✋ What I learned from MLS weekend
From questions about Lionel Messi’s influence to Christian Benteke’s MVP candidacy, we cover the biggest stories surrounding MLS action over the weekend.
The old LAFC still remains somewhere
Newly won U.S. Open Cup winners LAFC appear to have returned to normal service this past weekend after a big away win at FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium on Saturday.
David Martinez and Dennis Bouanga scored on either side of Luca Orellano’s goal after coach Steve Cerundolo’s team hadn’t won since a 3-0 win over Seattle on July 20. , achieved a long-awaited victory. .
LAFC had suffered three losses and two draws in their last five league games and was in danger of slipping to seventh place in the MLS standings, but perhaps Wednesday’s taste of winning a trophy could spur the club to secure home-field advantage. do not have. in the postseason.
Benteke needs to be in the MVP conversation.
Belgian forward Christian Benteke continued his form in front of goal at the weekend as DC United earned a credible draw at home to Columbus Crew.
The veteran former Premier League striker scored his 20th and 21st MLS goals of the season with two goals on either side of half-time, closing the gap on LAFC’s Dennis Bouanga, who has 18 goals for the year.
The Kinshasha-born goalscorer has been a constant feature for United over the past two seasons and has now scored 36 goals in total since joining from Crystal Palace, making him the club’s first player since Luciano Emilio to reach 20 goals. He became a player.
United may not be chasing a top-four spot in the Eastern Conference, but Benteke’s goal has the club looking for an outside shot in the playoffs, which is more than enough to keep him aiming for MVP honors. That’s right.
coffin for their funeral
It was a brief moment of madness for the New York Red Bulls that day after rival NYCFC pulled off a crucial 5-1 victory at Red Bull Arena in perhaps the biggest Hudson River Derby in living memory.
Red Bull supporters were left extremely frustrated after witnessing two early goals from Maximiliano Morales and Alonso Martinez in the opening seven minutes, but NYCFC scored another goal from Andres Perea and Martinez’s second goal. The situation was calmed down by halftime.
On Harrison’s night, when NYRB were supposed to have some breathing room in the race for a top-four spot in MLS, and at a ground where they had lost just once all season, a pre-game tifo featuring a coffin was played. It would be an ominous result on a disastrous night as he dropped back to 6th place.
Messi’s conundrum still needs to be solved
It’s not every day that we question one of the greatest players to ever grace this sport, but when it comes to Inter Miami and Argentina legend Lionel Messi, the Herons will play at home against Charlotte. Even after they struggled in the match and ended in a 1-1 draw, concerns persist. F.C.
Messi returned from injury in Miami’s 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union two weeks ago, but has been questioned after Miami’s last three MLS games, with only three draws. This casts doubt on the possibility of a historic victory. .
Miami, which needs 10 of its 12 points before kickoff this weekend, needs a win in the final game of the regular season, including a win over Columbus, which holds on to one game and could overtake them in the standings. This includes matches against. What if Miami doesn’t win?
The Argentine avoided defeat by scoring the equalizer at Chase Stadium, but his fluidity on the pitch after his return was a concern for many as Miami were not at their best as history loomed. It has become.
loons are flying west
Times have changed in the upper Midwest if you’re rooting for Minnesota United after the Loons scored a blowout 3-0 home win against the in-form Colorado Rapids.
Two goals from Kevin Yeboah and a third from Hassani Dotson gave rookie head coach Eric Ramsey the club’s fifth win in its last seven MLS games. This is a stark contrast to what Minnesota was like not that long ago.
Going back to the club’s 1-1 draw against FC Dallas in June, few expected that they would be unable to win the first of nine games, suffering seven losses along the way and suffering a second loss. Probably. A -0 win against San Jose would eliminate that particular headache.
But everything is different now for the University of Minnesota, which currently sits in eighth place in the standings and has a chance to guarantee a spot in the best-of-three series.