Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 13 matches played on the ninth matchday of the 2023 MLS season, Saturday, April 22.
Matchday 9 action concludes this afternoon with an Eastern Conference clash as Atlanta United host Chicago Fire FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (4:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FS1).
Uhre Hat Trick Delivers Union to Victory
The Philadelphia Union blazed to a 4-2 win over Toronto FC on Matchday 9 on the back of a Mikael Uhre hat trick, the first of his Union career.
Uhre’s hat trick was the fifth by a Union player since the start of the 2022 season, which is two more than any other MLS club over that period. The Danish forward is joined by midfielder Dániel Gazdag (two hat tricks) and forward Julián Carranza (two), with all four of the duo’s combined hat tricks coming in 2022. The Union’s offensive trident combined for Uhre’s third goal, with Gazdag releasing Carranza down the right channel before he delivered a low cross to the back post for Uhre to tap in (WATCH HERE).
Through nine games, Uhre leads the Union with five goals and trails only Seattle’s Jordan Morris (eight), LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga (seven), and San Jose’s Cristian Espinoza (six) in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race. Uhre and Bouanga will face off this Wednesday in the first leg of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League semifinal in a rematch of 2022 MLS Cup against LAFC, and both will be looking to push their teams to victory with another goal to their tallies.
Houston Make MLS History at Home
The Houston Dynamo’s home start to 2023 has been picture perfect – four wins, four clean sheets, and a total of 12 points that have driven them up the Western Conference standings. Head coach Ben Olsen and Houston solidified their perfect start with a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami CF, with Daniel Steres scoring the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute.
With the victory, Houston became the first team in MLS history to produce four-straight clean sheet victories at home to open a season. In fact, the Dynamo are just the 16th team in MLS history to accomplish the feat at any point during a season and the first since the Philadelphia Union from Sept. 25 – Oct. 31, 2021. Houston joins FC Cincinnati (five) and LAFC (four) as the only other clubs to win all of their home matches in 2023.
Revolution Continue Roaring Start
Behind a brace from forward Giacomo Vrioni – the first of his MLS career – the New England Revolution defeated Sporting Kansas City, 2-1, at Gillette Stadium. With the victory, New England improved to 6-1-2 on the season for 20 points and a place atop the Eastern Conference table.
For the Revolution, their 20 points through Matchday 9 are tied for the second-most in club history through the first nine games of a season, trailing only the 2005 squad that had 21 points through the same mark. The 2005 team finished atop the Eastern Conference and second in the Supporters’ Shield standings with 59 points and were led by the goal-scoring duo of Taylor Twellman, who was awarded the MLS MVP and Golden Boot that season, and Clint Dempsey.
Pair of MLS Veterans Make History with Saturday Starts
With a pair of starts on Saturday night, Nashville SC’s Dax McCarty and Philadelphia’s Andre Blake both made history, while padding their impressive MLS resumes.
McCarty made his 400th career MLS start on Saturday night in Nashville’s 1-1 home draw against LAFC, becoming the third outfield player in league history to reach the milestone, joining Kyle Beckerman (461) and Chad Marshall (404). Since making his MLS debut with FC Dallas in 2006, McCarty has been a consistent presence in MLS lineups, appearing in 447 career games, scoring 21 goals, and adding 69 assists.
Making his 212th career regular-season start with the Philadelphia Union in the club’s 4-2 victory over Toronto FC, goalkeeper Andre Blake surpassed Raymon Gaddis (211 starts) for the most regular-season starts by a player in club history. A four-time MLS All Star and three-time Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Blake is one of eight active ‘keepers with at least 600 career saves.
Roman Bürki By the Dozen
St. Louis CITY SC has been known for scoring goals during their inaugural season, but in tonight’s 1-1 draw at the Colorado Rapids, it was the man stopping goals that made all the noise. Goalkeeper Roman Bürki stood on his head at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, making a career-high 12 saves, which are the most in a single game in MLS this season.
The former Borussia Dortmund ‘keeper and Swiss international now has 34 saves in his debut season, good for the fourth-most in the league. Thanks to Bürki’s sensational performance in the draw, St. Louis maintained their position atop the Western Conference standings with 19 points through their first nine matches (6-2-1 record).
