MLS: Stoppage-time stunner in Atlanta, Vancouver close gap in West
There were two stoppage-time goals, one of them a stunner from Aleksei Miranchuk, as Atlanta United and the Seattle Sounders drew 2-2.
Atlanta United and the Seattle Sounders both scored in second-half stoppage time as they played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in MLS on Saturday.
Atlanta went ahead in the seventh minute when visiting defender Yeimar Gomez put through his own net, only for Pedro de la Vega to beat Brad Guzan at his near post to cap a 54th-minute Seattle counter-attack.
The drama really started when the clock ticked into stoppage time. Seattle thought they had won it in the 95th minute, when Nouhou Tolo crossed for fellow substitute Osaze De Rosario to head home.
However, Atlanta refused to go away and snatched a draw via Aleksei Miranchuk's 99th-minute wondergoal.
The Russian received possession near the right corner of the area and stepped inside before firing a brilliant left-footed strike into the far corner.
Salvaging a point does little for the Five Stripes' playoff hopes, though, as they sit 13th in the Eastern Conference, 14 points adrift of the play-in spots.
Seattle, meanwhile, are fourth in the Western Conference, four points adrift of Minnesota United in third, after the Loons earned a dramatic victory over St. Louis City.
It was a tale of three penalties in that game, as Eduard Lowen struck from 12 yards to put St. Louis ahead in the 36th minute.
But after Chris Durkin was sent off for fouling Kelvin Yeboah as the last man, the Minnesota forward dusted himself down to level from the spot with 16 minutes to play.
Minnesota then laid siege to the hosts' goal, and when Jaziel Orozco handled in the 90th minute, Yeboah converted from the spot again to seal Minnesota's victory.
Minnesota moved back to within two points of Western Conference leaders San Diego FC, though the Vancouver Whitecaps are second, one point off top spot with a game in hand.
The Whitecaps thrashed Sporting Kansas City 3-0 at BC Place on Saturday, with Emmanuel Sabbi's tap-in and J.C. Ngando's slotted finish putting them in control by half-time.
Mathias Laborda nodded home from close range to put some gloss on the scoreline late on, as Jesper Sorensen's team extended their unbeaten streak to three games.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Austin FC won 4-2 at D.C. United, Charlotte FC beat Toronto FC 2-0, and Real Salt Lake and the Chicago Fire boosted their playoff hopes with wins over the San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls, respectively.
Data Debrief: On the spot
Minnesota's victory in St. Louis was just the second game to see three penalties taken in MLS this season, after the Sounders' 3-2 victory over Sporting KC on July 12.
Minnesota have now taken – and scored – four penalties this season, with St. Louis converting three from three.
All but one of the 30 clubs in MLS have had a spot-kick this season, with only Inter Miami yet to be awarded one.
