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Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 12

May 11, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Hany Mukhtar on Verge of More History

Coming off a hat trick against Chicago on Matchday 11, Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar is once again atop the league in goal contributions with 11 after leading MLS with 34 goal contributions (23 goals, 11 assists) last season. The 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP continues to make MLS history in his fourth MLS season, as he became just the second player in league history to score a hat trick in three consecutive seasons, joining Mamadou Diallo who accomplished the feat from 2000-02.

On Saturday, Nashville travels to face D.C. United (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass) with Mukhtar having scored 49 career goals in his first 90 MLS matches. With a goal on Matchday 12, the reigning MVP would become the fourth-fastest player in MLS history to produce 50 career goals and 30 career assists, behind only Carlos Vela (69 games), Sebastian Giovinco (78), and Robbie Keane (82) -- all of whom also captured MLS MVP awards. In his last meeting against D.C., Mukhtar bagged a brace in the club's 3-1 win on June 25, 2022.

Whitecaps Aim to Extend Unbeaten Run in Rivalry Matchup

Vancouver Whitecaps FC have quietly put together one of the longest unbeaten streaks in MLS this season, going eight matches without a defeat (3-0-5). With their unbeaten run, Vancouver has moved up to seventh in the Western Conference standings, while sporting the fourth-best goal differential in the conference (plus-5).

Since their last loss, the Whitecaps' defense has been stout, conceding the second-fewest goals (five) in the league during the stretch. In attack, the club has relied on a new forward duo of Simon Becher and Brian White, who are tied with a team-high four goals. With a win or draw in Saturday's Cascadia Cup matchup against the Portland Timbers (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass), Vancouver would produce the second longest unbeaten stretch in club history.

Dénis Bouanga Sets Sight on MLS History

The second-year breakout from LAFC's Dénis Bouanga has made the Black and Gold that much more dangerous in attack in their title defense season in 2023. Bouanga has eight goals in the club's first nine MLS matches this season and he has found the back of the net in each of the club's past two matches. With two goals this weekend, he would become the sixth player in league history to record 10 or more goals in the club's first 10 matches of a season.

Of the previous five players to accomplish this feat, four went on to become the top goal scorer in MLS that season. Bouanga's teammate, Carlos Vela, did so by scoring 10 goals in the first nine games of the 2019 season, in which he went on to set the single-season scoring record with 34 goals. Bouanga can join Vela in the history books Saturday night as LAFC go on the road to face Real Salt Lake (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).

Espinoza Adding to Elite Streak

Perhaps no player has made a stronger Landon Donovan MLS MVP case this season than the San Jose Earthquakes' Cristian Espinoza, who has registered eight goals and three assists in 2023. Espinoza is tied for the lead-league with 11 goal contributions and four of the Argentine's goals are game-winning scores. Two of those scores came last Saturday when the Earthquakes became the first club to take down LAFC in MLS play this season in a 2-1 victory on Matchday 12.

Espinoza's incredible recent form helped him earn MLS Player of the Month honors for April after scoring five times in the month. He has now contributed to a goal in six consecutive games and will look to become the third different player in club history to go seven straight matches with a goal contribution on Sunday in the California Clásico against the LA Galaxy (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FS1). The last 'Quakes player with a goal contribution streak of seven games or longer was Chris Wondolowski (eight) from March 24 - May 5, 2012.

Houston Hoping to Hold Down Home Fortress

The Houston Dynamo put their 2023 home unbeaten record on the line when they host Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass). The matchup will feature two of the four teams in MLS history to start the season unbeaten in their first five home matches while also not conceding a goal. Seattle's streak came to an end last Sunday when they fell to Sporting Kansas City, 2-1, at Lumen Field.

For Houston, the club can become the first team in MLS history to go unbeaten in the opening six home games of a season while also holding their opponents scoreless. Overall, Houston's eight goals conceded across MLS play are tied for the second fewest in the league.

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