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The MLS regular season is slowly but surely winding down, yet there is still plenty to talk about as the standings begin to take their final form. Here are some of our main takeaways from matchday 30.
LAFC may have hit their wall (for now)
Aug 31, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; LAFC defender Maxime Chanot (25) and Houston Dynamo FC forward Ezequiel Ponce (10) react to an official in the first half at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY
LAFC are one of the best teams in Major League Soccer, that remains true. However, a tumultuous week or so has left us with some question marks over where they might be mentally heading into the final two months of the campaign.
Steve Cherundolo’s side were shown their level by the Columbus Crew once again in the Leagues Cup final, and while they scraped a victory in Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup during the week, they looked leggy in a 2-0 home loss to Houston over the weekend.
The addition of Olivier Giroud is a bonus, thats for sure. But the likes of Eduard Atuesta, Denis Bouanga, and others crucial to LAFC’s success simply looked tired against the Dynamo.
The Black and Gold will certainly be in the conversation for favorites in the Western Conference, but they will need to find a way to recover on the fly.
The Timbers proved they can win another way
Aug 31, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers defender Juan David Mosquera (29) and Portland Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (16) celebrates after the match against the Seattle Sounders at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Neville’s Timbers have been an enigma all season. In attack they look nearly unplayable at times. The trio of Evander, Felipe Mora, and Jonathan Rodríguez has been the bane of MLS defenders all season, and when you sprinkle in the Colombian connection of Santi Moreno and Juan David Mosquera down the right, you have a recipe for great success.
On the flip-side however, the Timbers have leaked goals throughout the 2024 campaign, conceding 46 so far this season, the most of any team in the playoff spots. But against their bitter rivals Seattle over the weekend, the Timbers showed a glimpse of defensive steel and grit that we haven’t seen much this season.
The Timbers conceded a flurry of corners as the Sounders pushed to level the score in stoppage-time, but every attempt was swatted away. ”I thought it was our best performance of the season,” Phil Neville said. “We did what we had to do to win a game of football. After we realized we could defend them, we started acting like men.”
No Lucho, no problem for Cincinnati
Aug 31, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan acknowledges fans after the victory over CF Montreal at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
FC Cincinnati were winless in 10 games without Luciano Acosta heading into a Saturday night clash with Montréal at TQL, but they took the first step towards breaking that frustrating trend with a resounding 4-1 victory.
FC Cincinnati cruising to victory in the closing seconds of added time.
Big, big response tonight – especially considering Lucho Acosta and DeAndre Yedlin weren’t available for this one.
— Pat Brennan (@PBrennanENQ) September 1, 2024
Luca Orellano continues to put on a show, scoring his second goal from the halfway line this season. To compound their joy, the front two of Kevin Kelsy and new signing Nicholas Gioacchini combined well and caused a bundle of problems for the Montréal rearguard.
Luckily for Pat Noonan, Acosta will return to the team for a September 14 showdown with none other than bitter rivals Columbus, but showing that they can earn three points without him will be a major boost to Cincinnati’s hopes this season.
St. Louis City’s summer moves are paying off handsomely
Sep 1, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis CITY SC midfielder Marcel Hartel (17) celebrates with forward Jayden Reid (99) after scoring a goal against the LA Galaxy during the second half at CITYPARK. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
St. Louis City’s season looked all but finished when they parted ways with long time manager Bradley Carnell, but some shrewd summer moves may have just helped turn things around.
The duo of Marcel Hartel and Cedric Teuchert, both of whom arrived from Germany, have hit the ground running and transformed a City side that were lifeless at times during the opening months of the season.
A win against conference leaders LA Galaxy at the weekend put St. Louis‘ new credentials on full display. A nine point deficit sits in their way of an MLS Cup Playoff spot, but miracles can happen when momentum is on your side.
Miami may have finally broken away in the Shield race
Inter Miami are really hitting their stride, and they are doing it without Lionel Messi. And after a 4-1 win against Chicago on Saturday, the Herons may have all but wrapped up the Supporters Shield.
They were helped by the LA Galaxy’s loss away to St. Louis City, but the Shield has seemed destined for Miami for a month now.
Inter Miami are sitting at 2.19 PPG. The all-time record is 2.15.
With the Shield Race almost surely in hand, this squad will go down as one of the best in MLS history. pic.twitter.com/zqRZJ2QQO6
— Nutmeg Soccer (@NutmegSoccerCo) September 1, 2024
In the end it is success in the playoffs that will truly define Tata Martino’s side, but the football purists will put plenty of stock into a record-setting Supporters Shield win for Miami should it come to fruition.
It’s stated every week, but we can’t put these words down on paper without mentioning the eventual return of the great one.