MLS: Inter Miami keep playoff hopes alive, controversy mars Red Bulls win

Inter Miami edged Houston Dynamo 1-0 to keep their MLS playoff hopes alive, while New York Red Bulls won in controversial fashion.

Lewis Morgan converted a 57th-minute penalty as Inter Miami defeated Houston in Fort Lauderdale, where the match was delayed for 48 minutes due to pouring rain on Saturday.

Gonzalo Higuain missed a penalty on debut for Inter Miami last month and team-mate Morgan stepped up to the spot and scored following a foul on Leandro Gonzalez Pirez.

Morgan has been directly involved in four of Inter Miami’s last five goals – three goals and one assist – per Opta.

There’s ICE in his veins! @10LewisMorgan #MIAvHOU | 57′ pic.twitter.com/vwovXVOCGE

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 10, 2020

Back-to-back wins have Inter Miami just one point outside the qualification places for the playoffs after 17 matches in the Eastern Conference, while Houston are ninth in the west and outside of the top eight on goal difference.

The Red Bulls also won 1-0 after topping Atlanta United thanks to a goal from teenage debutant Caden Clark.

Clark scored a sensational game-winning goal in the 47th minute – the youngest player to net his maiden goal for the Red Bulls at 17 years, four months and 13 days since Jozy Altidore (16 years, 10 months and 10 days) in 2006.

THE KID CADEN CLARK!

0-1 #ATLvRBNY | #RBNY pic.twitter.com/CNcGRCmzvR

— Red Bull New York (@NewYorkRedBulls) October 10, 2020

The goal, however, was controversial after Atlanta claimed New York’s Daniel Royer was in an offside position and in the line of sight of goalkeeper Brad Guzan, but the goal stood following a VAR review.

Meanwhile, Lucas Cavallini’s 75th-minute goal helped Vancouver Whitecaps rally past Real Salt Lake 2-1.

The Colorado Rapids-LA Galaxy fixture was postponed after one new confirmed case of coronavirus among Colorado’s squad.