MLS recap: De Paul shines, Werner dribbles, and James Rodriguez missing in action
Week 3 of Major League Soccer saw some surprising outcomes, with standout performances and notable absences. From Rodrigo De Paul's impactful display for Inter Miami to Timo Werner's unexpected dribbling skills, and the puzzling absence of James Rodriguez, here's a detailed breakdown of the winners and losers from another eventful weekend in MLS.

Some in form teams lost, while one key player regained some much-needed form in another wonderfully unpredictable week of Major League SoccerThe big question heading into Week 3 of MLS? Could Inter Miami do it on a lukewarm mid-afternoon in Baltimore? Well, turns out they could. The marquee matchup of an otherwise surprisingly tame week came between The Herons and D.C United, not at Audi Field, but at M&T Bank Stadium. Over 70,000 showed up to watch Miami win 2-1, but it wasn't an easy victory - which rather sums MLS up this year. Elsewhere, it was all a bit strange. New York Red Bulls had wowed viewers but also played with fire a little in their first two games of the season. It came back to bite them in a 3-0 loss to Montreal. Meanwhile, Timo Werner proved he can dribble, and Matt Wells is now the flavor of the month coach in North American soccer.MLS is as baffling as ever, and GOAL breaks down the Winners and Losers from another chaotic weekend... It had been a bit of a rough start to the season for Rodrigo De Paul. The Argentine midfielder had thrived towards the back end of the 2025 season, able to roam forward with the increasingly leggy Sergio Busquets forced to sit in front of the back four. The result was a box-to-box player who had the opportunity to show a bit more attacking quality - something that proved vital when he bagged in MLS Cup final.This year, in a Busquets-less world, things are a bit less steady. Miami are still tinkering with their system and trying to figure out the right balance. In truth, they could probably use another central midfielder and go without a striker. But against D.C. United, he got forward a little more. He bagged the first goal in a tight 2-1 win and gave the Herons a little more midfield bite against a rejuvenated D.C. squad. It's not easy to do it on a Saturday evening in Baltimore, but Miami - and De Paul - navigated the contest very effectively. Well, we all have to have our "welcome to MLS" moment, right? To be fair, Bradley has been here before. He knows MLS and he knows American soccer inside out. Any claims of naivety are misdirected. Still, Bradley's new-look New York Red Bulls were badly exposed over the weekend. Bradley wants to play football with a bunch of rather inexperienced pros. He has a system that relies on building out of the back, and building through the thirds. Sometimes, though, you've just got to kick the ball long. Montreal capitalized on the Red Bulls' aversion to going long, and showed that a little veteran experience - even from one of the lesser teams in the league - can prove vital. A 3-0 home loss looks bad for Bradley, who will be relieved to have picked up two wins before a truly miserable result against a poor side. There will be moments like this, though. You know Wells is doing a good job at Colorado when Spurs fans are openly melting down at their former assistant's departure on social media. OK, so Wells was always destined for another gig and was probably never going to get the Tottenham one. Colorado was a bit of an unexpected turn, though. And in preseason, it was all a bit intense. Wells spoke about how he wanted to 'dominate' every phase of play and control games. It was an ambitious sentiment for a club that missed out on the playoffs last year.In the first game of the season, they failed to do so. But after beating LA Galaxy 4-1, the Rapids have now won two in a row, and are playing some remarkably good stuff. Perhaps most importantly, though, Wells pointed out that he still wasn't satisfied after the win. Does that sound like a whole lot of high-performance coach speak? Sure, but it's getting results. Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingJames Rodriguez was supposed to be the next big-name No. 10 to make it in MLS. And all of the tools were there. Even at the highest levels, the Colombian has more technical quality than everyone around him. He thrives when the game is slowed down a little more. Meanwhile, Minnesota's hardworking unit around him should ensure that Rodriguez has enough protection - and a removal of defensive responsibilities. The Colombian wasn't brought off the bench last week - why would he when the Loons were up 2-0 and very much in defense mode? And this week, he wasn't even in the matchday squad amid talk of ongoing fitness issues. In fairness, this would all make sense. Rodriguez hasn't played consistent club football in months, and throwing him straight into an MLS game would seem an immense risk. But it still must be frustrating for Rodriguez and fans alike to see him out of the side, especially considering his current deal is a short-term one. Right, so we all knew that Werner was rapid and very effective at running very fast in a straight line in that space between the opposing center back and left back. That is, after all, how he scored a bunch of goals for RB Leipzig and Chelsea earlier in his career. His nickname is Turbo for a reason. But what perhaps wasn't showcased enough was just how effective Werner can be with the ball at his feet, running at an opposing defense. This guy, supposedly, is not a dribbler. But on Saturday, he dribbled. The German produced perhaps the assist of the season to date in San Jose's 1-0 win over Philadelphia, evading his man before threading an inch-perfect pass into the feet of Ousseni Bouda. San Jose won, the vibes are good, and there's still plenty more to come from the Quakes' marquee offseason signing. Could anyone have predicted the Crew's fall off? Sure, Wilfried Nancy was, by some distance, the best coach in Major League Soccer, who completely revamped the club during his few years in charge there. His move to Celtic - although immensely unsuccessful - was entirely deserved. Still, there was an assumption that the Crew have enough quality to, at the very least, tread water.Yet three games into the season, they are without a win. It's hard to highlight a single issue here. The Crew don't really have any injury problems, and the Wessam Abou Ali-Diego Rossi attacking duo should be one of the best in the league. But a scoreless draw with Chicago on Saturday looked rather bad. They need to turn things around - and fast.
Rodrigo De Paul leads Inter Miami to victory
Despite a challenging start to the season, De Paul showcased his attacking prowess by scoring a crucial goal in a hard-fought win against D.C. United. His performance added much-needed depth to Miami's midfield and helped secure a vital victory.
Timo Werner surprises with dribbling skills
Known for his speed, Werner displayed unexpected dribbling ability in San Jose's win over Philadelphia. His skillful assist demonstrated a new dimension to his game, hinting at more exciting performances to come.
James Rodriguez's absence raises questions
Amid ongoing fitness concerns, Rodriguez was conspicuously absent from the matchday squad, leaving fans puzzled about his current status and impact on Minnesota. The Colombian playmaker's short-term deal adds further uncertainty to his situation.
New York Red Bulls suffer a heavy defeat
Bradley's tactical approach backfired as the Red Bulls were convincingly beaten by Montreal. The loss exposed vulnerabilities in their playing style and highlighted the importance of adapting strategies to different opponents in MLS.
Matt Wells impresses at Colorado Rapids
Wells' impact at Colorado has been noticeable, with the Rapids securing back-to-back wins under his guidance. His emphasis on dominating play and continuous improvement has propelled the team to early success, earning praise and attention in the process.
Columbus Crew struggles continue
Despite high expectations, the Crew find themselves without a win after three games, raising concerns about their form and performance. The talented squad led by Wilfried Nancy needs to address their issues quickly to avoid further setbacks in the season.








