For Immediate Release
MLS Communications |
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Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 7
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Seattle’s Morris Aims for Top Seven-Game Start in MLS History
Sitting atop the Golden Boot presented by Audi leaderboard with eight goals, Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris has been instant offense for his club in 2023, scoring at a record-setting pace through the season’s first month.
All of Morris’ goals have come in Seattle’s four victories and the U.S. Men’s National Team standout will look to continue his strong start to the season against St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass). With two goals, Morris would surpass Edson Buddle (nine goals in 2010) for the most goals scored by a player in his team’s first seven games of a season.
The most goals by a player in his team’s first seven games in MLS history:
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The Scorching Scoring Start of Vancouver’s Simon Becher
After scoring twice and providing an assist en route to MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire honors on Matchday 6, Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Simon Becher continues to be a revelation for the Canadian club at the onset of his professional career. Becher, who scored eight goals and four assists for Whitecaps FC 2 of MLS NEXT Pro in 2022, has four career goals in Major League Soccer and reached his fourth goal faster than any player in the league’s history, doing so in just 87 minutes.
With goals in his first three MLS appearances, Becher will look to continue to etch his name into the record books against the Portland Timbers on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass). If he scores, Becher would become the fifth different player in MLS history to score in each of their first four career games, and the first since Brian Fernandez in 2019 (five consecutive games).
The players with the most consecutive games with a goal to start their MLS career:
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St. Louis CITY SC & Minnesota United Prove to be Early-Season Road Warriors
After handing St. Louis CITY SC its first loss on Matchday 6, Minnesota United FC extended their unbeaten run to start the season, improving to 3-0-2 including wins in each of their first three road matches this season. The club continues their two-week Midwestern road trip as they take on Chicago Fire FC, who are unbeaten through their first three games at Soldier Field this season, on Saturday night (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
Despite falling on Matchday 6, St. Louis also remains unblemished away from home, winning their first three matches of the season. The expansion side will travel to Seattle this Saturday to face a Sounders squad looking to usurp the top position in the Western Conference from St. Louis (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
With victories this week, Minnesota and St. Louis would join the 2022 New York Red Bulls (five consecutive wins) and the 1998 LA Galaxy (five consecutive wins) as the only clubs in MLS history to win each of their first four road matches of a season (excl. shootouts).
The most consecutive road wins by a club to start a season (excl. shootouts) in MLS history:
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Crew Continue Offensive Onslaught
After consecutive impressive offensive showings, including a 6-1 victory over Atlanta United on Matchday 5 and a 4-0 win against Real Salt Lake on Matchday 6, the Columbus Crew are tied with St. Louis CITY SC for the league lead with 15 goals scored, aided by three apiece from midfielders Aidan Morris and Lucas Zelarayán.
With another strong offensive showing against D.C. United on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass), the Crew have the chance to etch their name in league history. The record for the most goals scored by a single club in a three-game span in MLS history is 16, accomplished by the Philadelphia Union from August 20 to August 31, 2022. The 1998 LA Galaxy, which scored 15 goals over a three-game span from June 4 – June 18, previously held the record for more than two decades.
The most goals scored by a club in a three-game span in MLS history:
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Peter Vermes Reaches Regular-Season Coaching Milestone
Since taking over as the head coach of Sporting Kansas City in 2009, Peter Vermes has been a steadying force on the sidelines for the club, capturing four major trophies, including the 2013 MLS Cup, and first-place conference finishes in 2011, 2012, 2018, and 2020.
The veteran coach will hit another career milestone against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass). Vermes will man the sidelines for the 444th regular-season match of his career, tying Dominic Kinnear for the third-most regular-season games by a head coach in MLS history. Only Sigi Schmid (548 games) and Bruce Arena (528 entering Saturday) have coached more regular-season matches in league annals.
Vermes’ 443 regular-season games coached with Sporting Kansas City are the most by a head coach with a single club in MLS history and 109 more than the next-closest coach (Ben Olsen, 334 games with D.C. United).
The most regular-season matches by a head coach in MLS history:
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