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With the MLS regular season drawing to a close in the next few weeks, it was another fiercely competitive round of fixtures this weekend. Here, we'll run you through the key results from the past few days.
Nashville clinch the Supporters' Shield
Nashville wrapped up the Supporters' Shield for the first time in their history after a 2-0 win over CF Montréal on Saturday. A goalless first half suggested it might be a frustrating afternoon for the league leaders, but Sam Surridge put them ahead in the 51st minute, finishing at the second attempt after his header was saved. Hany Mukhtar then made sure of it in the 76th minute, pouncing on a defensive error to slide the ball under Samsy Keita, while Brian Schwake made a superb save to deny Montréal an equaliser. The result knocked Montréal out of the playoff race, and Nashville now have home advantage all the way to MLS Cup. They lead MLS on 70 points, with both Vancouver Whitecaps and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami trailing on 55 points, and they need five more points from their last three games to break Inter Miami's all-time record of 74.
Messi's Miami stumble in New York
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami dropped valuable points against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday after losing 2-0. The hosts got off to the perfect start in the seventh minute, when Cade Cowell's cross deflected off Casemiro and into his own net. Messi, who had travelled to Spain to collect an award during the week, started on the bench and came on in the 56th minute, but he couldn't inspire a comeback. Substitute Emil Forsberg sealed it in the first minute of stoppage time, just six minutes after coming on, finishing off a move started by Ronald Donkor, who became the youngest player in Red Bulls history to reach 10 assists in a season. Messi still leads the Golden Boot race with 25 goals and is level with LAFC's Son Heung-min on 15 assists. It will be a frustrating result for Inter Miami, though, who are now 15 points behind Nashville and have slipped to third in the East.
New England end Philadelphia's unbeaten run
New England moved above Inter Miami on Saturday 24 October after edging past Philadelphia Union. The match ended 2-1, with Dor Turgeman heading the Revolution ahead in first-half stoppage time from Peyton Miller's assist, his 10th goal in his first full MLS season. Carles Gil doubled the lead from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time for a career-best 13th goal of the season. Philadelphia tried to fight their way back into the game, and Neil Pierre pulled one back deep into added time, but it was all in vain as Matt Turner made a late save to see out the win. The defeat ended the Union's club-record 15-game unbeaten run under interim boss Ryan Richter, their first loss since May. New England, meanwhile, move up to 55 points, level with Miami, and go second in the East on wins. With the regular season heading into its final few weeks, they still have time to chase Nashville at the top of the East.
Columbus Crew bounce back against Toronto
Columbus Crew shook off their midweek US Open Cup final defeat on Saturday, beating Toronto FC 4-2 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Gonzalo Tapia put the Crew ahead in the 16th minute, before Malte Amundsen scored twice from corners in the 21st and 48th minutes for his first career brace. Brooks Lennon added a fourth on 59 minutes, his first goal for the club, and Dylan Chambost became only the sixth player in Crew history to record three assists in a single game. Toronto hit back through Dániel Sallói and Josh Sargent, with Sekou Bangoura sent off for a second yellow card in between, but it was too late to rescue anything. It is now three straight league wins for Columbus, who move to 38 points, just one behind the Red Bulls in the race for the final playoff spot in the East.
Portland snatch late win as Toklomati strikes again
Portland Timbers ended their seven-game winless run on Saturday after a dramatic 3-2 win over Charlotte FC at Providence Park. Pep Biel put Charlotte 1-0 up in just the third minute for a career-best 13th goal of the season, but it didn't take Portland long to level the scores, with Ariel Lassiter finding the net in the 11th minute. Lassiter added a second in the 40th minute, before Idan Toklomati equalised in the 69th minute for his 13th goal of the campaign. Charlotte looked set to hold on for a point, but Alexander Aravena struck six minutes into stoppage time, his first MLS goal in 19 appearances. Eric Izoita set up both of Lassiter's goals, while Kristijan Kahlina made eight saves for the visitors. The defeat means Charlotte have still not clinched their playoff place, while Portland stay three points off the playoff spots.
Vancouver beaten late without Müller
Vancouver Whitecaps saw their grip on the Western Conference loosen on Saturday after a 1-0 defeat to Colorado Rapids. Yohei Takaoka kept the visitors in the game with seven saves, and it looked like being a goalless draw until the 81st minute, when he pushed Donavan Phillip's shot onto the crossbar and Morgan Whittaker headed in the rebound at the back post. It was a disappointing result for Vancouver, who were again missing Thomas Müller with a hamstring injury and have now won just one of the four games he has missed. This shows the huge reliance the Whitecaps have on the German legend, and they will be desperate to get their star man back as quickly as possible. An ever-present at Bayern throughout his time there, as his career has progressed, Müller has begun to pick up more and more of these niggly injuries, having missed 9 games for the Whutecaps since joining the club last summer. They still lead the West on 55 points, but FC Dallas are now just a point behind them after beating San Jose 3-0. For Colorado, it was a first win in six games, extending their unbeaten home run to ten matches.
LAFC and Galaxy share the points in El Tráfico
LA Galaxy let a two-goal lead slip as they drew 2-2 with their local rivals, LAFC, at BMO Stadium on Sunday. Joseph Paintsil opened the scoring for Galaxy in the 34th minute from Robert Taylor's pass, before adding a second six minutes after the break when he followed up a saved Erik Thommy shot. LAFC hit back almost immediately, with Denis Bouanga pouncing on a rebound in the 53rd minute, and Leo Walta levelled with a deflected effort ten minutes later. LAFC dominated the closing stages, finishing with 21 shots to the Galaxy's 11 and having two more goals ruled out for offside, but neither side could find a winner. In the end, Galaxy will count themselves lucky to be coming away from the game with a point, despite their early dominance. The point keeps the Galaxy on 41 points, with already-qualified LAFC on 47. And, with their home finale against Austin FC up next, the Galaxy will need to rediscover their first-half form quickly.
