Top Things to Watch in MLS this Week
Top Western Conference teams clash in Los Angeles on Wednesday
The two highest-scoring teams in MLS go head-to-head in Los Angeles this Wednesday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+), when the Los Angeles Football Club host Austin FC, with each club accounting for 23 goals to date on this season. Both teams come into the matchup looking to avenge road defeats on Saturday as LAFC suffered just their second loss of the season. Currently leading MLS Supporters’ Shield standings, LAFC have been stellar at home, riding a nine-game unbeaten streak (6-0-3) with a 4-0-2 record in 2022. Austin will look to win their first match against the Black and Gold, as the club makes their second trip to Banc of California Stadium after playing their inaugural match there on April 17, 2021.
Austin hopes to get back to their high-scoring ways with Landon Donovan MVP candidate Sebastián Driussi and MLS assist leader Diego Fagúndez helping catalyze the offense. Fagúndez posted his seventh helper of the season in Saturday’s match at Real Salt Lake, which is three shy of tying his single-season high (10) set in 2018. For LAFC, Carlos Vela aims to snap a three-game scoreless drought in a highly anticipated return to California. The club captain averages almost 0.30 more goal contributions per game at home (1.05 per game) than on the road (0.76 per game) in his MLS career. This mid-week contest should feature plenty of goals and excitement between the best of the best in the West.
Nashville SC readies its fortress for Eastern Conference showdowns
Nashville SC’s historic home unbeaten record will be tested with two major challenges this week when a high-scoring CF Montréal side arrives at GEODIS Park on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+) before regional rival Atlanta United looks to avenge last week’s 3-2 U.S. Open Cup loss in with Saturday rematch that’s slated for primetime (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX and FOX Deportes).
History favors Nashville, which remains unbeaten at home since November 4, 2020, as heading into the midweek matchup, head coach Gary Smith’s side has yet to lose to Montréal across four meetings since 2020 (2-0-2). The last two matchups between these sides contested in Nashville both ended in draws. However, neither side can afford to drop points. While top-ranked Montréal needs to take a win to maintain its position at the top of the East, a win for Nashville will maintain their home dominance and continue to propel them up the Western Conference standings.
Montréal head coach Wilfred Nancy’s side has already ended one team’s unbeaten run after goals from Djordje Mihailovic and Alistair Johnston brought Charlotte FC’s four-game home streak to a halt. Mihailovic’s MVP-caliber play has also brought the best out of Joaquín Torres (3 goals, 3 assists), Romell Quioto (3 goals, 2 assists) and Kei Kamara (2 goals, 2 assists) in recent weeks, as they prepare to press two-time MLS Defender of the Year Walker Zimmerman and Nashville’s infamously ironclad defense with a challenging offensive attack.
Three days later, Nashville will host an Atlanta United side led by the in-form offensive duo of Thiago Almada and Luiz Araújo - a pair that has scored in each of Atlanta’s last two games, including the U.S. Open Cup match against Nashville, in addition to each serving up an assist to Ronaldo Cisneros in their 4-1 Week 10 win over the Chicago Fire. Atlanta has not beaten its neighbors to the north since 2020. However, a firing offense and the chance to bring Nashville’s long-standing home undefeated run to an end could provide the extra motivation.
Carranza’s contributions add feather to Jim Curtin’s coaching cap
Julián Carranza has started the 2022 season in style, scoring four goals and providing three assists for a Philadelphia Union team that sits third in the Eastern Conference. The 21-year-old’s intraleague loan from Inter Miami CF to the Union this season has revitalized his MLS career from struggling for consistent contributions in 2020 and 2021 to providing the Union with big goals in 2022, including their second against LAFC in an epic 2-2 draw at Banc of California Stadium in Week 10.
Jim Curtin and the Union identified Carranza’s skill set as one that would come to life well in their relentless pressing system. After scoring just three goals in 41 appearances for Inter Miami over two years, his early season partnership with the Union’s Dániel Gazdag has resurfaced the Argentine’s prowess. Carranza’s development is also a nod to the diversity of Curtin’s coaching skill set and own coaching development, with a proven capability to both integrate academy players into the senior team and acquire promising key pieces that fit into a high-octane style of play.
As the Union travel to Portland on Sunday (10 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes) in hopes of breaking their five-game winless rut, will Carranza’s rising star continue to shine brighter?
MLS launches centralized MLS Video Review Center and enhanced graphics package to continue advancement of VAR initiative
Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) remain world leaders in the use of Video Assistant Referees (VARs) since hosting the world’s first live online test and implementing video review in all MLS matches during The IFAB’s trial stage in 2017. Now with five years of experience and after extensive research, MLS and PRO have opened a dedicated centralized video hub at the MLS Video Review Center in Atlanta, Georgia. With a continued focus on innovation, the centralized hub launched last week in conjunction with a new video review graphics package that more effectively communicates checks and reviews by using multilingual elements that appear on MLS game broadcasts and on stadium videoboards.
Fans now have access to near real-time decision-making information, including VAR recommendations for key checks and video reviews in addition to the results of those checks and reviews displayed in graphical text form for all in-stadium and multi-platform viewing audiences. Once a check or review is in progress, the automatically generated graphic is immediately distributed for on-screen display, allowing for more transparency of the video review process.
What They Are Saying (Download All Soundbytes Here)
“We’re always mindful of the importance of trying to get information out in real time to fans and spectators, whether they be in the stadium or at home watching on TV, and there are processes in place to make that happen.” Howard Webb, PRO General Manager (MORE)
“Communicating the process and communicating the outcome is really important. We’ve done a number of different tests, but making sure that context is a part of the decision-making process and that our fans know why there is a review or a check is as important as what the check of review is. We want to make sure that the fan is with us every step of the way." Jeff Agoos, MLS Senior Vice President of Competition & Medical (MORE)
The MLS Video Review Center features a collection of 14 pods that each will accommodate a three-member video review team consisting of a VAR, Assistant VAR (AVAR), and Replay Operator (RO). A Video Review Communicator (VRC) – an extension of the officiating crew on headset – will record video review information on a touchscreen monitor to generate the enhanced new graphical elements that provide in-stadium and broadcast viewing audiences with clarification on checks and reviews in near real-time.
Although PRO management cannot intervene during matches, the new centralized location provides the benefit of more regular opportunities to share pre-match instruction, post-match feedback, and best practices in a group setting.
Pat Noonan Making History in Cincy
In his first year as a head coach, FC Cincinnati’s Pat Noonan has made an instant impact, smashing club records through the opening 12 games of the 2022 season, rising to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and tying the club record for their most wins (six) in a season in less than three months of action. After spending the last nine years as an assistant coach – the previous four with the Philadelphia Union – Noonan has led the club to the first four-game winning streak in team history, and has the squad only five points shy of the team-record 24-point total they posted in 2019.
Since taking over at the start of this season, Noonan has drawn upon his 10-year MLS playing career by emphasizing ‘the mentality’ of a winning team, grinding out results when not playing at their best and ensuring each player on the squad that they will need to contribute. Cincinnati has had 26 different players appear in a game this season, tied for the third-most in MLS, and a wide variety have made an impact. Former MLS Best XI selection Luciano Acosta leads the league in key passes (42), Brandon Vázquez has a career-high six goals and 2022 No. 2 overall MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas pick Roman Celentano has posted two clean sheets in his first five starts. Cincinnati’s depth with Noonan pulling the strings make them a tough task to prepare for week in and week out.
The club’s strong beginning under Noonan will be put to the test over a grueling seven-game stretch that includes matchups against each of the other top-six teams in the Eastern Conference. That gauntlet begins on Saturday as the club welcomes the reigning MLS Supporters’ Shield winner New England Revolution to TQL Stadium (6 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+).
Will Noonan’s Orange and Blue continue to solidify themselves as an Eastern Conference contender in his first season?
Player Spotlight - Buksa’s Scoring Streak Leads Revolution’s Revival
The recent run of scoring from New England Revolution forward Adam Buksa has reaffirmed his instrumental impact for the reigning Supporters’ Shield attack. After a two-goal performance against Atlanta United last week earned him some real estate in the club record books, Buksa’s brace also extended his MLS-best scoring streak to five consecutive matches.
The Poland National Team player’s red hot scoring stretch has also emblazoned his name into Revolution club history, as he is just the fifth New England player to score in five consecutive matches, joining Gustavo Bou, Clint Dempsey, Taylor Twellman, and Wolde Harris. Harris holds the club record with goals in seven consecutive matches from July 19 - August 26, 2000, during his first season with the Revolution. Additionally, Buksa has led the Revs to a 2-1-2 record across the last five matches in which he has scored, and he kicked that streak off with his first goal of the season in a 2-1 victory over Charlotte FC on April 16 that helped New England snap a three-game losing streak.
Alongside his strong play in MLS action this year, Buksa has made his presence felt across all competitions for the Revolution in his third season. Last week’s MLS regular sson brace marked the third competition in which Buksa has scored two goals in a single match in the past three months, after he previously scored two goals in both the club’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory over FC Cincinnati (May 11, 2022) and against Pumas UNAM in Leg 1 of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals (March 9, 2022).
With the Revolution back in action on Saturday against a streaking FC Cincinnati squad (6 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+), will Buksa continue his brilliant run of play as the club continues their early-season ascent in the Eastern Conference?
MLS NEXT Pro alumni Nathan Fogaça Shines in MLS Debut
It didn’t take long for Nathan Fogaça to make his presence felt in Major League Soccer. Fifty-six minutes to be exact. Playing and starting in his first career MLS match, the Brazilian forward notched not one but two goals for the Portland Timbers in a 7-2 victory over Sporting KC at Providence Park on Saturday night. Both goals (56’, 69’) were assisted by Sebastían Blanco, who also added two goals of his own. Fogaça became the first Timbers player to ever record a brace in his MLS debut. Watch Goals | Fogaça Postgame Comments
Fogaça signed with the Timbers on May 5 from Portland’s MLS NEXT Pro club, Timbers2. He joined T2 via transfer from Brazilian side Coritiba on April 22 and went on to start both matches he played for the club. Fogaça converted a penalty kick against Real Monarchs on April 24 and registered an assist against Colorado Rapids 2 on May 1.
After appearing in 40 matches across all competitions with Coritiba (2018-2020), Fogaça played on loan with the USL Championship’s San Antonio FC in 2021. There, he led the club in scoring with 13 goals in 34 matches (30 starts) and helped the club to the USL Championship conference final.
Fogaça was the first of three players to sign an MLS contract after competing in MLS NEXT Pro so far in this inaugural season, along with Beto Avila (Houston Dynamo FC) and Themi Antonoglou (Toronto FC). They joined Inter Miami CF’s Noah Allen, who signed with the club on March 11, prior to the start of the MLS NEXT Pro season.
MLS Celebrates Soccer For All Week & Asian and Pacific Islanders Awareness Month
To kick off Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, Nashville SC’s Sean Davis joined “Good Morning America” alongside the Atlanta Falcons’ Younghoe Koo and UCLA senior basketball player Natalie Chou for a segment discussing their experiences as Asian Americans and elite athletes on professional team sports in the United States. Sean, whose mother is Japanese, said that many don’t realize his heritage, so he has embraced sharing his middle name “Akira” on his social media handles to show fans his roots. He strives to be an inspiration to young Asian American athletes.
Major League Soccer Celebrates “Soccer For All Week” from May 12-23
Soccer For All Week is a League-wide initiative that reinforces the collective commitment to drive positive social change, foster more inclusive and equitable communities, and support an end to discrimination. Introduced in 2018 through MLS WORKS, the League’s social responsibility platform, Soccer For All signifies that everyone is welcome.
This month, MLS WORKS will collaborate with Asians in MLS, the League’s Asian & Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group (ERG), and Extratime presented by AT&T 5G to speak with Real Salt Lake’s Bobby Wood to shine a light on important issues touching the API community as part of the ongoing “Soccer For All Speaker Series” to amplify inclusive voices and perspectives. The full podcast will be available on Thursday, May 19 at MLSsoccer.com.
To commemorate LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June, MLS clubs will integrate adidas Pride pre-match tops during matches, which fans will have an opportunity to purchase beginning Sunday, May 15 at MLSstore.com and at stadium retail locations. MLS will also partner with Athlete Ally, an organization supporting equal access, opportunity, and experience in sports regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, to support Playing for Pride – a fundraising campaign that brings together athletes, teams, and Leagues to support Athlete Ally’s mission of making sports inclusive for the LGBTQI+ community. Visit MLS’ Playing for Pride page to learn more and donate.
