Around the MLS: Midweek Madness Edition

This midweek matchweek was an action-packed affair for the MLS.

Luciano Acosta’s late penalty helping FC Cincinnati secure a point, Cucho Hernández’s hat trick helping the Columbus Crew extinguish the Chicago Fire and Lionel Messi getting injured were some of the top storylines from Wednesday’s action.

Let’s dive into these top storylines from America’s top league.

Acosta’s late penalty helps FC Cincinnati secure a point.

FC Cinncinati looked to continue to chase for the club's first-ever Supporter Shield when they traveled to take on CF Montréal.

After a quiet first half where neither side's shots could hit the target, CF Montréal would break the deadlock as the second half got underway.

In the 53rd minute, Kwadwo Opoku took a short pass from Lassi Lappalainen and dribbled up the pitch before sending a rocket from outside the box and into the bottom left corner to give CF Montréal the lead.

FC Cincinnati fought for an equalizer and received a gift in the 90th+7 minute.

Álvaro Barreal sent in a long ball toward Dominique Badji at the top of the 18-yard box, but Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois took out Badji and the blue and orange got awarded a penalty.

Acosta stepped to the spot and confidently sent a shot right down the middle to secure the draw.

FC Cincinnati will look to stay atop of the Eastern Conference when they host playoff-hopeful Charlotte FC on Saturday. While CF Montréal will travel to take on Atlanta United on the same day.

Hernández’s hat trick leads the Columbus Crew over the Chicago Fire.

Two clubs jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference squared off on Wednesday when the Columbus Crew hosted the Chicago Fire.

The Crew got off to a quick start, earning a penalty in just the 4th minute following Diego Rossi getting his leg clipped by Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady.

Hernández stepped to the spot and buried it in the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 Crew.

Moments later, Yaw Yeboah was tugged by defender Arnaud Souquet inside the box, earning another penalty for the black and yellow.

Hernández stepped to the spot again, this time freezing Brady and slotting it into the bottom left corner for his second of the match.

Seven minutes later, Hernández completed the hat trick.

Julian Gressel sent a cross into the box that Hernández headed in to give the Columbian his second hat trick this month.

The Fire did their best to get back into the match, but the combination of a stout Crew backline and a red card awarded to Xherdan Shaqiri extinguished their hopes of capturing any points.

Columbus will hope to parlay this momentum into a victory against FC Dallas on Saturday. While the Chicago Fire will look to bounce back against the New England Revolution on the same day.

Messi’s injury outshines a 4-0 Inter Miami win.

Inter Miami may have defeated Toronto FC 4-0 on Wednesday night, but it feels like they lost the match for fans of the pink and white.

During the 37th minute, Messi exited the match with what manager Gerardo Martino described postgame through a translator as an old injury that had been bothering him.

Martino then announced that Messi, alongside Jordi Alba, would be unavailable for Sunday’s match against Orlando City.

Ben Palillo is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email bgp5079@psu.edu.