Getting into the fifth match week for most clubs, many of the league’s stars were called up for international duty for their respective national teams, leaving some starting XIs looking a little different. Four teams remain without a win as others enter double-digit point tallies for the season. Here is a recap of some of match-week five’s most notable action.
Columbus batter Atlanta 6-1
Ouch. Columbus gave a Thiago Alamada-less Atlanta side their first loss of the season in the most brutal fashion possible. Christian Ramírez scored a brace while four other players scored goals of their own. The Crew limited Atlanta to only two shots the entire match, with one of those resulting in a goal from Brooks Lennon in the 71st minute. As the result moves Columbus to a 2-1-2 record, this game alone suggests that Wilfried Nancy can get this team firing on all cylinders, but Columbus will have to continue to prove themselves as they face off against Real Salt Lake next.
Brace in his return to MLS.
Welcome back, @Chris_Ramirez17! ? pic.twitter.com/B52EqSxmeI
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 26, 2023
Jordan Morris nets four
As Seattle would beat 10-man Sporting Kansas City 4-1, it would be Jordan Morris who would score all four goals for the Sounders.
Four assists for @leochu07
?
Four goals for @JmoSmooth13 pic.twitter.com/cO9sJ3fRZi— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) March 26, 2023
In a new era for the United States Men’s National Team, Morris, who was previously a regular in the team, would be left out of the squad entirely. Jordan Morris is currently playing as a number nine for Seattle and now sits as the league’s top goalscorer, with seven goals in total as the Sounders take second place in the Western Conference. SKC grabbed a goal in the fifth minute but would trail 2-1 before Ben Sweat would be shown red. Morris would score twice more afterward as Seattle would move up to a 3-1-1 record, having played one game more than third and fourth-place LAFC and Minnesota United.
The Revs sneak past DC
The New England Revolution have somewhat quietly snuck up into first place in the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 away win over D.C. United thanks to an 88th-minute goal from 17-year-old Noel Buck. Besides a 4-0 loss to LAFC in week three, the Revs have won their other four games and now have 12 points total. Three of New England’s wins have been by a single goal, alongside a 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo.
NOEL BUCK ??? pic.twitter.com/HZVF2GkyQK
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) March 26, 2023
Saint Louis continues to cause havoc
I bet a lot of strikers in the world wish they got the service João Klauss gets from his opposition.
I've never seen anything like it. pic.twitter.com/9JqB8fIOlK
— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) March 26, 2023
As Saint Louis would win 4-0 over Real Salt Lake to get their fifth win of the season, João Klauss would score a brace to put himself up to five goals for the year so far. Oddly enough, this is the third time this season Klauss has been given a back-pass from an opposition defender to put him onto goal. Regardless of the flukiness, Saint Louis CITY continues to impress as they remain the only expansion team in league history to remain perfect through the fifth week of matches. Next up for Saint Louis is Minnesota United, who also have yet to lose a match.
