Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 12 matches played on the tenth matchday of the 2024 MLS regular season on Saturday, April 20.
Matchday 10 action continues later today when Charlotte FC hosts Minnesota United FC at 6 p.m. ET (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / FOX / FOX Deportes) followed by the 100th edition of the California Clásico between the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes at 8:15 p.m. ET for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and FS1.
Messi Conquers Nashville Yet Again
An early goal against could not derail Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF from their eventual 3-1 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night, which saw Messi produce another outstanding individual performance with two goals and an assist.
With his first goal of the game, Messi became the first player since Joao Plata in 2016 with Real Salt Lake to either score or assist a goal in each of their first six games of a season. No player has recorded more goal contributions than Messi’s 13 (seven goals, six assists), and the Argentine icon is one goal off the top spot in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi standings.
Messi will look to record his seventh consecutive game with a goal contribution on Matchday 11 next Saturday, April 27 when Miami hits the road to face the New England Revolution (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Portland's Evander and Mora Shine
Portland Timbers duo Evander and Felipe Mora were riding three-game scoring streaks heading into Matchday 10, and Mora extended his streak to four games with the game-opening goal against the Columbus Crew. Thanks to that goal, Mora became the first player to score in four consecutive MLS regular season games for the Timbers since Brian Fernández in 2019.
Evander assisted on the Timbers’ second goal of the night, recording his eighth goal contribution in his first seven games to start the season and tying club legend Diego Valeri for the most goal contributions in a Timbers player’s first seven games of a season.
Additionally, Diego Chará made his 376th MLS regular season appearance for the Timbers, tying MLS great Chris Wondolowski for the most appearances for a single club in league history. Chará’s first opportunity to break the record will be next weekend on Matchday 11 when the Timbers travel to LAFC (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
Free-Scoring Rapids Go Four Unbeaten
The Colorado Rapids recorded their third win in their last four games after Matchday 10’s 2-1 victory over FC Dallas courtesy of a game-winning goal from forward Calvin Harris.
Homegrown midfielder Cole Bassett set up the FC Dallas own goal with a dangerous cross through the front of the goal while Harris’ second-half winner ensured Colorado recorded a fourth consecutive game with multiple goals for the first time since 2019. The win also propelled Colorado into fourth place in the Western Conference after the conclusion of Saturday’s games.
Matchday 11’s away trip to FC Cincinnati will be a tough test for this young Rapids team to continue their now four-game unbeaten run and test their recent goal-scoring prowess against one of the most ironclad defenses in MLS (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Scintillating Salt Lake Score Four on the Road
A goal-filled night by Real Salt Lake was powered yet again by Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango, who recorded a brace and an assist against Chicago Fire FC on the night. With the pair of goals, Arango took the lead in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race with eight goals through nine games played for RSL so far this season.
The four-goal road victory marked the first time since 2018 that the club scored four or more goals away from America First Field since 2018 (6-0 vs. Colorado Rapids). RSL climbed to second in the Western Conference with the win and will look to continue with their run-in form as they head on a road trip on Matchday 11 on Saturday, April 27 at the Philadelphia Union (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Climbing the Club Record Books Out East
Both New York City FC and Orlando City SC saw reliable figures in Santiago Rodríguez and Facundo Torres, respectively, contribute big goals on Matchday 10.
Rodríguez scored what was eventually the game-winning goal and his fourth overall in MLS regular season action so far this season. He went on to set up Julián Fernández for the club’s second goal of the night and surpass Jesús Medina (38) for the fourth-most MLS regular season goal contributions in club history. New York City FC hosts Charlotte FC in their next match on Saturday, April 27 for Matchday 11 action (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Torres went on to tie Dom Dwyer and Kaka (24) for the third-most MLS regular season goals in club history and tie Nani (31) for the second-most goals scored for the club across all competitions since their inaugural MLS season in 2015. Orlando goes again on Matchday 11 against Toronto FC (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
