MLS Matchday 8 saw Dániel Gazdag make his debut for the Columbus Crew, and Inter Miami missed out on big points in a draw to the Chicago Fire. Columbus extended their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference, and Miami slid down to fourth.
Out west, the Vancouver Whitecaps pummeled Austin FC, 5-1, and San Diego FC dropped down to third following a loss to the Colorado Rapids. Minnesota United now sit in second in the west behind Vancouver.
Here is a recap of five matches from MLS Matchday 8:
Gazdag makes debut for Columbus in 2-1 win
Daniel Gazdag and the Columbus Crew picked up three points in a 2-1 win over St. Louis City SC during Sunday Night Soccer. Gazdag made his first appearance during the start of the second half.
Columbus saw themselves down 1-0 seven minutes into the first half. João Klauss gave St. Louis their first goal since March 15 after following up on his rebound that banged off the crossbar.
Columbus answered with an equalizer during stoppage time of the first half. Steven Moreira converted on a cross from Max Arfsten to level the match. In the 55th minute, Diego Rossi gave Columbus the lead that they would hold onto and leave St. Louis with three points.
Miami and Chicago end scoreless in record sellout at Soldier Field
Sunday’s match at Soldier Field saw a record sellout for the Chicago Fire with 62,358 people in attendance. I’m guessing everyone was there to see Gregg Berhalter, right?
Besides the sellout, both clubs picked up one point in a 0-0 draw. Chicago led in shots with 16 and seven being on target, compared to Miami’s nine with three on target.
Miami has now dropped to fourth in the East while Chicago sits in eighth.
Brian White scores four goals for Vancouver over Austin in statement win, 5-1
The Vancouver Whitecaps look unstoppable this year. They took on Austin FC on Saturday, and Brian White single-handedly dominated the opposition by scoring FOUR goals in a 5-1 win. Dani Pereira scored for Austin in the 90th minute, but the goal was just a consolation prize for showing up.
It’s still early into the season but Vancouver looks like MLS Cup contenders
NYCFC picks up a clean sheet against the Union
The Philadelphia Union are 0-1 in the post-Daniel Gazdag era. Taking on NYCFC on Saturday night at Citi Field, NYCFC picked up a clean sheet in a 1-0 win.
The first half was pretty even, but then Alonso Martinez broke the deadlock in the 55th minute to put NYCFC ahead. The Union managed to get a few quality chances on Matt Freese after Martinez’s goal, but they weren’t able to find an equalizer. With the loss, the Union now sit fifth in the East. NYCFC is in 10th.
Rapids play spoiler to San Diego’s hot streak
Vancouver has started hot but so has San Diego FC in their inaugural year. On Saturday night in Colorado, the Rapids slowed San Diego down in a 3-2 win. It was a big win for the Rapids as they climbed into fifth in the West.
Djordje Mihailovic converted on a PK in the 37th minute to give Colorado a 1-0 lead. Five minutes into the second half, Luca de la Torre brought things level for San Diego with a beautiful hit from inside the box.
Darren Yapi tilted the match back into Colorado’s favor three minutes later, and then Rafael Navarro doubled the lead in the 60th minute. Tomás Ángel managed to sneak in a last-minute goal to bring the match within one in the 89th minute, but San Diego couldn’t muster one more to mount a comeback.
MLS Standings after Matchday 8
Columbus Crew – 18 pts
Charlotte FC – 16 pts
FC Cincinnati – 16 pts
Inter Miami – 15 pts
Philadelphia Union – 13 pts
Nashville SC – 13 pts
Orlando City – 12 pts
Chicago Fire – 12 pts
New York Red Bulls – 12 pts
NYCFC – 11 pts
Atlanta United – 9 pts
New England Revolution – 7 pts
D.C. United – 6 pts
Toronto FC – 4 pts
CF Montreal – 2 pts
Vancouver Whitecaps – 19 pts
Minnesota United – 15 pts
San Diego FC – 14 pts
Portland Timbers – 14 pts
Colorado Rapids – 14 pts
Austin FC – 13 pts
LAFC – 12 pts
FC Dallas – 11 pts
San Jose Earthquakes – 10 pts
Real Salt Lake – 9 pts
Seattle Sounders – 9 pts
St. Louis City SC – 8 pts
Houston Dynamo – 6 pts
Sporting Kansas City – 4 pts
LA Galaxy – 3 pts
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union
