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Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 14

May 19, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Hell Is Real Has Historic Home Repercussions

Supporters' Shield-leaders FC Cincinnati are running riot at TQL Stadium and riding their hot streak to stamp a claim for the best team in MLS. After a convincing 3-0 win over CF Montréal on Matchday 13, Cincinnati extended their home winning streak to seven games to begin the season. The Blue and Orange became the fourth club in the post-shootout era to win their first seven home games of a season and the second to do so in the last 20 years.

To continue to move up the record books, Cincinnati will need to take down their bitter rival, the Columbus Crew, in the Hell is Real derby on Saturday in Matchday 14 action (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass). Cincinnati will look to rewrite recent history to reach the feat, as they have managed just a 1-5-4 regular season record against the Crew, with the only win coming in 2020.

Another Free Kick Milestone Upcoming for Thiago Almada

Atlanta United's Thiago Almada cannot stop scoring incredible goals in MLS play and added another to his collection on Matchday 13 against the Colorado Rapids. The Argentine is making his move up the single-season all-time ranks for direct free kicks after recording his third of the season on Wednesday.

Since the start of 2003, only four players have ever scored at least four direct free kick goals in a season, with the last being Columbus' Lucas Zelarayán in 2021 (five). Almada has 13 goal contributions (six goals, seven assists) this season, which leads MLS. The World Cup winner aims to continue his hot start to the season when Atlanta travels to face Chicago Fire FC on Saturday on Matchday 14 (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).

Jesús Ferreira Settling in as Dallas Legend

On Matchday 13, Jesús Ferreira came through once again for FC Dallas by scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. With his brace, Ferreira produced the eighth multi-goal game of his career, eclipsing Jeff Cunningham (seven) for the second most in club history.

Ferreira continues to establish himself as one of the greats in FC Dallas history, and he has another opportunity to move up the goal scoring rankings on Saturday. The U.S. Men's National Team forward sits two goals behind Kenny Cooper (46) for the second most in club history. Ferreira will look to tie or pass Cooper when Dallas hosts Houston Dynamo FC in a Rivalry Week matchup on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).

Rocky Mountain Cup Features Streaking Savarino

One of the most underappreciated and fierce rivalries in MLS features two Western Conference foes as the Colorado Rapids face Real Salt Lake in the Rocky Mountain Cup this weekend. Since the start of the 2014 season, Real Salt Lake has owned the rivalry, winning 16 times against Colorado, more than any team against any opponent in MLS during that time.

A key figure in Salt Lake's hot stretch against the Rapids has been Jefferson Savarino, who has scored four goals and provided two assists in his six career matches against Colorado. Additionally, Savarino has scored in each of his last three matches in the rivalry and he can become the first player in Rocky Mountain Cup history to score in four consecutive games. The rivalry will be renewed for 2023 on Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Matchday 14 (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).

Gyasi Zardes Closing in on 100 Goals

After Inter Miami's Josef Martínez hit 100 goals earlier this month, 12 players in MLS history have reached the century mark in regular season play. Austin FC's Gyasi Zardes is looking to become the 13th to do so in league annals, as he needs two more goals to reach 100.

Zardes scored against Seattle on Wednesday, which marked his first goal for Los Verdes, and also proved to be the game winner. Only two other active players have over 100 goals - Martínez (101) and Chicago Fire FC's Kei Kamara (143) - and Zardes will aim to make it a trio on Matchday 14 against Toronto FC on Saturday night (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).

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