MLS Moments of Matchday

By Anonymous (not verified), April 7, 2025

For Immediate Release
MLS Communications

Moments of Matchday 7:
Martínez Hat Trick Steals Show in Inaugural Game Rematch

Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 15 matches played on the seventh matchday of the 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6.

Highlights of the matchday included:

Two teams remain unbeaten through seven matchdays – the Columbus Crew (4-0-3) and Inter Miami CF (4-0-2), while only one team has won five matches so far – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5-1-1).
San Jose’s Josef Martínez recorded his first hat trick in six years and 259 days and the league-record seventh of his MLS career in San Jose’s 6-1 victory over D.C. United – a game that marked a rematch of the inaugural MLS match on April 6, 1996.
Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna continued his hot form with both goals in the club’s 2-0 victory over the LA Galaxy.
In his debut as Sporting Kansas City interim head coach, Kerry Zavagnin produced a 2-0 victory against rivals St. Louis CITY SC at home.
Only three teams managed to snatch a point on the road in Matchday 7 and all three are on multi-game unbeaten runs – FC Dallas (three games), Orlando City SC (four games), and the Portland Timbers (four games).
Houston Dynamo FC grabbed their first win of the season as U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Jack McGlynn scored the lone goal of the victory and goalkeeper Blake Gillingham made two saves in his first career shutout.

Josef Martínez Steals the Show in Inaugural Game Rematch

In a rematch of the inaugural MLS match played on April 6, 1996, the San Jose Earthquakes, behind the seventh career hat trick from forward Josef Martínez, produced a seismic result in a 6-1 victory over D.C. United on Sunday afternoon. The trifecta was the seventh of Martínez’s career and are the most by a single player in league history, with no other player having recorded more than five hat tricks.

Martínez, who recorded his last hat trick on July 21, 2018, recorded his first hat trick in six years and 259 days, the second-longest span between hat tricks in MLS history. Only Dwayne De Rosario had a longer period between hat tricks, going seven years and 313 days between from Sept. 27, 2003 to Aug. 6, 2011.

The 31-year-old Venezuelan now has 120 career MLS goals and surpassed Bradley Wright-Phillips (117) for sole possession of sixth place on the league’s all-time scoring leaderboard with his first goal of the evening. Next up on the list is Jaime Moreno and his 133 goals.

The all-time winningest coach in MLS history, San Jose’s Bruce Arena was on the touchline for today’s victory after serving as the head coach of D.C. United in the league’s inaugural match. Arena’s head coaching career has spanned 30 seasons from his first game to the most recent and he is the only coach in league history to accomplish that feat.

With the win, San Jose improved to 10 points (3-3-1) on the season and will look to continue its momentum next Saturday in an interstate showdown against LAFC (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Vancouver, San Diego, and Minnesota Still Setting the
Western Conference Pace

Bunched atop a crowded Western Conference table are three teams who have staked their claims as the best of the early 2025 MLS season – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (16 points, 5-1-1), expansion club San Diego FC (14 points, 4-1-2), and Minnesota United FC (14 points, 4-1-2). All three clubs emerged victorious on Matchday 7, continuing their strong early-season form in three different fashions.

The Whitecaps received first-half goals from Brian White and Emmanuel Sabbi in knocking off the Colorado Rapids, 2-0, at BC Place. With Sabbi’s goal, his first of the season, Vancouver became the fifth team in MLS history to have 10 different goal scorers within the opening seven matches of a season. The Whitecaps currently sit in first place in the Western Conference and will resume MLS play against Austin FC on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) following their midweek Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinal match against Pumas of LIGA MX on Wednesday (10:30 p.m. ET).

At Snapdragon Stadium, expansion side San Diego FC continued their early-season momentum with a statement 3-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC. The match featured the first MLS goal from Designated Player Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano, who also picked up an assist in the match. With its win, San Diego has now gone 4-0-0 against teams that finished in the top four in last year’s Western Conference standings, with wins over LAFC, the LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, and Seattle. San Diego is the third expansion club in MLS history to record at least 14 points through their first seven games, joining LAFC (15 in 2018) and St. Louis CITY SC (15 in 2023).

Minnesota United remained in the winner's circle and are unbeaten across its last six following a 2-1 victory over New York City FC on Sunday. The Loons have won four of its last five matches and are currently tied for second in the Western Conference. Forward Tani Oluwaseyi continues to be a force, scoring just two minutes into the match. Oluwaseyi has five goals across his last three MLS matches and trails only Philadelphia’s Tai Baribo (six) in the chase for the Golden Boot presented by Audi.

Diego Luna Dominates Over Defending Champs

The defending MLS Cup presented by Audi champions LA Galaxy made the trek to Salt Lake on Matchday 7 but could not contain Diego Luna, who scored twice in the club’s 2-0 victory. At only 21 years old, Luna continues to show that he is one of the best No. 10s in MLS as he dictated the match from the Real Salt Lake midfield.

With his brace, Luna became the youngest player in club history to reach at least 15 goals and 15 assists in his career. Over the past four games, ‘Moon Boy’ has produced three goals and two assists for Real Salt Lake.

Luna is also coming off an impressive performance with the U.S. Men’s National Team and USMNT assistant coach Miguel D’Agostino was in attendance to watch his brace against the Galaxy. The emerging star will look to continue his hot form next Saturday when Real Salt Lake travel to face Nashville SC at GEODIS Park (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Nancy Leading Unblemished Crew in 2025

Once again, the Columbus Crew appear to be a serious contender for the Supporters’ Shield under the guidance of head coach Wilfried Nancy. Columbus has yet to lose a game in 2025, opening the campaign 4-0-3, and kept its record unblemished on Matchday 7 when Nancy defeated his old team CF Montréal, 2-1, at home.

The match was Nancy’s 75th regular season game in charge of the Crew, and with the victory, he tied Bob Bradley (LAFC) and Bruce Arena (New England) for the best winning percentage in MLS history by a coach in their first 75 games with a club (.660).

One player who has excelled in 2025 under Nancy has been forward Jacen Russell-Rowe, who had a goal and an assist in the victory. The Canadian international had big shoes to fill after the departure of Cucho Hernández in the offseason, but has performed well and has notched four goal contributions (three goals, one assist) on the season.

Columbus can match its club-best start to the season next weekend on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire when they travel to face St. Louis CITY SC at Energizer Park (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).

New-Look Sporting KC Notch Rivalry Win

For the first time since 2009, Sporting Kansas City had a new manager at the helm after the club and Peter Vermes mutually agreed to part ways this week. In stepped interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin, who has been involved in an MLS record 26 seasons with a single club as a player (2000-08) and as an assistant coach (2009-25). Zavagnin’s first match in charge saw Kansas City get the best of rivals St. Louis CITY SC, as they produced a 2-0 victory – their first win of the season.

With the result, Zavagnin joined Ron Newman (1996) as the only coaches in club history to produce a shutout victory in their first MLS game at the helm. The early benefactor under Zavagnin appears to be forward Dejan Joveljić, who scored twice in the victory and looked lively in attack throughout the match.

Joveljić and a new-look Sporting Kansas City aim to make it two-for-two under Zavagnin next Sunday when they host the Portland Timbers (2:15 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+ / FOX / FOX Deportes).