.
Daniel Royer calmly netted a penalty in the 77th minute to bring the Red Bulls level after Gonzalo Veron was brought down inside the box.
Jozy Altidore was brought down in the Red Bulls penalty area only a few minutes later to earn a penalty which Victor Vazquez netted in the 80th minute. Morrow completed his hattrick in the first minute of added time with a sliding finish of Jozy Altidore’s pass across the goal-mouth.
Columbus Crew SC 2-0 DC United
The Crew win over DC to secure their place in the playoffs.
Josh Williams opened scoring for a dominant Crew side in the 14th minute with a superb header of Federico Higuain’s corner kick.
Justin Meram doubled the Crew’s lead in the 56th minute with a perfectly struck shot into the far corner of the net from just inside the penalty box.
New England Revolution 0-0 Atlanta United FC
Atlanta keep a dangerous-looking Revolution side to a draw thanks to super Brad Guzan.
Although both sides had some decent chances throughout the match, it seemed like the Revolution would be the first to score throughout the game. Atlanta can thank Brad Guzan for putting up a performance of the season to keep the Revolution from scoring and earn the draw.
Chicago Fire 1-1 New York City FC
Nemanja Nikolic and David Villa score in this race for the Golden Boot.
The Fire got off to a cracking start with Nemanja Nikolic scoring his 21st goal of the season in the 20th minute with a steady strike of a loose ball in front of goal. David Villa brought NYCFC level in the 43rd minute with a clean shot after rounding Fire keeper Matt Lampson, assisted by Maximiliano Moralez’ lobbed pass.
Houston Dynamo 2-1 Minnesota United FC
The Dynamo edge Minnesota to put themselves ahead in the race for the Western Conference playoff spots.
The Dynamo went ahead in the 69th minute with a fantastic header from close by Alberth Elis following a superb cross by Vicente Sanchez. Romell Quioto got a head on the end of a fantastic Sanchez cross to double the Dynamo’s lead in the 85th minute. Minnesota finally got on the board in the first minute of added time following a wonderful strike by Sam Nicholson from 21-yards out.
Colorado Rapids 2-1 Montreal Impact
The Impact fall farther away from the playoff spots thanks to late winner from the Rapids in an encounter where both teams had a player sent off.
A red card in the twelfth minute for the Rapids’ Jared Watts following a video review on a studs-up tackle on the Impact’s Chris Duvall. The Impact’s Daniel Lovitz was shown a red in the 32nd minute following a rough tackle. Stefan Aigner put the Rapids ahead with a fantastic header from the penalty spot in the third minute of added time, assisted by Mekeil Williams cross.
Matteo Mancosu brought the impact level in the 62nd minute with a powerful strike from 22-yards out. Alan Gordon restored the Rapids lead in the 81st with a clean strike of Dominique Badji’s pass across goal.
Sporting Kansas City 0-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
The Whitecaps win over SKC to clinch playoff spot and extend lead at top of the West.
Erik Hurtado was the man of the night for the Whitecaps, with a leaping flick past SKC keeper Tim Melia in the 53rd minute to earn the win.
SKC’s Graham Zusi was shown a red card in the first minute of added time for denying Yordy Reyna of a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Christian Bolanos of the Whitecaps was shown a red for contact with SKC’s Benny Feilhaber in the third minute of added time.
LA Galaxy 1-1 Real Salt Lake
A late goal from Kyle Beckerman steals points from the Galaxy and keeps RSL from falling behind in the playoff race.
RSL’s Marcelo Silva was shown a straight-red in the 14th minute for denying Giovani Dos Santos of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Bradford Jamieson put the Galaxy on the board in the 41st minute with a fantastic first-touch finish.
Kyle Beckerman rescued a point for RSL in the fifth minute of added time with a phenomenal finish from the middle of the box after Galaxy keeper Clement Diop deflected a free-kick.
San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Portland Timbers
The Earthquakes shock the Timbers to extend their odds of making a playoff spot.
Valeri Qazaishvili opened the scoring for the Earthquakes in the 16th minute with a curled shot around Timbers keeper Jeff Attinella.
Danny Hoesan doubled the Earthquakes lead in the 49th minute with a superb finish following an excellent pass by Chris Wondolowski.
Sebastian Blanco netted a consolation goal for the Timbers in the 87th minute with a stinging shot from the edge of the box, assisted by Darlington Nagbe’s pass out into open space.
Philadelphia Union 2-0 Seattle Sounders
Andre Blake and the Union stun the Sounders with a solid defeat to keep themselves in the playoff conversation.
Marcus Epps put the Union ahead in the 28th minute with a great finish from the middle of the box.
Roland Alberg doubled the Union’s lead in the 88th minute powerful shot from 20-yards out to muscle past Sounders keeper Stefan Frei.
