Real Salt Lake, FC Cincinnati, Minnesota United and Orlando City put forth excellent performances to lock up playoff berths on another thrilling MLS Decision Day. Week 34 in MLS brought hat tricks for FC Cincy forward Brenner and Philadelphia Union midfielder Daniel Gazdag and plenty of late drama in both conferences.
Brenner allowed FC Cincinnati to punch its first-ever ticket to the playoffs with a dominant 5-2 win over D.C. United. Also in the Eastern Conference, Orlando City came back over the Columbus Crew to make the playoffs and spoil the Crew’s playoff push.
Real Salt Lake was one of the biggest Decision Day winners in the Western Conference, beating the Portland Timbers in a matchup that decided a playoff berth for either team. Minnesota United also won its head-to-head showdown with the Vancouver Whitecaps, also sealing a return to postseason action.
Here are the top moments from the final week of the regular season.
Player of the Week
FC Cincinnati made club history Sunday with the team earning its first playoff appearance. Brenner was a huge reason why FC Cincy was able to stay dangerous down the stretch in 2022, and he continued to show why with a hat trick in Sunday’s 5-2 win at D.C. United.
Brenner finished the regular season with 18 goals scored, leading an FC Cincinnati attack along with Brandon Vazquez that has produced 64 goals, which ranks second in the Eastern Conference.
Honorable mention for Player of the Week goes to Daniel Gazdag, who scored a hat trick as the Philadelphia Union put four goals past Toronto FC to finish the regular season atop the Eastern Conference table. Gazdag became the first Union player to score 20 league goals or more in a single season, finishing with 22 tallies.
Team of the Week
The Portland Timbers charged through the second half of the regular season and seemed a strong playoff candidate. However, Real Salt Lake halted that momentum at Rio Tinto Stadium as Pablo Mastroeni’s men came through in a win-and-you’re-in match on Decision Day.
RSL left the Timbers no chance with three goals off 17 shots. Jefferson Savarino opened scoring in the 19th minute with a curler into the bottom right corner. Rubio Rubin doubled the lead three minutes into the second half, and 20-year-old Bode Davis scored his first MLS goal to make it 3-0.
RSL nicked seventh place in the Western Conference and will face Austin FC in the first round of the playoffs. Mastroeni’s team made a surprising run into the Western Conference final last year and could revive some of that momentum again this year.
Honorable mention for Team of the Week goes to Orlando City. The Lions punched their ticket to the playoffs with a comeback win over the Columbus Crew. Nashville SC earned another of the biggest Decision Day wins, beating Supporters’ Shield winners LAFC at Banc of California Stadium to lock up fifth place in the Western Conference.
Goal of the Week
Elias Manoel showed up at the perfect time for the Red Bulls. The Brazilian, who the Red Bulls added over the summer, made his fifth start and scored a brace as the Red Bulls triumphed 2-0 over Charlotte FC.
The Red Bulls have struggled up top nearly all season, so Manoel’s rising form bodes well for the playoffs.
Honorable mention for Goal of the Week goes to the Revolution’s Dylan Borrero for a sweet strike inside the corner of the box against the Chicago Fire. Daniel Gazdag’s volley to open scoring in a 4-0 win over Toronto FC was another top goal this week.
BBRRAANNDDOONNN VVVAASSSQQQUUEEZZZZ!!!!!
Responsible for the majority of the assists in Cinci’s big win against my dear DC United. He’s size to hold off defenders, his soft one touch passing, his movement in the box (ability to make regular, sharp and incisive runs that take defenders out of plays)
This kid has got “it”. when you think about it, forwards spend the vast majority of the game without the ball, so what they do off the ball has a massive impact on the game, which is what separates a serviceable striker from a real goal scorer
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1. He is currently in the 95th percentile in expected goals per 90 minutes among MLS players with at least 1,000 minutes
2. He has the sharp ability to move into good spots and shoot from good spots
3. He’s dangerous in transition with his speed and hold-up play
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The kid is awesome to watch…..especially when he, Acosta and Brenner are in the “mood”. Absolutely awesome……