Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 14 matches played on the 28th matchday of the 2024 MLS regular season on Saturday, July 20.
Gazdag Another Hat-Trick Hero for Philadelphia
Following Tai Baribo’s hat trick on Wednesday, another Philadelphia Union standout stole the show on Saturday, as midfielder Dániel Gazdag registered his third-career MLS hat trick with a 3-0 victory over Nashville SC. Gazdag’s hat trick tonight marked the sixth time in MLS history that a club had two different players score a hat trick in consecutive games and the first since Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi in 2019.
The Hungarian midfielder opened the scoring in the 10th minute following a quick passing sequence from Leon Flach and Quinn Sullivan (Watch Here). The score marked his 80th goal contribution with Philadelphia, as he joins Sébastien Le Toux (100) as the only players in club history with at least 80 combined goals and assists. He secured a first-half brace in the 39th minute, as a crafty touch from Mikael Uhre found a free-running Gazdag in the box (Watch Here). He completed his hat trick in the 89th minute, as he took advantage of a Nashville misplay and weaved around the goalkeeper before slotting home his third (Watch Here).
Gazdag’s eight multi-goal games and his three hat tricks are both the most in club history.
Pec Reaches Double-Double in 3-2 Galaxy Victory
One of the hottest players in Major League Soccer across the last month resides in Los Angeles, as 23-year-old striker Gabriel Pec has emerged as a dynamic force for the Galaxy. Pec scored his 10th goal of the season (Watch Here) in the club’s 3-2 victory over the Portland Timbers and has seven goals and eight assists in his last 12 matches, while helping lead the Galaxy to a Western Conference-best 49 points (14-5-7). The club sits in first place in the Western Conference standings at the All-Star break for the first time since 2011 -- a year in which they won both MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield.
Pec has 10 goals and 10 assists in 25 matches for the Galaxy this season and joined some elite company with his debut season double-double. The Brazilian forward is the fourth player in club history to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists in his first season with the club, joining Zlatan Ibrahimović (2018), Romain Alessandrini (2017), and Landon Donovan (2005).
New York Continue Red-Hot Start at Red Bull Arena
The New York Red Bulls kept their home record unblemished in 2024 with a 3-1 victory over the defending Supporters’ Shield champion, FC Cincinnati, at Red Bull Arena. Forward Lewis Morgan tallied a pair of scores in the win and, with 26 career goals with the club, moved into a tie with John Wolyniec for the eighth-most goals in team history.
With their win, the Red Bulls (7-0-5) remained unbeaten through their first 12 home games of the 2024 season, extended the second-longest home unbeaten streak to begin a season in club history. They are also the only remaining MLS team to not have lost a game at home this season.
Killer B’s Bouanga and Bogusz Lead LAFC to Win
Behind the dynamic duo of Denis Bouanga and Mateusz Bogusz, LAFC emerged victorious by a 3-0 scoreline at Seattle’s Lumen Field. The club finishes their pre-Leagues Cup schedule with 47 points (14-5-5) and in second place in the Western Conference standings.
A 2024 MLS All-Star selection, Bouanga scored twice in the match, marking his fifth multi-goal game of the season. The goals were the Gabonese striker’s 15th and 16th of the season, as the reigning Golden Boot presented by Audi winner becomes the first player in club history to record at least 15 goals in consecutive seasons. Bouanga sits just one goal off the Golden Boot lead and trails only Real Salt Lake’s Cristian Arango (17).
Bogusz scored the club’s second goal of the match with a sensational strike in the 26th minute (Watch Here). Since May 11, the Polish midfielder has scored 10 goals and added five assists in 13 matches and has at least one goal contribution in 11 of those 13 games.
Alba’s Late-Game Goal Powers Inter Miami to 2-1 Win
After the Fire drew even at 1-1 in the 73rd minute, 2024 MLS All-Star Jordi Alba quickly reclaimed the lead for Inter Miami CF just two minutes later in a 2-1 home victory over Chicago (Watch Here). With the win, Miami enters the All-Star break atop the Supporters’ Shield standings with 53 points (16-4-5), including eight wins each at home and on the road.
Inter Miami is the second club in MLS history to win at least eight games at home and eight games on the road in their first 25 matches of a season (excluding the shootout era), joining a 2019 LAFC squad that went on to win the Supporters’ Shield in just their second season of existence.
