New England, who head the Supporters Shield standings for the best overall record, suffered an early blow when Colombian international winger Dylan Borrero was stretchered off with a knee injury. Cincinnati then wasted a chance to grab the lead when Revs keeper Djordje Petrovic saved Luciano Acosta's penalty kick after a Justin Rennicks handball.

But the Ohio side got in front in the 31st minute with a Yerson Mosquera header from an Alvaro Barreal corner. Bruce Arena's New England drew level though on the stroke of half-time with right wing-back Brandon Bye powering down the right and delivering a low cross to the back post which was turned in by Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Boateng.

Petrovic was in fine form in goal for New England, producing a great save from Sergio Santos after good work from Acosta but Cincinnati should have claimed all the points at the death when Nick Hagglund was left wide open but headed wide. "Considering we went a goal down and came back at the end of the first half to equalize, I guess it was a positive and I thought we brought a lot of energy to the game in the second half," said Arena, the former U.S. national team coach.

"I guess we walk off the field and think it's OK but we have to do better," he added. The pressure on Inter Miami coach Phil Neville eased after his team ended their barren run with an impressive win at Columbus. Neville left close-season signing Josef Martinez on the bench, opting for a strike pairing of Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana and 18-year-old youth product Benjamin Cremaschi and the decision paid off instantly.

Campana opened the scoring in the seventh minute, firing home after Cremaschi had cleverly headed down a Nicolas Stefanelli cross into his path. But the Miami lead lasted only three minutes with Colombian Cucho Hernandez curling a beautiful shot into the far corner to make it 1-1. Campana restored Miami's lead three minutes before half-time with an angled header from a Jean Mota corner which snuck in at the near post.

Miami survived a late scare with a VAR review for a potential handball in the penalty area but Neville breathed a sigh of relief when the referee blew the final whistle.

April 30, 2023

Bicycle kick

Former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke claimed his fifth goal in 10 games for Wayne Rooney's D.C. United with a brilliantly executed bicycle kick in a 3-0 win over Charlotte. A 34th minute Taxiarchis Fountas penalty put D.C. on their way before Belgium international Benteke doubled their advantage with his stunner in the 75th minute.

Jacob Greene, a homegrown 20-year-old midfielder, wrapped up the win with a composed side-foot finish in stoppage time for his first league goal. Expansion club St.Louis City went into week 10 on top of the Western Conference but fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to the Portland Timbers. Brazilian Evander put the visitors ahead with a 63rd minute penalty but his compatriot Celio Pompeu brought St.Louis level with a first-time finish from a Tomas Ostrak pull-back.

But within three minutes, Portland regained the lead as substitute Yimmi Chara fired home a low, diagonal shot after good work from Santiago Moreno. The Seattle Sounders take over at the top of the West, despite only managing a goalless draw at Real Salt Lake, in a game which saw Pablo Ruiz sent off in stoppage time for the home side after a second yellow card.

Nashville SC got back to winning ways, after three games without a victory, with an impressive 3-1 victory over Atlanta United. Nashville took the lead, against the run of play, in the 36th minute when playmaker Hany Mukhtar whipped in a low corner which was turned in at the back post by Fafa Picault. Mukhtar created the second when his low shot was parried out by Atlanta goalkeeper Clement Diop and Teal Bunbury was on hand it turn in.

Atlanta got back in the game in the 72nd minute with a penalty from Argentine World Cup winner Thiago Almada, his fifth goal of the season. But Nashville secured the three points in stoppage time when Mukhtar, again the provider, fed substitute Jacob Shaffelburg and the Canadian raced clear and coolly slotted home.

LA Galaxy's poor season continued with a 2-0 defeat at Orlando City while New York City fell to a 1-0 loss at Toronto.

April 30, 2023

E. Boateng

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