MLS Matchday 35 Roundup

We have had such an interesting season in the MLS, but now, all we have to do now is wait for the regular season to wrap up, so they prepare for the playoffs.

This is because Inter Miami won yesterday, and they have secured the Supporters’ Shield with a seven-point lead over the Western Conference’s top team.

Things are looking good for some top teams as they seem to continue on good momentum.

It is time to start breaking down some of the results we got in the last few days.

MLS Matchday 35 Roundup: NYC FC 3 – 2 Cincinnati

In beating FC Cincinnati, New York City FC earned its first win of 2024 over one of the MLS Eastern Conference’s top three teams, a result that should provide another jolt of confidence ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

While New York City’s players and head coach alike have spoken hopefully and confidently about how close their games have been, accentuating the positives from a string of mediocre-to-poor results can only get you so far.

As the playoffs draw closer, it helps to have an actual win over one of these upper-echelon conference contenders to hang on to, and the 3-2 over Cincinnati gives NYC FC exactly that.

MLS Matchday 35 Roundup: Columbus Crew 3 – 2 Inter Miami

It was familiar territory for the Crew, being down 2-0 against Inter Miami.

Earlier this season, Columbus had managed to build a comeback from that deficit to defeat Miami. The difference between then and the clubs’ most recent meeting is Miami had its star forward Lionel Messi this time.

On Wednesday, the Crew were defeated 3-2 by Miami with two goals from Messi, who was playing his first-ever game against Columbus. The victory secured Miami the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, a title given to the club with the best record during the regular season.

MLS Matchday 35 Roundup: Colorado 1 – 3 LA Galaxy

In some recent games, the Galaxy have had to claw their way out of early deficits. Their latest game was no different. Late in the first half, goalkeeper John McCarthy was unable to block Connor Ronan’s strike that found the back of the net. That allowed the host, Colorado Rapids, to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

The stars aligned for the Galaxy as they were able to respond early in the second half. Five minutes in, Gabriel Pec tied it up at one goal a piece with his 14th of the season.

It didn’t take more than eight minutes for the LA Galaxy to score again. Pec assisted on the score by Riqui Puig.

Per usual, the Los Angeles Galaxy scored in bunches as they put danger in the Rapids’ hopes of tying the game with Puig’s 13th goal of the season. Miguel Berry, who replaced Dejan Joveljic in the 88th minute, assisted on the team’s third and final goal of the night.

MLS Matchday 35 Roundup: LAFC 1 – 0 St. Louis City

St. Louis City’s defense held its own against Los Angeles FC Wednesday night, but its offense was stifled in a 1-0 loss at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

LAFC’s Denis Bouanga scored in the first minute of first-half stoppage time for the only goal LAFC would score and the only one it needed.

LA goalie Hugo Lloris wasn’t tested on the way to his league-leading 13th shutout of the season.

The loss ended City’s two-game winning streak and stopped its four-game unbeaten away streak.