MLS Highlights: Portland Timbers End Drought, Josh Sargent Shines, Cavan Sullivan Impresses

The Portland Timbers have been part of Major League Soccer since 2011, playing 522 matches without a single player scoring a hat-trick. That streak ended on Saturday night when Vincent Janssen scored three goals in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Minnesota. Janssen, who joined Portland from Royal Antwerp in July, had not scored since April but came back strong with two early goals including a penalty and a third tap-in in the second half. This moment marked a franchise first and could impact Portland's playoff push.

Cavan Sullivan Emerges as Philly’s Bright Spot

Cavan Sullivan has stepped up impressively for the Philadelphia Union after a coaching change shook things up. The young talent has rewarded interim manager Ryan Richter’s trust by scoring in three consecutive games, tallying four goals and three assists in just over 1,200 minutes this season. Sullivan's latest contribution was a beautiful goal in a 2-0 win against Montreal, suggesting that the kid can truly perform at this level now that he is getting regular playing time.

Colorado Rapids Struggle Despite New Signings

Colorado Rapids made several big moves during the transfer window, bringing in four key players after losing top performers for $35 million combined. Their new coach, Matt Wells, has yet to ignite the attack, with Colorado only scoring 31 goals so far. Saturday's 3-0 loss was especially disappointing as two of their major signings, Morgan Whittaker and Sayed Abu Farkhi, had little impact. The team appears to need more time to gel and find offensive rhythm.

Josh Sargent Shines for Toronto FC

Josh Sargent, who signed with Toronto FC earlier this year, broke out with a hat-trick in a gritty 4-4 draw against Chicago. Toronto’s season has been puzzling—they rank low in most attacking stats despite sitting mid-table, and their defense has been vulnerable on set pieces. Sargent’s performance was a rare bright spot and showed glimpses of his Premier League quality. Toronto remains unbeaten in six matches now, adding intrigue to their season trajectory.

FC Cincinnati and D.C. United Match Postponed Due to Weather

Saturday night brought weather disruptions across MLS. The game between FC Cincinnati and D.C. United was delayed multiple times before being postponed because of severe weather. Both teams were ready to play but never kicked off, while Inter Miami also saw their match against Atlanta United pushed back an hour due to thunderstorms. D.C. United’s social media even accidentally tweeted "THE D.C, UNITED" during the delay, adding some unintended humor to the situation.

Disappointing Moment for Prince Owusu

Prince Owusu unfortunately had one of the worst penalty misses seen recently, a misstep that stood out negatively during the weekend’s action.