MLS Matchday 20 featured 15 games; not a single one had no goals! There were dramatic comebacks, blowout wins that impacted the standings, and even six red cards. The action took place on Saturday and Sunday; here's a look back at the results.
Five 7:30 pm matches kicked off the weekend slate. CF Montreal hosted DC United in a matchup between two teams looking to make a playoff push; both took a point in a 1-1 draw. Charlotte FC and Columbus Crew squared off in a match that was over just about before the 10th minute; Charlotte scored twice in the first nine minutes in an eventual 3-1 victory. Orlando City and FC Cincinnati were both looking for wins after a disappointing end to Leagues Cup; Neither would take all three points after a 1-1 draw.
Toronto FC and New England Revolution were both trying to show they belonged amongst the top teams in the East; Toronto scored twice in the first half, and New England failed to find two even being up a man for the final 15 minutes. Last-place Atlanta United took on the New York Red Bulls; after an early goal from New York, Atlanta scored twice in the last 20 minutes to take all three points.
The 8:30 pm Saturday matches showcased mid-to-low Western Conference sides, teams heading in two different directions, and the top two teams in MLS. Colorado Rapids hosted Sporting Kansas City and dominated them, scoring two goals; all SKC could do was get two red cards, not the best showing for a team trying to climb up the standings. Houston and LA Galaxy faced off in a game between Western Conference foes; Houston did just enough to win 1-0 and topped the West for one night. Meanwhile, MLS's top two teams faced off when Nashville SC hosted Inter Miami CF. This was a game with Supporters' Shield implications, and Nashville took advantage, beating Messi and friends 4-1! Nashville now has a five-point cushion in the Shield race.
Late-night MLS is for the sickos, and that's what one needed to be to watch these matchups. Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United met in a game with no goals until the 82nd minute; both teams found a goal in the last 10 minutes to take a point each. LAFC and San Diego FC met in a budding MLS rivalry. Andres Dryer would score a PK for San Diego in the 88th minute, get a yellow in the 90th, and then a second yellow in the seven minutes of stoppage time, though his goal would be the only one of the game, taking all three points for San Diego. Finally, San Jose Earthquakes hosted St. Louis City, and the visitors took all three points, scoring three goals to the hosts' one.
Four matches were played on Sunday: two in the evening, followed by two rivalries at night. To start, Chicago Fire took on Portland Timbers. The Fire's two goals in the opening 15 minutes were enough to secure all three points over the Timbers in a 2-1 win. NYCFC hosted the Philadelphia Union and would convert two PKs in the first half to take a 2-0 lead. Philly then came all the way back, scoring three unanswered in the second half to win 3-2. Cavan Sullivan (two) and Quinn Sullivan (one) provided the assists on the Union's three goals.
A Copa de Texas between Austin FC and FC Dallas started off the Sunday night cap; Dallas would strike first at the end of the first half, Austin equalized soon after the start of the second, but Texas would be red thanks to a Petar Musa goal that gives him the lead in the golden boot race as well as all three points to Dallas. Another iteration of a Cascadia rivalry between Seattle and Vancouver took place as the final match of the weekend. It wasn't until the last 13 minutes that a goal was scored, and it would be the Whitecaps who would do that and double their lead to claim a 2-0 win and the top spot in the West.
Atlanta United 2 - 1 New York Red Bulls
CF Montreal 1 - 1 DC United
Charlotte FC 3 - 1 Columbus Crew
Orlando City 1 - 1 FC Cincinnati
Toronto FC 2 - 1 New England Revolution
Houston Dynamo 1 - 0 LA Galaxy
Nashville SC 4 - 1 Inter Miami CF
Colorado Rapids 2 - 0 Sporting Kansas City
Real Salt Lake 1 - 1 Minnesota United
LAFC 0 - 1 San Diego FC
San Jose Earthquakes 1 - 3 St. Louis City
Chicago Fire 2 - 1 Portland Timbers
NYCFC 2 - 3 Philadelphia Union
Austin FC 1 - 2 FC Dallas
Seattle Sounders 0 - 2 Vancouver Whitecaps
Nashville SC - 43 pts
Inter Miami - 38 pts
Chicago Fire - 32 pts
New England Revolution - 30 pts
Charlotte FC - 28 pts
FC Cincinnati - 27 pts
NYCFC - 26 pts
Red Bull New York - 25 pts
DC United - 24 pts
Vancouver Whitecaps - 37 pts
Houston Dynamo - 35 pts
LAFC - 34 pts
San Jose Earthquakes - 33 pts
FC Dallas - 30 pts
St. Louis City - 29 pts
Real Salt Lake - 28 pts
Colorado Rapids - 25 pts
Minnesota United - 25 pts
Portland Timbers - 24 pts
Seattle Sounders - 24 pts
San Diego FC - 24 pts
LA Galaxy - 22 pts
Austin FC - 17 pts
Sporting Kansas City - 14 pts
