Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 13 matches played on the 12th matchday of the 2023 MLS season, Saturday, May 13.
Matchday 12 action concludes this evening between the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes in a California Clásico at Dignity Health Sports Park (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FS1).
Martínez Enters the Top 10 Goal Scorers
Down in Florida, Inter Miami CF forward Josef Martínez followed up a two-goal performance from Matchday 11 with the game-winning goal for Miami on Matchday 12.
Martínez’s 101st MLS regular season goal secured a third consecutive win for Miami and brought the Venezuelan international level with Taylor Twellman for the 10th most goals in MLS history. He now sits just three goals off ninth place Dwayne De Rosario (104) and seven off eighth place Jason Kreis (108) in the all-time standings. Martínez is just the second South American-born player to crack the top 10, with fifth-place Jaime Moreno (133) being the other.
Martínez will look to continue his climb up the MLS goal-scoring charts on Wednesday, May 17 when Miami travels to expansion sibling Nashville SC (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass) in the first game of a six-point week.
CF Montréal Extend Shutout Victory Streak
CF Montréal’s shutout win in the Canadian Classique over Toronto FC during MLS Rivalry Week was their fourth-consecutive shutout victory. It is the first time in the club’s history that they have won four straight MLS regular season games without conceding and have done so by a 2-0 scoreline in each of the four games. Additionally, Montréal is just the 13th team in MLS history to record four-straight clean sheet victories, excluding the shootout era.
During this feat, Canadian midfielder Mathieu Choinière leads the club in goal contributions (two goals, one assist). CF Montréal will look to extend their shutout streak when they go on the road to take on FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium this Wednesday, May 17 (7:30 p.m. ET / MLS Season Pass).
Boli Quick Off the Mark, Evander Bags a Brace for Portland
Portland Timbers forward Franck Boli provided an early breakthrough in the side’s match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Matchday 12, scoring just one minute and 19 seconds into the game. The goal was the fastest scored so far in the 2023 MLS regular season and the fourth-fastest scored in club history.
Midfielder Evander took control of this Cascadia rivalry game, though, by providing the game-winning goal and adding a second to wrap up all three points for the Timbers. Having recorded a multi-assist game on Matchday 11, the Brazilian became the first Portland player to record a multi-goal game in the following match.
Coming out of this MLS Rivalry Week victory, Boli and Evander will head into midweek Matchday 13 action on the road against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, May 17 (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass) looking to secure the Timbers’ first winning streak of the season.
Jesús Ferreira Continues to Score Against Austin
No one enjoys playing Austin FC more than Jesús Ferriera, who scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute at Q2 Stadium to give FC Dallas all three points in the Rivalry Week matchup. Ferreira’s strike was his fifth regular season goal against Austin FC, which is the most by a player against Los Verdes in league history, surpassing San Jose’s Jeremy Ebobisse (four). It also matches the most goals by Ferreira against a single opponent in his career (three other teams).
Dallas has owned the rivalry’s short history against Austin, going 4-0-2 in the six regular season matchups dating back to 2021. In the three matches at Q2 Stadium, Dallas has scored a total of eight goals, with three of those from Ferreira. The U.S. Men’s National Team forward now has six goals in 2023, which is tied for the fourth most in the league.
Caden Glover Makes MLS History in Debut
St. Louis CITY SC forward Caden Glover came on as a second-half substitute during the club’s MLS Rivalry Week clash with Chicago Fire FC, becoming the first-ever player born in 2007 to appear in an MLS game.
Glover signed a first-team contract as the club’s first-ever Homegrown player at just 15 years old in January. After making six appearances for St. Louis CITY2 in MLS NEXT Pro this season, Glover stepped up to make his MLS debut on Matchday 12 for the first team. Prior to Glover coming off the bench, fellow Homegrown midfielder Miguel Perez made his fifth career start and eighth overall appearance of the season in their match against the Fire.
The pair of young starlets will have another chance at earning a win over a rival when St. Louis hosts Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, May 20 (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FS1) for Matchday 14.
