Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 13 matches played thus far on the 13th matchday of the 2024 MLS regular season on Saturday, May 11.
Saturday night saw 52 goals scored across 13 matches, marking the second-most goals scored in a single day in MLS history and just the third time that 50-or-more goals have been scored on a single day in league annals. The single-day record is 57 goals scored on Aug. 6, 2022.
Matchday 13 concludes this afternoon as the Portland Timbers face off against Pacific Northwest rival Seattle Sounders FC in a Cascadia Cup clash as MLS Rivalry Week presented by Continental Tire continues (4:45 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / FOX).
Benteke Showcases MVP Form with Third Hat Trick in 13 Games
D.C. United’s Christian Benteke continues to showcase why he belongs in the early-season conversation for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award, as the Belgian striker registered a hat trick – his second of the season – in the club’s 3-2 victory over Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Benteke scored all three goals via header and now has seven headed goals in 2024 (Watch All Three Goals Here).
The hat trick was Benteke’s third in his last 13 games, dating back to September 23, 2023, and he became the fifth different player in MLS history to notch three hat tricks in a 13-game span. The other four to accomplish the feat are Josef Martínez in 2017, Mamadou Diallo in 2000-01, Diego Serna in 2000-01, and Cobi Jones in 1998.
With 11 goals this season, a mark that is tied for the league lead with Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez and Real Salt Lake’s Chicho Arango, the elite finisher also became the eighth player in club history to record consecutive seasons with at least 10 goals and the first since Wayne Rooney in 2018-19.
Ferreira Becomes Youngest to 50
In a Copa Tejas showdown, FC Dallas preserved their unbeaten home record against in-state rival Austin FC, as goals from Petar Musa (Watch Here) and Jesús Ferreira (Watch Here) propelled the home side to a 2-1 victory on Saturday. FC Dallas improved to 4-0-1 in five regular-season home matches vs. Austin FC with one of their Homegrown stars making history along the way.
For Ferreira, the goal marked the 50th regular-season score of his MLS career, as he joins Jason Kreis (91) as the second player in FC Dallas history to reach the 50-goal milestone. At 23 years and 139 days old on Saturday, Ferreira became the youngest player in MLS history to reach 50 career goals, breaking the previous record held by Diego Fagúndez (23 years, 256 days old).
Suárez, Inter Miami Notch Comeback Win in Montréal
After falling behind 2-0 early in the first half, Luis Suárez and Inter Miami CF's offense provided the quick counterpunch against CF Montréal, leveling the score at the half before closing out a 3-2 victory north of the border. Nineteen-year-old midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi scored the game-winning goal for the Herons in the 59th minute (Watch Here), securing the club’s fifth consecutive victory.
As part of their five-game winning streak, Miami became the second team in MLS history to score three-or-more goals in five consecutive matches, joining 2017 Toronto FC, who accomplished the feat in seven straight games en route to MLS Cup & Supporters' Shield titles.
Suárez, who scored the club’s second goal of the match (Watch Here), finished Matchday 13 tied atop the Golden Boot presented by Audi leaderboard with 11 goals. He became the third player in MLS history to record 11 goals in his first 800 minutes of a season, joining the Tampa Bay Mutiny’s Mamadou Diallo (11 goals in 2000) and D.C. United’s Ola Kamara (11 goals in 2021). Both players finished atop or tied atop the MLS goal scoring rankings in their respective season.
St. Louis CITY SC Brings the Fireworks in Win over Chicago
In one of the featured matches of MLS Rivalry Week presented by Continental Tire, St. Louis CITY SC put on a fireworks display with three goals in their victory over midwestern rival Chicago Fire FC on Saturday. Brazilian forward João Klauss scored a pair of second-half goals to secure the victory in front of a raucous home crowd at CITYPARK (Watch Klauss’s Second Goal Here).
The Western Conference’s top scoring offense in 2023 (62 goals), St. Louis has scored three-or-more goals in a match 14 times since the start of their inaugural season in 2023, the most in MLS over the span. LAFC ranks second among MLS clubs with 13 such games over the span. With the win, the defending top seed in the West extended their unbeaten run to five matches.
Orlando Duo of Lodeiro and Muriel Dominant in Decisive Road Win
Midfielder Nico Lodeiro assisted all three of the club’s goals, including a pair of helpers to Colombian Designated Player Luis Muriel, in Orlando City SC's 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park. Muriel’s brace marked his first goals with the club in 2024, as Orlando City notched three goals in a match for the second time this season.
With his trio of assists, Lodeiro recorded his 15th career multi-assist game in MLS play, the most among active players and tied for the seventh-most in league history. Lodeiro’s 85 career regular-season assists are the most among active players in MLS – one ahead of FC Cincinnati’s Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta (84).
