Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 12 matches played on the 37th matchday of the 2024 MLS regular season on Saturday, October 5. Matchday 37 action continues Sunday, October 7, with New York City FC hosting Nashville SC (4 p.m. ET) and the Portland Timbers hosting FC Dallas (7 p.m. ET) on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
With the 2024 MLS regular season nearing Decision Day, 16 teams have clinched a berth in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, including seven teams in the Eastern Conference and nine in the Western Conference. It all comes down to Decision Day 2024 on October 19 for the final two Wild Card spots in the East and seeding in the Western Conference to secure the ever-important home-field advantage.
Miami Inch Closer to Single-Season Points Record
Courtesy of a late goal from Leonardo Campana, Inter Miami CF defeated Toronto FC 1-0 at BMO Field and set themselves up to break the MLS single-season points record against the current holders, the New England Revolution (73 points in 2021), with a win on Decision Day, October 19 (6 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Campana connected with Luis Suárez at the edge of the box before Suárez found Campana with a cross into the 18-yard box. The Ecuadorian controlled the ball between two defenders and fired a powerful shot into the side of the net to secure g victory in the 93rd minute of the match (WATCH HERE).
With today's win at Toronto, Miami tied CF Montréal (11 in 2022) for the most road wins in a single season during the post-shootout era. Miami also became the fourth club in MLS history to produce at least 70 points in a single MLS regular season, joining the New York Red Bulls (71 points in 2018), LAFC (72 points in 2019), and New England Revolution (73 points in 2021).
Cucho’s Doubleheader Paves Way for Columbus History
On Saturday night, the Columbus Crew defeated the Philadelphia Union 3-2, at Lower.com Field thanks to a brace from Cucho Hernández and a goal from Mohamed Farsi.
Hernández scored his first goal of the night in the fourth minute with a thunderous header off a corner kick (WATCH HERE). Farsi gave the lead back to Columbus in the 41st minute following a fantastic sequence of passes in which Farsi fired a low shot past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 (WATCH HERE). Hernández scored the game-winning goal in the 76th minute with another header from a corner kick, nodding the ball into the net for his 19th goal of the season (WATCH HERE).
With Saturday night's victory, the Crew set a new single-season club record for most points (60), surpassing their previous record of 57 (2023 and 2008). Also, Hernández (32) surpassed Stern John (31 in 1999) for the most goal contributions in a single MLS regular season in club history.
The Crew returns to action when they host New England Revolution at Lower.com Field next Saturday, October 12 (6 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Goals from Joveljic and Pec Lift Galaxy to Victory
The LA Galaxy finished their 2024 MLS regular season schedule at Dignity Health Sports Park with a 2-1 win over Austin FC to preserve their unbeaten record in the building in 2024 (13-0-3).
First-year MLS star Gabriel Pec got things going in the 31st minute with a moment of magic, taking down a cross-field pass from Puig before beating his defender and curling a low shot past the goalkeeper (WATCH HERE). Dejan Joveljic secured the win in the 76th minute, receiving a pass from Puig into the box and firing the ball past the goalkeeper after getting around his defender (WATCH HERE).
With the goals, Pec and Joveljic became the first pair of Galaxy players to score 15 goals each during an MLS regular season since 2014 – Robbie Keane (19) and Gyasi Zardes (16). With his pair of assists, Puig tied Landon Donovan (16 in 2010) and Mauricio Cienfuegos (16 in 1998) for the third-most assists in a single season in club history.
The Galaxy will look to lock up first place in the Western Conference for the first time since 2011 on Decision Day, October 19 when they travel to Houston Dynamo FC for thier final match of the regular season (9 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Benteke Boosts D.C. United’s Playoff Hopes
D.C. United forward Christian Benteke found himself on the scoresheet for a league-leading 23rd time on Matchday 37, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal against the New England Revolution and elevate his side to the host seed position of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card match.
Along with extending his lead for the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi, Benteke tied Raúl Díaz Arce (23 in 1996) for the most goals in a single MLS regular season in club history. The Belgian defender burst through the Revolution’s defense to latch onto a clearance and head the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper to make it 2-0 eight minutes into the match (WATCH HERE).
Benteke and D.C. head into Decision Day 2024 on October 19 controlling their postseason destiny and hoping to secure qualification to the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2019 with a positive result against Charlotte FC (6 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Bouanga Hits 30 Goals & Assists for LAFC
LAFC clinched home-field advantage in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series courtesy of a 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City, with goals from David Martínez, Cristian Olivera and Aaron Long.
With the opening goal of the match, Martínez became the first player aged 18 or younger to record at least five goal contributions in a single season in club history after scoring a rebound from a missed penalty kick from Denis Bouanga (WATCH HERE).
Near the conclusion of the first half, Bouanga found Olivera on the opposite side of the box to score in front of an empty net to make it 2-0 (WATCH HERE). With his assist to the goal, Bouanga joined Carlos Vela (49 in 2019) as the only two players to record at least 30 goal contributions in a single MLS regular season in club history.
Long sealed the win for LAFC in the 69th minute with a curled shot from the corner of the 18-yard box into the top corner (WATCH HERE).
LAFC face off against Vancouver Whitecaps FC next Sunday, October 13 at BC Place as they look to keep up with rivals the LA Galaxy for the top spot in the Western Conference (9 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
