MLS Shield Contenders and More

By Anonymous (not verified), May 5, 2025

For Immediate Release
MLS Communications

Moments of Matchday 11:
Supporters’ Shield Contenders Begin to Take Shape

Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 15 matches played on the 11th matchday of the 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4.

Highlights of the matchday included:

After the weekend, four teams are averaging at least 2.00 points per game in the Eastern Conference. This is the first time in MLS history that four different teams are averaging at least 2.00 points per game in a single conference on May 5 in any season.
On Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire, Sporting Kansas City defeated the LA Galaxy, 1-0, becoming the first club in MLS history to win a match without attempting a single shot. Their goal in the contest came from a Maya Yoshida own goal in the 13th minute.
Cristian Espinoza (two goals, one assist) led the San Jose Earthquakes to a 4-1 victory over the Portland Timbers and became the third active player to record at least 15 game-winning goals and 15 game-winning assists, joining Luciano Acosta and Diego Fagúndez. San Jose’s 24 goals lead MLS after Matchday 11.
Another young Homegrown made his first MLS start as Chicago Fire FC defender Christopher Cupps (16 years, 342 days) became the youngest player in club history to start a regular season MLS match. Cupps played the full 90 minutes and helped the Fire preserve a 0-0 draw after being down a man for more than 64 minutes of the match.
Behind a pair of assists from Ryan Kent, Seattle Sounders FC defeated St. Louis CITY SC 4-1, as Brian Schmetzer tied Frank Yallop (130) for the 10th most wins in MLS regular season history.
The New England Revolution won their fourth-straight game behind another goal from Carles Gil, who joined Espinoza as the only active players to be in the top five of both goals and assists for an original MLS club.
D.C. United scored twice in the 45+4’ or later in the first half, becoming the second team in the past decade to accomplish the feat (New York City FC on June 28, 2024) as the two-goal flurry propelled them to a home victory against the Colorado Rapids.

Vancouver’s Dream Start Cannot Be Stopped

As the calendar flips to May, Vancouver Whitecaps FC capped off the most impactful week in club history with a 2-1 win against Real Salt Lake at home. The victory came on the heels of the Whitecaps punching their ticket on Wednesday night to the Concacaf Champions Cup Final for the first time in club history and kept them to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings.

Vancouver’s eighth win of the regular season embodied the club’s ability to get contributions from players all across the pitch as Jayden Nelson and Tristan Blackmon bagged the goals for the Whitecaps. With this result, Vancouver became the sixth team in league history to produce at least 26 points from the first 11 games of a season with the most recent being the 2010 LA Galaxy. Of the previous five, four of those went on to win the Supporters’ Shield that season.

Next up for the Whitecaps is a Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire date with LAFC at BC Place on Sunday, May 11 (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Chucky Finding His Form For Five-Goal San Diego

San Diego FC returned to their winning ways by defeating FC Dallas, 5-0, at home thanks to a brace from Mexican forward Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano, and goals from Anders Dreyer, Onni Valakari, and Milan Iloski to seal the three points at home.

After scoring a brace in the first half (20’ and 27’), Lozano became the fifth player in MLS history to produce at least four goals and four assists in his first eight games with an expansion club during their debut season. Later in the match, Lozano continued to add to his accolades as just the fourth player in MLS history to accumulate two goals and two assists in a single match for an expansion team in their inaugural season. The most recent to do so – another Mexican National Team legend in Carlos Vela (October 12, 2018).

Lozano leads the club with 10 goal contributions (four goals and six assists) in just under 550 minutes across eight matches played followed by Dreyer with nine (four goals and five assists).

San Diego, who sit fourth in the Western Conference, look to secure consecutive victories when they go on the road against 2023 MLS expansion side St. Louis CITY SC at Energizer Park on Saturday, May 10 (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).

Carnell Has Everyone Contributing, Union Flying High

The Philadelphia Union (7-3-1) have continued their hot start this season under new head coach Bradley Carnell securing their third consecutive win after defeating CF Montréal by a score of 2-1 on Saturday night thanks to goals from Indiana Vassilev and Mikael Uhre.

In Carnell’s first season with the club, the Union are off to their best start in club history through 11 matches taking 22 points and boasting a plus-11 goal differential. An early goal by Vassilev in the second minute gave the Union a brief lead, but Montréal’s Giacomo Vrioni equalized during first-half stoppage time (45+3’).

Philadelphia’s Mikael Uhre scored the winning goal in the final minutes of the match securing the Union’s third road win and, in the process, equalized Julián Carranza (34) for the fifth-most goals in club history.

The Union will return to regular season action next Saturday in a battle for the top of the Eastern Conference when they host the current leaders Columbus Crew at Subaru Park in a must-see match (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).

Gallese and St. Clair Lead Goalkeeper of the Year Race

Despite the flurry of 44 goals on Saturday evening, two goalkeepers stood out with impressive road shutouts – Minnesota United FC’s Dayne St. Clair and Orlando City SC’s Pedro Gallese.

Gallese was magnificent in the Windy City, making eight saves and holding a clean sheet despite the Fire accumulating 2.63 expected goals in the match. The Peruvian’s double-save in the 10th minute was arguably the most impressive one-two denial in regular season action this year (Watch Here ). Orlando has now produced five-straight clean sheets with Gallese in goal and next Saturday against the New England Revolution (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), he will look to become the fourth ‘keeper in MLS history to record a 600-minute-plus shutout streak.

For St. Clair, the blanking of Austin FC at Q2 Stadium might signal an opportunity to return to the same pitch in July as an MLS All-Star for the second time in his career. The Canadian Men’s National Team ‘keeper has kept six clean sheets in his first 10 appearances this season, becoming just the sixth goalkeeper to do so in the past decade. Next up will be a tough task for the Loons as they welcome Inter Miami FC to Allianz Field on Saturday, May 10 (4:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Crew Cooking Up the Goals Once Again

In a battle between two of the top five teams in the Eastern Conference, the Columbus Crew reigned supreme, defeating Charlotte FC 4-2 at Lower.com Field. With the win, Columbus sits atop the conference and second in the Supporters’ Shield standings with 24 points and a 7-1-3 record. The Crew’s 24 points through 11 matches are tied for the most in club history (2020).

Once again, Columbus’ strong performance was fueled by a balanced attack that put four past one of the top defenses in MLS. Four different players got on the scoresheet, including Diego Rossi (six) and Jacen Russell-Rowe, who have now combined to score 10 goals in 2025 already. Since the start of last year, Columbus has had nine different regular season games with at least four goals scored, which is two more than the next closest clubs (Inter Miami CF and Portland Timbers).

The Crew face another top Eastern Conference foe next Saturday when they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Union (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).