✋ things we learned from the MLS weekend

From questions surrounding Lionel Messi’s influence to Christian Benteke’s bid for MVP, we’re back to pick through the biggest talking points surrounding MLS action from the weekend.

The old LAFC is still in there somewhere

Newly-crowned US Open Cup holders LAFC have seemingly resumed normal service this past weekend after a gargantuan win away at FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium on Saturday.

Goals from David Martínez and Denis Bouanga on either side of a Luca Orellano strike secured a much-needed win for the Black and Gold after Steve Cherundolo’s side failed to win dating back to July 20 when they came away with a 3-0 win at Seattle.

After suffering three defeats and two draws in their last five league outings, LAFC was in danger of slipping down as low as seventh in the MLS table, but perhaps the taste of trophy success on Wednesday could spurn the club on to securing home-field advantage in the postseason.

Benteke must be in the MVP conversation

Belgian international forward Christian Benteke continued his rich vein of from in front of goal at the weekend as DC United earned a very credible draw at home against Columbus Crew.

A brace on either side of half-time saw the former Premier League veteran striker hit his 20th and 21st goals of the MLS campaign, putting some distance between himself and LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, who sits on 18 goals for the year.

The Kinshasha-born goalscorer has been ever-present for United across the last two seasons and now sits on a combined 36 goals since his arrival from Crystal Palace and became the first player for the club to hit the 20-goal mark since Luciano Emilio.

Though United are not in the running for a top-four spot in the Eastern Conference, Benteke’s goals have kept the club in the hunt for an outside shot at the playoffs, which is more than enough to see him continue his bid for MVP honors.

A coffin for their own funeral

Temporary moments of madness were the order of the day for New York Red Bulls after rivals NYCFC secured a vital 5-1 win at Red Bull Arena in arguably the biggest Hudson River Derby in memory.

Red Bull supporters were left in abject frustration after witnessing two early goals from Maximiliano Morales and Alonso Martínez in the opening seven minutes before NYCFC put matters to bed by halftime thanks to added strikes by Andrés Perea and a second from Martínez.

On a night in Harrison where NYRB could have given themselves a touch of breathing room in the race for a top-four slot in the MLS table and at a ground where they had lost just once all season, a pre-match tifo depicting a coffin would prove ominous on a disastrous evening which saw them drop down to sixth.

The Messi conundrum still needs solving

It is not every day when questioning one of the greatest players to ever grace the sport  has become commonplace, but when it comes to Inter Miami and Argentine legend Lionel Messi, concerns persist after the Herons labored to a 1-1 draw at home against Charlotte FC.

Messi, who made his return from injury when Miami dispatched Philadelphia Union 3-1 two weeks ago, continues to raise questions after Miami have only managed three draws in their last three MLS fixtures, now calling into question their chances of securing a historic points tally.

Needing 10 points from a possible 12 before kickoff at the weekend, Miami will now need to win out at the bookend of the regular season, which includes a clash against a Columbus outfit that owns a game in hand and who could overtake them in the standings down the road should Miami fail to win.

Though the Argentine netted the equalizer to avoid defeat at Chase Stadium, on-pitch fluidity since his return is a growing cause of concern for many as Miami has failed to be at its best with history looming.

The Loons are taking flight in the West

Times have changed in the upper Midwest if you support Minnesota United after The Loons bagged a huge 3-0 home win against an in-form Colorado Rapids.

A brace from Kevin Yeboah and a third strike from Hassani Dotson would see rookie head coach Eric Ramsey preside over the club’s fifth win in its last seven MLS fixtures; a run of form that lies in stark contrast to where Minnesota was not all that long ago.

Rewind back to June and the club’s 1-1 draw against FC Dallas, and few would have anticipated that it would have been the first of nine games where they would fail to secure a winning result that saw them lose seven along the way before a 2-0 win against San Jose would put an end that particular headache.

But it is all different now for Minnesota, who now sit eighth in the standings with a chance to guarantee a place in the best-of-three series.