A highly packed schedule saw several teams play up to three games in a seven-day run during week 5 of Major League Soccer. But with pure exhaustion and minimal roster rotation aside, this week was nothing short of thrilling moments.
For example, goalkeeper Stefan Frei and midfielder Jordy Delem both picked up injuries in the Sounders’ midweek match. With Frei out and no more substitutions, defender Alex Roldan put on the oversize keeper jersey for his first clean sheet.
Stefan Cleveland, 26, started for the veteran keeper in Sunday’s marquee match – amassing three saves and adding to the club’s perfect start of the season for his club debut.
Head Coach Greg Vanney looks to be turning the LA Galaxy around after the club endured a few disastrous seasons. Chicharito, who is currently leading the league with seven goals, brought a newly re-energized confidence to the team after sitting out for most of the 2020 season due to injury.
Of course, it’s still early to say if the Galaxy will revert to their old winning ways. But they are heading in the right direction after adding Jonathan Bond, Jorge Villafana, Derrick Williams, and Oniel Fisher to the roster; and bringing players up from their academy and USL side.
According to Major League Soccer Analyst, Matt Doyle the roster moves “gives them the depth and flexibility to adjust both game-to-game and mid-game,” that we have seen thus far.
Over in the Midwest, the Columbus Crew. Correction. Columbus SC unveiled the club’s new logo and name on Monday, May 10, and received an immense backlash from fans. The reigning MLS Champions went on to get steamrolled by Toronto FC and the New England Revolution.
Sporting Kansas City ended their three-day stretch with a 2-1-0 record in a dominant 3-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. And the Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders are on a three-game winning streak.
And lastly, LAFC concluded the busy week as the Black and Gold dropped all three points in a disappointing 2-0 loss at Lumen Field, falling to last in the Western Conference standings for the first time in club history.
Final scores:
Toronto FC 2-0 Columbus SC
Inter Miami CF 0-2 CF Montreal
Philadelphia Union 1-1 New England Revolution
Houston Dynamo 1-0 Sporting Kansas City
Minnesota United 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps
San Jose Earthquakes 0-1 Seattle Sounders
D.C. United 1-0 Chicago Fire FC
New York FC 1-1Toronto FC
LA Galaxy 2-0 Austin FC
Atlanta United 1-0 CF Montreal
Philadelphia Union 1-0 New York Red Bulls
Minnesota United 1-0 FC Dallas
Colorado Rapids 3-1 Houston Dynamo FC
Real Salt Lake 0-0 Nashville SC
San Jose Earthquakes 0-2 Portland Timbers
Sporting Kansas City 3-0 Vancouver Whitecaps
FC Cincinnati 2-3 Inter Miami CF
New England Revolution 1-0 Columbus SC
D.C. United 0-1 Orlando City SC
Seattle Sounders 2-0 LAFC
- scores are from May 12 – May 16
To catch up on all of the previous weeks events since Major League Soccer’s return and much more, click here