Soccer <\/p>\n
Matchday 14 is in the books.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
What did we learn? Did the games confirm our priors or change the complexion of the league?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s dive into some key takeaways from another weekend of MLS action.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire doubleheader nightcap had all the makings of a great MLS game. On one side stood LAFC<\/a>, one of the favorites to win the Western Conference. On the other side stood Nashville SC<\/a>, one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. Both teams made it further than any of their league peers in the Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a>. In a clash of giants that featured plenty of star power, it was Hany Mukhtar<\/a> who stood out above the rest.<\/p>\n Mukhtar, who won the Landon Donovan MLS MVP in 2022, is back to his best for Nashville. He bagged a hat trick for the home side in their 3-2 win<\/a> over LAFC, banging in two free-kick goals after grabbing his first in open play.\u00a0<\/p>\n Even with Nashville missing four key starters (Sam Surridge<\/a>, Andy N\u00e1jar<\/a>, Patrick Yazbek<\/a>, and Eddi Tagseth<\/a>) due to injury, Mukhtar carried the load in one of the defining performances of his tenure. At times, he defended as a striker before adopting a more conductive role in possession in the absence of Surridge, his preferred strike partner. Mukhtar\u2019s versatility has been a theme throughout his time in MLS \u2013 and his performance so far this season is as strong as any of his past campaigns. In fact, his non-penalty goals and assists per 90 minutes are currently outpacing his acclaimed 2022 season, as per FBref.<\/p>\n Now with 101 goals scored for Nashville SC, Mukhtar is the gift that keeps on giving in the Music City.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Hany Mukhtar hatty \u26bd\ufe0f\u26bd\ufe0f\u26bd\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/IO02KPXVmj<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Without the injured Jo\u00e3o Klauss<\/a>, Greg Vanney has been searching for answers at the No. 9 position. In LA Galaxy<\/a>‘s 2-0 road win<\/a>\u00a0over the Seattle Sounders<\/a> on Saturday, Vanney found the perfect recipe for the occasion: using Marco Reus<\/a> up top.<\/p>\n Of course, this past weekend wasn\u2019t the first time we\u2019d seen Reus play as a false nine for the Galaxy. But it was, perhaps, his most influential outing of 2026 in that position. Allowed plenty of flexibility to roam and find the game in Vanney\u2019s fluid 4-3-3 setup, the German playmaker made sure to put his stamp on things en route to snapping the Sounders\u2019 unbeaten home streak. It was Reus\u2019 absurd assist that started the scoring for the Galaxy, with this dribbling through ball playing Gabriel Pec<\/a> in on goal:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Gabriel Pec just keeps on scoring and @LAGalaxy<\/a> lead in Seattle \ud83d\udc4a pic.twitter.com\/5tcAQ0Mfo6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n That, folks, is downright filthy.<\/p>\n While that play above may just be one of the passes of the season from any player, it\u2019s hardly been Reus\u2019 only impactful moment. According to Soccer Data Vizer<\/a>, he ranks in the 96th percentile among attacking midfielders in MLS this year in xG + xA. For a Galaxy team that\u2019s been in desperate need of attacking verve, Reus has stepped up.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n After a 1-1 draw<\/a> with the bottom-of-the-barrel Philadelphia Union<\/a>, the Columbus Crew<\/a> opted to make a change on the sidelines by removing head coach\u00a0Henrik Rydstr\u00f6m<\/a> and handing assistant Laurent Courtois the interim tag.<\/p>\n On one hand, the decision to move on from Rydstr\u00f6m comes as a surprise. Transitioning away from the Wilfried Nancy era was always going to be a difficult process for the Crew, who benefited from the Frenchman\u2019s ability to shift players into new positions and squeeze the most out of the squad with a clear playing style. Fourteen games was likely not going to be enough for any coach to help carry the torch forward.<\/p>\n On the other hand, Rydstr\u00f6m\u2019s version of Columbus was struggling. With just 13 points through 14 games, the Swede left the Crew in the bottom five of the Supporters\u2019 Shield race. With a stagnant attack and a change to a back four that bucked the organizational norm, Columbus haven\u2019t shown much progress to this point in the season. Now, Rydstr\u00f6m could certainly argue that he hasn\u2019t been handed the talent to truly compete for trophies \u2013 D\u00e1niel Gazdag<\/a> continues to struggle, while Wessam Abou Ali<\/a>\u2019s ACL injury pulled the rug out from under the Crew.<\/p>\n But with the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> break nearing and a chance to make notable roster moves during the summer window, it\u2019s time for a fresh start in Columbus. Let\u2019s see what changes Courtois, formerly in charge of\u00a0CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a> and Columbus Crew 2 in MLS NEXT Pro<\/a>, makes now that he\u2019s in the big chair.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The monkey is officially off Inter Miami\u2019<\/a>s back: the club\u2019s first win at Nu Stadium came on Sunday Night Soccer against the Portland Timbers<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was a dominant display from Miami, who claimed a 2-0 victory<\/a> and never truly looked under threat from anything Portland tried to throw at them. Lionel Messi<\/a>, in particular, was at his brilliant best. The Argentine scored the opener for the hosts before notching a quintessentially Messi<\/em> assist to Germ\u00e1n Berterame<\/a>, doubling\u00a0the lead. This is one for the highlight reels:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Messi assists, Berterame finishes. Wow. What a run. \ud83d\ude0e pic.twitter.com\/RGsxFTcVS9<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n The final three players to touch the ball for Inter Miami on that goal sequence above \u2013 Luis Su\u00e1rez<\/a>, Messi, and Berterame \u2013 have all become part of the club, finding some much-needed continuity in recent weeks. After a managerial change, a bout of player absences, and the fixture congestion that comes with the Concacaf Champions Cup, it\u2019s only now that Miami have had a chance to find a regular recipe.\u00a0<\/p>\n Over the last four games, interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos has used the same narrow front three with the same positioning. Berterame has played through the middle, with Su\u00e1rez to his left and Messi to his right. The result? An impressive 3.5 goals scored per game and nine points across those four matches. There are still defensive kinks to be worked out, sure, but it\u2019s clear that Miami are finding a reliable recipe heading into the World Cup break.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Just one week ago, Sporting Kansas City<\/a> found themselves stapled to the bottom of the Supporters\u2019 Shield race with five points. They were on pace for just 15 points, which would\u2019ve been the lowest season-long total in MLS since the league began its current 34-game regular season format.<\/p>\n What a difference a week makes. Now fresh off six points in their double match week, Kansas City are no longer last in the Shield race.\u00a0<\/p>\n At this stage in what\u2019s destined to be a multi-season, multi-transfer window rebuild, one priority for Sporting\u2019s front office should be finding building blocks \u2013 players who can still contribute to the team when it\u2019s pushing for trophies. In midfielders Lasse Berg Johnsen<\/a> and Manu Garc\u00eda<\/a>, SKC have two of those players. Berg Johnsen impressed in Saturday\u2019s 2-1 win<\/a> over Austin FC<\/a> with his distribution from deep, while Garc\u00eda managed a goal in the second half just days after pulling out a dazzling assist in a win over the\u00a0LA Galaxy<\/a>.<\/p>\n With a spine that includes those two and star striker Dejan Jovelji\u0107<\/a>, glimpses of Sporting Kansas City\u2019s future start to come into focus. The wins have started coming, too.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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