Preston Judd and Prince Owusu reach 15 goals as teams and players shine on Matchday 28

Matchday 28 brought important performances and several club records, with players reaching personal milestones and teams gaining rhythm ahead of the international break. Names in the spotlight included Milan Iloski, Hany Mukhtar, Thomas Müller, Prince Owusu and Preston Judd, while several defenders and goalkeepers made decisive contributions in important wins or draws.

According to MLSSoccer, the Philadelphia Union won 4-2 against Orlando City with a hat-trick from Milan Iloski and a 1-goal, 2-assist involvement from Indiana Vassilev; Iloski became the third player in club history to record more than one hat-trick in a season, while Union equalled an MLS record by collecting 32 points in the last 12 matches and stand unbeaten (10 wins, 0 losses, 2 draws) since the World Cup break. Nashville SC became the second-fastest team in league history to reach 60 points in a season (27 matches), with captain Hany Mukhtar scoring twice to reach 100 MLS goals. Strikers Prince Owusu of CF Montréal and Preston Judd of San Jose Earthquakes each scored twice in 3-1 wins over FC Cincinnati and Portland Timbers respectively, becoming the fourth player in their club’s history to score 15+ goals in a regular campaign. In the inter-conference clash Vancouver–D.C. United the result was 3-3, with Thomas Müller’s goal and assist cancelled out by Kimito Nono’s brace.

The Matchday 28 team of the week is rounded out with a 3-4-3 formation, with starters including goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland, defenders Osaze Urhoghide and Jack Elliott, midfielders such as Indiana Vassilev, Hany Mukhtar and Thomas Müller, and forwards Milan Iloski, Prince Owusu and Preston Judd. Among the week’s other achievements were Justin Haak’s contribution in LA Galaxy’s 3-2 win over Colorado Rapids, Jack Elliott’s decisive assist in Chicago Fire’s 1-0 win at Charlotte, and the defensive leadership of Osaze Urhoghide who helped FC Dallas maintain an unbeaten run with a 1-0 win over LAFC. Sporting Kansas City achieved a surprise 2-0 win over Houston Dynamo with five saves from Stefan Cleveland, while interim coach Laurent Courtois led Columbus Crew to a 2-1 win with a 98th-minute goal, marking three consecutive wins in all competitions.

As MLSSoccer notes, these results highlighted not only the rivalry and competition within the league, but also the individual achievements shaping the standings and teams’ expectations for the remainder of the season.