MLS Weekly - Hell is real
Ohio rivalry gets chippy during and after game, Seattle's woes continue, Son and LAFC are finally soaring, and Portland's Mora makes sendoff game memorable.
GOAL OF THE WEEK
Nico Fernandez Mercau (NYCFC) vs. Chicago Fire, 10’
MVP him.
Nico’s finally getting to play as an attacking midfielder rather than a false nine, and the transition has been seamless. He had ten goals before the World Cup break anyway, but he was having to do it all himself. During these last two games, the attack has been dynamic from all angles, in large part because Nico has more freedom to roam and a role he’s used to. Plus, a healthy Malachi Jones out wide sure helps.
This laser beam left Chris Brady stuck in his shoes. No saving that one.
Honorable mention: San Diego’s Alejandro Alvarado scored from outside of the box in his first start, but the way he turned and beat a man to set up his shot was the real treat. Plus, Atlanta put together an incredible tiki-taka goal that Miguel Almiron finished off, but it was too little too late in their 4-1 loss.
WORST OF THE WEEK
Logan Farrington (FC Dallas) vs. San Diego FC, 90+2’
This was almost San Diego center back Manu Duah’s award for giving Dallas a breakaway opportunity in the last couple minutes, but he turned on the jets and made a game-saving play to correct his error.
Logan Farrington, with Petar Musa to his right and three defenders converging, took the ball to the center of the box for his own shot rather than finding Musa early or using the space on his left foot and his body against the defenders. Duah blocked the shot, and Dallas lost.
STAT OF THE WEEK - Gil owns Atlanta
Carles Gil joined the New England Revolution in 2019. That year, they lost to Atlanta United all three times they faced off (twice in the regular season, once in the playoffs). Carles Gil had zero goals and assists in those games.
In the seven years since that sweep, Atlanta has defeated New England just once. The Revs have won nine times, and Gil has been the best player on the field in practically all of those games.
Carles Gil (NE) vs. Atlanta United since 2020: 7 goals, 5 assists in 11 appearances.
New England is 8-2-1 in those games (they also won once in 2024 while Gil was out with injury).
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME - TRIVIA
ANSWER LOCATED AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Cincinnati vs. Columbus
After Dado Valenzuela earned a red card (shown above) in stoppage time of their rivalry loss, he motioned to Columbus players to meet him in the tunnel after the game. When the full time whistle blew, Mo Farsi sprinted straight there, followed by seemingly every other player on the field. TBD on whether MLS further disciplines the involved players.
Portland vs. Salt Lake
Portland has yet to lose since firing Phil Neville, but this game was about something bigger. It was announced last week Felipe Mora would depart Portland after over six years with the team to join Atletico San Luis. Mora had two double-digit goalscoring seasons for Portland and scored the tying goal at the death in the 2021 MLS Cup. In his farewell game Saturday, his two goals made him the hero. Mora received an individual embrace from what seemed like every teammate on the field after each goal.
Montreal vs. Miami
Casemiro looked exactly as good as expected in his debut for Miami. And Luis Suarez continues to get it done, scoring the winning penalty kick goal late.
Unfortunately, the foul that earned them the goal knocked German Berterame temporarily unconscious; he was removed from the field in an ambulance after tenminutes of treatment. Inter Miami stated yesterday Berterame was discharged from the hospital and that he sustained injuries to his left shoulder and nose, but offered no return timeline.
Philadelphia vs. Seattle
The Union won their second game of the week and third game of 2026. Milan Iloski scored his seventh goal in five games.
Cavan Sullivan (16) and 6’6” Neil Pierre (18) are ones to watch for the future of the USMNT, but they are already making a difference at the MLS level. Philly could go on a bit of a run here, with Kai Wagner back in town and older brother Quinn Sullivan back from a long-term injury.
Seattle has lost five games in a row after losing just once in the first 11 games of the season. They’ve had plenty of injuries and could really use a summer signing or four.
IN OTHER NEWS
In his first game for Cruzeiro after a $12m move away from the Galaxy, Gabriel Pec broke his tibia due to a studs-up red card challenge.
The MLS All-Stars play the Liga MX All-Stars on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. PST. While the game can be fun, remember not to take the roster too seriously (Maxime Crepeau made the original roster after giving up 44 goals in 15 games).
To replace Felipe Mora, Portland is signing Dutch forward Vincent Jannsen. The 32-year-old had 13 goals and seven assists in Belgium’s top league last season.
Charlotte FC is selling winger Kerwin Vargas for $6m.
ONE TO WATCH: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. LAFC, Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PST
The top two teams in the Western Conference are facing off.
The Caps are not back to their pre-break form and just sold star midfielder Sebastian Berhalter to Middlesborough. However, after missing the bulk of the last two seasons, Ryan Gauld is back. My guess is they’ll need more than just Gauld’s dynamism — Thomas Muller’s passing will be the key to unlocking this game for Vancouver.
Meanwhile, LAFC is flying as high as they were this time last year and Heung-min Son is back on the scoresheet (three games in a row with a goal). Head coach Marc Dos Santos seems to have finally accepted that reverting back to last year’s tactics under Steve Cherundolo is the way to get their attack flowing again. The key to that strategy is to have as little of the ball as possible — they had 29% possession in a 3-1 win against RSL. Defend patiently until you get the ball, then let Son, Bouanga, and Martinez run.
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