From LAFC’s slump to Orlando’s tested credentials, we’re back to take a look at the biggest talking points from the MLS weekend that was. Let’s get straight into it.
Alarm bells are ringing at LAFC
📸 Harry How – 2024 Getty Images
LAFC looked like world-beaters for most of the 2024 campaign up to this point, but the cooling down period since losing the Leagues Cup final in heartbreak fashion has been alarming.
The star-studded side have dropped points in five straight games, losing three of those, and it hasn’t been bad lucked that has plagued them. At times they have looked like a sieve in defense, but more the more worrying trend has been the apparent lack of energy.
Before the pause for the Leagues Cup in August, LAFC were bona fide Supporters Shield contenders, and now they are one more bad weekend away from slipping all the way to 7th in the Western Conference. You wouldn’t put past this group of players to click back into gear overnight, but you have to be worried if you’re an LAFC fan.
The Union train is rolling once again
Look out MLS, the league’s perennial ‘plucky underdogs’ are back in position to sneak into the playoffs before all is said and done.
The Union have won five of their last seven games in MLS, including a 4-0 thumping of D.C. United on Sunday, and have jumped into 9th after looking all but down out before the Leagues Cup break.
The form of the dynamic attacking trio of Tai Baribo, Mikael Uhre, and Dániel Gazdag has been a sight to behold. Combining that with Jim Curtin’s ability to squeeze an extra 10% out of his team in the big games is a potential recipe for success in the dying weeks of the season.
Philly have never been big spenders, but somehow they always seem to find a way to play a part in where MLS Cup may land.
Petar Musa is not spoken about enough
There is a lengthy list of standout attackers in MLS this season, thought Petar Musa has not landed on many of them — that should start to change.
The former Benfica man has been on a tear this season, despite still taking time to bed into the league. Nonetheless, he has 15 goals and two assists in 27 games this season — three goals off breaking the all-time FC Dallas single-season scoring record.
The partnership between Musa and Jesus Ferreira has begun to gel in a way that Dallas decision makers would have hoped for in the winter, and now Alan Velasco is in the mix to help out. While this season may be a bust, if this attacking force can stay together next season, you…