Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Hugo Cuypers Becomes Third Player in MLS History to Score in 10 Consecutive Matches
Hugo Cuypers joined exclusive company in MLS history on Saturday, becoming only the third player to score in 10 consecutive league matches after netting the 67th-minute goal in Chicago Fire’s 2-0 home victory over CF Montréal. Philip Zinckernagel had given the Fire an early lead in the 14th minute before Cuypers, who now leads all MLS scorers with 13 goals, extended his remarkable run. Only Josef Martínez (15 straight games in 2019) and Carlos Vela (11 consecutive in 2019-20) own longer scoring runs in league history. The Fire sit fourth in the Eastern Conference heading into the FIFA World Cup break.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, MLSSoccer.com
LA Galaxy End Seattle Sounders’ 22-Match Home Unbeaten Run with 2-0 Win at Lumen Field
LA Galaxy snapped Seattle Sounders FC’s 22-match home unbeaten run with a commanding 2-0 victory at Lumen Field on Saturday — the Galaxy’s first away win in Seattle since July 2016. Gabriel Pec opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, his ninth goal across all competitions this season, while Matheus Nascimento secured the result in the 90th minute. The win also stretched LA Galaxy’s club record to 23 consecutive matches in which they have found the net, the longest active scoring streak in MLS. Seattle’s nine-game overall unbeaten run came to a close as the Western Conference race tightens.
Sources: LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC
Cruz Azul Advances to Liga MX Clausura 2026 Final After 4-3 Aggregate Win Over Chivas
Cruz Azul booked their place in the Liga MX Clausura 2026 Final with a 2-1 victory over Guadalajara (Chivas) in the second leg of their semifinal at Estadio Akron on Saturday, advancing 4-3 on aggregate. Chivas had drawn the first leg 2-2 at Estadio Cuaúhtemoc last Tuesday but could not break through at home to overturn the deficit. Cruz Azul will await the winner of the other Clausura semifinal between Pachuca and Pumas UNAM to determine their final opponent. The Clausura title match is expected in the final week of May, marking the culmination of Mexico’s spring soccer season.
NC Courage Beat Chicago Stars 2-0 as Manaka Matsukubo Scores First Brace of 2026 Season
North Carolina Courage recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Chicago Stars FC on Saturday in the National Women’s Soccer League, with Manaka Matsukubo netting both goals for her first brace of the 2026 season. The forward, who had been without a goal in the early portion of the campaign, doubled her seasonal tally in a single performance at WakeMed Soccer Park. The result strengthened Courage’s position in the NWSL standings as the league approaches the midway point of its regular-season schedule. Chicago Stars remain in search of consistent form following the setback in what was a clean, tight defensive contest throughout.
Sources: NC Courage
Denver Summit FC Hand Defending Champions Orlando Pride a 3-1 Defeat as Angelina Sees Red
Expansion side Denver Summit FC handed Orlando Pride a 3-1 defeat at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, compounding the defending NWSL champions’ difficult run of road results. Eva Gaetino opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Janine Sonis doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 54th. Orlando’s evening worsened when midfielder Angelina received a direct red card in the 63rd minute, leaving the Pride to defend with 10 players for the final half-hour. Barbra Banda — the league’s leading scorer with nine goals this season — pulled one back in the 76th minute, but Sonis completed her brace just one minute later to seal the win.
Sources: Orlando Pride, The Mane Land
San Diego FC and FC Cincinnati Share Six Goals in Wild 3-3 Stoppage-Time Draw
San Diego FC and FC Cincinnati played out a dramatic 3-3 draw at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday in an entertaining MLS encounter that produced two stoppage-time goals. Marcus Ingvartsen’s 90th-minute strike gave one side a brief advantage at 3-2, but Tom Barlow — assisted by Ayoub Jabbari — converted in the 90th-plus-eighth minute to equalize and deny a late victory. The late-game collapse will frustrate whichever side was ahead, while the point salvaged offers consolation in the standings. The result leaves both clubs aiming for consistency heading into the final two matchdays before MLS pauses for the FIFA World Cup beginning June 12 in Los Angeles.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
MLS Eastern Conference
Through Matchday 14
1. Nashville SC — 23 pts
2. Chicago Fire FC — ~20 pts
3. New England Revolution — 19 pts
4. Inter Miami CF — 19 pts
5. FC Cincinnati — ~16 pts
6. DC United — 15 pts
NWSL Top 6
1. Portland Thorns FC — 19 pts
2. Washington Spirit — ~17 pts
3. San Diego Wave FC — ~15 pts
4. NJ/NY Gotham FC — ~14 pts
5. Utah Royals FC — ~13 pts
6. Seattle Reign FC — 11 pts
MLS Western Conference
Through Matchday 14
1. San Jose Earthquakes — 28 pts
2. Vancouver Whitecaps FC — 25 pts
3. LAFC — ~24 pts
4. Seattle Sounders FC — 20 pts
5. Minnesota United FC — 20 pts
6. Real Salt Lake — 19 pts
7. LA Galaxy — ~16 pts
Liga MX Clausura Semifinals
Cruz Azul def. Chivas 4-3 agg. → Final
Pachuca vs. Pumas UNAM — TBD
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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