Nashville

Alan Pulido, Luis Martins and Daniel Salloi all scored within 16 minutes as KC raced to a 3-0 lead. Salloi's classy volley took his tally to nine goals this MLS season.

Israeli midfielder Gadi Kinda added a fourth in the 58th minute with Graham Zusi getting his second assist, before LAFC got a consolation from Danny Musovski.

The win lifted Sporting KC past Seattle Sounders who conceded in the 90th minute to draw 1-1 at home with Dallas.

Fredy Montero had put the Sounders ahead in the 72nd minute with a set-piece header but Dallas equalised from Franco Jara's 90th-minute close-range strike.

Sporting KC are ahead of Seattle on goal difference, with both sides having 33 points, although the leaders have a game in hand.

LA Galaxy are third following a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, secured by Efrain Alvarez's cool 53rd-minute winner.

Eastern Conference leaders New England extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 0-0 draw against Nashville, who slip to fourth despite the result.

The draw also extends Nashville's undefeated streak to nine games.

Former England international Kieran Gibbs netted a 66th-minute equaliser to earn Inter Miami a 1-1 draw away to fellow Florida outfit Orlando City. The goal was Gibbs' first in the MLS.

Philadelphia Union ended their three-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Toronto after three first-half strikes.

Ola Kamara and Yordy Reyna both netted doubles as DC United won 4-2 over Columbus Crew.

Tomas Pochettino scored a first-half brace as struggling Austin won 3-2 over Houston Dynamo.

Chicago Fire and 10-man New York City played out a goalless draw, while New York Red Bulls and Cincinnati also ended 0-0 and Portland Timbers drew 1-1 with San Jose Earthquakes.

Martinez equalised via an 86th-minute spot-kick to earn Atlanta a 1-1 draw with the Sounders at Lumen Field in Seattle on Sunday.

The Sounders had taken a sixth-minute lead from Raul Ruidiaz, who headed home Joao Paulo's corner to make it six goals in seven games.

Last season's MLS Cup runners-up Seattle remain undefeated and top of the Western Conference through seven matches, but had their four-game winning run ended as Atlanta – led by former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender Heinze – sit fifth in the east.

Last season's Supporters' Shield winners Philadelphia Union moved up into third in the east with a 1-0 victory away to DC United.

Kacper Przybylko netted the winner on the stroke of half-time for the Union, who are now unbeaten in their past four games.

Jamiro Monteiro laid off a perfectly weighted pass into the box for the Polish attacker to control and convert.

Union goalkeeper Andre Blake made a spectacular second-half save to deny United's 18-year-old midfielder Kevin Paredes with a curled effort from the edge of the box.

Undefeated Nashville edged past newcomers Austin 1-0 courtesy of a 35th-minute volley from Randall Leal.

Jared Stroud thought he had scored a second-half equaliser but it was disallowed by VAR for offside.

Nashville, who drew four of their opening five games, have won two of their past three matches to move up to fourth in the Eastern Conference, while Austin have lost three in a row on the road.

Super sub Ruidiaz came off the bench and scored a delightful game-winning goal just past the hour-mark as the Sounders downed Dallas 1-0 in MLS on Wednesday.

The Sounders were winless in 10 consecutive visits to Dallas (D3 L7, including play-offs) dating back to 2014 – their second-longest winless away run against a single opponent in MLS (11 straight at LA Galaxy from 2010 to 2015).

But Seattle snapped that skid thanks to Ruidiaz as Sporting KC's 1-1 draw with Portland Timbers allowed the Sounders to move top of the west by one point.

Atlanta extended their winning streak to three matches after Ezequiel Barco's first-half goal secured a 1-0 win at home to Toronto.

Since the sacking of head coach Gabriel Heinze following a falling out with star Josef Martinez, Atlanta – who had won successive matches for the first time since the opening two games of the 2020 season entering the fixture – have steadily climbed the table.

Atlanta are three points outside of the play-off positions in the Eastern Conference, which is topped by New England Revolution – 3-2 victors against DC United despite ending the contest with 10 men.

Elsewhere, Rodolfo Pizarro's stoppage-time winner guided Inter Miami to a dramatic 3-2 win against Chicago Fire midweek.

Pizarro struck in the 93rd minute to clinch a third straight home triumph for David Beckham's Inter Miami, who have now lost just once in their last six games.

Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls were 1-0 winners over New York City and Columbus Crew respectively, Vancouver Whitecaps topped Austin 2-1, Real Salt Lake defeated Houston Dynamo by the same scoreline, 10-man Montreal drew 0-0 with Cincinnati, while Nashville and Orlando City played out a 1-1 draw.

Defending champions the Sounders secured their post-season berth for the 12th consecutive campaign thanks to goals from Raul Ruidiaz and Nicolas Lodeiro on Tuesday.

Ruidiaz opened the scoring for Seattle in the 54th minute, finishing off Nouhou's cross, after the goal had initially been flagged for offside before VAR intervened.

Western Conference leaders the Sounders doubled their lead six minutes later when Ruidiaz picked out Lodeiro, who finished from inside the penalty area.

Only MLS great and San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski (14) has scored more goals against the Whitecaps in their league history than Lodeiro (six), per Opta.

New York City – fifth in the Eastern Conference – also advanced to the play-offs after Thierry Henry's Impact lost to Nashville 1-0.

Nashville boosted their post-season hopes after leaving Red Bull Arena with maximum points courtesy of Randall Leal's 33rd-minute goal.

Leal is the fourth Nashville player to score three goals this season, tied for the most at the club, while Joe Willis has kept nine clean sheets this term – more than any other goalkeeper in MLS in 2020.

Expansion franchise Nashville are now seventh in the east and on track to qualify for the play-offs in their maiden campaign.

Cristian Roldan and Will Bruin scored to lift the Sounders to the summit in the west, leapfrogging hosts Sporting KC.

Sporting KC were on a three-game winning streak against Seattle – the longest active winning run against the Sounders as no team had won four in a row versus the franchise since San Jose Earthquakes in 2012-13.

But Seattle ended that skid against Sporting KC – Roldan opened the scoring in the 31st minute at Children's Mercy Park, where the Sounders star got on the end of Brad Smith's cross.

Bruin doubled the lead against the run of play 10 minutes into the second half after heading home at the far post.

Entering the fixture, the Sounders conceded an MLS-low 20 goals this season, with opponents scoring with just 7.2 per cent of their shots, also lowest in the league. Seattle had also outperformed their expected goals against by 8.1 this season (20 conceded, 28.1 expected).

The Sounders were breached by Johnny Russell on the hour mark, but Seattle held on for victory to sit two points clear of Sporting KC in the west.

Elsewhere, Austin – bottom of the Western Conference – stunned fifth-placed LA Galaxy 2-0, while Chicago Fire held second-placed Nashville to a 0-0 draw in the east.

After Raul Ruidiaz's 40th minute opener, the visitors had taken the lead after goals from Cristian Dajome and Lucas Cavallini.

Medranda intervened with his 71st minute strike, coming after a corner was cleared into his path, lashing home from the edge of the box.

The result means Seattle remain top in the Western Conference, having conceded only seven goals in 11 games.

It also ends Vancouver's five-game losing streak, although they remain second last in the west.

Former Manchester United striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez scored a double to lift LA Galaxy to a 3-1 win away to San Jose Earthquakes.

The Mexico international opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he swept home Samuel Grandsir's dangerous cross from the right.

Hernandez produced a similar finish to double their advantage in the 50th minute, tapping home from Kevin Cabral's ball.

Galaxy are third in the Western Conference, four points behind Seattle with a game in hand.

Philadelphia Union extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 3-3 draw away to Chicago Fire.

Toronto's struggles continued with a 2-0 home defeat to Cincinnati, condemning them to five consecutive defeats.

Sporting Kansas City defeated Los Angeles FC 2-1, Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo drew 1-1, Minnesota United won 1-0 at Portland Timbers and Abu Danladi netted a late leveller to help Nashville claim a 1-1 home draw with Montreal.

Cristian Roldan, Jimmy Medranda and Joao Paolo scored in a three-goal first half to inspire the Sounders against the Rapids in Seattle.

The Rapids were enjoying their second-best unbeaten run in club history, only behind the 15-game undefeated streak from April 2016 to July 2016.

But Colorado came unstuck away to the Sounders at Lumen Field, where Roldan broke the deadlock in the second minute before Medranda and Paolo's moment of individual brilliance made it 3-0 prior to half-time.

The Sounders are top of the west, two points clear of Sporting Kansas City, who beat Houston Dynamo 4-2 behind Daniel Salloi's magical performance (one goal and an assist) and Johnny Russell's brace.

Entering the contest, Salloi and Russell had been directly involved, either together or individually, in Sporting KC's previous seven goals (Salloi three goals, Russell three goals and two assists). At least one of those two players had scored or assisted on 19 of the 23 goals Kansas City scored since late July.

David Beckham's Inter Miami and their hopes of featuring in the play-offs were dealt a blow following a 1-0 defeat to Portland Timbers.

Jaroslaw Niezgoda struck to extend Portland's unbeaten run to eight matches, including seven wins, and condemn Inter Miami to a fourth consecutive loss.

Inter Miami are eight points adrift of the post-season places in the Eastern Conference with seven fixtures remaining, while the fourth-placed Timbers are seven points clear of Real Salt Lake in the battle for home-field advantage.

Elsewhere, 10-man Philadelphia Union were 3-0 winners over defending champions Columbus Crew, Toronto defeated Chicago Fire 3-1 and New York City drew 0-0 with Nashville, while the El Trafico derby between LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC ended 1-1.

Seattle booked their spot in the second round of the play-offs thanks to goals from Jordan Morris, Nico Lodeiro and Raul Ruidiaz on Tuesday, earning a home date with Dallas.

Morris, Lodeiro and Ruidiaz all scored in the same MLS match for the fourth time, more than any other trio of team-mates since the start of the 2018 season, per Opta.

Lodeiro opened the scoring in the 18th minute – Morris teeing up the Uruguayan for a first-time shot past LAFC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega.

LAFC's star captain Carlos Vela had a penalty saved three minutes later as Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei stopped a non-shoot-out spot-kick for the first time since April 2016, after allowing goals on the previous 18 on-target penalties he had faced.

After Morris and Lodeiro hit the woodwork in quick succession, Ruidiaz doubled the lead in the 66th minute before Eduard Atuesta reduced the deficit 11 minutes later.

Morris, though, restored Seattle's two-goal advantage within three minutes as the Sounders moved through to the next round.

Meanwhile, expansion franchise Nashville stunned Toronto 1-0 after extra time to earn an Eastern Conference semi-finals berth.

Daniel Rios' 108th-minute goal settled the contest in Connecticut, where seventh seeds Nashville became the third team in MLS history to win each of their first two play-off matches.

Rios' winner was also the first Toronto has ever conceded in extra time of a MLS play-off clash.

Nashville will now face Columbus Crew for a place in the Conference finals.

In the day's other fixture, New England Revolution shocked Eastern Conference top seeds Philadelphia Union 2-0.

First-half goals from Adam Buksa and Tajon Buchanan set the tone for the Revolution, who are the first team to score multiple goals in an away match against the Union all season.

Next up for Bruce Arena's Revolution are Orlando City.

Johnny Russell's 79th-minute goal gave Sporting KC a 2-1 win away to Seattle Sounders, locking up a play-off spot for the second-placed team in the Western Conference table as Russell netted for the seventh straight game.

Colorado also are in after defeating Portland Timbers 2-0 behind golas from Dominique Badji and Diego Rubio. 

The Seattle loss ensured New England, who face Orlando City on Sunday, will finish atop the overall table. The Revs are on 69 points, 20 points clear of Philadelphia and Nashville in the Eastern Conference and 11 clear of Seattle overall. 

Nashville had a chance to clinch the play-offs with a win but fell 1-0 to Philadelphia Union on Kacper Przybylko's first-half penalty. 

Inter Miami got a goal and three assists from Gonzalo Higuain, while his brother Federico also found the net in a 5-1 rout of Cincinnati, who lost their ninth in a row. 

Toronto dealt a blow to rival Montreal's play-off hopes as Jozy Altidore's free kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time secured a 1-1 draw after Sunusi Ibrahim had netted in the 55th minute for the visitors. 

Minnesota and LAFC also finished at 1-1, as did San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps. 

New York City crushed DC United 6-0 and Sean Nealis' 87th-minute goal lifted New York Red Bulls past Columbus Crew 2-1. 

Sebastian Lletget's brilliant 83rd-minute equaliser gave LA Galaxy a 2-2 draw with Dallas, while Chicago Fire downed Real Salt Lake 1-0. 

Patrick Mullins' first-half goal saw Toronto edge FC Cincinnati 1-0 on Sunday to book a spot in the play-offs.

Mullins produced a side-footed finish from inside the area after a Richie Laryea cutback just before the half-hour mark.

Toronto are top of the Eastern Conference and three points clear of Philadelphia Union.

Philadelphia won six straight home regular-season matches for the first time in their history, as per Opta, thanks to a 2-1 win over Montreal Impact.

Danny Musovski scored a double as LAFC enjoyed a 3-1 victory against Seattle Sounders.

LAFC are fourth in the Western Conference, which the Sounders top.

Erik Hurtado scored a spectacular volley to see Sporting Kansas City edge a 10-man Nashville 2-1.

Hurtado produced a wonderful finish from Amadou Dia's lofted pass to earn Sporting three points.

New England Revolution beat New York City 2-1, Chicago Fire were 2-1 winners over DC United and Jaroslaw Niezgoda netted twice as Portland Timbers claimed a 3-0 victory against San Jose Earthquakes.

Alejandro Pozuelo's fine run of form continued as Toronto came from behind to beat the Philadelphia Union 2-1 in Connecticut.

Sergio Santos' delicate chip had put Philadelphia ahead in the fifth minute, but Toronto fought back in the second half.

Ayo Akinola headed in a Tony Gallacher cross from the left approaching the hour-mark to bring Greg Vanney's side level.

Pozuelo scored what proved to be the winner in the 76th minute, heading in at the back post following a corner.

As Toronto won for the 10th time in their past 13 meetings with the Union, Pozuelo has been directly involved in 10 goals since the MLS regular season resumed in August, as per Opta.

Toronto joined Columbus on 31 points atop the Eastern Conference after the Crew were held to a 2-2 draw by Dallas.

LA Galaxy are bottom of the Western Conference after slumping to a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in the California Clasico.

The Galaxy seemed on track when Sebastian Lletget put away the opener after Javier Hernandez hit the post, and goalkeeper David Bingham saved Chris Wondolowski's 12th-minute penalty.

But Marcos Lopez drilled in a wonderful equaliser before half-time, and Andres Rios made no mistake with San Jose's second spot-kick of the game in the 82nd minute.

Orlando City continued their fine season with a 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.

The club's tally of 29 points from their first 15 matches is five more than they have ever had through the same number of games in any previous campaign, according to Opta.

Gonzalo Higuain's Inter Miami fell to a 3-2 loss to New York City, while Atlanta United crushed DC United 4-0.

Montreal Impact and Chicago Fire drew 2-2, Alan Pulido scored a brace as Sporting Kansas City edged Houston Dynamo 2-1 and Minnesota United enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Cincinnati.

Western Conference leaders the Seattle Sounders beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1, while the clash between the New England Revolution and Nashville finished goalless.

Carlos Vela scored again but Los Angeles were forced to fight back three times to draw 3-3 with Philadelphia Union at the Banc of California Stadium.

Sergio Santos' 25-yard stunner put Philadelphia ahead before Vela curled a wonderful free-kick into the top corner.

Vela became the third quickest player to score 50 goals in MLS history, reaching the milestone in 61 games.

Jakob Glesnes' spectacular 40-yard free-kick restored Philadelphia's lead early in the second half, only for Diego Rossi to curl in a fine equaliser for Los Angeles.

After Brenden Aaronson again put the visitors ahead, Eddie Segura earned his side a point with a 71st-minute equaliser.

Los Angeles moved onto four points from their opening two games, while the draw got Philadelphia off the mark.

The Timbers handed Nashville SC a second straight loss with a 1-0 victory.

Diego Valeri's excellent first-half volley saw the Timbers claim their first win of the MLS season.

Alex Muyl and Alan Winn spurned golden chances to claim all three points for the Tennessee-based outfit ahead against a Minnesota side that have won only one of their last six matches.

Fans returned to Nissan Stadium for the first time since February and Nashville almost gave their supporters a goal to cheer when Derrick Jones dragged a fifth-minute attempt off the outside of the post.

Ethan Finlay threatened for the Loons, lashing off target from the edge of the penalty box, but the visitors’ goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair kept United level with a point-blank save from Muyl at close range.

Adrian Heath’s side upped the tempo after the interval with Emanuel Reynoso firing over before Finlay finally recorded the away side’s first shot on target on 65 minutes but could not convert a close-range dink.

Only Cincinnati has scored fewer goals than Nashville this season and their profligacy cost them, as substitute Winn squandered a chance to net a winner when clean through on goal with an embarrassing air shot.

A share of the points means Nashville climb to eighth in the Eastern Conference, while Minnesota's third straight clean sheet keeps them fourth in the West.  

Zimmerman's 74th-minute opener was cancelled out by Adam Buksa in the draw at LP Field.

The clash was delayed due to weather and it took until late on for a breakthrough to be found.

Zimmerman headed in a Randall Leal corner to give Nashville the lead.

The defender has scored 15 of his 16 MLS goals from set-pieces, including 11 from corners, as per Opta.

But Buksa drilled in an equaliser from the edge of the area three minutes later to earn New England a point.

New England are fifth in the Eastern Conference, four points ahead of the eighth-placed Nashville.

Cadiz – making his second appearance after arriving on loan from Portuguese giants Benfica – doubled the lead with 17 minutes remaining on Tuesday.

Coming off the bench just past the hour-mark after Randall Leal opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Cadiz's long-range shot took a deflection and left Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer helpless.

Fellow substitute Daniel Rios completed the scoring in the 88th minute when weaved his way past two defenders, sending a scrambling Reto Ziegler to the ground, before firing low beyond Maurer.

The result ensured expansion franchise Nashville earned back-to-back MLS wins for the first time, per Opta.

Of Nashville's 24 points so far, 11 have been won against teams from Texas – seven versus Dallas and four against Houston Dynamo.

Nashville are eighth in the Eastern Conference, while Dallas are sixth in the west following just one win in six games.

With his former Barcelona team-mates Messi and Suarez away at the Copa America, Alba provided the stardust as he volleyed home in the 44th minute on Saturday to put the away team 2-0 up.

The Spaniard's sensational strike, which came with an expected goals (xG) value of just 0.01, arrived four minutes after Ian Fray had headed home from Julian Gressel's corner to nose Miami ahead.

Yannick Bright's clumsy challenge on Tyler Boyd provided Hany Mukhtar the chance to drag Nashville back into the contest in the second half - an opportunity the German duly took from the penalty spot.

Forster Ajago almost completed the comeback, but Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender made a fine save to deny the hosts a late equaliser.

Miami remain top of the Eastern Conference, two points clear of FC Cincinnati.

Data Debrief: Gressel the creator

Gressel provided an assist to Fray for Miami's opener against Columbus Crew on June 19, and that duo teamed up again this time out.

Since he joined MLS in 2017, Gressel has provided 62 assists, with only Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta (65) setting up more goals.

Nashville sit a lowly 14th in the Eastern Conference standings with just eight points from nine matches, their only league victory of 2024 coming against Charlotte FC in mid-March.

They were pegged back in a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes last time out as the pressure on Smith intensified further, and he knows they are running out of time to turn things around.

"We're all very appreciative and understanding of the fact the home games represent the very best opportunity to earn points," Smith said. 

"But I wouldn't say that I feel any more pressure than I have done for any other home game or any other fixture."

Montreal, meanwhile, have seen their preparations overshadowed by reports that star midfielder Mathieu Choiniere has requested a transfer after entering the last year of his contract.

While boss Laurent Courtois is none the wiser as to Choiniere's intentions, he is keen to see the homegrown talent stay put. 

"Everyone loves Mathieu, everyone wants him to be valued, everyone wants him to stay here," Courtois said. 

"Everyone wants him here to lift the club as high as possible, for as long as possible.

"There will be discussions between players and the club to improve their contractual situations everywhere, and it doesn't always need to be in the public eye.

"I don't know the accuracy of the rumour that came out. The club hasn't told me anything."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar

Mukhtar scored with one of his six shots against San Jose last time out. 

He has taken a total of 388 shots since joining MLS in 2020, 100 more than any other player in the league in that time.

CF Montreal – Bryce Duke

Montreal managed just eight shots in their scoreless draw with the Columbus Crew last time out. Only Austin FC (7.8) have averaged fewer shots per match than Montreal (9.6) in MLS this season.

Duke has created nine chances for team-mates this campaign, a tally only matched by Choiniere among Montreal players. If they are to improve their attacking output, he will have a key role to play.

MATCH PREDICTION – NASHVILLE SC 

Nashville have only managed three wins in 21 MLS matches since the end of the Leagues Cup last August (10 draws, eight losses, including playoffs). 

They are also winless in their last five, drawing two and losing three, but the visit of a Montreal team who do not travel well could be a boost for Smith's men.

Montreal have gone four away games without a victory, failing to score in any of their last three and conceding 10 goals throughout that run. This game may just come at a good time for the hosts. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

Nashville SC – 49.4%

CF Montreal – 23%

Draw – 27.6%

Nashville lost nine of 10 games – going down in a penalty shoot-out after drawing the other – either side of Callaghan's appointment, but they finally turned the corner on Saturday.

Goals from Alexandre Muyl and Hany Mukhtar fired them to a 2-0 win over Atlanta United, and Callaghan sees Wednesday's clash with Chicago – who are level with

Nashville in the Eastern Conference standings – as an opportunity to build some momentum.

"We were pleased with the performance we had, we've talked about having consistent performances and stacking them up," Callaghan said.

"It's a quick turnaround, so everything we've been doing leading into Chicago has been about focusing on ourselves and making sure the guys recover.

"Then we'll just focus on the things we're good at, try to get better at those things, and we'll apply some of those ideas to the challenge that Chicago will bring. 

"They're probably looking at us the same way as we're looking at them, as a game where they want to earn three points."

Chicago also halted a miserable run of six games without a win (one draw, five defats) by beating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 last time out, moving within four points of the wild-card places.

"It's about time! It feels great, because I think we faced some adversity," Klopas said. 

"People faced adversity and stepped up, so huge credit to the team as a whole. It's important that we're still in this thing, now we have to go on the road and keep fighting."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

Mukhtar has scored two hat-tricks against the Fire in his MLS career, one of seven players to record multiple hat-tricks against a single opponent. 

No player in MLS history has recorded three hat-tricks against a single opponent.

Chicago Fire – Georgios Koutsias 

Koutsias has scored on each of his last two appearances. Two Fire players (Maren Haile-Selassie and Hugo Cuypers) have already scored in at least three straight games this year. 

The only previous seasons in which three different Fire players had streaks of three or more games with a goal were 2018 and 1998.

MATCH PREDICTION – NASHVILLE SC

The Fire's 1-0 home win over Nashville on July 8 was their first win in the teams' head-to-head series, after Nashville had gone unbeaten through the first four encounters (two wins, two draws).

Nashville ended an eight-match losing streak in MLS action on Saturday, beating Atlanta United 2-0 to also end a run of allowing multiple goals in eight successive games.

They might be confident of repeating the trick, with Chicago only winning three of their last 21 road games in all competitions (six draws, 12 defeats).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 46.3%

Chicago Fire – 27.1%

Draw – 26.6%

D.C. sit 12th in the Eastern Conference standings with three games to play, one point and one place above Nashville and just three adrift of the final wild-card spot.

After watching his team fight back to earn a 2-2 draw against the MLS Cup holders, the Columbus Crew, last time out, Lesesne said their spirit could take them far.

"This group does not stop, that's a value we have throughout the club at the moment," Lesense said. 

"I think that value of being relentless, that mindset that we're always going to keep going, that's what is going to carry us down to the wire with these three matches that are left.

"It's human nature when things are difficult to go into survival mode, or to make excuses or blame others. As a manager, you have to combat that.

"I just give our players and staff a tremendous amount of credit for not succumbing to that." 

Nashville, meanwhile, found form at the right time under new boss B.J. Callaghan, taking seven points from three games before going down 1-0 to the New England Revolution on Saturday.

Callaghan remained upbeat as he looked ahead to Wednesday's match, saying: "The approach of the week is the same as usual.

"It's a good opportunity for us, we have plenty of positives that we can build on.

"D.C. have a really clear style of play, a clear way of doing things, and they're a team where we're going to have to be really sharp to get the result we want."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Nashville SC – Sam Surridge 

Surridge leads all Nashville players for goals in MLS this term, netting 11 times in the competition – five more than his closest team-mate Hany Mukhtar (six). He has also scored three goals in their last two home games.

D.C. United – Christian Benteke

Benteke's two goals on Saturday took him to 21 for the season, the second-most by a D.C. United player in a single MLS campaign (after Raul Diaz Arce – 23 in 1996). 

It was Benteke's eighth multi-goal game since the start of last season, only Denis Bouanga (10) has more in that time.

MATCH PREDICTION – NASHVILLE SC WIN

D.C. claimed their first-ever victory over Nashville when the sides last met on July 13, winning 2-1 on home soil. 

Nashville have, however, won all three of their home games against D.C. by an aggregate score of 8-2.

D.C. were thrashed 4-0 by the Philadelphia Union in their last road game on September 22, halting a four-match unbeaten run on their travels. With Nashville taking seven points from their last four games, another defeat could await them here.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 47.9%

D.C. United – 26.1%

Draw – 26%

The Orange and Blue are on the road again this weekend as they travel to face Nashville SC, a side they were beaten by earlier in the season to halt a seven-match winning streak.

Having already secured their spot in the playoffs, Noonan placed emphasis on being solid at the back for the remainder of the season, especially in their fixtures away from home.

“Credit to Minnesota, they put a lot of pressure on us, and we relied on the back line to make a lot of individual plays, to defend the box well,” Noonan said.

“That's going to be a recipe for success down the stretch if we want to win on the road in tough games. It's not always going to be with us in control. So (FCC) went about that game in a really good way.

“After a lot of the emotional and physical or emotional highs, and then you know the physical demands and emotional demands of our previous game, to be able to turn it around the way they did, I was really impressed with that.”

Nashville, meanwhile, made it two wins from two after beating Chicago Fire in midweek, with head coach BJ Callaghan earning his first home victory in charge of the Coyotes.

Callaghan’s side currently sit 12th in the Eastern Conference table but are just a point behind Philadelphia Union, who occupy the final playoff position.

The Nashville head coach lauded his players for their recent displays in the MLS and was confident his team are making the right strides in becoming a competitive outfit in the division.

“The players have been tremendous,” Callaghan started. “They have taken information in, and they look to apply it in training – they are working hard every single day.

“We look at it through all the phases of play. We are trying to give them clear roles and put them in the best position possible and I think you are seeing, little by little, improvement from them all.

“They are now making good decisions on the pitch. I am very happy with the progression of the team as we make incremental steps of getting better each week.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

Mukhtar assisted the only goal of the match in Nashville’s triumph over Chicago on Wednesday.

Since 2021, when the German plays and records a goal contribution, Nashville has averaged 1.99 points per match compared to 0.75 points per match when he plays but isn’t involved in a goal.

FC Cincinnati – Yuya Kubo

Kubo recorded a goal and an assist in Cincinnati’s win at Minnesota on Wednesday.

It was the 32nd time a Cincinnati player recorded a goal and an assist in a regular season match since the start of the 2022 season, tied for the most such individual performances in the league in that time (Portland Timbers).

MATCH PREDICTION: FC CINCINNATI WIN

Cincinnati’s victory against Minnesota was the club’s 27th regular-season win by a one-goal margin since the start of last season. No other MLS team has more than 16 one-goal wins in that time.

However, Nashville defeated this weekend’s opponents in the first encounter between the sides this season after Cincinnati had gone unbeaten in the previous four meetings in all competitions (W2 D2).

As mentioned, the Coyotes have recorded consecutive shutout wins after losing their previous eight regular season matches, allowing multiple goals in all of those. Nashville have not kept three straight clean sheets in a single regular season since doing so in four straight in May 2021.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 31%

Draw – 25.1%

FC Cincinnati – 43.9%