MLS Thursday: Everything you need to know about Matchday 12

Now we’re getting into the off-cuts of the MLS season: After three months of mostly regular league play, these 10 games will make following the tables impossible without a notepad and a calculator. Atlanta United, Charlotte FC, Cincinnati FC, Columbus Crew, New England Revolution, Orlando City, Real Salt Lake, and Toronto FC all get a pass on this midweek game. Ah well. It’ll all shake out in October.

Top Games

Sporting Kansas City 2 - 1 Colorado Rapids
What has to happen for four red cards to be shown in stoppage time? Colorado’s Auston Trusty (good name) gets a second yellow in the 91st minute. No big deal. But in the 96th minute – just seconds away from the end of the game – Sporting’s Dániel Sallói moves in for a rough tackle and gets a two-handed shove in the back from Colorado’s Lucas Estevez (straight red) and Sporting’s Andre Fontás gets handsy (straight red). VAR does its thing and Sallói is shown a second yellow for his tackle.

LAFC 1 - 2 Austin FC
Are Austin FC for real? They log a composed road win behind the goalkeeping heroics of NYCFC alum Brad Stuver to beat powerhouse LFAC to take over their spot in first place in the Western Conference—and to take the lead in the Supporters’ Shield.

New Jersey Red Bulls 3 - 3 Chicago Fire
The Red Bulls make draws exciting: New Jersey went up in the 20th minute on a penalty, Chicago drew even 18 minutes later and went ahead eight minutes after that, then Red Bulls evened the score 2-2 in the 58th minute. Now for the drama: Eight Million Dollar Man Xherdan Shaqiri scored in the 89th minute to put Chicago ahead, only for Patryk Klimala to even it at 3-3 in the 91st minute. New Jersey remain winless at home this season.

Goal of the Day

Before the red cards started flowing, Dániel Sallói demonstrated why he’s one to watch with a goal that was elegant, understated, and deadly: He splits two defenders, then gets his shot off before a third can close him down. There’s something to be said for a goal this unflashy, and this lethal.

Scoreboard

Wednesday, May 18

New Jersey Red Bulls 3 - 3 Chicago Fire

Philadelphia Union 0 - 0 Inter Miami FC

DC United 0 - 2 NYCFC

Minnesota United 1 - 1 LA Galaxy

Sporting Kansas City 2 - 1 Colorado Rapids

Nashville SC 2 - 1 CF Montréal

Houston Dynamo 0 - 1 Seattle Sounders

Vancouver Whitecaps 2 - 1 FC Dallas

San Jose Earthquakes 3 - 2 Portland Timbers

LAFC 1 - 2 Austin FC

Tables