MLS Matchday 12 Roundup

A new week of MLS action has come to an end, bringing a few surprises, some crushing results, and a change of leader in the Eastern Conference.

There were changes in the East after Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union drew 2-2, allowing Cincinnati to climb to the top following their 2-1 win over Austin.

In the West, Vancouver Whitecaps lost ground after drawing at home against Los Angeles FC. Their principal chaser is Minnesota United, which crushed Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-1.

But if we talk about surprising results, the biggest shock came from the New York Red Bulls, who thrashed the reigning champions, Los Angeles Galaxy, with a historic 7-0 victory.

MLS Matchday 12: Results

MLS Matchday 12: Minnesota United vs. Inter Miami

Minnesota United proved they are a team to watch in MLS by thrashing Inter Miami 4-1, despite Miami having almost all their stars available.

The ‘Loons’ took control of the game in the first half when Bongokuhle Hlongwane opened the scoring board in the 32nd minute with a low shot across goal inside the box. Just before halftime, during stoppage time, Anthony Markanich doubled the lead with a header following a throw-in.

In the second half, Inter quickly pulled one back to add some excitement to the match, thanks to Lionel Messi, who received a pass from Jordi Alba and finished with a left-footed shot across goal to make it 2-1 in the 48th minute.

However, Miami endured a chaotic two-minute stretch. First, in the 68th minute, Marcelo Weigandt tried to head the ball back to his goalkeeper but ended up scoring an own goal. Then in the 70th minute, a great individual play by Tani Oluwaseyi set up Robin Lod, who fired home first-time for the final 4-1 scoreline.

With this result, Minnesota now sits second in the West with 22 points, five behind Vancouver, while Inter Miami is fourth in the East with 21.

MLS Matchday 12: NY Red Bulls vs. LA Galaxy

New York witnessed a historic day with a 7-0 victory by the Red Bulls over Los Angeles Galaxy—the worst defeat ever suffered by Greg Vanney’s team and the second time the ‘Big Apple’ side has achieved this scoreline, the largest in their history. However, this was the first time they did it at home, with the previous one coming against New York City FC in 2016 in Yankee Stadium.

It was a breakthrough game for their two stars: Emil Forsberg and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Each scored twice, with the Swede also providing two assists.

The 1-0 came in the 7th minute when the Cameroonian striker picked up a loose ball from Forsberg, shifted wide, and finished across goal. Nine minutes later, it was the Swede’s turn after a great through ball from Panamanian fullback Omar Valencia, who now has five assists in nine games for the club.

Around the half-hour mark, the two former Bundesliga players combined again: Forsberg played a through ball to Choupo-Moting, who controlled and finished for 3-0.

The second half kept the party going, starting in the 50th minute with a spectacular free-kick goal from Forsberg, his fifth of the season.

In the 68th minute, a goalkeeper error gifted the ball to Dennis Gjengaar, whose shot was saved by John McCarthy, but Cameron Harper pounced to push the ball in —both players had just come onto the field seconds earlier.

Near the end, Gjengaar struck again with a shot from the edge of the box to score, and finally, in stoppage time, Miki Yamane tried to pass the ball back to his keeper but ended up scoring an own goal for the final 7-0.

The Red Bulls now sit seventh in the East with 18 points, while Los Angeles Galaxy, the reigning champions, are last in the MLS standings with just three points. They remain as the only team yet to win a game.

MLS Matchday 12: Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew

It was a good game with several chances on both sides, but the scoreboard finally opened toward the end of the first half, in the 45th minute. A quick long throw from the goalkeeper caught the visitors’ defense off guard, and Quinn Sullivan took advantage, breaking down the left and assisting Tai Baribo, who scored his eighth goal of the season.

The equalizer came in the 61st minute with a low cross-shot by Maximilian Arfsten, who was left unmarked at the back post after a cross from the right by Dylan Chambost.

The Crew’s joy was short-lived, as just three minutes later Frankie Westfield unleashed a rocket from outside the box that left the goalkeeper frozen, making it 2-1.

Philadelphia thought they would take home the win and the top spot, but in the 90+2 minute, off a corner kick, Sean Zawadzki appeared to score the final 2-2, which ultimately helped neither team.

Columbus is now second with 25 points, tied with Cincinnati with fewer wins, while the Union is third with 23 points.

MLS Matchday 12: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Los Angeles FC

Vancouver Whitecaps remain the leader of MLS; however, this weekend they lost a bit of their advantage after drawing 2-2 at home against Los Angeles FC.

Things didn’t start well for the Canadians. The visitors came out strong and were already up 0-2 by the 20th minute. First, it was Marky Delgado, who picked up a rebound after a good save from the goalkeeper and slotted it in for the opener. Then, a foul on Ryan Hollingshead led to a penalty, which Denis Bouanga converted into a goal.

The Whitecaps responded quickly, and in the 26th minute, their top scorer Brian White pulled one back with a header off a free kick from Sebastien Berhalter.

At the 70th minute, White struck again in a chaotic triple-header sequence inside the box. Emmanuel Sabbi crossed from the left, White flicked it backward, Ali Ahmed headed it, and the ball fell once again to the American striker right on the goal line for him to nod it in.It was Brian White’s eighth goal of the season, tying him at the top of the MLS scoring charts.

It ended in a draw, and Vancouver now leads the Western Conference with 27 points, while Los Angeles FC sits sixth with 18 points.