Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 12 matches played on the 18th matchday of the 2023 MLS season, Saturday, June 10.
Matchday 18 concludes with a pair of matches on Sunday, as St. Louis CITY SC hosts the LA Galaxy at CITYPARK (1 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FOX) and the Portland Timbers welcome FC Dallas to Providence Park (10 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FS1).
Zelarayán’s Golazo Powers Crew to 2-1 Victory
Measuring at 60.98 yards from midfield (Watch Here), Lucas Zelarayán’s sensational 93rd-minute goal was the game-winner for Columbus, as the Crew defeated Chicago 2-1 at Soldier Field.
The goal was Zelarayán’s second score from beyond 50 yards in the last two seasons, as the midfielder scored on a direct free kick from 56.1 yards away against Charlotte FC on October 5, 2022 (Watch Here).
Columbus got on the scoresheet in the 59th minute, as Cucho Hernández found the back of the net for the third consecutive match. Hernández has recorded a goal contribution in eight consecutive matches, tying the club record for most consecutive games with a goal or assist held by Zelarayán (eight games, Oct. 20, 2021 - March 12, 2022) and Jeff Cunningham (eight games, July 4, 2001 - August 15, 2001). He has recorded four goals and six assists over the span.
Giorgos Giakoumakis Hits 10 Career Goals in Atlanta United Victory
In the club’s 3-1 victory over D.C. United, Atlanta United’s star striker Giorgos Giakoumakis once again made his impact felt early, scoring his 10th goal of the season just 13 minutes into the match. Giakoumakis sits tied atop the Golden Boot presented by Audi leaderboard, alongside Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar, LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, and FC Dallas’ Jesús Ferreira.
Giakoumakis reached his 10th career MLS goal in just his 766th minute of action, making him the second player in MLS history to reach 10 career goals in under 800 minutes of regular season play. Mamadou Diallo (11 goals, 779 minutes) is the only other player to accomplish the feat, doing so with the 2000 Tampa Bay Mutiny.
Revolution Roll to a 3-1 Victory Behind Superb Carles Gil
Revolution midfielder Carles Gil contributed to each of the club’s three goals, scoring once and adding two assists, in New England’s 3-1 victory over Inter Miami CF.
Since entering the league in 2019, Gil has registered 82 career goal contributions (27 goals, 55 assists) in 117 games for the club and is the fifth player in club history to reach 80 combined goals and assists. Gil joins Revolution standouts Taylor Twellman (129 goal contributions), Steve Ralston (115), Lee Nguyen (102), and Diego Fagúndez (98) with at least 80 goal contributions in a New England uniform.
Gil’s pair of assists also marked his ninth multi-assist game since 2019, which are the most in MLS over the span and three more than the next closest players.
CF Montréal, Mason Toye Upend Minnesota United FC, 4-0
Behind a pair of goals from former Loons forward Mason Toye, CF Montréal defeated Minnesota United, 4-0, at Stade Saputo, marking the club’s highest goal total of the season and their fifth consecutive home victory.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Montréal has scored at least four goals in a single game on six occasions, which is the second-highest total in the league over the span, trailing only the Philadelphia Union (10 games).
Pulido’s Scoring Surge Powers Sporting KC
Paced by two goals and an assist by forward Alan Pulido, Sporting Kansas City piled on the offense in a 4-1 victory over Austin FC. Despite not recording their first victory of the season until May 7, Sporting KC (20 points, 5-8-5) has won three of their last four matches and have climbed into eighth place in the Western Conference standings.
Pulido is the third player to record at least two goals and one assist in a single game for the club since 2020, joining Dániel Sallói (June 23, 2021) and Willy Agada (August 21, 2022). For Pulido, Saturday marked his first multi-goal game since May 16, 2021, and his third overall in MLS play.
