Beasts of the Southeast - February/March: Inter Miami advances to CCC Semifinals, Biel and Ojeda are tied for most goal contributions in MLS, DC United winless in four straight

By Brian Maurer

The first month and a half of the MLS season is in the books, and we are getting a sense of where some of the Southeastern teams lie. Inter Miami continues to be the team to beat in all of MLS and potentially Concacaf as they advanced to the Semifinals in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Charlotte FC and Orlando City are both showing promise with the potential to be great but have some kinks to work out. Strong performances from their attacking midfielders should give these clubs lots of optimism moving forward.

Nashville SC has built up momentum early stringing together some good results and have surpassed Atlanta United in the BOTSE Power Rankings as Atlanta has struggled to build up momentum. That could be changing fast as Miguel Almiron has scored in back-to-back games. If their paraguayan midfielder stays consistantly productive then they could easily be climbing back up the rankings.

DC United is the only team in the Southeast that is truly struggling, as they look like one of the worst teams in MLS right now.

Beasts of the Southeast Power Rankings

Beasts of the Southeast Players of the Month - February/March

Inter Miami

Record all-comps since February: 9-2-1

Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 4th

Inter Miami is undefeated in MLS play to start the year and has only lost once in all competitions (9-2-1 all-comp record). Lionel Messi (8g/2a all-comps) and Luis Suarez (4g/6a all-comps) both have started the season strong as they each have 10 goal contributions.

One interesting thing to note from the Heron's start is that Messi has been playing more as a second striker than as a right winger. Their defense continues to look questionable, but they do seem to have enough solid defensive pieces to at least get by, and Drake Callender finally saw his first start this past weekend.

Under-the-radar player to watch

Miami's new U22 Initiative signing Telasco Segovia has hit the ground running and is generating similar excitement to the buzz around Diego Gomez last year. He has four goal contributions (3g/1a) in 323 MLS minutes so far and looks to be a key piece that can step up when Javier Mascherano wants to rotate his veteran attackers.

Remaining April schedule

The Heron's are on the road for the next two games before wrapping up April with a home game and two CCC Semifinal legs against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Definitely have the CCC games circled on your calendar as the Whitecaps have been on a magical run and the expectations for the Messi-led Miami side is that they go through and win the continental tournament.

Sun, Apr 13, 4:30 PM ET - @ Chicago Fire

Sat, Apr 19, 4:30 PM ET - @ Columbus Crew

Tue, Apr 22 - vs Vancouver Whitecaps - Concacaf Champions Cup

Sat, Apr 26, 7:30 PM ET - vs FC Dallas

Tue, Apr 29 - @ Vancouver Whitecaps - Concacaf Champions Cup

Charlotte FC

Record all-comps since February: 4-1-2

Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 7th

The Crown has not looked spectacular to start the year, but they have shown their ability to grit their teeth and fight to continue getting results, mainly at home, where they are undefeated. Questions have been raised about the consistency of the attack led by new Designated Player signing Wilfried Zaha and right winger Liel Abada, both have struggled with getting regular goal contributions, although Zaha came up with a clutch moment drawing a penalty and slotting the PK home last weekend.

Pep Biel has been the shining light in the attack so far has he is tied for the MLS lead in goal contributions (7) and assists (5). Word has gotten out about his left-footed through ball that has led to three goals already this season.

Under-the-radar player to watch

Idan Toklomati has garnered a ton of hype with his recent performances coming in off the bench. He is pushing Patrick Agyemang for starting minutes at the striker position and could have earned himself a start this weekend with his clean game-winning finish this past Saturday against Nashville SC.

Remaining April schedule

Charlotte will aim to finish April strong in what looks to be a favorable stretch of games. Points this month will be important for the Crown as May and June get significantly harder with a bunch of road games.

Sat, Apr 12, 7:30 PM ET - @ CF Montreal

Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - vs San Diego FC

Sat, Apr 26, 7:30 PM ET - vs New England Revolution

Orlando City

Record all-comps since February: 3-2-2

Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 10th

Orlando has been a wild team to watch to start 2025 as their attack hit the ground running but their defense is struggling. They did keep their first clean sheet of the season this past weekend against the Philadelphia Union and have only allowed two goals in their past three games so their defense could be heading in a more positive direction.

The Lions' attack has been impressive as all three of their DPs have started off well. Their Facundo Torres replacement, Marco Pasalic, already has four goals, tied with Martin Ojeda for the team lead. Luis Muriel has also gotten off to a strong start with five goal contributions (3g/2a). If Muriel stays motivated and Orlando can keep Ramiro Enrique and Duncan McGuire for all of 2025, then this attack could be the most lethal in MLS outside of Miami.

Under-the-radar player to watch

Alex Freeman was rotated in during Orlando's early-season defensive struggles, and Oscar Pareja hasn't been able to take him off. The 20-year-old right-back has earned six straight starts since making his starting debut against Toronto FC, and he has three goal contributions already (2g/1a). Freeman has given Pareja some defensive flexibility as he tries to sort out the backline, and as the young defender continues to earn starts, his stock could increase dramatically as the season progresses.

Remaining April schedule

Orlando has a favorable stretch of games through the end of May with six of ten at home in that time. They will be aiming to keep their unbeaten streak going with a strong finish to April with three matchups that they will deem very winnable.

Sat, Apr 12, 4:30 PM ET - vs New York Red Bulls

Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - @ CF Montreal

Sat, Apr 26, 7:15 PM ET - vs Atlanta United

Nashville SC

Record all-comps since February: 3-1-3

Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 17th

Nashville SC is coming off a disappointing letdown on the road against Charlotte where they allowed two late goals to drop all three points. On top of that, Walker Zimmerman was kicked in the head during the match and had to be trucked off the field. Fortunately it appears he is only in concussion protocol and will likely return to the field sooner than later.

Winter signing Edvard Tagseth has stepped up as a key player in Nashville's midfield during the early stretch as he helps BJ Callaghan implement his ball progression tactics. Overall, the team has gotten off to a good start but has dropped all three points in back-to-back games from winning positions. If the Coyotes work out how to maintain the leads they earn and start converting their penalties (they have missed three already), they could be a real threat towards the end of 2025.

Under-the-radar player to watch

Ahmed Qasem is another new signing who has earned a key role through the early stages of the season. This past week, he put up a highlight reel dribbling performance to set up Nashville's goal in the first half against Charlotte, and he has two goals in four starts. The Swedish winger has the potential to be the missing attacking piece that Nashville has been looking for alongside Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge.

Remaining April schedule

Nashville has the opportunity to right the ship after blowing leads in back-to-back games with favorable home matches. With five of their next seven matches being at home, the Coyotes have an opportunity to climb up the table if they can take advantage of the moment.

Sat, Apr 12, 8:30 PM ET - vs Real Salt Lake

Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - @ Seattle Sounders

Sat, Apr 26, 8:30 PM ET - vs Chicago Fire

Atlanta United

Record all-comps since February: 2-3-2

Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 20th

Atlanta has only won once in their last six games, and they have dropped points three times at home already. The upside is Miguel Almiron looks like he is starting to click a little bit with goals in back-to-back games. Their league record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath has also had a good start with five goals out of the gate.

Their issue is their team performance and their home form. Only earning nine points out of seven games, when five of those matches were in Atlanta, puts the Five Stripes in a bit of a hole that they now need to try and dig out of.

Under-the-radar player to watch

Matthew Edwards has been slotted in multiple times already this year as both Atlanta's starting fullbacks, Brooks Lennon and Pedro Amador, have had to miss time with injuries. In those starts, Edwards hasn't looked out of place. If the young fullback can continue to take his opportunities when they come, he could earn himself a regular role sooner rather than later, especially if he can show that his presence on the field can help the squad start to click.

Remaining April schedule

This weekend's match feels like a must-win for Atlanta as they have already dropped seven points at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Especially when they have to follow this weekend's home game with two tough matchups on the road.

Sat, Apr 12, 2:45 PM ET - vs New England Revolution

Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - @ Philadelphia Union

Sat, Apr 26, 7:15 PM ET - @ Orlando City

DC United

Record all-comps since February: 1-3-3

Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 24th

DC United is in a really tricky spot right now as they have lost three in a row and they have lost badly. DC allowed 12 goals in those three losses and got absolutely trounced this past weekend in San Jose giving up six, and honestly Josef Martinez and co. were looking for even more and could have made the scoreline even worse.

DC's goalkeeper Jun-hong Kim's reactions during last week's blowout loss are emblematic of how this season has started for the Black-and-Red. But hey, Christian Benteke is scoring goals.

Under-the-radar player to watch

Hosei Kijima has started every match so far this year, although most recently he was subbed at halftime. The young attacking midfielder had eight goal contributions (3g/5a) last season with St. Louis City and has a goal so far in 2025. He is one to keep an eye on in DC if the squad can start to build any semblance of consistency.

Remaining April schedule

DC United's woes could be getting worse as they are now facing a tough stretch of games to finish April. If their losing streak continues, which looks like a decent possibility with this slate of games, Head Coach Troy Lesesne has to be on the hot seat.

Sat, Apr 12, 7:30 PM ET - vs FC Cincinnati

Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - @ New York Red Bulls

Sat, Apr 26, 4:30 PM ET - @ Philadelphia Union