Philadelphia, Orlando City kick off MLS season with wins | OneFootball

MIAMI, Florida – The 2023 season in Major League Soccer kicked off over the weekend with 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League sides Philadelphia Union and Orlando City SC earning wins, while Atlas battled back from a two-goal deficit to get a point against Club America in Liga MX action.

Four of the five teams from MLS in the 2023 SCCL started their domestic campaigns over the weekend, while Los Angeles FC will get things going next week.

The Philadelphia Union overcame an early 1-0 deficit to defeat the Columbus Crew 4-1 at home on Saturday. An own goal looked like it would give Columbus a lead going into halftime, but Daniel Gazdag evened things at 1-1 with a penalty conversion in first half stoppage time.

It was all Philadelphia in the second half, with Julian Carranza making it 2-1 in the 52’ by turning in a cross from Alejandro Bedoya. Another penalty conversion from Gazdag in the 72’ extended the lead to 3-1 before Carranza polished off the 4-1 scoreline in the 80’ with a right-footed finish.

Orlando City were also victorious in their home opener on Saturday thanks to Facundo Torres’ second half penalty conversion in a 1-0 final over the New York Red Bulls. The visitors had the stronger start, but Orlando City held firm and a Red Bulls handball in the area allowed Torres to convert the winning goal from the spot in the 56’.

Austin FC also opened their MLS campaign at home, but fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat to Saint Louis City SC. After falling in a hole 1-0, Austin FC rallied to take a 2-1 lead thanks to an exquisite touch and chip from Sebastian Driussi in first half stoppage time and a great finish from Jon Gallagher in the 72’.

However, some defensive miscues from Austin FC were punished by the Saint Louis City attack, allowing the first-year franchise to leave the Texas capital with all three points.

The Vancouver Whitecaps also had a sour start to their season at home, losing 2-1 to Real Salt Lake. Javain Brown had the Whitecaps ahead in the 24’, 1-0, courtesy of a powerful header off a corner kick, only to see Real Salt Lake rally for the win with two goals in a span of three second half minutes.

Liga MX

Atlas, Pachuca and Tigres were the SCCL teams in action over the weekend in Liga MX, highlighted by Atlas’ two-goal comeback against Club America in a 2-2 final on Saturday.

Las Aguilas led 2-0 deep into stoppage time in the first half before Brian Lozano kickstarted the Atlas comeback with a sensational free kick goal from long distance in the 45+3’ to make it 2-1 at the break.

Lozano then tallied the 2-2 equalizer in the 68’ with another spectacular right-footed effort from distance, finding the top right corner of net from the left flank to earn his side the point.