Giakoumakis hits hat-trick as Atlanta thrash New England

There was last-minute drama as stoppage time winners saw champions Columbus Crew beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 and Minnesota United pull of a 3-2 upset at Orlando. Giakoumakis struck 17 goals in his first season for Atlanta after joining them from Scottish club Celtic and he displayed his sharpness in front of goal again to the delight of a 67,000 crowd at the Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Argentine Thiago Almada set Atlanta on their way with a penalty on the stroke of half-time and then Giakoumakis doubled the lead, also from the sport in the 55th minute. The third came when Brooks Lennon found space for a cross from the right which Giakoumakis met with a thundering header.

The Greece international completed his hat-trick in spectacular fashion with a brilliant finish with the outside of his left boot from a tight angle. Wilfried Nancy's Columbus found it hard to break down a determined Chicago and went close to falling behind when the Fire's Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers struck the post in the 66th minute.

But within two minutes, the Crew had the lead via a fine solo goal from Jacen Russell-Rowe, who broke from midfield and beat Chris Brady with a pinpoint shot from outside the box. Fabian Herbers levelled for Chicago, with an effort that was initially ruled out for offside but allowed after a VAR review but the Crew were able to steal it at the end.

Diego Rossi's shot from a Russell-Rowe cross was parried out by Brady only for Columbus full-back Mohammed Farsi to turn in the winner in the 10th minute of stoppage time. Orlando had suffered a 5-0 mauling at Inter Miami last week but took just 16 seconds to take the lead against Minnesota through Duncan McGuire.

But Teemu Pukki levelled in the fourth minute after charging down an