Miami fall to sixth straight loss
If Messi, who announced this week that he intends to join Miami, takes stock of what awaits him in MLS, the disappointment of his new club’s poor form will be tempered by a stunning goal from Columbus teammate Lucas Zelarayan. Three minutes into stoppage time, with the game tied at 1-1, the Crew’s Zelarayan won the game in Chicago with an audacious shot from his half that has become the fastest goal scorer of the season.
That level of technical brilliance contrasted sharply with that of his future seven-time Ballon d’Or teammates as they continued a poor run of form. New England took the lead in the 27th minute with a Carles Gil Penalty after former Newcastle United defender De Andre Yedlin was awarded his penalty for a clumsy challenge on Matt Polster.
Miami’s problems were compounded when French midfielder Corentin Jean was carried off on a stretcher with a serious injury. Minutes later, New England doubled its lead with a sloping Polster header from a Gil corner. The Revolution sealed the victory in the 51st minute as some terrible defending allowed Bobby Wood to shoot in the third.
Although Josef Martinez gave Miami an 84th-minute consolation, Inter suffered their second consecutive defeat under caretaker Javier Morales. The Crew took Chicago’s lead through a deflected shot by Cucho Hernandez in the 58th minute but the Fire appeared to have secured a point when Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri equalized in the 88th minute.
But with seconds left, Zelarayan saw Chicago goalkeeper Spencer Richey break his line and beat him with a perfect effort from five yards behind the halfway line. Defending champions Los Angeles FC have had a rough week – after losing the CONCACAF Champions League final to Mexico’s Leon on Sunday and being held to a goalless draw at home to Atlanta on Wednesday, Steve Cherundolo’s side were beaten 4-0 in Houston.
Nelson Quinones cut in from the left and fired a right-footed shot into the far corner in the 11th minute while French-born Moroccan midfielder Amine Bassi made it 2-0 from the spot. Corey Bair took advantage of some sloppy defending to add a third and then Franco Escobar completed the loss with a long-range shot in the final minute.
Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati had to settle for a 1-1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps after taking the lead via finishing from Argentina inspired by substitute Luciano Acosta. Acosta appeared to have won the game for Cincy by scoring Japan Whitecaps goalie Yohei Takaoka in the 83rd minute. But with a minute to go, Cincinnati defenseman Matt Miazga tripped Sergio Cordova and Vancouver’s Ryan Gauld scored from the spot to even the score at 1-1.
There was plenty of drama in Charlotte, where the Seattle Sounders took the lead with a stunning strike from outside the box against Peruvian Raul Ruidiaz. But the home side fought back with some fine curling from former Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood in the 53rd minute.
Ruidiaz, back from injury, regained Seattle’s lead in the 70th minute, turning at the back post but Charlotte regathered Patrick Agyemang with a header in the 89th to draw level 3-3 goals. D.C. Wayne Rooney’s United lost 3-1 to Atlanta United as Greece striker Giorgos Giakoumakis gave the hosts the lead before compatriot Taxiarchis Fountas scored for D.C.
Andrew Gutman, superbly managed by Argentina’s Thiago Almada, put the Georgia side 2-1 up and then the left-back gave a low pass to Tyler Wolff to pounce. Mexico’s Alan Pulido scored twice for Sporting Kansas City in a 4-1 win over Austin and Mason Toye also scored twice for Montreal in a 4-0 win over Minnesota.
