MLS Monday

MLS Monday: Everything you need to know about Matchweek Nine

Austin are legit, Alan Velasco is good at free kicks, Nashville open new stadium

By Oliver Strand May 2, 2022, 7:00am EDT

MLS: Philadelphia Union at Nashville SC — “I came along, I wrote a song for you, and all the things you do, and it was called Yellow.” —Chris Martin

Matchweek Nine included just 13 games: MLS agreed to let Seattle Sounders get their beauty sleep before the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Finals on Wednesday, and allowed them to reschedule their game against Vancouver Whitecaps to June 14. For everybody else it was all good in the neighborhood.

Top games

Chicago Fire 1 - 2 New Jersey Red Bulls
A tornado couldn’t stop Chicago, but two red cards could: After going ahead 1-0 – and waiting out a weather warning – Chicago let New Jersey even it up before the Energy Drink Gods stepped in and delivered the game to Red Bulls through a pile of yellow cards and a 91st-minute penalty. With this game, New Jersey ties the MLS record with five road wins in a row.

Houston Dynamo 1 - 2 Austin FC
Dio mio: Not only are Austin legit good with 20 points out of nine games, they lead the league with 22 goals scored. Saturday’s come-from-behind win on the road had everything: A howler from NYCFC alum and all-around nice guy Brad Stuver, a crisp equalizer from Daniel Pereira, and a top-of-the-box game-winner from Sebastián Driussi that ties him for the lead in the Golden Boot.

Nashville SC 1 - 1 Philadelphia Union
Poor Nashville: They made the mistake of playing the inaugural game at GEODIS Park, their stunning 30,000-seat state-of-the-art stadium, against a sturdy Philadelphia squad that seems intent to wage a season-long war of attrition. For the seventh time out of nine games, Union had more fouls than shots.

Goal of the Week

This free kick by Alan Velasco of FC Dallas should be taught in school. (Bonus: The closeup on goalkeeper Tim Milea blowing snot out of his nose in the aftermath.)

No angle, no problem for Alan Velasco. @FCDallas equalize with this stunning free kick. pic.twitter.com/C0csSmT5YU
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 1, 2022