FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (AP) - Lee Nguyen and Kei Kamara scored late goals and the New England Revolution, with a 2-1 win, denied Toronto FC an opportunity to clinch the MLS Supporters’ Shield on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Federico Higuain had three assists in Columbus’ 3-2 victory over New York Red Bulls and Vancouver moved closer to securing first place in the Western Conference with a 2-1 home victory over Colorado.
Nguyen opened the scoring for New England in the 82nd minute with his 50th career goal, taking Chris Tierney’s lead pass from midfield and finishing through a defensive deflection.
Toronto FC’s Nicolas Hasler equalized two minutes later with a right-footed volley off Michael Bradley’s diagonal cross.
Kamara scored the winning goal in the 87th minute with a header off Nguyen’s cross to keep the Revolution’s (38 points) fading playoff hopes alive.
Toronto has 62 points and needs just three points from its three remaining matches to clinch the Shield, which is awarded to the team with the best record across both Conferences at the end of the regular season.
The Columbus Crew extended their unbeaten streak to seven games with a 3-2 home win over the New York Red Bulls.
Justin Meram scored in the 54th minute with a right-footed shot that curled into the right corner, before Josh Williams headed home Higuain’s corner in the 66th to make it 3-1 for the Crew (47 points).
Jonathan Mensah gave Columbus the early lead with a header to finish Higuain’s free kick in the sixth minute, before Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his 16th goal of the season a few minutes later.
Gonzalo Veron converted from the spot in the 72nd to pull New York within one.
Yordy Reyna and Fredy Montero both had a goal and an assist to help the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 and move four points clear atop Major League Soccer’s Western Conference.
Dominique Badji scored for last-place Colorado.
Chris Pontius scored two goals, C.J. Sapong added his 14th of the season to equal Philadelphia’s club record and the Union beat the Chicago Fire 3-1.
Pontius opened the scoring in the 10th minute with his first goal of the season - a header to finish Keegan Rosenberry’s wide cross. He added his second in the 55th, pouncing on the rebound of Fabrice-Jean Picoult’s saved attempt.
Luis Solignac scored for Chicago as it remained on 48 points and third place in the Eastern Conference.
Jefferson Savarino and Luke Mulholland scored in the second half and Real Salt Lake brought the Seattle Sounders’ 13-game unbeaten streak to an end with a 2-0 win.
Nick Rimando made a pair of key saves, both stopping Clint Dempsey’s attempts, to preserve Real Salt Lake’s lead in the final 15 minutes and help RSL move into fifth place in the Western Conference.
Elsewhere, New York’s Maximiliano Moralez and Houston’s Mauro Manotas scored early goals and the Dynamo and NYCFC battled to a 1-1 draw.
Patrick Mullins scored four goals to lead last-placed D.C. United to a 4-0 victory over San Jose and dampen the Earthquakes’ playoff hopes, while Christian Ramirez had a goal and two assists as Minnesota United beat FC Dallas 4-1, leaving Dallas without a win in ten matches.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.