News

MLS: Five storylines from Matchday Nine

Share

Inter Miami finally got back to winning ways by beating Sporting KC in front of a record-breaking crowd to return to the top of the Eastern Conference while the LA Galaxy went first in the West. There was no shortage of drama and excitement across Major League Soccer with thrilling matches witnessed in Charlotte, DC, Kansas City, Portland and Vancouver. Here are five of the biggest storylines from the weekend in MLS.

By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert

Lionel Messi put on a show for a record crowd at Arrowhead Stadium

72,610 people (including NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes) turned up to Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday to watch Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami take on Sporting KC and the World Cup winner put on a show for the largest crowd to ever attend a football match in the state of Missouri. Mahomes can only dream of producing this sort of magic in the same venue.

First, Messi set up Diego Gómez for a first half goal with a sliding through ball in between the lines. The real highlight reel moment, however, came when Messi unleashed a left-footed strike into the top corner from 25 yards out. Luis Suárez ultimately gave Inter Miami the 3-2 victory, ending the Herons’ five-game winless run, but the fourth-largest crowd in MLS history will remember this match for what Messi did.

Houston Dynamo are a force to be reckoned with – even without two DPs

Without Hector Herrera and Sebas Ferreria, it would have been forgivable had the Houston Dynamo suffered in recent weeks. They have also had to contend with the CONCACAF Champions Cup adding high-stakes fixtures to their schedule. Instead, Ben Olsen’s team have won four of their last five in MLS with their latest victory coming away at Minnesota United.

The way Houston finished last season hinted at the force they could become. In a sense, they have picked up where they left off this term, but the Dynamo have yet to reach their ceiling as a team. If they can get Herrera in particular back on the pitch soon, Houston could be among the frontrunners for the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.

Liel Abada is up and running with his first Charlotte FC strike

Charlotte FC edged a five-goal thriller over Toronto FC at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday with Liel Abada among the goalscorers. The Israeli winger arrived from Celtic in March with a big reputation (and a $8m price tag) and his performance – and first MLS goal – against TFC hinted at why Charlotte FC fans should be excited.

With 20 minutes left to play, Abada was quick to intercept a slack Toronto FC cross-field pass and even quicker to surge into the box and shoot across goal and into the far corner. Charlotte FC needed an efficient attacker to give them another dimension in the final third and the 22-year-old looks like being that figure.

A new position got the best out of Joseph Paintsil for LA Galaxy

Joseph Paintsil has made a profound impact on MLS since joining the LA Galaxy from Genk in the off-season, but Saturday saw the Ghanian produce his best performance in the league to date. Paintsil contributed a goal and an assist in a 3-1 road win over the Vancouver Whitecaps that pushed the Carson outfit to the top of the Western Conference.

Deployed in a central position, Paintsil was influential throughout. The 26-year-old had a hand in all three Galaxy goals and continues to look the part in a team that is increasingly playing to his considerable strengths. “It’s not a position he’s played a ton of, but I thought his movement was smart,” said Greg Vanney. 

CF Montreal’s evolution was clear in long-awaited homecoming 

Under new head coach Laurent Courtois, CF Montreal have made an eye-catching start to the season. Until Saturday, though, the Canadian club’s own supporters hadn’t had an opportunity to experience this in person. Back in front of a home crowd for the first time in 2024, CF Montreal showed how they have evolved.

The hosts controlled the majority of the possession against FC Cincinnati. They had more shots than last season’s Supporters’ Shield winners. The Expected Goals (xG) firmly favoured them. What’s more, Josef Martínez found the back of the net and looked somewhat like the player who lit up MLS for a number of seasons at Atlanta United. These are exciting times at Stade Saputo.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

MLS: Five storylines from Matchday Nine

Inter Miami finally got back to winning ways by beating Sporting KC in front of a record-breaking crowd to return to the top of the Eastern Conference while the LA Galaxy went first in the West. There was no shortage of drama and excitement across Major League Soccer with thrilling matches witnessed in Charlotte, DC, Kansas City, Portland and Vancouver. Here are five of the biggest storylines from the weekend in MLS.

By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert

Lionel Messi put on a show for a record crowd at Arrowhead Stadium

72,610 people (including NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes) turned up to Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday to watch Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami take on Sporting KC and the World Cup winner put on a show for the largest crowd to ever attend a football match in the state of Missouri. Mahomes can only dream of producing this sort of magic in the same venue.

First, Messi set up Diego Gómez for a first half goal with a sliding through ball in between the lines. The real highlight reel moment, however, came when Messi unleashed a left-footed strike into the top corner from 25 yards out. Luis Suárez ultimately gave Inter Miami the 3-2 victory, ending the Herons’ five-game winless run, but the fourth-largest crowd in MLS history will remember this match for what Messi did.

Houston Dynamo are a force to be reckoned with – even without two DPs

Without Hector Herrera and Sebas Ferreria, it would have been forgivable had the Houston Dynamo suffered in recent weeks. They have also had to contend with the CONCACAF Champions Cup adding high-stakes fixtures to their schedule. Instead, Ben Olsen’s team have won four of their last five in MLS with their latest victory coming away at Minnesota United.

The way Houston finished last season hinted at the force they could become. In a sense, they have picked up where they left off this term, but the Dynamo have yet to reach their ceiling as a team. If they can get Herrera in particular back on the pitch soon, Houston could be among the frontrunners for the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.

Liel Abada is up and running with his first Charlotte FC strike

Charlotte FC edged a five-goal thriller over Toronto FC at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday with Liel Abada among the goalscorers. The Israeli winger arrived from Celtic in March with a big reputation (and a $8m price tag) and his performance – and first MLS goal – against TFC hinted at why Charlotte FC fans should be excited.

With 20 minutes left to play, Abada was quick to intercept a slack Toronto FC cross-field pass and even quicker to surge into the box and shoot across goal and into the far corner. Charlotte FC needed an efficient attacker to give them another dimension in the final third and the 22-year-old looks like being that figure.

A new position got the best out of Joseph Paintsil for LA Galaxy

Joseph Paintsil has made a profound impact on MLS since joining the LA Galaxy from Genk in the off-season, but Saturday saw the Ghanian produce his best performance in the league to date. Paintsil contributed a goal and an assist in a 3-1 road win over the Vancouver Whitecaps that pushed the Carson outfit to the top of the Western Conference.

Deployed in a central position, Paintsil was influential throughout. The 26-year-old had a hand in all three Galaxy goals and continues to look the part in a team that is increasingly playing to his considerable strengths. “It’s not a position he’s played a ton of, but I thought his movement was smart,” said Greg Vanney. 

CF Montreal’s evolution was clear in long-awaited homecoming 

Under new head coach Laurent Courtois, CF Montreal have made an eye-catching start to the season. Until Saturday, though, the Canadian club’s own supporters hadn’t had an opportunity to experience this in person. Back in front of a home crowd for the first time in 2024, CF Montreal showed how they have evolved.

The hosts controlled the majority of the possession against FC Cincinnati. They had more shots than last season’s Supporters’ Shield winners. The Expected Goals (xG) firmly favoured them. What’s more, Josef Martínez found the back of the net and looked somewhat like the player who lit up MLS for a number of seasons at Atlanta United. These are exciting times at Stade Saputo.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.