FC Cincinnati 2-4 Columbus Crew

It’s rare that we get the Hell Is Real Derby outside of Rivalry Week, but in a week where not many matchups popped off the page, this met and exceeded all the expectations.  FCC couldn’t have dreamed of a better start.  Goals from Pavel Bucha and Evander thrust the home team into the driver’s seat before some fans got the chance to finish their Skyline Chili in the parking lot.  Surely the party would continue long into the night in the Queen City…

Everyone knows what they say about a 2-0 lead in soccer, right?  The last five minutes of the first half were Columbus’ own version of how FCC started the game, equalizing before the halftime whistle through Diego Rossi and Max Arfsten.  The visitors had the better of the play throughout the first half after the early barrage, but weren’t able to break through until the 42nd minute, then again in first half stoppage time. Columbus would come out of the break the stronger side, and took the lead when Miles Robinson redirected a cross into his own net.  The substitute Taha Habroune sealed the win for the Crew in stoppage time, icing the cake for the traveling supporters.

To the victor, go the spoils:

FC Cincinnati dropped to second place after Philadelphia’s win against Red Bull, while Columbus closed the gap on their in-state rivals to one point.  It’s getting tight at the top of the East, where the top four are only separated by two points.

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Inter Miami CF 2-1 Nashville SC

Lionel Messi made more MLS history this weekend with another brace, this time at the peril of Nashville SC.  Messi has tied “King Josef” Martinez’ MLS record for most goals in a 6 game span with 11.  Not only that, but Messi recorded his fifth(!) straight league game with a brace.  Inter Miami took the lead through a Messi free kick in the 17th minute, and would carry that into the break.  Nashville began the second half on the right foot, with their own personal GOAT, Hany Mukhtar, nodding the visitors level just after the break.  Messi found the winner in the 62nd minute after intercepting a pass from Nashville goalkeeper, Joe Willis— one he surely wishes he could have back.  Nashville pushed and pried for an equalizer but came up empty, leaving South Florida with nothing.  Miami quietly (if that could even be possible) sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, just five points back of the leaders, Philadelphia, with three games in hand.

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St. Louis City 2-1 Portland Timbers

Marcel Hartel played hero for St. Louis City SC, who can finally exhale after getting their first win since the final day of May.  Portland came into the day as a top four team in the West, hoping for a repeat of the reverse fixture almost exactly a month ago on Sunday Night Soccer. Portland looked sluggish to open the game before David Da Costa slotted home the opener with a clean finish past goalkeeper Roman Bürki.  From then on, the home side controlled play, walking into halftime knocking on Maxime Crepeau’s door.  Hartel jumped on a bouncing ball in the box, hammering home a close range finish in the 54th minute.  Almost 15 minutes later, Hartel popped up again in the box, capitalizing on some sloppy box defending and heading home the eventual game winning goal. The hosts continued to control play for the remainder of the game, with Hartel saying after that it was their “best game under the coaching change.”

St. Louis City remain in 14th in the Western Conference, keeping their three point cushion over LA Galaxy, who beat struggling DC United in Southern California on Saturday night.  Portland dropped under the home advantage playoff line in the West with the loss, now even on points with Cascadia Rivals Seattle Sounders.