The Philadelphia Union have jumped back into the top spot of the Supporters’ Shield standings after defeating Charlotte FC during MLS Matchday 19.
Markus Anderson scored his first MLS goal for the Union, the game-winning goal in the 90+8′.
Out west, the Vancouver Whitecaps are still at the top of the table with 35 points, but a loss against the Columbus Crew has San Diego FC just two points behind them. San Diego won a tight match against Minnesota United to close the gap to Vancouver.
MLS will return on June 25 after a short break for the FIFA Club World Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup.
Here are some of the best matches from MLS Matchday 19:
Union wins late against Charlotte
Jesus Bueno scored his first goal of the season to put the Union up 1-0 right before the halftime whistle. The Union were controlling the second half until Wilfried Zaha equalized in the 78th minute.
When it looked like the match was going to end in a 1-1 draw, Markus Anderson propelled the Union to three points in the dying minutes. Anderson has split time with the first team and Union II throughout the year. When he was given minutes on Saturday night by Bradley Carnell, he made the most of them.
Columbus takes down Vancouver
The Columbus Crew moved into fourth in the Eastern Conference after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps, 2-1.
Ibrahim Aliyu put Columbus up 1-0 in just the 2nd minute, but then Daniel Rios answered for Vancouver just four minutes later. In the 23rd minute, Diego Rossi put Columbus back in the lead. Neither team managed to find the back of the net after Rossi’s goal, and the match ended 2-1 in favor of Columbus.
San Diego takes down Minnesota in a thriller
San Diego FC and Minnesota United provided great entertainment on Saturday night, with San Diego emerging victorious, 4-2. San Diego is now sitting two points behind first-place Vancouver in the Western Conference.
Nashville earns clean sheet over Chicago
Nashville SC has been another club to keep an eye on this season. After a slow start, they’re now sitting third in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind FC Cincinnati for second.
They kept a 2-0 clean sheet over the surging Chicago Fire, with goals from Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge.
Montreal picks up 3-1 win over Houston
CF Montreal supporters haven’t had anything to cheer about this season. The club is sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with 11 points. But against the Houston Dynamo, Montreal supporters can celebrate the 3-1 win they earned on Saturday.
Prince Osei Owusu picked up a brace within two minutes during the first half, and then Jalen Neal tripled the lead in the 54th minute. Ondrej Lingr added a goal for Houston in the 64th minute, but nothing else came after that.
MLS standings after Matchday 19
MLS Eastern Conference
Philadelphia Union – 37 pts
FC Cincinnati – 33 pts
Nashville SC – 32 pts
Columbus Crew – 31 pts
Orlando City – 30 pts
Inter Miami – 29 pts
NYCFC – 28 pts
New York Red Bulls – 27 pts
Charlotte FC – 25 pts
Chicago Fire – 25 pts
New England Revolution – 23 pts
D.C. United – 18 pts
Atlanta United – 17 pts
Toronto FC – 13 pts
CF Montreal – 11 pts
MLS Western Conference
Vancouver Whitecaps – 35 pts
San Diego FC – 33 pts
Minnesota United – 30 pts
Portland Timbers – 30 pts
LAFC – 26 pts
Seattle Sounders – 26 pts
Austin FC – 26 pts
San Jose Earthquakes – 23 pts
Colorado Rapids – 22 pts
FC Dallas – 21 pts
Houston Dynamo – 20 pts
Real Salt Lake – 18 pts
Sporting Kansas City – 16 pts
St. Louis City – 15 pts
LA Galaxy – 8 pts
Be sure to return to Philly Sports Network for more Philadelphia Union and other soccer content!
Follow our Union team on Twitter:
Tim Lovenguth | Jimmy King | Paul Frenzel
Nate Tennesen | Eric Frysinger | Steve Beavon
Tomiwa Aderinoye | Christopher Babos | Liam Jenkins
Doop on Union fans!
Featured Image Credit: Philadelphia Union
