Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 13 matches played on the 34th matchday of the 2024 MLS season, Saturday, September 21.
The action continues this evening as the Philadelphia Union host D.C. United at Subaru Park (6:15 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / FS1).
Real Salt Lake Punches Postseason Ticket, Evander Stars Again in 3-3 Draw
Courtesy of an Austin FC loss at the hands of Houston Dynamo FC earlier in the evening, Real Salt Lake punched their ticket to the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs with their game still in play during the second half. In a back-and-forth affair, Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers played to a 3-3 draw at America First Field with stars from both clubs shining brightly during the match.
Behind early goals from Dominik Marczuk, his first in MLS play (Watch Here), and Diego Luna (Watch Here), Real Salt Lake jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. But the red-hot Timbers would not be denied, as a 62nd-minute score from Antony (Watch Here) preceded a rocketed free-kick by surging Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Evander that leveled the score at 2-2 in the second half (Watch Here). Diogo Gonçalves gave the home club a 3-2 advantage in the 90th minute (Watch Here), before Portland’s Jonathan Rodríguez provided the game-tying goal just two minutes later (Watch Here).
With the draw, Real Salt Lake (51 points, 14-7-9) held strong in second place in the Western Conference playoff picture, sitting seven points behind the conference-leading LA Galaxy with four games remaining on the schedule. By clinching a berth in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs tonight, Salt Lake has now made the postseason in four straight seasons for the first time since their seven-season streak from 2008-14.
With three goals tonight, the Timbers and their Western Conference-best 63 goals broke their club record for the most goals in a single season, besting the previous mark of 61 set in 2014. Behind the success is the Brazilian creator Evander (15 goals, 18 assists), who became the sixth player in MLS history to record at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a single season and the first to accomplish the feat since Carlos Vela in his MLS MVP-winning season in 2019. Three of the previous five players to accomplish the feat were named the league’s Most Valuable Player that year: Jason Kreis (1999), Sebastian Giovino (2015), and Vela (2019).
Evander’s 33 goal contributions are the most in MLS in 2024 and broke the club’s single-season record of 32 set by Diego Valeri in 2017. The sensational scorer has contributed to a goal in 11 consecutive matches, tying for the third-longest streak in MLS history. Over that 11-game span, Evander has notched eight goals and 10 assists.
Colorado Clinches Playoff Berth with 2-0 Victory
One of the best turnaround stories in Major League Soccer in 2024, the Colorado Rapids clinched a berth in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday night. With the win, the Rapids (50 points, 15-10-5) became one of the first three teams to clinch in the Western Conference, joining the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, just a year removed from finishing at the bottom of the conference table.
At the start of the second half, Colorado received a goal from newcomer Reggie Cannon – his first with the club – from outside the box with assists from Darren Yapi and Djordje Mihailovic (Watch Here), giving the club a lead they would not relinquish. Mihailovic added a cheeky panenka score from the penalty spot in the 91st minute to secure the spot-sealing victory for the club (Watch Here).
By clinching a postseason berth, head coach Chris Armas is the first Rapids coach to lead the team to the playoffs in his first season as head coach since Fernando Clavijo in 2005. Armas has the club ranked third in the Western Conference with four games remaining on their regular-season schedule.
Colorado will look to continue their push towards homefield advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 series next week as they travel to face Minnesota United FC on Saturday night (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Cucho, Aziel Jackson Power Columbus to 4-3 Win
Behind a breakout performance from Aziel Jackson and the continued brilliance of Cucho Hernández, the Columbus Crew held off a late charge from Orlando City SC to secure a 4-3 victory at Lower.com Field. With five games remaining, the Crew (56 points, 16-5-8) sit in third place in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand over both Inter Miami CF (1st, 64 points, 19-4-7) and FC Cincinnati (2nd, 56 points, 17-8-5).
Jackson, who was making his fifth appearance with the club since arriving from St. Louis CITY SC via trade in June, notched a pair of assists and scored the punctuating goal – his first with the club – in the 85th minute to help secure the victory (Watch Here). At 22 years and 332 days old on Saturday, Jackson became the third-youngest player in club history to record at least two assists and a goal in a single game, behind only Edson Buddle, who accomplished the feat twice before turning 22.
Continuing his recent run of dominant form, Hernández scored in the 71st minute to give the Crew a 3-0 lead (Watch Here) before assisting on Jackson’s late-game goal. With his goal, Hernández (15 goals) became the third player in club history to score at least 15 goals in consecutive seasons, joining Stern John (1998-99) and Ola Kamara (2016-17). Cucho (27 goal contributions) is the only player in club history to record at least 25 goal contributions in consecutive seasons.
The Crew will return to action on Wednesday, as they welcome América of LIGA MX to Lower.com Field for the 2024 Campeones Cup (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / TUDN), before returning to MLS action against D.C. United next Saturday, September 28 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Musa Makes History in FC Dallas Victory
Forward Petar Musa scored his 15th goal of the season, while midfielder Patrickson Delgado and forward Logan Farrington contributed goals of their own in FC Dallas’ 3-1 win over LAFC at Toyota Stadium. With the victory, FC Dallas remained unbeaten in their last 20 MLS matches when leading at halftime (14 wins, six draws) dating back to May 19, 2022.
Musa’s goal in the 28th minute (Watch Here) tied Ariel Graziani (15 in 2000) for the fifth-most goals in a single season in club history. Additionally, Musa became the first player in club history to score at least 15 goals in his first season with the team. He is the sixth different player in club history to score at least 15 goals in a single season.
Delgado, with assists by Farrington and forward Paul Arriola, put FC Dallas up 2-0 in the 60th minute (Watch Here). Just two minutes later, Farrington scored with an assist by forward Jesús Ferreira (Watch Here). Ferreira has 11 goal contributions (five goals, six assists) in just 18 games this season.
Sitting just outside of playoff position, Dallas (37 points, 10-13-7) will look to push closer to the postseason next Saturday as they welcome Orlando City SC to Toyota Stadium (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Charlotte FC Scores By Committee in 4-0 Victory
Four different players scored for Charlotte FC on Saturday as the club snapped a three-game losing streak in a decisive 4-0 victory over the New England Revolution. With the win, Charlotte improved to 4-0-0 this season when scoring three or more goals and 6-0-2 when scoring first against an opponent.
Midfielder Liel Abada got the Black and Blue in the scoring column in the 39th minute (Watch Here). It was the fifth goal of the year for Abada, who joined Charlotte in March 2024. Midfielder Pep Biel, another recent signing who joined the club last month, scored the first goal of his MLS career in the 65th minute with an assist by forward Patrick Agyemang (Watch Here). The duo reversed roles 12 minutes later in the 77th minute with Agyemang scoring and Biel tallying an assist. (Watch Here).
Forward Kerwin Vargas scored the fourth and final goal in the 88th minute with assists from forward Iúri Tavares and a second assist by Agyemang (Watch Here).
Charlotte (6th in the Eastern Conference, 41 points, 11-11-8) will travel to South Florida on Saturday, Sept. 28 to take on Inter Miami CF (1st in the Eastern Conference, 64 points, 19-4-7) in a crucial match in the Eastern Conference playoff race (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
