New York, July 20 (EFE).—A dramatic 97th-minute goal by Maya Yoshida earned LA Galaxy a 4-4 draw in the Los Angeles derby against LAFC on Saturday, while Lionel Messi delivered another masterclass with two goals and an assist in Inter Miami’s 5-1 rout of the New York Red Bulls.
Messi is in sensational form, having scored 12 goals in his last seven league matches, including six braces.
He now has 18 goals in 18 appearances this MLS season. Jordi Alba, set up by Messi, and Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia, who netted twice, rounded out the scoring for the Florida side.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy came into the derby mired in a poor season. Despite being the reigning MLS Cup champions, they sit bottom of the Western Conference with just three wins in 23 matches.
Trailing 3-1 in the 67th minute, they managed a spirited comeback to draw level at the death. LAFC’s Colombian defender Eddie Segura was sent off in the 92nd minute.
Denis Bouanga and Brazilian winger Gabriel Pec each scored a brace for LAFC and Galaxy respectively. Injured Galaxy star Riqui Puig watched from the stands alongside his former Barcelona teammate Gerard Piqué.
In another key moment of the weekend, Argentine midfielder Luca Orellano fired in a brilliant left-footed strike in the 87th minute to hand FC Cincinnati a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake. Cincinnati remains atop the Eastern Conference with 48 points, while Inter Miami, with three games in hand, sits fifth with 41.
Elsewhere in the East, Argentine Martín Ojeda scored both goals in Orlando City’s 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution. Spanish midfielder Pep Biel contributed a goal and an assist in Charlotte’s 3-2 win over a struggling Atlanta United.
In the West, a top-of-the-table clash between San Diego and the Vancouver Whitecaps ended in a 1-1 draw.
Seattle Sounders edged San Jose Earthquakes 3-2 thanks to a stunning goal by Argentine Pedro de la Vega. Colombian forward Cristian Arango scored for San Jose.
Other results:
Chicago Fire 2-0 Montreal Columbus Crew 2-1 D.C. United FC Dallas 3-0 St. Louis City Nashville 1-0 Toronto FC Houston Dynamo 1-1 Philadelphia Union Sporting Kansas City 1-1 New York City FC Portland Timbers 1-1 Minnesota United EFE
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