For Immediate Release
MLS Communications
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Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 3
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Baribo Aims to Continue Torrid Pace
No MLS player has been hotter through the first two weeks of the 2025 season than Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo , whose five goals through two matches are more than 23 of 30 MLS teams through Matchday 2. The reigning MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra, Baribo is one of only four players in MLS history to score five goals in the first two matches of a season, joining Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández (2021), Ayo Akinola (2020), and Brian Ching (2006), and more history is on the horizon should he once again find the back of the net on Saturday.
With a goal against the New England Revolution (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Baribo would join Ante Razov as the only players in league history to record at least six goals through the first three matches of a season. Razov scored six goals in his first three games for the Chicago Fire in 1999 en route to a club-leading 14 goals that season.
The most goals scored by a player through the first three games of a season in MLS history:
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Union and Earthquakes Displaying Early-Season Dominance
Five teams have captured wins in each of the first two weeks of the MLS season – the Columbus Crew, Los Angeles Football Club, Philadelphia Union, San Jose Earthquakes, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Of those teams, the Union (eight goals for, three goals against) and the Earthquakes (six goals for, one goal against) currently sit atop the MLS goal differential leaderboard at plus-five following dominant performances across Matchdays 1 and 2.
Only three teams in MLS history have recorded a goal differential of plus-eight through the first three weeks of a season – the 1999 Chicago Fire, 2017 Atlanta United, and 2022 Austin FC. Each of those three teams finished in the top four of the Supporters’ Shield standings in their respective seasons.
On Saturday, Philadelphia, which travels to New England to take on the Revolution (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), and San Jose, who welcome Minnesota United FC to PayPal Park (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+) will work to etch their names into that company with a third-consecutive standout performance.
The clubs with the best goal differentials through three games in MLS history:
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Segovia Streaking to Start Season
Among the many stars residing in South Florida, 21-year-old newcomer Telasco Segovia has quickly been making a name for himself on South Beach, as the Inter Miami CF midfielder has scored in each of the club’s first two games of the season, totaling three goals and an assist over the span. The Venezuelan international became the seventh different player aged 21 or younger to score in each of a club’s first two games of a season and the first since Esequiel Barco for Atlanta United in 2020.
With a goal against Charlotte FC on Sunday afternoon (4 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Segovia can become only the third player in league history to score in each of his club’s first three games of a season at the age of 21 or younger. Only Erick Torres of Chivas USA (four consecutive games in 2014) and Cyle Larin of Orlando City SC (three consecutive games in 2016) have accomplished the feat.
The longest scoring streaks to begin a season among players 21 or younger in MLS history:
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Musa Making It Happen in Dallas
Playing alongside former Landon Donovan MLS MVP Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta, FC Dallas striker and 2024 MLS All-Star Petar Musa has been a key cog in the club’s offensive attack through two matches, recording a goal and an assist in both of the team’s first two games of the season. Musa, the club’s leading scorer in 2024, has contributed to four of the club’s five goals thus far and can make history with another strong performance on Saturday.
With a goal and an assist against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+), Musa would become the second player in MLS history to open a season with three consecutive games with a goal and an assist, joining the Fire’s Ante Razov in 1999.
The longest streak of games with at least one goal and one assist to open a season in MLS history:
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Crew Duo Leads Distance Covered Through Matchday 2
The Columbus Crew duo of midfielder Dylan Chambost and forward Max Arfsten have been key contributors to the club’s perfect 2-0-0 start to the 2025 season and have covered a lot of ground in the process.
Through two matches, Chambost has a total distance traveled of 16.4 miles in 179 minutes, the most in MLS by more than half a mile, with Arfsten ranking second at 15.8 miles covered in 180 minutes. Rounding out the top five of total distance traveled are Nashville SC’s Edvard Tagseth (15.79 miles, 179 minutes), Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio (15.7 miles, 180 minutes), and Atlanta United’s Bartosz Slisz (15.7 miles, 180 minutes).
The most distance covered by a player (in miles) through the first two Matchdays of the MLS season (per Sportec Solutions):
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