{"id":184055,"date":"2026-03-09T12:15:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T12:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/184055\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T12:15:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T12:15:07","slug":"mls-weekend-wrap-orlando-city-lost-a-game-a-goalie-and-a-griezmann-mls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/184055\/","title":{"rendered":"MLS weekend wrap: Orlando City lost a game, a goalie, and A Griezmann? | MLS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before we begin our tour through the weekend that was in MLS<\/a>, a trivia question to ponder: Which team was the last Supporters\u2019 Shield winner to start the subsequent season with three straight losses? Read to the end for the answer.<\/p>\n

New York City thrash Orlando<\/p>\n

Since debuting concurrently in 2015, the City clubs of New York and Orlando have established themselves as mainstays in the upper-third of the Eastern Conference. Their matchup on Saturday, though, only featured one side looking anything like that. The sides barely had time to settle into a rhythm before Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Cr\u00e9peau was sent off for handling a ball beyond the top of his box, and NYC FC wasted little time in making the visitors pay with the opening goal via Agust\u00edn Ojeda.<\/p>\n

It ended 5-0. NYC midfielder Keaton Parks bagged a second-half brace months after undergoing a third procedure to address a blood flow issue in his right leg, while Nicol\u00e1s Fern\u00e1ndez Mercau and Maxi Moralez padded the Saturday afternoon rout. It\u2019s the highlight of a strong start to 2026 for NYC FC, who lost to Miami in last year\u2019s Eastern Conference final.<\/p>\n

Orlando also reached the conference final just two years ago, but they now look far from being similarly stationed. Few teams have looked as feckless in the young MLS season.<\/p>\n

Defender Alex Freeman was bound to be difficult to replace after his sale to Villarreal, especially given his rapid rise from fringe prospect to among the team\u2019s most important players last season. Defensive bedrock Robin Jansson has also been sorely missed, and isn\u2019t expected back until later this spring after undergoing foot surgery in February<\/a>. Cr\u00e9peau was brought in to replace longtime incumbent Pedro Gallese, and conceded five goals across his first two starts before Saturday\u2019s gaffe.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most poignantly felt absence is a player who, at this rate, may never even join Orlando. The club went all-in to bring Antoine Griezmann to MLS, looking to capitalize on his waning involvement with Atl\u00e9tico Madrid and his desire to live in the United States at some stage. Hours before Saturday\u2019s five-goal rout, Marca reported that Griezmann won\u2019t head to Florida<\/a> anytime soon. Atl\u00e9ti president Mateu Alemany told Marca that the France international has \u201ctwo more\u201d years after the season\u2019s end, and that he doesn\u2019t \u201csee any major news\u201d that would change those plans.<\/p>\n

Orlando will be left to survey alternatives. Holding out for Mr Right is a gamble; Toronto FC made a similar bet this offseason with Josh Sargent, who finally arrived from Norwich at the end of February. With MLS\u2019s primary window set to shut on 26 March, time is running out for Orlando to add the talent they need to better contend in the East.<\/p>\n

Nashville mint an instant hitCristian Espinoza has enjoyed a strong start with Nashville SC. Photograph: Icon Sportswire\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

In telling the Guardian about Nashville\u2019s recruitment of Cristian Espinoza, chief soccer officer Mike Jacobs wasn\u2019t shy<\/a>, branding the winger \u201cthe right guy\u201d to justify \u201ca full court press trying to acquire him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Somehow, his early returns have exceeded those expectations, with the Argentine scoring his first goal with his new club in Nashville\u2019s commanding 3-1 win over Minnesota United<\/a>. His goal was sandwiched by a Sam Surridge brace; the English striker is now tied atop the Golden Boot race with MLS weekend wrap regular Jo\u00e3o Klauss.<\/p>\n

Long gone are the days when Nashville\u2019s results hinged on Hany Mukhtar. The 2022 MLS MVP has just one goal contribution despite starting Nashville\u2019s first three games, with his co-stars have been more than up to the task of leading the attack. If Mukhtar can hit his usual goal scoring verve, few teams in the league look ready to keep them at bay.<\/p>\n

Minnesota arguably enjoyed the most impressive goal of the night, though as Nectarios Triantis uncorked an impressive 31-yard effort to sully Brian Schwake\u2019s hopes of a clean sheet. Having arrived last summer from Sunderland, Triantis has already become one of MLS\u2019s best defensive midfielders, benefitting from spending 2024-25 on loan with Hibernian. Born in Sydney, he committed his international future to Greece late last year.<\/p>\n

Loons fans best enjoy Triantis\u2019s poise and panache while he\u2019s here. His career trajectory seems certain to lead back to Europe.<\/p>\n

Free-spending Atlanta fall to thrifty RSLAiden Hezarkhani and Sergi Solans have been key to RSL\u2019s solid start. Photograph: Icon Sportswire\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Atlanta United hoped they left their good soccer in Tata Martino\u2019s briefcase, bringing the veteran Argentinian manager back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium after he left the 2018 MLS Cup champions to take charge of Mexico and then Inter Miami. Early returns aren\u2019t positive. After suffering a pair of 2-0 defeats on the road, Atlanta\u2019s home opener saw Real Salt Lake<\/a> rush to their own 2-0 lead inside half an hour. The hosts managed to pull back a couple goals, but a 3-2 loss at home leaves the club with the worst start in their history: three games, three defeats.<\/p>\n

In his second stint, Martino has inherited a squad largely cobbled by predecessors Gonzalo Pineda and Ronny Deila, and the ensuing meld of players \u2013 most more finesse than hard-nosed \u2013 has shown little steel or teeth.<\/p>\n

Their opposite number on Saturday, Real Salt Lake, don\u2019t carry a star with the same pull as Atlanta\u2019s Miguel Almir\u00f3n; nor have the club ever come close to matching Atlanta\u2019s reported $22m outlay for striker Emmanuel Latte Lath. Under sporting director Kurt Schmid, RSL have cobbled together an impressive collection of young talent. While Diego Luna is in contention for the US World Cup squad, the playmaker has yet to feature this year due to knee injury.<\/p>\n

RSL have been better equipped to handle his absence thanks to Schmid\u2019s squad-building in recent windows. Forward Zavier Gozo, 18, is already coveted by major European clubs<\/a>, a dynamic right-sided threat who bagged the eventual match-winner in the 40th minute.<\/p>\n

Another homegrown forward, Aiden Hezarkhani, scored RSL\u2019s second of the day, while 23-year-old Sergi Solans (a product of Girona) opened his MLS account. New wing-back Juan Manuel Sanabria has swiftly acclimated<\/a> after arriving from Atl\u00e9tico de San Luis, while new designated player Morgan Guilavogui notched his first goal contribution with the club by assisting Solans\u2019 opener.<\/p>\n

To get to this point, Schmid has done excellent work not just operating in one of the league\u2019s smaller markets, but navigating a pair of ownership changes over the past half decade. The result is that the team can be even more careful with managing Luna\u2019s return and keep pace in a competitive Western Conference.<\/p>\n

US World Cup hopefuls power WhitecapsBrian White and Sebastian Berhalter both scored for the Whitecaps on Saturday. Photograph: Shea MacNeil\/Vancouver Whitecaps FC\/MLS\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

While the broader future of the Vancouver Whitecaps hangs in limbo<\/a> given their stadium situation, the on-field product hasn\u2019t fallen off at all since their run to MLS Cup.<\/p>\n

Vancouver rolled up at Providence Park and humbled the hosting Portland Timbers<\/a>, 4-1. Brian White connected with the outside his boot to finish an inch-perfect cross from Sebastian Berhalter to open the scoring, and Tristan Blackmon doubled the lead in the 49th minute with his face, easily the most hilarious goal of the weekend.<\/p>\n

Berhalter bagged a goal of his own with a late strike from the edge of the box that\u2019s become something of his trademark. All three goalscorers are hopefuls, of varying degrees, to make Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s US World Cup squad. Berhalter continues to go from strength to strength and is the most likely to represent the US on current form. This season, he\u2019s shown even greater confidence in the midfield, spraying the ball in all directions to maximize Vancouver\u2019s effectiveness in possession. White\u2019s ability to wring goals out of ugly chances is invaluable, even considering the program\u2019s striker depth.<\/p>\n

Such was the state of the Timbers that Thomas M\u00fcller felt a need to take pity on the hosts. As White capped the scoring and completed his brace, the German great asked his teammates to tone down their celebrations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you play against a good team like Vancouver, you have to play like men \u2013 not little boys,\u201d Timbers coach Phil Neville said afterwards<\/a>. \u201cAnd tonight, some of the players played like little boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, Portland\u2019s young players seemed to be the only ones up for a game on Saturday, as their sole goalscorer was an 18-year-old (Eric Izoita) called up from Timbers 2.<\/p>\n

A sagging Shield defenseThe Philadelphia Union have suffered a point-free start to the 2026 regular season. Photograph: Icon Sportswire\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bradley Carnell\u2019s Philadelphia Union<\/a> fell 1-0 at home against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, a third league loss in as many weeks. Even more concerning, and with all due respect to DC United, New York City FC and San Jose, it\u2019s not like they\u2019ve been playing MLS Cup frontrunners the whole time.<\/p>\n

The result saw Philadelphia become just the second team in MLS history to open their Supporters\u2019 Shield defense with three losses. The first: DC United in 2007<\/a>. If Union fans want a lifeline, that 2007 DC team went on to top the table, losing just four of their remaining 27 matches.<\/p>\n

The Union head to Atlanta on Saturday in a matchup between two teams desperate for a result.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Before we begin our tour through the weekend that was in MLS, a trivia question to ponder: Which…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":184056,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[139,141,140],"class_list":{"0":"post-184055","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-orlando","8":"tag-orlando","9":"tag-orlando-headlines","10":"tag-orlando-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184055\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}