📰 MLS Headliners: Scoring exploits! Orlando magic! Porous Portland 😬 | OneFootball

It may not have had as frenetic a schedule as the previous day but Sunday still produced some interesting storylines.

Here are the major talking points that emerged…

Sporting chance?

What an inspired signing William Agada is proving to be for Sporting KC.

The Nigerian striker, who arrived from Hapoel Jerusalem in June, started and finished the scoring for Peter Vermes’ side in their 4-1 win over Portland Timbers.

That makes it five goals in as many games for the lethal 22-year-old.

Sporting may remain bottom of the West with the worst scoring record in the conference, but Agada is offering serious hope of a play-off push that looked nigh on impossible before his arrival.

Return on investment

Another player who has made quite the splash this summer is Cucho Hernández of the Columbus Crew.

His brace ensured the Black and Gold earned a share of the points with Atlanta.

That’s eight goals in as many games since the Crew broke their transfer record to acquire the Colombia interntional from English side Watford.

And it puts him in the record books with some pretty lofty company.

Never forget your first time

It was a day to remember for three players as they registered MLS goals for their respective clubs for the first time.

Santiago Sosa’s was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch, as the centre-back’s rocket fired Atlanta United into an early lead at Columbus. The game would ultimately finish 2-2.

McKinze Gaines may have mixed emotions about his first league goal for Charlotte as it brought them level only for Orlando City to claim all three points with a late winner.

His only previous MLS goal came for Austin in a 2-0 win over LAFC last season.

Jacob Shaffelburg will have no such qualms as he scored on his debut for Nashville.

The Canada international, who recently joined on loan from Toronto, smashed home the Tennessee side’s second goal in a 4-0 drubbing of Dallas.

Road Warriors

Orlando’s push for a place in the post-season is being fuelled by a superb away record.

The Lions now have amassed 21 points on their travels, as compared to just 15 earned on home soil.

Their dramatic late 2-1 win at Charlotte, courtesy of Tesho Akindele’s strike in the 89th minute, has them sitting in fifth spot in the East and handily positioned to make the play-offs.

Can’t see the wood for the trees

The 4-1 defeat at Kansas saw Portland Timbers drop their second game on the trot, and leaves them without a win in their last five outings.

Gio Savarese’s side were 3-0 down at the break, and their manager made no effort to sugar coat the rotten run of form they are currently experiencing.

“We had an embarrassing first half. I take full responsibility because, ultimately, I’m the one that puts the players on the field,” Savarese said.

“I’m the one that prepares the players to play, and the first half wasn’t to the standard of the Portland Timbers.

“If I’m a fan of the Timbers, I would be very disappointed for today. I would be upset.”

The defending Western Conference champions will look to turn the corner against Cascadian rivals Seattle Sounders on Friday.