Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 15 matches played on the first matchday of the 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23.
MLS’ 30th season kicked off with a bang, as 46 goals were scored across Saturday and Sunday, including eight by players making their league debuts. The 46 goals scored were the most in an MLS opening week in league history, breaking the previous record of 41 scored in 2019. Highlights of the opening matchday included:
- The league’s 30th club, San Diego FC, became the second expansion club since 2019 to win their debut match behind a pair of second-half goals from Anders Dreyer.
- Two players – FC Cincinnati’s Kévin Denkey (one goal) and Atlanta United’s Emmanuel Latte Lath (two goals) – set league records for incoming transfer fees and immediately delivered on the scoresheet and powered their clubs to victory.
- Atlanta United captured a thrilling 3-2 victory in front of 65,520 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, marking the third-highest attended soccer game globally on Saturday.
- Reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP Lionel Messi recorded a pair of assists as Inter Miami CF kicked off its Supporters’ Shield defense.
- Seven head coaches earned victories in their first matches with their respective clubs, including Atlanta’s Ronny Deila, Austin’s Nico Estévez, Dallas’ Eric Quill, Philadelphia’s Bradley Carnell, San Diego’s Mikey Varas, San Jose’s Bruce Arena, and Vancouver’s Jesper Sørensen.
- Vancouver’s Jayden Nelson recorded three assists in their win, while seven players scored multiple goals in their opening matches – Tai Baribo (Philadelphia), Anders Dreyer (San Diego), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago), Emmanuel Latte Lath (Atlanta), Jordan Morris (Seattle), Marco Pašalić (Orlando), and Diego Rossi (Columbus).
Expansion Side San Diego FC Wins in Sensational Debut
The final game of opening weekend of the league’s 30th season featured the debut of the 30th MLS team, San Diego FC, who rose the occasion on the road and defeated the defending MLS Cup presented by Audi champion LA Galaxy, 2-0, for the first win in club history. San Diego became just the second expansion team since 2019 to win their inaugural game, joining St. Louis CITY SC in 2023.
After a scoreless first half, San Diego got their breakthrough moment in the 52nd minute, as Mexican National Team standout Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano corralled a misplayed pass and immediately found streaking Designated Player Anders Dreyer in front of the net for the first goal in club history (Watch Here). The LA Galaxy had opportunities to level in the second half but were repeatedly stymied by San Diego’s defense.
In the 93rd minute, Dreyer dealt the winning blow following a sensational sequence of passes capped by an assist from Tomás Ángel (Watch Here). Dreyer is the seventh player in MLS history to score multiple goals in a club’s inaugural game and the first since Eric Hassli for the 2011 Vancouver Whitecaps.
San Diego will look to follow in St. Louis’ record-setting expansion footsteps and the two clubs will face off on Matchday 2, as San Diego makes their home debut at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, March 1 (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
LAFC Improves to 8-0-0 in Season Openers
The longest season-opening win streak in MLS history was extended on Saturday, as the Los Angeles Football Club defeated Minnesota United FC, 1-0, to improve to 8-0-0 in season-opening games in club history. LAFC’s eight-game winning streak in season openers is the longest streak in MLS history and two more than the next closest club – FC Dallas – who won six straight openers from 2012-17.
In his first game with the club, forward Jeremy Ebobisse found the back of the net in the 78th minute to give his new side all the offense it needed in a 1-0 win (Watch Here). MLS All-Star goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who tied for the league-lead with 12 clean sheets last year, notched his first shutout of the 2025 season in the win.
LAFC returns to MLS action against New York City FC on Saturday, March 1 (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) after the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Round 1 matchup against the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday, Feb. 25 (10 p.m. ET).
Newcomer Latte Lath Stars in Atlanta Debut
After arriving in Atlanta for a reported record incoming transfer fee earlier this month, Emmanuel Latte Lath took little time to make his impact felt, as the speedy striker scored twice in Atlanta United’s 3-2 victory over CF Montréal in front of 65,520 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. The 65,520 fans marked the third-highest attended soccer game globally on Saturday.
Latte Lath opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, as he connected with Saba Lobjanidze’s corner kick with a strong header for a 1-0 lead (Watch Here). After Nathan Saliba leveled the score in the 47th minute (Watch Here), Latte Lath struck again, tapping in a mishandled save from the Montréal ‘keeper for a 2-1 advantage (Watch Here). With his brace, the Ivory Coast international became the first player in club history to score multiple goals in a regular-season debut.
Montréal evened the score once again in the 71st minute (Prince Owusu, Watch Here) before Edwin Mosquera proved the late-game hero for Atlanta, taking a pass from Miguel Almirón and firing a strong left-footed shot into the back of the net for the winning score (Watch Here).
Almirón, who was an instrumental piece of the club’s MLS Cup presented by Audi-winning 2018 season, joined elite company in his return to club. With his assist, Almirón became the fourth player in Atlanta United history to reach 50 career goal contributions, joining Josef Martínez (114 goal contributions), Thiago Almada (56), and Julian Gressel (50).
Next week, Latte Lath, Almirón, and Atlanta United travel up I-85 to take on southeastern rival Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday afternoon (2:15 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+ / FOX / FOX Deportes).
Nelson Contributes to Four Goals in 4-1 Whitecaps Win
Making his return to MLS, 22-year-old midfielder Jayden Nelson wasted little time in reintroducing himself to the league, contributing to all four Whitecaps goals in Vancouver’s 4-1 road win over the Portland Timbers on Sunday.
Nelson totaled three assists and scored a goal, becoming only the third player in MLS history to contribute to at least four goals in their team debuts alongside Brian Ching (four goals) and Dwyane De Rosario (four assists) for Houston Dynamo FC on April 2, 2006. He is the second player in club history to record at least three assists and a goal in a single match, joining Alphonso Davies on June 9, 2018.
The 22-year-old, who spent three seasons with Toronto FC from 2020-22, took advantage of an early Timbers red card and provided the assists on each of the club’s first three goals of the match before scoring the fourth and final goal in the 61st minute (Watch Here).
The Whitecaps will look to continue their momentum into Concacaf Champions Cup Round 1 action on Thursday, Feb. 27 (10 p.m. ET) before returning to MLS action on Sunday, March 2 against the reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champion LA Galaxy (5 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
San Jose Earns Seismic 4-0 Victory
One of MLS’ original teams opened the league’s 30th season of play in explosive fashion on Saturday, as the San Jose Earthquakes, led by new head coach Bruce Arena, recorded the biggest opening day victory in club history with a 4-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
With the win, Arena, the winningest coach in MLS history, joined fellow former United States Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley as the only coaches in league history to win a game with at least five different MLS clubs. Arena is the owner of 263 regular-season wins across parts of 20 MLS seasons with D.C. United (1996-98), the New York Red Bulls (2006-07), the LA Galaxy (2008-16), the New England Revolution (2019-23), and San Jose.
Midfielder Cristian Espinoza was the star of the show for San Jose, providing assists on two of the club’s four goals on Saturday. It marked the 10th multi-assist game of Espinoza’s career and his fourth since the beginning of last season, as the Argentine will play a key role under Arena in 2025.
The Earthquakes will travel to Children’s Mercy Park to take on Sporting Kansas City on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).
Union Kick Off Carnell Era with Convincing Road Win
In the first match under head coach Bradley Carnell, the Philadelphia Union poured on the offense in a 4-2 road victory over Orlando City SC on Saturday. Forward Tai Baribo scored twice in the win, while Dániel Gazdag and Mikael Uhre each tallied a goal. The victory was the first in the Philadelphia tenure of Carnell, who arrives after most recently serving as the first head coach in St. Louis CITY SC history.
Gazdag’s goal (Watch Here) marked his third consecutive season-opening match with a score, making him the eighth player in MLS history to score in at least three consecutive season openers. D.C. United’s Christian Benteke also accomplished the feat on Saturday with a goal in the club’s 2-2 draw against Toronto FC. Only Omar Cummings has scored in more consecutive season openers, recording a goal in four consecutive openers for the Colorado Rapids from 2008-11.
A pair of Homegrown midfielders tallied assists for the Union tonight, including 20-year-old Quinn Sullivan and 19-year-old Frankie Westfield, the latter of whom was making his MLS debut.
Carnell and the Union will make their 2025 home debut on Matchday 2, as they welcome FC Cincinnati to Subaru Park on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).
