🇺🇸 Miami stumble without Messi; RSL, NYCFC & LAFC win; Timbers revived | OneFootball

More Major League Soccer action continued midweek with 13 games scheduled across the United States on Wednesday night.

Here is what went down.

Miami stumble in Orlando as derby fails to deliver

There was no Lionel Messi for the derby in Florida and Inter Miami surely missed him in a goalless draw with Orlando City.

The World Cup winner didn’t travel with the visiting squad after suffering a knee injury against CF Montreal last time out.

Orlando City failed to make the most of Messi’s absence, too, registering just three shots on target and 41% possession.

Meanwhile, Robert Taylor struggled to make an impact as Messi’s replacement and Luis Suarez was eventually hauled off at the hour mark.

The result means Inter Miami’s winning streak ends at five and they have a one point lead at the top over Cincinnati. Orlando City sit 11th.

Timbers revived after San Jose implodes

Scorers: Evander 74′ (P), Rodriguez 80′, 90+10′ Mora 90′ (P); Pellegrino 31′, Lopez 34′. Red: Wilson 72′

Phil Neville’s men received a huge boost after fighting back to beat 10-man San Jose Earthquakes 4-2.

It seemed as though the writing was on the wall when a header from Amahl Pellegrino and a wonderful solo effort from Hernan Lopez had the visitors in control.

The second goal, in particular, saw Lopez steal the ball off a flat footed Larrys Mabiala and make goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau blush who was far off his line.

However, Bruno Wilson handled the ball on the line earning himself a red card and Evander stepped up to the spot to pull one back for the hosts.

Then in the blink of an eye, Jonathan Rodriquez buried a low-drive before VAR awarded another penalty which was converted by Felipe Mora.

As the match headed into stoppage time, another from Rodriquez kickstarted the celebrations after a thrilling 15 minutes of drama.

The Timbers won their first game in nine matches and moved off the bottom into 11th. The Earthquakes, meanwhile, see their unbeaten run end and drop to last.

Real Salt Lake continue to shine

Scorers: Gomez 27′, Luna 58′

The Western Conference’s best team continued to shine as Real Salt Lake cruised past Seattle Sounders 2-0.

It was one-way traffic as the hosts registered 21 shots to 8 and maintained 63% possession of the ball.

Andres Gomez opened the scoring after beating his man in the box with some quick footwork and rolled the ball home with ease.

Diego Luna then made his mark after a strong solo run and drove home a second goal into the far bottom corner.

Seattle had nothing to show in attack over 90 minutes, with just two shots on target and about half the amount of passes the hosts had.

Looking at the table Real Salt Lake hold a four point lead at the top. Seattle are 10th.

Colorado Rapids making moves

Scorer: Navarro 45+4 (P). Red: Utvik 45+3′

A controversial call decided this match as Colorado Rapids edged past 10-man Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0.

Bjorn Inge Utvik was sent off for a handball in the box just before the break and Colorado had a golden opportunity to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

Rafael Navarro made no mistake to put the hosts up by one, and the match continued to play out as a cagey affair with neither side finding their stride in attack.

Looking at the table it is a vital win for Colorado who leapfrog the Whitecaps and move to fourth. Vancouver, meanwhile, now have back-to-back losses and drop to seventh.

Minnesota and LA Galaxy share spoils

Scorers: Hlongwane 30′, Arriaga 80′; Joveljic 61, Fagundez 68′

Sitting second and third in the Western Conference, this was always going to a thriller and Minnesota United FC versus LA Galaxy delivered.

The deadlock didn’t break until the half-hour mark when Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s volley from outside the box was ruled a goal after VAR review.

However, the visitors turned things around in the second half as less than 10 minutes of magic proved to be decisive.

An unmarked Dejan Joveljic pulled one back from point blank range before Riqui Puig’s through ball found Diego Fagundez and he rolled home the second.

The drama wasn’t over though, as Kervin Arriaga headed home a late equaliser at the back post.

Minnesota United FC sit second, while LA Galaxy drop to fifth.

LAFC scrape by 10-man St. Louis

Scorer: Bouanga 59′, 90+5′. Red: Markanich 75′

LAFC managed to pick up three big points on the road and moved to third after beating 10-man St. Louis 2-0.

The hosts were the ones who dominated the match statistically, and had a chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

However, Hugo Lloris came up clutch denying João Klauss before saving the follow up attempt from Anthony Markanich.

Then in the second half, some close control skills in the box from Denis Bouanga beat goalkeeper Roman Bürki.

He then secured a brace in the dying moments with a cheeky finish.

Markanich was also sent off with a second yellow seeing ninth-place St. Louis round out the game a man down and the comeback out of the question.

Scenes galore as NYCFC win in Philly

Scorers: Carranza 47′; Martinez 2′, Wolf 45+1

New York City FC picked up three points on the road after a 2-1 win over struggling Philadelphia Union.

It didn’t take long for the deadlock to break as swift counter-attack saw Alonso Martinez tap home at the back post in the blink of an eye.

Hannes Wolf later doubled the lead with a cross-turned-goal that will haunt goalkeeper Oliver Semmle who mistimed his punch.

The Union pulled one back through Julian Carranza when he scored a stunning free-kick, but it was not enough to inspire a comeback despite a staggering 25 shots compared to 10.

Jack Elliott thought he scored 94th-minute equaliser but the goal was ruled offside.

Looking at the table, NYCFC are fourth in the East while Philadelphia are ninth.

And in case you missed it, the star of the show was surely the raccoon who caused wild scenes after invading the pitch.

Wonder-kid saves the day; Almada injured

Scorer: Kelsy 7′

Cincinnati fans will love what they are seeing as teenage sensation Kevin Kelsy scored his second goal in just three club games which proved to be the winner.

As if the loss was not enough for Atlanta United, there will be worries for Thiago Almada after the Argentina star was taken off after 16 minutes. The exact injury remains unclear.

The slim win means Cincinnati move within one point of leaders Inter Miami with their fifth win in a row. Meanwhile, Atlanta United are now seven league games without a win and sit 12th.

Late show for Austin against Houston

Scorer: Driussi 87′

Texas is Green after a Sebastian Driussi stabbed home from point-blank range helping Austin FC down Houston Dynamo.

The hosts therefore leapfrogged their rivals and into the playoff spots, sitting sixth. The visitors are eighth just two points back.

Other MLS scores…

Chicago Fire 0-1 Charlotte FC

Nashville SC 2-0 Toronto FC

CF Montreal 1-3 Columbus Crew

D.C. United 1-4 New York Red Bulls – featuring a potential Goal of the Season contender!

We’ll be back for more on Saturday!