Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 15 matches played on the 37th matchday of the 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28.
Highlights of the matchday included:
- After a 6-0 thrashing of D.C. United, the Philadelphia Union (63 points) now have the Supporters’ Shield in their sights as they have a four-point gap on the next closest team, FC Cincinnati (59 points) and could clinch the Shield with a combination of different results next weekend.
- The Eastern Conference playoff picture got clearer as the Columbus Crew, Nashville SC, and Orlando City SC all clinched an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs position. Eight of nine spots have been booked in the East with the last position coming down to Chicago Fire FC (48 points, three games remaining) and the New York Red Bulls (43 points, two games remaining).
- In the Western Conference, only Seattle Sounders FC clinched an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs berth on Matchday 37. The Sounders have now remarkably made the postseason in 16 of their first 17 MLS seasons as they look to become the first team to win Leagues Cup and MLS Cup presented by Audi in the same season.
- After a goal apiece from LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge on Matchday 37, the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race tightened once again. Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi still leads with 24 goals with Bouanga (23) and Surridge (22) in hot pursuit coming down the stretch of the season.
- One of the most exciting young signings in the summer transfer window was New England Revolution forward Dor Turgeman, who debuted for the club on Saturday night. The 21-year-old Israeli international came off the bench and recorded the game-winning goal and an assist, becoming the second player in club history to produce the game-winning strike in his debut (Gustavo Bou in 2019).
Union Take Convincing Step to Supporters’ Shield Title
Despite missing leading scorer Tai Baribo and Quinn Sullivan forced off early due to injury, the Philadelphia Union had no problems on the road against D.C. United, winning 6-0 on Saturday night. Philadelphia’s depth was on full display as four different players recorded multiple goal contributions – Bruno Damiani (two), Milan Iloski (three), Mikael Uhre (three), and Indiana Vassilev (two).
With the victory, the Union are up to 19 regular season wins in 2025, which ties the club record for the most in a single season (2022). The win was a significant one in the Supporters’ Shield standings as the Union opened up a four-point gap and could clinch the Shield this weekend with a combination of different results. The chase for the Shield will likely need a win at Subaru Park on Saturday, October 4 when they host New York City FC in a battle of two top four teams in the Eastern Conference (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
New York City FC Win Fourth-Straight Hudson River Derby, Damper Red Bulls Playoff Hopes
A Hudson River Derby is always a must-see match, but with critical Audi MLS Cup Playoffs positioning on the line, Matchday 37’s contest between New York City FC and New York Red Bulls had it all to play for. The visitors from the Bronx quickly made their mark as Nicolás Fernández Mercau scored the third-fastest goal in the rivalry’s history, just 1:41 into the match.
After a back-and-forth match, the Pigeons walked away with the victory as captain Thiago Martins tapped in from close range in the 65th minute to seal all three points. New York City has won each of the last four regular season matches, becoming just the second team in the rivalry to accomplish the feat (New York Red Bulls in 2015-16). For the Red Bulls, their streak of 15 consecutive Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearances is hanging on by a thread with two games remaining in their season.
A Historic Duo: Bouanga and Son Can’t Be Stopped
In just eight games together, Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min have put all of MLS on notice with a torrential goal-scoring pace. Saturday night was no different as Bouanga opened the scoring for LAFC before Son added two more goals in the visitor’s 3-0 victory over St. Louis CITY SC. Dating back to August 23, Bouanga and Son have scored each of the last 17 goals for LAFC, which is an MLS record and besting the previous high of 15 by Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge earlier this season.
Prior to Son’s arrival, LAFC sat sixth in the Western Conference standings but since the South Korean superstar made his debut, the Black and Gold have taken 17 of 24 possible points and are fourth in the Conference with multiple games in hand. The dynamic duo of Bouanga and Son will be back in action next Sunday, October 5 when they host Atlanta United at BMO Stadium (9 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).
Chicago On Verge of Snapping Postseason Drought in Gregg Berhalter’s Debut Season
In a battle between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in the Eastern Conference, Chicago Fire FC took home all three points with a 2-0 win over the Columbus Crew. Chicago opened the scoring in the 25th minute after an Andrew Gutman cross caught the Crew ‘keeper off guard and found the back of the net (Watch Here). Hugo Cuypers wrapped up all three points in the second half with his team-high 17th goal of the regular season (Watch Here).
The win was Chicago’s 14th regular season victory this year and means they will have a chance to clinch an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs berth with a win against Inter Miami CF on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+). The Fire’s resurgence has been led by head coach Gregg Berhalter in his first season, who has now recorded at least 14 wins in five of his six seasons as an MLS head coach. With the Fire eyeing a playoff berth, Berhalter is on the verge of leading Chicago to the postseason for the first time since 2017, which would snap the longest active drought in MLS.
Paintsil on Fire Heading Into Campeones Cup
The trend of MLS hat tricks continued on Matchday 37 as LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil scored three goals against Sporting Kansas City in the club’s 4-1 victory. All three of Paintsil’s goals came in the first half and the Ghanaian international became the third player in club history to produce a first half hat trick, joining Robbie Keane (May 26, 2013) and Alejandro Moreno (May 19, 2004). In the month of September, there has already been seven different hat tricks in the regular season with five of those from Western Conference clubs.
Next up for the Galaxy is an opportunity to earn a trophy when they host LIGA MX champions Toluca at Dignity Health Sports Park in the 2025 Michelob Ultra Campeones Cup. The match will be on Wednesday, October 1 (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), and it marks the seventh edition of the annual competition that pits the reigning MLS Cup champion against the reigning LIGA MX champion.
