MLS Matchday 12 Roundup

The MLS had many remarkable matches this weekend, but we have to point out that the leaders remain looking strong. In the Eastern Conference, the top two teams kept the lead, as Inter Miami and Cincinnati landed victories. On the western side, Real Salt Lake managed to increase their lead by one point, while the second-placed Minnesota were caught up by LA Galaxy.

Things all over the board were interesting so it is time to analyze what went down in quite an interesting 12th matchday of the MLS regular season, so get ready for the Roundup!

MLS Matchday 12: Montreal 2 – 3 Inter Miami

When and Where?

Saturday, May 11th, 7:30 pm ET at the Saputo Stadium

Moneyline odds:

Montreal 3.88

Inter Miami 1.82

Draw Offs:

4.1

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Suarez scored his league-leading 11th goal of the season, Matias Rojas produced a goal and an assist, and Benjamin Cremaschi scored the winner in the 59th minute as league-leading Miami (8-2-3) won its fifth straight game.

However, Messi Mania came and went in Montreal without a goal or assist from the man himself despite his scorching-hot form.

The 36-year-old entered the match with 10 goals and 12 assists in eight league games after a record-setting one-goal, five-assist showing last week, but was held off the scoresheet for the first time this season.

We have to point out that Montreal’s Vilsaint had a goal and an assist under the Messi spotlight, while Bryce Duke was the other man to score for Montreal (3-5-3). Either way, the team will only have that as comfort, as they still were beaten but gave quite an entertaining display while doing so.

MLS Matchday 12: Columbus 1 – 2 Cincinnati

When and Where?

Saturday, Mayo 11th, 7:45 pm ET at the Lower.com Field

Moneyline odds:

Columbus 1.87 

Cincinnati 3.925

Draw Offs:

3.82

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

We have to point out that there was only so long that the Crew’s undefeated streak at Lower.com Field could last.

We think back to the close calls in matchups in April games against D.C. United and Portland Timbers, which hinted that a home loss could happen sooner rather than later, but the last team Columbus wanted to break their 27-game undefeated streak was their “Hell is Real” rival FC Cincinnati.

The Orange & Blue appeared to be looking for revenge after being eliminated by Columbus in the 2023 MLS Cup Eastern Conference final on its home field in overtime 3-2. 

That translated into a physicality that led Cincinnati to being called for 16 fouls to Columbus’ eight. Once they put together two goals in three minutes, any spark that Columbus could have built on was extinguished.

In the final minute before stoppage time, Arfsten found the back of the net for Columbus to avoid the blank, but that failed to negate the sting of losing to an inner-state rival.

MLS Matchday 12: LA Galaxy 2 – 2 Real Salt Lake

When and Where?

Saturday, May 11th, 10:30 pm ET at the Dignity Health Sports Park

Moneyline odds:

LA Galaxy 1.92 

Real Salt Lake 3.525

Draw Offs:

4.05

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Down 2-0 at halftime, the LA Galaxy fought back to earn a 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake before a sell-out crowd of 25,220 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. 

Gabriel Pec scored his third goal of the season, while Miguel Berry scored his first goal for the Galaxy in the 94th minute of the match to earn LA a point at home.

This may have slowed down the Leader’s attempt to create a bigger gap at the top of the MLS Western Conference, but it also put LA Galaxy tied for the second spot, so it is quite a big deal for the team after being down on the scoreboard in the first half.

MLS Matchday 12: LAFC 3 – 0 Vancouver

When and Where?

Saturday, May 11th, 10:30 pm ET at the BMO Stadium

Moneyline odds:

LAFC 1.65 

Vancouver 4.765

Draw Offs:

4.25

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Ready to hunt from the opening whistle, the Los Angeles Football Club overwhelmed the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, dominating the visitors 3-0 at BMO Stadium.

A pair of first-half goals from Cristian Olivera and another shortly after the break by Mateusz Bogusz all came courtesy of Denis Bouanga. He delivered his first three-assist performance in an LAFC uniform, joining Diego Rossi and Mark-Anthony Kaye for the most assists in a single match.

Vancouver was unable to handle Bouanga and his teammates, which allowed LAFC to maintain its unbeaten home record, improving to 5-0-2 on Hugo Lloris’s third clean sheet while denying the Whitecaps (5-3-3) a six-point edge in the standings with a game in hand.