MLS Matchday 23 Roundup

The MLS matchday 23 ended with no major changes in the Eastern Conference, but it did in the Western Conference after the El Tráfico derby.

In Los Angeles, LAFC beat the Galaxy 1-2 and took sole leadership of the division, while Salt Lake moved into second place.

In the other conference, the leaders won, so there were no changes. However, they face each other this weekend in a duel of kill or die.

Matchday 23 Games

NY City 2-0 Montreal

Toronto 1-2 Orlando

DC United 2-3 Cincinnati

Charlotte 1-2 Inter Miami

New England 2-1 Atlanta

Minnesota 1-3 Vancouver

St. Louis 2-0 San Jose

Chicago 4-3 Philadelphia

Columbus 2-0 Nashville

Salt Lake 3-2 Houston

Dallas 3-2 Portland

Colorado 2-1 Kansas City

LA Galaxy 1-2 LAFC

MLS Matchday 23: Charlotte FC 1 – 2 Inter Miami

When and Where?

Wednesday, July 3, 7:30 pm ET at the Bank of America Stadium

Moneyline odds:

Charlotte 2.0

Inter Miami 3.3

Draw Offs:

3.75

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Inter Miami continues its winning streak despite the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, remaining at the top of MLS with 47 points. Since their star players left for the Copa América, they have won all four games without them by 2-1.

Finland’s Robert Taylor opened the scoring on the half-hour mark after a great team play, but in the 41st minute, striker Patrick Agyemang appeared with a run from behind the halfway line and scored well against Drake Callender to make it 1-1.

Just when it looked like it was all going to be a draw, young Benjamin Cremaschi came up and pushed a cross from Julian Gressel to make it 1-2 and maintain Inter’s two-point lead over Cincinnati. Charlotte, meanwhile, remains in sixth place in the conference.

MLS Matchday 23: DC United 2 – 3 Cincinnati

When and Where?

Wednesday, July 3, 7:30 pm ET at the Audi Field

Moneyline odds:

DC United 2.55

Cincinnati 2.60

Draw Offs:

3.25

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Cincinnati continues to aim for the Eastern Conference lead with a hard-fought 2-3 victory at the home of DC United, the division’s bottom team.

The score was opened in the 10th minute for the visitors after a gross mistake by goalkeeper Tyler Miller, who went to clear a ball that hit Kevin Kelsy and went into the goal. The locals managed to tie the game at 24′ with a cross-shot by Martin Rodriguez. However, before the end of the first half, the visitors went ahead again with a goal by Pavel Bucha.

In the second half, the lead was increased with another goal by the Czech Bucha, but DC United put the difference back to just one goal after a great personal play by Gabriel Pirani.

In the end, the scoreboard did not move any further and Cincinnati remains two points behind Inter Miami, but with a game in hand, and this weekend they will host the Florida team. On the other hand, DC United is the worst team in the East and has now gone 10 games without a win, only managing three points in that period.

MLS Matchday 23: Salt Lake 3 – 2 Houston Dynamo

When and Where?

Wednesday, July 3, 9:30 pm ET at the America First Field

Moneyline odds:

Salt Lake 1.73

Houston Dynamo 4.33

Draw Offs:

3.6

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Real Salt Lake came from behind to beat the Houston Dynamo 3-2 and climb to second place in the Western Conference, while its rival remains in seventh place, occupying the last playoff spot.

Nigeria’s Ibrahim Aliyu opened the account for the Dynamo with a shot against goalkeeper Zac MacMath’s left post. However, before the end of the first half, the home side turned it around, first with a goal by Andres Gomez after a miscommunication in the rival defense, and then with a great mid-range shot by Diego Luna.

In the second half, the defender Andrew Brody tried to reject a ball and ended up putting it into his net, making the score 2-2. But in the 67th minute, Paraguay’s Brian Ojeda calmly scored from close range to make it 3-2.

The team coached by Pablo Mastroeni continues with its good campaign, where they have only lost one match out of the last 17 in MLS, while Houston Dynamo cut a six-game unbeaten streak.

MLS Matchday 23: LA Galaxy 1 – 2 Los Angeles FC

When and Where?

Thursday, July 4, 10:30 pm ET at the Rose Bowl Stadium

Moneyline odds:

LA Galaxy 2.9

LAFC 2.2

Draw Offs:

3.5

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

And in the week’s match, Los Angeles FC took the city derby with a 1-2 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The two teams were neck and neck, with the two sides sharing the lead with 40 points, but Steven Cherundolo’s side were hungrier and managed a win with an African flavor, as Sierra Leone’s Kei Kamara headed in the first and Gabon’s Denis Bouanga scored the second from the penalty spot. It was 0-2 in the first half.

In the second period, Gabriel Pec found himself with a ball in the center of the box and scored the discount, but it was not enough.

Each team had several chances to move the scoreboard, but it remained 1-2. Now the Galaxy dropped to third place, three points behind their backyard rivals, leaders of the West.