The MLS returned for another round of midweek action during matchday 25. With the home stretch in sight for many teams, matchday 25 provided plenty of thrilling games for MLS fans to enjoy. A total of 43 goals were scored during the eleven-midweek games and here are some of the standouts from a goal frenzy on matchday 25.
New York City 3-3 FC Dallas
The first game of midweek action pitched New York City FC against FC Dallas. The Eastern Conference side welcomed the Western Conference Dallas in the hope of bolstering their playoff hopes.
However, FC Dallas looked to spoil the party after taking the lead within four minutes through Jader Obrian. The New York side equalized on the 20-minute mark with a goal from Maxi Moralez, leaving the sides level at the interval. After halftime, New York captured the lead through Jesus Medina before being pegged back minutes later by Jesus Ferreira.
Brazilian Talles Magno gave NYCFC a 3-2 lead but it wasn’t enough as Jader Obrian scored his second goal of the game and gave Dallas a point to take back to Texas. The drama wasn’t over there. NYCFC forward Thiago Andrade received a straight red card in the 92nd minute after his stamp on Jesus Ferreira was reviewed by the video assistant referee.
This result leaves NYCFC fourth in the Eastern Conference but only three points ahead of a streaking Inter Miami in the eighth position. Whereas Dallas sits 10th in the Western Conference and is being cut adrift of the playoffs.
San Jose Earthquakes 3-4 Real Salt Lake
Two western conference teams faced off in one of the later games from matchday 25. Playoff positioned Real Salt Lake traveled to the San Jose Earthquakes, with both believing it's possible to make the top seven with ten games remaining for both sides.
The home team opened the scoring when Javier Lopez scored his first goal of the game after 26 minutes. Real Salt Lake would equalize on the stroke of half-time through American forward Rubio Rubin. After the Half, Salt Lake’s momentum would continue as attacking midfielder Albert Rusnak scored to make it 2-1 just before 50 minutes.
But San Jose looked to have turned the game around when it reached 65 minutes. Javier Lopez scored his second and third of the game in the 50th and 65th minute to give San Jose a 3-2 lead at home. Yet Real Salt Lake managed to regain the momentum they had just after the break. Justin Meram and Rubio Rubin scored in the final 20 minutes to condemn San Jose to a 4-3 defeat in a game they led twice.
This result means Real Salt Lake are sixth and just inside the playoffs by two points. As for San Jose, they are eleventh and have a six-point gap between themselves and the seventh-placed LAFC.
Orlando City 2-4 CF Montreal
From an all Eastern Conference game to an all Western Conference game. Playoff hopefuls Orlando City and CF Montreal met at Exploria Stadium as the Canadian side tries to close the gap on the top three.
CF Montreal opened the scoring away from home through Matheu Choiniere but was given a huge boost when Orlando City star Nani was shone a straight red. With ten men, Orlando conceded another goal after 37 minutes and was 2-0 down just before half-time. Robin Jansson halved the deficit for Orlando when he scored on the 40-minute mark but they remained 2-1 down at the break.
After half-time, Brazilian fullback Ruan scored to claw Orlando City level and possibly earn the unlikeliest of points. But it wasn’t to be. Lassi Lappalainen and Sanusi Ibrahim scored a quickfire double to secure the victory from home and make it 4-2. As for Orlando, they ended the fixture with nine men as Andres Perea saw red.
Orlando City are third despite this defeat but are now without Nani and Andreas Perea through suspension. CF Montreal are sixth and remain in the playoffs by a two-point margin.
