FC Cincinnati and the Vancouver Whitecaps continue to set the pace in the Eastern and Western Conferences respectively after a gameweek that saw no shortage of drama across Major League Soccer. A Lionel Messi-less Inter Miami laboured to a home draw against New York City FC while there were five-goal thrillers in Colorado and Vancouver. Here are five of the biggest storylines from the weekend in MLS.
By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert
Djordje Mihailović making his mark as the Colorado Rapids’ main man
The Colorado Rapids’ off-season rebuild didn’t produce immediate results, but there are finally signs of things coming together for the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park outfit – not least because Djordje Mihailović is off the mark. The USA international had a hand in all three goals scored by the Rapids as they pulled off a comeback to beat Los Angeles FC 3-2 on Saturday.
Signed for a club-record fee from AZ Alkmaar, Mihailović has the quality to be Colorado’s main man in the final third. A stunning freekick equaliser was the highlight reel moment of the 25-year-old’s performance against LAFC, but he was influential throughout. The Rapids are making a conscious effort to get Mihailović on the ball more often and Saturday hinted at what he could produce in burgundy.
Chicho Arango embracing extra responsibility for Real Salt Lake
Chicho Arango made the most of the reprieve he was afforded against St Louis City. The Colombian could have been sent off for lashing out at Tomas Totland, but remained on the pitch to score a hat-trick for Real Salt Lake in a 3-1 win. The Western Conference is an open field and RSL are giving themselves a platform for the season ahead.
Pablo Ruiz will miss the entire 2024 campaign through injury which has heaped the expectation on Arango’s shoulders to deliver for Real Salt Lake. The 29-year-old, however, has embraced this extra responsibility and is just one strike behind Lewis Morgan – and level with Luis Suárez, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Dejan Joveljić – in the early-season Golden Boot standings.
Seattle Sounders’ winless run continues, but should they be concerned?
Five games into the 2024 season and the Seattle Sounders are still searching for their first win. Many still expect Brian Schmetzer’s team to be competitive near the top of the Western Conference, but the longer the winless run goes, the more concerns start to mount. Saturday’s defeat to the LA Galaxy extended the wait.
Seattle had chances in Carson. Jordan Morris spurned a late opportunity worth an 0.54 in Expected Goals (xG). The Sounders actually edged the match in terms of xG, shots, big chances and accurate passes, but injuries and a lack of cutting edge is costing them at the moment. “If I felt the team was really negative or coming apart, I’d be way more worried,” said Schmetzer afterwards.
DeAndre Yedlin settling – and making an impact – at FC Cincinnati
Without DeAndre Yedlin, FC Cincinnati would have suffered defeat away to Charlotte FC on Saturday. It was the USA international’s clever flick that put the opportunity to equalise on a plate for Aaron Boupendza at Bank of America Stadium. This was Yedlin’s first goal involvement since making the move to Cincy from Inter Miami last month.
Pat Noonan can’t count on a moment like this from Yedlin in every match – especially considering the 30-year-old made a run from the right wing to the left side of the box to set up Boupendza – but the early signs are positive that he will give FC Cincinnati the forward thrust they require in the wing-back position this season.
Fit again Sebastian Driussi changes the landscape for Austin FC
In his first 90-minute outing of the season, Sebastian Driussi highlighted just how important he is to Austin FC. The Argentine was the driving force for the Texans who recorded a much-needed 2-1 win – their first of the season – over FC Dallas on Saturday, setting up Diego Rubio for the game-winner with a tremendous cross into the area.
“Seba sets the team. He sets the pulse. His quality is one of the best in the league, there’s no doubt,” said Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff afterwards. Indeed, having Driussi on the pitch makes a big difference. With the 28-year-old fit and firing, Austin FC can certainly climb the Western Conference standings. He changes the landscape for them as a team.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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