Matchday 36 of the MLS season has come to a wrap, and the postseason is starting to take shape
Matchday 36 of the MLS season featured Inter Miami clinching the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield on the heels of a Lionel Messi brace in a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew.
As the playoffs start to take shape, both Charlotte FC and MNUFC clinched spots in the postseason while FC Dallas were eliminated from contention.
In the East, NYCFC's late-season surge continued, with a stunning 3-2 over FC Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Christian Benteke extended his lead in the race for the 2024 Golden Boot with goal No. 22 as DC United came back to defeat Nashville SC.
In the Western Conference, the LA Galaxy defeated the Colorado Rapids while MNUFC and RSL played to a scoreless draw.
GOAL takes a look at those moments and more from across Matchday 36 below.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowUSA Today ImagesFC Cincinnati stunned by NYCFC
The Pigeonsdefeated FCC 3-2, with Santiago Rodriguez's 75th minute penalty kick goal proving to be the difference at the final whistle.
NYCFC's Mitja Ilenic opened the scoring 16 minutes into the match, with Alonso Martinez doubling their lead in the 65th minute. Reigning MLS MVP Lucho Acosta earned a goal back for FCC four minutes later, but Rodriguez's 75th minute penalty put a stop to any momentum the guests had gained through the goal.
A 96th-minute spot kick from Corey Baird brought FCC within a goal late, but NYCFC held strong, earning all three points in the Eastern Conference clash.
With the result, the club occupies fifth place in the East to end the night, trailing fourth-place Orlando City by two points as it tries to secure a home playoff game with just two matches to spare. FCC, meanwhile, still sit third in the conference, but they're now winless in three as the season winds down.
AdvertisementIMGANLA Galaxy all but clinch the Western Conference title
A brace from Riqui Puig and a strike from Gabriel Pec has put the Galaxy in pole-position to claim the Western Conference title in a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over the Colorado Rapids.
The Rapids opened the scoring and entered the second half with the lead, but three unanswered goals from the Galaxy handed them all three points – and what may be the Western Conference title. Sitting first in the division on 61 points, the lead is all but theirs to lose.
They hold a six-point lead over second place LAFC, despite the having a game in-hand over their cross-city rivals. With two matches left on LA's calendar, the No. 1 overall seed in the West is within grasp for the postseason, and they control their own destiny.
The Rapids, meanwhile, only have one win in their last four matches and have fallen out of the top-four in the West, meaning their goal of a home playoff game is now hanging by a thread. At the end of Matchday 36, they sit in sixth, with work to do as the campaign wraps.
USA Today ImagesElsewhere in the Eastern Conference
Josef Martinez scored a brace as CF Montreal defeated Atlanta United 2-1… Charlotte FC defeated the Chicago Fire 4-3 with Karol Swiderski netting a brace… Orlando City defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-1 with U.S. international Duncan McGuire scoring the winner… The New York Red Bulls thumped Toronto FC 4-1 with Emil Forsberg and John Tolkin both finding the back of the net… DC United stunned Nashville SC with two stoppage-time goals from Gabriel Pirani to win 4-3.
IMGANElsewhere in the Western Conference
In a cross-conference clash, the Houston Dynamo defeated the New England Revolution 2-1… Minnesota United and Real Salt Like ended in a scoreless draw, but RSL's Brayan Vera was sent off for a spitting offense… LAFC defeated St. Louis CITY SC 1-0 as Denis Bouanga scored his 19th goal of the campaign… Austin FC earned their first regular season victory since August 24, defeating the Portland Timbers 1-0 while also avoiding playoff elimination… The San Jose Earthquakes defeated FC Dallas 3-2, eliminating FCD from playoff contention… The Seattle Sounders defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0, moving up to third in the Western Conference.