Australian full-back Brad Smith provided an assist for Ruidiaz's 20th-minute opener, before scoring a goal himself three minutes later, forcing home a rebound.
Ruidiaz settled the contest in second-half stoppage time when he fired home on his left foot from substitute Jimmy Medranda's low cross.
The Sounders dulled the threat of Galaxy forward Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez – who had scored five goals in his opening two games – in a strong display, where they marginally lost possession but had nine to two shots on target.
The win moves Seattle to seven points from three games to start the new campaign, while the Galaxy suffered their first blemish of the campaign after scoring six goals in their opening two games.
Inter Miami drew a blank in the absence of the Higuain brothers with a 0-0 draw away to Nashville.
Former Juventus and Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain and brother Federico were unavailable for the match after flying back to their native Argentina following the death of their mother to cancer.
The Higuain brothers' team-mates offered a wonderful sign of support ahead of the game.
Inter Miami – co-owned by former Manchester United, Madrid and England star David Beckham – have four points from three games, while Nashville are still winless but have drawn all three matches this season.
Diego Rubio's incredible free-kick helped Colorado Rapids to a 1-0 victory away to Vancouver Whitecaps.
Rubio struck in the 26th minute with a curling right-foot shot that found the top corner, going in off the post and crossbar.
The spectacular strike earned the Rapids their first three points of the season, while condemning the Whitecaps to their first defeat.
Alan Pulido, Luis Martins and Daniel Salloi all scored within 16 minutes as KC raced to a 3-0 lead. Salloi's classy volley took his tally to nine goals this MLS season.
Israeli midfielder Gadi Kinda added a fourth in the 58th minute with Graham Zusi getting his second assist, before LAFC got a consolation from Danny Musovski.
The win lifted Sporting KC past Seattle Sounders who conceded in the 90th minute to draw 1-1 at home with Dallas.
Fredy Montero had put the Sounders ahead in the 72nd minute with a set-piece header but Dallas equalised from Franco Jara's 90th-minute close-range strike.
Sporting KC are ahead of Seattle on goal difference, with both sides having 33 points, although the leaders have a game in hand.
LA Galaxy are third following a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, secured by Efrain Alvarez's cool 53rd-minute winner.
Eastern Conference leaders New England extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 0-0 draw against Nashville, who slip to fourth despite the result.
The draw also extends Nashville's undefeated streak to nine games.
Former England international Kieran Gibbs netted a 66th-minute equaliser to earn Inter Miami a 1-1 draw away to fellow Florida outfit Orlando City. The goal was Gibbs' first in the MLS.
Philadelphia Union ended their three-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Toronto after three first-half strikes.
Ola Kamara and Yordy Reyna both netted doubles as DC United won 4-2 over Columbus Crew.
Tomas Pochettino scored a first-half brace as struggling Austin won 3-2 over Houston Dynamo.
Chicago Fire and 10-man New York City played out a goalless draw, while New York Red Bulls and Cincinnati also ended 0-0 and Portland Timbers drew 1-1 with San Jose Earthquakes.
Finnish midfielder Robin Lod tapped home from Niko Hansen's deflected cutback for the 81st-minute winner.
The Sounders had enjoyed a spectacular start to the season, but have now only managed one win from their past four games.
Seattle remains top of the Western Conference with 29 points from 14 games, but second-placed Sporting KC are three points behind with a game in hand after winning three in a row. Minnesota moves up to sixth with the win.
United had two good first-half chances from set pieces, with Emanuel Reynoso's free-kick going marginally off target and Bakaye Dibassy's flick from a corner going wide too.
MLS equal top scorer Raul Ruidiaz was denied by United keeper Tyler Miller too, while the Sounders thought they had the lead in the 76th minute. Xavier Arreaga headed home Joao Paulo's free-kick but it was disallowed for offside.
Lod had a penalty shout turned down before a minute later finding space inside the box to finish from Hansen's pass.
Seattle are atop the Western Conference on 57 points, second only to runaway Eastern Conference leaders and Supporters' Shield pacesetters New England Revolution (65), who already have secured the top seed on their side.
The Sounders established themselves early with goals from Shane O'Neill in the fifth minute and Nicolas Benezet in the 14th at home to the Whitecaps amid their 13-game winless run against Seattle – the club's longest drought against any opponent in MLS.
After Vancouver clawed a goal back via Brian White at the end of the first half, Will Bruin added a third for Seattle 10 minutes into the second period and Leo Chu netted in the 90th minute to close it out.
New York Red Bulls kept their play-off hopes alive, defeating slumping Inter Miami 1-0 behind a 25th-minute goal courtesy of Patryk Klimala.
The Red Bulls sit ninth in the east, three points adrift of Montreal, rivals New York City and DC United, who currently hold the final three post-season positions.
Inter Miami are eight points off the pace amid a five-match losing streak.
FC Cincinnati became the first team officially eliminated from play-off contention following a 2-1 home defeat to third-placed Philadelphia Union.
Though Philadelphia had possession for only 37 per cent of the match, they built a lead through Kacper Przybylko in first-half stoppage time before Paxten Aaronson doubled the advantage 11 minutes into the second half.
Haris Medunjanin netted in the 82nd minute but it was too late as Cincinnati suffered their 16th loss of the season against eight draws and an MLS-worst four wins.
Martinez equalised via an 86th-minute spot-kick to earn Atlanta a 1-1 draw with the Sounders at Lumen Field in Seattle on Sunday.
The Sounders had taken a sixth-minute lead from Raul Ruidiaz, who headed home Joao Paulo's corner to make it six goals in seven games.
Last season's MLS Cup runners-up Seattle remain undefeated and top of the Western Conference through seven matches, but had their four-game winning run ended as Atlanta – led by former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender Heinze – sit fifth in the east.
Last season's Supporters' Shield winners Philadelphia Union moved up into third in the east with a 1-0 victory away to DC United.
Kacper Przybylko netted the winner on the stroke of half-time for the Union, who are now unbeaten in their past four games.
Jamiro Monteiro laid off a perfectly weighted pass into the box for the Polish attacker to control and convert.
Union goalkeeper Andre Blake made a spectacular second-half save to deny United's 18-year-old midfielder Kevin Paredes with a curled effort from the edge of the box.
Undefeated Nashville edged past newcomers Austin 1-0 courtesy of a 35th-minute volley from Randall Leal.
Jared Stroud thought he had scored a second-half equaliser but it was disallowed by VAR for offside.
Nashville, who drew four of their opening five games, have won two of their past three matches to move up to fourth in the Eastern Conference, while Austin have lost three in a row on the road.
Super sub Ruidiaz came off the bench and scored a delightful game-winning goal just past the hour-mark as the Sounders downed Dallas 1-0 in MLS on Wednesday.
The Sounders were winless in 10 consecutive visits to Dallas (D3 L7, including play-offs) dating back to 2014 – their second-longest winless away run against a single opponent in MLS (11 straight at LA Galaxy from 2010 to 2015).
But Seattle snapped that skid thanks to Ruidiaz as Sporting KC's 1-1 draw with Portland Timbers allowed the Sounders to move top of the west by one point.
Atlanta extended their winning streak to three matches after Ezequiel Barco's first-half goal secured a 1-0 win at home to Toronto.
Since the sacking of head coach Gabriel Heinze following a falling out with star Josef Martinez, Atlanta – who had won successive matches for the first time since the opening two games of the 2020 season entering the fixture – have steadily climbed the table.
Atlanta are three points outside of the play-off positions in the Eastern Conference, which is topped by New England Revolution – 3-2 victors against DC United despite ending the contest with 10 men.
Elsewhere, Rodolfo Pizarro's stoppage-time winner guided Inter Miami to a dramatic 3-2 win against Chicago Fire midweek.
Pizarro struck in the 93rd minute to clinch a third straight home triumph for David Beckham's Inter Miami, who have now lost just once in their last six games.
Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls were 1-0 winners over New York City and Columbus Crew respectively, Vancouver Whitecaps topped Austin 2-1, Real Salt Lake defeated Houston Dynamo by the same scoreline, 10-man Montreal drew 0-0 with Cincinnati, while Nashville and Orlando City played out a 1-1 draw.
The Cascadia derby did not disappoint on Sunday, with the Sounders snapping a three-game winless streak behind Montero and Ruidiaz.
Entering the fixture, the slumping Sounders had won three of their last four away matches against the Timbers (L1) after winning just three of the first 14 MLS encounters in Portland (D3 L8, including play-offs).
Montero scored twice inside the opening 29 minutes to put the Sounders in control before Sebastian Blanco and George Fochive restored parity for the Timbers by the 52nd-minute mark at Providence Park.
Beginning with the 2018 playoffs, Ruidiaz had scored (eight) or assisted (two) on 10 of the Sounders' last 14 goals against the Timbers, including seven of eight goals in Portland (five goals and two assists) during that time.
Ruidiaz turned Sunday's match on its head with a stunning brace, including his memorable 55th-minute free-kick.
Jimmy Medranda's thunderous 77th-minute volley and Nicolas Benezet's stoppage-time effort completed the rout.
Seattle are second in the Western Conference, only a point behind Sporting Kansas City after 19 games, while Portland are eighth.
Elsewhere, Josef Martinez celebrated a long-awaited home goal as Atlanta United edged Los Angeles FC 1-0.
Martinez had not scored at Mercedes-Benz Stadium since October 2019, but the Venezuelan star ended his drought in the 47th minute.
Nashville are third in the Eastern Conference following their 5-2 drubbing of DC United – a victory inspired by CJ Sapong's brace, while snapping DC United's five-game unbeaten streak.
Chicago Fire topped defending champions Columbus Crew 1-0 via Luka Stojanovic's winner with 15 minutes remaining.
Defending champions the Sounders secured their post-season berth for the 12th consecutive campaign thanks to goals from Raul Ruidiaz and Nicolas Lodeiro on Tuesday.
Ruidiaz opened the scoring for Seattle in the 54th minute, finishing off Nouhou's cross, after the goal had initially been flagged for offside before VAR intervened.
Western Conference leaders the Sounders doubled their lead six minutes later when Ruidiaz picked out Lodeiro, who finished from inside the penalty area.
Only MLS great and San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski (14) has scored more goals against the Whitecaps in their league history than Lodeiro (six), per Opta.
New York City – fifth in the Eastern Conference – also advanced to the play-offs after Thierry Henry's Impact lost to Nashville 1-0.
Nashville boosted their post-season hopes after leaving Red Bull Arena with maximum points courtesy of Randall Leal's 33rd-minute goal.
Leal is the fourth Nashville player to score three goals this season, tied for the most at the club, while Joe Willis has kept nine clean sheets this term – more than any other goalkeeper in MLS in 2020.
Expansion franchise Nashville are now seventh in the east and on track to qualify for the play-offs in their maiden campaign.
Cristian Roldan and Will Bruin scored to lift the Sounders to the summit in the west, leapfrogging hosts Sporting KC.
Sporting KC were on a three-game winning streak against Seattle – the longest active winning run against the Sounders as no team had won four in a row versus the franchise since San Jose Earthquakes in 2012-13.
But Seattle ended that skid against Sporting KC – Roldan opened the scoring in the 31st minute at Children's Mercy Park, where the Sounders star got on the end of Brad Smith's cross.
Bruin doubled the lead against the run of play 10 minutes into the second half after heading home at the far post.
Entering the fixture, the Sounders conceded an MLS-low 20 goals this season, with opponents scoring with just 7.2 per cent of their shots, also lowest in the league. Seattle had also outperformed their expected goals against by 8.1 this season (20 conceded, 28.1 expected).
The Sounders were breached by Johnny Russell on the hour mark, but Seattle held on for victory to sit two points clear of Sporting KC in the west.
Elsewhere, Austin – bottom of the Western Conference – stunned fifth-placed LA Galaxy 2-0, while Chicago Fire held second-placed Nashville to a 0-0 draw in the east.
After Raul Ruidiaz's 40th minute opener, the visitors had taken the lead after goals from Cristian Dajome and Lucas Cavallini.
Medranda intervened with his 71st minute strike, coming after a corner was cleared into his path, lashing home from the edge of the box.
The result means Seattle remain top in the Western Conference, having conceded only seven goals in 11 games.
It also ends Vancouver's five-game losing streak, although they remain second last in the west.
Former Manchester United striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez scored a double to lift LA Galaxy to a 3-1 win away to San Jose Earthquakes.
The Mexico international opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he swept home Samuel Grandsir's dangerous cross from the right.
Hernandez produced a similar finish to double their advantage in the 50th minute, tapping home from Kevin Cabral's ball.
Galaxy are third in the Western Conference, four points behind Seattle with a game in hand.
Philadelphia Union extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 3-3 draw away to Chicago Fire.
Toronto's struggles continued with a 2-0 home defeat to Cincinnati, condemning them to five consecutive defeats.
Sporting Kansas City defeated Los Angeles FC 2-1, Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo drew 1-1, Minnesota United won 1-0 at Portland Timbers and Abu Danladi netted a late leveller to help Nashville claim a 1-1 home draw with Montreal.
Cristian Roldan, Jimmy Medranda and Joao Paolo scored in a three-goal first half to inspire the Sounders against the Rapids in Seattle.
The Rapids were enjoying their second-best unbeaten run in club history, only behind the 15-game undefeated streak from April 2016 to July 2016.
But Colorado came unstuck away to the Sounders at Lumen Field, where Roldan broke the deadlock in the second minute before Medranda and Paolo's moment of individual brilliance made it 3-0 prior to half-time.
The Sounders are top of the west, two points clear of Sporting Kansas City, who beat Houston Dynamo 4-2 behind Daniel Salloi's magical performance (one goal and an assist) and Johnny Russell's brace.
Entering the contest, Salloi and Russell had been directly involved, either together or individually, in Sporting KC's previous seven goals (Salloi three goals, Russell three goals and two assists). At least one of those two players had scored or assisted on 19 of the 23 goals Kansas City scored since late July.
David Beckham's Inter Miami and their hopes of featuring in the play-offs were dealt a blow following a 1-0 defeat to Portland Timbers.
Jaroslaw Niezgoda struck to extend Portland's unbeaten run to eight matches, including seven wins, and condemn Inter Miami to a fourth consecutive loss.
Inter Miami are eight points adrift of the post-season places in the Eastern Conference with seven fixtures remaining, while the fourth-placed Timbers are seven points clear of Real Salt Lake in the battle for home-field advantage.
Elsewhere, 10-man Philadelphia Union were 3-0 winners over defending champions Columbus Crew, Toronto defeated Chicago Fire 3-1 and New York City drew 0-0 with Nashville, while the El Trafico derby between LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC ended 1-1.
Seattle booked their spot in the second round of the play-offs thanks to goals from Jordan Morris, Nico Lodeiro and Raul Ruidiaz on Tuesday, earning a home date with Dallas.
Morris, Lodeiro and Ruidiaz all scored in the same MLS match for the fourth time, more than any other trio of team-mates since the start of the 2018 season, per Opta.
Lodeiro opened the scoring in the 18th minute – Morris teeing up the Uruguayan for a first-time shot past LAFC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega.
LAFC's star captain Carlos Vela had a penalty saved three minutes later as Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei stopped a non-shoot-out spot-kick for the first time since April 2016, after allowing goals on the previous 18 on-target penalties he had faced.
After Morris and Lodeiro hit the woodwork in quick succession, Ruidiaz doubled the lead in the 66th minute before Eduard Atuesta reduced the deficit 11 minutes later.
Morris, though, restored Seattle's two-goal advantage within three minutes as the Sounders moved through to the next round.
Meanwhile, expansion franchise Nashville stunned Toronto 1-0 after extra time to earn an Eastern Conference semi-finals berth.
Daniel Rios' 108th-minute goal settled the contest in Connecticut, where seventh seeds Nashville became the third team in MLS history to win each of their first two play-off matches.
Rios' winner was also the first Toronto has ever conceded in extra time of a MLS play-off clash.
Nashville will now face Columbus Crew for a place in the Conference finals.
In the day's other fixture, New England Revolution shocked Eastern Conference top seeds Philadelphia Union 2-0.
First-half goals from Adam Buksa and Tajon Buchanan set the tone for the Revolution, who are the first team to score multiple goals in an away match against the Union all season.
Next up for Bruce Arena's Revolution are Orlando City.
Roldan struck in the 18th minute for the unbeaten Sounders, who left PayPal Park in San Jose with maximum points on Wednesday.
After the Earthquakes failed to clear their lines, Roldan riffled a thunderous half-volley into the back of the net from outside the penalty area.
The Sounders are now four points clear of the Earthquakes and LA Galaxy, who have played a match less in the west.
David Beckham's Inter Miami – coached by former Manchester United defender and midfielder Phil Neville – suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Montreal following a 140-minute weather delay.
Bjorn Johnson scored twice in the space of 11 first-half minutes to give visitors Montreal a 2-0 lead inside the opening half an hour in Miami.
The match was then suspended in the 47th minute due to lightning strikes at DRV PNK Stadium, where Montreal held on for victory after more than two hours of waiting.
Montreal top the Eastern Conference, level on eight points with New England Revolution, who played out a 1-1 draw against Philadelphia Union, while Inter Miami have five points from five games.
Elsewhere, Toronto celebrated their first win of the season after topping defending champions Columbus Crew 2-0, Houston Dynamo were 1-0 victors over Sporting Kansas City, while Minnesota United defeated Vancouver Whitecaps by the same scoreline.
Ruidiaz scored twice in the second half after Joao Paulo's memorable opener to give last season's runners-up Seattle the perfect start on opening day.
The Sounders – beaten by Columbus Crew in the 2020 MLS Cup final – hit the front four minutes into the second half, Joao Paulo cushioning a cleared cross with one touch before rifling a thunderous volley into the top corner on Friday.
Ruidiaz entered the new season on the back of 12 MLS goals last term. According to Stats Perform, his 0.76 goals per 90 minutes led the league in 2020. When the Peruvian star was on the field, the Sounders scored two goals per 90 – besting their average of 1.5 goals per 90 when he was not last year.
A dominant force in the Western Conference since Brian Schmetzer succeeded legendary former boss Sigi Schmid in 2016, the Sounders doubled the lead with 20 minutes remaining when Will Bruin teed up Ruidiaz.
Ruidiaz made it 3-0 three minutes later after Cristian Roldan turned provider before Fredy Montero completed the rout four minutes from time at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, where the Sounders had an expected goals (xG) difference of 20.9 last season, well clear of next-best team Los Angeles FC (12.0)
In the only other match on Friday, Houston Dynamo edged San Jose Earthquakes 2-1.
Houston built a two-goal buffer by the 55th minute thanks to Memo Rodriguez and Maximiliano Urruti.
A stunning 74th-minute strike from San Jose substitute Paul Marie set up a tense finish, but the Dynamo held on for maximum points.
The Sounders remain undefeated through six matches this season thanks to a two-goal second half at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Entering the contest, Seattle had 13 points from their first five matches for the second time in the last three seasons – the only team in the last 20 seasons to have at least 13 points after five games more than once.
The Sounders stayed hot courtesy of Xavier Arreaga and Brad Smith – the former opening the scoring in the 57th minute.
Smith doubled the lead with 17 minutes remaining when the Australian full-back pounced for his third goal of the season.
The Sounders are four points clear of LA Galaxy in the Western Conference, while Sporting Kansas City are a point further back in third following their 3-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps.
LAFC are bottom of the west with five points from five matches in 2021.
Former Juventus and Real Madrid forward Higuain was the hero for Inter Miami, who prevailed 3-2 in a thriller at Cincinnati.
Higuain scored the winning goal five minutes from the end after Cincinnati's Nick Hagglund has restored parity three minutes earlier.
David Beckham's Inter Miami – led by former Manchester United team-mate and head coach Phil Neville – raced out to a 2-0 half-time lead via Brek Shea and Higuain before Cincinnati rallied with goals from Alvaro Barreal and Hagglund.
Former Argentina international Higuain, though, had the final say with his fourth goal of the season.
Elsewhere, New England Revolution topped defending champions Columbus Crew 1-0 and Orlando City beat DC United by the same scoreline.
Orlando have opened the season unbeaten in their first five games (W2 D3). The Lions have lost just three regular-season matches since the end of the MLS is Back Tournament, fewer than any other team that was in MLS both last season and this.
Johnny Russell's 79th-minute goal gave Sporting KC a 2-1 win away to Seattle Sounders, locking up a play-off spot for the second-placed team in the Western Conference table as Russell netted for the seventh straight game.
Colorado also are in after defeating Portland Timbers 2-0 behind golas from Dominique Badji and Diego Rubio.
The Seattle loss ensured New England, who face Orlando City on Sunday, will finish atop the overall table. The Revs are on 69 points, 20 points clear of Philadelphia and Nashville in the Eastern Conference and 11 clear of Seattle overall.
Nashville had a chance to clinch the play-offs with a win but fell 1-0 to Philadelphia Union on Kacper Przybylko's first-half penalty.
Inter Miami got a goal and three assists from Gonzalo Higuain, while his brother Federico also found the net in a 5-1 rout of Cincinnati, who lost their ninth in a row.
Toronto dealt a blow to rival Montreal's play-off hopes as Jozy Altidore's free kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time secured a 1-1 draw after Sunusi Ibrahim had netted in the 55th minute for the visitors.
Minnesota and LAFC also finished at 1-1, as did San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps.
New York City crushed DC United 6-0 and Sean Nealis' 87th-minute goal lifted New York Red Bulls past Columbus Crew 2-1.
Sebastian Lletget's brilliant 83rd-minute equaliser gave LA Galaxy a 2-2 draw with Dallas, while Chicago Fire downed Real Salt Lake 1-0.
Sporting KC scored twice in the closing stages to see off the Galaxy in Los Angeles and leapfrog Seattle Sounders atop the west.
The Galaxy were without former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez after he was a late withdrawal prior to kick-off.
Chicharito scored a brace against San Jose Earthquakes last time out to take his total to 10 goals in 10 games this season – only four players have scored more through their first 10 appearances in an MLS campaign, Carlos Vela (Los Angeles FC) in 2019, Chris Wondolowski (Earthquakes) in 2012, Landon Donovan (Galaxy) in 2008 and Roy Lassiter (DC United) in 1999, all with 11 goals.
The Galaxy felt his absence as visiting Sporting KC – who have scored an MLS-high 24 goals in 2021 – won late thanks to Johnny Russell and Khiry Shelton.
Russell broke the deadlock in the 81st minute with a looping header and Shelton made sure of the points in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Sporting KC and Seattle are level on 26 points, but the former top the Western Conference with more wins, though they have played a game extra.
The Sounders tied the MLS record with 12 unbeaten games to start the season following their 1-1 draw at Colorado Rapids.
Alex Roldan put Seattle ahead four minutes before half-time, but Colorado's Michael Barrios restored parity approaching the hour-mark.
Elsewhere, lowly Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps played out a 2-2 draw.
The victory brought the visitors within two points of the first-placed Sounders in the MLS Western Conference table, with one fewer match played.
KC captain Johnny Russell set the tone in the 31st minute with a beautiful free kick from just outside the area to give the visitors the lead, and Daniel Salloi doubled the advantage before half-time.
After Fredy Montero answered for Sounders in the 51st minute, Cameron Duke sneaked behind the defence in the 72nd minute to seal the win.
KC are unbeaten in their last five matches and have only one loss in their last 10.
A brace from Gustavo Bou helped New England Revolution expand their lead atop the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win over Montreal.
Kacper Przybylko found the net for the third straight game, putting home a rebound in the 85th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw for Philadelphia against Inter Miami as Phil Neville's side remain bottom of the table.
New York City FC matched their season-high in goals, scoring four times after the break in a 5-0 demolition of Orlando City.
Ola Kamara's 27th-minute goal gave DC United a 1-0 victory over New York Red Bulls.
David Beckham's Inter Miami and fellow expansion club Nashville SC will enter the league, which will increase to 26 teams.
Seattle Sounders are the defending champions, record-breaking Los Angeles FC will look to go all the way this year after falling short last term, while Arsenal and Barcelona legend Thierry Henry is at the helm of Montreal Impact.
With the season set to kick off, here is a selection of the best Opta facts related to MLS.
- Only one of the last eight teams to debut in MLS have won their inaugural match, dating back to Portland Timbers in 2011 (LAFC 1-0 Seattle in 2018). Orlando City and New York City drew against each other in both teams' inaugural match in 2015, while the other five teams that joined the league in that time lost their opening match.
- Of MLS' last nine new teams, only one have failed to score in their inaugural match in the competition. Montreal lost 2-0 to Vancouver Whitecaps in 2012.
- Of the 14 teams to play their inaugural MLS match on the road, only two have managed to win; including Los Angeles in 2018 (also Chicago Fire in 1998, at Miami Fusion). Two more managed draws while 10 of the 14 teams that started on the road lost their inaugural match.
- The last six MLS expansion clubs scored in their first away match in the league dating back to 2015. Five of the teams scored one goal while Atlanta United scored six against fellow newcomers Minnesota United in 2017.
- The last three reigning MLS Cup winners lost the opening match of the following season, including Seattle's 2-1 defeat at Houston Dynamo in 2017 after reigning supreme in 2016.
- LAFC equalled the all-time record for goals scored in a single MLS season last campaign (85 – level with LA Galaxy in 1998). Their striker Carlos Vela also broke the record for single-season goals in MLS history; scoring 34 and beating Josef Martinez's record haul of 31 from 2018.
- Atlanta star Martinez has scored a goal against all 23 of the opposition teams that he has faced in regular-season MLS matches – Nashville will be the 24th different opponent he has played against in the competition.
- New York City's 177 points and 50 wins are both second-most over the past three MLS regular campaigns, both behind Atlanta (182 points and 54 wins). NYC are the only team that have won at least 16 regular-season matches in each of the past three MLS campaigns.
- Last season was the 10th straight in which New York Red Bulls qualified for the MLS postseason. The Red Bulls' 10 successive play-off appearance represent the second-longest active run (Seattle – 11) and the longest in the history of the Eastern Conference.
- New Impact manager Henry took charge of Monaco in Ligue 1 last season between October 2018 and January 2019. During his 12 league games in charge, he won just twice (17 per cent); which was the worst win ratio of every Monaco head coach to take charge of five-plus top-flight games in their history.
- Colorado Rapids have missed the play-offs in three successive MLS seasons for the first time since 2007-2009. They have collected just 106 points over the past three MLS campaigns, only Orlando City (104) have collected fewer among the teams that have been in the league for each season since 2017.
- 85 of LA Galaxy recruit Javier Hernandez's 89 goals within the big five European leagues during his career came from inside the box (96 per cent), including each of the past 30 of these strikes.
Second-half strikes from Sebastian Blanco and Felipe Mora earned the Timbers the points, ending Seattle's three-game winning run and ensuring they missed the chance to extend their lead to five points.
Portland had failed to win in their past three games, with the result lifting them from 10th in the west, up to sixth.
Blanco's goal was particularly special, having torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the same venue nearly a year ago.
Mora pounced on a poor Yeimar Gomez Andrade back pass, swooping in and setting up Blanco for a 58th-minute tap-in.
Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark made numerous saves, including from a rocket 61st-minute Joao Paulo volley, before Mora capitalised on an error from Sounders keeper Stefan Cleveland, sealing the points with a classy lob in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Eight goals were scored in an entertaining Texas derby as Dallas got the better of Austin 5-3 – teenager Ricardo Pepi and Jesus Ferreira both netting braces for the winners.
Dallas raced to a 4-1 lead at the break before Jader Obrian added a fifth shortly after half-time, with Austin pulling goals back via Diego Fagundez and Alexander Ring as Ferreira hit the post late in pursuit of a hat-trick.
Pepi, who turned 18 in January and last month became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat-trick, has netted 11 times this season for Dallas.
Meanwhile, Vancouver Whitecaps continued their resurgence under interim head coach Vanni Sartini with a 4-1 rout of Real Salt Lake.
The Whitecaps piled on three goals inside 16 second-half minutes after Marcelo Silva's own goal had given them a 1-0 lead at the interval.
Cristian Dajome was dangerous down the right flank, as Brian White, Ryan Gauld and Florian Jungwirth netted before Anderson Julio's consolation for RSL.
