MLS Matchday 28: Orlando City, Seattle's Depth, and a Supporters' Shield Shake-Up

The latest MLS weekend was eventful. The league's latest record-breaking signing made his first appearance, the Supporters’ Shield competition saw an unexpected twist, and a rivalry game concluded with a commanding win. As the league approaches the closing phase of the regular season, several important narratives are unfolding.

Here are some of the most interesting things we learned from Matchday 28.

1. Orlando City is a Legitimate MLS Cup Threat

Should Orlando City be considered a serious contender for the MLS Cup? The Lions are building a compelling case. They've been in impressive form, winning a key road game against the Columbus Crew and navigating the Leagues Cup with a strong performance that led to a quarterfinal berth. Upon returning to MLS action, they made a statement by dominating Inter Miami in a 4-1 victory.

Orlando City has a reliable formula for success, ranking fourth in the league in expected goal differential per 90 minutes. Their offense is led by the elite playmaking of Martín Ojeda, while their defense ranks in the top 10 for non-penalty expected goals allowed. With key additions to their roster, the team is deeper than ever. Now is the time to invest in their trophy stock.

2. Son Heung-min's Role at LAFC Becomes Clearer

The arrival of South Korean star Son Heung-min in Los Angeles created a tactical question: how would he fit alongside star winger Denis Bouanga? In Son's debut with LAFC, we got some answers. He spent most of his cameo playing as a No. 9 through the middle, while also interchanging with Bouanga on the left side.

Son's blazing speed and excellent off-ball movement were immediately apparent, and he earned a game-tying penalty that Bouanga converted. Though the duo's chemistry is still developing, Son's ability to find and exploit weaknesses in the opposition's defense will provide a much-needed spark for an LAFC attack that has at times stagnated.

3. The Supporters' Shield is Up for Grabs

The Supporters’ Shield race has become a wide-open battle. Entering the weekend, six teams were averaging at least 1.8 points per game, but five of them dropped points. The Philadelphia Union, Nashville, Vancouver, Cincinnati, and Inter Miami all stumbled, opening the door for other teams to get back into the race.

The only team to hold out was San Diego FC, who continue to impress. While the top contenders are still in the mix, a number of other teams, including the Columbus Crew and the Seattle Sounders, are now within striking distance. The Supporters' Shield race is set for a fascinating two-month sprint to Decision Day.

4. Seattle Sounders Show Unprecedented Depth

The Seattle Sounders showcased their incredible depth in a resounding 4-0 road victory over the LA Galaxy, despite missing seven key players due to injury and rest. The team's impressive roster build and ability to bring young players through their development pathway was on full display.

Players like Danny Musovski and Snyder Brunell stepped up, with Musovski scoring a brace and Brunell scoring on his debut. The Sounders' substitutes all came from their academy, the SuperDraft, or MLS NEXT Pro, a testament to their impressive roster strategy. Despite battling injuries and extra matches from other tournaments, Seattle is still fourth in the Western Conference and is proving that building a wildly deep squad is possible in the current version of MLS.

5. San Diego FC is on Track for a Historic Expansion Season

Watch out, LAFC, because your expansion points record is in danger. The 2017 LAFC team set the record with 57 points in their debut season, but this year's newcomer, San Diego FC, is on pace to smash that mark. Based on their current 1.88 points-per-game rate, San Diego is on course for a 64-point season.

San Diego is trending toward the record books and may well go down as the best expansion team in the league’s modern era. With the Supporters’ Shield and a top playoff seed both within reach, everything is on the table for this squad. With their latest victory over Sporting Kansas City, San Diego continues to stack wins and is an easy team to be bullish about heading into the final stretch.