Miami (AFP) – Wilfried Zaha inspired Charlotte to a comeback 2-1 win over Nashville in Major League Soccer, with the home side scoring twice in the last five minutes. German Hany Mukhtar had put Nashville ahead in the 32nd minute, finishing off a lengthy passing move, turning in a Daniel Lovitz cross at the back post.
Former Crystal Palace winger Zaha, on loan from Turkish club Galatasaray, brought Charlotte level in the 85th minute, confidently driving home a penalty after he had been fouled in the box by Andy Najar. In the final minute of normal time, Charlotte’s Spanish midfielder Pep Biel sent Idan Gorno Toklomati free with a lofted ball over the top, and the Israel striker rounded Joe Willis before slotting into the unguarded goal. The win leaves Charlotte, coached by former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith, in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
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Western Conference leaders the Vancouver Whitecaps may be up for sale, but on the field, they continued their impressive start to the season with their fifth win in seven games, beating the Colorado Rapids 2-0. Vancouver took the lead in the 19th minute through striker Brian White and then doubled their advantage seven minutes before the break with a well-worked move finished off by Emmanuel Sabbi.
Mexican international Hirving Lozano opened his account for impressive newcomers San Diego as they beat Western powerhouses the Seattle Sounders 3-0. Dane Jeppe Tverskov opened the scoring after just 1 minute 21 seconds, before Panama international Anibal Godoy doubled the lead with a side-foot finish in the 41st minute. Just before the break, Lozano, the former PSV Eindhoven and Napoli winger, found the target to put the game beyond the Sounders and leave the expansion club second in the West, two points behind Vancouver.
Los Angeles FC’s disappointing start to the season continued with a 1-0 loss at strugglers Houston, with Jack McGlynn settling the contest with a fine solo run and strike from the edge of the box. Inter Miami, who host a CONCACAF Champions Cup second-leg tie with LAFC on Wednesday, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, play on Sunday at home to Toronto.
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