Minnesota United and Real Salt Lake earn tough away wins

Minnesota United lived up to their formidable away record with a 2-1 win over Nashville SC at Geodis Park on Sunday.

At home, Nashville were the betting favorites of the contest, but perhaps that shouldn't have been the case as they entered the game with the worst home record in the Western Conference, picking up just 14 points in 12 games.

On the other hand, Minnesota is the third-best team in the West away, with 19 points in 13 games, and although they've been strong lately - with just one loss in their last 10 games - Nashville has just one win in their last 10 years.

The road team shattered the crowd when Franco Fragapane put Minnesota ahead 1-0 in the 27th minute after a superb through ball from Emanuel Reynoso after a costly turnover in Nashville's defensive half.

Nashville would find the equalizer in the 61st minute, with Hany Mukhtar converting from close range from a sharp angle, but less than 15 minutes later, Minnesota grabbed the winner.

It was another move orchestrated by Reynoso, finding substitute Joseph Rosales overlapping on the left wing just two minutes after entering the game, and his low cross smashed its way through a sea of legs to reach Alan Benitez for a tap-in at the back post.

The result keeps Minnesota in the top four in the Western Conference, while Nashville now clings to the seventh and final playoff spot.

Across the country, the Seattle Sounders had 69% of possession against Real Salt Lake but couldn't make it count, eventually losing 2-1 at home.

Salt Lake only had 36% possession in the first half, but they created the only two shots on target, which gave the game the first goal when Sergio Cordova got past the Seattle defense at the 32nd minute.

Although Cordova's first attempt was saved, he was able to dance around a few defenders after the rebound came back to him and found the bottom corner.

A 62nd-minute Albert Rusnak equalizer had Seattle fans dreaming of a comeback win, but that was extinguished just two minutes later as Andrew Brody restored Salt's lead Lake, which they fiercely defended until the final whistle.