Inter Miami defeated the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night to jump back into first place in the Eastern Conference during Matchday 6. The most anticipated match of the weekend saw Miami pick up three points in a 2-1 win. Lionel Messi scored just two minutes after being subbed on in the second half.
The LA Galaxy also added another loss to their record, falling to Orlando City. The defending MLS Cup champs have yet to pick up their first win in league play this year. They’re a lowly 0-2-4 and are 13th in the Western Conference.
Here are some of the best matches from MLS Matchday 6.
Messi’s magic brings Miami back into first place
It was a battle of two Eastern Conference powerhouses at Chase Stadium on Saturday. Inter Miami didn’t play during Matchday 5 and was fully rested to take on the red-hot Philadelphia Union.
Robert Taylor put Miami up 1-0 in the 23rd minute. Taylor was subbed off in the 55th minute for Lionel Messi, and Messi doubled Miami’s lead just two minutes after coming onto the pitch.
Daniel Gazdag put the Union within one during the 80th minute, but the Union couldn’t find the tying goal after a late surge.
San Diego continues to impress with win over LAFC
San Diego FC might be one of the most fun teams to watch this season, if not the most fun. They took down LAFC, 3-2, on home turf, but LAFC didn’t make it easy.
Christopher McVey scored his first goal for San Diego in the 21st minute after converting on a header from a whipped ball courtesy of Anders Dreyer. Onni Valakari and Alex Mighten scored for San Diego just six minutes after one another to go up 3-0 right in the 40th minute.
LAFC managed to find two goals before the first-half whistle. Artem Smolyakov found the back of the net in the 43rd minute, and then Cengiz Ünder converted in the 45’+5′.
The late surge in the first half would be all that was written for LAFC. They couldn’t find any extra juice in the next 45 minutes and would leave Snapdragon Stadium with zero points.
Kansas City part ways with Peter Vermes following loss to Dallas
Sporting Kansas City parted ways with longtime manager Peter Vermes on Monday morning. Vermes was the longest-tenured head coach in MLS history and was one of the longest-serving managers worldwide in the sport.
Kansas City is dead last in the West with one point. They fell to FC Dallas last weekend, 2-1. Dáinel Sallói gave Kansas City a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute, but Luciano Acosta equalized just five minutes later. Léo Chú gave Dallas the lead two minutes after Acosta’s equalizer.
Dallas’s two goals would be all she wrote for the match, and it would be the end of Peter Vermes in KC.
Galaxy’s struggles continue against Orlando
The LA Galaxy are having a nightmare start to 2025. They have yet to find a win in league play after winning the MLS Cup last year. They got off to an early 1-0 lead against Orlando but would miss out on a point in the 90th minute.
Martín Ojeda converted on a PK for Orlando in the 76th minute, and then Luis Muriel scored a screamer in the 90th minute to give Orlando three big points in the East.
Portland takes down Houston during Sunday Night Soccer
The Portland Timbers started the season slow but have won two straight. On Sunday night, they picked up another three big points over the Houston Dynamo to move into sixth place in the West.
Felipe Mora scored in the sixth minute to get the party started in Portland, but then Franco Escobar silenced the crowd in the 12th minute for Houston.
Antony restored Portland’s lead in the 23rd minute and added the dagger in the 71st. Despite losing Evander in the offseason, the Timbers have been back in their winning ways lately. They’ll be a fun team to watch this season, along with their beautiful kits.
MLS Standings after Matchday 6
MLS Eastern Conference
Inter Miami – 13 pts
Philadelphia Union – 12 pts
Columbus Crew – 12 pts
Chicago Fire – 11 pts
Charlotte FC – 10 pts
Nashville SC – 10 pts
Orlando City – 10 pts
FC Cincinnati – 10 pts
New York Red Bulls – 8 pts
New York City FC – 8 pts
Atlanta United – 8 pts
D.C. United – 6 pts
New England Revolution – 4 pts
Toronto FC – 2 pts
CF Montreal – 2 pts
MLS Western Conference
Vancouver Whitecaps – 13 pts
Austin FC – 12 pts
San Diego FC – 11 pts
Minnesota United – 11 pts
Colorado Rapids – 11 pts
Portland Timbers – 10 pts
FC Dallas – 10 pts
LAFC – 9 pts
St. Louis City SC – 8 pts
San Jose Earthquakes – 7 pts
Real Salt Lake – 6 pts
Seattle Sounders – 6 pts
LA Galaxy – 2 pts
Houston Dynamo – 2 pts
Sporting Kansas City – 1 pt
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