MLS Matchday 23 Preview 🔮

Major League Soccer is back once again this weekend with matchday 23 as we begin to close in on the end of the season. Let’s look ahead to some of the top stories and narratives ahead of the games.

Fixture of the weekend

LAFC are the hottest team in MLS right now and have reminded us all that the cream rises to the top, even after an average start to the campaign. Their matchup with Colorado on Saturday evening will be a great test for both teams, and an impressive streak could end for either one of them.

The Rapids come into the game winners of three straight and have climbed to fourth in the West, just six points behind league leaders and Colorado’s opponents on the night, LAFC.

Meanwhile, Steve Cherundolo’s side haven’t lost in any competition since May 4 and have truly thrown their hat in the ring for the Supporters Shield.

There is plenty to discuss this weekend in MLS, but all eyes will surely be on Los Angeles on Saturday evening, as a statement will be made one way or another.

Player to watch

Patrick Agyemang is becoming a star in MLS, and it couldn’t have come as more of a shock.

The 23-year-old was playing for the Rhode Island Rams in college soccer just two years ago, but after five goals and three assists this season, Agyemang has proven why Charlotte had no issue in parting ways with their DP forwards to make room for their young upstart.

After two goals against Philadelphia last time out, Agyemang opened up about what is becoming his true breakout season in MLS.

“I was never in doubt of my abilities,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time of it all coming together. Now that I’m in this position, it’s just going and running with it.”

Three questions ahead of Matchday 23

A jumping-off point for Seattle? 

With less than 15 minutes left in the Sounders’ MLS showdown with Dallas last weekend, the Cascadia club were staring down the barrel of their eighth loss of the campaign.

Fast forward through those 15 minutes, and the Sounders roared back to snatch all three points in stoppage time. But the real question is, was that a sliding doors moment for their bumpy season?

Brian Schemtzer will hope so, but he will be without two of his key players against an ailing Chicago side this weekend after ‘effectively suspending’ Raúl Ruidíaz and Nouhou due to a post-game argument with the Sounders boss.

A farewell for Thiago? 

The news surrounding Thiago Almada has been a rollercoaster ride for Atlanta United fans. The Argentine is reportedly set for a move to Botafogo in Brazil, with a plan to move to Botafogo’s sister club in Ligue 1, Olympique Lyon, down the road.

Nonetheless, Almada is available to play for the Five Stripes against Toronto this weekend and will surely do so given Atlanta’s need for results after a disappointing first half of the campaign.

The potential loss of Almada in the coming weeks would be a blow for United, as they only just parted ways with star striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, who moved to Liga MX.

Can Cincinnati bounce back? 

FC Cincinnati have seemed nearly impenetrable this season. That was until a New England side that sat bottom of the Eastern Conference stormed into TQL Stadium and nabbed all three points last weekend.

And while you’d bet your house on Pat Noonan’s side picking up a victory against FC Dallas this weekend, they will be without several key cogs in the machine.

With Miles Robinson away with the USMNT, and Matt Miazga out for the remainder of the season, Cincinnati are more than stretched at the back, they are depleted.

But with Luciano Acosta and Kevin Kelsey leading the line, anything is possible.