FC Cincinnati 0, Toronto FC 1

(Mullins 29′)

Toronto FC held on to its three-point lead atop the Eastern Conference standings, but needed some help from the referee to do it.

A controversial VAR decision late in second-half stoppage time went in favor of TFC, which held on to a 1-0 victory at Nipper Stadium on Sunday night.

Patrick Mullins’ 29th-minute goal stood up as the winner, though FC Cincinnati had a strong case for a penalty when Allan Cruz ran into Omar Gonzalez in the penalty area on a play that was initially ruled a penalty. The subsequent VAR review determined there was no foul and TFC was able to hold on for the victory.

The win is Toronto FC’s fifth straight, keeping the Canadian side three points ahead of second-place Philadelphia. TFC will return to its temporary home in Connecticut on Wednesday to take on the New York Red Bulls. FC Cincinnati slumped to a fourth straight loss and will play host to Ohio rivals Columbus Crew on Wednesday.

Man of the Match

Patrick Mullins gets the nod for delivering the game-winning goal.

Moment of the Match

The VAR decision in second-half stoppage time that waived off a potential game-tying penalty is one FC Cincinnati has to be fuming over.

Match to Forget

Young Argentine midfielder Alvaro Barreal had a lackluster first start for FC Cincinnati, producing no key passes and just eight completed passes in total.

---

Sporting Kansas City 2, Nashville SC 1

(Fernandes 53′, Hurtado 79′) – (Zimmerman 15′)

Erik Hurtado’s 79th-minute golazo gave Sporting Kansas City all three points in a 2-1 win over 10-man Nashville SC.

Hurtado leaped into the air to volley home Amadou Dia’s cross in one of the more spectacular goals anyone will see this year.

Nashville did get off to a solid start before things went pear shaped. They opened the scoring as the clock struck 14 minutes thanks to Walker Zimmerman rising to head home a Randall Leal corner.

Gerso Fernandes equalized in the 53rd minute with a pretty simple tap in from basically right on the goal line. Johnny Russell really did the dirty work, though, as he managed to run through the Nashville defense to the end line before picking Gerso out on the doorstep.

Things got worse for Nashville just a minute after the equalizer when Alistair Johnson picked up a second yellow for a foolish tactical foul on Gianluca Busio. SKC controlled the flow of play from that point on and it ended in Hurtado’s highlight-reel goal.

Man of the Match

Johnny Russell had the assist on the Gerso equalizer and was unlucky not to have picked up a couple more helpers on the night.

Moment of the Match

Erik Hurtado’s fantastic finish was the winner SKC spent most of the second half looking for.

Match to Forget

Alistair Johnson showed poor judgement when he flew in for a late challenge on Gianluca Busio when he was already on a yellow card. His presence really could have helped Nashville at least hold onto a point.

---

Union 2, Impact 1

(Monteiro 39′, Santos 48′) – (Sejdic 65′)

Ilsinho set up goals by Jamiro Monteiro and Sergio Santos to lead the Philadelphia Union to a 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact at Subaru Park on Sunday night.

Monteiro opened the scoring in the 39th minute when he raced onto a through-pass from Ilsinho before beating Clement Diop at his near post.

Ilsinho played provider once again early in the second half, taking a pass from Brenden Aaronson before quickly feeding Sergio Santos in front of goal for an easy finish and 2-0 lead.

The Impact pulled one back courtesy of an Amir Sejdic blast, and Romell Quioto flirted with a potential equalizer only to send his shot wide.

The Union travel to Audi Field to face struggling D.C. United on Wednesday, while the Montreal Impact will face the New England Revolution at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday.

Man of the Match

Ilsinho set up both Union goals with excellent passes to secure the win.

Moment of the Match

Ilsinho’s vision and timing on the setup of Monteiro’s opening goal

Match to Forget

Mason Toye’s Montreal Impact debut was lackluster to say the least.

---

Timbers 3, Earthquakes 0

(Niezgoda 46′, 52′, Mora 86′)

The Portland Timbers threw cold water on the San Jose Earthquakes recent hot streak, literally.

Playing in a driving rain, the Timbers rained goals on the Earthquakes defense on the way to a 3-0 victory at Providence Park.

After a goal-less first half, the Timbers jumped out to a lead

Man of the Match

Jaroslaw Niezgoda’s two-goal effort helped the Timbers take control of the match.

Moment of the Match

Tanner Beason’s 70th-minute goal was ruled offside by VAR, negating a goal that could have cut San Jose’s deficit in half.

Match to Forget

Tanner Beason is a rookie, so he can chalk this one up to a learning experience, but chances are he won’t want to spend much time remembering a night that saw him commit a blunder leading to a goal, and saw a goal he scored be erased by a VAR ruling.