The international break is over, and so is the summer. It’s all systems go for the final sprint to the MLS Cup Playoffs. Buckle up – and catch up on Week 27 with us.
Young Jack the hero
International call-ups giveth, and they also taketh away. New York City FC were buzzing – with good reason – over David Villa’s return to the Spanish squad, only to see him tweak his adductor in training with La Furia Roja and miss both of this week’s NYCFC matches. Portland got the best of them on Saturday, more or less confirming that mighty Toronto FC will cruise to the Supporters' Shield, but winger Jack Harrison was clutch in the rain to beat Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday:
Valeri is on fire
No prizes for guessing which Timber ended City’s 10-game home unbeaten streak, because lately the answer to every PTFC question has almost always been Diego Valeri. The Argentinean maestro netted his 17th goal of the season, further closing the gap on MLS Golden Boot leader Villa (who’s on 19). Give Darren Mattocks some credit, though, for robbing Andrea Pirlo blind to create the chance:
… And the Boot race is afoot
Villa’s injury has opened the door for the prospect of a photo finish in the race to be MLS’ leading scorer. Chicago ace Nemanja Nikolic broke his lengthy goal drought on Saturday, leaving him and Valeri tied for 2nd, while four others – Sebastian Giovinco, Ignacio Piatti, Ola Kamara and Bradley Wright-Phillips – are right in the hunt at 15 goals apiece. It promises to be a fun run-in.
Barnburner at BC Place
Cascadia is presently bossing the Western Conference standings, and Vancouver – who suddenly have the best points-per-game rate in the West – are No. 3 with a bullet. Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win over Real Salt Lake was a very fun affair that featured the MLS equivalent of a solar eclipse: A goal apiece from RSL fullbacks Chris Wingert and Tony Beltran. That veteran duo now have scored just three times in 579 combined regular-season games. Oh, and how about another Yordy Reyna diving-header golazo?
A natural born Loon
Overlooked for most of the year in Columbus, Ethan Finlay has poured it on since his trade to Minnesota United. He scored again for the Loons in their 1-1 draw with Philadelphia, running the North Star State native’s stats to two goals and two assists in his first three games for MNUFC. And let’s give some dap to his teammate Francisco Calvo for that utterly lovely pirouette in the build-up to Finlay’s strike:
New Lions pair
When it comes to Orlando City SC duos, we’re used to hearing about Cyle Larin and Kaká. Against D.C. United on Saturday, however, it was all about Larin and Dom Dwyer, as the Lions’ newish strike partnership thrived in a 2-1 win while Kaká played a substitute’s role. If Larin-Dwyer is a thing now, will it get a custom moniker? Larinyer? Dwyerin? Dom-n-Cyle? We’ll have to get back to you on that…
All smiles in ATL
With their home city under threat from Hurricane Irma, the Lions flew from D.C. to Atlanta after their win, joining many other Orlando-area residents taking shelter upland in Georgia. And though they’re budding rivals on the pitch, Atlanta United graciously opened their training-ground doors to OCSC. The Five Stripes weren’t such kind hosts to FC Dallas on Sunday, though, thumping FCD 3-0 in the debut of their incredible new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And what a palace of noise and spectacle that place is:
Savor the Pipa
Crew SC’s four-game home winning streak ended with Sunday’s 1-1 draw vs. Sporting KC, a setback in their playoff chase that will have coach Gregg Berhalter ruing Jonathan Mensah’s ill-advised attempt at a bicycle-kick clearance. That’s all important, but can we talk about Federico Higuain for a sec? Because this is otherworldly:
