The MLS Wrap: Recent imports star in weekend to remember
By James Nalton One attracted a sell-out crowd despite playing for the visitors, another won the game for his side with two goals, and another was part of one of the best team displays of the season. As we approach the final months of the season, two teams pulled away from the pack in their respective conferences as the race for the Supporters’ Shield trophy and playoff qualification takes shape. Robert Lewandowski night at Red Bull New York We’ve already seen it plenty of times with Lionel Messi, as he is cheered and celebrated even in Inter Miami’s away games, but he’s now not the only one to receive this unusual adulation in MLS this season. Red Bull New York sold out their home game against Chicago Fire as local organisations in a region of New Jersey where there is a big Polish community turned the game into a Polish heritage night. The Red Bulls reminded everyone that their American striker Julian Hall is himself of Polish descent and sometimes goes by his Polish name of Julian Zakrzewski, but the crowd was mainly there to see Robert Lewandowski on the opposing side. His name was the most common on the back of supporters’ shirts by some distance, and they filled the stands in anticipation of his arrival. Robert Lewandowski is here and hungry for goals 😤📺 Watch @ChicagoFire take on @NewYorkRedBulls in @Walmart Saturday Showdown at 7:30pm ET on Apple TV: https://t.co/H9S9bP5fo4 pic.twitter.com/4oVE38B4bK— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 22, 2026 Disappointingly for those in attendance, Lewandowski didn’t start the game — Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter obviously didn’t get the memo — but he did come on midway through the second half. In one moment, the Red Bulls mascot tried to get a chant going, and rather than shouting in support of the home team, it turned into a chant of “Lew-an-dow-ski”. It’s a phenomenon we will continue to see in MLS as the league attracts star names from Europe in the twilight of their careers, and fans come out to see them. The challenge for domestic American soccer is turning that into support for local teams. Griezmann steps up for Orlando Antoine Griezmann emerged as the highest-rated player of the matchday, scoring his first goals in MLS since July. This reinforced the idea that his Orlando City side can still qualify for the playoffs, despite an unconvincing season to date. Orlando were 1-0 down against Real Salt Lake, and it could have easily been two goals for RSL’s Polish winger Dominik Marczuk were it not for a good save from Maxime Crépeau to keep Orlando in it. Then Griezmann stepped up. Having already missed one great chance following a clever run behind the defence, he finished twice from close range to give his team the win. Orlando City have been one of MLS’s most disappointing teams this season, as shown by their goal difference of -17, which is the worst in the Eastern Conference. MLS’s forgiving regular season, which doesn’t punish you too much for a bad run, means they are still in contention for a place in the playoffs, and currently sit in a spot which would see them enter at the wildcard round. If Griezmann can spur them on, they could move even further up the standings and make a surprise end-of-season push. Nashville, not Inter Miami Anyone who doesn’t pay too much attention to MLS might just presume that Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami run away with the regular season league title and everyone else has hope to upset them in the playoffs. But it is Nashville, not Miami, who are starting to pull away from the pack at the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings in 2016. Since their 4-1 statement win against Inter Miami last weekend, Nashville have won a tough midweek match at New York Red Bulls and secured another narrow but more entertaining win against Columbus Crew this weekend. A goal in the second minute of added time from Maxwell Woledzi gave them the win on Wednesday, and they left it late again on Saturday, dramatically so. Columbus were 2-1 up, and it looked like Nashville were going to suffer just their third defeat of the season, but a goal in the second minute of added time from Reed Baker-Whiting levelled the scores. Rather than settle for the draw as many teams might, Nashville have a winning mentality this season, and wanted all three points to improve their lead at the top of the table. They grabbed the ball from the goal and pushed for victory. They secured it just a couple of minutes later when Andy Nájar sent Geodis Park into wild celebrations. Those fans might be about to witness something special this season, and Inter Miami’s loss to Toronto made it even more likely that they will.
By James Nalton
One attracted a sell-out crowd despite playing for the visitors, another won the game for his side with two goals, and another was part of one of the best team displays of the season.
As we approach the final months of the season, two teams pulled away from the pack in their respective conferences as the race for the Supporters’ Shield trophy and playoff qualification takes shape.
Robert Lewandowski night at Red Bull New York
We’ve already seen it plenty of times with Lionel Messi, as he is cheered and celebrated even in Inter Miami’s away games, but he’s now not the only one to receive this unusual adulation in MLS this season.
Red Bull New York sold out their home game against Chicago Fire as local organisations in a region of New Jersey where there is a big Polish community turned the game into a Polish heritage night.
The Red Bulls reminded everyone that their American striker Julian Hall is himself of Polish descent and sometimes goes by his Polish name of Julian Zakrzewski, but the crowd was mainly there to see Robert Lewandowski on the opposing side.
His name was the most common on the back of supporters’ shirts by some distance, and they filled the stands in anticipation of his arrival.
Disappointingly for those in attendance, Lewandowski didn’t start the game — Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter obviously didn’t get the memo — but he did come on midway through the second half.
In one moment, the Red Bulls mascot tried to get a chant going, and rather than shouting in support of the home team, it turned into a chant of “Lew-an-dow-ski”.
It’s a phenomenon we will continue to see in MLS as the league attracts star names from Europe in the twilight of their careers, and fans come out to see them.
The challenge for domestic American soccer is turning that into support for local teams.
Griezmann steps up for Orlando
Antoine Griezmann emerged as the highest-rated player of the matchday, scoring his first goals in MLS since July.
This reinforced the idea that his Orlando City side can still qualify for the playoffs, despite an unconvincing season to date.
Orlando were 1-0 down against Real Salt Lake, and it could have easily been two goals for RSL’s Polish winger Dominik Marczuk were it not for a good save from Maxime Crépeau to keep Orlando in it.
Then Griezmann stepped up. Having already missed one great chance following a clever run behind the defence, he finished twice from close range to give his team the win.
Orlando City have been one of MLS’s most disappointing teams this season, as shown by their goal difference of -17, which is the worst in the Eastern Conference.
MLS’s forgiving regular season, which doesn’t punish you too much for a bad run, means they are still in contention for a place in the playoffs, and currently sit in a spot which would see them enter at the wildcard round.
If Griezmann can spur them on, they could move even further up the standings and make a surprise end-of-season push.
Nashville, not Inter Miami
Anyone who doesn’t pay too much attention to MLS might just presume that Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami run away with the regular season league title and everyone else has hope to upset them in the playoffs.
But it is Nashville, not Miami, who are starting to pull away from the pack at the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings in 2016.
Since their 4-1 statement win against Inter Miami last weekend, Nashville have won a tough midweek match at New York Red Bulls and secured another narrow but more entertaining win against Columbus Crew this weekend.
A goal in the second minute of added time from Maxwell Woledzi gave them the win on Wednesday, and they left it late again on Saturday, dramatically so.
Columbus were 2-1 up, and it looked like Nashville were going to suffer just their third defeat of the season, but a goal in the second minute of added time from Reed Baker-Whiting levelled the scores.
Rather than settle for the draw as many teams might, Nashville have a winning mentality this season, and wanted all three points to improve their lead at the top of the table.
They grabbed the ball from the goal and pushed for victory.
They secured it just a couple of minutes later when Andy Nájar sent Geodis Park into wild celebrations.
Those fans might be about to witness something special this season, and Inter Miami’s loss to Toronto made it even more likely that they will.
Thomas Müller inspires peak Whitecaps performance
Lewandowski wasn’t the only former Bundesliga star making an impact this weekend. Former Germany international and Bayern legend Thomas Müller was involved in Vancouver Whitecaps’ 5-0 rout of FC Dallas.
The convincing win puts them ahead of Inter Miami in the overall standings, and nine points behind league leaders Nashville with a game in hand,
The Canadian side top the Western Conference convincingly, with a 12-point gap ahead of second-place Houston Dynamo with that game in hand still to play.
Their goal difference of +27 is the best in the league, and was boosted by this win at home to Dallas.
Colombian right back Édier Ocampo starred with a goal and an assist, while American striker Brian White bagged a brace.
Müller finished the game with 87 touches and four chances created, but rather than standing out on his own ahead of his teammates, the German’s star power comes from helping this team knit together and become one of the best in the league.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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