Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Nashville SC Extend Eastern Lead as Surridge Stars in 4-2 Victory Over Charlotte
Sam Surridge scored twice off the bench and Hany Mukhtar added a goal and an assist as Nashville SC beat Charlotte FC 4-2 at GEODIS Park on Sunday, moving three points clear atop the Eastern Conference with 22 points. Surridge now has nine goals on the season, tied for the MLS lead alongside FC Dallas striker Petar Musa. Mukhtar became just the third player in league history to reach 150 goal contributions, reaching the milestone in 188 games. Ahmed Qasem rounded off the scoring. Nashville conceded twice for the first time all season but remained in command throughout, logging 62 percent possession and a 13-2 shot advantage over Charlotte.
Sources: Nashville SC
Sophia Wilson’s Stoppage-Time Strike Lifts Portland Thorns Past Angel City
Sophia Wilson returned from over a year on maternity leave to score a stoppage-time winner as Portland Thorns defeated Angel City FC 2-1 in Los Angeles on Sunday. Pietra Tordin opened the scoring in the 76th minute with a header, assisted by rookie defender Carolyn Calzada in her professional debut. Wilson doubled the lead in the 95th minute with a left-footed finish for her first goal since before her 2025 absence. Angel City’s Zambian forward Prisca Chilufya pulled one back in the 98th minute but Portland held on. The Thorns improved to 4-1-1 on the season and remain firmly in NWSL playoff position heading into midweek.
Sources: Equalizer Soccer
Alex Bonetig’s Late Strike Earns Portland Timbers First Road Win of 2026
Substitute Alex Bonetig tapped home from close range in the sixth minute of stoppage time to give Portland Timbers a 2-1 victory at San Diego FC on Sunday, earning the club its first road win of the 2026 MLS season. Kevin Kelsy had put the Timbers ahead in the 26th minute after winning possession in San Diego’s defensive third, before the hosts equalized from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute. Bonetig pounced on a loose ball from a corner kick to settle the match. For San Diego, it was a fifth straight defeat, extending a run of eight matches without a victory to begin the year.
Sources: Portland Timbers
Cruz Azul Rout Necaxa 4-1 to Close Regular Season; Liga MX Liguilla Bracket Confirmed
Cruz Azul closed the Liga MX Clausura 2026 regular season with a 4-1 victory over Necaxa at Estadio Azteca on Sunday, finishing third and ending a nine-match winless run in the process. Jose Paradela opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, Agustin Palavecino added a second at 63 minutes, and Ricardo Monreal’s penalty provided Necaxa’s only response before Luka Romero and Andres Montano completed the rout. The result confirmed the Clausura Liguilla quarterfinal bracket: Pumas UNAM vs. America, Chivas Guadalajara vs. Tigres UANL, Cruz Azul vs. Atlas, and Pachuca vs. Toluca. First legs in the home-and-away knockout round are scheduled to begin this week.
Sources: VAVEL USA
San Jose Earthquakes’ 9-1-0 Start Is the Biggest Story in MLS
The San Jose Earthquakes are the most compelling story in MLS so far in 2026, improving to 9-1-0 with a 3-2 comeback victory at St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday, the club’s best start since its inception in the 1974 North American Soccer League. Bruce Arena’s side leads the Western Conference with 27 points, six clear of Vancouver Whitecaps. Central to the surge is 20-year-old midfielder Niko Tsakiris, who has assumed the creative reins following Cristian Espinoza’s offseason departure. San Jose also boasts the best defensive record in MLS, allowing just 0.38 goals per game after giving up 1.85 per match in 2025.
Sources: CBS Sports
Brian Wright’s Late Goal Keeps Forge FC Perfect and Unscored Upon in CPL
Forge FC remain perfect and unscored upon through four matches of the 2026 Canadian Premier League season after Brian Wright’s 76th-minute winner gave them a 1-0 victory at Pacific FC on Sunday. Wright, who also scored in Forge’s season-opening win over defending champion Atletico Ottawa, has been a reliable presence in front of goal for the Hamilton club. The team has yet to concede in the young campaign. Halifax Wanderers midfielder Isaiah Johnston leads the CPL Golden Boot race, contributing a goal or assist in three of his four appearances. The league is also trialling FIFA’s new clear daylight offside rule, a first at senior level worldwide.
Sources: CPL Soccer
One Month Out: Pochettino’s USMNT World Cup Squad Taking Shape
With Mauricio Pochettino naming his 26-man United States World Cup squad on May 26, the roster announcement is now one month away. Folarin Balogun leads the striker options after a standout season at AS Monaco that includes goals in the Champions League, with PSV’s Ricardo Pepi likely second after posting 13 goals in 23 appearances, playing parts of the season through a broken arm. Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic, and Chris Richards are widely considered locks. The USMNT are placed in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and a UEFA playoff qualifier. Most of the squad is expected to be settled, with a handful of fringe positions still in play.
Sources: SBI Soccer
MLS Eastern Conference
Through Matchday 10
1. Nashville SC — 22 pts
2. Inter Miami CF — 19 pts
3. Chicago Fire
4. New England Revolution
5. CF Montreal
6. Columbus Crew
7. DC United
8. New York Red Bulls
9. NYCFC
— Playoff line (9th) —
10. FC Cincinnati
11. Toronto FC
12. Atlanta United — 7 pts
13. Charlotte FC
14. Orlando City — 7 pts
15. Philadelphia Union — 5 pts
MLS Western Conference
Through Matchday 10
1. San Jose Earthquakes — 27 pts (9-1-0)
2. Vancouver Whitecaps — 24 pts
3. LAFC — 20 pts
4. Seattle Sounders — 19 pts
5. Minnesota United — 17 pts
6. Real Salt Lake — 16 pts
7. Portland Timbers
8. FC Dallas
9. Houston Dynamo
— Playoff line (9th) —
10. Colorado Rapids
11. Austin FC
12. LA Galaxy
13. Sporting KC
14. St. Louis CITY SC
15. San Diego FC
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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