ICYMI: AZ plays hero, Dayne debuts for Miami, and a Texas reunion highlights a massive weekend

The 2026 MLS season officially kicked off with a bang, and our former Loons were right in the thick of the action. The weekend was headlined by Aziel Jackson, who wasted no time making his mark by scoring a dramatic game-winning goal in his debut for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

We also saw several highly anticipated debuts in new colors. Dayne St. Clair took his place between the posts for a star-studded Inter Miami squad in a heavyweight clash against LAFC, while fan-favorite Robin Lod officially began his new chapter in the midfield for the Chicago Fire. Meanwhile, down in Texas, Joseph Rosales went head-to-head with his old Loons teammates in a hard-fought 2–2 draw.

The standout performances certainly weren’t limited to the States. Down in Argentina, Franco Fragapane orchestrated a brilliant game-winning assist for Unión Santa Fe, and Johan Venegas sparked a crucial comeback victory in Costa Rica. Over in England, former Loons assistant Eric Ramsay continues to navigate a challenging start to his managerial tenure in the Championship with West Bromwich Albion.

Here is your complete rundown of how our former players fared across the globe this weekend:

Friday, Feb. 20

  • Victor Eriksson (Hammarby FF 2, IK Brage 0): Eriksson started and played the full 90 minutes on the backline, helping Hammarby secure a clean sheet and a 2–0 victory in Svenska Cupen action.
  • Adrien Hunou (Boulogne 0, Clermont Foot 2): Hunou started in the midfield for Clermont Foot, helping his side control the pitch to secure a 2–0 road victory in Ligue 2.
  • Thomás Chacón (Stade Nyonnais 1, FC Aarau 1): Chacón entered the match as a second-half substitute and logged 34 minutes for FC Aarau, picking up a yellow card during their 1–1 draw.
  • Wessel Speel (Shelbourne 1, Galway United FC 1): Speel started in goal and played the full 90 minutes for Shelbourne, making several stops in a 1–1 draw to open their Premier Division campaign.

Saturday, Feb. 21

  • Eric Ramsay (West Brom 0, Coventry City 2): Ramsay remains winless through his first eight matches as West Brom’s head coach following a frustrating 2–0 home defeat to league-leading Coventry City. His squad struggled to generate an attacking threat, controlling possession in the second half but ultimately failing to find the back of the net.
  • Matúš Kmeť (DAC Dunajska Streda 3, Skalica 2): Kmeť started and played the full 90 minutes for Dunajska Streda, helping his squad secure a thrilling 3–2 home victory.
  • Ethan Bristow (Notts County 2, Tranmere Rovers 1): Bristow earned the start at wing-back for Tranmere Rovers but was substituted off at halftime after picking up a yellow card deep into first-half stoppage time during their 2–1 road defeat.
  • Sam Nicholson (ST Mirren 0, Motherwell 5): Nicholson entered the match as a late substitute in the 77th minute, helping Motherwell cleanly close out a dominant 5–0 road victory in the Scottish Premiership.
  • Sang Bin Jeong (St. Louis City SC 1, Charlotte FC 1): Jeong started in the midfield for St. Louis City SC in their season opener, logging 59 minutes before being substituted in a hard-fought 1–1 draw.
  • Emanuel Reynoso (Bucaramanga 0, Deportivo Cali 0): Reynoso was named to the starting lineup for Deportivo Cali but had an abbreviated shift, as he was substituted off in the 37th minute of a scoreless draw on the road.
  • José Aja (Unión Española 2, San Luis 0): Aja started in central defense and played 62 minutes for Unión Española, contributing to a clean sheet before being substituted in their 2–0 victory.
  • Aziel Jackson (Vancouver Whitecaps 1, Real Salt Lake 0): Jackson was the hero in his MLS debut for the Whitecaps, pouncing on a loose ball in the 57th minute to score the game-winning goal in a 1–0 victory.
  • Raheem Edwards (FC Dallas 3, Toronto FC 2): Edwards battled throughout the intense opening-weekend clash for Toronto FC, receiving a late yellow card in the 90th minute as his side pushed for an equalizer in the 3–2 defeat.
  • Robin Lod (Houston Dynamo 2, Chicago Fire 1): Lod officially made his Chicago Fire debut, starting in the midfield and logging 76 minutes before being substituted late in the 2–1 loss.
  • Joseph Rosales (Austin FC 2, Minnesota United FC 2): Rosales earned the start for Austin FC, logging 90 minutes against the Loons before being subbed off in stoppage time. He helped anchor the left side in a hard-fought battle that ultimately ended in a 2–2 draw.
  • Alejandro Bran (Deportivo Saprissa 2, LD Alajuelense 1): Bran started and played the full 90 minutes in the midfield for Alajuelense, but his side ultimately fell short in a heated 2–1 defeat during the Costa Rican Clásico.
  • Dayne St. Clair (Los Angeles FC 3, Inter Miami 0): St. Clair earned the starting nod in net for Inter Miami, recording two saves during a rocky debut that ended in a 3–0 defeat on the road.
  • Eric Miller (Portland Timbers 3, Columbus Crew 2): Miller made a late appearance for the Portland Timbers, subbing on in the 86th minute to help the defense close out a dramatic 3–2 comeback victory over the Columbus Crew.

Sunday, Feb. 22

  • Damion Lowe (Dewa United 1, Pusamania Borneo 2): Lowe earned the start on the backline for Dewa United, logging 67 minutes before being substituted off in a 2–1 home defeat to Pusamania Borneo.
  • Johan Venegas (CS Cartaginés 2, Municipal Liberia 1): Venegas started and provided a crucial spark for Cartaginés, scoring the equalizing goal in the 27th minute to help pave the way for a 2–1 comeback victory.
  • Ramón Ábila (San Lorenzo 2, Estudiantes de Río Cuarto 0): Ábila featured for Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, making a late appearance and getting involved in the final moments by picking up a yellow card deep into second-half stoppage time during their 2–0 road defeat to San Lorenzo.
  • Franco Fragapane (Unión Santa Fe 1, Aldosivi 0): Fragapane was highly influential for Unión Santa Fe, providing the assist on the lone goal of the match in the 46th minute to secure a 1–0 home victory.
  • Hassani Dotson (Seattle Sounders 2, Colorado Rapids 0): Dotson was named to the starting lineup and controlled the midfield for Seattle, logging 59 minutes before being substituted in their 2–0 season-opening win.

Monday, Feb. 23

  • Nabi Kibunguchy (Hougang United 3, Tanjong Pagar 0): Kibunguchy entered the match as a substitute for Hougang United, helping the backline lock down a clean sheet to close out a dominant 3–0 home victory.