What We Learned: Saint-Maximin lifts Charlotte, Miami deliver masterclass

By Joseph Lowery

Matchday 23 is in the books.

What did we learn? Did the games confirm our priors or change the complexion of the league?

Let’s dive into some key takeaways from another weekend of MLS action.

1. Saint-Maximin’s impact in Charlotte

One of MLS’s most in-form teams, Charlotte FC have gone 4W-1L-2D in league play since the FIFA World Cup break. Over the weekend, Dean Smith’s squad picked up yet another victory, besting Atlanta United by a 2-0 scoreline in a game that featured new Designated Player Allan Saint-Maximin securing his first MLS goal contributions. 

With his side up 1-0 a few minutes into the second half, courtesy of his secondary assist on The Crown’s opener, the winger drove into the heart of the Five Stripes’ recovering defense and nabbed a primary assist on what turned out to be the game-sealing goal.

While the pass itself is unremarkable, note the burst with which Saint-Maximin drives the ball forward in transition. The former Newcastle attacker’s quickness and incision is a notable shift to Charlotte’s left side.

Wilfried Zaha, Saint-Maximin’s predecessor on the left wing prior to his May exit, was often ponderous on the ball. In an admittedly small sample size, the newcomer is wreaking more havoc on opposing defenses. According to FotMob, Saint-Maximin is in the 100th percentile among his positional peers in successful dribbles per 90 minutes at a staggering 4.78. Zaha, in contrast, posted 1.70 such dribbles per 90.

If Saint-Maximin can continue to break down defenses with such force the rest of this season and beyond, Charlotte FC will find themselves closer to trophy contention than ever before.

2. Inter Miami’s ceiling is sky-high

As far as Saturday nights go, Inter Miami‘s most recent one was pretty darn good. 

En route to besting CF Montréal by a club-record 7-1 scoreline, MLS’s most star-studded club saw a new record attached to its most important player. In his four-goal outing, Lionel Messi became the fastest player in MLS history to notch 20 multi-goal games. It took the Argentine just 72 appearances to reach that mark. Put another way, more than once every four games of his MLS career, Messi has scored at least a brace. That, folks, is mind-melting.

While new manager Cristian ‘Kily’ González is yet to arrive to put his spin on this year’s version of Inter Miami, not much time seems to go by without the club reminding the rest of the league of its sky-high ceiling. Not unlike last year’s postseason, in which Miami played some of the most impressive soccer this league has ever seen on their way to claiming MLS Cup presented by Audi, this year’s team has the talent to blow away opponents.

Leading MLS in goals and expected goals, per American Soccer Analysis, and with defensive reinforcements added this summer (see: Casemiro), it looks as if Inter Miami are rounding into shape as fall nears.

3. Dejan Joveljić scores goals wherever he goes

It was always going to happen, wasn’t it?

Fresh off being traded from Sporting Kansas City to the Seattle Sounders in a $6 million cash-for-player deal, Dejan Joveljić immediately found himself in Brian Schmetzer’s starting lineup. And just 12 minutes into the Sounders’ clash with the Chicago Fire on Saturday afternoon, Joveljić had the ball in the back of Chris Brady‘s net. Then, in the 48th minute, Joveljić scored another to ensure he notched both goals for his new team in a 2-2 draw.

If there’s one simple truth about the Serbian striker, it’s this: he scores whenever he goes. 

Back in his first full MLS season with the LA Galaxy, he managed double-digit goals despite coming off the bench for all but seven regular-season matches. In 2024, he bagged 15 prior to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and helped the Galaxy lift MLS Cup with six more in the postseason, including the game-winning goal in the final. Last year, he managed 18 goals for a poor Sporting Kansas City team. This year, he’d already scored eight for Wooden Spoon favorites Kansas City before his change of scenery.

Joveljić has two elite skills. His off-ball movement helps him create space that other strikers struggle to find, and his finishing helps him convert chances others don’t. For a Sounders team that’s been in genuine need of production, it sure looks like adding Joveljić was a savvy move.

4. Elias Achouri seems the real deal for San Diego

There was, perhaps, no more drama-filled contest this past weekend than San Diego FC‘s 3-1 win over the LA Galaxy. What was at the heart of that drama? Chucky Lozano‘s first game back at Snapdragon Stadium since he moved to the Galaxy on loan for the rest of this season with a permanent option.

After an apparent falling out with San Diego FC last fall, Lozano hadn’t featured at all in league play this season prior to his move to Carson. Now a crucial starter on the left wing for a team hoping to push into the playoff hunt, he returned to San Diego — and scored — on Saturday. Yet it was a different Designated Player left winger who struck first: San Diego FC newcomer Elias Achouri.

Signed from FC Copenhagen in the Danish top-flight earlier this summer, Achouri has hit the ground running in MLS. With a goal in each of his two starts, the 27-year-old already cuts the figure of a game-changer. His connection with fellow DP winger Anders Dreyer seems to be developing, too, with the Dane finding his new teammate early on against the Galaxy to help San Diego take the lead. 

If Achouri can produce like Lozano did during his early San Diego FC tenure, don’t be surprised to see the sophomore outfit shoot up the Western Conference standings.

5. New England Revolution look legit

It’s been a mighty fine summer for the Revolution. Let’s recap that summer, shall we?

First, New England secured star goalkeeper Matt Turner on loan through the end of next year with a purchase option, moving him out of a Designated Player spot and keeping one of MLS’s premier shot-stoppers in town for the foreseeable future. According to FotMob, Turner leads all goalkeepers this season in goals prevented with 8.2. His continued presence in net is essential for a team that finds themselves in contention for a home playoff spot.

Next, they added Jack Harrison as a DP from Leeds United. With six assists in five matches for New England thus far, Harrison has brought valuable vision and one-v-one ability to the wing in Marko Mitrović’s 4-2-3-1 setup.

And now? Following the Revs’ 3-1 win over the Columbus Crew on Sunday, they’ve lost just two games since the World Cup break. The attack looks sharper than at any other point this season and the Turner-anchored defense continues to hold. All the while, Carles Gil continues to cement his status as one of the greatest players in MLS history. 

At this pace, few teams in the East look like a tougher playoff out than New England.