Sargent and Janssen Score Hat Tricks as Musa Draws Level With Messi in Golden Boot Race

• Josh Sargent scored the first hat trick of his professional career in Toronto FC’s wild 4-4 draw with Chicago Fire FC, taking his tally to five goal contributions in four matches after a slow start to life in MLS

• Petar Musa’s brace for FC Dallas, sealed by a stoppage-time penalty winner in a 4-3 thriller against Sporting KC, pulled him level with Lionel Messi on 18 goals atop the Golden Boot race

• Vincent Janssen scored Portland’s first-ever MLS hat trick on his full debut, Breel Embolo netted on his Atlanta United debut, and St. Louis extended their league-best unbeaten run to 13 games

A weekend of hat tricks, late drama and a Golden Boot race that refuses to be settled

Josh Sargent arrived at Toronto FC as one of the most expensive signings in MLS history. He managed just two goals before the FIFA World Cup break. The doubters were forming a queue. Then something clicked. Five goal contributions in his last four matches have silenced the skeptics, and his first professional hat trick in Toronto’s breathless 4-4 draw with Chicago Fire FC on Saturday was the performance of a striker playing at the peak of his powers.

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Against Chicago, Sargent was the most impactful player on the field. He showed composure in tight spaces, timing in the box and long-range threat, capping his three-goal outing with a pinpoint finish from distance to cancel out Maren Haile-Selassie’s brace. It was not just in front of goal where the 26-year-old US international dominated. He used his body well to create space in possession and proved a threat in transition with his ball carrying. It was a complete striker’s performance from a player who looks like the version of himself that Toronto paid a club-record fee to acquire.

Sargent was not the only striker making history on Matchday 24. Vincent Janssen, the Netherlands international who joined Portland Timbers in the summer to replace the Rangers-bound Kevin Kelsy, scored the club’s first-ever MLS hat trick in a 5-4 victory over Minnesota United on his full debut. After four straight double-digit scoring seasons at Antwerp in Belgium, it is no surprise that Janssen has already found his range in front of goal. But it was his all-around contribution that stood out most. He registered 53 touches in just 68 minutes, creating for teammates and offering the sort of clever on-ball play that head coach Marti Cifuentes needs for his possession-based approach. Portland lost Kelsy and his nine goals to Rangers for an eight-figure fee. Janssen’s early evidence suggests they may have upgraded.

The Golden Boot race took another twist as Petar Musa refused to let Messi pull away. After Messi’s four-goal explosion against CF Montreal on Matchday 23, it looked like the race might be over. Musa had other ideas. His brace spearheaded FC Dallas’ 4-3 comeback victory over Sporting Kansas City, with a first-half header leveling the score and a stoppage-time penalty sealing the win. Both players now sit on 18 goals. That FC Dallas managed to hold onto the Croatian international through the summer window after his strong World Cup showing is a significant boost to their trophy chances, with the club sitting fourth in the Western Conference.

Atlanta United’s summer spending is starting to pay dividends. Breel Embolo, the 18 million dollar Swiss striker signed from Stade Rennais, made his debut in a 2-2 draw at Inter Miami. He scored a late equalizer from the penalty spot and provided hold-up play that made life easier for fellow Designated Players Miguel Almiron and Alexey Miranchuk. The 29-year-old drew a yellow card in the first half and a penalty in the second, using his physicality to give Atlanta an outlet they have lacked all season. U22 signing Mauricio Amaro also debuted just after the hour mark, looking press-resistant and composed in his first taste of MLS. With both additions bedding in and the Five Stripes just five points off the final playoff spot in the East, a late-season surge is not out of the question.

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St. Louis CITY SC extended their MLS-best unbeaten streak to 13 games with a 3-1 win at conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps, with Tomas Totland contributing a goal and an assist. Head coach Yoann Damet’s side continue to climb the Western Conference. The Philadelphia Union are unbeaten in eight straight since the World Cup break after Andre Blake saved a penalty and Danley Jean Jacques opened the scoring in a 2-0 victory over CF Montreal.

The LA Galaxy’s summer rebuild got another endorsement in a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution. Sergi Roberto, signed to fill the void left by the injured Riqui Puig, made his first start and brought press resistance and creativity through the middle, kickstarting the move for Robert Taylor’s first Galaxy goal. Marco Reus added a goal and an assist as the new-look Galaxy pushed toward the playoff places. Hirving Lozano and Kyogo Furuhashi have already been integrated into Greg Vanney’s lineup, and with Roberto now conducting the midfield, the pieces are starting to fit.

Elsewhere on a weekend packed with late drama, Austin FC defender Guilherme Biro hammered home in the 97th minute to rescue a 1-1 draw against San Jose, while DeAndre Yedlin produced a game-saving goal-line clearance to preserve a 2-2 draw for Real Salt Lake against LAFC. Denis Bouanga continued his outstanding season for LAFC in that contest.