The Seattle Sounders have made it a habit of going on the road and winning games, but one of the toughest road tests in Major League Soccer awaited on Sunday in the form of a trip to Children’s Mercy Park.
The Sounders passed the test, rebounding from their midweek loss in the Leagues Cup final to defeat Sporting KC, 2-1, with Cristian Roldan and Will Bruin scoring the goals for the visitors before Johnny Russell cut Seattle’s lead in half with a 60th-minute finish.
Sporting KC dominated possession, and had the better of the play for stretches, but paid the price for a pair of turnovers the Sounders promptly converted into goals.
The victory pushed Seattle two points clear of SKC atop the Western Conference standings with a game in hand.
Saturday’s MLS schedule featured the New York Red Bulls posting a 1-0 victory over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium, with Bronx native Omir Fernandez delivering the winner for the visitors.
Omir Fernandez gives @NewYorkRedBulls the lead just before halftime in round 2 of the Hudson River Derby 👏 pic.twitter.com/NqY73VvkWO
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) September 26, 2021
The Red Bulls have gathered seven points from three matches to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Gerhard Struber’s squad is currently seven points behind CF Montreal for seventh place and the final playoff spot on the East, but with a game in hand.
The Philadelphia Union did well to boost their playoff positioning after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Atlanta United. Kacper Przybylko delivered the winner, helped by a beautiful individual effort by Jose Martinez to set up the game’s lone goal.
🔥🔥🔥 footwork from Brujo, that cooooool finish from Kacper 👏👏👏#PHIvATL 1 – 0 | #DOOP pic.twitter.com/qYvHAaAnEW
— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) September 25, 2021
The New England Revolution took another step toward the MLS Supporters’ Shield with a 2-1 win against Orlando City, with Matt Turner playing hero yet again, denying a Nani penalty kick to give the Revs their 19th win of the season.
1-888-TURNER-THE-WALL pic.twitter.com/mali0DEha2
— s – New England Revolution (@NERevolution) September 26, 2021
Here is a rundown of all the weekend’s MLS results:
Sporting Kansas City 1, Sounders 1
(Johnny Russell 60′) – (Cristian Roldan 31′, Will Bruin 55′)
Austin FC 2, Galaxy 0
(Moussa Djitte 64′, McKinze Gaines 79′)
Fire 0, Nashville SC 0
Saturday
Union 1, Atlanta United 0
(Kacper Przybylko 71′)
Revolution 2, Orlando City 1
(Adam Buksa 9′, Rodrigo Schlegel own goal 35′) – (Daryl Dike 18′)
Crew 2, CF Montreal 1
(Gyasi Zardes 44′, 62′) – (Romell Quioto 90+2)
D.C. United 4, FC Cincinnati 2
(Paul Arriola 7′, 41′, Steve Birnbaum 21′, Nigel Robertha 72′) – (Brandon Vasquez 80′, Luciano Acosta 84′)
Rapids 0, Toronto FC 0
Minnesota United 2, Dynamo 0
(Robin Lod 1′, Ethan Finlay 17′)
NYCFC 0, Red Bulls 1
(Omir Fernandez 43′)
Earthquakes 2, LAFC 0
(Bojan Kikanovic 3, Chofis Lopez 47′)
Whitecaps 1, FC Dallas 0
(Brian White 20′)
Timbers 6, Real Salt Lake 1
(Felipe Mora 27′, Dairon Asprilla 36′, Yimmi Chara 48′, Diego Chara 68′, Jaroslaw Niezgoda 85′, Cristhian Paredes 88′) – (Damir Kreilach 41′)
I really hope Nagbe accepts a call-up and plays vs CR in Columbus, with Zardes up top. I believe age & experience is important, only if the player can actually produce, or is effective on the pitch. Nagbe fits that bill for me.
Darlington was pretty clear he’s done with international play, it just takes away too much of his time with his family. He’d definitely help the team but it’s not happening. Gregg was still staying in contact last year but not sure if he still is.
He’s not part of a rebuilding squad?! My friend, that was 2018 when he was still in Atl. He was on a local radio station interview, when he said that! I remember, posting about it. Then 2 weeks later, the media caught up to the news. I’m only talking CR, not vs the Reggae Boys, or Panama away. If the CR match is in Columbus, and he plays for Columbus, and his family is in Columbus, wouldn’t it be easier on him? Hence, the 1st sentence, “…plays vs CR in Columbus…” I also put hope (3rd word) in the post also, Lol! Let’s hope! GB is still in contact with the Nagbe! …I do have a good question for you JR. How many US players have played this year, so far? Kessler & Pepi have played since the last time, you kept me posted. Scally could be called in sooner than later. Beginning of ‘21, I thought we could see 80 players by the end of the year. How close are we to 80 players?
I’m a Crew fan Nagbe’s said the same thing multiple times since he’s been in Columbus and Berhalter has corroborated the same story during that time to (I believe around MLS is Back time period). You do have to remember Darlington would still have to be in the bubble and away from his family even in his hometown. It stinks but you’ve got to give a guy slack for putting his family first. I’ll have to look up how many players we’ve used but it’s a ton. Probably not many more though with just Peppi and Konrad playing last window.
Good info! JR, I can stop crossing my fingers, now! Hoping to see him play. Ur right-Family >futbol You can’t knock a parent, who wants to spend time with their kids. Did my eyes trick me, did Porter have him playing attacking midfield in Crews past match?!
I missed the match this week but that’s what the lineups said. I’m sure Porter was trying to rotate ahead of whatever the match with Liga Mx champion is called midweek.
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The number I came up with for actually playing for the NT in 2021 is 52. If you go last 12 months you are at 63. The numbers I think you were thinking about would be adding provisional roster guys then we’d be at 91 but I might have missed a guy or two or double counted (in last 12 months).
52 + (close, not provisional) but Olympic qualifying squad, if you didn’t already include those players.
Quite a few of the Olympic qualifiers played in January more if you include last December. 63 in the last 12 months is crazy. Yet people complain Berhalter isn’t expanding the pool enough. Of course we probably shouldn’t count Akinola and perhaps Araujo anymore.