🔬 The Debrief after three giants slip up during the midweek MLS action

Major League Soccer returned with 13 midweek games on the schedule as the end of the regular season looms.

Here is what went down across the United States and Canada.

What happened

Sep 18, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) looks on from the bench before the match against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Three upsets for three giants will grab the headlines off the hop. Late drama saw Inter Miami held 2-2 at Atlanta United (more on that later) before Evander inspired Portland to thump the LA Galaxy 4-2 and a sluggish LAFC were held 1-1 against Austin.

Meanwhile, the early kickoffs saw five Philadelphia Union players thump just as many goals beyond NYCFC 5-1, two late stunners helped Montréal hold New England 2-2 and Columbus Crew bounced back with an easy 2-0 win on the road in Toronto.

Orlando City also scored two goals in their victory over Charlotte, while Sporting KC let the goals fly against Colorado Rapids 4-1.

Things turned nervy between Minnesota and FC Cincinnati, with the visitors surviving 2-1 and a Western showdown between Houston Dynamo and Vancouver Whitecaps ended all square 1-1.

Anderson Julio’s brace, including a strike from almost 58 yards out, helped Real Salt Lake beat FC Dallas in a five-goal thriller while Nashville edged Chicago 1-0 and San Jose earned a big point off Seattle Sounders 2-2 thanks to an 89th-minute equaliser.

Stats of the night

Orlando City’s victory over FC Charlotte made it three wins in a row for the club and manager Oscar Pareja.

They continued their climb up the table and sit fourth in the Eastern Conference as the boss moved fifth for the most regular season wins in MLS history.

We’re also giving a little love to the Timbers, whose three big-name players Evander, Jonathan Rodriguez and Felipe Mora hit an MLS first during a 4-2 win over leaders LA Galaxy.

Fit and firing.

Player of the night

We have to give this honour to Atlanta United midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk. The Russian midfielder arrived in the summer for a reported $13 million but had yet to deliver his first goal.

His stunning strike from outside the box saw the game end 2-2 against Inter…