Gonzalo Higuain netted a double to keep Inter Miami s playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew that ended their three-game losing streak on Tuesday.
In a game halted at half-time for a lengthy period due to a weather delay, Higuain struck either side of the break to collect three points that puts Inter up to eighth in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the seventh-placed Crew.
The 34-year-old former Real Madrid and Juventus forward opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a first-time finish on a fast break after Ariel Lassiter s pass.
Cucho Hernandez equalised for Columbus with a bouncing header in the 41st minute from Steven Moreira s cross.
The half-time delayed lasted more than two hours, with the second half commencing at 11:35pm local time, with Higuain having a good chance saved by Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room in the 54th minute.
The Argentine got the winner for Phil Neville s side in the 82nd minute with an angled left-foot finish beating Room at his near post from Alejandro Pozuelo s through-ball.
83 | Pozuelo to Gonzalo for the brace and to give us the lead | 2-1
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF)
Montreal remained second in the Eastern Conference with a 3-2 victory over Chicago Fire, for whom Xherdan Shaqiri netted a brace from the spot.
Kei Kamara scored a double, opening up a 2-0 lead within half an hour for Montreal, setting up the game-deciding goal for Zachary Brault-Guillard too.
New England s playoff hopes took another hit with a poor 3-1 loss away to struggling Houston Dynamo with Fabrice Picault netting a pair for the winners.
Carlos Vela was on the scoresheet as Western Conference leaders LAFC drew 1-1 at Minnesota United, while Sporting KC eased past DC United 3-0.
That left foot. 1-1
— LAFC (@LAFC)
