Colorado Rapids twice came from behind to beat Los Angeles FC 3-2 in Saturday's thrilling MLS clash at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Djordje Mihailovic was the Rapids' hero, with two goals in the space of six minutes late in the first half.
Moise Bombito's first-half header had pulled Colorado level in the first half, cancelling out Eduard Atuesta's early strike.
David Martinez had put LAFC seemingly in control, yet the LAFC substitute turned from hero to zero when he was sent off in the 85th minute, paving the way for Mihailovic to follow up a stunning equaliser with a close-range winner.
The Black and Gold made a quick start as Denis Bouanga hit the bar with a wayward cross shortly before the opening goal.
Atuesta rifled his long-range shot into the bottom-right corner, netting his second goal in as many games for LAFC.
The momentum shifted in favour of the Rapids in the later stages of the first half, and they capitalised on it as Bombito rose highest on a corner to score his first MLS goal – a thumping header past Hugo Lloris into the near post.
Bouanag was denied by Zack Steffen, but the visitors got their goal when Martinez capped off a mazy run with a low finish beyond the Rapids goalkeeper.
Yet Martinez's day was soon to turn sour as, after Mihailovic's excellent free-kick had restored parity, he picked up a second yellow card in the space of seven minutes.
The Rapids made their numerical advantage count, with Mihailovic stretching out a leg to prod home in the 89th minute, sealing a memorable win that took Colorado into third place in the Western Conference.
Colorado find their shooting boots
It looked like Colorado's poor streak on home turf was going to be extended, but Mihailovic's double ensured they would pick up their first three points in Denver season.
A lack of a clinical edge seemed set to cost them again, with Colorado having managed just five goals from their five games before Saturday's encounter, but the floodgates opened this time around.
Coach Chris Armas has pointed to their finishing as a problem area, so he will undoubtedly be thrilled to see the work pay off, as the Rapids also made it five straight wins against LAFC at home.
LAFC's misery on the road continues
For the third time this season, the Black and Gold lost on the road, and Steve Cherundolo will be rueing their missed opportunities.
Despite making a bright start in both halves, they struggled to maintain their momentum, especially after Colorado's equalisers.
A win would have taken them top in the Western Conference, temporarily at least, but their dropped points mean they sit in eighth, with seven points from their six games so far.
Toronto FC v Austin FC: Herdman urges for discipline to mount playoff run
FC head coach John Herdman insists his team need to maintain their discipline if they want a playoff run in MLS, starting against Austin FC on Saturday.
Toronto currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference but are four points behind Orlando City.
They have struggled to get going since being knocked out of the Leagues Cup in the group stage, winning just one of three games since returning to MLS action.
After a disappointing 3-1 defeat to D.C. United last time out, Herdman says they need to learn how to keep their high level of performance going to the very end of games.
"In a playoff run, you have to be disciplined in the last 30 minutes of games, whether it's decision-making to change and adapt with players coming in and changing positions, or the team allowing itself to get stretched," Herdman said.
"We struggled with that against D.C. If you're going to push for a genuine playoff run, you have to respect that defending part of the game, you cannot allow yourself to get stretched."
Meanwhile, Austin are 11th in the Western Conference, having followed up a win over Nashville SC with a 1-0 defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps.
With the end of the regular season coming closer, Josh Wolff acknowledged his players know just how important it is for them to get points on the board.
"Every game is critical, home and away. In both conferences, you can see the playoff line, and it's all relevant," Wolff said.
"We, like many teams, have to make the most of these opportunities. You have to start the game in a good way and go there with the intention of getting three points because the home team have their own intentions."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Toronto FC – Deandre Kerr
Deandre Kerr scored his 10th regular-season goal for Toronto in the loss to D.C. United on August 31.
At 21 years old, Kerr is the second player to reach double-figure goals for the Reds before turning 22, along with Ayo Akinola (13 goals).
Austin FC – Julio Cascante
Austin failed to register a shot on target in their 1-0 loss to Vancouver on August 31, the fourth time this season the Verde have not hit the target in a match.
Julio Cascante came off the bench and had one of Austin's six shots, with his effort having the highest expected goal rate of 0.35.
MATCH PREDICTION: AUSTIN FC WIN
The only previous meeting between Toronto and Austin was a 1-0 home win for the Verde in May 2023. Gyasi Zardes scored the game's only goal in second-half stoppage time.
Austin earned a 2-0 win at Nashville in their last away match on August 24. Austin last won consecutive away matches during a four-match road winning streak in June-July 2022.
Meanwhile, Toronto have lost five of their last six home matches (W1), including a 3-1 loss to D.C. United on August 31. Toronto have lost 13 regular-season home matches since July 2023 (W7), more than any other team in that time.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Toronto FC – 34.6%
Draw – 25.9%
Austin FC – 39.5%
Hull City 0-2 Sheffield United: Hamer and McCallum goals send Blades third
Sheffield United continued their fine start to the Championship with a comfortable 2-0 win away to Hull City.
Goals from Gustavo Hamer and Sam McCallum were enough to give Chris Wilder's side victory and send them up to third in the table.
The home side made an encouraging start to the game but fell behind after a stunning Blades counter-attack, with Callum O'Hare driving forward before playing in Hamer, who gave keeper Ivor Pandur no chance with a neat finish.
Hull went close to equalising through Abdulkadir Omar's free-kick, but he was thwarted by a flying save from Michael Cooper in the Sheffield United goal.
The away side doubled their advantage in the second half as substitute McCallum swept in a fine effort from Andre Brooks' cutback.
Marvin Mehlem nearly handed the Tigers a way back into the encounter, but his header crashed against the crossbar, leaving Hull 19th in the table, still without a league win this campaign.
Data debrief: Blades make best start in 12 years
With three wins and two draws under their belt in the Championship, Sheffield United will be proud of how they have adapted to life back in the second tier.
It marks their best start to a campaign since the 2012-13 season, which saw them go unbeaten in their first 16 games in League One.
Wilder also continued his good record as Blades boss at MKM stadium, winning a fourth successive match away to Hull after losing in February 2018, in his first spell in charge.
Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Heidenheim: Adeyemi stars with brace to inspire win
Karim Adeyemi scored twice and set up another goal as Borussia Dortmund earned a 4-2 victory over visitors Heidenheim on Friday.
Adeyemi first set up Donyell Malen, who drilled his low shot through Kevin Muller to give the hosts the lead in the 12th minute.
The 22-year-old then doubled their advantage six minutes later with his first goal after completing a textbook break five minutes later.
Heidenheim briefly cut the deficit with Marvin Pieringer's powerful header after 39 minutes, but Dortmund restored their two-goal cushion before the break with Adeyemi's low drive wrongfooting the goalkeeper.
The visitors set up a nervy finish after being awarded a 74th-minute penalty for a foul by Niklas Sule on Mikkel Kaufmann, with Maximilian Breunig confidently hitting the back of the net.
But Dortmund earned a spot kick themselves in stoppage time thanks to Omar Traore's handball, and Emre Can coolly slotted in to make it 4-2.
Data Debrief: Home advantage
While it looked like Dortmund may be in for a nervy ending after Heidenheim's late penalty, that was not the case, and it means they extend an impressive home record.
The Black and Yellow are unbeaten in 37 Bundesliga home games on a Friday since a 1-0 loss to Schalke in January 2004, which is a league record, level with Werder Bremen between 1984 and 1991).
Dortmund are unbeaten so far this campaign, but Heidenheim's six-match winning run in all competitions is now at an end.
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