Three second-half goals gave New York City FC a comfortable 3-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday.
It was a tightly contested first half as the sides split possession evenly, with 19 combined shots and six combined saves.
City made three substitutes early in the second half, and they would pay dividends.
After Keaton Parks finally broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, 20-year-old substitute Gabriel Pereira doubled City's advantage just four minutes later.
Another sub, Chris Gloster, put the icing on the cake in the 88th minute, with the assist coming from City's third sub, Maximiliano Moralez.
Despite the late nature of their success, it was a deserved win for the home side, with 2.83 expected goals compared to just 0.31 for the Earthquakes.
The win keeps City in the mix with the top of the Eastern Conference, while San Jose are 13th in the Western Conference after six points from nine matches.
It was a party atmosphere for Nashville SC as they welcomed more than 30,000 fans to their first home game at GEODIS Park – the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States or Canada.
The visiting Philadelphia Union were up for the fight, jumping ahead in the 66th minute before being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw when a late penalty allowed the hosts to equalise.
Nashville had 60 per cent possession for the contest, and may have deserved a better result as they doubled Philadelphia's expected goals in the first half (0.85 to 0.40) and were again more potent in the second period (1.09 to 0.64).
It was Denmark's Mikael Uhre who finally found the back of the net with his right-footed shot from near the penalty spot 66 minutes in, but the home fans would not be denied a spot kick in the 85th minute, allowing Randall Leal to make it 1-1 and share the points.
It was a strong showing for Nashville – who sit ninth in the Western Conference – to take a point off the Eastern Conference leaders, although Philadelphia have now gone three matches without a win after rattling off five victories in a row.
Nashville have now gone 544 days since their last home loss.
A late go-ahead goal from Los Angeles FC substitute Ryan Hollingshead put his side in the driver's seat on the way to a 2-0 home win against Minnesota.
Los Angeles opted for a more possession-based opening 45 minutes, controlling 59 per cent of the play before the break, but were only able to generate two shots on target, while Minnesota had one.
The hosts approached the second half much differently, only holding 47 per cent of the possession, but creating 16 shots to just three for Minnesota as they were much more aggressive moving forwards.
After being subbed on in the 74th minute, Hollingshead found the breakthrough nine minutes later as he scrambled in the rebound from Kellyn Acosta's shot. Jose Cifuentes – who was subbed on in the 63rd minute – made it 2-0 in stoppage time when he tapped in Diego Palacious' cross from the six-yard box.
With the victory, Los Angeles are now top of the Western Conference, two points ahead of Austin FC, while Minnesota will remain in sixth, missing out on an opportunity to jump up to third with a win.
'Super simple' – Lille president rules out January exit for Jonathan David
Lille president Olivier Letang has categorically ruled out a January exit for forward Jonathan David amid links with a number of European clubs.
David is out of contract at the end of the season and has been touted as a target for the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona.
Speaking this week, the Canada international named Barcelona as his "dream" club but suggested he would prefer not to leave Lille mid-season.
And in an interview with After Foot RMC, Letang confirmed no bids have yet been tabled ahead of the January window.
"We are not going to sell him in January, and we have not received any offer for him," he said.
"Jonathan's situation is super simple. We are very happy to have him with us.
"Last season he had one more year left on his contract. We were trying to qualify for the Champions League.
"You have a guy who scores 20 to 25 goals a season. We had no obligation to sell him."
David is into his fifth season with Lille and has scored 97 goals in 202 games for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions while assisting a further 18.
Seven of those goals have arrived in 11 appearances this term, including in Champions League games against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
The 24-year-old's best league season with Lille saw him score 24 goals in 2022-23, while he has netted 19, 15 and 13 in the other full campaigns.
Lille chief Letang reiterated that David has been offered a new deal to stay on at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but selling him has never been an option.
"He is a player who scores between 20 and 25 goals and helps us qualify for the Champions League," he said.
"Plus, Jonathan loves Lille, which is his club. Our position was very clear from the beginning – we think of the athlete.
"Obviously, he already has an offer that is in his hands, the ball is in his court."
Guardiola suggests Man City's recent form played part in signing new contract
Pep Guardiola suggested Manchester City's run of four successive defeats was part of the reason for his contract extension.
The 53-year-old recently signed a two-year deal, which will run out in 2027, ending months of speculation about his future after his contract had been due to run out at the end of the campaign.
Following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton before the international break, Guardiola's side have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career.
"I felt I could not leave now. Maybe the four defeats was why," he told the club's website.
"I think we deserve, after four defeats in a row, to bounce back and try to turn the situation. I think we deserve to be here. I am not arrogant to say, but it's the truth."
Guardiola has led Manchester City to 18 major trophies during his nine-year stint at the club and posted a 72% win ratio.
He added that he was determined to help the club get back to a state where they are "more stable and more consistent".
"We have to recover that because right now we don't have it and that's the target we have to do," he said.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added: "Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep's journey with Manchester City will continue, allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game.
"His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club, and the English game at large."
Leicester's Fatawu ruled out for rest of season with ACL injury
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper confirmed Abdul Fatawu will miss the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) while playing for Ghana against Angola during the international break.
Fatawu has featured in all 11 of Leicester's Premier League matches so far this season and has registered two assists.
No Leicester player has attempted (61) or completed (29) more dribbles than him, while his 30 crosses is also a team-high in the top-flight this season.
"It's not good, it's a serious injury," said Cooper ahead of their match against Chelsea on Saturday.
"It's a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.
"Albeit, it can be quite common in sport, and in particular football, but it's still a serious injury.
"For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.
"He's obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.
"It's only a pause, and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which, with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case."
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