MLS XG & More

By Anonymous (not verified), May 7, 2025

For Immediate Release
MLS Communications

Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 12

Whitecaps Look to Continue Record Run

Sitting atop the Supporters’ Shield standings through Matchday 11, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (26 points, 8-1-2) have gotten off to one of the strongest starts in league history and have opportunity to continue their early-season charge against LAFC this Sunday.

With a victory on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), the Whitecaps would become the fifth team in MLS history to take at least 29 points through their first 12 games of a season and the first to accomplish the feat since the 2010 LA Galaxy.

Of the four teams that previously accomplished the feat – the 1996 LA Galaxy (32 points), 2000 Kansas City Wizards (32 points), 2010 LA Galaxy (32 points), and the 2001 Miami Fusion (31 points) – all but the 1996 Galaxy captured the Supporters’ Shield in their respective seasons.

The most points recorded by an MLS club in their first 12 games of a season:

Gallese Eyes Goalkeeping History

A two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year finalist, Orlando City SC’s Pedro Gallese is off to the strongest start of his career, having notched five consecutive shutouts from Matchdays 7 to 11. Gallese’s five shutouts in 2025 trail only Minnesota United FC’s Dayne St. Clair, who leads the league with six clean sheets.

With a shutout against the New England Revolution on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Gallese would become the fourth goalkeeper in MLS history to record six consecutive shutouts in regular season play, joining Tony Meola (April 22 – May 20, 2000), Donovan Ricketts (Oct. 2, 2009 – April 10, 2010), and Sean Johnson (May 1-28, 2022). Meola (2000) and Rickets (2010) each took home Goalkeeper of the Year honors after recording their streaks. No goalkeeper has recorded seven consecutive clean sheets in MLS regular season play.

The longest regular season shutout streaks by a goalkeeper in MLS history:

Seattle’s Musovski is on the Loose

In his second season with the Sounders, Seattle forward Danny Musovski has found his footing on the attack, scoring four goals across nine matches in 2025. Musovski’s four goals, which have come in four consecutive matches from April 12 to May 3, are just one shy of his career best of five, set in 2020 with LAFC and matched in 2023 with Real Salt Lake.

With a goal against Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday night (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Musovski would become only the fourth Sounder to score a goal in at least five consecutive regular season matches and the first to do so since Raúl Ruidíaz, who scored in six straight games from Sept. 29, 2018 to March 16, 2019. The other two Sounders to have accomplished the feat at Fredy Montero (five consecutive games) in 2009 and Obafemi Martins (five consecutive games) in 2015.

The longest regular season goal-scoring streaks by a player in Seattle Sounders history:

Benteke Continues Dominance for D.C.

The reigning winner of the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi, D.C. United’s Christian Benteke has been one of the most dominant scorers in the league since arriving in the nation’s capital, finding the net 44 times in 78 games. This season, the striker is tied for fourth in the MLS scoring race with six goals, just one goal off the pace set by San Jose’s Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango, Chicago’s Hugo Cuypers, and Philadelphia’s Tai Baribo.

With a goal against Toronto FC on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Benteke would tie Christian Gómez (45 goals in 124 matches) for the second-most goals in club history and would reach the mark in 45 fewer matches. Jamie Moreno owns the club scoring record for D.C. United, scoring 131 of his 133 career goals across 329 games with the red and black.

The most career goals scored by a player in D.C. United history:

Sounders Strong Defense Showing in Expected Goals Against

One of the best indicators of a strong defense is expected goals against (xGA) and through 11 matchdays, the cream of the defensive crop is starting to rise to the top in Major League Soccer.

Seattle Sounders FC, who are tied for the fourth-fewest goals allowed in the Western Conference with 13, pace MLS with a 12.2 xGA, and are one of six clubs to have accumulated fewer than 15 expected goals against through 11 matches.

Four clubs in the top five – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (12.4 xGA, eight goals allowed), the New England Revolution (13.2 xGA, seven goals allowed), the Columbus Crew (13.3 xGA, 10 goals allowed), and Minnesota United FC (14.3 xGA, 10 goals allowed) -- have outpaced their expected goals against by at least three goals.

The lowest expected goals against (xGA) through Matchday 11 in 2025: