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MLS: Five storylines from Matchday 11

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Lionel Messi and Inter Miami put four goals past the New England Revolution to stay at the top of the Eastern Conference while Real Salt Lake moved into first place in the West with an impressive away victory over the Philadelphia Union. 36 goals were scored in just 14 fixtures across Major League Soccer on Saturday with thrilling matches witnessed in Cincinnati, New York, Minnesota, and Los Angeles among other places. Here are five of the biggest storylines from the weekend in MLS.

By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert

Lionel Messi is putting up some serious numbers as Inter Miami build momentum

Many questions have been asked of Inter Miami this season, but Lionel Messi and co. continue to produce answers with Saturday’s 4-1 win over the New England Revolution leaving them at the top of the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield standings. In front of a record crowd at Gillette Stadium (65,612), Messi was the star of the show, contributing two goals and an assist.

Messi has now registered nine goals and four assists assists in just seven MLS appearances this season, making him the first player in league history to reach such a high number of goal contributions after so few games. Inter Miami might have suffered a early exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup, but they are building some momentum in league play. Messi is pushing them forward.

Petar Musa has given FC Dallas some breathing room with Texas Derby win

FC Dallas desperately needed a win and they got one over the Houston Dynamo in Saturday’s Texas Derby with Petar Musa the best attacking player on the pitch. The Croatian who cost a franchise-record $9.7m from Benfica has struggled for form in a FC Dallas shirt, but showcased his talent to help end a seven-game winless streak, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 victory.

“Petar’s problem is that the team hasn’t been doing well,” said head coach Nico Estevez about Musa and his integration troubles at Toyota Stadium. “That’s not Petar’s fault or any other player’s fault…If the team’s not doing well, not functioning, it’s hard for any player to do well.” For Musa and FC Dallas, Saturday must prove to be springboard.

Austin FC’s improvement highlighted by complete performance

Austin FC had shown signs of turning a corner after a challenging start to the 2024 campaign, but Saturday saw Josh Wolff’s team produce their most complete performance so far as they beat the LA Galaxy. The hosts limited LA to just 0.52 in Expected Goals (xG) and posed a threat of their own through the likes of Diego Rubio and Sebastian Driussi. 

Four wins in their last five games has lifted Austin FC above the playoff line in the Western Conference and while they are overperfomlng their xG over this stretch, the spine of Wolff’s team has the quality to make the Texans a difficult opponent between now and the end of the regular season. 

Is 2024 turning into yet another write-off of a season for Chicago?

Saturday’s home draw against Atlanta United certainly wasn’t the most disgraceful of results, but the Chicago Fire had goalkeeper Chris Brady to thank for securing a point. That point did little to improve the Fire’s lowly position in the Eastern Conference which reflects how poor they have been over the first three months of the season.

Chicago have made more errors leading to shots – and goals – than any other team in the league. Their centre-backs (Rafael Czichos and Tobias Salquist) have struggled while club-record signing Hugo Cuypers hasn’t had the service he requires to deliver regularly in front of goal. From front to back, the Fire are a mess – just as they were in 2023. And 2022. And 2021. And 2020.

Late collapse to Toronto FC highlights Orlando City’s regression

87 mins into Saturday’s home match against Toronto FC, Orlando City looked on course for a home victory. A first half Duncan McGuire goal had put the Central Floridians ahead and while they hadn’t created much beyond that, the visitors to Inter&Co Stadium had been limited to very few opportunities too.

Within just three minutes, though, Orlando City collapsed, conceding twice to lose 2-1. This thrust into focus just how much the Lions have regressed this season. Facu Torres hasn’t been the same player he was last year. Pedro Gallese has been vulnerable. Luis Muriel hasn’t been integrated yet. Oscar Pareja is under pressure. 

(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 11

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami put four goals past the New England Revolution to stay at the top of the Eastern Conference while Real Salt Lake moved into first place in the West with an impressive away victory over the Philadelphia Union. 36 goals were scored in just 14 fixtures across Major League Soccer on Saturday with thrilling matches witnessed in Cincinnati, New York, Minnesota, and Los Angeles among other places. Here are five of the biggest storylines from the weekend in MLS.

By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert

Lionel Messi is putting up some serious numbers as Inter Miami build momentum

Many questions have been asked of Inter Miami this season, but Lionel Messi and co. continue to produce answers with Saturday’s 4-1 win over the New England Revolution leaving them at the top of the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield standings. In front of a record crowd at Gillette Stadium (65,612), Messi was the star of the show, contributing two goals and an assist.

Messi has now registered nine goals and four assists assists in just seven MLS appearances this season, making him the first player in league history to reach such a high number of goal contributions after so few games. Inter Miami might have suffered a early exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup, but they are building some momentum in league play. Messi is pushing them forward.

Petar Musa has given FC Dallas some breathing room with Texas Derby win

FC Dallas desperately needed a win and they got one over the Houston Dynamo in Saturday’s Texas Derby with Petar Musa the best attacking player on the pitch. The Croatian who cost a franchise-record $9.7m from Benfica has struggled for form in a FC Dallas shirt, but showcased his talent to help end a seven-game winless streak, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 victory.

“Petar’s problem is that the team hasn’t been doing well,” said head coach Nico Estevez about Musa and his integration troubles at Toyota Stadium. “That’s not Petar’s fault or any other player’s fault…If the team’s not doing well, not functioning, it’s hard for any player to do well.” For Musa and FC Dallas, Saturday must prove to be springboard.

Austin FC’s improvement highlighted by complete performance

Austin FC had shown signs of turning a corner after a challenging start to the 2024 campaign, but Saturday saw Josh Wolff’s team produce their most complete performance so far as they beat the LA Galaxy. The hosts limited LA to just 0.52 in Expected Goals (xG) and posed a threat of their own through the likes of Diego Rubio and Sebastian Driussi. 

Four wins in their last five games has lifted Austin FC above the playoff line in the Western Conference and while they are overperfomlng their xG over this stretch, the spine of Wolff’s team has the quality to make the Texans a difficult opponent between now and the end of the regular season. 

Is 2024 turning into yet another write-off of a season for Chicago?

Saturday’s home draw against Atlanta United certainly wasn’t the most disgraceful of results, but the Chicago Fire had goalkeeper Chris Brady to thank for securing a point. That point did little to improve the Fire’s lowly position in the Eastern Conference which reflects how poor they have been over the first three months of the season.

Chicago have made more errors leading to shots – and goals – than any other team in the league. Their centre-backs (Rafael Czichos and Tobias Salquist) have struggled while club-record signing Hugo Cuypers hasn’t had the service he requires to deliver regularly in front of goal. From front to back, the Fire are a mess – just as they were in 2023. And 2022. And 2021. And 2020.

Late collapse to Toronto FC highlights Orlando City’s regression

87 mins into Saturday’s home match against Toronto FC, Orlando City looked on course for a home victory. A first half Duncan McGuire goal had put the Central Floridians ahead and while they hadn’t created much beyond that, the visitors to Inter&Co Stadium had been limited to very few opportunities too.

Within just three minutes, though, Orlando City collapsed, conceding twice to lose 2-1. This thrust into focus just how much the Lions have regressed this season. Facu Torres hasn’t been the same player he was last year. Pedro Gallese has been vulnerable. Luis Muriel hasn’t been integrated yet. Oscar Pareja is under pressure. 

(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.