The regular Major League Soccer season wrapped up with performances that fans found to be entertaining. Belgian international Christian Benteke won the MLS Golden Boot for being the top goal scorer of the regular season with 23 goals. Despite their best efforts, D.C. United lost 3-0 at home against Charlotte FC, missing the wildcard spot. Surprisingly, Atlanta United beat Eastern Conference favorites Orlando City 2-1 in Orlando, which booked their tickets into the postseason with the second wildcard spot for the East.
Despite Inter Miami winning the supporter’s shield the team was fighting for the supporter’s shield record which was held by their opponents, New England Revolution. Down 2-0 at home, Luis Suárez ties up the match with two goals. Lionel Messi came off the bench in the 58th minute and scored his first MLS hat trick to win the match, solidifying Inter Miami as the new supporter’s shield record holders with 74 points in a regular season. With that record being broken, Inter Miami midfielder Julian Gressel became the first male player to win all domestic club competitions with a Major League Soccer Team.
New York City FC while on the road faced CF Montréal away. The boys in blue had an unexpected loss against the Canadian side. With the three points for the hosts, it cemented their wildcard spot against Atlanta United in a game where the winner will face Inter Miami. NYCFC will face off against FC Cincinnati in a best-of-3 series to advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
New York Red Bulls faced the Columbus Crew at Red Bull Arena this past weekend. While down 2-0 at halftime, Swedish international Emil Forsberg equalized the match in the 78th after slotting in his penalty from the spot. Deep into stoppage time Columbus Crew defender Malte Amundsen won the game for the Crew. The game ended 3-2 for the away team. Fortunately, Amundsen is an ex-NYC FC player who helped the team win their first MLS Cup in 2021. Following that loss, chance has it that the Red Bulls will face the Crew once again in the best of 3 series to advance onward.
On the other coast, drama ensued as the LA Galaxy lost their first-place status following a late loss to the Houston Dynamo. With the fixture having the Galaxy with 64 points and LAFC with 61 it was seen that the Galaxy would keep the top spot in the Western Conference. With LAFC winning 3-1 against California rival the San Jose Earthquakes while playing at home, the Galaxy were away in Houston trailing by 1 goal. A 96th-minute penalty was given and scored but 11 minutes into stoppage time Houston defender Daniel Steres won it for the Dynamo FC. With that LA will play the winner of the wildcard and the Galaxy will play the Colorado Rapids.