NIGEL SIMON
nigel.simon@guardian.co.tt
T&T defender Neveal Hackshaw played the full 90 minutes in helping Indy Eleven to a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City II when the United Soccer League Championship Division continued on Saturday night.
A pair of second-half goals by Jordan Hamilton and Manuel Arteaga sent Indy Eleven to a 2-0 victory, their first at Michael A. Carroll Stadium this season for their second win in three matches this season to go to fourth spot in the Central Division with six points three behind leaders FC Tulsa while Atlanta United II and Louisville City FC are next with seven points each.
National defenders, Mekeil Williams and Jelani Peters both started but could not prevent Pittsburg Riverhound from falling to a 1-0 loss versus Charlotte Independence.
Despite being reduced to ten men as early as the 12th minute, Charlotte got the lone item in the match from Irvin Parra and a gutty defensive display for the win at Highmark Stadium.
In another USL match, T&T’s midfielder Shannon Gomez and Sacramento Republic FC fell to a 1-0 defeat against Orange County SC at Championship Soccer Stadium their first loss of the 2021 USL Championship season.
<Powder's Real Salt Lake snatches MLS draw>
National defender Noah Powder was an un-used substitute as Damir's Kreilach 86th-minute header lifted their Real Salt Lake to a 2-2 draw at FC Dallas in a wet and wild affair at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night.
Kreilach's late equalizer cancelled out Ryan Hollingshead’s deflected strike for Dallas two minutes earlier, during an evening where rain and slick conditions challenged the footing of players and the handling of goalkeepers on both sides.
Rubio Rubin added his team-leading fourth goal of the season early for Salt Lake.
David Ochoa made nine saves for the visitors, who have four points from two away trips this season.
Franco Jara opened his 2021 account from the penalty spot late in the first half for Dallas, which now is 1-0-3 in four home games.
Injured T&T midfielder Kevin Molino continued his recovery while his Columbus Crew, the reigning MLS champions rallied past New York City FC 2-1 at Red Bull Stadium in Harrison, NJ thanks to a late brace from Lucas Zelarayán
<Early strike downs De Leon’s Toronto FC>
A 12th-minute headed goal from Tesho Akindele would be all Orlando City SC needed in their Eastern Conference matchup with Nick De Leon’s Toronto FC at Exploria Stadium on Saturday, as the Lions rode the early tally to a 1-0 victory.
It was a more entertaining matchup than the final scoreline might indicate, as both sides had multiple good chances that narrowly missed, but the hosts ultimately took all three points on the strength of Akindele's goal and some stalwart goalkeeping from Pedro Gallese.
Orlando shot out to a dream start in just 12 minutes in through the eventual game-winner from Akindele.
The veteran forward made the most of some pinpoint service from Silvester van der Water, who put a cross from the right flank on a platter for Akindele to easily head home a point-blank finish.
USA-born De Leon, the son of ex-T&T legend Leroy de Leon was then introduced in the 55th minute by Toronto to replace Jonathan Osorio, but it was Akindele who had another chance for Orlando in the 67th minute, this time set up by a perfect through ball from Robin Jansson, only to be denied by Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bon.
Toronto saw a potential equalizer thwarted by a goal-line clearance again in the 71st minute when substitute Jacob Shaffelburg sent in a shot from the left side with Gallese off his line, but Rodrigo Schlegel would clear away the threat.
The Reds continued to press for a leveller and put on a flurry of late pressure, culminating on a wild last sequence of the match when Gallese made a pair of highlight-reel saves to preserve the result, the last of which saw the Peruvian backstop go full extension to deny a laser shot from Yeferson Soteldo.
Former national under-20 defender Luke Singh, who started the season brightly for Toronto was not among the team roster for the clash.
<Chicago slips past Jones’ Inter Miami>
Chicago Fire snapped their four-match losing streak and picked up their first win of the season, a 1-0 victory over T&T defender Joevin Jones’ Inter Miami on Saturday at Soldier Field
Chicago’s reward for enjoying the better of the encounter came in the 69th minute from substitute Luka Stojanovic.
The midfielder scored straight from a free-kick yard just outside the penalty area, with Miami goalkeeper John McCarthy surely disappointed that he could do no more than parry the ball in the net despite getting in position to make the save. Still, the goal ended a three-match run in which the Fire had not scored.
Miami attempted a response seven minutes later with a shot from Julian Carranza that was wide of the target, but the Fire maintained the momentum they started the match with.
Inter Miami then made their last throw of the dice at salvaging a point when they replaced Jones in the 78th minute with the more attack-minded Sami Guediri, but The Fire was able to close out the match as a result, successfully shutting out Miami for 90 minutes.