What We Learned: FC Cincinnati’s Reset, Prince Owusu’s Spark, and More Key MLS Trends
It was a packed weekend across the soccer world — from the FIFA Club World Cup to the Concacaf Gold Cup — but MLS still delivered standout moments worth highlighting. Here are five key takeaways from Matchday 19:
1. Prince Owusu Might Be Montréal’s Turning Point
CF Montréal’s 3-1 road win over Houston may not pull them from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings just yet, but it did showcase a potentially game-changing weapon: Prince Owusu.
Signed from Toronto FC in January, Owusu brought his physicality and smart movement into the Montréal frontline. He bagged a brace against Houston, making it six goals on the season and three in his last four matches. While he doesn’t have eye-popping stats, Owusu has shown the ability to impact games even without a surplus of service — a trait Montréal desperately needs.
His emergence feels reminiscent of the Wilfried Nancy era, where the club excelled at finding undervalued MLS talent. If Owusu continues on this trajectory, he could help salvage their season.
2. D.C. United Can’t Replace Christian Benteke
D.C. United’s tactical shift without Christian Benteke has been clear: fewer long balls, more possession. But the results haven’t followed. Since the striker’s ankle injury, D.C. has just one win in six games, including a 2-0 loss to Real Salt Lake.
The numbers tell the story: vertical yards per pass have dropped from 7.08 to 6.72 post-injury, while passing completion rose — but that precision hasn’t translated to goals or wins. Last year’s Golden Boot winner remains irreplaceable, and D.C.’s lack of cutting edge without him is costing them points.
3. FC Cincinnati Get Back to Basics — and It Works
FC Cincinnati entered Matchday 19 in solid standing — second in the East — but their underlying numbers had been troubling. They were conceding more expected goals than all but four teams in the league. Against the New England Revolution, however, Cincinnati finally delivered a disciplined, clean defensive performance.
Matt Miazga played his first full 90 minutes of the season, helping lock down a 1-0 win as the Revs managed just 0.4 xG and only four shots inside the box. There was no radical tactical change; just sharper execution from a team full of proven defenders. If this defensive form holds, Cincinnati’s ceiling gets much higher.
4. San Diego FC’s Attack Is Deep and Dangerous
Expansion sides aren’t supposed to be this polished — especially without key starters. But San Diego FC continues to defy expectations, delivering a 4-2 win at Minnesota United with several players missing.
Anders Dreyer opened the scoring with a wonder-strike, while Milan Iloski added a brace off the bench, bringing his total to five goals this season. Despite missing Chucky Lozano, SDFC broke down Minnesota’s typically tough 5-4-1 shape and posted more xG at Allianz Field than any visitor in 2025. San Diego’s depth and dynamism are real, and they’re starting to look like dark-horse contenders.
5. NYCFC Finally Have a Second Scorer
For too long, NYCFC’s attack has been overly reliant on Alonso Martínez. With the Costa Rican away for Gold Cup duty, the timing couldn’t be better for Hannes Wolf’s resurgence.
The Austrian winger scored a brace in NYCFC’s 4-0 win over Atlanta, bringing his total to five goals in three matches. Operating on the left in Pascal Jansen’s 4-3-3, Wolf adds a much-needed dimension to the attack. If he continues producing, New York may finally escape its one-dimensional offensive struggles and unlock a more balanced, dangerous front line.
