MLS Matchday 31 Roundup

One more MLS matchday, and we are getting closer and closer to the postseason, but on the way, Inter Miami is close to achieving the Supporters’ Shield and taking a step closer to Lionel Messi’s return.

On the other hand, the Ohio derby ended in a draw, while the Los Angeles derby went to the Galaxy 4-2 in a great match.

Only two visitors won this weekend in the United States: Nashville against Atlanta (0-2) and Minnesota versus St. Louis (1-3).

Matchday 31 Results

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MLS Matchday 31 roundup: Inter Miami 3 – 1 Philadelphia Union

Lionel Messi is back, and the magic is back in Miami. The Argentinean, who had not played a match since July 14 in the Copa America final and had not played for Inter since June 1, was a starter and returned with two goals and an assist in the 3-1 victory over Philadelphia Union.

Undoubtedly, if this team was very good, with Messi, their level has improved a lot. Despite that, it was the visitors who took the lead before the first minute of play. A header from defender Tomás Avilés fell short and was picked up by Mikael Uhre, who first took off the defender and then shot from outside the area to the side for the 0-1 lead.

Then came the GOAT. The number 10 tied the score in the 26th minute when he linked up with his friend Luis Suarez and faked onto the edge of the box before firing in a right-footed cross. Four minutes later, Messi opened the field with Jordi Alba, who sent in a low cross that Suárez let through, and Leo hit it first time to turn the score around.

In the last minute of the match, Messi returned the favor to Suarez and gave it to the Uruguayan to make it 3-1, which has Inter at the top with 62 points, while Philadelphia is eleventh in the East with 30 points.

MLS Matchday 31 roundup: Cincinnati 0 – 0 Columbus Crew

It was expected to be a great match, but the Hell is Real derby between Cincinnati and Columbus Crew ended up being a boring scoreless draw at TQL Stadium.

The Crew were a little better than their rival and had more chances, but the truth is that the draw was fair for two teams that did not show their best game.

There were no changes in the table, and the only thing was that they allowed Inter Miami to move further away at the top of the East. Cincinnati now has 52 points and Columbus 50.

MLS Matchday 31 roundup: Houston Dynamo 4 – 1 Salt Lake

One of the surprises of the weekend was Houston Dynamo’s 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake City, which continues to tighten the Western Conference race.

The home side took the lead in the 27th minute when, after several rebounds in the box, the ball fell to Amine Bassi, who struck first-time at the near post to make it 1-0. Before the end of the first half, Mexico’s Héctor Herrera sent a cross back to Griffin Dorsey to make it 2-0.

At 49′, Salt Lake would score a curious goal after a long pass to Cristian Arango, but in the fight between the Colombian striker and Erik Sviatchenko, the defender scored an own goal for 2-1.

The Dynamo would increase the lead and put the game away with shots inside the box by Sebastian Kowalczyk at 75′ and Ezequiel Ponce at 80′.

With this result, the Houston team reached 44 points and is seventh in its conference, while Salt Lake is fourth with 47.

MLS Matchday 31 roundup: Los Angeles Galaxy 4 – 2 Los Angeles FC

The El Tráfico derby went to the Los Angeles Galaxy, who surprised and came from behind to beat Los Angeles FC 4-2 and increase their lead at the top of the West. It was a great match with a lot of emotions and chances.

Early on, LAFC took a 0-2 lead with goals from two of their most important players this season, who were returning from national team duty: Mateusz Bogusz and Denis Bouanga.

The Pole opened the scoring with a header in the 4th minute after a pass from Bouanga that deflected off a defender and fell to him. Later, the Gabonese player made it 0-2 in the 15th minute after a great individual play and a shot through John McCarthy’s legs.

That’s how they went to the break, and in the second half, the home team brought out all its artillery. First, it was Dejan Joveljic with a great play inside the box and a powerful shot in the 53rd minute.Just two minutes later, Edwin Cerrillo was to shoot from half a distance and put the ball in the corner. Two wonder goals, and the score was already 2-2.

In the 67th minute, it was 3-2 after a cross from Marco Reus back to Riqui Puig, who shot wide but found the Serbian Joveljic, who sent the ball into the back of the net. And for the 4-2 lead, the Europeans came together again, with Reus feeding Puig and the Spaniard firing home from outside the box for another great goal. And despite the four goals conceded, Hugo Lloris was the star of his team, saving several shots.

The Galaxy now has 55 points and a seven-point lead over LAFC, which has two games in hand, no longer depending on itself.