MLS round-up: Red Bulls beat Atlanta to keep Shield hopes alive
Sporting Kansas City drew with Real Salt Lake to miss chance to go top of Western Conference
Monday 1 October 2018 08:37, UK
New York Red Bulls are still in with a chance of lifting the MLS Supporters' Shield after beating leaders Atlanta United 2-0 in the Eastern Conference on Sunday.
Goals from Daniel Royer and Tim Parker were enough to move the Red Bulls within a point of their rivals with three games remaining.
Atlanta, who have been the Eastern Conference pacesetters, will now be looking over their shoulder in the race for the Shield.
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New York were without the suspended Bradley Wright-Phillips, but they did not miss their leading goalscorer, with Royer breaking the deadlock six minutes before the break.
Chris McCann was penalised for handling inside the penalty area, and Royer made no mistake from the spot.
Parker sealed victory in the 74th minute - and it could've been worse for Atlanta but Brad Guzan saved a late penalty from Kaku.
Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City drew 1-1 against Real Salt Lake as they missed the chance to move level on points with FC Dallas at the Western Conference summit.
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Corey Baird gave Real Salt Lake a ninth-minute lead when he latched onto Jefferson Savarino's through ball and scored his first goal in over a month.
But Ike Opara equalised after 52 minutes, his third goal of the season a leaping header from Johnny Russell's corner.
Sporting remain two points behind Dallas while Real Salt Lake are two points off fourth-place Portland - with the sides facing off twice in the final three regular-season games.
