National Writer: Charles Boehm<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Matchday 2 is here, and after the charismatic chaos we witnessed on opening weekend, the pace is likely about to quicken across Major League Soccer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n All 30 clubs are in action on Saturday or Sunday, though a few fixtures draw the eye in particular. Here\u2019s a swing through three of the weekend\u2019s most intriguing occasions.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cThe South got something to say!\u201d<\/p>\n Those immortal words of rap legend Andr\u00e9 3000, uttered at the 1995 Source Awards when his group OutKast were named best new artists of the year, heralded a new era in hip-hop. Atlanta United<\/a> have embraced their hometown hero\u2019s phrase to announce their own seismic impact on the scene since launching in 2017, a paradigm shift that helped usher fellow Southerners Nashville SC<\/a> and Charlotte FC<\/a> into MLS in the ensuing years.<\/p>\n A region once seen with skepticism is now a soccer hotbed \u2013 just look at the league\u2019s average attendance leaders the past few seasons: ATLUTD followed by their budding rivals CLTFC, who welcome the Five Stripes to Bank of America Stadium\u2019s customary party atmosphere on Saturday afternoon for a MD2 curtain-raiser.<\/p>\n A huge crowd is expected in downtown Charlotte for this home opener, buoyed not only by the presence of the noisy neighbors from Georgia but also surging expectations around The Crown in 2025. Showpiece winter signing Wilfried Zaha<\/a> is expected to make his CLT debut after missing last week\u2019s first-kick fixture at Seattle<\/a> due to the birth of his daughter, while ATL\u2019s vaunted newcomer Emmanuel Latte Lath<\/a>, who bagged a brace in last week\u2019s wild win<\/a> over CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a>, will be the visitors\u2019 dangerman alongside fan-favorite Miguel Almir\u00f3n<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe appreciate them, and hopefully we can both be showing each other the love after the game,\u201d Charlotte head coach Dean Smith said of the home faithful in a Thursday media availability. \u201cIf your neighbors aren’t coming, knock on the door and get them here, because we want as many of you as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Ahhh, the sweet euphoria of an inaugural season.<\/p>\n St. Louis CITY SC<\/a> remember that feeling, having positively luxuriated in it just two years ago. The high-pressing Midwesterners stunned MLS in their first lap back in 2023, topping the Western Conference table in the regular season, keyed by a rollicking 5W-0L-0D start to the campaign and strong home form in front of raucous crowds at the downtown venue now known as Energizer Park. (Forgive the STL faithful if they show amnesia about what happened in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs \u2013 fans of their cross-state rivals Sporting Kansas City<\/a> will surely be quick to remind them.)<\/p>\n Now the shoe is on the other foot as St. Louis visit Snapdragon Stadium for San Diego FC<\/a>\u2019s home debut on Saturday night, where the largest crowd in the facility\u2019s history is expected. Who could blame the SoCal side for daring to dream about another W, and an opening season like STL\u2019s \u201823, considering how swimmingly things went in last week\u2019s brave, disciplined 2-0 away win<\/a> over defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy<\/a>?<\/p>\n \u201cWe said from the beginning that we\u2019re here to win,\u201d head coach Mikey Varas said afterwards<\/a>. \u201cThe most important thing is that the boys showed conviction for what we\u2019ve been working on all preseason. They showed the quality that they have.\u201d<\/p>\n Expansion life is notoriously treacherous. Inevitably there are ruts, roundabouts and hard lessons on that relentless road. So you\u2019ve got to enjoy the high points, and the communal energy at Snapdragon promises to make this match one of those.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Orange meets pink in Houston to close out the MLS weekend on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire. Ben Olsen\u2019s Dynamo<\/a> aim to shake off Matchday 1\u2019s self-inflicted gut-punch home loss<\/a> to in-state rivals FC Dallas<\/a> by ambushing Leo Messi<\/a> and Inter Miami<\/a>, hoping the Herons will be at least somewhat drained and distracted by their midweek exertions in the Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a>, which they\u2019ll resume with a visit from Jamaica\u2019s Cavalier FC next week.<\/p>\n That might be wishful thinking. Miami and their superstars shifted through the gears with little trouble to dispatch Sporting KC<\/a> by an aggregate score of 4-1 in their CCC Round One series, and Tuesday\u2019s second leg was comfortable enough that three of their \u2018Fab Four\u2019 superstars could be substituted off early.<\/p>\n Still, New York City FC<\/a> made them sweat in their league opener on Saturday, with IMCF needing injury-time magic from Messi and new youngster Telasco Segovia<\/a> to salvage a home draw<\/a> thanks in no small part to Toto Avil\u00e9s<\/a>\u2019 first-half red card.<\/p>\n You can check out Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle\u2019s much deeper, more incisive preview<\/a> to gain a full tactical and contextual rundown of this game.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t sleep on the Jack McGlynn subplot<\/a>: Houston made the bold decision to replace departing Designated Player Hector H\u00e9rrera with the 21-year-old Philadelphia Union<\/a> homegrown in their engine room, one of the biggest bets on a domestic talent MLS has seen over the past decade or so.<\/p>\n If you come for Messi, stay for Yung Jack<\/a>\u2019s silky tempo-setting passes and long-range shooting arsenal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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