Morning everyone,

We have one ask from you today. Can each of you do us a big favor and forward this email to a fellow soccer friend and have them subscribe here? It’s a gentleman’s agreement. Thank you 🤝 

• 2️⃣ 8️⃣ MLS Match Day 28 Recap

• 🇺🇸 Americans Start European Play

• 🟣 Orlando City Dominates Florida Derby

• 🤔 More MLS Tidbits

• ⚽️ Goal of the Week

• 😂 Tweet of the Week

MLS Match Day 28 Recap

St. Louis City got its biggest win of the season, beating a very good Nashville team 3-1. Don’t hold out hope for this team to make the playoffs, though. I just don’t see it happening. Nashville’s second straight loss may have proved that they’re a bit too reliant on Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar for all their goal-scoring needs. The duo has combined for 30 out of the team’s 43 goals.

San Diego put their Leagues Cup exit behind them and beat Sporting KC 2-0 on the road. It wasn’t their best performance of the year, but it’s their fifth straight road win. Once again, it was their DPs who led the way. Chucky Lozano scored a brilliant goal from 25 yards out (see below), and Anders Dreyer added the second with a nice give-and-go. With 49 points and 8 games left, they’re on pace to beat LAFC’s expansion points record of 57.

LAFC and Chicago dueled to a 2-2 draw. Heung Min-Son made his MLS debut in the 61st minute against Chicago (here’s every touch). He made an immediate impact, drawing a penalty to tie the game. In a league with so many bad DP signings, for some reason, I have zero doubts that this one will not work out. Son will be a star. LAFC sits 5th in the Western Conference but has at least two games in hand on every team in front of them. You’re not going to want to play them come playoffs.

Austin FC and Houston dueled to a 2-2 draw, but it will feel like a loss for Austin after giving up a 2-0 lead at home. Their second goal, however, was a beautiful 27 pass build up finished by Guilherme Biro. But Jack McGlynn’s late brace kept Houston’s playoff hopes alive.

Americans Abroad

The 2025-2026 season is underway for our USMNT stars abroad, and every minute abroad doubles as a World Cup audition for next summer. The race for a 2026 roster spot is officially on.

Josh Sargent scored in his first league game of the season for Norwich City, then again in the first round of the EFL Cup. A great start for our forward after finishing 4th in goals scored last season in the English second division with 15.

Antonee Robinson will be out to start the season after undergoing knee surgery in May. “Jedi is not ready,” said Fulham Manager Marco Silva after their 1-0 preseason win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. They’re taking the correct approach of being patient with Robinson’s recovery. He played a lot of soccer last year, and there’s no need to rush him back.

Chris Richards and Crystal Palace pick up their first trophy of the season with the 2025 Community Shield win in a penalty shootout over Liverpool. After going trophy-less for 119 years, they’ve won two in the past four months.

Tim Weah finally signed with Marseille and immediately recreated his Dad’s iconic signing photo from 25 years ago. This is a move Weah has been pushing for all offseason, and will hopefully get him playing consistently.

Sergino Dest's highlight reel and goal from his first league game for PSV are so good to see for USMNT fans. That’s now 2 goals in the first 2 games this year for Dest. PSV teammate Ricardo Pepi is still on the mend and is expected back next week.

Orlando City Dominates Florida Derby

For the second time this season, Orlando City beat Inter Miami by three goals. This time, a 4-1 route at home (goal highlights here). Inter Miami has never won in Orlando in its history.

It was another win fueled by the excellence of Orlando’s DPs. After losing playing time to Ramiro Enrique, Luis Muriel responded with 5 goals and an assist in his last two games, including two goals and an assist against Miami. Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic each added a goal of their own. Ojeda now has a goal contribution in 11 straight games, tying for the third-longest streak in MLS history. With 14g/13a in MLS play, he’s entered himself into the MVP conversation. He also had two goals and an assist in the 5-1 rout of Necaza mid-week, one of which was sensational.

While Messi didn’t play, it wouldn’t have made a difference. Orlando was the far better team. With three straight league wins, they’ve now jumped to 4th place in the East, ahead of Columbus and Miami. They’re healthy and in form. You can add them to the group of now six teams battling for the top spot in the East.

These two teams could meet again in the Leagues Cup semifinal if they both get past their Liga MX opponents. I would love to see a rematch with a healthy Messi.

More MLS Tidbits

Diego Luna and Kyle Duncan got into a bear-hugging match. It was a wild play. Luna was given a second yellow, which can’t be reviewed. Then the ref was advised to review the play and determined that Duncan deserved a red card. Real Salt Lake is appealing the decision.

Maxime Crepeau had the worst goalkeeping error of the season in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to FC Dallas. It was an uninspiring, ugly loss to a not very good team. Portland also agreed to sell attacker Santi Moreno to Fluminense for $6M.

The Seattle Sounders have gone unbeaten in 7 straight league games. They were also the only team to win all three League Cup games. And then they trounced the Galaxy 4-0. They’re the deepest team in MLS, and they always go on a run this time of year.

Wilfried Zaha scored the game winner on the road against Cincinnati to give Charlotte their 5th straight league win, the longest streak in MLS. It’s his 9th straight game with a goal contribution. Charlotte is HOT.

Goal of the Week

CHUCKKYYYYY

Tweet of the Week

Last week, when welcoming Son at LAFC’s press conference, a LA city councilwoman said she was expecting him to help the US at the World Cup.

Ugh. This is why American soccer has a bad stigma.

Quick Hits

• Cavan Sullivan’s sick training highlights (Link)

• Minnesota rejected a $4 million bid for Canadian forward Tani Oluwaseyi (Link)

• La Liga will host their first-ever league game in the US in Miami in December(Link)

• Detroit City FC of the USL reveals renderings of new 15k-seat stadium (Link)

• Charlotte FC acquires Drake Callender from Inter Miami (Link)

Much love,

Max & Mason