Moments of Matchday 24

By Anonymous (not verified), July 14, 2025

For Immediate Release
MLS Communications

Moments of Matchday 24:
Columbus Stuns in Hell is Real Comeback

Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 15 matches played on the 24th matchday of the 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13.

Highlights of the matchday included:

Seven MLS All-Stars scored on Matchday 24, including Anders Dreyer (two goals), Lionel Messi (two), Max Arfsten, Denis Bouanga, David Da Costa, Evander, and Diego Rossi. The 2025 MLS All-Star Game will be played on Wednesday, July 23 (9 p.m. ET) at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium.
The Columbus Crew overcame an early two-goal deficit to secure a 4-2 road victory over rival FC Cincinnati in the Hell is Real derby. Saturday was the first time that a club overcame a two-goal deficit to win in the regular season history of the rivalry and marked the Crew’s first regular season road victory over Cincinnati since July 11, 2020.
Inter Miami CF star Lionel Messi registered his fifth consecutive brace, scoring both goals in the club’s 2-1 win over Nashville SC. Messi, who has 11 goals in his last six games, tied Josef Martínez (11 from July 4 to Aug. 4, 2018) for the most goals in a six-game span in MLS history.
The Philadelphia Union defeated the New York Red Bulls, 2-0, to retake the lead I the Supporters’ Shield standings with 43 points (13-5-4). The Union are unbeaten in its last 12 matches against the New York Red Bulls, the longest streak against a single opponent in club history.
With his assist on Charlotte FC's opening goal tonight, Pep Biel (17) passed Karol Świderski (16 in 2022 and 2023) for the most goal contributions in a single season in club history.
By scoring his 70th regular season goal tonight, Jordan Morris became the third player in Seattle Sounders FC history to accumulate 100 career regular season goal contributions, joining Nico Lodeiro (121) and Fredy Montero (102).

Crew Take Hell is Real Derby with Dramatic Comeback

After succumbing to FC Cincinnati goals just 39 seconds and five minutes into the match, the Columbus Crew roared back with four unanswered goals to take the latest edition of the Hell is Real derby, 4-2, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. The Crew (41 points, 11-3-8) won their first regular season road match against Cincinnati since July 11, 2020, and climbed within two points of the Supporters’ Shield-leading Philadelphia Union (43 points, 13-5-4).

First-half goals from MLS All-Stars Diego Rossi and Max Arfsten 45’+3’ erased the club’s two-goal deficit before an own goal from FC Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson gave Columbus an advantage they would not relinquish. 19-year-old midfielder Taha Habroune scored his first-career goal in the 90’+3’ to firmly secure the victory.

Saturday’s comeback victory by the Crew marked the first time in the Hell is Real derby that a team trailing by at least two goals came back to win in regulation. Columbus did this in the 2023 Eastern Conference Final against Cincinnati after scoring in extra time.

Columbus will travel to GEODIS Park on Wednesday to take on fellow Eastern Conference contender Nashville SC (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) before returning home to take on D.C. United on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).

Messi’s Magical Run Continues in Miami Victory

The greatest player of all-time continues to rewrite history for Inter Miami CF, as 2022 FIFA World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi scored two goals for his MLS-record fifth consecutive game while powering the Herons to a 2-1 win over surging Eastern Conference contender Nashville SC on Saturday night . Miami (38 points, 11-3-5) has won five consecutive matches and ended Nashville’s club-record 12 game regular season unbeaten run with the victory.

Messi, who now is tied with Nashville’s Sam Surridge atop the Golden Boot presented by Audi race with 16 goals, has scored at least two goals in five straight matches and has 11 goals over his last six MLS matches. Messi’s 11 goals tied former Inter Miami teammate and current San Jose Earthquakes forward Josef Martínez (11 from July 4 to Aug. 4, 2018) for the most goals in a six-game span in MLS history.

The Argentine forward has 36 goals and 23 assists across his last 35 MLS matches, averaging more than one goal per game and over 1.68 goal contributions per game over the span. Messi and Miami will look to continue their midseason ascent up the Eastern Conference table as they face FC Cincinnati on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).

Trio of Assists from Mihailovic Help Rapids Roll

The Colorado Rapids received an early goal from Calvin Harris 12’ and never looked back in a 3-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday night. The Rapids (26 points, 7-10-5) sit just outside of playoff position in the Western Conference and trail a top-six spot by only three points.

Rapids midfielder Djordje Mihailovic was crucial for the club on Saturday, providing an assist on each of Colorado’s three goals. Mihailovic’s three-assist game was the first for the club since Connor Ronan on May 6, 2023. With his trio of assists, Mihailovic (39 goal contributions) also surpassed Mark Chung (38) for the most goal contributions by a Rapids player in his first two seasons with the club.

The Rapids return to action on Wednesday evening, as the club travels to Seattle to take on the Sounders at Lumen Field (10 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+ / FS1 / FOX Deportes).

Dreyer Sees Double in San Diego Win

MLS All-Star Anders Dreyer continued to add to his Landon Donovan MLS MVP campaign on Matchday 24, recording both goals for San Diego FC in a 2-1 victory over Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field. The Western Conference leaders, San Diego (42 points, 13-6-3) recorded its conference-best seventh road victory and have won five of its last six in MLS play.

With his first goal, Dreyer (11 goals, 15 assists) became the third player in MLS history to record at least 10 goals and 15 assists in his debut season, joining Sebastian Giovinco (2015, 22 goals, 16 assists) and Darwin Quintero (2018, 11 goals, 15 assists). The Danish attacker leads all MLS players with 26 goal contributions – three more than the next-closest player, Lionel Messi (23 goal contributions) – and has recorded multiple goal contributions in four of his last five matches overall. Dreyer's 26 contributions are tied for the fifth-most by a player in his club’s first 22 games of a season in league history, trailing only Carlos Vela (35 in 2019), Cristian 'Chicho' Arango (28 in 2024), Sebastian Giovinco (27 in 2015), and Luciano 'Lucho' Acosta (27 in 2024).

San Diego players host to Toronto FC on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) before welcoming Vancouver Whitecaps FC to Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Loons Land Knockout Blows vs. Earthquakes

Behind four different goal scorers, including a club-leading ninth goal from Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United FC overpowered the San Jose Earthquakes in a 4-1 victory at Allianz Park on Saturday night. Minnesota (40 points, 11-4-7) has won three of its last four games and currently sits in second place in the Western Conference behind only expansion side San Diego FC.

With the win, Minnesota United reached 40 points in their first 22 games of the season, the fewest games it has taken the club to reach the mark in its history. The club’s previous fastest mark to 40 points was 25 games, set in 2019 – a season in which the club set its team-record with 15 wins, a feat they also matched in 2024.

The Loons welcome fellow Western Conference contender LAFC to Allianz Field on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), before traveling west to take on the Portland Timbers on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).