New York Red Bulls’ 2-0 win over Inter Miami highlights three conference surprises in MLS Regular Season - 31

Three higher-ranked teams beaten as New York Red Bulls shock Inter Miami

New York Red Bulls delivered the round’s biggest surprise by defeating Inter Miami 2-0. Carlos Henrique Casimiro’s own goal counted for New York Red Bulls in the seventh minute, before Emil Forsberg completed the scoring in the 90th minute. Inter Miami remain third in the Eastern Conference on 55 points, while New York Red Bulls are ninth on 39 points. Inter Miami are 16 points ahead.

Real Salt Lake also overcame a higher-ranked opponent, beating St. Louis City 3-0. Sergi Solans put Real Salt Lake ahead in the 41st minute and scored again in the 59th, with Dominik Marczuk adding the second goal in the 52nd minute. St. Louis City are third in the Western Conference on 51 points; Real Salt Lake are 10th on 39 points, with St. Louis City 12 points ahead.

Colorado Rapids completed the surprise results with a 1-0 victory over Western Conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps. Morgan Whittaker scored in the 81st minute. Vancouver remain first on 55 points, 13 points ahead of Colorado Rapids, who are eighth on 42 points.

Nashville keep the Eastern Conference lead

Nashville SC remain first in the Eastern Conference on 70 points after a 2-0 win at CF Montreal. Sam Surridge put Nashville ahead in the 51st minute. Samsy Keita’s own goal counted for Nashville SC in the 76th minute. CF Montreal are 15th on 25 points, leaving Nashville 45 points ahead.

New England Revolution are second on 55 points after winning 2-1 at Philadelphia Union. Dor Turgeman scored for New England in the 45th minute, Carles Gil converted a penalty in the 90th, and Neil Pierre pulled one back for Philadelphia in the 90th minute. New England are nine points ahead of the Union, who are sixth on 46 points.

Chicago Fire held fourth place on 51 points after beating Atlanta United FC 3-2. Tomás Jacob gave Atlanta the lead in the fourth minute, but Anton Saletros, Anzor Mekvabishvili and Philip Zinckernagel put Chicago ahead. Breel Embolo pulled one back for Atlanta in the 67th minute. Chicago are 21 points ahead of Atlanta United FC, who are 14th on 30 points.

Late goals and two-goal scorers shape the round

The round’s 15 matches produced 47 goals in total. Malte Amundsen scored twice as Columbus Crew beat Toronto FC 4-2, with Gonzalo Tapia and Brooks Lennon also scoring for Columbus. Dániel Sallói and Josh Sargent replied for Toronto. Columbus are 10th in the East on 38 points, two points ahead of Toronto FC on 36 points in 11th.

Myrto Uzuni scored twice for Austin in a 2-1 comeback win at Sporting Kansas City. Stephen Afrifa had put Sporting ahead, before Uzuni equalised in the 64th minute and scored the winner in the 86th. Austin are 14th in the West on 34 points, 12 points ahead of 15th-placed Sporting Kansas City on 22 points.

FC Cincinnati beat DC United 2-0 through goals from Evander and Tom Barlow. FC Dallas defeated San Jose Earthquakes 3-0, with Petar Musa scoring twice and Santiago Moreno completing the scoring in the 90th minute. Houston Dynamo and Minnesota United FC drew 0-0.

Portland Timbers beat Charlotte 3-2 after Cole Bassett’s 90th-minute goal. Ariel Lassiter scored twice for Portland, while Pep Biel and Idan Toklomati Jorno scored for Charlotte. The teams are in different conferences, so their listed positions are not comparable.

San Diego drew 2-2 with Seattle Sounders after Cédric Bakambu scored twice, including a 90th-minute penalty. Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy also drew 2-2: Joseph Paintsil scored twice for the Galaxy, while Denis Bouanga and Leo Walta scored for Los Angeles FC. Orlando City SC and New York City FC finished 2-2, with the listed scorers Alonso Martinez, Antoine Griezmann and Martin Ojeda.

The current conference picture

Alongside Nashville’s Eastern lead, New England Revolution and Inter Miami are both on 55 points, while Chicago Fire are fourth on 51. In the West, Vancouver Whitecaps lead on 55 points, followed by FC Dallas on 54 and St. Louis City on 51. The standings show current positions, but do not establish qualification as confirmed.

CF Montreal are 15th in the East on 25 points, and Sporting Kansas City are 15th in the West on 22 points. Those positions describe the current tables but do not, by themselves, confirm relegation consequences. The round’s other two-goal scorers were Cédric Bakambu, Joseph Paintsil and Sergi Solans, alongside Lassiter, Musa, Amundsen and Uzuni.