The Crew’s Crew: The Big Three in Columbus
Since the end of May, the Columbus Crew have vaulted up the Eastern Conference standings as the club’s dynamic front three of Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernández, Lucas Zelarayán, and Christian Ramírez have found their stride as an attacking unit.
The Columbus trio is one of just four across the league to have each scored at least five goals for their club this season, but no other has combined for more goal contributions than their 40 goals and assists in 2023. Ramírez and Zelarayán have lifted the goal-scoring burden Hernández took on when he arrived in Columbus in 2022, leading the team with eight goals each, while Hernández has repaid them by taking up more creative responsibility with a team-leading and MLS-high 10 assists.
While it was expected Hernández and Zelarayán would continue to be the club’s key figures in attack, the club’s move to bring Ramírez back to MLS has paid well in early returns. The former U.S. Men’s National Team forward has complimented the fluid play of Hernández and Zelarayán with an instinctual, MLS-proven goal scorer. With the club looking to return to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since winning the 2020 MLS Cup, Ramírez’s goals will be instrumental to qualifying this season.
The Crew return to action on Matchday 24 this Saturday, July 8 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass), when they take on New York City FC at Lower.com Field with their lethal front three looking to add to the club’s league-leading 29 goals at home so far this season.
Whitecaps Closing in on Cascadia Summit
Vancouver Whitecaps FC have rarely tasted defeat at BC Place in 2023 (5-1-4), including two wins over their Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders FC and the Portland Timbers. The club has a potential third Cascadia victory in sight as the Whitecaps host the Sounders this Saturday, July 7 (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
The Whitecaps currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference through 19 games played, holding onto an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs spot by just a point over Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United FC. On the Cascadia scale, though, they are just a point off the Timbers for top spot in the race for the Cascadia Cup and bragging rights over their local rivals. With a win or draw over the Sounders, the Whitecaps would move into pole position for their first Cascadia Cup title since 2016.
A recent surge in form has been led by midfielder Ryan Gauld stepping up to convert game-changing penalty kicks and grab games by the scruff of the neck when needed. Seven of his eight goal contributions in 2023 have come in his last five games, including a goal and two assists in the club’s first-ever win over the Los Angeles Football Club at BMO Stadium.
The Sounders, on the other hand, will be looking to secure their first back-to-back victories since the beginning of April with a win at Vancouver. Seattle is winless in its last three trips to Vancouver but seeking to remain in a top-four position in the Western Conference after Matchday 24 is the type of pressure the Sounders have been known to thrive under in big game situations.
Four Finalists Up for MLS All-Star Captain Fan Vote presented by Captain Morgan
Only four days remain in the voting for the MLS All-Star Captain Fan Vote presented by Captain Morgan, as a quartet of MLS All-Stars vie for the captainship in the 2023 MLS All-Star Game. One of the four finalists selected as part of the MLS All-Star fan voting process – Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati, Christian Benteke of D.C. United, Roman Bürki of St. Louis CITY SC, and Walker Zimmerman of Nashville SC – will earn the honor of All-Star captain.
Recent MLS All-Star captains have included Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández (2022), Cristian Roldan (2021), Carlos Vela (2018, 2019), Bastian Schweinsteiger (2017), and Kaka (2015, 2016).
The chosen captain will wear a custom armband designed by local Washington D.C. artist, MasPaz. The armband is unique to the 2023 MLS All Star Game and highlights the importance of celebrating fans that add spice to the game and their communities.
The MLS All-Star Captain Fan Vote presented by Captain Morgan opened on Friday, June 30, 2023, and will remain open through 12 p.m. ET – on Saturday, July 8. All fans can participate in the MLS All-Star Captain Fan Vote presented by Captain Morgan on mlssoccer.com/all-star/2023/vote/captain-vote or via the MLS App, and every fan has the unique opportunity to spice up their social media by sharing their pick.
Leagues Cup 2023 – South Region Preview
Getting to know the South:
The South Region features MLS Cup winners Houston Dynamo FC (2006, 2007) and Atlanta United (2018), as well as Leagues Cup 2019 victor Cruz Azul. Three of the last five MLS expansion clubs since 2020 are also in the South Region: Inter Miami CF (2020), Austin FC (2021), and Charlotte FC (2022).
The Groups
South 1: Austin FC, Mazatlán FC, FC Juarez
South 2: Santos Laguna, Orlando City SC, Houston Dynamo FC
South 3: Cruz Azul, Inter Miami CF, Atlanta United
South 4: FC Dallas, Club Necaxa, Charlotte FC
Stories to Watch
- Blast From the Past: In 2011, a 21-year-old Héctor Herrera made his LIGA MX debut for Pachuca against Santos Laguna, and now the Mexican international icon will face the side he made his league debut against in the orange of Houston Dynamo FC and in search of a Leagues Cup win.
- Tata’s Return: Inter Miami head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino returns to MLS for the first time since winning the 2018 MLS Cup with Atlanta United and will face his former club during the Group Stage in what will be a crucial match to secure a place in the knockout round.
- New Challenges: While Austin FC got a first taste of intracontinental competition in the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, the club’s matches against Mazatlán FC and FC Juarez during the Group Stage will be their first forays into the MLS-LIGA MX rivalry.
Players to Watch
- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas): Tied for third in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race, the 22-year-old Ferreira has an opportunity to power Dallas to the club’s first trophy since 2016 if he can carry his goal-scoring touch into Leagues Cup.
- Facundo Torres (Orlando City): Torres willed Orlando to the club’s first-ever trophy as an MLS club with two goals in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup final, and the Uruguayan starlet has found his groove since the start of June with five goals and an assist in seven games.
- Rodrigo Huescas (Cruz Azul): The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakout season with Cruz Azul, leading the team with five assists over the course of the Apertura 2022 and Clausura 2023 to go along with four goals.
By the Numbers – Concacaf Gold Cup Edition
Below is a breakdown of several of the league’s standout players who competed throughout the Group Stage of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, including international debutants, first-time international goal scorers, and the stars advancing to the knockout round of the tournament.
- 3: Three MLS forwards scored their first international goals, with FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vázquez scoring a late, game-tying goal for the U.S. Men’s National Team against Jamaica, San Jose Earthquakes forward Cade Cowell scoring against Trinidad & Tobago, and 20-year-old Atlanta United forward Ajani Fortune scoring against St. Kitts and Nevis for Trinidad.
- 5: The Gold Cup Group Stage set the stage for five MLS players to make their international debuts, including Colorado Rapids defender Moïse Bombito, who was a Generation adidas player and drafted third overall from the 2023 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas.
- 10: FC Dallas forward Jesús Ferreira became the fastest player in USMNT history to reach 10 goals with a first-half hat trick against St. Kitts and Nevis, doing so in 20 games. He also became the first player in USMNT history to record back-to-back hat tricks and tied Landon Donovan for most hat tricks (three) in program history.
- 15: MLS players scored 16 goals during the Gold Cup Group Stage, with Ferreira leading the way with six. FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vázquez and Real Salt Lake forward Rubio Rubín each scored two as the only three players to score multiple goals.
- 35: Thirty-five MLS players advanced to the Gold Cup Knockout Round, with five of the eight national teams advancing to the quarterfinals rostering MLS players. The United States leads them with 16 MLS players, followed by Canada (10), Jamaica (five), Guatemala (two), and Panama (two).
Tap-Ins: Matchday 24
A look at other headlines and activity around Major League Soccer ahead of Matchday 24:
- Who were the best young-player performers in Matchday 22? (MLSSoccer.com)
- ‘El Tráfico’ soccer match between LA Galaxy and LAFC smashes MLS attendance record (CNN)
- Toronto FC unveils new third uniform: The "Energy Kit" (MLSSoccer.com)
- The bridge between MLS NEXT and Major League Soccer (90min)
- Jesus Ferreira makes USMNT history with back-to-back hat tricks (ESPN.com)
MLS Season Pass Broadcast Schedule: Matchday 24
Below is the MLS Season Pass broadcast schedule for Matchday 24, including English-language commentators for each match with the play-by-play talent listed first, followed by the match analyst.
