There were plenty of dramatic moments in matchday 30 around MLS
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Portland edges SeattleHouston upset LAFC at homeColumbus stun NYCFC in extra timePortland edge Seattle in rivalry
For about 54 minutes, the Cascadia rivalry between Portland and Seattle didn't live up to its considerable history Saturday. Then Juan Mosquera changed everything.
The Timbers defender dribbled about a third of the pitch on his own and launched a rocket to breathe life into a contest that stagnated in the opening 45 minutes.
In many ways, the choppiness of the match was emblematic of the struggles of both teams this season. Portland, who sit sixth in the Western Conference, have been inconsistent all season. Seattle, one of MLS's traditional powerhouses, is fighting for its playoff life in the eighth spot.
Here were the other top storylines from an entertaining matchday 30:
AdvertisementStunner at BMO Stadium
LAFC have a squad that is the envy of most MLS sides, but they unexpectedly unraveled at home 2-0 against Houston Dynamic in the biggest upset of the weekend.
Even more surprising was the match wasn't close. The Dynamo dominated possession (58.7 percent), created more chances (2.2 XG vs. LAFC's 1.2) and most importantly executed. New Houston DP Ezequiel Ponce proved his worth, scoring his first MLS goal since his arrival in late July. This is a result that will raise expectations for the Dynamo and leave questions asked of Los Angeles.
NYCFC valiant, but not enough vs. Crew
To quote HBO's legendary show The Wire: “You come at the king, you best not miss.”
That sentiment was, in many ways, indicative of NYCFC's performance in their 4-2 loss to the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field. For 86 minutes, Nick Cushing's side seemed poised to chase a winner after Mounsef Bakrar's clutch equalizer. Yet, as has been typical under Wilfried Nancy's tenure, the Crew responded fiercely.
DeJuan Jones gave the Crew a 3-2 lead three minutes into extra time, Julián Fernández received a red card, and the home side added another goal through Jacen Russell-Rowe.
The standings might suggest Tata Martino or Greg Vanney for Coach of the Year, but Nancy has navigated multiple competitions this season, and his team never quits.
Around the league
Another coach who has to be given strong Coach of the Year consideration has to be the Colorado Rapids' Chris Armas.
The Rapids were outplayed on the road at FC Dallas, but they showed poise and capitalized on two poor mistakes to steal three points at Toyota Stadium. Catch Darren Yapi's extra time winner here:
Luca Orellano's wondergoal sparked Cincinnati's 4-1 dominance over CF Montreal — adding more pressure on under-fire manager Laurent Courtois. In other action, D.C. kept their playoff hopes alive with a crucial 3-1 win over Toronto FC while Inter Miami continued their hot form with a 4-1 result over a struggling Chicago Fire side. Lastly, Atlanta United breathed some life into a struggling campaign by beating Southern rivals Charlotte FC 1-0. The three points pushed them above Philadelphia into the ninth spot in the East.