MLS – Matchday 33 Winners & Losers

What a breathtaking weekend in MLS: four hat-tricks in a single round, stoppage-time drama, and records falling everywhere. The 57 goals scored marked the highest tally ever in one weekend of league play.

Winners

Vancouver Whitecaps & Thomas Müller

Thomas Müller turned 36 in style, delivering a hat-trick in a 7-0 demolition of the Philadelphia Union. Two calm penalties and a smart header sealed Vancouver’s playoff berth and set BC Place on fire. The Whitecaps showed depth and confidence across the field, looking every bit a real threat in the West. For Müller, it was proof that he still has the ability to decide games on the biggest nights.

LAFC & Denis Bouanga

Denis Bouanga not only struck three times against the San Jose Earthquakes—he also tied Carlos Vela as LAFC’s all-time leading scorer with 93 goals across all competitions. The milestone came during an eight-match unbeaten away run, a sign of the squad’s growing maturity. Bouanga is now the heartbeat of LAFC’s attack, and with Son Heung-min settling in, the Black & Gold look poised to surge at the right time.

FC Cincinnati & Evander

The TQL Stadium erupted in the 98th minute when Evander buried the winner against Nashville SC, booking Cincinnati’s place in yet another postseason. It was the second-latest goal in club history and Evander’s 21st of the year, tying the all-time single-season scoring record across competitions. In clutch moments, the Brazilian has delivered, raising Cincinnati’s ceiling as they chase bigger dreams in 2025.

Evander celebrates goal for FC Cincinnati (FC Cincinnati / X)

Charlotte FC & Idan Toklomati

Charlotte enjoyed a perfect night against Inter Miami: a 3-0 win powered by Idan Toklomati’s hat-trick. He converted a penalty, latched onto a through ball, and capped the performance with style.

Toklomati celebrates with Saha after goal in Charlotte (Pitchside Brazil)

The club now holds the longest winning streak of the post-shootout era, cementing itself as the East’s surprise package. Once a supporting figure, Toklomati has become the focal point of Charlotte’s attack—and a name to watch closely.

Losers

Philadelphia Union

Things couldn’t have gone worse: a 7-0 humiliation against the Whitecaps, their heaviest defeat of the season. The backline collapsed early, the attack never clicked, and the team looked switched off. The result shatters confidence and exposes flaws at a critical stage. Unless they regroup quickly, the Union risk sliding out of the playoff picture.

Austin FC

The Texas Derby turned sour for Austin in a 2-0 loss to FC Dallas, with goals from Petar Musa and Bernard Kamungo. The performance lacked energy, creativity, and conviction. Now sitting in a precarious position in the West, Austin finds itself under pressure from direct rivals. The playoff fight has turned into an uphill battle.

Inter Miami & Lionel Messi

Inter Miami fell flat in a 3-0 defeat to Charlotte. Lionel Messi saw a panenka penalty saved by Kristijan Kahlina and struggled to break free of tight marking. With no collective solutions, the Herons leaned too heavily on their Argentine superstar—and paid the price. The loss sounded the alarm: over-reliance on Messi could be Miami’s Achilles’ heel in the run-in.

Matchday 33 made the playoff race crystal clear: Vancouver, LAFC, Cincinnati, and Charlotte are peaking at the right moment. Meanwhile, the Union, Austin, and Miami must react fast or watch the season slip away. Down the stretch, every team is looking for positioning ahead of the playoff race.

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