Thrilling action on opening day for the MLS

If you are looking for something to watch after the end of the NFL season and neither basketball or hockey interest you, then you should try watching soccer. Now is the perfect time to start as Major League Soccer(MLS) is officially underway. 

The MLS is the fourth most popular league in the United States and is third in average game attendance, trailing only the NFL and MLB. They only look to increase those numbers with the start of season thirty.

The season kicked off with LAFC hosting Minnesota United, kicking off at 3:45pm on Saturday(2/22). LAFC entered the game, wanting to redeem themselves after the disappointing end of an otherwise great 2024 season. Minnesota looked to continue their success from the year prior under 33-year old manager, Eric Ramsay. 

LAFC came out in a 4–3–3 formation, with a focus on left winger Denis Bouanga who finished the 2024 season with 20 goals and 10 assists in 30 starts. There is also emphasis on their new center fielder Jeremy Ebobisse, who they got from San Jose Earthquakes in the off season.

Minnesota played with a 5–3–2, with one of their wingbacks, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, being converted from forward. Both wing backs would push forward, meaning that Minnesota played with more of a back three instead of a back five.

The first half saw plenty of chances for both teams to score the opening goal but neither side was able to finish them. LAFC seemed to be struggling more than Minnesota, making simple mistakes in passing and letting Minnesota win 50/50 headers and second chances. 

The last minutes of the first half and most of the second saw LAFC take full control, dominating possession, winning corners and forcing Minnesota’s goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to make a number of miraculous saves. 

Minnesota could only hold on for so long, and, eventually,  they broke. A great ball through to Bouanga from midfielder Marky Delgado to help break the Minnesota backline. Bouanga would pass to Nathan Ordaz, who had come in as a sub for Martinez, in front of goal. 

Ordaz would quickly pass to Ebobisse who would bury the ball in the back of the net from just outside the box. Scoring in the 78th minute of his debut for the club and the first goal of the MLS season. 

The next batch of games kicked off at 6:30pm, all the games bringing thrilling action to those watching in the stadium or at home on the coach. 

The most thrilling of the games had to come from the Inter Miami–New York City game. The game started off quick as defender Tomas Aviles would score the opening goal at the five minute mark, Lionel Messi on the assist. 

Aviles would then be sent off with a red card in the 23rd minute, meaning that Miami would have to play down a man the rest of the game. 

NYC would quickly take advantage of Miami’s lack of players on the pitch by scoring the tying goal in the 26th minute. The goal came from a free kick set piece that was finished off by fullback Mitja Ilenic, finishing the ball from a difficult angle to get past the keeper.

NYC would add a goal 10 minutes into the second half thanks to striker Adrian Martinez. NYC was now in control, and due to Miami being down a man, it should be an easy three points.

Well Messi and Miami refused to go down so easily. They kept attacking NYC and kept making chances, trying to wear down their defenses. This effort would pay off in extra time.

Miami was blessed with an astounding 11 minutes of added time following the 90th minute, and they used it to their advantage. Telasco Segovia would score the tying goal 10 minutes into added time(90’+10’) chipping the ball over the keeper for the goal.

The game would end with a 2–2 draw, Miami managing to get a point despite having to play 10 men for the majority of the game.

650 miles north in Atlanta, a back and forth was being played between Atlanta United FC and CF Montreal. Atlanta would win in a stunning home opening 3–2 thanks to a brace from forward Emmanuel Latte Lath(42’, 63’) and the game sealing goal from midfielder Edwin Mosquera(85’). 

Montreal would put up a good fight scoring each of their two goals a few minutes after Atlanta’s first two. The first was by midfielder Nathan Saliba(47’) and the final one was scored by forward Prince Owusu(71’). Montreal simply could not find the third goal in order to make it a draw. 

Other games from around the league would include a 4–2 thrashing of Chicago Fire by Columbus and Philadelphia Union beating Orlando by the same score.

In our nation’s capital, DC United and Toronto battled it out for a 2–2 draw, Toronto forcing the draw in the 70th minute with a Federico Bernardeschi penalty.

Down in the Lone Star State, Houston would lose 2–1 at home to rivals FC Dallas while Austin FC got their first win of the season at home against Sporting Kansas City.

There would only be two goalless games the whole day, a draw between Nashville SC and New England Revolution, both teams having goals called back due to offsides. Along with another nil all draw between St. Louis City FC and Colorado Rapids. 

The day would end with two west coast games, a 4–0 thrashing of Real Salt Lake by San Jose Earthquakes and a 2–2 draw at Lumen Field between Seattle Sound and Charlotte.