Quickly
- Atlanta opened the doors to the stunning new Mercedes Benz Stadium, while Diego Valeri can't stop scoring and the Western Conference is dominated by Cascadia after another weekend in MLS.
MLS's 27th week of 2017 is in the books, and the top of the Western Conference has an awfully Cascadian look to it.
Portland, Seattle and Vancouver top the circuit out west after each secured points to strengthen their places on the right side of the playoff line. In the East, it was more of the same for Toronto FC, which is closing in on adding to its Canadian Championship with a piece of league silverware–and a heavy favorite status for MLS Cup.
The weekend also brought us an introduction to the newest home arena in the league, with the sensational new Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta opening its doors for MLS play for the first time, and that's where we'll start our whiparound of the best of the best from MLS Week 27:
I. Welcome home, Atlanta
Atlanta United began play at its stunning new stadium Sunday, and it gave its boisterous fans something to cheer about with a 3-0 win over flailing FC Dallas. You always have to like the home team on occasions such as these, and with over 45,000 of Atlanta's supporters bringing their stands game from Bobby Dodd to Mercedes Benz, it's no surprise that United was just a little up for the match. Think the city of Atlanta was ready for the game? A former United States president even took in the sights.
A pair of presidents enjoying a brilliant 3-0 win for @ATLUTD!
— Darren Eales (@DEalesATLUTD) September 10, 2017
Fans were amazing! 👏👏#UniteAndConquer pic.twitter.com/BcCcEHbmSQ
The walk into the @ATLUTD supporters section is 🔥🔥🔥#MBStadium #UniteAndConquer pic.twitter.com/5Q4ISdh92t
— MercedesBenzStadium (@MBStadium) September 10, 2017
There's no place like HOME 🏠#UniteAndConquer pic.twitter.com/07Yl3IUjrd
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) September 10, 2017
What's the supporters section like when #ATLUTD scores?
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) September 10, 2017
See for yourself 🙌😱😁😜 pic.twitter.com/YUsatm6yYy
On the field, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Josef Martinez and Greg Garza scored, Brad Guzan was strong in keeping a clean sheet, and Atlanta strengthened its place just over the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.
The FIRST EVER win in @MBStadium
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) September 10, 2017
Relive the historic match for #ATLUTD pic.twitter.com/L7FX5GK3gH
The club has a back-loaded slate of home games thanks to some construction delays and a front-loaded away slate. If its advantage on turf is anything like what it showed on Sunday, then Atlanta, with two games in hand on most of its competition, could be adding playoff games to the inaugural season ticket package.
II. Give Toronto FC the Supporters' Shield
It's not mathematically secure yet, but Toronto FC's comprehensive win over San Jose, coupled with NYCFC's home loss to the Portland Timbers, means the Supporters' Shield is as good as TFC's. Toronto, which became the first team to clinch a playoff berth, is nine points clear of second-place NYCFC with six games to go, hasn't lost since July 1 (a span of 10 league games) and has a pretty cushy schedule down the stretch.
Patrick Vieira might have conceded the Shield to TFC a few weeks ago as a bit of a mind game, but his club took care of backing up its manager's word in slipping up after a midweek triumph over Sporting Kansas City.
III. Jozy Altidore has plenty to be proud of
Sure, there's his excellent double against San Jose–giving him four goals in three matches and tying his career-high single-season goal total in MLS with 13. The goals were also his 50th and 51st in the league.
Jozy's 50th. #TFC pic.twitter.com/hBYbkS92OS
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 10, 2017
#51 for @JozyAltidore.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 9, 2017
#3 on the day for @torontofc. #TORvSJ https://t.co/Wbt5Cg2lCH
But there's also the feat accomplished by his reported significant other, Sloane Stephens, who captured the U.S. Open women's championship in sensational fashion. Altidore was in attendance in New York for some of Stephens' run but couldn't attend the final, given it was held at the same time as TFC vs. San Jose. He was told of her final win during Toronto FC's romp and discussed it in an atypical halftime interview.
.@JozyAltidore brings a new meaning to "In-Game Updates" @SloaneStephens #TORvSJ #USOpen https://t.co/KQCxNOttec
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 9, 2017
Bravo to all!
IV. Diego Valeri cannot be stopped
The Portland Timbers midfield maestro tied an MLS record, scoring in his seventh straight league game. There are a number viable MVP candidates this season in the league, and Valeri is as worthy as any of them. Meanwhile, Andrea Pirlo...what are you doing?
Seven. Straight. Games.
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) September 9, 2017
Look up "unstoppable" in the dictionary, and you'll see @DiegoDv8's picture. #RCTID #NYCvPOR pic.twitter.com/ZELbcfEvyt
The loss was a rare one at home for NYCFC, with the club falling to 10-2-3 at Yankee Stadium this season, while Portland won away from home for the fourth time this season and rocketed up to first place in the Western Conference.
V. Nemanja Nikolic gets re-started
Remember when Nikolic was going to ease his way to the MLS single-season scoring record? Turns out, it's not that easy to do. The Chicago Fire star had 16 goals in his first 18 games, firing a warning shot at Roy Lassiter, Chris Wondolowski and Bradley Wright-Phillips, who all hold the mark with 27 goals. He then promptly followed that up with a nine-game scoring drought. Well, that drought ended with his equalizer against the New York Red Bulls (check out the sick assist from Michael de Leeuw!), which matched Wright-Phillips' effort and salvaged a 1-1 draw for a team trying to reclaim its early-season form. Chicago is comfortably in the playoff picture, but, like Nikolic, not nearly as feared as it was a couple of months ago. There's still time for that to change, of course.
✅ Kappelhof the service
— Chicago Fire (@ChicagoFire) September 9, 2017
✅ de Leeuw scorpion kick
✅ @niko_nemanja's 17th of the year
1-1 at Toyota Park! #CHIvNY #cf97 pic.twitter.com/6AUdkkJSCy
VI. Nguyen-ing
Can the New England Revolution sneak into the playoffs? The dormant Eastern Conference team has the intriguing attacking pieces to play with anyone, it just might be a case of too little, too late. If they do make it, they'll have Lee Nguyen to thank after his game-winner in the 69th minute against Montreal, which is also trying to claw its way into the playoff picture.
At last! @NERevolution's Lee Nguyen puts the home team on the board and it's 1-0. #NEvMTL https://t.co/icyjIgNN66
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 10, 2017
Of course, if they don't make it, they can look at the atrocious 0-10-3 mark away from Gillette Stadium.
VII. This is what Orlando had in mind
Orlando City's attack hasn't been as prolific as the club may have hope it'd be after dealing for Dom Dwyer in a midseason blockbuster, but Dwyer and Cyle Larin connected for a sweet finish to open the scoring in a 2-1 win over D.C. United.
Tonight's halftime entertainment is brought to you by 🆑9️⃣. #DCvORL pic.twitter.com/YoPCHQ0rTm
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 10, 2017
When the strike connection is on. 🤙😄 pic.twitter.com/3AHklll6lZ
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 10, 2017
Meanwhile, this is an EXCELLENT Mario Kart reference for this sweet Yoshimar Yotun move.
Yoshi dropped a 🍌 on 'em. 😂 pic.twitter.com/jAcDgIPTEl
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 10, 2017
VIII. This is not how you defend
Sean Franklin is a much better defender than this. Unfortunately for him, it's been that kind of year for D.C. United, and he served this on a platter to Giles Barnes.
This is two games running that @GilesBarnesReal has netted one on D.C. 👌 pic.twitter.com/cJcsNqZWhY
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 9, 2017
IX. This is how you deliver a diving header
Vancouver's Yordy Reyna did the honors with this perfectly timed bullet header in the Whitecaps' 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake, one that was the eventual game-winner to help send the Canadian squad five points clear of the playoff line.
Yordy. Reyna.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 10, 2017
It's 3-1 for @WhitecapsFC. #VANvRSL https://t.co/zs5ikMRIAC
With a game or two in hand on the trailing competition, Carl Robinson's side is up to 41 points and has things going their way in the push to the postseason. In fact, with three games in hand on first-place Portland (44 points) and two on second-place Seattle (43), the Whitecaps could have a top seed for the playoffs in their sights.
X. Impact of Harvey, Irma
Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma have caused plenty of devastation across Texas, Florida and the Caribbean, and their tentacles reached the MLS family. Orlando City couldn't return home after beating D.C. United, with the airport closed, and instead was slated to go to Atlanta for an entire week leading into its match next weekend at Atlanta United.
The Houston Dynamo, meanwhile, played at BBVA Compass Stadium for the first time since Harvey, giving plenty of thanks and well wishes to the people of their city. They couldn't deliver on the field, falling 1-0 to Colorado on a stoppage-time goal by Dominique Badji, but there are more pressing things on the minds of the Dynamo faithful these days.
"You're a hero to us. We're proud to play for you, and we're proud to play for this city." #HoustonStrong pic.twitter.com/esbVDnCqKL
— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) September 10, 2017
Kickoff!
— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) September 10, 2017
This one's for you, Houston. #HOUvCOL #HoustonStrong pic.twitter.com/JU4gEdida8
XI. Seattle's son steps up
Seattle and the LA Galaxy were headed for one of those classic MLS results. Team on 11-match unbeaten run falls to struggling side fresh off 10-match winless run. Sigi Schmid's side was minutes away from pulling that off in the manager's return to Seattle with the Galaxy, only for recently re-acquired forward and Tacoma, Washington, native Lamar Neagle to spoil the ending.
Ozzie ➡️ Román ➡️ Lamar
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) September 11, 2017
1-1 #SEAvLA pic.twitter.com/cTZMMwLPWz
Neagle's 85th-minute equalizer off the bench salvaged a point for the Sounders, improved their unbeaten streak to 12 games and sent LA to another demoralizing result in a season full of them.