MLS Matchday 14 Roundup

The MLS matchday 14 has been wrapped up, and we had quite an exciting bunch of results, which have shifted things around a bit on the scoreboard, keeping the season as unpredictable as we like it to be.

Now, the leaders of the Eastern Conference, Inter Miami, who are going on a stellar season so far, have to worry about Cincinnati who are just 1 point behind them and continue looking like a big threat for them, having an extra match to play over the leaders.

The Western Conference has Real Salt Lake leaping ahead from Minnesota, as both teams start to get ahead of the rest of the bunch, now having a two-point lead over the 3rd placed teams.

MLS Matchday 14: Nashville 1 – 1 Atlanta United

When and Where?

Saturday, May 18, 1:45 pm ET at the Geodis Park

Moneyline odds: 

Nashville 2.19 

Atlanta United 3.12

Draw Offs: 

3.64

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Nashville played their first match since joining the league in 2020 without manager Gary Smith leading the way. Munthali, a former Nashville player and the current player development coach took the temporary reins after Smith was fired on Thursday.

Atlanta United had to play without Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis, as they lost their dynamic duo to injuries in last week’s 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati.

Nashville took a 1-0 lead into halftime on a penalty-kick goal by Hany Mukhtar in the 40th minute. But Slisz, a rookie midfielder, pulled Atlanta United even when he took a pass from Tristan Muyumba and drilled a right-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner of the net in the 55th minute. 

It was the first assist of the season for Muyumba, who had a goal and an assist in 10 appearances last season, his first in the league. After that, the teams split up points.

MLS Matchday 14: Inter Miami 1 – 0 DC United

When and Where?

Saturday, May 18, 7:30 pm ET at the DRV PNK Stadium

Moneyline odds: 

Inter Miami 1.62 

DC United 4.80

Draw Offs: 

4.45

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Inter Miami snatched a 1-0 win over D.C. United thanks to Leonardo Campana’s stoppage-time strike, as he had an instant impact after coming on in the 93rd minute when he volleyed in the winner just 25 seconds later.

Lionel Messi returned from a knee injury that kept him out against Orlando City but struggled to have his usual impact as Miami only managed eight shots.

Cristian Dajome had come closest to scoring for D.C. minutes after his introduction, but his dipping shot sailed over the bar. After the results, Miami remains a point clear of FC Cincinnati at the top of the Eastern Conference, while D.C. sits ninth, a huge 14 points behind the league leaders.

MLS Matchday 14: FC Cincinnati 3 – 1 St. Louis City SC

When and Where?

Saturday, May 18, 7:30 pm ET at the TQL Stadium

Moneyline odds: 

FC Cincinnati 1.74

St. Louis City SC 4.48

Draw Offs: 

3.90

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Cincinnati’s Luciano “Lucho” Acosta scored his seventh goal of the season from the penalty spot to give the Orange and Blue a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute. He also extended his goal-contribution streak to eight games, setting a new club record.

It didn’t take too long for Yuya Kubo to double the Orange and Blue’slead in the 49th minute with his fourth goal of the MLS season, his first since scoring against CF Montréal on April 13. Acosta picked up an assist on the Kubo goal, his seventh of the year.

St. Louis was given a lifeline in the second half as FC Cincinnati put one in the back of their net in the 54th minute. It was the first own-goal conceded by the Orange and Blue in 2024.

But Cincinnati put the nail in the coffin in the 80th minute, as Sergio Santos buried his first goal of the 2024 campaign on a cross from Acosta that was set up by Luca Orellano.

MLS Matchday 14: NYC FC 2 – 1 New York RB

When and Where?

Saturday, May 18, 7:30 pm ET at the Citi Field

Moneyline odds: 

NYC FC 2.37

New York RB 2.93

Draw Offs: 

3.10

Where can I watch it?

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Things were interesting in the 28th edition of the Hudson River Derby as NYCFC won 2-1, which is their first win over the Red Bulls since September 17, 2022.

New York City came out quickly to begin things, with Hannes Wolf scoring his second goal in back-to-back matches in the third minute. NYCFC was able to break the Red Bull press and create a chance from open play, resulting in an early lead.

Even though City had the early lead, the Red Bulls had the last laugh of the first half, as Cameron Harper silenced the crowd at Citi Field with a crossbar-down blast from the outside of the box to level the game heading into halftime. New York City was caught disorganized defensively after a turnover in the midfield, leading to the equalizer.

NYCFC did not start the second half well but was able to slow the Red Bulls’ high-energy pace with a goal from Mounsef Bakrar. The goal came from a patient, awell-executed attack that saw Wolf play a pass to Tayvon Gray, who found Bakrar for the easy finish.

New York City decided to focus on the defense and make just enough to keep the score as it was and take the three points in this clash.