For Immediate Release
MLS Communications |
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Moments of Matchday 16:
Comeback Wins and Late-Game Drama Galore
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Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 13 matches played on the 16th matchday of the 2025 MLS regular season on Wednesday, May 28.
Highlights of the matchday included:
- Five of the 13 games on Wednesday night saw a game-tying or game-winning goal scored in second-half stoppage time – Atlanta United (GWG in 90+5’), FC Dallas (GTG in 90+2’), D.C. United (GTG in 90+1’), Philadelphia Union (GWG in 90+2’), and Austin FC (GTG in 90+3’).
- The New York Red Bulls won 4-2 against Charlotte FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium behind two goals from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The Red Bulls’ 19 points at home are the second most in MLS this season (Nashville SC, 20 points).
- FC Cincinnati recorded a 3-3 draw vs. FC Dallas, becoming the first team in MLS history to produce at least 30 points within the first 16 games of a season in three straight years.
- Three different players had at least three goal contributions on Matchday 16 – Atlanta’s Alexey Miranchuk (one goal, two assists) and Inter Miami’s duo of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez (two goals and one assist each).
- U22 Initiative signing and Portland Timbers forward Kevin Kelsy scored the game-winning goal for the club in the 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. At just 20 years old, he is the youngest player in the league with at least three game-winning goals this season.
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Atlanta’s Win Powered by Miranchuk Masterclass
Coming off a thrilling 4-2 win vs. FC Cincinnati last Saturday, Atlanta United had a chance to make a statement on Wednesday night against the most in-form team in MLS – Orlando City SC. The Lions entered Mercedes-Benz Stadium on a 12-game unbeaten run but could not extend it further as Atlanta came from 2-1 down to win 3-2.
The victory was led by midfielder Alexey Miranchuk, who had two assists against Cincinnati, and followed that performance up with one goal and two assists against Orlando. Miranchuk became the first Atlanta player with at least three goal contributions in a single match since Giorgos Giakoumakis had a hat trick on March 9, 2024. Since Miranchuk joined the Five Stripes, the club has yet to lose a regular season match in which the Designated Player has produced a goal or assist (4-0-2).
Next up for Atlanta is a trip to face the New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday, May 31 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).
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Lionel Messi Back to His MVP Ways
Entering Matchday 16, Inter Miami CF was winless in their last four regular-season games and six matches in all competitions, but Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez put a stop to that. Messi and Suárez each scored two goals and added an assist in the club’s 4-2 victory over CF Montréal.
For Messi, he has now scored in back-to-back games and is up to eight goals and three assists in the 2025 regular season. With three goal contributions, the 2024 Landon Donovan MLS MVP became the first player in club history to record at least 50 regular season goal contributions (29 goals, 21 assists) and tied Gonzalo Higuaín for the most regular season goals in Herons history.
Miami will now look to prove they are back for good when they host the Columbus Crew on Saturday, May 31 at Chase Stadium in a clash of two of the Eastern Conference favorites (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).
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Union’s Dramatic Comeback Keeps Them Top of the East
Entering the last five minutes of their match against Toronto FC, the Philadelphia Union’s seven-game unbeaten run looked like it would be snapped along with their reign at the top of the Eastern Conference. However, unlikely defensive heroes Nathan Harriel and Kai Wagner would have something to say as the Union flipped the script and escaped Toronto with a 2-1 win.
Harriel snagged an equalizer with an assist from Wagner in the 86th minute before the German fullback secured all three points with a deflected strike from 30 yards out in the 90+2’. Wagner is having another All-Star-caliber season as he’s now up to one goal and seven assists in 2025 – the only defender with at least seven helpers in 2025. The victory marked the first time in Union history they won a regular season match when trailing entering the 85th minute.
The Union (33 points, 10-3-3 record) have a three-point lead in the Eastern Conference over FC Cincinnati and will continue their road travels when they head to Texas to face FC Dallas on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
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Start Spreading the News – Dynamo Win in New York
On April 1, Houston Dynamo FC sat in 13th place in the Western Conference with just two points – fast forward two months later, and the Dynamo are clicking with a 5-2-3 record in their last 10 games and in a playoff position in the Western Conference. Matchday 16 offered a unique test for Houston as in 17 previous attempts, they had yet to win a road game against either New York City FC or the New York Red Bulls.
It turns out, the 18th time was the charm as Houston defeated New York City FC at Yankee Stadium, 3-0, behind two goals from former New York City striker Gabe Segal. This marked the first time Segal squared off against his former club and he delivered with the first regular season brace of his career. Houston has the chance to continue their ascent up the Western Conference standings when the host Sporting Kansas City at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, May 31 (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
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San Jose Gets Back in the Cali Clásico Win Column
In recent years, the San Jose Earthquakes have not had much success in California Clásico matchups against the LA Galaxy. Enter new head coach Bruce Arena and, under his guidance, the ‘Quakes marched into Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday night and took down the Galaxy, 1-0, behind a goal from forward Ousseni Bouda.
San Jose’s win was their first in the regular season against the Galaxy since July 13, 2022, after previously going 0-6-1 in their last seven meetings with LA. For Bruce Arena, he has made it a habit of defeating the team he used to coach, as the win improved his overall record to 9-4-1 against the Galaxy in his career. San Jose, which leads MLS with 33 goals scored this season, travels to face St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday afternoon as they look to extend their six-game unbeaten run (2:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
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For real-time notes and information, follow the MLS Communications department @MLS_PR on Twitter/X, @mlscommunications on Instagram, and MLS Communications on Bluesky, and visit MLSsoccer.com/Media-Resources.
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