MLS Matchday 33 highlights: Union dominate NYCFC, Atlanta and Miami draw

MLS Matchday 33 gave us 13 games on Wednesday night. A few clubs picked up big points in the race to Decision Day which is one month away.

Here is the recap and highlights from some of Wednesday’s most entertaining MLS matches:

Union dismantle NYCFC in 5-1 win

The Philadelphia Union entered Yankee Stadium on Wednesday evening and left everything on the pitch in a 5-1 win over NYCFC. The Union needs every point in these final weeks to earn a playoff spot for the seventh consecutive season.

Tai Baribo opened the scoring to continue his hot pace in the 15th minute and the Union went full throttle after. They scored three goals in the first 45 minutes and added two more in the second half.

Daniel Gazdag made club history after scoring his 15th goal in the 32nd minute to become the first player in club history to record multiple 15+ goal seasons.

With three points added to the standings, the Union now sits ninth in the Eastern Conference. They’ll face D.C. United on Sunday in what will be another critical match for the playoffs.

Atlanta picks up an important point against Miami in MLS clash

Atlanta United picked up an important point against Inter Miami in a 2-2 draw. Alexey Miranchuk scored in the 84th minute to bring the match level and help his club walk away with one point against the Eastern Conference leaders.

From outside the box, Miranchuk scored a goalazo into the upper left corner that Drake Callender had no chance of saving. Atlanta managed to keep both Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez silent. Messi only played 29 minutes and Suárez played 10.

Atlanta sits 11th in the East with 32 points. They’re one point behind both D.C. United and the Union.

Portland takes down West leaders LA Galaxy

The Portland Timbers took down Western Conference leaders LA Galaxy in a 4-2 win to distance themselves ahead of Minnesota United in the standings.

Jonathan Rodríguez began the scoring for Portland in the 18th minute. Evander doubled the lead in the 39th minute and then added a brace in the 51st minute. Felipe Mora added Portland’s fourth goal in the 80th minute to solidify the match and three points.

The trio of Mora, Evander, and Rodríguez set a record as they are the first trio in MLS history to each score at least 14 goals in a single regular season.

Seattle draws to last place San Jose

Coming off a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, the Seattle Sounders were stunned in the final minutes of Wednesday’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Down 2-1 in the 89th minute, San Jose defender Paul Marie stunned the Sounders to bring the match level. Marie found a gap in the box and connected with his left foot to bring a point home to San Jose.

San Jose is already eliminated from playoff contention, but the draw is a bit painful to Seattle who are fifth in the West with 47 points. Seattle would’ve jumped the Colorado Rapids in fourth place if they secured a win.

Real Salt Lake takes down FC Dallas 3-2

FC Dallas remains in a playoff push for one of the final spots in the West, but couldn’t mount a late comeback against second-place Real Salt Lake.

Anderson Julio was the standout performer of the match. Scoring a brace, his first goal in the 24th minute will be on the ‘goal of the year’ list. Nearly from the midfield line, Julio caught Dallas’ keeper out too far and scored a wondergoal.

Dallas converted on a PK in the 88′ to bring the game to within one, but fell 3-2 after the final whistle.

MLS Eastern Conference Standings:
X – Inter Miami – 63 pts
X – FC Cincinnati – 55 pts
X – Columbus Crew – 53 pts
Orlando City – 43 pts
New York Red Bulls – 43 pts
NYCFC – 40 pts
Charlotte FC – 38 pts
Toronto FC – 36 pts
Philadelphia Union – 33 pts
D.C. United – 33 pts
Atlanta United – 32 pts
Nashville SC- 32 pts
CF Montreal – 31 pts
Chicago Fire – 29 pts
New England Revolution – 28 pts

MLS Western Conference Standings:
X – LA Galaxy – 55 pts
Real Salt Lake – 50 pts
LAFC – 49 pts
Colorado Rapids – 47 pts
Seattle Sounders – 47 pts
Vancouver Whitecaps – 46 pts
Houston Dynamo – 45 pts
Portland Timbers – 43 pts
Minnesota United – 39 pts
Austin FC – 35 pts
FC Dallas – 34 pts
Sporting Kansas City – 31 pts
St. Louis City SC – 28 pts
E – San Jose Earthquakes – 18 pts

MLS Matchday 34

MLS Matchday 34 is up next! Thirteen games are slated for Saturday and one for Sunday.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images