MLS Update

By Anonymous (not verified), September 17, 2023

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For Immediate ReleaseMLS Communications

Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 27

Real Salt Lake’s Road Resurgence

In early May, Real Salt Lake sat in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 1-3-1 record on the road. Since then, the club has soared up to third place in the West and are riding one of the most impressive away stretches in the past decade coming out of Leagues Cup 2023.Dating back to May 6, RSL is undefeated in their last eight matches on the road, posting a 5-0-3 record. With a win or draw at the LA Galaxy on Sunday evening (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass), the Claret and Cobalt would equal the second-longest single-season road unbeaten streak in league history. With summer reinforcement Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango now settled into the team and U.S. Youth International Diego Luna shining bright, RSL will look to extend their remarkable road stretch.The longest single-season road unbeaten streaks in MLS history:

Lucho Looks to Make History in Hell is Real Derby

One of the leading candidates for the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, FC Cincinnati All-Star midfielder Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta enters Sunday’s Hell is Real derby against the Columbus Crew (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FS1) ranked second in Major League Soccer with 20 goal contributions (12 goals, eight assists). Acosta, who will be appearing in his fifth Hell is Real matchup, has six career goal contributions against the Crew, which is tied for the third-most in series history.With his next contribution, Acosta would tie former Crew forward Gyasi Zardes (seven) for the second-most goal contributions in derby history. Lucas Zelarayán, who recorded nine goal contributions in seven matches vs. FC Cincinnati, holds the series record.The most goal contributions in Hell is Real derby history:

Maxi Moralez Returns to NYCFC with Assist Milestone on the Horizon

Long-time MLS veteran and 2021 MLS Cup champion Maxi Moralez re-signed with New York City FC on August 8 after eight months at Argentine side Racing Club. Previously with NYCFC from 2017-22, Moralez was an integral part of the club’s MLS Cup victory in 2021 and tallied 26 goals and 69 assists in 162 regular-season games for the club.Moralez returns to MLS with the fifth-most assists among all active players and with his next helper, he would become the fifth active player in MLS to reach the 70-assist mark. Moralez, who would appear in his 163rd career game with NYCFC against Minnesota United FC this Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass), can become the sixth player in MLS history to reach 70 career assists in fewer than 170 matches.The most regular-season assists among active MLS players:

Brian White Bagging the Goals for Vancouver

The last time Vancouver forward Brian White took the field in MLS action, he scored in the second minute of the Whitecaps’ 4-2 win over the LA Galaxy, recording his 24th regular-season goal for the club. Since joining the Whitecaps at the beginning of the 2021 regular season from the New York Red Bulls, White has gradually climbed Vancouver’s all-time scoring charts and leads the club in goals with eight through 22 games played in 2023.He recorded career-highs with 12 goals and five assists in 2021 with the Whitecaps and is on pace to hit those heights again in 2023, with three assists to go with his eight goals so far this season. This weekend, White will look to pick up where he left off prior to Leagues Cup 2023 against the San Jose Earthquakes – the team he recorded his first-career hat trick against in October 2021 – and help the Whitecaps potentially jump to as high as the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a win.The most regular-season goals scored in Vancouver Whitecaps history:

Sirois’ Stellar 2023 Season Flying Under the Radar

As CF Montréal looks to make a leap into the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs picture, they will continue to rely on goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois’ stellar performances to lead their rise up the standings. Just before Leagues Cup 2023, Sirois added his ninth clean sheet of 2023 in the side’s 2-0 win over Charlotte FC on Matchday 26.Sirois’ nine clean sheets rank tied for second in MLS this season, and he is only one behind the Montréal single-season record of 10, set by Evan Bush in 2018. In his debut MLS season, the academy graduate has stepped up and kept the club in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Sirois and Montréal will square off against Canadian rivals Toronto FC on Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass) in their return to MLS regular-season action.The most clean sheets in a season in CF Montréal history: