Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 13 matches played on the 11th matchday of the 2023 MLS season, Saturday, May 6.
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Matchday 11 action concludes this afternoon as the Seattle Sounders welcome Sporting Kansas City to Lumen Field (4:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FOX).
MartÃnez Becomes Fastest Player in MLS History to Reach 100 Career Goals
In his first career game against his former team – Atlanta United – Inter Miami CF forward Josef MartÃnez made MLS history with a pair of goals in the club's 2-1 victory, becoming the fastest player in league annals to reach 100 career regular-season goals. MartÃnez, who scored his previous 98 career goals with Atlanta United, reached the mark in his 142nd career game, besting the previous record held by Bradley Wright-Phillips (159) by 17 games.
MartÃnez, who entered the game in the 57th minute, stepped up to the penalty mark in the 59th minute and drove home a strong shot past a diving goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead and the first goal of his Inter Miami career (Watch Here). The 29-year-old forward made MLS history just 16 minutes later, as his second goal of the match – a beautiful sliding effort following a precision pocket pass from DeAndre Yedlin (Watch Here) – made him just the 12th different player in league history to reach 100 career regular-season goals.
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With his goals against his former club, MartÃnez has now scored against 26 clubs in his MLS career, tying Kei Kamara and Ola Kamara for the most in league history.
Hany Mukhtar's Hat Trick Leads Nashville to 3-0 Victory
In his latest effort to mount a defense to the 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar continued his recent torrid streak, scoring his third career MLS hat trick in the club's 3-0 victory over the Chicago Fire. Two of Mukhtar's three career hat tricks have come against the Fire, with the first taking place on July 17, 2021.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Mukhtar has seven multi-score games, the most by an MLS player over the span. Mukhtar has driven Nashville's surge up the Eastern Conference standings, as the dynamic midfielder has six goals and three assists since Matchday 6.
Espinoza and the Earthquakes Hand LAFC First Loss of Season
Playing in front of more than 45,000 fans at Levi's Stadium, the San Jose Earthquakes, led by reigning MLS Player of the Month Cristian Espinoza, handed defending MLS Cup champion LAFC their first loss of the season with a 2-1 winon Saturday night. With the victory, the Earthquakes preserved their home unbeaten streak to open the season, improving to 5-0-1 at home.Â
Espinoza, who moved into a tie for first in the race for the Golden Boot presented by Audi with eight goals, has been the driving force in the Earthquakes' recent success. The Argentine has scored seven goals in his last six matches, joining Chris Wondolowski as just the second player in club history to score at least seven goals in a six-game span. Espinoza's eight goals this season are already a career-best, supplanting his previous career high of seven set last season.
CF Montréal Wins Third Straight Behind Romell Quioto
After starting the season with losses in six of their first seven matches, CF Montréal has regained their footing and won their third consecutive match on Saturday night, defeating Orlando City SC, 2-0, at Stade Saputo. Montréal forward Romell Quioto scored the club's second goal in the victory, his club-high third score in just six matches this season.
With his score, Quioto, who has 34 goals since joining the club in 2020, moved into a tie with Marco Di Vaio (34) for the second-most goals in team history. Only Ignacio Piatti (66) has more goals in CF Montréal history.
Vancouver Establishes Club-Record Shutout Streak in Victory
The Vancouver Whitecaps held onto a 3-2 victory over Minnesota United FC on Saturday night behind two goals from forward Brian White. Despite the goal scoring, history was made by the Whitecaps early in the match, as the club established a record for the longest shutout streak in team history.
A goal by Minnesota United's Michael Boxall in the 33rd minute ended a streak of 443 consecutive minutes of game play in which the Whitecaps had not allowed a goal, breaking the previous club record of 433 minutes set across the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Vancouver's streak began against Minnesota United on Matchday 5 and saw four consecutive clean sheets recorded by the club prior to Matchday 11.Â
The Whitecaps are unbeaten in their last eight matches, recording a 3-0-5 record over the span, and have climbed to seventh place in the Western Conference with 14 points (3-2-5) through Matchday 11.
