After the first month of MLS play, there have been shocking results. Some teams are starting to assert their dominance, others are being pulled into different directions managing multiple competitions; and still, some have totally underachieved. Matchweek 6 showcased this and kicked off the second month of the season!
MLS Matchday 6 Highlights
MLS Matchday 6 was played all on a Saturday and was the first week where teams had to deal with players being away with their national teams. MLS does not break for FIFA international windows, and thus their teams have to manage being without many players during weeks when points are up for grabs. Montreal was the lone team who had a bye on matchday 6, the rest of the teams played highly entertaining matches.
The Afternoon Slate
The first bit of action came in the afternoon slate, as two games kicked off the week. Four eastern conference sides battled the elements and players being away for international duty. The games were wet and wild; let’s Look back on all the action from last week!
New England 1 – 1 Chicago
New York 4 – 0 Miami
The Primetime Slate
The primetime slate saw eight matches played! Every match had at least a goal in them, and four of the 16 teams playing were shut out. It was yet another great night of MLS, leading into an even crazier late-night slate of matches!
Charlotte 2 – 0 Columbus
Cincinnati 1 – 0 NYCFC
Orlando 2 – 0 Austin
Toronto 2 – 0 Atlanta
Vancouver 1 – 2 Salt Lake
Kansas City 2 – 3 Los Angeles
St. Louis 2 – 2 DC
Colorado 0 – 1 Houston
The Late Night Slate
The final three matches of MLS Matchday 6 saw 14 goals scored! It was peak MLS after dark, and rounded out a great week of action in the league that never stops: MLS.
LAFC 5 – 0 Nashville
Portland 1 – 3 Philadelphia
San Jose 3 – 2 Seattle
Takeaways from MLS Matchday 6
Week 6 of MLS in 2024 was the first one where teams were shorthanded due to players playing well. Some teams won and others lost without their stars, and we are beginning to see which teams are for real after playing four, five, or six matches.
In the east, there are five teams with double-digit points; Cincinnati (11), Miami (10), New York (10), Columbus (10), and Toronto (10) have all impressed early on in this MLS Season. Just one team out west has hit double-digits, Minnesota (10), with Los Angeles being right behind them with nine points.
Week six was also the final week with the replacement referees being at the helm. The real refs return to the pitch on Matchday 7 after agreeing to new CBA terms. While some teams have put some nice play together, it is curious to see how MLS as a league continues to grow into the second month of the season with referees who have not been on the field yet. Matchday 7 will be played out on Saturday, March 30, and Sunday, March 31!
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