GOAL takes a look at some key storylines heading into the third Matchday of MLS action in 2025
Two weeks of MLS action are officially in the book, and although it's early, things are starting to take shape and competitors are beginning to emerge. The Columbus Crew are still at the top, while the Philadelphia Union, San Jose Earthquakes, LAFC, and Vancouver Whitecaps join as them as the only unbeaten teams left across MLS.
Reigning champions LA Galaxy are winless through two games, while Supporters' Shield holders Inter Miami sit at four points through two Matchdays — but are sporting an unwanted trend, with a red card in each of their MLS showings so far this season. Lucky for them, though, their second — handed to Ian Fray — was rescinded by the independent review panel.
Meanwhile, Charlotte FC also sit on four points — but broke out on Matchday 2 with the emergence of Designate Player and Ivory Coast international Wilfried Zaha, who sparked them to a 2-0 victory over rivals Atlanta United. Can he stay hot, and can CLT continue their winning ways?
Staying in the Eastern Conference, the Union have arguably been MLS' biggest surprise this season so far, and striker Tai Baribo leads the league in scoring with five goals already this season. What is Bradley Carnell cooking, and can their Israeli star keep up his goal-scoring heroics — or is it an early-season fluke?
Then, in the West, there is the Whitecaps. Nobody saw this coming.
New head coach Jesper Sorensen has them 2-0, and they're coming off a big win over the Galaxy. However, after a midweek draw in the CONCACAF Champions Cup to Liga MX heavyweights CF Monterrey, will their legs be tired or can they overcome adversity to stay unbeaten?
GOAL dives into all that and more in The Kickoff, a weekly preview of each MLS Matchday.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportIs Zaha MLS' next conquerer?
After leading Charlotte FC to a 2-0 victory over Atlanta United, fans quite literally crowned Wilfried Zaha. The Ivorian striker was seated on a throne in the Supporters' Section — Game of Thrones style. It was a moment that felt both niche and uniquely “American sports,” but more importantly, it felt like the beginning of something special for Charlotte. A true coronation. Their superstar had arrived.
“He’s the type of player we were missing last season, for sure,” head coach Dean Smith said of Zaha. “We saw in one performance today that he can produce moments of magic.”
For his part, Zaha made it clear this was only the beginning.
“I think it's a statement,” he told MLS Season Pass after the win. “Me coming here to score goals, the whole team working hard, and us taking our opportunities—it shows every other team in the league that we mean business this season.”
And business they mean.
Charlotte opened the season by grinding out a road point at one of the league’s toughest venues, Lumen Field, against the Seattle Sounders. Then, they followed it up by taking down Atlanta, the “Playoff Dragon Slayers” of 2024. Now, they face their biggest challenge yet in Matchday 3: the dragons themselves—Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
While Messi’s fitness remains uncertain, the Herons still boast a roster capable of wreaking havoc, as the Houston Dynamo learned the hard way last weekend. For Charlotte, it will take a full 90-minute effort, with Zaha leading the charge alongside U.S. internationals Patrick Agyemang and Tim Ream, both of whom will have major roles to play as look to stay unbeaten.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportCarnell in the kitchen: Union's boss has Philly cooking
When Bradley Carnell was appointed Philadelphia Union manager in the offseason, plenty of questions surrounded the hire — the biggest among them: Could he handle a job of this magnitude? He was taking over a club in a rough patch, yet one with a strong track record of developing young talent and maximizing transfers on a limited budget.
Two weeks in, the answer is a resounding yes.
The Union have opened the season with back-to-back wins over Eastern Conference playoff contenders, scoring four goals in each match. They lead MLS in scoring and boast the league’s current Golden Boot leader, Tai Baribo.
The Israeli striker, meanwhile, has outscored 23 of MLS’ 30 teams on his own through two weeks. You read that right — one player has more goals than 23 entire squads.
His scoring rate is unprecedented, and while it’s unlikely to be sustainable over a grueling 40-plus game season across all competitions, the 27-year-old has been electric in the final third.
This weekend, the Union have a chance to make history. A win over the New England Revolution could make them just the fourth team in MLS history to achieve a plus-8 goal differential through the first three matches, joining the 1999 Chicago Fire, 2017 Atlanta United, and 2022 Austin FC — each of whom finished in the top four of the Supporters' Shield standings.
Getty Images SportWhite and the Whitecaps peaking
Although it sounds like an Indie Rock Band from 2013, White and the Whitecaps are playing sensational soccer at the moment — with the U.S. international leading the line in their new attack under the guidance of Sorensen.
One of three teams in the West with six points to start the season, the Whitecaps have displayed exemplary poise, patience and control in their game to start the campaign. It took them until the 87th minute to defeat the Galaxy on Matchday 2, but it wasn't a shocking result by any means; they dominated the reigning champions in all areas of the pitch.
White, meanwhile, is off to a brilliant start this season with three goals in four appearances across all competitions for Vancouver. Although he's only netted once in MLS play he's been stupendous in the final-third with hold-up play, and drawing defenders out of position allowing his teammates to get into the box to score. He's quietly become one of MLS' most consistent forwards, with 15 goals in each of his last MLS domestic campaigns.
We can't mention Vancouver without touching on the emergence of Canada international Jayden Nelson, either, though. The 22-year-old recorded three assists and a goal on Matchday 1, and in the win over the Galaxy, he logged 62 minutes while registering two shots on target. An offseason acquisition, he's instantly become a crucial part of their attack.
Matchday 3 arrives against Canadian rivals CF Montreal, who are seeking their first points of the season on the road against Vancouver. If the Whitecaps can manage a victory over a struggling rival after their midweek Champions Cup match against CF Monterrey, it will be an impressive feat for Sorensen, who is already being tested with match congestion three weeks into the campaign.
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Getty Images SportWhat's trending?Baribo is one of just four players in MLS history to score five goals in the first two matches of a season, joining Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández (2021), Ayo Akinola (2020), and Brian Ching (2006). If he were to score again on Matchday 3 against the New England Revolution, he would join the ranks of MLS royalty alongside Ante Razov (1999) as the only other player to score 6 goals through the first three games of the season.Inter Miami's Telasco Segovia can become just the third player in MLS history aged 21 or younger to score in each of his club's first three matches of the season, joining the ranks of Cyle Larin (2016) and Erick Torres (2014). The Venezuelan has two goals and one assist through the first two MLS Matchdays of the year. In 2014, Larin scored in four-straight to begin his season.FC Dallas forward Petar Musa can become just the second player in MLS history, joining Chicago Fire's Ante Razov (1999), to record a goal and an assist in each of the first three matches of the season if he finds himself on the scoresheet in both categories against the Fire on Saturday.