Los Angeles FC star Carlos Vela broke the MLS record for regular-season goals in his hat-trick performance, while Atlanta United s Josef Martinez scored on his return.
Vela shattered the record set by Martinez (31) in 2018 as LAFC ended their regular-season campaign with a 3-1 win over Colorado Rapids on Sunday.
LAFC s Vela surpassed Martinez with 34 goals thanks to his treble against the Rapids at Banc of California Stadium, while he also won the Golden Boot.
Vela broke the deadlock with a sublime opener in the 28th minute before the Mexico international s overhead kick doubled the lead three minutes later in Los Angeles.
¡HISTÓRICO!
Another look at s record-breaking goal! 2-1
— LAFC (@LAFC)
Kei Kamara pulled a goal back for the Rapids in the 40th minute, but Vela restored LAFC s two-goal advantage six minutes into the second half.
Supporters Shield winners LAFC – who broke the record for most points (72) and equalled the mark for most goals scored (85) in the regular season – will face either LA Galaxy or Minnesota United in the Western Conference semi-finals.
La Chilena de . 2-1
— LAFC (@LAFC)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring but the Galaxy suffered a 4-2 defeat away to Houston Dynamo on Decision Day.
The Galaxy twice led, however, the visitors conceded three unanswered goals to finish fifth and set up a showdown with Minnesota – who lost 1-0 to Seattle Sounders as the latter locked up the second seed.
Martinez returned from a knee injury to lead reigning MLS champions Atlanta to a 3-1 victory against New England Revolution.
The Venezuela international scored Atlanta s second goal of the match to take his season tally to 27 goals as Frank de Boer s men look ahead to another meeting with the seventh-placed Revolution in the first round of the Eastern Conference play-offs.
The King is back
And he s hungry
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD)
Eastern Conference leaders New York City concluded their regular-season campaign with a 2-1 win at Philadelphia Union, Dallas humiliated Sporting Kansas City 6-0 and Wayne Rooney s DC United were held to a 0-0 draw by nine-man FC Cincinnati.
New York Red Bulls lost 3-0 to Montreal Impact, Toronto beat Columbus Crew 1-0, Portland Timbers accounted for San Jose Earthquakes 3-1, while Real Salt Lake edged Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 and Chicago Fire beat Orlando City 5-2.
