The biggest MLS Decision Day 2024 moments, ranked

Decision Day is over. If you’re an Atlanta United fan, you’re very happy at how things have gone. If you’re the Philadelphia Union and D.C. United, you’re probably not as thrilled.

There was plenty to play for in both conferences: two playoff spots to be handed out in the East and playoff participants determined in the West, but seeding — including No. 1 — yet to be settled. And the final day of the 2024 MLS regular season delivered in true MLS fashion. Here’s just a few of the key moments as we turn the page to the playoffs:

5. Austin FC, without a coach, stun the Colorado Rapids

Austin FC didn’t even have a coach on Decision Day because they opted to sack Josh Wolff with one game left. They (and interim head coach Davy Arnaud) trailed the Colorado Rapids 2-1 heading into stoppage time.

But Ethan Finlay scored and suddenly ATX looked as if they’d salvage a point.

Then this happened:

Turns out, that wasn’t the most exciting goal of the night because…

4. The Columbus Crew leave it really late

The Columbus Crew are a very good team. That much we know. I’d wouldn’t be shocked if they end up winning MLS Cup again, and that will almost undoubtedly mean beating Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at some point.

That’s even after coughing up a 2-0 lead in the second half before Malte Amundsen’s stunner late in second-half stoppage time:

Turns out, not even that wasn’t the most exciting late goal of the night. More on that later.

3. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Inter Miami claim the MLS points record on a Messi hat trick and Suarez brace…after going down 2-0 in the first half

I mean, come on, Miami. That was just plain rude.

Luca Langoni and Dylan Borrerro staking the Revs to a 2-0 lead in the 34th minute may as well have been their MLS Cup. And this was against a Miami team that was partially rotated: Suarez started, as did Alba and Busquets, though Messi started on the bench.

Well, Suarez scored. Then he scored again to make it 2-2 minutes before halftime. Then Messi entered in the 58th minute. Right after that Benja Cremaschi scored. Then Messi scored a natural hat trick in the 78th, 81st, and 89th minute.

Cucho Hernandez is still my MVP, by the way. All credit in the world to Messi because that was an impressive display, but the Revs quit weeks ago.

Also, massive congrats to Miami on the points record.

2. Duncan McGuire’s goal disallowed in the 90th minute as Atlanta United clinch the ninth seed in the East

Everything was going the way of Atlanta United: they had a 2-1 lead, FC Cincinnati was up 2-1 on the Philadelphia Union, and Charlotte FC was finishing off a 3-0 rout of D.C. United. But there was that little nagging voice in the heads of Atlanta fans saying “they’ll screw this up somehow”.

So when Duncan McGuire scored in the 90th minute, that voice turned into “I know they’d screw this up somehow” as Decision Day was destined for the bitter annals of #AtlantaSports memories. It was silenced, though, when Rubiel Vazquez was called to the monitor by VAR Kevin Terry. Moments later, another voice — Vazquez’s — came over the Inter&Co Stadium public address system. Handball. No goal.

And…to be fair, it was a rather harsh handball to give, at least in my eyes. But by the letter of the law — the goal came “immediately after the ball (had) touched (McGuire’s) hand/arm, even if accidental” — it’s not a goal.

Atlanta United could care less at this point. That was quite literally the difference between playoffs and no playoffs.

1. LAFC win the West’s top seed, with a little help from Daniel Steres and the Houston Dynamo

There was always a chance that LAFC was going to pip the LA Dynamo for the Western Conference’s top spot: LA was on 64 points and 19 wins coming into Saturday while LAFC was on 61 points and 18 wins. LAFC also trailed LA on goal differential so they needed a win, an LA loss, and to make up the differential.

Well, LAFC did their part, erasing a 1-0 first-half deficit to win 3-1 over the lowly San Jose Earthquakes. The 3252, then, were forced to watch as LA, who trailed the Houston Dynamo 1-0, pulled level as Gabriel Pec converted a penalty in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Game over, right? Nope.

Imagine hating this league, man.