MLS Matchday 1 provided a record-breaking weekend to start the 2025 season. Matchday 2 was just as entertaining.
Philadelphia Union striker Tai Baribo scored a hat-trick against FC Cincinnati, Wilfried Zaha took over for Charlotte FC to snag three points against Atlanta United, and the San Jose Earthquakes already have six points through two matches.
The sights and sounds from the opening week followed into the second, and the 30th season of MLS is off to a cracking start.
Here are some of the best highlights from MLS Matchday 2:
Baribo’s hat-trick continues hot start for the Union
Question marks swirled around the Union entering this season. Would Bradley Carnell’s system work? Would the new signings be worth it? Is the Union relying too much on homegrown talent? As things stand after two games, the Union look unstoppable.
Baribo scored a brace against Orlando City to open the season and then bagged a hat-trick the following weekend. Bruno Damiani also scored his first Union goal in his debut in the win over Cincinnati. Damiani was signed for $3.4 million from Uruguay’s Club Nacional de Football, a record signing for the Union.
Head coach Bradley Carnell’s high-pressing system has been everything and more for the Union early on. We’ll see if early success continues.
No Messi, no problem for Miami
Inter Miami grabbed three points from the Houston Dynamo in a 4-1 win during Sunday Night Soccer. Lionel Messi did not travel with the team to Houston, and the Dynamo offered its fans a complimentary ticket to another match.
But it was no Messi, no problem for Miami. Telasco Segovia scored a brace (6′, 45+2′), Tadeo Allende scored in the 37′, and Luis Suárez scored in the 79′. Suárez contributed to every Miami goal in the win, scoring once himself and adding three assists.
Segovia has been sensational for Miami to start the year. In his first MLS season, he has three goals in two matches and an 8.43 rating.
The Dynamo have dropped both of their opening matches and have only scored two goals in total.
Zaha carries Charlotte to win over rival Atlanta
The first half was scoreless in this rivalry matchup between Charlotte FC and Atlanta United, but Charlotte would grab three points in a 2-0 win.
Liel Abada scored in the 48′ for Charlotte after Zaha found him with space in the box. Just a few minutes later, Zaha scored his first MLS goal. Brad Guzan’s save bounced right to Zaha who finished his chance.
The atmosphere was bumping at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, and Charlotte look to be contenders in the Eastern Conference this year.
Whitecaps give Galaxy their second consecutive loss
The defending MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy have dropped both of their matches to begin the season. They lost to San Diego FC in the opening week, and now they fell to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Sam Adekugbe scored in the 3′ for Vancouver, and LA immediately had to play catch-up. In the 39′, Gabriel Pec equalized for LA and the match started to look a bit brighter, until Brian White broke the hearts of the Galaxy with a goal in the 87′.
Bruce Arena has San Jose cooking early
Last season, the San Jose Earthquakes finished with the fewest amount of points in the league. After an offseason of player acquisitions and a new head coach, they’ve picked up maximum points in their first two matches.
Cristian Arango put San Jose on the scoreboard in the 3′, and then Josef Martinez doubled the lead in the 19′. Devan Joveljic converted on a penalty to bring Kansas City to within one in the 27′, but a comeback wasn’t able to be achieved, even as San Jose played with 10-men from the 52′ onward when Hernan Lopez received a red card.
Bruce Arenas is working some magic for the Earthquakes to start the year and they’ll be a fun team to keep an eye on.
Standings after Matchday 2:
MLS Eastern Conference Standings
Philadelphia Union: 6 pts
Columbus Crew: 6 pts
Inter Miami: 4 pts
Charlotte FC: 4 pts
New York Red Bulls: 3 pts
Orlando City: 3 pts
Atlanta United: 3 pts
FC Cincinnati: 3 pts
D.C. United: 2 pts
NYCFC: 1 pt
New England Revolution: 1 pt
Chicago Fire: 1 pt
Toronto FC: 1 pt
Nashville SC: 1 pt
CF Montreal: 0 pts
MLS Western Conference Standings
San Jose Earthquakes: 6 pts
Vancouver Whitecaps: 6 pts
LAFC: 6 pts
San Diego FC: 4 pts
FC Dallas: 4 pts
Austin FC: 3 pts
Minnesota United: 3 pts
Portland Timbers: 3 pts
Real Salt Lake: 3 pts
Colorado Rapids: 2 pts
St. Louis City: 2 pts
Seattle Sounders: 1 pt
Sporting Kansas City: 0 pts
LA Galaxy: 0 pts
Houston Dynamo: 0 pts
