FC head coach John Herdman insists his team need to maintain their discipline if they want a playoff run in MLS, starting against Austin FC on Saturday.

Toronto currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference but are four points behind Orlando City.

They have struggled to get going since being knocked out of the Leagues Cup in the group stage, winning just one of three games since returning to MLS action.

After a disappointing 3-1 defeat to D.C. United last time out, Herdman says they need to learn how to keep their high level of performance going to the very end of games.

"In a playoff run, you have to be disciplined in the last 30 minutes of games, whether it's decision-making to change and adapt with players coming in and changing positions, or the team allowing itself to get stretched," Herdman said.

"We struggled with that against D.C. If you're going to push for a genuine playoff run, you have to respect that defending part of the game, you cannot allow yourself to get stretched."

Meanwhile, Austin are 11th in the Western Conference, having followed up a win over Nashville SC with a 1-0 defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps.

With the end of the regular season coming closer, Josh Wolff acknowledged his players know just how important it is for them to get points on the board.

"Every game is critical, home and away. In both conferences, you can see the playoff line, and it's all relevant," Wolff said.

"We, like many teams, have to make the most of these opportunities. You have to start the game in a good way and go there with the intention of getting three points because the home team have their own intentions."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Toronto FC – Deandre Kerr

Deandre Kerr scored his 10th regular-season goal for Toronto in the loss to D.C. United on August 31.

At 21 years old, Kerr is the second player to reach double-figure goals for the Reds before turning 22, along with Ayo Akinola (13 goals).

Austin FC – Julio Cascante

Austin failed to register a shot on target in their 1-0 loss to Vancouver on August 31, the fourth time this season the Verde have not hit the target in a match.

Julio Cascante came off the bench and had one of Austin's six shots, with his effort having the highest expected goal rate of 0.35.

MATCH PREDICTION: AUSTIN FC WIN

The only previous meeting between Toronto and Austin was a 1-0 home win for the Verde in May 2023. Gyasi Zardes scored the game's only goal in second-half stoppage time.

Austin earned a 2-0 win at Nashville in their last away match on August 24. Austin last won consecutive away matches during a four-match road winning streak in June-July 2022.

Meanwhile, Toronto have lost five of their last six home matches (W1), including a 3-1 loss to D.C. United on August 31. Toronto have lost 13 regular-season home matches since July 2023 (W7), more than any other team in that time.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Toronto FC – 34.6%

Draw – 25.9%

Austin FC – 39.5%

Ryan Gauld says Vancouver Whitecaps will not treat the visit of San Jose Earthquakes as an "easy game" as they look to get back to winning ways in MLS.

Vancouver have lost just one of their last eight league matches but fired a blank for just the second time at home this season in a 0-0 draw with FC Dallas last time out.

They sit sixth in the Western Conference, but a win, coupled with defeats for Seattle Sounders and Colorado Rapids, could see them move up the table.

Gauld is prepared for a tough fight though, despite how it looks on paper.

"We've got to treat it like any other game," said the captain. "They're at the bottom, but they've still got a lot of good players that can hurt us if we're not at our best.

"If you look at the standings, someone can say that [Saturday] is an easy game. But it's not. We need to play a very good game."

San Jose have won only five games this season, though one of those came in their last road match, beating high-flying Real Salt Lake 2-0.

Interim head coach Ian Russell is hoping they can build on that result as they try to finish the season on a high.

"It's going to be a good road trip for us to play quality opponents," Russell said. "It's a place where we won last year, and we'll look to get a result again.

"We need to start better in Vancouver than we did in our last game [against Minnesota United]. We have to go out on the front foot and try to put them under pressure. We have to get points on the road now, and it's going to be a really good test for us."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Vancouver Whitecaps – Mathias Laborda

Vancouver's goalless draw with Dallas on Saturday marked just the second time they failed to score in a home match this regular season (0-0 vs. Austin on May 4).

It was not for lack of trying though, as they had 21 shots (though just four on target). Mathias Laborda had five of those efforts, creating 0.4 expected goals, though only tested the goalkeeper with one of those.

San Jose Earthquakes – Ousseni Bouda

Ousseni Bouda scored the Earthquakes' lone goal in their defeat to Minnesota United on August 31.

Bouda is the seventh different player to score one of San Jose's last seven MLS goals dating back to June 19, as no 'Quakes player has more than one goal in league play in that time.

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

The Whitecaps ended a five-match winless run against San Jose (D2 L3) with a 2-0 road win on March 9. Vancouver have only recorded consecutive wins over the Earthquakes once in the last nine years, doing so during the 2018 season.

Vancouver have lost only one of their last eight regular season matches (W5 D2) following a scoreless draw with Dallas on Saturday. The Whitecaps have kept consecutive clean sheets in league play for the first time since October 2023.

However, San Jose defeated Real Salt Lake, 2-0, in their last away match on August 24, just the fourth win in the 'Quakes' last 42 away matches in all competitions. San Jose last won consecutive away matches in all competitions in July 2019, with the second of those being a 3-1 win in Vancouver.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Vancouver Whitecaps – 61.8%

Draw – 20.2%

San Jose Earthquakes – 18%

Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni is looking forward to seeing how his new players settle in, with Houston Dynamo next up in MLS.

RSL brought in five new faces in the transfer window, with some of those introduced during their 2-0 win over New England Revolution last time out.

They currently sit third in the Western Conference, five points behind leaders LA Galaxy, and with teams below them starting to close in.

And with only seven games left of the regular season, Mastroeni is eager to get the new players integrated as soon as possible.

"A lot of problems to solve, but it allows us to collaborate as a team and figure out on the fly quickly how these new players can bring their skill sets to make our team better," he told KSL Sports Zone.

"It completely changes the dynamic of everything up to this point, but if we play with the right mentality, aggressive on both sides of the ball, then the acclimation of the new players will be much easier as the players show what our standards are."

Meanwhile, Houston have lost just two of their last 13 MLS matches and sit seventh in the table.

They have a good record against RSL too, losing just one of their nine meetings, and Ben Olsen is excited to face off against them once more.

"They're fun games," Olsen said. "We continue to look at the schedule and Salt Lake keep popping up.

"They're a very good team, if not a little bit different. We'll have to be at our best and defensively sound like we were against LAFC, but a little sharper in and around the goal."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Steve Clark

Houston Dynamo played Los Angeles FC in back-to-back MLS games, winning one and drawing the other without conceding a single goal.

It is the first time the Dynamo have kept a clean sheet in consecutive games since March this year, when they registered consecutive 1-0 wins over Portland Timbers and Colorado Rapids.

Real Salt Lake – Braian Ojeda

Braian Ojeda got his second assist of the MLS season last weekend in Real Salt Lake's 2-0 win over New England Revolution.

However, he also had the most touches (88), made the most passes (67), with more accurate passes than any of his team-mates.

MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN

This will be the ninth meeting between the Dynamo and Real Salt Lake since the start of the 2023 season. Houston have won four of the nine meetings (D3 L1) with Real Salt Lake's only win coming in the first meeting of this year's regular season, a 3-2 home win on July 3.

However, Houston have won just three of their last 13 home matches in all competitions (D7 L3) dating back to late March. One of those three wins was a 3-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in the Leagues Cup on August 5.

Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake have won only one of their last 10 away matches in all competitions (D5 L4) dating back to the beginning of May, including losing two straight away from home for the first time in 2024, with the second of those the 3-0 loss at Houston in the Leagues Cup.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 50.2%

Draw – 25.2%

Real Salt Lake – 24.6%

Steve Cherundolo has urged Los Angeles FC to control their emotions when they face the LA Galaxy in an El Trafico clash that could decide the top seed in the Western Conference.

LAFC sit four points adrift of the Galaxy at the top of the West with two games in hand to come, though they have only won one regular-season match since July 5.

Cherundolo's team did beat the Galaxy 2-1 when the sides last met in April, though, and he says his team must keep their cool at Dignity Health Sports Park if they are to take three points.

"It's another great setup and matchup and I'm looking forward to it," Cherundolo said. "There's always things going on in this game, there's always emotion spilling over.

"They're always tight matches and I hope that our ideas will be effective and implemented well by our players. 

"That needs to happen over 90 minutes, not just for 45 minutes or 60 or 70. Then I think we could come away with something tangible."

The Galaxy, meanwhile, were beaten 2-1 at St. Louis City last time out, their first loss in MLS play since they went down by a 2-0 scoreline at FC Dallas in mid-July.

Head coach Greg Vanney believes Saturday's game will be decided by fine margins.

"This is a high, high level game, it's what it's all about. They're obviously a very good team and have different ways that they can catch you and beat you," Vanney said.

"They're a tough defensive team as well. When you're playing the highest level of games in our league it becomes about details and moments.

"That's what these games become about. You hope during the course of the season you get better and better and tighten up on some of those things, learning a bit about each other."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LA Galaxy – Gabriel Pec

Nine of Pec's 11 goals and eight of his 11 assists in regular-season play in 2024 have come in home matches. 

Only Lionel Messi (19) has more goal contributions in home matches than Pec's 17 in 2024.

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga 

Bouanga has scored six goals in six career matches against the Galaxy in all competitions. 

No player has scored more against the Galaxy in all competitions since Bouanga made his LAFC debut in September 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW 

LAFC have won six of their last eight matches against the Galaxy in all competitions (two losses) including each of the last three. 

LAFC had won just three of the first 15 editions of El Trafico (five draws, seven losses). They have, however, only won one of their last five regular-season matches, drawing two and losing two.

The Galaxy, meanwhile, have won 10 of their last 11 regular-season matches at Dignity Health Sports Park (one draw) including the last eight in a row. A point may be the best the visitors can hope for, even with their strong record in local derbies.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LA Galaxy – 33.7%

Los Angeles FC – 40.6%

Draw – 25.7%

Phil Neville says the Portland Timbers are "in it to win it" against the Colorado Rapids, though he expects a tough test versus a Coach of the Year candidate in Chris Armas.

Portland sit eighth in the Western Conference standings, occupying a wild-card spot but sitting one point adrift of the Houston Dynamo in the final automatic playoff place. 

They have taken four points from two games since the Leagues Cup break, drawing 4-4 with St. Louis City then beating their local rivals, the Seattle Sounders, 1-0 last time out.

Neville knows a visit to Colorado, who are four points and four places above them in the standings, will prove a tough assignment, but he has confidence in his side.

"We're coming up against a coach who is probably one of the Coach of the Year candidates in Chris Armas, he's done an incredible job," Neville said.

"The boys have trained well after having some rest, they've trained hard. Players have come back from international duty fit and well.

"We're looking forward towards one of the most pivotal periods in all of MLS. I think we're coming to probably the last 100 metres of the race, and as they say, we're in it to win it."

Colorado beat FC Dallas 3-2 on their return to league action last time out, having finished third in the Leagues Cup in August.

Head coach Armas said: "It's really good to be back after a few days off. The energy in the team is good, we're picking up where we left off after a really busy and successful August.

"We really have our sights set on this weekend, and then on what's ahead – and that's the playoffs. 

"For sure we're looking forward to another home game and we're going to take it one step at a time."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Colorado Rapids – Darren Yapi 

Yapi scored Colorado's winner against Dallas last time out on August 31, and both of his career MLS goals have now come in the 90th minute or later. 

He is one of three MLS players with multiple goals in 2024 with all of them coming in the 90th minute or later, alongside Miguel Berry and Julian Fernandez.

Portland Timbers – Evander

Evander has a goal contribution in eight straight MLS matches, the second-longest streak in the Timbers' history, behind Diego Valeri's nine straight in his MVP-winning 2017 season. 

Evander's 27 goal contributions (12 goals, 15 assists) overall in 2024 are the second most in an MLS season for Portland (Valeri – 32 in 2017).

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW 

Portland's win over Seattle featured their sixth clean sheet in their last 15 games in all competitions. Through their first 15 matches of 2024, Portland did not record a single shutout.

Colorado, meanwhile, have won their last two MLS games by a 3-2 scoreline, versus Real Salt Lake and Dallas. Only once previously have the Rapids netted at least three goals in three straight MLS matches, doing so in April 1998.

Portland have won three straight matches against Colorado in all competitions for the second time (also doing so in 2017-18). Neither team has recorded a four-match winning streak over the other in the 32-match history of the series, so a draw could be on the cards.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Colorado Rapids – 40.2%

Portland Timbers – 33.2%

Draw – 26.6%

The New England Revolution are approaching Saturday's trip to Orlando City with a "chip on their shoulder" following a pair of disappointing results, says head coach Caleb Porter.

The Revs enjoyed a spectacular return to MLS action after the Leagues Cup break as they routed CF Montreal 5-0 on the road, but they were then beaten 2-0 at Real Salt Lake.

Last time out, New England squandered a 2-1 lead in a 2-2 draw with St. Louis City, leaving them five points adrift of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, albeit with two games in hand.

"It's really important that we make up for the two points we lost in the last game, so our mindset is to go on the road and get a result in Orlando," Porter said.

"Our guys have trained really well and they definitely have an edge or a chip on their shoulder to go and make up for the last game."

Orlando, meanwhile, occupy the final automatic playoff place in the East after thrashing Nashville SC 3-0 last time out, their first win since returning to MLS action.

Head coach Oscar Pareja believes having a week off for the international break has benefitted his side, saying: "Getting the boys ready for this game has been good, in training we've tried to keep the players in competition mode.

"It's just been exactly what we do normally, so we're good. We have the national team players here and we're ready."

Reflecting on Orlando's last win, he added: "It's a good base and a good foundation, but my thoughts are always the same.

"That has already passed and now we need to build a new gameplan for this one."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Orlando City – Facundo Torres

Torres scored twice in Orlando's 3-0 win over Nashville last time out on August 31, his ninth and 10th goals of the season in MLS play. 

Torres, who scored 14 goals last season, is the second Orlando City player to record consecutive 10-goal seasons, along with Cyle Larin (three straight from 2017 to 2019).

New England Revolution – Carles Gil

Including playoffs, Gil has scored six goals against Orlando, more than against any other opponent in his MLS career.

MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WIN 

Orlando have won their last two meetings with New England, including a 3-1 road victory on July 13. The Lions had managed two total wins in their first 16 regular-season matches against the Revs (seven draws, seven losses).

New England have only lost once in their last seven matches across all competitions (two wins, four draws), following a 2-2 draw with St. Louis last time out.

However, the trip to Florida is a tough one, with Orlando unbeaten in their last seven home matches (four wins, three draws), keeping clean sheets in each of their last two. The hosts go in as favourites.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City – 56%

New England Revolution – 21.3%

Draw – 22.7%

St. Louis City interim head coach John Hackworth is confident his side can make a late push for the playoffs after going unbeaten since their return from the Leagues Cup.

St. Louis are building momentum at the right time, but remain six points adrift of this weekend’s opponents, Minnesota United, who sit on the right side of the playoff line.

Hackworth’s side were forced to share the spoils in their last MLS encounter against New England Revolution, but the 54-year-old preached positivity for the business end of the campaign.

“I personally believe that we're not out of time yet, you know, we still have control,” Hackworth said.

“We have to fix this little moment where we take our foot off the gas, where we don't play with the same initiative that we do to start the game. That's something we can fix. We have fixed it.

“We have gotten better. I'm going to say I'm blue in the face, but I believe in this group of guys. I still think we have a good chance.”

Minnesota, meanwhile, overcame the San Jose Earthquakes in their last match, keeping the gap between the teams below them to just a point with the luxury of a game in hand over most.

The Loons currently sit ninth in the Western Conference table and know a win is a must to keep their ambitions of remaining in that position alive.

Head coach Eric Ramsay acknowledged the enormity of the task awaiting his players but challenged his squad to deal with the raucous atmosphere inside CITYPARK.

“They have had a slight change in fortune over the last couple of games. They are fighting for their lives at the bottom in the same way that we are,” Ramsay said.

“They are a team I am sure that are looking at this game as being crucial for the remainder of their season and their fortunes.

“We have got to make sure we handle that situation well and that we understand the magnitude of the game for us and for them, because that will certainly play its part.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

St. Louis City – Marcel Hartel

Hartel has been involved in a goal in each of his first three MLS matches (one goal and three assists).

Since the start of 2023, four players have begun their MLS careers with goal contributions in their first three regular season matches, with three of them doing so for St. Louis (Hartel, Joao Klauss and Eduard Lowen).

Minnesota United – Robin Lod

Despite only playing the final half an hour in Finland’s Nations League defeat to England, Lod returns to the MLS with a record in his sights.

Lod has been involved in 54 regular season goals for Minnesota (28 goals and 26 assists), one away from equalling the club record of 55 held by Emanuel Reynoso (22 goals and 33 assists).

MATCH PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS CITY WIN

St. Louis City have not lost any of their last six matches against MLS teams in all competitions (W3 D3). This is their longest unbeaten run in the division during the club’s history.

But Minnesota have won two of their last three regular season matches (L1) after winning just two of their previous 14 (D4 L8). Minnesota’s triumph against San Jose last time out also ended a seven-match winless run away from home (D2 L5).

And it has often been the away side who have emerged victorious in this fixture. Both their MLS meetings last term ended with an away win, with Minnesota out to upset Opta’s data-led simulations at CITYPARK this time around.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

St. Louis City – 46.4%

Draw – 26.5%

Minnesota United – 27%

Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas insisted his side must overcome their slow start against D.C. United in order to push for the playoffs ahead of facing the New York Red Bulls this weekend.

Klopas watched on as his side conceded twice in three minutes midway through the first half against D.C. as Christian Benteke and Gabriel Pirani’s struck to secure the triumph for the visitors.

The result leaves the Fire 14th in the Eastern Conference standings, with Klopas stressing the importance of energy from the first whistle to his players.

“We needed to come out with energy. If we did that, I felt that we were in the game,” Klopas said.

“We got that goal. And then, if you see the second half, the amount of possession, and it's a team that was sitting back, looking to counter.

“We get in good spots, and then our ability in the final 25 yards from goal, whether it's just making a play, the quality of the crosses coming in, connecting, we get in really good spots and we need to be better and sharper in the final third, in those areas.”

The Red Bulls, meanwhile, played out a 13th draw of the season on home soil against Kansas City last time out, with 16-year-old Julian Hall snatching a point in the final minute of normal time.

It marked just their second goal from their last three MLS fixtures since returning from the Leagues Cup, and they have since lost pace with the top three in the Eastern Conference but are still four points ahead of rivals New York City FC in fourth place.

Head coach Sandro Schwarz acknowledged his side's difficulties in the final third of late but insisted that his squad have addressed their lack of confidence at the top end of the pitch.

“I think it is also from the mental side,” Schwarz said. “When you did not have the best game last week, and then you concede the first goal, it is not easy for a young team.

“On this point, I am very happy we were able to get this point. This is what we can improve, and this is what we have done also to create more of these moments in the final third.

“We had big chances throughout the game, but from this point you need a goal to give you confidence to believe in your quality – this is what we have to do."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chicago Fire – Andrew Gutman

Gutman scored Chicago’s only goal against D.C. from outside the box, the seventh Fire goal from outside the penalty area in 2024.

Chicago last scored more goals from outside the box in the 2012 season (13).

NYRB – Cory Burke

Burke has scored 28 career regular season MLS goals with eight of those coming against this weekend’s opponents.

The Jamaican has not scored more than three goals against any other MLS opponent but has scored at least once in every season he’s faced the Fire from 2018 to 2023.

MATCH PREDICTION: NYRB WIN

The Fire are unbeaten in four straight meetings with the Red Bulls (W1 D3), including a scoreless draw at Red Bull Arena in April. Chicago last went five straight unbeaten against New York in all competitions from August 2010 to June 2012 (W2 D3).

However, they have lost three straight home matches in all competitions for the third time since the start of last season. Chicago had lost three straight home matches in all competitions just twice in the club’s first 25 seasons and have never lost four in a row at home before.

While coming into the encounter as favourites, eight of the Red Bulls’ last 11 regular season matches have ended in draws (W2 L1), including all four on the road during that time. They are also winless in six straight regular season road games (D4 L2) since a win at D.C. United in May.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Chicago Fire – 27.3%

Draw – 24%

NYRB – 48.7%

Wilfried Nancy has called for cohesion and understanding from MLS decision-makers after the Columbus Crew were forced to play with midfielder Sean Zawadzki in goal in their 4-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders.

Abraham Romero saw red at the end of the first half, and with both Patrick Schulte and Nicholas Hagen away on international duty, Zawadzki found himself wearing the gloves.

Romero was the Crew’s only goalkeeper in the matchday squad as players from Columbus’ reserve side can only be called up four times before signing a professional contract. 

Nancy asked MLS to allow an additional call-up for a backup goalkeeper but that request was rejected, leaving the Crew head coach furious at the full-time whistle.

“We are at 39 matches played,” Nancy said. “We were mandated to have three goalkeepers on the teamsheet. This is what we did. We had to use a call-up for a friendly game against Aston Villa.

“Why I'm not happy before the game and all the week it happened, I was not happy about that because there is a rule, as you know, we can use only four times, four call-ups [for] one player from the reserve team who has a contract.

“You know the issue that we had with the goalkeepers with Evan Bush. We tried to anticipate, adding a fourth goalkeeper, knowing that we could have a situation like this.

“When we asked before the game to have another call-up for our goalkeeper for the reserve team, they said no, knowing that this game [against] Seattle we were supposed to play in [May].”

Cincinnati, meanwhile, bounced back from their defeat to Inter Miami in style, comfortably dispatching CF Montreal 4-1 at the TQL Stadium last time out.

Pat Noonan’s side know the magnitude of their encounter this weekend, as a defeat would allow their opponents to leapfrog them in the Eastern Conference standings into second, with the Crew also having a game in hand.

While the pressure is seemingly on the hosts, Noonan is relishing the challenge of facing the Leagues Cup winners on home soil.

“Really pleased with the response from the last performance and just the overall play from our guys,” Noonan said.

“I thought on both sides of the ball they were outstanding – maybe a little bit fortunate on some of those goals – but I am very pleased with the outcome and how the guys stepped up.”

“We know the challenges that'll be ahead of us. The group can go win a game, it'll be a challenging match, but one that you have to be excited about.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta

Acosta has scored five times for FC Cincinnati against the Crew, tied for the most goals scored by a Cincinnati player against any opponent in MLS play.

The Argentine has also netted five goals against Toronto FC, with Brandon Vazquez also striking five times against Inter Miami.

Columbus Crew – Diego Rossi

With Columbus’ array of attacking options, Rossi has been the standout, registering 19 goals and eight assists in all competitions, netting six times in their Leagues Cup success.

But across his two spells in MLS with the Crew and Los Angeles FC, the Uruguayan has failed to score against five opponents, with Cincinnati being one of them.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

After starting the season winless in four on the road (D3, L1), Columbus have won seven of their last nine regular-season away games (L2). The seven away victories are the most the Crew have ever recorded in a single regular season.

However, they come into the encounter off the back of a 4-0 loss to the Sounders, their heaviest defeat since 2018. The Crew also have not lost consecutive matches in all competitions since a three-match losing streak last May.

Cincinnati also boast an impressive home record against this weekend’s opponents. They are unbeaten in five straight regular-season matches on home soil against the Crew (W2 D3) but did lose last season’s Eastern Conference Final at TQL Stadium.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Cincinnati – 29.4%

Draw – 24.7%

Columbus Crew – 45.9%

Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino has backed Alexey Miranchuk to aid the Five Stripes’ push for the playoffs after his impressive showing against Charlotte FC.

Miranchuk, signed from Atalanta in July, showcased his individual qualities last time out, playing more passes into the final third (29) than any on the pitch at the Bank of America Stadium.

Atlanta currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference table, a point behind D.C. United with a game in hand, with Valentino confident the Russian can propel his side into the playoff positions.

"It was fantastic, it was good to get him integrated into the team as quickly as possible," said Valentino. "He’s going to help us a lot down the stretch.

“His teammates getting used to him, him getting used to his teammates, he pushes himself to a whole different level.”

Their success against Charlotte was also their first win in five away games, something goalkeeper Brad Guzan emphasised the importance of for the remaining league fixtures.

“It was a good result, I’m sure, as Rob probably said, there are times when in the game we had to suffer, we had to defend, we had to do a lot of dirty work tonight and that’s part of going on the road and finding a way to get a result," Guzan said.

For Nashville, however, their woeful run of results continued, with their 3-0 defeat to Orlando City last time out their eighth consecutive loss in the MLS.

Their recent form saw BJ Callaghan replace Gary Smith as the Coyotes' new head coach in July, but those losses have resulted in Nashville dropping to the foot of the Eastern Conference table.

But a 2-0 win against their reserve team, Huntsville City FC, last week, featuring a number of upcoming young talent, handed Callaghan an insight into the future of the club.

“A lot of times we can get focused on our week-to-week, our Saturday to Saturday. And we know that the most important thing in the first team is those Saturday performances,” Callaghan said.

“But tonight is the night that you get to step back. And we talked about celebrating the club and showcasing that young talent and understanding that we have a week-to-week responsibility.

“But the club also has a long-term vision and a long-term responsibility to the city of Nashville and the city of Huntsville, two cities that we’ve invested heavily in.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze

Lobjanidze has recorded at least one assist in each of his last three regular season home appearances, including recording two against Columbus Crew in July. 

Nine of Georgian’s 12 goal contributions this season have also come at home, including all six assists.

Nashville – Sam Surridge

With Nashville scoring just three goals in their last eight MLS fixtures, they will need top scorer Surridge fit and firing for their trip to Atlanta. 

The Englishman has 11 goals from 25 appearances in all competitions this season but faces an opponent he is yet to win or find the net against this weekend.

MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN

Atlanta won their first two meetings with Nashville in 2020, but since, the Coyotes have lost only on of their last nine matches with the Five Stripes in all competitions (W4 D4).

The hosts, however, have only won two of their last 10 regular season home matches (D3 L5) dating back to April. But they have gone four games unbeaten in four consecutive games on home soil since (W2 D2).

Nashville come into the encounter in a wretched run of form having lost a club record eight matches in a row, failing to score in their last four. The only longer losing streak in MLS since the start of the 2019 season was FC Cincinnati’s league-record 14 straight defeats from September 2021 to March 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 50.4%

Draw – 25.1%

Nashville – 24.5%

Laurent Courtois retains the backing of CF Montreal president Gabriel Gervais despite a miserable run of form hampering their playoff hopes ahead of Saturday's clash with Charlotte FC.

Montreal sit 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, five points adrift of the wild-card spots with seven games of the regular season remaining.

They were trounced 4-1 at FC Cincinnati prior to the international break, having suffered a humiliating 5-0 home loss to Inter Miami just one week earlier. 

Despite those results, Gervais remains convinced Courtois is the right man to oversee Montreal's push for the postseason.

"The expectations are the same and we want to get to the playoffs. I'm optimistic and I believe in it, but it's up to the coach and the players to find solutions," Gervais said.

"The last two performances have been unacceptable. Especially the 5-0 defeat at home. Personally, I haven't digested it as a director, as a former player and as a fan. 

"Laurent is a young head coach and there are a lot of things to work on, but I believe in him. I'm not one to panic or have an impulsive reaction."

Charlotte, meanwhile, sit sixth in the East and look good for a playoff spot in their first campaign under Dean Smith.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood has been one of their key performers this term, and he penned a new two-year contract with the club earlier this week.

"Life in Charlotte has been an incredible experience for me and my family, and I'm extremely happy to re-sign with the club," Westwood said. 

"I joined Charlotte FC at a very rough point following a serious injury, and it's been a breath of fresh air that has truly revitalised my career. 

"We know we can reach greater heights, and I'm excited to continue leading this group."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CF Montreal – Josef Martinez 

Five of Montreal's last seven regular-season goals have been scored by substitutes. 

Montreal have seen an MLS-high 12 goals scored by substitutes this season, including Martinez with a joint-league high four goals off the bench.

Charlotte FC – Karol Swiderski 

Two of Charlotte's last three goals have been scored from the penalty spot, with Swiderski netting both. 

Swiderski has a perfect six-from-six record from the penalty spot in his MLS career, one of six players to take at least six penalties over the last three seasons and convert all of them.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Montreal have gone unbeaten through their four all-time meetings with Charlotte (three wins, one draw). Montreal are the only team Charlotte have faced more than twice in regular-season MLS play without recording at least one win.

However, Saturday's hosts have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions (one win) after only losing two of their previous 11 dating back to late May (three wins, six draws).

Charlotte, meanwhile, have avoided defeat in five of their last six regular-season road games, winning three and drawing two. It would be no surprise to see the spoils shared.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

CF Montreal – 35.5% 

Charlotte FC – 38.5%

Draw – 26.1%

Troy Lesesne says everyone at D.C. United is focused on maintaining their position on the right side of the Eastern Conference playoff cut-off as they prepare to host New York City.

D.C. sit ninth in the East, occupying the final play-in spot with six games remaining of the regular season, one point clear of Atlanta United, who have a game in hand.

Lesesne's men have boosted their postseason hopes by putting together a strong run at an ideal time, winning four of their last five league games either side of the Leagues Cup break.

They beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 last time out with goals from Christian Benteke and Gabriel Pirani, leaving Lesesne to hail their resilience.

"You could just see everyone so committed to the three points and not letting that result slip away," Lesesne said. 

"That's the mentality we're going to need in the final six matches to stay in the position that we earned, which is to get above the playoff line. 

"That's a position that's good to be in, but it's a position we want to be in at the end of the season, not just with six games left."

New York, meanwhile, were beaten 4-2 by the Columbus Crew before the international break but remain in a strong position, sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference with a six-point cushion to the wild-card places.

Head coach Nick Cushing took plenty of positives from their most recent outing, saying: "We went to the most difficult place in MLS and dominated the majority of the game until the last five minutes.

"It's really frustrating because we created a lot of chances although we didn't take them, we dominated the ball, we dominated for long periods. 

"For me, coming here to the champions and the Leagues Cup holders, it was a top performance."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

D.C. United – Christian Benteke 

Benteke scored his 32nd regular-season goal since the start of last year in D.C.'s win at Chicago last time out. 

Only Raul Diaz Arce (38 in 1996-97) and Roy Lassiter (36 in 1998-99) have ever scored more in a two-season span for D.C. United.

New York City – Alonso Martinez 

Martinez has been involved in six of New York's 10 regular-season goals since the beginning of July (five goals, one assist). 

Dating back to May 31, Martinez has been involved in 11 of the club's 19 regular-season goals (eight goals, three assists).

MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK CITY WIN

D.C. and New York have alternated victories in each of their last five meetings, with NYCFC winning their last clash 2-0 on home soil on April 20. None of the last nine games between the sides have finished level.

D.C. have won four of their last five regular-season matches (one defeat) after only winning three of their previous 22 in league action (eight draws, 11 losses).

However, they could come unstuck here against an NYCFC team with just two defeats in their last eight road games (excluding penalty shoot-outs, one win, five draws).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

D.C. United – 32.4% 

New York City – 42.1%

Draw – 25.5%

Miami head coach Gerardo Martino is hoping Luis Suarez's influence can inspire the team to victory once again when they welcome Philadelphia Union to Chase Stadium.

The Herons have already clinched an MLS playoff place and recorded an impressive 4-1 victory over Chicago Fire last time out.

Suarez scored twice in his last two matches, propelling Miami to 59 points on top of the Eastern Conference, and Martino has been impressed with how the Uruguayan has led the line.

"Luis was probably the best player on the field [against Chicago], but I don't want to focus only on the goals because that is normal for him," he said.

"I prefer to focus on his game as a whole, the ball circulation and all the passes to midfielders and, because of that, we can play in other parts of the field. He did that very well."

Miami have been without talisman Lionel Messi since MLS action returned due to an ankle injury he sustained in the Copa America final, but Julian Gressel believes he could be back soon.

"It's nice to see [Messi] back out there," Gressel told the Player/Manager podcast. "If you can add a guy like that after what we've done over the past two months, it's certainly going to be an interesting kind of finish to the end here."

Meanwhile, Philadelphia are 11th in the standings but got back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over New York Red Bulls last time out.

Head coach Jim Curtin was pleased to grind out the win but believes there are still improvements to be made.

"We were all disappointed with losing to a very strong Columbus team, but I had a good response [against New York RB]," Curtin said.

"I think big picture wise, if you look at the first 15 minutes of [the New York] game, that's us at our best. We have it in us, and now the challenge is to sustain it for all 90."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Inter Miami – Luis Suarez

Since the return of MLS action following the Leagues Cup break, Suarez has been running defences riot, scoring braces against both Cincinnati and Chicago Fire.

Against the Fire last weekend, he had the most shots (nine), shots on target (five), big chances (three) and touches in the opposition box (10), proving a constant threat in just under 80 minutes.

Philadelphia Union – Mikael Uhre

Mikael Uhre returned to the scoresheet against the New York Red Bulls last time out, netting his seventh goal of the season, the joint-second-highest tally in the team this season.

He is also known for his creative ability though, as his assist for Tai Baribo was his fifth of the campaign, with only Kai Wagner playing on more.

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

Miami have recorded wins in each of their last two matches against the Union in all competitions. The Herons had won just two of their first eight all-time matches against Philadelphia (D2 L4).

Miami are just the second team in the post-shootout era (since 2000) to record 15 wins in a span of 19 matches in a single regular season (after Seattle Sounders in 2018). No team in the post-shootout era has won 16 times in a span of 20 matches within a single regular season.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia snapped a four-match regular-season road losing streak with a 2-0 win at the Red Bulls on August 31. Those four losses are the Union's only road defeats of the regular season in 2024 (W4 D5).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter Miami – 51.8%

Draw – 24.6%

Philadelphia Union – 23.6%

Albert Rusnak's hat-trick propelled the Seattle Sounders to a shock 4-0 win over the 10-man Columbus Crew.

The short-handed Crew were dealt a huge blow when, in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, goalkeeper Abraham Romero saw red for a foul on Jordan Morris.

With regular goalkeepers Patrick Schulte and Nicholas Hagen on international duty, Crew coach Wilfried Nancy had to turn to centre-back Sean Zawadzki.

But it took Seattle just four minutes to get the better of the stand-in, with Rusnak converting the resulting free-kick following Romero's foul.

Morris doubled Seattle's tally on the hour mark, with Rusnak then completing his hat-trick with a quickfire double.

Columbus are third in the Eastern Conference, while Seattle are fifth in the West.

Data Debrief: Rusnak turns from provider to scorer

Rusnak had never scored a hat-trick before, but this one will be memorable for several reasons. It also came on the back of the midfielder creating six chances in last week's loss to the Portland Timbers, which was the most by any Sounders player in a single regular-season game in over three years.

The defeat was just Columbus' second at home in the space of 39 matches, though Seattle have now won six of their nine regular-season visits to Columbus, the highest winning percentage of any MLS team to have played the Crew eight or more times on the road.

New York Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz is demanding defensive improvements against Sporting Kansas City after seeing his team's three-month unbeaten run in MLS snapped.

The Red Bulls suffered their first loss since June 8 – when they were beaten 1-0 by the New England Revolution – last week as they went down 2-0 at home to the Philadelphia Union.

The result left the Red Bulls fourth in the Eastern Conference standings but with just a five-point advantage over the teams currently occupying the wild-card spots.

With every point of utmost importance during the run-in, Schwarz wants his team to rediscover their solidity on Saturday.

"We didn't have the best few days after the Philly game, we analysed this and it's very clear we have to improve our defence, especially against Kansas City," Schwarz said.

"It's also necessary that when you lose a game, you change a little bit the atmosphere and now we are looking forward to the game.

"We should see some more players integrated towards the end of the season and the performances every day on the training field will be important, but matchday is when you have to show your quality."

Sporting KC, meanwhile, beat Indy Eleven in the U.S. Open Cup semi-finals last time out, having also beaten Orlando City 3-0 in their last MLS game to keep their own slim playoff hopes alive.

Coach Peter Vermes was glad to have a breather last weekend and expects his team to be reenergised for their trip to Red Bull Arena.

"The week has been good. Having the break after two games in a row was actually really healthy for us," Vermes said.

"I think for the team, having some of the days off has kept the guys hungry and they're ready to go and play a big game. It's been good."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

New York Red Bulls – Lewis Morgan

As well as leading all his team-mates in the goalscoring charts with 12 strikes in 23 regular-season games this year, Morgan has been a real creative force for the Red Bulls.

Only John Tolkin has matched his 38 chances created for the team in MLS play this season.

Sporting Kansas City – Tim Melia

Sporting have kept clean sheets in back-to-back matches across all competitions, and veteran goalkeeper Melia will be desperate to remain unbeaten again here.

This is the first time they have gone consecutive matches without conceding a goal in all competitions since March 2023, while they last did so in three straight back in 2020.

MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK RED BULLS WIN

After meeting nine times in all competitions between 2012 and 2014, Sporting and the Red Bulls have played just eight times in the 10 seasons since Kansas City moved to the Western Conference. Sporting have won four of those eight meetings (two draws, two losses).

They approach Saturday's game in good form, too, winning six of their last 10 matches (one draw, three losses) after only winning six of their first 24 to start 2024 (five draws, 13 losses).

The Red Bulls saw their 11-match unbeaten run in MLS ended by last week's defeat to the Union, having also previously gone 17 home games without defeat – the longest such run in their history. Can they get back to winning ways on Saturday?

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

New York Red Bulls – 58.3%

Sporting Kansas City – 20%

Draw – 21.7%