Evander Shines, Crew Struggles & MLS Drama on Matchday 29
Matchday 29 in Major League Soccer was packed with drama, storylines, and plenty of talking points, and it all started in Portland. FC Cincinnati showed once again why they’re sitting atop the Eastern Conference, pulling off a 3-2 win over the Timbers in what felt every bit like a playoff battle. And, of course, it was Evander who provided the spark. He seems to be the difference-maker every time Cincinnati needs someone to step up. Even when the team doesn’t control the flow of the game, they manage to find those decisive moments that tilt the scoreboard in their favor.
This one was no different. Cincinnati struck three times in the opening 36 minutes—Kevin Denkey and Pavel Bucha joined Evander in grabbing the spotlight—and from there, it was all about surviving the Timbers’ furious push. Portland created chance after chance in the second half, but Cincinnati’s resilience held. Head coach Pat Noonan called it “a playoff environment,” giving credit to both the fans and his squad for managing the pressure. Timbers boss Phil Neville, meanwhile, pointed out the value of concentration and discipline at the highest level—qualities Cincinnati leaned on to grind out the victory.
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But not every storyline this weekend was uplifting. Over in Toronto, the Reds earned a 1-1 draw against the Columbus Crew, thanks to a debut goal from Jules-Anthony Vilsaint. The young forward, who was surprisingly let go by Montréal, made an immediate impact, finishing off a cross from Djordje Mihailovic. Toronto may be well outside playoff contention, but there’s real optimism as a core of young Canadian talent starts to emerge. Head coach Robin Fraser praised Vilsaint’s work rate and composure, calling it a “really good debut.”
For Columbus, though, it was another frustrating night. The Crew, once in the Shield race, have slipped badly with just five wins from their last 15 games. The biggest issue? Goalscoring. Daniel Gazdag, signed to be a difference-maker, still hasn’t scored from open play since joining. A potential offside strike against Toronto summed up his struggles, and while head coach Wilfried Nancy insists it’s “not an issue,” the lack of production is clearly weighing on the team. Their new striker, Wessam Abou Ali, may be asked to carry that burden soon.
Elsewhere, Charlotte continued their hot streak, winning a sixth straight match behind young forward Idan Toklomati, while the Red Bulls finally ended a long winless streak against Philadelphia. LAFC showed signs of chemistry between Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga, even if Son is still adjusting to life as a No. 9. And in Miami, Lionel Messi reminded everyone he’s still the showstopper—coming off the bench, scoring the game-winner, and then delivering a dazzling backheel assist to Luis Suárez in a 3-1 win over the Galaxy.
From Evander’s brilliance in Portland to Messi’s magic in Miami, Matchday 29 gave us everything—comebacks, concerns, and plenty of playoff implications. And with just weeks left in the regular season, the stakes are only getting higher.
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