Magical Messi: A Super Sub’s Triumph as Miami Defeat Red Bulls

– Cincy bounce back –
Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati bounced back from their US Open Cup last-four loss to Miami on Wednesday with a 3-0 victory over New York City. Aaron Boupendza nodded the Ohio side ahead in the 6th minute and Junior Moreno doubled the lead in the 52nd minute with a side-foot finish at the end of a swift counter. A 59th minute header from Nick Hagglund wrapped up the win for Cincinnati who remain 11 points clear of second-placed Philadelphia.

Philly enjoyed a 3-1 win at Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United with all their goals coming in the first half through Mikael Uhre, Jack McGlynn and a penalty from Hungarian international Daniel Gazdag. The New England Revolution, third in the East, fell to a 1-0 loss at Montreal with George Campbell grabbing the 86th-minute winner. Champions Los Angeles FC suffered a surprise 2-1 loss at Charlotte with former Burnley midfielders Ashley Westwood and Scott Arfield on target for the North Carolina side.

Westwood opened the scoring with a clever finish at the near post in the 29th minute before Mario Gonzalez leveled for LAFC in the 67th only for Arfield, a recent signing from Scotland’s Rangers, to grab the 75th-minute winner.

It was a day of surprises in the Western Conference where leaders St.Louis City fell to a 2-1 defeat to Orlando City with Facundo Torres settling the encounter with a stoppage-time penalty after Anthony Markanich handled in the box.

Third-placed Real Salt Lake were also upset with Houston Dynamo marching into Utah and leaving with a 3-0 win. Dallas left it late to win their Texas derby with Austin 1-0 with Nkosi Tafari scoring with a glancing header in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Cincinnati’s Rebound in Style –
Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati swiftly recovered from their disappointing US Open Cup loss to Miami, securing a convincing 3-0 victory over New York City.
The Ohio-based team wasted no time, with Aaron Boupendza nodding them into the lead in just the 6th minute. Their dominance continued in the 52nd minute as Junior Moreno calmly side-footed a finish into the net at the end of a lightning-quick counter-attack.

Nick Hagglund sealed the deal in the 59th minute with a well-placed header, ensuring Cincinnati’s 11-point lead over second-placed Philadelphia remained intact.

Philadelphia enjoyed a 3-1 triumph against Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United, all their goals coming in a first-half blitz courtesy of Mikael Uhre, Jack McGlynn, and a penalty converted by Hungarian international Daniel Gazdag. In a tightly contested match, the New England Revolution, currently third in the Eastern Conference, suffered a 1-0 loss to Montreal, with George Campbell grabbing the winner in the 86th minute.

The champions, Los Angeles FC, faced an unexpected 2-1 defeat at the hands of Charlotte, with former Burnley midfielders Ashley Westwood and Scott Arfield finding the net for the North Carolina side. Westwood opened the scoring with a clever near-post finish in the 29th minute. Mario Gonzalez briefly equalized for LAFC in the 67th minute, but Arfield, a recent acquisition from Scotland’s Rangers, secured the win with a 75th-minute strike.

The Western Conference witnessed a day of surprises, as leaders St. Louis City suffered a 2-1 loss to Orlando City, with Facundo Torres sealing the match with a stoppage-time penalty after Anthony Markanich handled the ball in the box.

Real Salt Lake, currently in third place, also faced an upset as Houston Dynamo claimed a 3-0 victory on their turf. In a dramatic Texas derby, Dallas secured a 1-0 victory over Austin, with Nkosi Tafari scoring a glancing header in the seventh minute of stoppage time.