What good is MLS is Back weekend without some overreactions?
Amid a record-breaking opening matchday of the 2025 season, several under-the-radar clubs produced statement performances – and caught the attention of the This is MLS crew.
Here are their way-early reactions to the biggest surprises of Matchday 1.
Matchday 1: 4-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake
"I do like San Jose," said Maurice Edu. "... There's no way they're going to be as bad as they were last year. Bottom of the table in the West, conceded a league-record 78 goals."
With Saturday's 4-0 home rout of RSL, last season's Wooden Spoon holders looked completely transformed under new head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena.
"Under Bruce, I expect this team to see a shift," Edu said. "What I liked about this game, they scored four goals and none of them came from their strikers, Josef MartÃnez and Chicho Arango. None of them come from Hernán López, their No. 10. You have Rodrigues scoring goals, saving plays, saving kids.
"There were so many things to take away from this performance."
Matchday 1: 4-2 win vs. Chicago Fire
The offseason transfer of club talisman Cucho Hernández to LaLiga's Real Betis, coupled with Christian RamÃrez's trade to the LA Galaxy, left a massive hole in attack for the Crew – and some lingering doubts for Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Those doubts were squashed after Saturday's dominant 4-2 win at home against Chicago Fire FC.
"I lost faith a little, only because I see Cucho leaving. Then you trade RamÃrez. So, I got a little bit worried," Wright-Phillips admitted. "And my question was: Who steps up? My questions were answered in game 1 against Chicago."
Diego Rossi scored a brace and Jacen Russell-Rowe also found the back of the net as Columbus looked little changed from the side that won MLS Cup 2023 and Leagues Cup 2024 under head coach Wilfried Nancy.
"We know they play a lovely, nice style of football that causes any team problems," Wright-Phillips said. "So, real deal for me."
Matchday 1: 4-2 win at Orlando City
There was little fanfare surrounding the Philadelphia Union heading into 2025 after the club missed the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017 and parted ways with longtime head coach Jim Curtin.
But new boss Bradley Carnell has a fan in Sacha Kljestan following Saturday's impressive 4-2 win at Orlando City SC.
"Philadelphia is a good team, and I think Bradley Carnell is a good hire. When you look at the front three of Tai Baribo and Dániel Gazdag and Mikael Uhre, they all get on the scoresheet as they always seem to do," Kljestan said.
"... If they can just get a little bit better on the defensive side of games this year, they're definitely a playoff team."
Kljestan particularly liked what he saw from Quinn Sullivan, the 20-year-old homegrown who's primed to keep leveling up.
"When you add Quinn Sullivan as that fourth attacker, he's fantastic. The energy he brings to the game, his finishing ability," Kljestan said. "I like this team a lot."
Matchday 1: 4-1 win at Portland Timbers
Another side that's debuting a new head coach in 2025, the Whitecaps kicked off the Jesper Sørensen era with a 4-1 blowout victory at the 10-man Portland Timbers.
However, was that performance enough to make a believer out of Wright-Phillips?
"[They're the] real deal," said the legendary former New York Red Bulls striker. "The only concern I have is their squad depth. Listen, the starting XI – I watched them, I know they played against 10 men, but they were unbelievable.
In addition to usual suspects Ryan Gauld and Brian White, Vancouver got a dream debut performance from offseason signing Jayden Nelson, who produced 1g/3a against the Timbers.
Wright-Phillips was so impressed that he made a bold prediction about the club's short-term prospects.
"They won't lose [their next four games]."
