MLS Recap – Highlights from Matchday 7

As are most weekends in Major League Soccer, Matchday 7 was once again dominated by teams playing at home, with just 1 of the 14 games across two days resulting in 3 points for visiting teams. But that’s not to say we didn’t have some entertaining games and surprising results over the weekend – farm from it, actually. Let’s take a look back at Matchday 7 and where each result leaves the current MLS standings heading into April.

Union, MLS — Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Union

MLS Week 7 highlights

Two Afternoon Matchups

Philadelphia Union 2 – 0 Minnesota United

A battle between 2 of MLS’s unbeaten teams to kick off Matchday 7. It was Kids Day at Subaru Park on Saturday afternoon, but it was Jim Curtin’s Top-Guns that propelled Union to their 2nd straight win and 5th game unbeaten in MLS play.

Daniel Gazdag opened the scoring from a corner taken in the 16th minute of the opening half at Subaru Park – his 54th goal since joining Union, now sitting just 2 shy of tying Sebastien Le Toux as Union’s all-time leading goal-scorer. Julian Carranza would add a 2nd goal in the 84th minute of the game to seal all 3 points and the first clean sheet and win at home of Union’s season.

Goalscorers:
PHL: 16th – D. Gazdag, 84th – J. Carranza
MIN: N/A

Colorado Rapids 3 – 2 LAFC

Rapids-LAFC was one of the top MLS matches of the weekend for me. A struggling LAFC jumped out to an early lead on the road thanks to the right foot of Eduard Atuesta in the 8th minute. Rapids’ keeper Zack Steffan made 4 stops in the opening half to keep Colorado in the game early on, which was rewarded by an equalizing goal from a corner kick by Mosie Bombito before half-time.

With 15 minutes left in a 1-1 contest, LAFC forward David Martinez would put his stamp on the game with a go-ahead goal in the 76th minute, his first goal since joining MLS. Unfortunately for Martinez and LAFC, that wasn’t the last time the 18-year-old would have an impact on the games outcome – with the Venezuelan receiving 2 yellow cards and being sent off in just 9 minutes following his goal.

Djordje Mihailovic – who already scored the equalizing goal from a free-kick just 2 minutes before Martinez’s sending-off – played hero on Saturday afternoon as the goal scored with his knee in the 89th minute would provide the winner in a 3-2 win against LAFC, extending their unbeaten streak at home against the Black and Gold to 5 games. It marks the 3rd loss for LAFC in 6 games this season – something that took the 2022 MLS Cup champs 15 games last season.

Goalscorers:
COL: 38th – M. Bombito, 83rd – D. Mihailovic, 89th – D. Mihailovic
LAFC: 8th – E. Atuesta, 76th – D. Martinez

MLS, Soccer — Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira, left, and Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, right chase after the ball in the first half of the MLS soccer championship match, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Eight Primetime games

Charlotte FC 1 – 1 FC Cincinatti

Win at home and draw on the road – that was the recipe to success for the 2023 Supporters Shield-winning FC Cincinnati, who start 2024 as one of MLS’s unbeaten teams coming into Matchday 7.

It was Charlotte who opened the scoring In the Queen City Clasico on Saturday. Cincinatti’s Yaya Kubo was whistled for a penalty, which was subsequently put away by Djibril Diani to give Charlotte the lead in the 60th minute. With time running out and Charlotte’s hopes of securing 3 points against one of MLS’ unbeaten teams growing, Cincinnati’s Aaron Boupendza finds an equalizer in the 92nd minute to earn his team a point and extends FCC’s unbeaten streak to 6 to start 2024.

Goalscorers:
CLT: 60th – D. Diani
FCC: 92nd – A. Boupendza

DC United 1 – 0 CF Montreal

Coming off an embarrassing collapse in the Windy City a week prior, CF Montreal Head Coach, Laurent Courtois hoped to get his team back on track in their 5th of 6 road games to start the 2024 MLS season in a matchup against DC United.

It looked like the road warriors from up North were running out of steam in the Nation’s Capital, as it was all DC United looking to open the scoring for much of the game. Though DC outshot the visitors by a total of 22-7, it looked like Montreal might scrape out a draw and earn a point on the road the closer it got to full-time. But in the 85th minute, DC United finally found the breakthrough from a volley off the left foot of Pedro Santos, securing Troy Lesense’s team all 3 points.

Goalscorers:
DC: 85th – P. Santos

Inter Miami 1 – 1 NYCFC

Coming off Inter Miami’s worst loss since Lionel Messi arrived in MLS, Tata Morino was hoping for a big bounce-back performance from his side at home even with the Argentinian remaining on the sideline – the same place he’s been since last playing on March 13th. The probability of Miami getting back in the win column against NYCFC, a team that lost 4 of its first 5 games, seemed pretty high – especially after Luis Suarez opened the scoring in the 15th minute with his 5th goal of the season.

However, NYCFC battled back and equalized in the 34th minute of the game from the right foot of Alonso Martinez, making his first start in MLS. Luis Suarez and Co had plenty of chances to grab all 3 points for Messi-less Inter Miami, but NYCFC keeper Matt Freese stood on his head, making 5 saves and securing a road point for his side in Florida

Goalscorers:
MIA: 15th – L. Suarez
NYCFC: 34th – A. Martinez

Orlando City 1 – 1 New York Red Bulls

After Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City finally found their first win of the season against Austin in the week prior, The Lions were looking to finally get their Supporters Shield-hopeful season kickstarted with a 2nd consecutive MLS win at home against the visiting New York Red Bulls, who beat Inter Miami 4-0 themselves just a week before.

Lewis Morgan continued staking his claim for comeback player of the year by opening the scoring with his 6th goal of the season from the PK spot in the 21st minute. Elias Manoel failed to seal 3 road points with an opportunity on a breakaway in the 79th minute, which proved to be detrimental for the visitors as Orlando City was able to force an own-goal off a deflection in the 89th minute to split the points between both teams.

Goalscorers:
ORL: 89th – N. Eile (O.G.)
NYRB: 21st – L. Morgan

Toronto FC 1 – 3 Sporting Kansas City

Of the 14 games during Matchday 7 of MLS play, only 1 team was able to walk away with 3 points on the road – Sporting Kansas City. Toronto – the winner of the Wooden Spoon in the 2023 season – came into this game winning 3 of their previous 4 games, including a 2-0 win over Atlanta at home in the week prior.

After a scoreless first half, it was SKC’s Remi Walter opening the scoring in the 57th with a beautiful left-foot blast from outside of the penalty area. Jake David would see Walter’s impressive hit and raise him one better, with a right-footed shot that came from almost the same spot on the pitch but only 5 or so more yards further out. 20-year-old Alenis Vargas would add a 3rd goal in the 83rd minute – the first goal of his MLS career – which only added salt to the wound of Toronto in their first loss at home of the 2024 MLS season.

Goalscorers:
TOR: 97th – J. Osorio
SKC: 57th – R. Walter, 64th – J. Davis, 83rd – A. Vargas

Austin FC 2 – 1 FC Dallas

A Copa Tejas match between 2 struggling teams in MLS, sharing just 1 win between the two teams coming into Matchday 7. It was Dallas who got on the board first, coming from the right foot of Eugene Ansah in the 51st minute and giving the visitor their first lead in 3 games. But 2 goals in 15 minutes from Julio Cascante and Diego Rubio propelled Verde to their first victory of the 2024 season on Saturday night.

Goalscorers:
ATX: 54th – J. Cascante, 71st – D. Rubio
DAL: 51st – E. Ansah

Houston Dynamo 2 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes

Coming off a 3-2 win against Seattle and their first points of the MLS season, San Jose got off to as good of a start as possible after Bruno Wilson scored a goal in the first minute of the game from a corner kick. But it was all downhill from there for the Quakes’ after Preston Judd was shown a straight Red Card for an elbow away from the play. 10-Man San Jose held on to their 1-0 lead for quite a while, but goals from Sebastian Ferreria – who’s returned from injury – and Franco Escobar in 4 minutes were enough for Ben Olsen’s Dynamo to lock down their 3rd consecutive win.

Goalscorers:
HOU: 51st – S. Ferreria, 54th, F. Escobar
SJ: 1st – B. Wilson

Nashville SC 2 – 2 Columbus Crew

Gary Smith’s Nashville SC came into MLS Matchday 7 with just 1 win in the 2024 season and struggling to keep goals out of their net in the early goings of the campaign, being outscored 9-5 in their first 5 games. Columbus – without Cucho Hernandez due to “Team Policy” – opened the scoring on the road thanks to a head from Sean Zawadski in the 17th minute.

First-half stoppage-time goals from Hany Mukhtar and Anibal Godoy(a great bicycle-kick goal, by the way) gave Nashville the lead just before half-time, and the home team had several chances to double their lead in the 2nd half, but the Crew’s Marino Hinestroza leveled the game with a header in the 79th minute to force the teams to split the points.

Goalscorers:
NSH: 45th+3: H. Mukhtar, 45th+9: A. Godoy
CLB: 17th – S. Zawadski, 79th – M. Hinestroza

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) dribbles the ball under pressure from Orlando City midfielder Martín Ojeda (11) and Orlando City defender Rafael Santos (3) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Late-night MLS Action

Real Salt Lake 3 – 1 St Louis City SC

This one was dominated by one person, who shouldn’t have even been in the game if you ask St Louis City fans. St Louis City’s Indiana Vassilev opened the scoring on the road after just 3 minutes with a left-footed strike that found the side netting, giving the visiting team the early lead.

St Louis City were able to control their 1-0 lead up until the 70th minute when Christian Arango – who many think should have been given a red for violent conduct earlier in the game – leveled the game with a shot from outside the box that beat Roman Burki. Arango would put RSL up 2-1 in the 84th minute from the penalty spot and would add a 3rd in stoppage time to seal a 3-1 win at home for RSL, their 3rd in 4 MLS games.

Goalscorers:
RSL: 70th – C. Arango, 84th – C. Arango, 91st – C. Arango
STL: 3rd – I. Vassilev

LA Galaxy 1 – 0 Seattle Sounders

The meeting between LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders this weekend was the perfect display of two of the biggest surprises to start the 2024 MLS season – how bad Seattle is despite many thinking they’ll push for the Supporters Shield, and how put together LA Galaxy are in the early goings of the season.

Seattle came into this game as one of the few teams in Major League Soccer yet to win a game, while Galaxy came in as one of the few teams in MLS yet to lose a match. Galaxy’s new-boy Gabriel Pec opened the scoring at home in the 4th minute of the game, and that was all LA would need against the Sounders, who have now started the 2024 campaign with 0W-2D-4L and 2 points, the second-lowest total in the league.

Goalscorers:
LA: 4th – G. Pec

Vancouver Whitecaps 3 – 2 Portland Timbers

Vanni Sartini’s return to the sideline after missing the first 4 MLS games of the season surely energized his Whitecaps side, with Ryan Guald opening the scoring with his first of the season in the 2nd minute of the game. Fifa Picault doubled Vancouver’s lead in the 29th minute with a strong right-footed finish.

Evander got Portland back into the game early in the 2nd half with a wonderful blast from outside the box, and Felipe Mora pulled the game level with a header in the 77th minute to erase Vancouver’s lead. But in the 87th minute, Vancouver’s Ryan Raposo tapped home a ball bouncing around in the box to give the home team the lead and 3 points in the standings.

Goalscorers:
VAN: 3rd – R. Gauld, 29th – F. Picault, 87th – R. Raposo
POR: 52nd – Evander, 77th – F. Mora

MLS, Union — Seattle Sounders defender Nouhou Tolo, right, and Los Angeles FC midfielder Timothy Tillman, left, fight for a ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

An MLS Clash on Easter Sunday

Atlanta United 3 – 0 Chicago Fire

Coming off a 2-0 loss on the road in Toronto, Gonzalo Pineda hoped he could get his Atlanta side back in the MLS win column with a Chicago Fire team that’s still finding their identity coming to town, and it was all Atlanta United in this one. Even without Thiago Almada’s name on the scoresheet, Atlanta is still finding ways to get it done while at home.

Giorgos Giakoumakis opened the scoring for Atlanta right before half-time after finishing a cross from Saba Lobzhanidze to put doubt in Chicago’s head heading into the break. Jamal Thiaré, the 31-year-old that Atlanta got on a free transfer, scored his first two goals for the club with a header at the back-post in the 65th minute, and a goal from a rebound off the post in stoppage time to seal a 3-0 win for ATL.

Goalscorers:
ATL: 45th – G. Giakoumakis, 65th – J. Thiaré, 90+5th – J. Thiaré
CHI: N/A

MLS Highs and Lows from Matchday 7

With all of the results in a busy MLS Matchday 7 laid out, here are a few teams I’m feeling high about moving forward, and some teams I’m not:

MLS Highs

Philadelphia:

2 wins in a row, a clean sheet against Minnesota, and Julian Carranza is scoring goals. They might just be back – but two tough tests ahead with Nashville and Atlanta on the road.
LA Galaxy:

New additions Gabriel Pec and Jonathan Paintsil look to be great supplements to Riqui Puig and Dejan Joveljic in the attack, but after a clean sheet against Seattle – people are starting to wonder if this Galaxy team is real. With rumors of this team making their defense better before the Transfer Window closes, I’m really high on Galaxy so far this season
FC Cincinnati:

Truthfully, I don’t think this team has hit their stride yet this season – and they’re still leading the Supporters Shield race, all while competing in CCC. This team is good, and I’m sure they’ll go and make a move to get better. They’ve got a good team out in Cincinnati.
Vancouver Whitecaps:

There’s just something about this team that’s super fun, and also threatening to me. The Whitecaps were able to go 2W-1D-1L to start the season with Vanni Sartini off the sideline due to a suspension carrying over from last year’s playoffs and snuck out a 3-2 win in a Cascadia Cup match against Portland this past weekend. I don’t know if Vancouver will keep many clean sheets, but Ryan Guald, Brian White, Damir Kreilach, Fifa Picault, and Vanni’s ever-changing tactics should keep this team interesting in a Western Conference that’s wide-open at the moment.

MLS Lows

Seattle Sounders:

An awful start to the season which can surely be blamed on the plethora of injuries plaguing this Sounders side currently, but if things don’t change quickly they might get ugly. I don’t want Brian Schmetzer’s legacy to end in anything but celebration and praise, but I’m struggling to see how the Sounders can continue on without doing something if they don’t start seeing some sort of positive results soon. A CONCACAF Champions League winner just years ago, and in 2nd place in the Wooden Spoon standings a few seasons later.
FC Dallas:

Bad. Dallas just looks downright bad right now. Just 1 goal was scored in each of their previous 4 games, which shouldn’t surprise you to learn that they’ve lost each of those games as well.
San Jose Earthquakes:

San Jose’s only win this season came against another team on this list – Seattle. With losses in their other 5 games and not a ton of promise in the attack, it feels like San Jose won’t even be a team worth watching for that “MLS After Dark” energy, they just might be straight-up bad this season.
New England Revolution:

They didn’t play this past weekend, but I’m still really low on New England. Even with a draw and their first point of the season in their previous game, it came at home against a Chicago team that’s yet to find their identity and New England just looks really fragile to me. I’m writing this as New England is playing Club América in the CONCACAF Champions Cup at home, and they’re already down 2-0 in the first 25 minutes. Maybe getting out of CCC could be a blessing for the Revs.