MLS's latest slate threw up volatility and fresh narratives: Julian Hall is staking a claim as the league's best young forward, German Berterame finally showed value for Inter Miami, and Phil Neville's Portland grabbed a season-defining win — while San Diego's Mikey Varas, Atlanta's Emmanuel Latte Lath and Houston coach Ben Olsen face urgent questions after costly defensive lapses.
MLS Winners and Losers: Weekend Review
The weekend delivered chaos and clarity in equal measure. High-profile managers and marquee signings were judged harshly; young talents rose, while teams with defensive frailties were exposed. Here are the clearest winners and losers from the latest round of MLS action, and what each result means for the clubs involved.
Winners
Julian Hall — New York Red Bulls
Julian Hall again made the difference for the New York Red Bulls, producing two assists and a dominant attacking presence against Inter Miami. He isn’t just finishing chances — he’s orchestrating them, showing movement and spatial awareness that lift the entire Red Bulls front line.
Why it matters: Hall’s development shifts the attacking balance in the Eastern Conference. He forces opponents to allocate more resources to contain him, opening space for teammates and changing scouting priorities for rival defenses.
What’s next: Expect Hall to remain central to the Red Bulls’ plans; consistent creative output will make him a name defenders cannot ignore.
German Berterame — Inter Miami
After a rocky start to his MLS tenure, German Berterame showed why Inter Miami spent on him, finishing from close range to break his recent run of underwhelming performances. His goal was archetypal: positioned inside the box and ready to convert.
Why it matters: Berterame’s value is as a penalty-area predator. If he accepts a role focused on finishing and movement in tight spaces, Miami get a complementary piece to their more creative attackers.
What’s next: Miami need to integrate him without disrupting established attacking chemistry. More minutes in the box could coax reliability from a player who has been expensive but still salvageable.
Phil Neville — Portland Timbers
Phil Neville bought himself breathing room with a gritty 2-1 win over LAFC, sealed by a stoppage-time strike. Portland weathered pressure, controlled possession when necessary and showed the discipline to execute a preferred 4-3-3 against a superior possession opponent.
Why it matters: For a coach under scrutiny, pragmatic results matter more than aesthetics. Neville’s philosophy is high-risk, high-reward; on this day it paid off, restoring confidence in his approach.
What’s next: Neville must convert this momentum into consistency. The tactical identity is clear — now Portland need steadier defensive returns to avoid repeating the early-season worries.
Losers
Mikey Varas — San Diego FC
San Diego FC’s early-season solidity has collapsed into a run of poor results and defensive disorder. Under Mikey Varas, the side has conceded multiple goals in successive matches, lost control of games after leading, and picked up disciplinary issues culminating in red cards.
Why it matters: Expansion teams often hit rough patches, but San Diego’s defensive decline undermines their attacking promise. A porous defense puts untenable pressure on the attack to outscore mistakes.
What’s next: Varas must shore up organization and discipline quickly. Tactical tightening and personnel tweaks are overdue if their playoff prospects are to remain realistic.
Emmanuel Latte Lath — Atlanta United
Emmanuel Latte Lath continues to underdeliver. With limited service and an inability to consistently finish chances, his goal returns (one in seven this season) fall short of the investment and expectations.
Why it matters: Atlanta signed him as a key attacking outlet; persistent underperformance forces tactical and personnel questions. A striker who can’t finish destabilizes attacking plans and wastes created chances.
What’s next: Atlanta must either find ways to improve service and chemistry or reassess how Latte Lath is deployed. The club needs clearer outcomes, not patience alone.
Ben Olsen — Houston Dynamo
Houston’s summer spending spree has yet to translate into defensive stability. Conceding six goals in one match and tallying 16 allowed so far exposes a systemic issue that investment alone hasn’t fixed.
Why it matters: Results like this undermine squad confidence and the credibility of offseason recruitment. Defensive balance is non-negotiable; without it, even potent attacks cannot win consistently.
What’s next: Olsen faces pressure to diagnose structural defensive flaws rapidly — whether tactical, personnel, or training-related — or risk the season slipping away despite the new additions.
Bottom line
This weekend underlined MLS’s volatility: emerging stars can vault into the spotlight while high-profile signings and coaches are judged on immediate returns. Teams that can marry attacking creativity with defensive solidity will separate themselves in the weeks ahead.
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For players like Hall and managers like Neville, momentum can be seized; for Varas, Latte Lath and Olsen, the margin for correction is shrinking.
