MLS Matchday 15 came out with a bang, with several teams scoring multiple goals on ill-prepared opponents.
The Philadelphia Union showed that direct soccer isn’t all that bad, St. Louis City continued to churn out wins, and the Houston Dynamo finally look like the team to beat in Texas.
As the season progresses, the secondary transfer window opens, and clubs start to get into a rhythm, he quality of play on the pitch will become consistent as the league heads in the busy summer months. Week 15 was a prime example of such consistency.
Here are three games from match date 15 that are worth taking a closer look...
3. Houston Dynamo vs. Austin FC
The Copa Tejas is one of the best things to come out of MLS in a while.
The Copa Tejas is similar to the Cascadia Cup in terms of being a supporter-based competition. Though it originated in 2019, it only joined the MLS with Austin FC's inclusion as an expansion team in 2021.
In the latest edition of the tournament, the Houston Dynamo won 2-1 against Austin at home.
The Dynamo lining up in a 4-3-3, they could stay compact and thwart any incoming dangers that Austin whipped in from the flanks.
Though they did concede early in the 22nd minute through Austin striker Gyasi Zardes, Houston held firm to their game plan. Out-possessing their opponent 53% to 47%, Houston kept the ball and built through the midfield three of Arthur, Adalberto Carrasquilla, and Hector Herrera.
They struck back in the 37th minute via Herrera with a well-worked goal that saw the Mexican pounce on a loose ball. Austin looked toothless in comparison to the Dynamo’s attack. It showed in the xG discrepancy in favor of Houston, (1.36 vs. 0.98.)
Ultimately, the men in orange would seal the game in the 87th minute with an Ivan Franco goal off a scrappy set piece.
It felt like a rivalry game, it played like a rivalry game, and - in the end, the Dynamo came out victorious.
2. St. Louis City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
St. Louis CITY continues to impress.
Their most recent home victory saw them dispatch a solid Vancouver Whitecaps team by three goals to one. Setting up in their typical 4-4-2, St Louis pressed from the front to disrupt Vancouver’s passing patterns.
In MLS, where most of the advantages come from physicality, St. Louis has the perfect squad to play a fast, rough, and direct brand of football that makes teams successful in the league.
The Whitecaps felt the full force of that in the 10th minute as Eduard Lowen thumped in a wonder strike that soared past Vancouver goalkeeper Thomas Hasal. St. Louis kept up the pressure and, just before halftime, scored again with a Tristan Blackmon own goal to put the home side up by two.
After that, Vancouver was demoralized and couldn't make their mark on the game, despite having more possession (62% to 38%) and a higher xG number (1.36 vs. St. Louis’ 0.93.)
The men in pinkish red topped off the game with the through homegrown player Miguel Perez. At just 18 years old, the young defensive midfielder had been the story of the season for St. Louis during their rise to the top five of the Western Conference.
This match showed that St. Louis is here to stay and will be dangerous when they qualify for the playoffs. Their high-tempo, direct style of football has taken the league by storm, and it looks like they aren't slowing down anytime soon.
1. Philadelphia Union vs. NYCFC
There’s nothing like a classic East Coast matchup between two well-drilled sides.
That’s precisely what fans got when they tuned in to watch the Philadelphia Union beat NYCFC 3-1.
The Union and NYCFC certainly have a history. Starting in April 2015, the sides have battled it out throughout the years with much fanfare.
Their latest clash was no different.
NYCFC came out with a strong starting eleven that included talents such as midfielder Richie Ledezma (who was deployed as a false nine in this game,) winger Gabriel Pereira, and attacker Santiago Rodriguez.
Lined up in a 4-2-3-1, NYCFC’s main goal was to have a fluid front three that could pull the Union’s centerbacks out of shape and then exploit the space behind them.
For the Union, they had an excellent way to counteract this tactical wrinkle by setting up in a 3-5-2. That way, should a centerback get pulled out of position, there would be two more to defend the space left vacant.
At first, NYCFC struck first through Pereira in the 30th minute. The Blues attacked with numbers and slick passing to catch the Union backline out of shape. However, Philadelphia held on just long enough to claw back into the match just before half-time thanks to striker Julian Carranza in the 45th minute and then in the 47th minute.
When in doubt, just go direct - and that’s exactly what the Union did to get back into the game and take the lead. Both of Carranza’s goals came from balls that were punted over the top of New York’s backline while they scrambled to get back.
The Union would then ice the game in the 53rd minute through a Daniel Gazdag penalty. Though the football was simple, Philadelphia made the most of its simplicity, scoring twice when the opportunity arose.
This article was originally published on 90min as Game of the Matchday week 15 - ranked.