MLS: Lions, Five Stripes, Red Bulls, Loons, Caps, RSL Lock Up Playoff Berths; Rapids, Sounders Join Revs In 2022 CCL; DC, Crew, ex-Impact, Both LA Clubs Eliminated; Wondo Retires

 Twelve games were contested on Sunday as Major League Soccer lowered the curtain on its' 26th regular season.

At Cincinnati:

Josef Martinez scored the winning goal in the 79th minute as Atlanta United locked up a playoff berth by defeating hapless FC Cincinnati 2-1 on the road.

At Montreal:

Jhegson Mendez (55') and Daryl Dike (86') each scored once as Orlando City blanked CF Montreal 2-0 on the road to nail down a playoff berth and knock the hosts out of playoff contention.

At Foxborough, Massachusetts:

Blaise Matuidi scored the only goal of the match in the 58th minute as Inter Miami knocked off the home-standing (and Supporters Shield winners) New England Revolution 1-0.

At Toronto:

Ola Kamara scored twice (30', 36') as DC United downed Toronto FC 3-1 on the road.

Despite the victory, DC was still eliminated from the playoffs.

At Columbus, Ohio:

Lucas Zelarayan (31') and Miguel Berry (58') each scored once as the Columbus Crew blanked the visiting Chicago Fire 2-0.

The victory still wasn't enough for the Crew to continue their MLS Cup title defense as Columbus still missed the playoffs.

At Nashville, Tennessee:

Hany Mukhtar's equalizer in the 37th minute lifted Nashville to a 1-1 home draw with the New York Red Bulls----and the right to host a playoff game.

Fabio scored in the opening minute for the Red Bulls, who clinched their 12th consecutive playoff berth.

At New York:

Taty Castellanos scored his league-leading 19th goal in the 53rd minute to lift New York City to a 1-1 home draw with the Philadelphia Union.

Kacper Przybylko scored for the guests at 26th minute as both clubs will host opening-round playoff games.

At Kansas City, Kansas:

Damir Kreilach's goal five minutes into second-half stoppage time carried Real Salt Lake to a 1-0 road victory over Sporting Kansas City-----and right into the playoffs, spoiling the hosts' shot at winning the Western Conference regular-season title.

At Portland, Oregon:

Cristhian Paredes (17'), Jaroslaw Niezgoda (45'), and Sebastian Blanco (53') each scored once as the Portland Timbers registered their MLS-era single-season-record 17th victory by dominating visiting Austin FC 3-0.

At Vancouver, British Columbia:

Ryan Gauld's equalizer in the 20th minute enabled the Vancouver Whitecaps to gain a 1-1 home draw with the Seattle Sounders and a berth in the MLS Playoffs.

Fredy Montero converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute for the Sounders, who qualified for next year's CONCACAF Champions League.

At Commerce City, Colorado:

Jonathan Lewis scored twice (18', 53') as the Colorado Rapids locked up the Western Conference regular-season title and a berth in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League by dominating the Los Angeles Football Club 5-2 at home.

LAFC will miss the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in their four-year history.

At Carson, California:

Adrien Hunou (22'), Robin Lod (34'), and Julian Araujo (OG-62') each scored once to carry Minnesota United to a 3-3 road draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy and a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Javier Chicharito Hernandez scored twice (51', 75') and Sebastian Lletget once (45'+1) for the Galaxy, whose draw with the Loons, coupled with RSL's last-second heroics against Sporting KC, knocked Los Angeles out of the playoffs.

At San Jose, California:

Jader Obrian's equalizer in the 42nd minute lifted FC Dallas to a 1-1 road draw with the San Jose Earthquakes.

The Quakes' Chris Wondolowski scored his 171st----and final---- MLS goal in the 34th minute, as he announced his retirement following the game.

FINAL MLS STANDINGS:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1.     New England (GP: 34; GD: +24; PTS: 73)

2.     Philadelphia (GP: 34; GD: +13; PTS: 54)

3.     Nashville (GP: 34; GD: +22; PTS: 54)

4.     New York City (GP: 34; GD: +20; PTS: 51)

5.     Atlanta United (GP: 34; GD: +8; PTS: 51)

6.     Orlando City (GP: 34; GD: +2; PTS: 51)

7.     New York Red Bulls (GP: 34; GD: +6; PTS: 48)

8.     DC United (GP: 34; GD: +2; PTS: 47)

9.     Columbus (GP: 34; GD: +1; PTS: 47)

10.   Montreal (GP: 34; GD: +2; PTS: 46)    

11.   Miami (GP: 34; GD: -17; PTS: 41)

12.   Chicao (GP: 34; GD: -18; PTS: 34)

13.   Toronto (GP: 34; GD: -27; PTS: 28)

14.   Cincinnati (GP: 34; GD: -37; PTS: 20)

NOTES:  With Philadelphia and Nashville level on points with 54, the Union won more games (14-12); with New York City, Atlanta United, and Orlando City level on points with 51, NYC won more games (14) then the Five Stripes and Lions (13 each); with DC United and Columbus level on points with 47, DC won more games (14-13).

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1.     Colorado (GP: 34; GD: +16; PTS: 61)

2.     Seattle (GP: 34; GD: +20; PTS: 60)

3.     Kansas City (GP: 34; GD: +18; PTS: 58)

4.     Portland (GP: 34; GD: +4; PTS: 55)

5.     Minnesota United (GP: 34; GD: -2; PTS: 49)

6.     Vancouver (GP: 34; GD: 0; PTS: 49)

7.     Real Salt Lake (GP: 34; GD: +1; PTS: 48)

8.     Los Angels Galaxy (GP: 34; GD: -4; PTS: 48)

9.     Los Angeles Football Club (GP: 34; GD: +2; PTS: 45)

10.   San Jose (GP: 34; GD: -8; PTS: 41)

11.   Dallas (GP: 34; GD: -0; PTS: 33)

12.   Austin (GP: 34; GD: -21; PTS: 31)

13.   Houston (GP: 34; GD: -18; PTS: 30)

NOTES:  With Minnesota United and Vancouver level on points with 49, the Loons won more games (13-12), with Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy level on points with 48, RSL won more games (14-12).