Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Orlando City Stun Inter Miami With Second-Half Hat-Trick as 3–0 Lead Evaporates in Florida Derby
Inter Miami let a commanding 3–0 lead collapse at Nu Stadium on Saturday night, falling 4–3 to Orlando City SC in a dramatic Florida Derby that stands as one of MLS’s most stunning reversals of the 2026 season. Ian Fray, Telasco Segovia, and Lionel Messi had the home side seemingly in cruise control at halftime, but Martin Ojeda’s hat-trick and a Tyler Spicer finish rewrote the story in the second half. The defeat leaves interim coach Guillermo Hoyos with a mounting home-form crisis, as Inter Miami remain winless at their new stadium and drop to second in the Eastern Conference with 19 points.
Sources: ESPN, World Soccer Talk
Cantore Scores Fastest Brace in NWSL History as Spirit Thrash Defending Champion Pride 4–2
Washington Spirit forward Sofia Cantore scored the fastest brace in NWSL history in a 4–2 road win over Orlando Pride on Saturday, extending Washington’s winning streak to four consecutive matches. Cantore struck in the second and fourth minutes, with Trinity Rodman providing both assists, to give the Spirit a two-goal cushion inside five minutes at Inter&Co Stadium. Barbára Banda equalized for the defending champions with two first-half goals, but Claudia Martínez and Rodman added second-half finishes to seal the comfortable victory. Washington’s resurgent form has the club climbing the NWSL table ahead of the summer schedule.
Sources: Washington Spirit, ESPN
San Jose Earthquakes Own Best Ten-Game Start in MLS History Under Bruce Arena
San Jose Earthquakes own the best ten-game start in Major League Soccer history after winning nine of their first ten matches under head coach Bruce Arena, a remarkable turnaround for a club that finished 10th in the Western Conference just twelve months ago. The Earthquakes have outscored opponents 25 goals to six and remain unbeaten on the road, with Saturday’s 1–1 draw at Toronto FC adding a point to their 27-point total. Arena’s squad was constructed without high-profile spending, relying on discovery signings and homegrown talent. San Jose lead the Western Conference and the Supporters’ Shield race as the summer stretch of MLS fixtures approaches.
Sources: SF Standard
CF Montréal Parts Ways With Marco Donadel After 1–6–1 Start; Philippe Eullaffroy Named Interim
CF Montréal parted ways with head coach Marco Donadel on Sunday after a 1–6–1 start to the MLS season, naming academy director Philippe Eullaffroy as interim manager. The club’s decision came a day after a 2–1 loss to Philadelphia in the home opener at Saputo Stadium. Donadel’s 14-month tenure ended with a 7–20–9 overall record, and assistants Jacopo Falanga and Lorenzo Pinzauti were also released. Eullaffroy, who oversaw Montréal’s player development system, inherits a squad near the Eastern Conference basement with a single league win from eight matches. The club has now changed head coaches three times in under two seasons.
Sources: ESPN, Soccer America
Liga MX Clausura Liguilla Kicks Off With Quarterfinal First Legs, Final Set for May 24
The Liga MX Clausura 2026 Liguilla gets underway this weekend with quarterfinal first legs on May 3–4, setting the stage for a final on May 24 — just seventeen days before the FIFA World Cup opens in North America. Pumas UNAM and Guadalajara, level on 36 points atop the regular-season table, enter the knockout round as joint champions. The matchups pit Pumas against América, Chivas against Tigres, Cruz Azul against Atlas, and Pachuca against Toluca. Second legs are scheduled for May 10–11, with aggregate score deciding all ties and the higher seed hosting the return. The eight-team Liguilla format returns for the first time since 2023.
Sources: Sports Illustrated, Latination
Rutz Header Seals Detroit City FC’s 2–1 Win Over Louisville City in Nationally Televised USL Clash
Detroit City FC overcame an early deficit to beat Louisville City FC 2–1 at Keyworth Stadium on Saturday, closing to within three points of the Eastern Conference leaders in a nationally televised USL Championship contest. A Carlos Moguel Jr. own goal handed the visitors an early lead, but Jansen Wilson equalized for Louisville before halftime. Connor Rutz then headed home from a set piece inside the final 20 minutes to deliver the winning goal. Detroit improved to 4–2–1 with 13 points, while Louisville dropped to 5–2–1 with 16. The result renewed a rivalry that reached the USL Championship playoffs last November.
Sources: Louisville City FC
FC Supra du Québec Opens Stade Boréale in Laval With Landmark CPL Home Debut Against Cavalry
FC Supra du Québec hosts Cavalry FC at Stade Boréale in Laval on Sunday afternoon in the CPL expansion club’s inaugural match at its permanent home ground, a milestone for professional soccer in the Greater Montreal area. Founded as the Canadian Premier League’s eighth franchise, FC Supra opened the 2026 season on the road before hosting early games at the temporary CEPSUM venue in Montréal. The club enters Sunday’s contest third in the CPL table with six points, trailing league leaders Forge FC, who moved top after Brian Wright’s late winner over Pacific FC on April 26. Cavalry sit second on eight points ahead of the matchup.
Sources: Northern Tribune, CPL
Salloi’s Early Strike Not Enough as San Jose Earthquakes Draw 1–1 at Toronto FC
San Jose Earthquakes remained undefeated on the road after drawing 1–1 with Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday, extending their extraordinary opening to the 2026 MLS season. Daniel Salloi scored just two minutes in to give Toronto the lead, but Preston Judd equalized in the 13th minute by turning home Niko Tsakiris’s free-kick delivery. Neither side could find a winner in a compact and competitive match, with San Jose leaving Ontario with a point that extends their lead atop the Western Conference. Toronto moved to 2–4–1 but showed encouraging signs in their first home contest against top-flight Western Conference opposition.
Sources: TSN, Toronto FC
MLS Eastern Conference
Points
1. Nashville SC — 22 pts
2. Inter Miami CF — 19 pts
3. New England Revolution — ~15 pts
4. Chicago Fire — ~15 pts
5. DC United — 12 pts
— Middle table —
13. Atlanta United — 7 pts
14. Orlando City SC — 7 pts
15. Philadelphia Union — 5 pts
NWSL (top 6 — active)
1. Washington Spirit — 4 wins
2. San Diego Wave
3. Portland Thorns FC
4. Kansas City Current
5. Chicago Stars
6. Orlando Pride (2-2-1)
MLS Western Conference
Points
1. San Jose Earthquakes — 27 pts (9-0-1)
2. Vancouver Whitecaps — 24 pts
3. LAFC — ~20 pts
— Middle table —
15. Sporting KC — bottom
Liga MX Clausura — Liguilla QF
1. Pumas UNAM vs 8. América
2. Guadalajara vs 7. Tigres UANL
3. Cruz Azul vs 6. Atlas
4. Pachuca vs 5. Toluca
CPL (top 4 — active)
1. Forge FC
2. Cavalry FC — 8 pts
3. FC Supra du Québec — 6 pts
4. Atlético Ottawa
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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