Soccer <\/p>\n
Seven-goal barnburners in Charlotte, Frisco and Cincy, five each in Music City, KC and Gotham, and a statement game or two from teams with something to prove.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
MLS Matchday 5 was a wild one, giving everyone in the league at least something to chew over as we shift into a massive March international break. Let\u2019s serve it up.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n
\nMessi shaves, goes yard<\/strong><\/p>\n
On Wednesday night, Nashville SC<\/a> stunned<\/a> North American soccer (and beyond) by advancing past Inter Miami<\/a> in their Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> Round of 16 series via the away-goals rule, a painful setback for a Herons side intent on adding that trophy to their fast-growing collection.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s one possible metric for how much that setback stung: Lionel Messi<\/a> shaved his beard<\/a> afterwards, making a fresh, clean start for Sunday\u2019s visit to Yankee Stadium for a matinee duel with New York City FC<\/a>. You could argue it worked, too.<\/p>\n
The GOAT clanged a few shots off the woodwork before finally beating Matt Freese<\/a> with a deflected free kick, his fourth league tally of the season, as the Herons and Pigeons treated us to a pulsating thriller that eventually broke in the visitors\u2019 direction. Messi\u2019s incision and a late Micael<\/a> header fueled a 3-2 comeback<\/a>, bounce-back win for Miami head coach Javier Mascherano, branded \u201cabsolutely crucial for a whole bunch of reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read my colleague Harrison Hamm for the full context<\/a> of a victory which \u201cshowed everyone we\u2019re still champions,\u201d in the words of IMCF homegrown Ian Fray<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the second half, the boys showed great character by turning the result around. We had control and they got ahead of us \u2013 it’s not easy to reverse this,\u201d said Mascherano in Spanish.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened on Wednesday was a hard blow. We had so much hope of being able to continue, but what happened, we can’t change.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nNasty Nashville<\/strong><\/p>\n
We talked at midweek about Nashville\u2019s CCC besting of Miami as a milestone result for an ambitious team on the rise, and B.J. Callaghan\u2019s side emphatically restated their big-boy bona fides with a 5-0 home hammering<\/a> of woebegone Orlando City<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Paced by a hat trick from early MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi leader\u00a0Sam Surridge<\/a> and all-around brilliance from newcomer Cristian Espinoza<\/a>, the confident Coyotes could easily have drilled a few more past Maxime Cr\u00e9peau<\/a> and the Lions, who made clear that the issues in Orlando run deeper than departing head coach Oscar Pareja<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\u201cComing into this game, we wanted to have an elite mentality. We want to have a mentality that, no matter the circumstances, we want to be the aggressor,\u201d said Callaghan of his side\u2019s dominance. \u201cThe energy here in the stadium gave us that boost early on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond being one of MLS\u2019s four CCC quarterfinal survivors, Nashville now top both the Eastern Conference and Supporters\u2019 Shield standings with a 4W-0L-1D record, ahead of LAFC<\/a>, the league\u2019s only other remaining undefeated side, on goal differential.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nHold steady<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nFor their part, LAFC again displayed what\u2019s been their superpower thus far in \u201826 with a\u00a00-0 draw<\/a> at Austin<\/a>: Rock-solid defensive fidelity.<\/p>\n
The Black & Gold are the only team in MLS yet to concede a single goal<\/a> in league play. And while a side with their wealth of attacking genius have good reason to consider this trip to Central Texas two points dropped, it\u2019s an acceptable result given their heavy Concacaf Champions Cup exertions in Costa Rica Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\u2014 FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n
\nLAFC needed a last-gasp golazo from David Mart\u00ednez<\/a> to advance<\/a> past LD Alajuelense and set up a mouthwatering quarterfinals clash with Mexican heavyweights Cruz Azul next month. So for now, the old Concacaf mantra \u2018win at home, draw on the road\u2019 may suit Marc Dos Santos & Co.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\n“Acceptable\u201d also describes the 0-0 draw<\/a> earned by another CCC participant, Seattle Sounders FC<\/a>, on their chilly Sunday visit to James Rodr\u00edguez<\/a>\u2019s Minnesota United<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Though James made his home debut off the bench for the Loons, this one wasn\u2019t the most memorable of matches, and that\u2019s just fine for the trophy-hunting Sounders, who\u2019ll soon cross swords with mighty Tigres UANL in the CCC quarterfinals.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nWhere did that come from?!?<\/strong><\/p>\n
Caution and structure have been a central focus under Dean Smith at Charlotte FC<\/a>, so perhaps the weekend\u2019s biggest surprise was The Crown\u2019s attacking explosion on Saturday, with Pep Biel<\/a> and Wilfried Zaha<\/a> leading a 6-1 demolition<\/a> of unlucky Red Bull New York<\/a> before another big, vibrant crowd at Bank of America Stadium.<\/p>\n
CLTFC had only scored four goals across their first four matches. So even with a 53rd-minute red card to Gustav Berggren<\/a>, their relentlessness was striking.<\/p>\n
Turns out Smith prepared his team<\/a> for this game by playing clips of the ferocious off-ball work that powered Liverpool and Manchester City\u2019s great recent squads, setting the tone for their aggressive outlook vs. the young Red Bulls.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just saw the intent from the boys. We were absolutely buzzing. The boys were flying, winning their battles, and we just looked energetic,\u201d said Australian striker Archie Goodwin<\/a> after he bagged a brace off the bench.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wants us to engrave that in our game, win our battles, be an aggressive team and just win everything, be on the front foot at all times. I think tonight that showed.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Charlotte really are serious about being more assertive, it could push them to another tier this season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nA Lone Star hoedown<\/strong><\/p>\n
Nowhere was the Matchday 5 action more feverish than the Texas Derby scrap at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas<\/a> edged old rivals Houston Dynamo FC<\/a>, 4-3<\/a>, in a chaotic classic that started 2-0 in FCD\u2019s favor, then flipped on its head as H-town\u2019s new Brazilian star Guilherme<\/a> masterminded a furious fightback to snatch a 3-2 Dynamo lead before halftime.<\/p>\n
Dallas\u2019 Croatian 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> hopeful, Petar Musa<\/a>, entered after halftime and changed the game again, instigating a Houston own goal before stabbing home a dramatic late winner that confirmed what some of us have been saying for a while now: Eric Quill\u2019s FCD are for real.<\/p>\n
If you watch nothing else from this one, though, make it the truly special skill shown by Musa\u2019s partner in crime, Logan \u2018Hot Dog\u2019 Farrington<\/a>, on his jaw-dropping first-half goal:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\u2014 FC Dallas (@FCDallas) March 22, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n
\n\u201cI saw Shaq [Moore], he locked eyes with me and played a great ball over the back shoulder of the defender. I knew if I could bring it down, I\u2019d have a chance to get a shot off,\u201d Farrington said later<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m confident in my touch, but that one surprised me; it was even better than I planned. I hit a fake shot to make him commit, then went right through his legs into the far corner.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nBig wins, and a first win<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nThe San Jose Earthquakes<\/a>, too, appear to be for real. The Quakes shook off last week\u2019s Seattle setback by jetting north to British Columbia and dealing Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a> their first league loss, grinding out a 1-0 away W<\/a> after Beau Leroux<\/a> smashed this stunner into the top corner just before halftime:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\nSCREAMER FROM LEROUX \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/Ly9fCTIge4<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) March 22, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n
\nSo Timo Werner<\/a> gets the best of his old Germany teammate Thomas M\u00fcller<\/a>, and the Quakes draw level with the \u2018Caps in second place in the West on 12 points apiece, extending their excellent start.<\/p>\n
\u201cVancouver is a very good team, and they\u2019re coming off a tough, congested schedule,\u201d said San Jose head coach Bruce Arena. \u201cWe may have had a slight physical edge tonight because of that, but I don\u2019t want to take any credit away from our players. We played here last year and were embarrassed, so this shows how much progress we\u2019ve made as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nThe three points tasted extra sweet for St. Louis CITY SC<\/a>, as they banked their first victory under first-year boss Yoann Damet with a well-deserved 3-1 defeat<\/a> of\u00a0New England<\/a> at Energizer Park, clinched by a gorgeously clever long-range hit from Marcel Hartel<\/a>.<\/p>\n
This was a vital result for a CITY squad still grieving the recent passing of influential star Eduard L\u00f6wen<\/a>‘s wife, Ilona, a shot of belief after playing well yet often going empty-handed in their early games under Damet.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 22, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n
\nThe Colorado Rapids<\/a> also showed out at an early juncture in the Matt Wells era, posting their third win in four via a four-goal outburst at Sporting Kansas City<\/a>, highlighted by some inspired counterattacking. The seeing-eye backheel from Rafa Navarro<\/a> to set the stage for Paxten Aaronson<\/a>\u2019s opener is my pass of the week:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\nDarren serves it up on a platter and Paxten does the rest\ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f\ud83d\ude24#SKCvCOL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/nhbVbExZ8d<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 22, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n
\nMeanwhile, in the basement…<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Now only two teams remain winless in 2026 league play, and it\u2019s a duo we\u2019re accustomed to ranking among the East elite: Philadelphia<\/a> and Columbus<\/a>.<\/p>\n
A dispiriting 2-1 home loss<\/a> to Chicago<\/a> takes the Union to 0W-5L-0D, which makes them the last side without a single point to their credit, and combined with their midweek ConcaChampions elimination at the hands of LIGA MX giants Club Am\u00e9rica, it constitutes a four-alarm fire for last year\u2019s Shield winners.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this were Europe, this is a relegation-type feel,\u201d said boss Bradley Carnell afterwards, calling his team \u201ca little fragile\u201d given all their recent struggles.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe track things in five-game blocks, and that’s probably one of the worst five-game blocks I’ve ever been a part of,\u201d added the 2025 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year. \u201cSo we’re going to use this [international] window now to set the tone, set the rights from the wrongs and make sure we do our due diligence and get to the bottom of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Crew, for their part, let slip an early lead at Toronto FC<\/a> and could muster a mere 0.9 expected goals over 90-plus minutes as TFC beat them 2-1<\/a> on the back of a late winner and some inspired defensive play from veteran Walker Zimmerman<\/a>. The fluid Columbus attacking sequences of years past are only appearing in spots and patches, with Diego Rossi<\/a> and Steven Moreira<\/a> chief among those who look like shadows of their best selves.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still a little bit [like] we played with the hand brake [on]. Very disappointed,\u201d said head coach Henrik Rydstr\u00f6m. \u201cWe can use the word \u2018soft,\u2019 that we concede too soft goals.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n