XG & More in MLS

By Anonymous (not verified), April 30, 2025

For Immediate Release
MLS Communications

Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 11

FC Dallas Building Reputation as Road Warriors

Under the direction of first-year head coach Eric Quill, FC Dallas (15 points, 4-3-3) has climbed the Western Conference table in recent weeks, powered by a proclivity for success on the road. On Matchday 10, Dallas overcame a two-goal, second-half deficit to defeat the previously unbeaten Inter Miami CF, 4-3, at Chase Stadium and hand the Herons their first regular season home loss since May 29, 2024.

Dallas sits at an unblemished 3-0-3 in road matches this season and will face another stiff test away from home on Saturday night, as they travel to take on San Diego FC (9:15 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+ / FS1 / FOX Deportes). With a result on Saturday, FC Dallas would become the fourth team in MLS history to open a season with a road unbeaten streak of seven or more games, joining the 2013 Portland Timbers (nine matches), 2024 Philadelphia Union (eight matches), and 2009 Chicago Fire FC (seven matches).

The longest road unbeaten streaks to open a season in MLS history:

Denkey Coming Up Clutch for Cincinnati

Fresh off his first MLS brace on Matchday 10, which included a sensational bicycle kick goal (Watch Here), Kévin Denkey continues to make his early-season impact felt for FC Cincinnati, who sit atop the Eastern Conference at the end of April. Denkey and teammate Evander are currently tied for the third-most goals in Major League Soccer with six apiece through Matchday 10, and four of Denkey’s six are of the game-winning variety.

With a game-winning goal against New York City FC on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+), Denkey would become the first player in league history to record five game-winning goals in his first 10 MLS appearances. The Togo international is currently tied with Jozy Altidore, Jermain Defoe, Joe-Max Moore, and Álex Pineda Chacón for the most game-winning goals through a player’s first 10 appearances with four.

The most game-winning goals by a player in their first 10 MLS appearances:

Gallese Golden in Goal for Orlando

Orlando City SC is unbeaten across their last seven matches and a critical component of their success has been a familiar face – goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. The Peru international has recorded four consecutive shutouts dating back to April 5th and is tied for the fourth-most clean sheets in the league with four through Matchday 10. He is one of only six goalkeepers in MLS with at least four shutouts and 25 saves this season.

With a shutout against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Gallese would tie Hugo Lloris (five consecutive matches in 2024) and Kristijan Kahlina (five in 2024) for the second-longest shutout streak by an MLS goalkeeper since 2020. Only Sean Johnson, then with New York City FC, recorded a longer shutout streak over the span, keeping his opponents scoreless in six straight matches from May 1-28, 2022.

The longest goalkeeper shutout streaks since 2020:

Frei Climbing Up All-Time Minutes Leaderboard

In his 17th MLS season, Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei has continued to make his presence felt for the Sounders and is one of 10 ‘keepers to have recorded at least 20 saves and allowed 10-or-fewer goals in 2025. Frei has started 416 career MLS games, accruing over 37,000 minutes of action with Toronto FC (2009-13) and Seattle (2014-25).

By playing a full 90 minutes against St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Frei (37,181 minutes) would surpass Kevin Hartman (37,260) for the fourth-most minutes played in MLS history. Only Nick Rimando (46,336), Kyle Beckerman (41,164), and Dax McCarty (37,610) have logged more regular season minutes in MLS play.

The players with the most minutes played in MLS history:

Dreyer, Newcomers Impacting the Game

Expansion side San Diego FC roared out of the gates in MLS play and central to the club’s strong start is Designated Player Anders Dreyer. Dreyer, who leads the club with six goal contributions through Matchday 10, has helped to pull the strings for the San Diego attack and sits tied for fourth in MLS play with 26 key passes, trailing only San Jose’s Cristian Espinoza (41), Colorado’s Djordje Mihailovic (36), and Orlando’s Martín Ojeda (28).

Dreyer leads all MLS newcomers in key passes and has nine more than the next-closest players, Portland’s David Da Costa and Chicago’s Philip Zinckernagel, who have 17 each. Sporting Kansas City’s Manu García (16) and Chicago Fire FC’s Jonathan Bamba (16) round out the top five.

The most key passes among MLS newcomers in 2025:

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