Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 14 matches played on the 14th matchday of the 2023 MLS season, Saturday, May 20.
Hany Mukhtar Maintains MVP Form with Pair of Goals
With a pair of goals, in Nashville SC’s 2-1 victory over Charlotte FC, including the game-winning penalty-kick in the 93rd minute, midfielder Hany Mukhtar continued to make a case to become just the second player in MLS history to earn two Landon Donovan MLS MVP awards.Â
With his first goal tonight in his 93rd MLS game, Mukhtar became the fifth-fastest player in MLS history to produce at least 50 goals and 30 assists in the regular season. Mukhtar, who now has 51 goals and 30 assists in his MLS career, trailed only Carlos Vela (69 games), Sebastian Giovinco (78 games), Robbie Keane (82 games), and Jaime Moreno (92 games) in reaching the milestone.
Mukhtar, who has a league-high 48 goal contributions since the start of the 2022 MLS season, has scored or assisted on 48 of Nashville’s 71 goals (67.6%) since the start of last season.
Philly, Gazdag Put Away New England
With a brace in the Union's 3-0 victory over New England, Philadelphia midfielder Dániel Gazdag recorded his fifth career multi-score game, tying Conor Casey for the second-most multi-goal games in club history. Only Sébastien Le Toux (six) has more in Philly history.
Gazdag’s second goal came from the penalty spot, which marked his fifth penalty-kick score this season. Since entering MLS in 2021, Gazdag has converted each of his 13 penalty-kick attempts, which is tied for the second-longest streak of converted penalty kicks to start a career in league history. Only Nicolás Lodeiro (18 converted penalty kicks) had a longer streak to begin a career in MLS history.
Joining Gazdag in the scoring was Union forward Julián Carranza, who notched his fifth goal of the season in the 88th minute. Since the start of the 2022 season, Gazdag and Carranza have scored in the same match 10 times, which is three more than the next closest teammate duo in MLS (Gazdag and Mikael Uhre, seven).
FC Cincinnati Outlasts Columbus in Hell is Real Victory
In a riveting 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew in the Hell is Real derby, FC Cincinnati (30 points, 9-1-3) continued their hold on pole position in the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings, while improving to 8-0-0 at TQL Stadium in 2023. Midfielder Luciano Acosta, who scored twice in the club’s Matchday 14 victory, has four goals in his last three home matches in league play.
FC Cincinnati is the third team in MLS history to win each of their first eight home games to open a season (excluding the shootout era). Only the 2002 San Jose Earthquakes (10 consecutive wins) and 2020 Philadelphia Union (nine consecutive wins) have had longer home winning streaks to open a season, outside of the shootout era.
Giorgos Giakoumakis Continues Torrid Tear to MLS Life
After coming on at halftime, Atlanta United forward Giorgos Giakoumakis immediately made his presence felt for the Five Stripes, scoring twice in a 10-minute span to help guide the club to a 3-3 draw against the Fire at Chicago’s Soldier Field.Â
With his brace on Matchday 14, Giakoumakis became the seventh player in league history to score a goal in seven of his first 10 career MLS matches. The 28-year-old striker now has eight goals this season, which is tied for second in the Golden Boot presented by Audi race, and has played a significant role in guiding Atlanta to the most goals scored this season with 28.
St. Louis CITY SC Takes Inaugural Rivalry Match Against Sporting KC
In the first-ever MLS edition of the longstanding soccer rivalry, St. Louis CITY SC defeated Sporting Kansas City, 4-0, at CITYPARK behind a brace from Indiana Vassilev.Â
St. Louis opened the scoring in the 19th minute, as Eduard Löwen converted a penalty kick for his third goal of the season. Vassilev would then score his first of two goals on the evening just six minutes later to give the club a 2-0 advantage. Ten minutes into the second half, Nicholas Gioacchini extended the club’s lead to 3-0 prior to Vassilev providing the exclamation point on the team’s emphatic victory with his second score in the 75th minute.
With their 4-0 victory, St. Louis CITY SC became the third team since 2019 to score at least three goals in four of their first six home games to begin a season.
In keeping a clean sheet, his third of the season, St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Bürki recorded six saves and his fourth consecutive MLS match with at least five saves. Bürki joined New England’s Djordje Petrović and Austin’s Brad Stuver as the only goalkeepers to record at least five saves in five different matches this season.
