(Luna\u2019s teammate and RSL rising talent Zavier Gozo, who just turned 19 a month ago, continued his sizzling run of form with an assist. The winger-turned-wingback could fit very well in a wide right role, but he hasn\u2019t been called into a senior camp before, and Pochettino would be rolling the dice on a player he\u2019s never coached if selecting him in his final roster.)<\/p>\n
![\"Diego](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271994517-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Diego Luna, right, leads the celebrations for RSL vs. San Diego FC (Alex Goodlett \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Another MLSer with a big performance was midfielder Cristian Roldan. The Seattle Sounders stalwart scored twice \u2014 both on the end of corner kicks \u2014 in Seattle\u2019s 4-1 win over St. Louis. Roldan remains a lightning rod among fans, especially the subset that appears to discount the national team credentials of anyone who plays in MLS. Yet Pochettino, whose reputation was built at Europe\u2019s highest level and who has called Roldan his \u201cperfect player,\u201d<\/a> has turned to him for each of the U.S.\u2019s last eight matches.<\/p>\n Roldan was on the 2022 World Cup squad but didn\u2019t appear in a game in Qatar. For all the positives he brings off the field \u2013 his character, leadership and professionalism are well-documented \u2013 don\u2019t overlook the value he adds on the field. The midfielder works tirelessly, presses very well and connects play in possession. All of those qualities have been on display early in the Sounders\u2019 season.<\/p>\n Cristian hive rise up \ud83d\ude42\u200d\u2195\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/jm4QBDEfhR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Elsewhere in MLS \u2013\u00a0and at a vulnerable position for the U.S. \u2013 Charlotte FC center back Tim Ream left his game at NYCFC at halftime with a groin injury, though it does not appear to be a long-term issue. Head coach Dean Smith immediately said the American is \u201cquestionable\u201d for the team\u2019s midweek match Wednesday in Orlando. Smith added he didn\u2019t want to take any risks with Ream, who could well be Pochettino\u2019s World Cup captain.<\/p>\n Fellow center back Miles Robinson, who missed the March friendlies with a groin injury of his own, was substituted in the 64th minute of FC Cincinnati\u2019s 3-3 draw with the Chicago Fire in what head coach Pat Noonan called a \u201cminutes watch.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s behind the Quakes\u2019 resurgence?<\/p>\n The San Jose Earthquakes are for real. A dominant 4-1 win Sunday night on the road against an LAFC team that had not lost with its first-choice lineup yet this season, will make the rest of the league take notice.<\/p>\n In fact, San Jose has now beaten last season\u2019s three best Western Conference teams (Vancouver Whitecaps, San Diego FC and LAFC) and sits tied atop the Supporters\u2019 Shield standings with Vancouver.<\/p>\n A boost in year two under head coach Bruce Arena, who previously won Shields in his second full season with D.C. United, the LA Galaxy and New England Revolution, was expected, but this acceleration is at a breakneck pace. Regardless of whether the Quakes lift the Shield, or even stay in the race all season, the foundation on which this team is built and the patterns are real.<\/p>\n So how have they done it? Defending from the front has alleviated defensive pressure and allowed for a free-flowing attack.<\/p>\n Two years ago, San Jose conceded more goals than any team in a single MLS season (78). Arena took over last winter and improved that number to 63 \u2013 which is still quite poor. He and his staff were intent on changing that this year, and their biggest alterations came up top.<\/p>\n Moving on from forwards Josef Martinez and Chicho Arango started the overhaul (Cristian Espinoza, who now stars for Nashville, also departed, though he would have fit beautifully in this group). The club landed German forward Timo Werner<\/a>, plus elevated the likes of Niko Tsakiris, Preston Judd and Ousenni Bouda to more minutes, allowing the team to defend from the front against the ball. The defensive pieces haven\u2019t changed in a major way, just some natural progression from young players. The attackers did, making it a much more difficult team to play through.<\/p>\n The lack of top-end talent may lower the team\u2019s ceiling \u2013\u00a0though Werner scored his first goal and added an assist Sunday in his most impactful performance yet \u2013 but the Quakes have the salary cap flexibility to make high-leverage additions in the summer should they choose.<\/p>\n Timo Werner opens his MLS account! \ud83d\udca5 pic.twitter.com\/5N3zIe8LED<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n First MLS goal \u2705<\/p>\n Timo Werner reflects on a big @SJEarthquakes<\/a> win at LAFC. pic.twitter.com\/w9e4X99bkS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n This is the best start in club history. PayPal Stadium has not hosted a playoff game since it opened in 2015. This should be the year that changes.<\/p>\n Post-Mascherano Miami responds<\/p>\n The first game of the Guillermo Hoyos era for Inter Miami was anything but smooth, but a 3-2 win in front of a massive Colorado crowd was all that matters for this weekend. It was actually some of the last words Javier Mascherano said publicly as head coach that resonated: \u201cWhat matters here is to win,\u201d Mascherano said after a 2-2 draw with Red Bull New York on April 11. \u201cThere\u2019s no other option.\u201d<\/p>\n Mascherano departed the club a few days later due to \u201cpersonal reasons,\u201d while The Athletic reported that much stemmed from an argument after the game<\/a>.<\/p>\n As the club still deals with the fallout from his departure, pressure and expectations remain as high as ever.<\/p>\n In front of the second-largest crowd in MLS history (75,824; played at the Denver Broncos\u2019 Empower Field), it still took another moment of Lionel Messi magic to secure the win, as Colorado dictated the game for good (controlling the ball and creating chances) and bad (the architects of their own downfall).<\/p>\n MESSI MAGIC AT MILE HIGH! \ud83e\udd29 pic.twitter.com\/cJaO56dDhI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The tactics under Hoyos weren\u2019t noticeably different, unless the team purposefully ceded Colorado possession (which didn\u2019t appear to be the case and would be extremely surprising if that was the aim given the club\u2019s ethos since Messi arrived). Miami\u2019s 39% possession was the lowest in a regular season game Messi has played, but three points \u2013 including another goal from maligned winter signing Germ\u00e1n Berterame \u2013\u00a0is as good of a response as Miami could\u2019ve produced.<\/p>\n Two touching moments<\/p>\n At the end of Seattle\u2019s win over St. Louis, midfielder Eduard L\u00f6wen came on. It was his first appearance of the season following the tragic death of his wife, Ilona, who had battled brain cancer the last two years and passed away in March.<\/p>\n And a couple minutes into his first match without her, Lowen found the back of the net. A beautiful moment.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd81\ud83e\udef6#AllForCITY<\/a> x @EdwardJones<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ghLPBX7TfX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Another heartwarming moment came for Nashville SC. Former No. 2 overall SuperDraft selection Shak Mohammed scored his first MLS goal of his career \u2013\u00a0and it wasn\u2019t the goal, but the celebration that stole hearts.<\/p>\n The goal was set up by an unselfish pass by star Hany Mukhtar. Mohammed immediately turned back to Mukhtar saying \u201cthank you bro!\u201d<\/p>\n Shak Mohammed scores his first MLS goal\u2026 immediately shows deep gratitude for an unselfish assist by Hany Mukhtar. Awesome scenes. pic.twitter.com\/X8Odd00rEX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tom Bogert (@tombogert) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEver since I stepped foot in Nashville, he\u2019s been a brother figure for me, an older brother who will always put his hand around my shoulder,\u201d Mohammed said after the game. \u201cHe\u2019s been unbelievable to me in many ways that I cannot even explain now.\u201d<\/p>\n United through their despair<\/p>\n Spare a thought for D.C. United\u2019s Ren\u00e9 Weiler and Atlanta United\u2019s Tata Martino this weekend. Both clubs are struggling mightily and each coach seems to be at a loss.<\/p>\n \u201cNot even in my worst nightmares did I think we would have the start that we\u2019ve had so far,\u201d Martino admitted after Atlanta United\u2019s 2-0 loss to Nashville, which leaves the club tied for worst in the league with just four points after eight matches.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel anger, frustration \u2026 this is something that I\u2019ve never gone through in my career,\u201d Martino said.<\/p>\n D.C. is faring a bit better overall in league play with eight points, but have fallen into a terrible run of form. The club has not scored in its last four MLS matches all while being eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup by third-tier side One Knoxville last Wednesday.<\/p>\n Weiler aired some frustration before the club\u2019s 0-0 draw with the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cSome players, they don\u2019t have the quality, mentally, how they should have it on this level,\u201d Weiler said in a prematch press conference. \u201cIt\u2019s not fun. I have to perform. I have to achieve. The targets are simple. We have to win games.\u201d<\/p>\n D.C. United made 11 signings this winter, including two designated players, while 13 players departed. Weiler had a strong voice in recruitment. So far, there\u2019s little to show for it.<\/p>\n Parting thought: Evander endorses Neymar<\/p>\n After The Athletic reported FC Cincinnati entered preliminary discussions with Neymar\u2019s camp<\/a>, it seems as if the club\u2019s current Brazilian star is on board with the possibility.<\/p>\n After helping orchestrate a comeback 3-3 draw this weekend, Evander flashed Neymar\u2019s signature celebration.<\/p>\n Interesting choices of celebrations this week from FC Cincinnati\u2019s Brazilian star Evander \ud83d\udc40 https:\/\/t.co\/SmwuVJsWMM<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/j3PYKs0cjl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tom Bogert (@tombogert) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Evander did the same in training this week, too. He was asked by Queen City Press\u2019s Laurel Pfahler<\/a> about the potential of Neymar joining the club.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is one of my idols, (it) would be nice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n