MLS Matchday 33 recap: Charlotte, Cincinnati, and Vancouver clinch playoff berths

Entering MLS Matchday 33, four clubs had the chance to clinch playoff berths in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, and three of the four did.

Charlotte FC, FC Cincinnati, and the Vancouver Whitecaps have punched their MLS playoff tickets, while Nashville SC will have to wait another weekend. Atlanta United and Toronto FC are the two newest clubs to be eliminated from playoff contention. No club in the Western Conference has yet to be eliminated from playoff contention.

The Vancouver Whitecaps manhandled the Philadelphia Union, 7-0, to clinch their playoff berth. Vancouver scored four goals before halftime en route to their 7-0 victory. This match was the first time in club history that the Philadelphia Union allowed 6+ goals in league play.

FC Cincinnati's 2-1 win over Nashville SC allowed them to clinch a playoff berth, and Charlotte FC's 3-0 clean sheet over Inter Miami also clinched an MLS playoff berth for them.

Four hat-tricks and 57 goals were scored during Matchday 33, which equals the most scored in a single matchday. Here is a look back at five of the best matches from MLS Matchday 33.

Thomas Müller scores a hat-trick in win over Union

The Vancouver Whitecaps were all over the Philadelphia Union from the jump. Mathias Laborda scored first for Vancouver in the 18th minute, and the floodgates opened from that point onward.

Thomas Müller scored a hat-trick (29', 45+1', 88) with two of those goals coming from the penalty spot. Vancouver became the third team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff spot with this win, and they are currently third in the West.

The Philadelphia Union remain at the top of the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield table following the loss.

Cincinnati clinches MLS playoffs with win over Nashville

Both FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC had the chance to clinch on Saturday, but Cincinnati put themselves through. Nashville will have to wait another week for its next chance.

This match was scoreless until the 73rd minute when Brenner da Silva put Cincinnati ahead. The lead didn't last long for Cincinnati as Sam Surridge, the MLS Golden Boot leader, equalized for Nashville in the 84th minute. In stoppage time, Evander scored the game-winner for Cincinnati in the 90+8' to allow his club to clinch a playoff berth.

Charlotte blanks Inter Miami to clinch

A Lionel Messi penalty miss in the 32nd minute gave Charlotte all the confidence they needed to clinch a playoff berth for the remainder of the match.

Idan Toklomati pretty much single-handedly allowed Charlotte to clinch with his hat-trick (34', 47', 85'). Miami's Tomas Aviles was sent off with a red card in the 79th minute, which sealed any chance of a late comeback.

Miami is back on the pitch tomorrow night against the Seattle Sounders in league play.

Diego Rossi scores a hat-trick for Columbus

Nine total goals combined were scored in the Columbus Crew's 5-4 win over Atlanta United. Diego Rossi scored a first-half hat-trick (14', 17, 39') for Columbus, and Wessam Abou Ali (25') and Marcelo Herrera (30') also added to the five goals scored by Columbus in the first half.

Miguel Amiron scored on a penalty in the 45+3' for Atlanta to give them a glimmer of hope. Pedro Amador scored in the 46th minute, and then Jamal Thiaré scored in the 50th and 88th minutes to nearly complete a comeback. Atlanta couldn't find that last goal, but they nearly overcame a 5-0 deficit and almost secured one point.

Denis Bouanga scores a hat-trick for LAFC in win over San Jose

Denis Bouanga was another player who secured a hat-trick over the weekend. LAFC defeated the San Jose Earthquakes, 4-2, and Bouanga's hat trick (9', 12', 87') was the main factor.

Son Heung-min put LAFC on the scoreboard first in the 2nd minute, and then Bouanga added his first goal of the match shortly after. LAFC sits in fifth in the Western Conference and is still waiting for its chance to clinch a playoff berth.

MLS standings after Matchday 33:

MLS's Eastern Conference

x - Philadelphia Union - 57 ptsx - FC Cincinnati - 55 ptsx - Charlotte FC - 53 ptsNashville SC - 50 ptsColumbus Crew - 49 ptsOrlando City - 48 ptsNYCFC - 47 ptsInter Miami - 46 ptsChicago Fire - 42 ptsNew York Red Bulls - 40 ptsNew England Revolution - 32 ptse - Toronto FC - 26 ptse - Atlanta United - 26 ptse - D.C. United - 25 ptse - CF Montreal - 24 pts

MLS's Western Conference

x - San Diego FC - 56 ptsx - Minnesota United - 54 ptsx - Vancouver Whitecaps - 52 ptsSeattle Sounders - 45 ptsLAFC - 44 ptsPortland Timbers - 42 ptsAustin FC - 41 ptsColorado Rapids - 39 ptsSan Jose Earthquakes - 35 ptsReal Salt Lake - 34 ptsFC Dallas - 34 ptsHouston Dynamo - 33 ptsSporting Kansas City - 27 ptsSt. Louis City - 25 ptsLA Galaxy - 21 pts

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