Wayne Rooney's sensational free kick lifted D.C. United to victory over MLS champions Toronto, while the Seattle Sounders qualified for the playoffs and Sporting Kansas City earned an impressive win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Former Manchester United and England captain Rooney scored from a stunning set piece as D.C. defeated Toronto 1-0 to extend the club's winning streak to four games on Wednesday.
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Rooney curled a 30-yard free kick past Alex Bono in the 18th minute and that proved to be the difference at Audi Field in Washington.
The 32-year-old's memorable effort – his 10th in 18 MLS appearances – further boosted his side's playoff chances, with the capital club four points clear of the Montreal Impact in the sixth and final postseason place in the Eastern Conference after 32 rounds.
Sporting Kansas City returned to second in the Western Conference with a 4-1 rout of the playoff-chasing Vancouver Whitecaps.
All four the Kansas City side's goals were scored in the second half as the club stormed back following Felipe's strike for Vancouver just before the break.
Yohan Croizet pulled SKC level just after the hour mark, with the floodgates opening after Daniel Salloi put visiting side in front in the 82nd.
Gianluca Busio put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, the 16-year-old netting his first MLS goal on a simple tap-in before Salloi rounded out the scoring at the death.
16-year-old Gianluca Busio scores his first MLS goal to make it 3-1! #VANvSKC https://t.co/GmtKb8dYDC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 18, 2018
The other match on the night saw the Seattle Sounders ride two early goals to a 2-1 playoff-clinching win over Orlando City.
The Sounders have now made the playoffs in 10 straight seasons, pulling level with a league record for consecutive years in the postseason.
Seattle ended the night in fourth place in the Western Conference, four points back of table-topping FC Dallas.