⏪ MLS Decision Day: SDFC clinch the West, Messi banks Golden Boot, and more | OneFootball

Decision Day is upon us!

Stick around all evening for all goals, updates, and key results ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

KEY FIXTURES AND RESULTS

Reviewing a fantastic night to close out the 2025 MLS Regular Season, including record-setting evenings for SDFC and LAFC.

The MLS Golden Boot will now officially be added to Lionel Messi's collection after Denis Bouanga was unable to pull off his own goalscoring heroics for LAFC against Colorado!

San Diego end the night atop the Western Conference!

Dallas held on to beat Vancouver on the road, helping SDFC continue their unbelievable inaugural run in 2025 under Mikey Varas!

RSL are stunned!

St. Louis level it at two-all minutes before the end of normal time thanks to a tap-in from very close range from João Klauss!

Immediately denied!

LAFC level the scoreline just moments later!

A first MLS goal from Andrew Moran sees him turn home the rebound after Jeremy Ebobisse initially struck the post.

Colorado need a third and a prayer!

The Rapids strike again!

Colorado are going toe-to-toe with LAFC and now lead late thanks to a diving header from Darren Yapi!

They now need a goal from Vancouver to have a chance of reaching the MLS Cup Playoffs as things stand.

And now they're out in front! It's 2-1!

Younger Niko Tsakiris strikes from a direct freekick to keep the Earthquakes' hopes alive of reaching the postseason!

San Jose pounce through none other than Josef Martínez to level the score against Austin

Not the way the Timbers want to prep their postseason challenge. It's 4-0 SDFC, with Pellegrino completing a brace of his own to match Dreyer's goalscoring antics this evening.

First goal alert!

Colorado's Paxten Aaronson opens his MLS account to pull the Rapids level against a red-hot LAFC!

Joseph Paintsil taps home his own rebound to extend LA's lead against the Loons

Dallas take the lead for the second time in Vancouver thanks to Kaick Ferreira!

AND NOW IT'S THREE!

Dreyer completes his brace with a cheeky chip after racing into the box.

It is - likely - all over at Providence Park.

What a hit!

Anders Dreyer sends an absolute belter into the top corner with the outside of his foot to double San Diego's advantage on the night against the Timbers!

If not for Messi's existence in MLS, this is your 2025 MLS MVP.

As things stand at half-time, RSL and Dallas would be advancing into the play-in round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Plenty left to play for after the break.

Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga combine, again, to put LAFC on the board after a ruthless counterattack.

That's Son's ninth goal in his ninth appearance in MLS.

A thumping penalty from Eduard Löwen gets St. Louis back in the fight against RSL; it's 2-1!

And that's a brace for RSL's Olatunji, who finds his second on the night in similar fashion to his opener, doubling the lead on the night.

San Diego find the breakthrough in Portland!

Anders Dreyer slots Amahl Pellegrino into the box before the Norwegian slots home to make it 1-0.

It's all turned on its head at BC Place!

Vancouver earn a penalty after Emmanuel Sabbi was brought down in the box by Lalas Abubakar, with Thomas Müller stepping up to pull the Whitecaps back level with top Western honors on the line tonight!

A deflected effort by Austin Player of the Season Josh Wolff opens the scoring in the 22nd minute on the road in San Jose!

Dallas make good on their man advantage to head home from close range to take a one-nil lead through Osaze Urhoghide!

Real Salt Lake strike!

It's 1-0 in St. Louis thanks to Victor Olatunji, who burst into the box before dispatching a finish into the bottom far corner.

LA Galaxy take the lead against Minnesota through a top-class finish from Matheus Nascimento.

As things stand, Minnesota would be set to face Seattle in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

A HUGE moment in Vancouver as the Whitecaps are down to ten men against Dallas after Mathias Laborda is judged ot have denied Sam Sarver a goal-scoring opportunity.

Dallas' chances to secure their entry into the postseason has now been massively increased.

Coming up at the top of the hour, four teams still have their MLS Cup Playoff destiny to fight for.

Which of Dallas, RSL, Colorado, and San Jose will book their ticket come full time?

Herons boss Javier Mascherano gave his thoughts on Messi after his performance tonight

After a resounding win over Nashville, will Inter Miami finally take their chances at claiming MLS Cup honors?

Their rate of return in front of goal makes them one of the favorites to do so.

Confirmed MLS Cup Playoff fixtures after Act One of Decision Day comes to an end.

Inter Miami make it 5-2 on the night.

Messi adds an assist to set up Telasco Segovia.

CHICAGO BATTLE BACK!

It's 2-2! What an end to proceedings after Turgeman is credited with an own goal after a rifled cross deflects off his shoulder at the near post!

Brenner wraps up an easy night for Cincinnati, making it 3-0 just before the end of normal time.

The Revs at the death!

New England strike in the final seconds to make it 2-1 against Chicago through Dor Turgeman

Zaha's temper gets the best of him, and he's sent off in the final minutes against Philadelphia. He'll now miss the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Seattle take back their lead late thanks to a headed effort from Jackson Ragen!

It's 2-1 with three minutes remaining plus stoppage.

MESSI HAT TRICK!!

There's no stopping him when he's in the mood, whipping in a low effort into the far corner in trademark fashion to make it 4-2 to Inter Miami.

Surely, that's the MVP and Golden Boot all wrapped up nice and tight.

A big night for Nashville talisman Hany Mukhtar, becoming the first-ever player in MLS history to register at least 80 goals and 60 assists across a six-year span

Level in the Bronx!

Nicolás Fernández makes it 1-1 against visiting Seattle!

Columbus extend their advantage on the night, with Ibrahim Aliyu making it 3-1

Philip Zinckernagel strikes to pull Chicago back level on terms with New England with time to spare, with the Dane continuing to enjoy himself in 2025

A delightful ball from Messi releases Luis Suárez in the box before Baltasar Rodríguez makes it 3-2 on the night for the Herons!

Daniel Gazdag sends Columbus into the lead!

As things stand, it will be Orlando that will need to negotiate the play-in fixture!

Messi again!

The diminutive Argentine converts from the spot to make it 2-2 against Nashville. He's now on 28 goals for the season, locking up the Golden Boot.

D.C. United pull it back square at 1-1.

Gabriel Pirani bags the goal in the 67th minute.

Toronto hit a fourth on the night!

They're running rampant at home, with Deandre Kerr getting on the scoresheet.

Seattle are up and running!

It's 1-0 in the Bronx courtesy of a headed goal by Jordan Morris!

Evander strikes to make it 2-0 to Cincy at home against Montréal!

It should end in home-field advantage come full-time for the club, with the Brazilian hitting his first goal in a month thanks to another goal from outside of the box (league-leader).

It took them longer than many would have expected, but Orlando are finally on the board as we approach the hour mark, with David Brekalo making it 3-1 in the 54th minute!

That's the first goal of the season from the Slovenian center-back.

Mihailovic bags his second of the night after another poor moment from Gallese sees the midfielder's effort at the near post trickle over the line, making it 3-0!

Orlando are at sixes and sevens with the MLS Cup Playoffs around the corner.

Nashville take the lead just before the break!

Canadian international Jacob Shaffelburg makes it 2-1, with Nashville currently leapfrogging NYCFC in the East.

We're level again!

Sam Surridge bags his 24th league goal of the season with a close-range header to cancel out Messi's opener to restore parity at GEODIS Park!

It just had to be him tonight, didn't it?!

Lionel Messi opens the scoring in Nashville to make it 1-0 with a typical expert finish into the bottom corner. He now leads Denis Bouanga by three goals in the Golden Boot race, banking his 27th of the 2025 season.

Djordje Mihailovic dispatches another set-piece beauty to bend a free-kick past Pedro Gallese at his near post.

The Peruvian should have done much better there, it should be said.

It's 2-0 Toronto.

Cincinnati gets on the board!

Hometown hero Nick Hagglund heads home to make it 1-0, with Cincy looking to clinch second spot in the East.

It's now 2-0 at the Bank, with Charlotte enjoying themselves in the opening half-hour against a hapless Philadelphia Union.

Kerwin Vargas gets the goal with a low drive that flew into the bottom far corner beyond Andre Blake.

1-0 Charlotte!

That man, Wilfried Zaha, taps home from close range after darting into the box to gift the Crown a vital opening goal as they look to secure a top-four place in the East!

The Crew level!

It didn't take long for Columbus to get back into the fight at home, with a close-range finish from Andrés Herrera making it one-all!

NYRB take an unexpected lead against Columbus thanks to star striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting!

Yet another eliminated side looking to play spoiler!

Jonathan Osorio sends a curling effort into the top corner to put Toronto up one-nil against Orlando.

Another shock lead to start the night!

Atlanta take an early 1-0 lead against D.C. United via a fantastic strike from Miguel Almirón on the volley from just outside the box.

A brilliant hit from the Paraguayan!

Postseason-bound Chicago have been caught napping at the back as New England pounce to register the first goal of the night through Alhassan Yusuf.

It's not the season Brad Guzan wanted to close his career on, but the former USMNT shot-stopper and Atlanta icon gets his flowers ahead of his retirement

Just your reminder that there are no postseason spots to play for in the East tonight, but plenty of shifting sands near the bottom of the top nine could take place.

As for the West, the remaining two play-in spots are still up for grabs, with Dallas, Real Salt Lake, Colorado, and San Jose all capable of extending their season just a little bit longer.

Will Lionel Messi lock in 2025 Golden Boot honors this evening, while also having the - slim - chance of outscoring D.C. United on his own?

In case you needed any reminder, here is the full Decision Day fixture list this evening, with plenty left to play for in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.