MLS Monday: Everything you need to know about Matchweek Six

It was an outstanding Matchweek Six in MLS: Quality play, VAR drama, garbage games, an inch-perfect Olimpico. There were just twelve games this week as both New York City FC and Seattle Sounders rescheduled their league matches in advance of meeting on Wednesday in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals.

Top games from Matchweek Six

New Jersey Red Bulls 1 - 2 CF Montréal

Red Bull Arena has been a fortress for New Jersey — until now. A composed Montréal came back from a 1-0 deficit to tie it in the 71st minute, then won it in the 81st minute when Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel spectacularly misplayed a simple clearance that Montréal’s Rommel Quioto then poached and slotted into the back of the next. Trust us, the replay will brighten up your day:

Inter Miami 3 - 2 New England Revolution

New England’s counterrevolution continues: The winner of last year’s Supporters’ Shield stumbled against the pickup side known as Inter Miami to lose their fourth game in a row. To be fair, Wolverhampton loanee and Ecuadorian international Leonardo Campana had a sweet hat trick for Miami—and he almost makes the “cabana boy” kit Inter introduced this year look good. Who’d a thunk a New England attack spearheaded by Sebastian Lletget (Insta: @theylovedaboy) and halftime-sub Jozy Altidore couldn’t respond?

Philadelphia Union 1 - 0 Columbus Crew

There’s some kind of black magic watching over the Union. How else could Philadelphia remain undefeated in 2022 – and lead the league with 16 points after six matches – in spite of a garbage game like the one they played against Columbus on Saturday? Philadelphia logged just 31% possession and 65% pass accuracy, but won thanks to a Columbus own-goal scored in the second minute — and eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat, and tongue of dog.

Charlotte FC 1 - 0 Atlanta United

Charlotte’s charmed inaugural season continues with a rewarding win over Atlanta in a newly-minted regional rivalry. The two teams were evenly matched, but Jordy Alicvar’s sublime Olimpico in the 11th minute was all Charlotte needed to grab the win. Charlotte now has nine points after seven games, good enough for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

LA Galaxy 2 - 1 LAFC

It’s always satisfying when a game lives up to the hype, and this top-of-the-table el Traffico was a zinger: Goals scored, goals disallowed, and when the dust settled – rather, when LAFC’s 97th-minute equalizer was called back by VAR – the Galaxy had the win but it could have gone either way. LAFC are still in first place in the Western Conference with 13 points, just one point ahead of the Galaxy.

Goal of the week:

Jordy Alicvar’s Olimpico for Charlotte is going to be on all the week’s highlight reels, and that’s OK by us. Here's a reverse angle from the fan in the stands:

MLS scoreboard for Matchweek Five

Saturday, April 9

Orlando City 1 - 0 Chicago Fire

Inter Miami 3 - 2 New England Revolution

New Jersey Red Bulls 1 - 2 CF Montréal

Philadelphia Union 1 - 0 Columbus Crew

LA Galaxy 2 - 1 LAFC

Real Salt Lake 2 - 2 Toronto FC

Houston Dynamo 4 - 3 San Jose Earthquakes

FC Dallas 3 - 1 Colorado Rapids

Sporting Kansas City 1 - 2 Nashville SC

Vancouver Whitecaps 2 - 3 Portland Timbers

Sunday, April 10

Austin FC 1 - 0 Minnesota United

Charlotte FC 1 - 0 Atlanta United