Soccer <\/p>\n
Superstars providing a major boost, derbies turning up the temperature and youngsters seizing their chance \u2013 Matchday 18 had a bit of everything.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Before 2026 MLS All-Star Week unfolds in Charlotte, we’re here to take stock of Saturday’s jam-packed slate.<\/p>\n
Just like Matchday 17 midweek<\/a>, let’s start with a certain French superstar who may be inspiring a historic turnaround in Central Florida.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n The Griezmann Effect<\/strong><\/p>\n We’re two games into Orlando City<\/a>‘s Antoine Griezmann<\/a> era, and the early returns are spectacular.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Lions started with a 4-0 midweek win<\/a> at Western Conference co-leaders San Jose<\/a>, a match where the Atl\u00e9tico Madrid icon scored his first MLS goal<\/a> and delivered five key passes.<\/p>\n Orlando then earned an impressive 1-0 victory<\/a> over Supporters’ Shield leaders Nashville SC<\/a> on the weekend, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup<\/a> champion again left his mark all over the match.<\/p>\n This is very much a case of “a rising tide lifts all boats,” as Orlando were among the league’s biggest strugglers before this summer’s 2026 World Cup break.<\/p>\n But with Griezmann’s world-class quality setting the standard, the mood around Inter.co Stadium has done a complete 180. This is all with Mart\u00edn Ojeda<\/a> out injured and transfer speculation around Marco Pa\u0161ali\u0107<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n Lions fans are dreaming of how far Griezmann can take them, and rightfully so.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Casemiro shows his class<\/strong><\/p>\n Inter Miami<\/a> have a well-documented advantage in the transfer market, i.e players who are determined to pursue trophies alongside Lionel Messi<\/a> and, arguably, take less money while doing so.\u00a0<\/p>\n The latest example of that is Brazilian legend Casemiro<\/a>, who was formally unveiled last week as the Herons’ latest superstar after spending nearly 15 years competing for the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and FC Porto.<\/p>\n The veteran midfielder’s debut arrived quickly, as he went the full 90 minutes Saturday night during a 1-0 win<\/a> at CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a> \u2013 a game decided by Luis Su\u00e1rez<\/a>‘s late penalty kick.<\/p>\n Casemiro is still adjusting to his new club, of course. Argentina teammates Messi and Rodrigo De Paul<\/a> aren’t back from their well-deserved World Cup break, either. And there are questions around how Guillermo Hoyos can best utilize Casemiro’s diverse skill set.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n But Inter Miami have their new midfield metronome, and Casemiro only strengthens the club’s hopes of repeating as MLS Cup champions. That’s the power of adding a five-time UEFA Champions League winner who’s played at three World Cups.<\/p>\n Two more notes:<\/p>\n Son & Bouanga deliver \u2013 again<\/strong><\/p>\n Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Son Heung-Min<\/a> and Denis Bouanga<\/a> were up to their old tricks for LAFC<\/a> on Saturday night.<\/p>\n That dynamic duo sparked a 4-0 rout<\/a> of Sporting Kansas City<\/a>, as Son opened the scoring in the fifth minute and Bouanga (2g\/1a) added a brace that sandwiched David Mart\u00ednez<\/a>‘s first-half goal.<\/p>\n Son and Bouanga have now scored in all three of LAFC’s games following the World Cup break, and they have combined for a head-turning 13g\/16a this season.<\/p>\n They’re starting to show the form \u2013 and consistent end product \u2013 that captivated MLS last summer and fall, when Son arrived from Tottenham Hotspur on a league-record deal.<\/p>\n A few more notes:<\/p>\n Columbus take Hell is Real<\/strong><\/p>\n When the latest chapter of Hell is Real began on Saturday night, FC Cincinnati<\/a> had the upper hand. K\u00e9vin Denkey<\/a> opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and Evander<\/a> was pulling the strings.<\/p>\n But the Columbus Crew<\/a> turned things around just before halftime, delighting their home crowd. Jamal Thiar\u00e9<\/a> equalized and D\u00e1niel Gazdag<\/a> netted a penalty kick, establishing a 2-1 lead<\/a> that lasted through the full-time whistle.<\/p>\n Was it the Crew’s best game? No, and they’d admit as much. But it’s a fantastic three points amid a transition period, with marquee summer signing Brais M\u00e9ndez<\/a> watching on and center back Eric Bailly<\/a> also yet to debut.\u00a0<\/p>\n They’ve got Ohio bragging rights for the time being, and have shown they won’t go down without a fight this year \u2013 even with star forward Diego Rossi transferred to LIGA MX’s CF Monterrey and striker Wessam Abou Ali recovering from a season-ending knee injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Cincy’s 42 goals against this season are “good” for the third-most in MLS. As talented as they are in the final third, their trophy potential is limited by shortcomings at the back.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n DPs drive Houston forward<\/strong><\/p>\n Houston<\/a>‘s attack was transformed this past winter, with Mateusz Bogusz<\/a> and Guilherme<\/a> arriving on DP deals. Bogusz was acquired from LIGA MX’s Cruz Azul for reportedly up to $10 million, while Guilherme joined from Brazilian S\u00e9rie A side Santos FC.<\/p>\n Suffice it to say, the Dynamo’s front office envisioned nights like Saturday \u2013 a 3-0 home win<\/a> over Texas rivals Austin FC<\/a> \u2013 when they made that roster investment.<\/p>\n Bogusz bagged his first brace with the club, the Polish international delivering his best performance with Houston since a stoppage-time winner<\/a> earlier this season.<\/p>\n As for Guilherme? It was more of the same, as he provided 1g\/2a before he joins up with the MLS All-Stars to face the LIGA MX All-Stars. That extended the Brazilian veteran’s team-leading goal contributions total to 16 (9g\/7a).<\/p>\n Houston are quietly one spot outside of a home Audi MLS Cup Playoffs match, currently sitting fifth in the West (26 points). That’s the byproduct of losing once in their last seven games.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Cali Cl\u00e1sico craziness<\/strong><\/p>\n When Timo Werner<\/a> stepped up for a 95th-minute penalty kick, the game-winning shot was on his right boot.\u00a0<\/p>\n His San Jose Earthquakes<\/a>, then tied 1-1 with the LA Galaxy<\/a>, were essentially given the chance to score a walk-off winner \u2013 and it would have caused bedlam as more than 43,000 fans packed Stanford Stadium for the latest Cali Cl\u00e1sico.<\/p>\n However, Galaxy goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski<\/a> had different plans. The veteran shot-stopper and former Quakes ‘keeper dove to his left and denied the German star, preserving a draw<\/a> for the visitors.<\/p>\n LA are still winless in four games and have a significant roster hole to fill after transferring out DP winger Gabriel Pec<\/a>. But maybe Marcinkowski’s save can help turn their season around.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n St. Louis CITY are on a roll<\/strong><\/p>\n The most in-form team in MLS, not named Inter Miami? That is none other than St. Louis CITY SC<\/a>.<\/p>\n Yoann Damet’s side has gone unbeaten in seven games, with six wins in that span. And their latest came Saturday night when Tom\u00e1\u0161 Ostr\u00e1k<\/a>‘s 83rd-minute stunner provided a 1-0 victory<\/a> over the Colorado Rapids<\/a>.<\/p>\n St. Louis are up to seventh in the West, and are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since their 2023 expansion season.<\/p>\n This comes as St. Louis integrate newcomer Alexandru M\u0103\u021ban<\/a> and are reportedly set to make Carlo Holse a DP, acquiring the Danish international from Samsunspor in the Turkish S\u00fcper Lig.<\/p>\n We’ll be following closely to see how far St. Louis can push this turnaround in Damet’s first season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Harrison sees Revs in full flight<\/strong><\/p>\n Just before kickoff vs. Atlanta United<\/a> on Saturday night, the New England Revolution<\/a> formally announced Jack Harrison<\/a> as their new DP signing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n That wasn’t too surprising: Fans spotted him in attendance at Gillette Stadium, and there were reports all week that the club would acquire him from English Premier League side Leeds United.<\/p>\n But were the Revs expecting to have Harrison watch on as his new team soared to a 4-1 rout<\/a> of Atlanta United? Probably not.<\/p>\n The Englishman saw Carles Gil<\/a> orchestrate the attack, Dor Turgeman<\/a> return to the scoresheet, and US youth internationals Peyton Miller<\/a> and Brooklyn Raines<\/a> tack on goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Revs are up to third in the East (29 points), and now add a proven, high-end winger in Harrison. He’s plenty familiar with MLS, having started his professional career with New York City FC<\/a> back in 2016-17. He also knows the region, having attended prep school as a teenager.\u00a0<\/p>\n New England have become a solid side under first-year head coach Marko Mitrovi\u0107, and now get a boost in the final third at a position of need (left wing).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Mora’s emotional exit<\/strong><\/p>\n It was storybook stuff<\/a> at Providence Park on Saturday night.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Felipe Mora<\/a>, playing his final game in Portland Timbers<\/a> colors, scored a brace in the club’s 2-1 win<\/a> over Real Salt Lake<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Chilean international will reportedly soon join LIGA MX side Atl\u00e9tico de San Luis, ending a six-plus-season and 173-game run in Portland.<\/p>\n So when Mora was subbed off in the 72nd minute\u2026 emotional doesn’t even begin to describe it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Trouble in Chicago?<\/strong><\/p>\n So, this isn’t great!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udea8 Mbekezeli Mbokazi will be out for a prolonged period with a torn thigh he suffered in training last week.<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6 He has been placed on the six-game injury list, ruling him out until at least mid-September. Gregg Berhalter is exploring all options.https:\/\/t.co\/OGH6YCc1qu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Alex Calabrese (@amcalabrese12) July 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Mbokazi<\/a> was arguably Chicago<\/a>‘s best player during the first half of the season and was coming off a strong World Cup with South Africa. His long-term injury is a huge blow to the club.<\/p>\n Now, Chicago have options at center back. Jack Elliott<\/a> and Joel Waterman<\/a> are proven in MLS, and there’s huge potential in homegrown Christopher Cupps<\/a> (though he’s currently with the US U-20s). Sam Rogers<\/a> and Mauricio Pineda<\/a> are other possibilities.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n But Mbokazi was so crucial to how the Fire play, and replacing his emergency defending, line-breaking passes, strength in duels\u2026 not easy. And that showed in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat<\/a> at New York City FC.<\/p>\n Further, Chicago are waiting on Robert Lewandowski<\/a>‘s first goal with the club. The Polish superstar came off the bench for this road match.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Philly find momentum<\/strong><\/p>\n The Philadelphia Union<\/a> have won back-to-back games under interim coach Ryan Richter, their latest being a 1-0 triumph<\/a> over injury-plagued Seattle Sounders FC<\/a> behind Milan Iloski<\/a>‘s team-high ninth goal this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n We’re paying special attention to how teenage homegrowns and USMNT prospects Cavan Sullivan<\/a> and Neil Pierre<\/a> have earned starting roles. Sullivan has found another gear since the World Cup break, creating chances and showing a willingness to try s–t on the ball.<\/p>\n Reminder: He’s still just 16 years old.\u00a0<\/p>\n Vancouver\u2026 without Berhalter?<\/strong><\/p>\n Whitecaps<\/a> fans have gotten a glimpse into life without Sebastian Berhalter<\/a> lately, starting with a 4-3 defeat<\/a> at FC Cincinnati midweek and continuing with a 0-0 draw<\/a> at Minnesota United FC on Saturday.<\/p>\n The reason? The USMNT midfielder\u00a0will reportedly soon join EFL Championship side Middlesbrough, moving abroad for a $2 million fee before his contract expires this winter.<\/p>\n That will be a significant loss for Vancouver, who still co-lead the West with 33 points. But replacing Berhalter won’t be easy, and we’re watching closely to see what moves they have planned in the summer transfer market.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udd34 BREAKING: Middlesbrough is set to sign USMNT midfielder Sebastian Berhalter from the Vancouver Whitecaps, per sources.<\/p>\n Deal agreed. Berhalter off to Boro. <\/p>\n Fee around $2m, rather than Berhalter leaving for free in 5 months when contract expires. https:\/\/t.co\/bMlKvumSee<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Tom Bogert (@tombogert) July 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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Around the grounds<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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