Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy kept their places at the top of the Eastern and Western Conferences respectively with victories over the weekend, although the latter had to work harder for three points in an enthralling Cali Clásico against the San Jose Earthquakes. A total of 48 goals were scored over 14 fixtures with no shortage of drama and excitement across the division. Here are five of the biggest storylines from the weekend in MLS.
By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert
Lionel Messi could still drag Inter Miami to glory this season
Inter Miami have problems. Those problems contributed to an early exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the hands of Monterrey and it allowed Nashville to take an early lead in Saturday’s match at Chase Stadium. Tata Martino’s team are vulnerable from set pieces and against opponents that can get in behind with pace.
The Herons have Lionel Messi, though, and he could still drag them to glory this season. The 36-year-old registered two goals and an assist in the 3-1 comeback victory over Nashville and now has seven goals in his last six Inter Miami outings. Saturday’s win came at the cost of an injury to Diego Gómez who could be sidelined for a while, but Messi masks so much.
Chicho Arango is flying and has made himself an early MVP candidate
A brace against the Chicago Fire on Saturday lifted Chicho Arango to the top of the Golden Boot standings with the 29-year-old now firmly in the early-season MVP discussion. Arango has netted eight goals in just nine league appearances for Rea Salt Lake and was directly involved in all four goals scored at Soldier Field.
According to RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni, though, it’s Arango’s work rate and leadership that makes him so valuable. “It’s doing all the little stuff when we don’t have the ball,” he said about the Colombian. “That, for me, is instrumental in his level of engagement throughout the game.”
Sporting KC-St. Louis City rivalry continues to grow as one of MLS’s best
2023 saw 20 goals scored in just five meetings between Sporting KC and St. Louis City and Saturday’s match at Children’s Mercy Park suggested there will be more of the same produced between these two rivals in 2024. Indeed, the 3-3 draw highlighted how this rivalry is still growing as one of the best anywhere in MLS.
“It’s a derby and we get up for these moments,” said St. Louis head coach Bradley Carnell after watching his team fight back twice to claim a point. Sporting KC have now conceded nine goals in their last three home games and have dropped 14 points from winning positions this season. More chaos is guaranteed when these two sides meet again in July.
Chris Armas is slowly but surely turning the Colorado Rapids around
4-0 down at half time of the season opener, some fans had already written off the Colorado Rapids’ off-season rebuild. However, the outlook since that punishing defeat in Portland has improved greatly with Chris Armas’ team taking 10 points from their last four MLS matches. The former RBNY head coach and former Manchester United assistant is slowly but surely turning Colorado around.
It’s not just that the Rapids are now within three points of the top of the Western Conference – although that matters to a team that finished bottom of the West last season. It’s that they are playing with an identity and belief – and perhaps the most encouraging thing is there’s much more to come from the likes of Djordje Mihailović, Rafael Navarro and Cole Bassett.
Prince Owusu is stepping up in style for Toronto FC
The most viral moment of the weekend in MLS came in Saturday’s match between Toronto FC and the New England Revolution which was decided by an incredible piece of skill by Prince Owusu. The TFC attacker performed a backheel volley in the air to finish a Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty cross and secure three points for the hosts.
This was Owusu’s highlight reel moment of the season so far, but the Ghanian has stepped up when Toronto FC have needed him to. He has four goals in nine games (five of them starts) and has given John Herdman’s side the presence and cutting edge it needed in the centre-forward position.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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