MLS: Reds Lock Up Supporters Shield; Crew, Caps Clinch Playoff Berths

Ten games were on the Saturday Major League Soccer schedule.

At Orlando, Florida:

Orlando City and visiting FC Dallas battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

At Toronto:

Justin Morrow produced a hat trick (32', 37', 90'+1) as Toronto FC, by doubling up the visiting New York Red Bulls 4-2, became the first Canadian club to not only win a regular-season conference title, but also win the Supporters' Shield.

At Columbus, Ohio:

Josh Williams (14') and Justin Meram (56') each scored once as the Columbus Crew blanked visiting DC United 2-0 and locked up a berth in the forthcoming MLS Cup Playoffs.

At Foxborough, Massachusetts:

The New England Revolution and visiting Atlanta United played to a 0-0 deadlock.

At Bridgeview, Illinois:

David Villa's equalizer in the 43rd minute lifted New York City to a 1-1 road draw with the Chicago Fire in a battle of playoff-bound clubs.  Nemanja Nikolic scored for the Fire at 20 minute.

At Houston:

Alberth Elis (69') and Romell Quioto (85') each scored once as the Houston Dynamo held off visiting Minnesota United 2-1, all but ending the Loons' flickering shot at postseason play.

At Commerce City, Colorado:

Alan Gordon scored the winning goal in the 81st minute as the Colorado Rapids defeated the visiting Montreal Impact 2-1.

At Kansas City, Kansas:

Erik Hurtado scored the lone goal of the match in the 53rd minute as the Vancouver Whitecaps became the first Western Conference club to lock up a playoff berth by knocking off Sporting Kansas City 1-0 on the road.

At Carson, California:

Kyle Beckerman's late equalizer (90'+5) carried Real Salt Lake to a 1-1 road deadlock with the Los Angeles Galaxy as the guests stay very much in the race for a playoff berth.  Bradford Jamieson IV scored for the hosts in the 41st minute.

At San Jose, California:

Valeri Vako Qazaishvili (16') and Danny Hoesen (49') each scored once as the San Jose Earthquakes kept their playoff chances alive by holding off the visiting Portland Timbers 2-1, keeping the guests from locking up a playoff berth and snapping Portland's Diego Valeri's MLS-record nine-match goal-scoring streak in the process.

CAF Champions League: Goose Eggs In Algiers For USM And Wydad Casablanca In Semifinal Series Opener

At Algiers, Algeria:

In the opening match of the CAF Champions League's semifinal round on Friday, the opening contest between USM Alger and visiting Wydad Casablanca ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

Europa League

24 games were played in the Europa League's group stage on Thursday.

GROUP A:

At Astana, Kazakhstan:

Marin Tomasov's equalizer in the 42nd minute enabled Astana to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Slavia Prague.

Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui scored at 18 minutes for the Czech club.

At Netanya, Israel:

Maccabi Tel Aviv and visiting Villarreal battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

Group A Standings:

1. Villarreal (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 4)
2. Slavia Prague (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Maccabi Tel Aviv (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. Astana (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)



GROUP B:

At Belgrade, Serbia:

Junior Morales scored twice (PK-54', 84') as Dynamo Kiev defeated Partizan Belgrade 3-2 on the road.

At Elbasan, Albania:

Roger Assale's delivered the equalizer in the 72nd minute to lift BSC Young Boys to a 1-1 road draw with Skenderbeu Korce.  Ali Sowe scored for the Albanian club in the 65th minute.

Group B Standings:

1. Dynamo Kiev (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2. BSC Young Boys (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
3. Partizan Belgrade (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. Skenderbeu Korce (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)



GROUP C:

At Razgrad, Bulgaria:

Jody Lukoki scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute as Ludogorets Razgrad upended visiting TSG Hoffenheim 2-1.

At Braga, Portugal:

Fransergio scored the winning goal in the 89th minute as SC Braga defeated visiting Istanbul Basaksehir 2-1.

Group C Standings:

1. SC Braga (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
2. Ludogorets Razgrad (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Istanbul Basaksehir (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. TSG Hoffenheim (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 0)



GROUP D:

At Athens:

Marko Livaja scored twice (28', 90') as AEK Athens salvaged a 2-2 home draw with Austria Vienna.  Christoph Monschein (43') and Ismael Tajouri (49') each scored once for the Austrian club.

At Milan, Italy:

Patrick Cutrone scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time as AC Milan defeated visiting Rijeka 3-2.

Group D Standings:

1. AC Milan (GP: 2; GD: +5; PTS: 6)
2. AEK Athens (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Austria Vienna (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 1)
4. Rijeka (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 0)



GROUP E:

At Decines-Charpieu, France:

Alejandro Dario Gomez produced the equalizer in the 57th minute as Atalanta gained a 1-1 road draw with Lyon.  

Bertrand Traore scored for the hosts in the 46th minute.

At Liverpool, England:

Adrian Sardinero (12') and Hector Yuste (88') each scored once as Apollon Limassol gained a 2-2 road draw with Everton.  

Wayne Rooney (21') and Nikola Vlasic (66') each scored once for the Toffees.

Group E Standings:

1. Atalanta (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 4)
2. Lyon (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
3. Apollon Limassol (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
4. Everton (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  Lyon gained a 1-1 road draw with Apollon Limassol on September 14.



GROUP F:

At Moscow:

Manuel Fernandes produced a natural first-half hat trick (PK-2', 6', 17') as Lokomotiv Moscow dominated visiting Fastav Zlin 3-0.

At Tiraspol, Moldova:

FC Sheriff and visiting FC Copenhagen battled to a 0-0 deadlock.

Group F Standings:

1. Lokomotiv Moscow (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 4)
2. FC Copenhagen (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
3. FC Sheriff (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
4. Fastav Zlin (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  FC Copenhagen gained a 0-0 road draw with FC Sheriff on Thursday.



GROUP G:

At Plzen, Czech Republic:

Jan Kopic scored the winning goal in the 76th minute as FC Viktoria Plzen defeated visiting Hapoel Be'er Sheva 3-1.

At Lucerne, Switzerland:

Constantin Budescu (58') and Junior Morais (64') each scored a second-half goal six minutes apart as Steaua Bucharest knocked off Lugano 2-1 on the road.

Group G Standings:

1. Steaua Bucharest (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
2. FC Viktoria Plzen (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
3. Hapoel Be'er Sheva (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
4. Lugano (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

NOTE:  FC Viktoria Plzen defeated visiting Hapoel Be'er Sheva 3-1 on Thursday.



GROUP H:

At Cologne, Germany:

Richmond Boakye scored the only goal of Red Star Belgrade's 1-0 road win over FC Cologne in the 30th minute.

At Barysaw, Belarus:

Theo Walcott scored twice (9', 22') as Arsenal defeated FC BATE Borisov 4-2 on the road.

Group H Standings:

1. Arsenal (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
2. Red Star Belgrade (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. FC BATE Borisov (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)
4. FC Cologne (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 0)



GROUP I:

At Wals-Siezenheim, Austria:

Moanes Dabour scored the only goal of the match in the 73rd minute as FC Red Bull Salzburg defeated visiting Marseille 1-0.

At Konya, Turkey:

Deni Milosevic scored the winning goal in the 48th minute as Konyaspor defeated visiting Vitoria de Guimaraes 2-1.

Group I Standings:

1. FC Red Bull Salzburg (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
2. Marseille (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. Konyaspor (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. Vitoria de Guimaraes (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  Marseille defeated visiting Konyaspor 1-0 on September 14.



GROUP J:

At Bilbao, Spain:

Ihor Kharatin scored the only goal of the match in the 26th minute as Zorya Luhansk knocked off Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on the road.

At Ostersund, Sweden:

Brwa Nouri delivered all the scoring with his successfully-converted 22nd-minute penalty kick as Ostersund defeated visiting Hertha BSC Berlin 1-0.

Group J Standings:

1. Ostersund (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2. Zorya Luhansk (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
3. Athletic Bilbao (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. Hertha BSC Berlin (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  Athletic Bilbao and Hertha BSC Berlin battled to a 0-0 stalemate on September 14 in the German capital.



GROUP K:

At Rome:

Felipe Caicedo (18') and Ciro Immobile (90') each scored once as Lazio blanked visiting SV Zulte Waregem 2-0.

At Nice, France:

Alassane Plea scored twice (16', 82') as Nice dominated visiting Vitesse Arnhem 3-0.

Group K Standings:

1. Nice (GP: 2; GD: +7; PTS: 6)
2. Lazio (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
3. Vitesse Arnhem (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 0)
4. SV Zulte Waregem (GP: 2; GD: -6. PTS: 0)



GROUP L:

At Trondheim, Norway:

Anders Konradsen scored the game winner in minute #56 as Rosenborg defeated visiting Vardar 3-1.

At Saint Petersburg, Russia:

Aleksandr Kokorin scored twice (24', 60') as Zenit Saint Petersburg downed visiting Real Sociedad 3-1.

Group L Standings:

1. Zenit Saint Petersburg (GP: 2; GD: +7; PTS: 6)
2. Real Sociedad (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
3. Rosenborg BK (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 3)
4. Vardar (GP: 2; GD: -7; PTS: 0)

MLS: Five Stripes, Fire Clinch Playoff Berths; Lions, Hoops, Sounders Grab Home Wins; DCU Gain Road Draw With Red Bulls; Galaxy And Dynamo Draw At Houston; DCU, Rapids, Galaxy Eliminated From Playoff Contention

Eight games were contested on Wednesday in Major League Soccer.

At Atlanta:

Julian Gressel (27'), Josef Martinez (33'), and Jacob Peterson (88') each scored once as Atlanta United became the fourth expansion club to lock up a playoff berth in their inaugural season (and the first since Seattle in 2009) by dominating the visiting Philadelphia Union 3-0.  The Stripes have five wins and one draw in their first six home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

At Montreal:

Jack Harrison scored the only goal in the 29th minute as New York City delivered a crippling blow to Montreal's playoff hopes by defeating the Impact 1-0 on the road.

At Harrison, New Jersey:

Fidel Escobar's own goal in the 90th minute enabled DC United to salvage a 3-3 Atlantic Cup home draw with the New York Red Bulls.  Zoltan Stieber (45'+1) and Patrick Mullins (70') added to DC's coffers.

Tyler Adams scored twice (19', 74') and Gonzalo Veron once (PK-78') for the Red Bulls.

DC were still eliminated from playoff contention

At Orlando, Florida:

Kaka scored twice (43', 77') as Orlando City savaged the visiting New England Revolution 6-1.

At Frisco, Texas:

Maynor Figueroa (6') and Roland Lamah (9') each scored a goal early as FC Dallas eliminated the visiting Colorado Rapids from playoff contention 2-0.

At Houston:

Alberth Elis scored twice (PK-84', 88') and Tomas Martinez once (26') as the Houston Dynamo came back from two goals down to gain a 3-3 home draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

DaMarcus Beasley (OG-3'), Romain Alessandrini (12'), and Bradford Jamieson IV (47') each scored once for the Galaxy, who, thanks to FC Dallas' home win over Colorado, have been eliminated from playoff contention. 

At San Jose, California:

Nemanja Nikolic scored twice (48', 65') as the Chicago Fire clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs after their 4-1 road win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

At Seattle:

Victor Rodriguez (17'), Nicolas Lodeiro (62'), and Clint Dempsey (69') each scored once as the Seattle Sounders dominated the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 in a Cascadia Cup clash.

The win---which ended the Sounders' five-match winless run---put Seattle back atop the Cascadia Cup standings and ended the Whitecaps' seven-game unbeaten streak (as well as Vancouver's one-year reign as Cascadia Cup champions).



MLS STANDINGS:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1.   x-Toronto FC (GP: 31; GD: +34; PTS: 62)
2.   x-New York City FC (GP: 31; GD: +14; PTS: 55)
3.   x-Atlanta United FC (GP: 30; GD: +31; PTS: 52)
4.   x-Chicago (GP: 31; GD: +16; PTS: 51)
5.      Columbus (GP: 31; GD: +1; PTS: 47)
6.      New York Red Bulls (GP: 30; GD: +4; PTS: 43)
7.      Montreal (GP: 31; GD: -3; PTS: 39)
8.      New England (GP: 31; GD: -10; PTS: 38)
9.      Orlando City SC (GP: 31; GD: -13; PTS: 38)
10.    Philadelphia (GP: 31; GD: -3; PTS: 36)
11. z-DC United (GP: 31; GD: -22; PTS: 32)

x-Clinched playoff berth

z-Eliminated from playoff contention

NOTE: With New England and Orlando City level on points with 38, the Revolution have more wins than the Lions (11-10).



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1.     Vancouver (GP: 30; GD: +4; PTS: 48)
2.     Portland (GP: 31; GD: +6; PTS: 47)
3.     Kansas City (GP: 29; GD: +14; PTS: 47)
4.     Seattle (GP: 31; GD: +8; PTS: 47)
5.     Real Salt Lake (GP: 31; GD: -6; PTS: 41)
6.     FC Dallas (GP: 30; GD: 0; PTS: 41)
7.     Houston (GP: 30; GD: +7; PTS: 40)
8.     San Jose (GP: 31; GD: -23; PTS: 39)
9.     Minnesota United FC (GP: 29; GD: -19; PTS: 32)
10. z-Los Angeles (GP: 31; GD: -21; PTS: 28)
11. z-Colorado (GP: 30; GD: -19; PTS: 26)

z-Eliminated from playoff contention

NOTES: With Portland, Kansas City, and Seattle level on points with 47, the Timbers have more wins (13) than Sporting KC and the Sounders (12 apiece); Kansas City has the superior goal differential vis a viv Seattle (+14, compared to the Sounders' +8); with Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas level on points with 41, RSL have more wins than the Hoops (12-10).

UEFA Champions League, Group D: Barca, Juve Gather Wednesday Wins

Two UEFA Champions League Group D matches were contested on Wednesday.

At Lisbon:

Sebastian Coates' own goal in the 49th minute proved costly as Barcelona defeated Sporting CP 1-0 on the road.  Here, we see the Catalans' Luis Suarez (left) being challenged by the Lions' Bruno Cesar.

Associated Press photo by Armando Franca

At Turin, Italy:

Gonzalo Higuain (69') and Mario Mandzukic (80') each scored once as Juventus blanked visiting Olympiacos 2-0.  Here, we see the Old Lady's Juan Cuadrado (right) battling the Legend's Vadis Odjidja for the ball.

Photo by Alessandro Di Marco/ANSA via Associated Press

Group D Standings:

1. Barcelona (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
2. Sporting CP (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. Juventus (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
4. Olympiacos (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 0)

UEFA Champions League, Group C: Road Wins For Roma, Chelsea

Two Wednesday games were played in Group C of the UEFA Champions League.

At Baku, Azerbaijan:

Kostas Manolas (7') and Edin Dzeko (15') each delivered a goal in the opening quarter-hour as AS Roma defeated Qarabag 2-1 on the road in the first Champions League group-stage contest ever played on Azerbaijani soil.  Here, we see Qarabag's Badavi Huseynov (left) battling the Italian club's Stephan El Shaarawy for the ball.

Associated Press photo by Aziz Karimov

At Madrid:

Michy Batshuayi (that's him celebrating with manager Antonio Conte) scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time as Chelsea upended Atletico Madrid 2-1 on the road.

EPA-EFE photo by Rodrigo Jimenez

Group C Standings:

1. Chelsea (GP: 2; GD: +7; PTS: 6)
2. AS Roma (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS; 4)
3. Atletico Madrid (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. Qarabag (GP: 2; GD: -7; PTS: 0)

UEFA Champions League, Group B: PSG Too Much For Bayern; Solid Road Win For Bhoys

Two games were on the agenda for Group B of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

At Paris:

Dani Alves (2'), Edinson Cavani (31'), and Neymar (63') each scored once as Paris Saint-Germain dominated visiting Bayern Munich 3-0.  Here's Neymar (right), challenging Bayern's Joshua Kimmich for the ball.

Associated Press photo by Thibault Camus

At Brussels, Belgium:

Leigh Griffiths (38'), Patrick Roberts (50'; that's him, on the left, celebrating after scoring), and Scott Sinclair (90'+3) each scored once as Celtic dominated RSC Anderlecht 3-0 on the road.

Associated Press photo by Geert Vanden Wijngaert

Group B Standings:

1. Paris Saint-Germain (GP: 2; GD: +8; PTS: 6)
2. Bayern Munich (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. Celtic (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 3)
4. RSC Anderlecht (GP: 2; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

UEFA Champions League, Group A: Dominating Wins For Basel, Red Devils

Eight games were on the UEFA Champions League schedule for Wednesday, two of them in Group A.

At Basel, Switzerland:

Dimitri Oberlin scored twice (20', 69') as FC Basel fricasseed visiting SL Benfica 5-0.  Here's Eagles goalkeeper Julio Cesar reacting after Basel's Michael Lang scored in the second minute.

Photo by Peter Klaunzer for Keystone via Associated Press

At Moscow:

Romelu Lukaku scored twice in the opening half-hour (4', 27') as Manchester United dominated CSKA 4-1 on the road.  Here, we see the Red Devils' Anthony Martial scoring in the 19th minute by converting a penalty kick as he beats Horses' goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Associated Press photo by Ivan Sekretarev

Group A Standings:

1. Manchester United (GP: 2; GD: +6; PTS: 6)
2. FC Basel (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
3. CSKA Moscow (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 3)
4. SL Benfica (GP: 2; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

AFC Champions League: Red Diamonds Gain Semifinal Series-Opening Road Draw With Shanghai SIPG

At Shanghai, China:

Yosuke Kashiwagi's goal in the 27th minute on Wednesday lifted Urawa Red Diamonds to an AFC Champions League (East Region) semifinal series-opening 1-1 road draw with Shanghai SIPG.

Hulk scored for the Chinese club in the 15th minute.

AFC Champions League: Al-Hilal Blast Persepolis In Semifinal Series Opener

At Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (due to deteriorating relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran):

In Tuesday's opening match of the AFC Champions League's semifinal round, Omar Khribin produced a hat trick (31', 54', 89') as Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia all but punched their ticket to the two-game final after their game-one 4-0 demolition of Iran's Persepolis in their series in the West Region.

UEFA Champions League, Group H: Blancos, Spurs Win On Road

Two Group H games in the UEFA Champions League were contested on Tuesday.

At Dortmund, Germany:

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice (50', 79'; that's him celebrating after his second goal) as Real Madrid downed Borussia Dortmund 3-1 on the road.

Associated Press photo by Michael Probst

At Nicosia, Cyprus:

Harry Kane produced a hat trick (39', 62', 67') as Tottenham Hotspur dominated APOEL FC 3-0 on the road.  That's Harry, here, scoring one of his goals.

Associated Press photo by Petro Karadjas

Group H Standings:

1. Real Madrid (GP: 2; GD: +5; PTS: 6)
2. Tottenham Hotspur (GP: 2; GD: +5; PTS: 6)
3. Borussia Dortmund (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 0)
4. APOEL FC (GP: 2; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

UEFA Champions League, Group G: Black Eagles, Dragons Gather Tuesday Shutout Wins

Two games in Group G of the UEFA Champions League were played on Tuesday.

At Istanbul, Turkey:

Ryan Babel (11') and Talisca (43') each scored once as Besiktas blanked visiting RB Leipzig 2-0.  Here's the aforementioned Ryan Babel (right) battling with Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer for the ball.

Associated Press photo

At Fontvielle, Monaco:

Vincent Aboubakar scored twice (31', 69') as FC Porto dominated AS Monaco 3-0 on the road.  Here's Monaco goalkeeper Diego Benaglio falling on the ground during one of Vincent's goals.

Associated Press photo by Claude Paris

Group G Standings:

1. Besiktas (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS; 6)
2. FC Porto (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. AS Monaco (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 1)
4. RB Leipzig (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  AS Monaco gained a 1-1 road draw with RB Leipzig on September 13.

UEFA Champions League, Group F: Two-Goal Home Wins For Napoli, Citizens

Play in Group F of the UEFA Champions League continued on Tuesday.

At Naples, Italy:

Dries Mertens scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 49th minute as Napoli defeated visiting Feyenoord Rotterdam 3-1.  Prior to the game, we see Light Blues coach Maurizio Sarri (left), exchanging pleasantries with his Feyenoord counterpart Giovanni van Bronckhosrt.

Photo by Cesare Abbate/ANSA via Associated Press

At Manchester, England:

Kevin De Bruyne (48') and Raheem Sterling (90') each scored once as Manchester City blanked visiting Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0.  Here's the Citizens' Sergio Aguero looking around the pitch at Ittihad Stadium.

Associated Press photo by Rui Vieira

Group F Standings:

1. Manchester City (GP: 2; GD: +6; PTS: 6)
2. Shakhtar Donetsk (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
3. Napoli (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
4. Feyenoord Rotterdam (GP: 2; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

NOTE:  Shakhtar Donetsk defeated visiting Napoli 2-1 on September 13.