Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 14 matches played on the 35th matchday of the 2024 MLS season, Saturday, September 28.
New York City FC Domination Headlines Eastern Conference Clinches
Everything was to play for in the Hudson River Derby on Saturday night – bragging rights, playoff clinching, and home field advantage. New York City FC rose to the occasion and produced their largest-ever victory against the Red Bulls, winning 5-1 at Red Bull Arena. With the win and other results across the Eastern Conference, New York City FC punched their ticket to the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The catalyst of the victory was Maxi Moralez, who scored the opening goal and added an assist for his 99th and 100th career goal contributions. Moralez joins David Villa (103) as the only players in club history to produce at least 100 goal contributions with the Pigeons.
Despite suffering a loss, the New York Red Bulls were able to clinch their spot in the postseason due to other results across the league. The Red Bulls have made the playoffs in 15 straight seasons – the longest stretch in MLS history and only the fourth major North American professional sports team to have a 15-season streak since 2000: the San Antonio Spurs (NBA, 20 seasons, 1999-2000 to 2018-19), the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL, 16 seasons, 2006-07 to 2021-22), and the Detroit Red Wings* (NHL, 16 seasons, 2000-01 to 2015-16).
Elsewhere in the conference, Orlando City SC had no issues in Dallas, winning 3-1 and also stamping their ticket to the postseason. Despite a slow start to the year, the Lions are on fire with wins in eight of their last 11 MLS games. The resurgence has been led by a dynamic offense, averaging 2.57 goals per game since June 19, including 14 in the last five matches.
All three teams will be jockeying against one another down the stretch for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and home field advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
*The Detroit Red Wings advanced to the postseason in 25 consecutive seasons from 1990-91 to 2015-16.
Western Conference Playoff Picture Taking Shape
Matchday 35 saw four different Western Conference clubs earn berths to the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs – Houston Dynamo FC, LAFC, Seattle Sounders FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. LAFC started the clinching as they went into TQL Stadium against FC Cincinnati and came away with a 2-1 win, thanks to goals from Denis Bouanga and David MartĂnez. LAFC became the only club since 2022 to record at least 50 points and make the postseason in each of those seasons.
After Austin and Dallas both dropped points, Houston and Seattle were the beneficiaries as they locked up postseason berths before kicking off against each other. The two head coaches in that match – Ben Olsen and Brian Schmetzer – became the third and fourth active coaches to make the postseason in at least eight different seasons. For Seattle, they have made the playoffs in 15 of their 16 seasons as an MLS club and capped off the evening with a 1-0 win.
The final team to get in on the night was Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who drew 1-1 at home against the Portland Timbers. After winning the Canadian Championship on Wednesday, Whitecaps fans got more to celebrate as they chase their first-ever MLS Cup presented by Audi. Under head coach Vanni Sartini, Vancouver has now made the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2014-15.
Messi Makes More History, Sets Up Shot at Supporters’ Shield
In the 67th minute, Lionel Messi found space and scored a curling equalizer for Inter Miami CF to level the score in a 1-1 draw at home Saturday night against Charlotte FC, as the Herons continue their chase for the Supporters’ Shield (Watch Here). Charlotte FC had previously taken the lead earlier in the second half when Karol Swiderski’s ricocheted shot went past Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender in the 57th minute (Watch Here).
Messi’s goal was his 15th in 16 MLS matches this season for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate, who became the sixth different player in MLS history to record at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a single season. The Argentine legend joins Portland Timbers midfielder Evander as the second player to do so this season.
For Miami, they will have their first opportunity to clinch the Supporters’ Shield when they travel to face the defending MLS Cup presented by Audi champion Columbus Crew on the road at Lower.com Field on Wednesday, October 2 (7:30 p.m., MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / FS1). If Miami wins that match, they would clinch the Shield for the first time in club history. However, a Columbus victory would narrow the gap to five points, while the Crew also have a game in hand.
Yeboah and Minnesota Heating Up at Right Time
Winners of five of their last seven matches, Minnesota United FC is one of the hottest teams in MLS entering the month of October. The Loons dispatched of the Colorado Rapids at home, 3-0, moving up to eighth in the Western Conference, while closing in on an Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs berth. Minnesota has now scored 53 goals in 2024, which is a single-season club record in head coach Eric Ramsay’s debut season at the helm.
Summer Designated Player signing Kelvin Yeboah has been scoring at will since joining the club, and the 24-year-old striker added two more goals on Saturday evening. Yeboah has scored in five of his first six career MLS matches, totaling seven goals during that span. In MLS history, Yeboah is the fourth different player to score in five of his first six matches, and is the first player to score seven times in their opening six games since Adama Diomande in 2018.
Minnesota will look to clinch a postseason berth on Matchday 36 when they travel to face Real Salt Lake (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Cucho Hernández and Christian Benteke Shine in Thrilling Draw
After trailing 1-0 on the road, Cucho Hernández proved his MVP chops by chipping the D.C. United goalkeeper with a terrific, lofted effort to level the score for the Columbus Crew in the 54th minute (Watch Here). Three minutes later, he assisted Jacen Russell-Rowe with a pinpoint cross to take the 2-1 lead Saturday night at Audi Field (Watch Here).
Hernández’s goal was a team-leading 16th goal of the season, and his assist marked the 12th goal contribution in his last 14 MLS matches. The Colombian star is now up to 16 goals and 13 assists in the regular season this year as he helped the Crew hit 57 points for the third time in club history (2023 and 2008).
Despite the heroics from Hernández, D.C. United’s Christian Benteke had something to say before the final whistle when he completed his brace in the 81st minute to give the Black and Red a crucial point in their push to the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs (30’ Watch Here; 81’ Watch Here). With his goal in the first half, Benteke became the third player in club history to score at least 20 goals in a single season, joining RaĂşl DĂaz Arce (23 in 1996) and Luciano Emilio (20 in 2007). Benteke currently leads the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi standings with 21 goals in 2024.
Columbus returns to action on Wednesday, October 2 as they host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF at Lower.com Field in a crucial battle for the Supporters’ Shield (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / FS1). D.C. United will travel to face Nashville SC on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
