MLS Moments of Matchday 30

By Anonymous (not verified), August 25, 2025

For Immediate Release
MLS Communications

Moments of Matchday 30:
San Diego FC Becomes First Team to Clinch Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Berth

Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 15 matches played on the 30th matchday of the 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24.

Highlights of the matchday included:

Expansion side San Diego FC became the first team to clinch a berth in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, courtesy of a combination of results from across the league. San Diego clinched its first-ever playoff berth in its 28th match this season, making it the fastest expansion club to clinch a postseason spot in its debut season in the post-shootout era (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season).
Charlotte FC notched its seventh consecutive win via a 1-0 result against the surging New York Red Bulls on Sunday. Charlotte’s seven-game streak is tied for the second-longest, single-season winning streak in MLS since 2000 and is the longest streak in the league this season.
In Sunday’s nightcap, Seattle Sounders FC forward Danny Musovski notched his first-career hat trick in the club’s 5-2 victory over Sporting Kansas City. Musovski, who entered the season with 17 career goals across just over 100 matches, leads Seattle with a career-high 13 goals this season, including multi-score games in three of his last five matches.
In the winning effort, Seattle (10,020,034) became the second team in MLS history to eclipse 10 million fans in regular-season matches, joining the LA Galaxy. The Sounders accomplished the feat in the club's 274th home game, besting the previous record by approximately 175 matches.
LAFC’s star summer signing Son Heung-Min scored his first MLS goal in sensational fashion, striking a brilliant, bending free kick over the wall and into the back of the net in the club’s 1-1 draw vs. FC Dallas (Watch Here).
North of the border, another marquee summer addition opened his MLS account, as German national team and Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller converted a game-winning penalty-kick in the 14th minute of second-half added time in the Whitecaps' 3-2 win over St. Louis CITY SC (Watch Here).
A pair of former Landon Donovan MLS MVPs made history on Saturday night, as New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil (2021 MVP) and Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (2022 MVP) each recorded assists to mark their respective fifth consecutive season with at least 10 assists. Gil and Mukhtar join Preki (eight consecutive seasons), Carlos Valderrama (five), and Robert Warzycha (five) as the only players to accomplish the feat in MLS history.
Playoff Picture: San Diego FC clinched a playoff berth in the Western Conference, while D.C. United was eliminated from playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. View the complete Eastern and Western Conference tables HERE.

Charlotte Secures Seventh Straight Win

Behind a 30th-minute goal from Kerwin Vargas (Watch Here), Charlotte FC notched a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls, extending the club’s winning streak to seven matches. Charlotte (47 points, 15-11-2) climbed to fourth place in the Eastern Conference table and the club’s 15 wins trail only Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and San Diego – all of which have 16 wins this season.

With the victory, Charlotte recorded its seventh consecutive win, tying for the second-longest, single-season win streak in MLS since 2000. It is the longest win streak in MLS in 2025 and the longest since FC Cincinnati’s seven-game streak from April 20 to May 25, 2024. The club is only the fifth team since 2000 to record a winning streak of at least seven matches in a single season, and the only team to record a longer winning streak over the span was the 2018 Seattle Sounders, which won nine consecutive games from July 21 to September 15, 2018.

Charlotte will look to take one step closer to history as the club travels to Foxborough to take on the New England Revolution on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Surridge, Mukhtar Prove Double the Trouble

The stars were out in Nashville on Saturday night, as Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidates Hany Mukhtar (two goals, one assists) and Sam Surridge (two goals) combined to overpower Orlando City SC, 5-1, at GEODIS Park (Watch Highlights from Their Performances Here ). Nashville (50 points, 15-8-5) snapped a three-game losing skid and held steady in the Eastern Conference race, currently sitting in third place and only four points behind the Supporters’ Shield-leading Philadelphia Union.

With a pair of goals, Surridge (20 goals) retook the Golden Boot presented by Audi lead and became the second player in Nashville history to eclipse 20 goals in a single season, joining Mukhtar’s 23 goals during his MVP and Golden Boot-winning campaign in 2022. Surridge is also the third different English-born player to score at least 20 goals in a single season in MLS, joining Bradley Wright-Phillips, who accomplished the feat three times (2014, 2016, 2018) and Dom Dwyer (2014).

Mukhtar’s assist was his 10th of the season and marked the fifth consecutive season in which the midfielder has recorded double-digit helpers. Mukhtar, along with Revolution midfielder Carles Gil who also accomplished the feat on Matchday 30, joined Preki (eight consecutive seasons), Carlos Valderrama (five), and Robert Warzycha (five) as the only players to record at least 10 assists in five-or-more seasons in MLS history.

Nashville will look to continue to stay in the Supporters’ Shield hunt as the club welcomes Atlanta United to the Music City on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Lod Makes History in Winning Effort for Loons

Entering a tough road environment at America First Field, Minnesota United FC took advantage of an early own goal and saw goals from Robin Lod and Joaquín Pereyra in a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. Minnesota (50 points, 14-6-8) held strong in second place in the Western Conference table, only three points behind San Diego FC, and have won three of its last four matches.

With a goal and an assist in the match, Lod (four goals, six assists) recorded his fourth season with at least 10 goal contributions, surpassing Emanuel Reynoso (three) for the most such seasons in club history. The Finnish midfielder is the club’s all-time leader in goals (33) and assists (35) and has registered 33 goal contributions (11 goals, 21 assists) across the last two seasons.

Minnesota returns to action on Saturday night, as the Loons welcome Western Conference foe, the Portland Timbers, to Allianz Field (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Miller’s First Goal Propels Galaxy to 3-0 Victory

Eighteen-year-old defender Harbor Miller scored his first-career goal in the seventh minute (Watch Here) and Elijah Wynder (55th minute) and Gabriel Pec (75th minute ) added goals in the LA Galaxy’s 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night. The Galaxy’s win was the club’s first in league play since July 12 as it looks to stave off elimination from the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs picture.

Appearing in his fifth career MLS match and making his fourth career start, Miller (18 years, 63 days old) became the second-youngest player to score a goal in Galaxy history, trailing only Jack McBean (16 years, 312 days old). Miller’s match was his first regular-season appearance with the club since April 5, 2025.

On Wednesday, the Galaxy will take on the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup 2025 semifinals (10:45 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+ / Univision), before returning to MLS play against Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday, September 6 (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Baribo, Philadelphia Extinguish Road-Warrior Fire

Four different Union scorers found the back of the net as Philadelphia overwhelmed the Chicago Fire at Subaru Park, earning a 4-0 victory on Saturday night. Philadelphia (54 points, 16-6-6) held onto its position atop the Supporters' Shield standings, maintaining a one-point advantage over Western Conference leader San Diego FC.

The club’s opening goal was scored by forward Tai Baribo, marking his 16th goal of the season and his first in MLS play since July 26 (Watch Here ). Baribo, who has scored 25 goals across 50 games with the Union, became the fastest player in club history to reach 25 goals with the team, besting the previous record of 54 games held by Julián Carranza. Baribo’s 16 goals are tied for the third-most in MLS this season, trailing only Sam Surridge (20) and Lionel Messi (19), and the Union are unbeaten in games in which the forward has scored this season, holding a 9-0-2 record.

The Union will aim to hold onto the Supporters’ Shield lead in a major showdown against fellow Shield contender FC Cincinnati on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).