The Florida Derby headlined MLS Matchday 11, and what a match it was. Inter Miami went up 3-0 on Orlando City in the first 33 minutes, but Orlando stormed back to win 4-3.
The New England Revolution picked up a 1-0 win over Charlotte FC, moving them up to second place in the Eastern Conference.
Western Conference leaders San Jose Earthquakes drew 1-1 with Toronto FC. San Jose remains three points ahead of second-place Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Philadelphia Union picked up a point against Nashville SC in a 0-0 draw. It’s the second consecutive 0-0 finish at Subaru Park, but the Union looked like the better team in parts of the 90 minutes. Nashville was missing key players from its lineup, but neither team was able to take full advantage.
Out in California, San Diego FC hosted LAFC, which ended 2-2. San Diego was leading 2-0 until the 82′, when Denis Bouanga made it 2-1, and then Ryan Hollingshead equalized in the 90+16′.
Here is a recap of some of the best from MLS Matchday 11.
Referee Tori Penso, center, issues a yellow card to FC Dallas forward Nicholas Simmonds (16) during the first half against Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field.
Stephen Brashear
Orlando City stuns Inter Miami
The Florida Derby is always a must-watch, but it was extra special this matchday since it was the first at Nu Stadium in Miami.
Miami wasted no time taking control of the derby. Ian Fray opened the scoring in the 4′, followed by Telasco Segovia in the 25′, and then, of course, Lionel Messi in the 33′. It looked like Miami had the match wrapped up already from there, but they were wrong.
In the 39′, Martín Ojeda pulled one back from Orlando before halftime. The second half was then controlled by Orlando. Ojeda scored again in the 68′ for a brace, then completed his hat trick in the 79′. With the match level 3-3, it was leaning toward a brace. But in the 90+3′, Tyrese Spicer scored the go-ahead and winning goal for Orlando.
This was not just a historic Florida Derby match and comeback, but one that will go down in MLS history.
Quick start ends in a draw in Toronto
Toronto started this one hot. Dániel Sallói found the back of the net quickly in the 2′ from a setup by Jonathan Osorio. Toronto’s lead lasted just a little over 10 minutes because Preston Judd equalized for San Jose in the 13′.
Both teams clamped down defensively after Judd’s goal. There were plenty of battles in the midfield, but neither side was able to generate key scoring opportunities.
A quick start from both sides would see this match finish 1-1. San Jose extended its unbeaten streak to seven matches and remains at the top of the Western Conference and the Supporters’ Shield table.
LAFC steals a late point in San Diego
This latest Walmart Saturday Showdown featured California. San Diego came out blazing in this one. Marcus Ingvartsen gave San Diego the lead in the 7′. San Diego dictated the tempo for the first half and went into halftime with the lead.
Ingvartsen scored a brace in the 71′ to put some cushion on the lead for San Diego. But nine minutes later, Denis Bouanga pulled LAFC to within one in the 82′. San Diego was hanging on for dear life deep into stoppage time to come out with three points, but Ryan Hollingshead scored a late equalizer in the 90+16′ to erase the deficit and secure a point for LAFC.
New England moves into second in the East
Nobody expected the New England Revolution to be this good this soon. They have an influx of young talent in the system, and it’s already helping them. A 1-0 win over Charlotte FC allowed the Revs to jump Miami in the standings, even though the two sides are level on 19 points.
This match was a stalemate until the 90+7′ when Carles Gil converted on a penalty to give the Revs another win and three points. Goalkeeper Matt Turner is also having a strong season for the Revs. He’s obviously trying to do everything possible to be the #1 for the USMNT at the World Cup this summer.
The Evander show
Evander put FC Cincinnati on his back against the Chicago Fire. He scored all three goals (24′, 31′, 90+7′) for Cincy in their 3-2 win over the Fire. Hugo Cuypers scored a brace (16′, 28′) for Chicago, but the Fire couldn’t find anything after Kyle Smith was sent off with a red card for Cincy in the 56′.
Chicago holds the fourth spot in the East, but Cincinnati is in sixth with 15 points and is tied with fifth-place DC United.
All results from Matchday 11
Toronto FC 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes
Sporting Kansas City 1-1 Seattle Sounders
Real Salt Lake 2-0 Portland Timbers
Inter Miami 3-4 Orlando City
Atlanta United 3-1 CF Montreal
Columbus Crew 2-3 Minnesota United
New England Revolution 1-0 Charlotte FC
Philadelphia Union 0-0 Nashville SC
New York Red Bulls 0-2 FC Dallas
Chicago Fire 2-3 FC Cincinnati
Houston Dynamo 1-0 Colorado Rapids
San Diego FC 2-2 LAFC
LA Galaxy 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
NYCFC 0-2 DC United
Austin FC 2-0 St. Louis City
Orlando City SC midfielder Braian Ojeda (8) battles for possession with Inter Miami CF midfielder Lionel Messi (10) during the second half at Miami Freedom Park.
Jim Rassol
Nashville SC – 23 pts
New England Revolution – 19 pts
Inter Miami – 19 pts
Chicago Fire – 17 pts
DC United – 15 pts
FC Cincinnati – 15 pts
Charlotte FC – 14 pts
Toronto FC – 14 pts
NYCFC – 12 pts
Columbus Crew – 12 pts
New York Red Bulls – 12 pts
Atlanta United – 10 pts
Orlando City – 10 pts
CF Montreal – 9 pts
Philadelphia Union – 6 pts
Chicago Fire FC midfielder Philip Zinckernagel (11) and FC Cincinnati forward Bryan Ramirez (29) battle for control of the ball during the first half at Soldier Field.
Talia Sprague
San Hise Earthquakes – 28 pts
Vancouver Whitecaps – 25 pts
LAFC – 21 pts
Seattle Sounders – 20 pts
Minnesota United – 20 pts
Real Salt Lake – 20 pts
FC Dallas – 16 pts
Houston Dynamo – 15 pts
Colorado Rapids – 13 pts
LA Galaxy – 13 pts
Austin FC – 13 pts
San Diego FC – 12 pts
Portland Timbers – 10 pts
St. Louis City – 6 pts
Sporting Kansas City – 5 pts
San Jose Earthquakes forward Timo Werner (11) celebrates after scoring against St. Louis CITY SC in the second half at Energizer Park.
Joe Puetz