MLS Weekend Wrap: St Louis Golazo and Free-Scoring Englishman Lead the Headlines
In a thrilling weekend of Major League Soccer action, Marcel Hartel's breathtaking goal for St Louis City stole the spotlight, while Sam Surridge's relentless scoring form for Nashville SC continues to turn heads. Meanwhile, Marc Dos Santos's impressive unbeaten start at Los Angeles FC underscores a season already rich with drama and standout performances.
Hartel's Heroics Lift St Louis in Emotional Victory
If St Louis had constructed Energizer Park as an indoor arena, Marcel Hartel's stunning strike would undoubtedly have blown the roof clean off. The German midfielder capitalized on a poor pass from Brayan Ceballos in the 83rd minute, opting for an audacious chip over goalkeeper Matt Turner to secure a 2-1 win against New England Revolution. This moment of brilliance provided a much-needed boost for a club undergoing significant transition.
After a surprising run to win the Western Conference in their 2023 debut, St Louis have faced consistency issues. The 2025 season marked a necessary reset, with core changes in leadership. Corey Wray was appointed as chief soccer officer in early November, replacing Lutz Pfannenstiel, and promptly installed Yoann Damet as head coach. The win over New England, their first in five games this season, offered a feelgood moment for the new regime and a locker room mourning the loss of Ilona Löwen, wife of midfielder Eduard Löwen, who passed away from cancer on 9 March. Players wore black armbands with her initials, and fans coordinated in gray to show support.
Damet highlighted the emotional context, stating, "It's been emotional, to say the least, but at the same time, I think the guys wanted to show those values that we embody as a team, for him." On the field, he praised the promising midfield partnership of Chris Durkin and winter acquisition Daniel Edelman, two former US youth internationals now entrusted with greater on-ball responsibility. While one win in five won't guarantee playoff contention, this foundation suggests brighter days ahead for St Louis.
Philadelphia Union's Struggles Deepen with Loss to Chicago Fire
The Philadelphia Union's defense of their Supporters' Shield title has begun in unprecedentedly poor fashion, becoming the first Shield holder to lose their first five games the following spring. A 2-1 home defeat to Chicago Fire on Saturday extended their woes, with Hugo Cuypers scoring his fourth goal of the season just before half-time and Jonathan Bamba sealing the win with a fine volley in the 58th minute.
Philadelphia now sit woefully behind the pack, with only Columbus Crew having fewer than three points at this stage. Coach Bradley Carnell is struggling to find solutions, though the schedule has eased slightly after their exit from the Concacaf Champions Cup last week. In contrast, Chicago Fire, under Gregg Berhalter, are showing promise with continued investment in their squad and a new $750 million stadium underway, leveraging three senior designated players to swing close games in their favor.
Sam Surridge's Prolific Form Sparks Premier League Interest
Sam Surridge has emerged as MLS's top scorer this season, netting a hat-trick in Nashville SC's recent victory to put them three points clear atop the Eastern Conference. With 45 league goals in 75 games since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2023, the 27-year-old Englishman's consistency has made him one of the league's most dependable forwards, instrumental in Nashville's 2025 US Open Cup triumph.
His age and homegrown status have fueled speculation about a potential return to the Premier League. Surridge has been transparent about his ambitions, telling the Tennessean in February, "I've always expressed, eventually I want to be playing in England. But at the same time, I'm playing my best soccer here now in America. It's easy to stay at the moment." He signed an extension that could keep him in MLS through 2028-29, weighing the fulfillment of being a focal point in Nashville against the allure of English football, much like Riqui Puig's choice to thrive with LA Galaxy over a smaller club in Spain.
Marc Dos Santos's Unbeaten Start at LAFC Continues
Marc Dos Santos has made a stellar beginning as head coach of Los Angeles FC, extending an unbeaten run to nine matches. Elevated after Steve Cherundolo's departure, Dos Santos has guided LAFC to become the first MLS club to start a league campaign with five clean sheets, a feat bolstered by their run to the Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-finals. A scoreless draw in Austin showcased their defensive solidity, despite fielding a preferred front-three of Denis Bouanga, Son Heung-min, and David Martínez after a midweek match.
Dos Santos, known for his culture-building and stout defensive shape from his time with Vancouver Whitecaps and lower-league clubs like the San Francisco Deltas, appears well-suited to lead one of MLS's glamor clubs. While early days, his ability to maintain an unbeaten streak signals he is more than capable of handling the responsibility.
Goal-Filled Matches Highlight Weekend Excitement
The weekend also featured several high-scoring affairs that captivated fans. Dean Smith's Charlotte FC delighted home supporters with a 6-0 rout of youthful Red Bull New York, aided by a red card to defender Gustav Berggren in the 53rd minute, allowing Wilfried Zaha to score his first goal of 2026.
In a Texas derby, FC Dallas edged Houston Dynamo 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller. Logan Farrington's early brace was countered by a Dynamo surge, but an own goal and Petar Musa's late winner secured victory for Dallas.
Under former Tottenham assistant Matt Wells, the Colorado Rapids notched a third win in four games, overpowering a depleted Sporting KC. Paxten Aaronson's first brace since April 2024 led the charge, with Colorado generating 19 'big' chances through five weeks, trailing only Nashville and Vancouver in this metric.
As the MLS season progresses, these storylines promise more excitement and drama in the weeks ahead.
