MLS Notebook: We've got two matchweeks to catch up on

And that would have been the Goal of the Week (Weeks?), until we saw what Riqui Puig did to follow up his outstanding El Trafico performance. And though we're going to focus on MLS action over Matchweeks 23 and 24, we can't let a U.S. vs. Canada Gold Cup shootout just sit there uncommented on. It was a fantastic chapter to add to what's becoming Concacaf's most intriguing new rivalry — though we're also pretty clearly on a U.S. vs. Mexico Gold Cup final collision course. 

Also, not to alarm you, but two nights of All-Star goodness commence in just eight days. 

Let's get y'all caught up. 

If the playoffs started today

Cincinnati went down 2-0 to Charlotte and then somehow clawed back and earned a point, keeping its Supporters' Shield lead, though they've slipped below the threshold they need — for now — to beat the MLS points record. But they're keeping their lead in the East race, and there's minimal movement among the teams. 

In the West, St. Louis remains on top, but Seattle and LAFC are within striking distance, and there's a whole big shuffle of teams that tie into our Surprise of the Week.

West

1. St. Louis
2. Seattle
3. LAFC
4. Salt Lake
5. Austin
6. Dallas
7. San Jose
8. Houston
9. Vancouver

East

1. Cincinnati
2. Nashville
3. New England
4. Columbus
5. Atlanta
6. Philadelphia
7. Orlando
8. Montréal
9. D.C.

Surprise of the Week

Both RSL and Austin put up four-spots on Saturday night against playoff-caliber competition. For RSL, it was new signing Cristian Arango getting on the board inside of 25 minutes to start the 4-0 deluge against a good Orlando team. RSL's currently 4th in the West, and if the playoffs were to start, would be hosting Austin FC, who vaulted to 5th with a 4-1 win at Minnesota. Sebastián Driussi got a brace and added an assist, reminding people that he's still pretty good despite how weird 2023's been for him, and really, his whole team. 

Goal of the Week

We know from Tuesday's El Trafico that Riqui Puig can score effort goals. After Saturday, let it be known that he can also score bangers. 

Oh, and that's an All-Star defending him there. We'll get back to the Galaxy with our Number of the Week. 

Quote of the Week

"I can talk and talk and talk a lot about what happened tonight because for me, this is the first red card. The league and all the referees, they know me and that I respect their job. I know that this is not easy to do this job, but the fact that I lost my mind is because it was…. Wow, I have no words. I have no words in terms of miscommunication, mistakes in terms of the calls." 

That's Wilfried Nancy, uncharacteristically getting sent off in the Crew's draw against NYCFC. Despite the draw, the Crew remain in the home playoff places. 

Number of the Week: 7

The Galaxy now are unbeaten in seven straight MLS matches, going from nine points at the start of this run to 22. They're still next-to-last in the West, but the gap is definitely narrowing. The race for the last two playoff spots in the West could make for a tumultuous Decision Day. 

What we’re looking forward to this week

Don't look now, but it's another double-match week with Gold Cup swirled in. On Wednesday, the U.S. and Mexico try to fulfill their destinies in a doubleheader with Panama and Jamaica trying to spoil all those aspirations. In among that, there are 10 MLS matches with 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. ET start times, including Nashville hosting a mildly-reeling Union, the Rapids hosting the Timbers in a redo of a recently abandoned match and two big battles to help solidify the top of the West standings, with LAFC hosting St. Louis and San Jose hosting Seattle. 

Then, on the weekend, it's a lot of Saturday action and a Gold Cup final on Sunday. Saturday's marquee includes Atlanta hosting Orlando and Cincinnati hosting Nashville, along with Seattle hosting Dallas.