Hany Mukhtar struck a hat trick as Nashville beat St. Louis City 3-1 in Major League Soccer on Saturday while Carlos Vela struck a 90th-minute winner as Los Angeles FC won at Sporting Kansas City.
German Mukhtar opened the scoring in the 11th minute, drilling home a low shot from inside the box, but four minutes before the interval Nicholas Gioacchini levelled for the visitors, bundling home after a corner.
The game turned decisively in the 68th minute when Kyle Hiebart brought down Jacob Sheffelburg in the box and was sent off with a second yellow card. Mukhtar converted the penalty to restore Nashville's lead and then wrapped up the win with a first-time shot from the edge of the box.
The 28-year-old Mukhtar is now top scorer in MLS with 13 goals in 18 appearances and with the win, Nashville close the gap on Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati to five points, having played one game more.
After last week's wonder goal from inside his own half from the Crew's Lucas Zelarayan, Real Salt Lake's Pablo Ruiz provided a carbon copy with an audacious goal from over 50 yards out at D.C. United. Wayne Rooney's side had been down to 10 men after Steven Birnbaum was dismissed in the 26th minute and things got worse when Danny Musovski made it 2-0 before Chris Durkin pulled one back for D.C.
The 2021 champions, New York City, remain outside the playoff positions in 11th place after they needed a late equalizer to earn a point at home to the Columbus Crew. Christian Ramirez had put the Crew in front in the 48th minute from close range but in the fourth minute of stoppage time Gabriel Segal grabbed the leveller.
The New England Revolution beat Orlando City 3-1 in a restricted program in MLS due to the international break. The United States face Canada in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League on Sunday.