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Rapids optimistic entering Rocky Mountain Cup clash with Real Salt Lake

MLS: Colorado Rapids at Minnesota UnitedMay 13, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Rapids forward Rafael Navarro (9) celebrates his goal with Paxten Aaronson (10) during the first half against the Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

After a one-match tactical shift, the Colorado Rapids expect to return to their normal formation when they visit Real Salt Lake on Saturday in Sandy, Utah.

The Rapids shook up their approach in a 1-0 road win over Minnesota United on Wednesday. Colorado (5-7-1, 16 points) turned to a 5-3-2 formation and a 4-2-2-2 in attack.

Rafael Navarro’s team-leading eighth goal on a Paxten Aaronson assist in the 26th minute led to the Rapids’ first win since a 6-2 decision over the Houston Dynamo on April 11. Colorado was 0-4-1 in its previous five league matches.

The adjustment gave defenders Jackson Travis and Miguel Navarro an opportunity to share time on the pitch, a move Rapids coach Matt Wells had been considering.

“Both those guys have a mentality that mirrors me,” Wells said. “They are both very adventurous, positive; they radiate the right energy.”

Connor Ronan (leg), Wayne Frederick (leg) and Travis (ankle) returned from injury against Minnesota. Even if Colorado reverts to a more conventional approach in the first leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup, the annual rivalry trophy between the Rapids and Salt Lake, Wells wants the intensity to remain.

“On Saturday, maybe when the system changes back and the football reappears, it’s not what will win us the game,” Wells said. “It’s a combination of the football plus the (right) mentality.”

Salt Lake is also headed into the rivalry match on short rest after it earned a 3-0 home win over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday.

Real Salt Lake (7-4-1, 22 points) took advantage of a first-half own goal, and Zavier Gozo added a second-half brace. RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni emphasized attitude over strategy.

“We can talk about structure all we want,” Mastroeni said. “But structure doesn’t win you games. It’s about the mentality, with the structure, with the commitment and with making plays.”

Sergi Solans has five goals and two assists, while Gozo has five goals and four assists to lead RSL.

Salt Lake holds a 14-7 edge in the all-time series, yet the Rapids have won the Rocky Mountain Cup the past two seasons.

“We have an unbelievable week coming up,” Wells said. “A game against our rivals, away from home, with a chance to build even more momentum.”

–Field Level Media

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Milan Iloski's second-half goal helps Union tie Crew

MLS: Columbus Crew at Philadelphia UnionMay 16, 2026; Chester, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Crew defender Andres Herrera (2) shoots the ball against the Philadelphia Union in the second half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Milan Iloski scored his fourth goal midway through the second half but the Philadelphia Union again fell short of a first home win in a 1-1 draw against the Columbus Crew on Saturday night at Chester, Pa.

Iloski’s tally canceled Hugo Picard’s 10th-minute strike from distance for the visitors.

Cavan Sullivan came closest to scoring a late winner for Philadelphia (1-9-4, 7 points), which is now 0-3-3 at home after going 12-1-4 there in 2025 en route to the Supporters’ Shield title.

Patrick Schulte made four saves to help Columbus (3-7-4, 13 points) snap a three-match losing streak, on a night the Crew were outshot 12-6 overall and 5-2 in efforts on target.

Philadelphia midfielder Jovan Lukic departed at halftime with an apparent injury, perhaps the same ailment that forced him out late in the first half of a 4-3 loss at Orlando on Wednesday night.

Picard put Columbus in front in the 10th minute.

Andre Gomes served in an outswinging free kick from beyond the right corner of the penalty area. Union center back Olwethu Makhanya got his head on it, but while retreating could only clear it back to the edge of the penalty area on the left side.

That’s where Picard controlled it with his first touch, then curled an arcing shot with his second into the top right corner beyond Andre Blake’s dive.

Iloski leveled in the 70th minute on an opportunity created by Agustin Anello.

The substitute took Ben Bender’s pass on the left, drove at defender Rudy Camacho on the dribble, then struck a low cross that rolled between Camacho’s legs and toward the top of the 6-yard box.

Iloski did the rest with a one-time finish into an open goal before Schulte could recover from his near-post position.

Sullivan had two promising late chances to finally end the Union’s home misery.

–Field Level Media

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Charlotte halts 5-game winless streak, extends Toronto's to 7

MLS: Toronto FC at Charlotte FCMay 16, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Toronto FC midfielder Alonso Coello (14) kicks the ball defended by Charlotte FC defender David Schnegg (23) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Goals from Wilfried Zaha, David Schnegg and Pep Biel pushed Charlotte FC to a 3-1 win over visiting Toronto FC on Saturday night.

Charlotte (5-6-3, 18 points) ends its five-game winless streak. The club outshot Toronto (3-5-5, 14 points) 16-11 despite holding less possession. Toronto keeper Luka Gavran made two saves and Charlotte’s Kristijan Kahlina finished with three.

Zaha opened the scoring in the 19th minute, breaking a five-game goal drought. After joining a fastbreak, Zaha received a Kerwin Vargas cross in the box before burying his shot in the bottom left corner.

However, Toronto attacker Derrick Etienne responded with a top-class finish from 25 yards out, tying the game in the 22nd minute. After driving the ball into the middle of the pitch, Etienne rocketed a powerfully hit shot off the underside of the crossbar and past the goal line.

Debutant defender Jonathan Gilman nearly pushed Toronto past its 1-1 deadlock just five minutes after Etienne’s strike, after heading in a long free kick. However, the referee disallowed Gilman’s goal, reasoning that Jonathan Osorio had unfairly blocked Charlotte’s Idan Toklomati in the box.

Schnegg responded with another long-range effort for Charlotte. Schnegg’s low, driven shot rolled 27 yards through Toronto’s defense and past the outstretched hands of Gavran into the goal. His strike marked his first league goal for Charlotte and Vargas’ second assist of the night.

Biel scored an 83rd-minute penalty to extend Charlotte’s lead to two. The referee awarded Charlotte the penalty after Osorio got tangled up with an attacker in the box off a corner. Biel fired his penalty straight down the middle to secure his eighth goal in 13 league appearances.

Although Toronto threatened the Charlotte goal throughout the match, a second goal never came. Its defense continued to struggle, extending their 10-game streak without a clean sheet. Their road loss also extended its winless streak to seven, the longest current streak in the league.

–Field Level Media

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Luca Langoni, Revolution edge Minnesota United

MLS: Charlotte FC at New England RevolutionMay 2, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Luca Langoni (41) looks on in the first half against Charlotte FC at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Edward Finan-Imagn Images

Luca Langoni scored early in the second half and the New England Revolution held on to defeat visiting Minnesota United 2-1 on Saturday night at Foxborough, Mass.

Carles Gil posted a penalty kick for New England (8-4-1, 25 points), which improved to 7-1-0 in home games. Three of goalkeeper Matt Turner’s six saves for the Revolution came in the final 10 minutes and they all were off Minnesota headers.

Langoni, who did not play in a 3-0 home shutout loss to Nashville SC on Wednesday, has scored in consecutive matches and picked up his third goal of the season. New England has won a club-record six consecutive games at Gillette Stadium before Wednesday’s setback.

Minnesota (6-5-3, 21 points) received its goal on Kelvin Yeboah’s penalty kick. Drake Callender stopped three shots.

Langoni’s goal in the 49th minute came at the end of a transition opportunity off an assist from Dor Turgeman, who made a slight pass to Langoni. As he entered the box, Langoni unleashed a shot from the right side.

The teams traded penalty kicks in the first 30 minutes in the first meeting between the teams since 2023.

Gil converted on his chance five minutes into the game. Yeboah’s equalizer came in the 26th minute.

New England’s opportunity came because of a foul in the penalty area by Minnesota’s Michael Boxall just a couple of minutes into the game. Then a foul on New England’s Brooklyn Raines provided Yeboah’s opportunity.

–Field Level Media

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