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MLS: Top 10 performances from Decision Day

By Matt Coles

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC’s MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

Decision Day saw 12 MLS matches across the Eastern and Western Conferences. Including here are the top ten performances from Sunday’s action, including a rather large slice of history.

Sunday was Decision Day in the 2019 Major League Soccer campaign, with playoff places available in the West and battles for home-field advantage in both conferences. Supporters’ Shield winners Los Angeles FC added another record to their growing list on Sunday, as their 3-1 victory over Colorado saw them finish on 72 points, a single-season record for points.

Elsewhere, last year’s MLS Cup Champions Atlanta United ended the regular season with a victory, and more importantly, welcomed Josef Martinez back into their starting line-up after a short period out through injury. FC Dallas put six past Sporting Kansas City to book their place in the playoffs, while the LA Galaxy missed out on the chance of a home tie in the first round of the post-season as they lost to Houston.

Related Story. MLS: 5 things you may have missed on Decision Day. light

NYCFC defeated Philadelphia 2-1 in a top-three clash in the East, while Seattle got the better of Minnesota to claim second spot in the Western Conference. The highest-scoring game of the weekend came in one of the dead rubbers when it came to playoff contention as Chicago ran riot in Orlando, beating the Lions 5-2 on their own patch.

With it being such an important day, we have a bumper list of the top ten performances to laud over.

UNITED STATES – 2019/09/25: Valentin Castellanos (11) of NYCFC controls ball during regular MLS game against Atlanta United FC at Yankee stadium. NYCFC won 4 – 1. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – 2019/09/25: Valentin Castellanos (11) of NYCFC controls ball during regular MLS game against Atlanta United FC at Yankee stadium. NYCFC won 4 – 1. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

10. Valentin Castellanos

New York City FC came into the weekend knowing that they had already clinched the Eastern Conference title and that they had a bye in the first round of the playoffs sewn up. However, they still played a pretty-much full strength line-up against the third-place Union on Sunday. And it was Valentin Castellanos that took home the Man of the Match award.

The Argentinian midfielder set up both of the visiting side’s goals in their road game in Philadelphia, including a lovely layoff for the opening goal which Ronald Matarrita duly tucked away.

Castellanos then assisted Ismael Tajouri-Shradi for NYCFC’s second of the match, which was a big enough lead that they would not relinquish, as they went on to take all three points from the clash. With Castellanos now having 11 goals and seven assists to his name for the season, New York will be hoping the Argentine can continue his wonderful playmaking campaign into the postseason.

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