MLS Review: LA Galaxy collapse to miss out on play-offs

LA Galaxy suffered a dramatic collapse against Houston Dynamo to miss out on the MLS play-offs on a thrilling final day of the regular season.

After leading 2-0 with 30 minutes played, Dominic Kinnear’s side surrendered their lead to lose 3-2 and miss out on a top-six finish in the Western Conference.

A victory would have been enough to see them finish above Real Salt Lake and they looked to be cruising to three points when Ola Kamara struck twice in three first-half minutes.

Romell Quioto got a goal back for Houston, who were already out of play-off contention, before Mauro Manotas levelled from the penalty spot on 73 minutes.

Manotas struck again six minutes later and, despite 10 minutes of injury time and a red card for Ronaldo Pena, there was to be no late salvation for Galaxy and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

FT | Heartbreak as #LAGalaxy fall one win short of the postseason. pic.twitter.com/ne6BEOhwck

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 28, 2018

New York Red Bulls claimed the Supporters’ Shield for the third time in six seasons after Derrick Etienne gave them a 1-0 win over Orlando City that put them top of the Eastern section on 71 points, two clear of Atlanta United, who were beaten 4-1 by a Lucas Janson-inspired Toronto.

 @NewYorkRedBulls #RBNYvORL // #DecisionDay by @ATT pic.twitter.com/8FD9uxoWCJ

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 28, 2018

Columbus Crew’s 3-2 win over Minnesota United – thanks to a Gyasi Zardes hat-trick – kept them in the top six, although Montreal Impact would not have caught them anyway as they went down 1-0 to New England. Philadelphia Union finished sixth in the East, despite a 3-1 loss to New York City.

Elsewhere, Colorado Rapids beat Dallas, Sporting Kansas City saw off Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders snatched victory over San Jose Earthquakes, all by a 2-1 scoreline.

Chicago Fire and DC United drew 0-0, while Alphonso Davies scored twice to give Vancouver Whitecaps a 2-1 win against Portland Timbers in what is set to be his final match before he joins Bayern Munich in January.

“It has a stain on it…” @AlphonsoDavies gives his jersey to Elaine, a fan since ‘74. #FarewellPhonzie #VWFC pic.twitter.com/nfPlx4tX5b

— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) October 28, 2018